IDA's Bay Area Events

Table of Contents
1. Gopher Gardening at Ocean Beach
2. Rat Care Class with IDA's Guardian of the Month for July
3. International Day for Korean Dogs and Cats


1. Gopher Gardening at Ocean Beach

Join the San Francisco Wildlife Protection Project, a joint effort by IDA and the San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department, to create a wildlife "sanctuary" along the Great Highway. By landscaping the area according to the Parks Department's specifications, volunteers create a habitat for native gophers and prevent them from being trapped and killed. This is an ongoing monthly effort, and happens on the first Saturday of each month. Please give us a hand so we can help the gophers.

What: Gopher Gardening
When: Saturday, July 9th from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon
Where: Corner of the Great Highway and Wawona Street, San Francisco, at the small brick Recreation and Park maintenance building. Click http://tinyurl.com/4hnh2 for directions to this event.

For more information, please contact Kevin Connelly at kevin [at] idausa.org or (415) 388-9641, ext. 226.


2. Rat Care Class with IDA's Guardian of the Month for July

IDA's Guardian of the Month for July is Debra Mendelsohn, rat and rabbit rescuer extraordinaire. Debra founded Bay Area Rats Rescue in 2003 in memory of Latkah, her first rescued rat, to re-home rats and other small animals who have been abandoned. Debra is also very active as a volunteer in the community at the House Rabbit Society, the Marin Humane Society, Oakland Animal Services and San Francisco Animal Care and Control.

Currently, Debra and her husband David live with three rescued rabbits and seventeen rescued rats in their Marin County home. Many of Debra's rescues are considered "unadoptable" (usually due to temperament and/or health issues), but all become social and trusting under her care. "It simply takes understanding, patience, a healthy environment and lots of love," she says.

Debra will share her unique experience and expertise by teaching a Rat Care Class this Sunday. This is a perfect opportunity for prospective rat guardians, rat lovers, pet sitters, teachers, shelter staff, vet techs and assistants to learn all about the emotional and physical needs of these affectionate and intelligent little animals. You can also meet rescued rats, guinea pigs and rabbits that are waiting to be adopted into loving homes.

What: Rat Care Class with Debra Mendelsohn
When: Sunday, July 10th from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m.
Where: RabbitEARS Pet Supply, 303 Arlington Ave, Kensington (click http://tinyurl.com/djbkd for directions)

While this educational event is free, donations are accepted and appreciated. All proceeds from the class benefit Debra's non-profit group, Bay Area Rats Rescue. For more information, email SaveThemAll [at] yahoo.com or call (510) 525-6155.


3. International Day for Korean Dogs and Cats

Hi to all Bay Area animal activists. My name is Karen Steele and I would like to introduce myself as the new Bay Area Coordinator for IDA who will be responsible for organizing and facilitating demonstrations throughout the Bay Area. I look forward to meeting you all and developing a strong and united voice for the animals!

On July 15, 2005, IDA and other animal protection groups will hold worldwide protests to coincide with the first of Korea's "Bok days," which literally means the hot, dog days of summer. South Korea's dog meat consumption increases during this time of year because some superstitiously believe they can keep cool by eating animals that do not sweat.

Although consumption of dogs and cats is technically illegal in South Korea, the Government is now trying to effectively legalize it by regulating dog meat sanitation. The Government's stamp of approval is particularly indefensible given that the vast majority of Koreans oppose eating dogs and cats.

What You Can Do

Please join me and other IDA activists to rally together and protest the atrocities happening to dogs and cats in Korea. This will be a day of international protest when activists throughout the world join together to place a spotlight on the illegal trade in dog and cat products thriving in South Korea. The more people present at these protests will mean the greater pressure placed on Korea to bring a halt to the suffering of these animals, so I hope to see you there!

What: International Day for Korean Dogs and Cats Protest
When: Friday, July 15, 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Where: Korean Consulate, 3500 Clay St. (near Laurel), San Francisco (click http://tinyurl.com/7qwg3 for directions)

For more information and to RSVP, please contact me at karen [at] idausa.org or (415) 388-9641, ext. 217. I look forward to seeing you there!

Click http://www.idausa.org/campaigns.html for more information on IDA's Korean Dog and Cat campaign.