IDA e-news: 1/04/06

IDA ACTION ALERTS
1. IDA's January Guardian of the Month - Dr. George Cattiny
2. Help Protect Farmed Animals During Interstate Transport
3. Protest Animal Abuse When the Circus Comes to Your Town

CAMPAIGN NEWS & UPDATES
1. IDA's Campaign to stop Mark Laudenslager's Cruel Primate Experiments Intensifies
2. IDA Continues Hurricane Relief Effort Through the New Year
3. Registration for Animal Rights 2006 Conference Starts January 16th


IDA ACTION ALERTS

1. IDA's January Guardian of the Month - Dr. George Cattiny
Dedicated Veterinarian Embodies His Profession's Oath to Protect Animal Health and Relieve Suffering

Before allowing veterinarians to treat patients, the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) requires that every prospective practitioner take an oath to protect animal health and relieve animal suffering. Few veterinary physicians have taken this solemn oath as close to their hearts as Dr. George Cattiny of Pompton Lakes Animal Hospital in Pompton Lakes, New Jersey.

As part of his veterinary practice, this good doctor runs a no-kill shelter funded out of his own pocket. Meanwhile, he has made it his mission to convince the Borough of Pompton Lakes to build a full-fledged, no-kill shelter for all the homeless animals in the area who need loving care. Dr. Cattiny is also a strong proponent of IDA's Guardian Campaign, and has actively supported it in the Guardian City of Wanaque, N.J. When Bruce Zeman first sought to make Wanaque a "Guardian City", Dr. Cattiny was the only veterinarian courageous enough to offer assistance in support of the effort. In a great victory for animal companions, "Nathan's Law," was unanimously passed by the Wanaque Mayor and Council on May 10, 2004.

For Zeman, it would mark the second time Dr. Cattiny would come to his aid, at a time when he needed it most. One year earlier, Dr. Cattiny's medical expertise saved the life of Zeman's dachshund, Nathan, for whom the ordinance is named. Nathan had suffered a catastrophic spinal injury, and was rushed to Pompton Lakes Animal Hospital, partially paralyzed. Dr. Cattiny immediately began aggressive treatment of the injury, and was able to stabilize him. Nathan would ultimately need reconstructive spinal surgery, but Dr. Cattiny's quick thinking and expertise saved his life. "At a time when Nathan needed him the most, Dr. Cattiny was there for him," says Zeman. "His care and compassion made all of the difference in Nathan's recovery. To my family, this man is a hero."

When the New Jersey Veterinary Medical Association (NJVMA) led an effort to overturn Nathan's Law a year later, Bruce again enlisted Dr. Cattiny's help. In a poignant example of his compassion for animals, Dr. Cattiny came straight to the hearing after performing surgery. Still wearing his surgical scrubs, he spoke eloquently to the city council about the importance of being a guardian. Dr. Cattiny's comments were particularly significant, as they came directly from a noted medical professional and prominent member of the community. Those comments, along with overwhelming community support for Nathan's Law, convinced the council to leave the ordinance intact.

Dr. Cattiny believes so strongly in the power of "guardian" language that he has agreed to become a national Spokesperson for IDA's Guardian Campaign. IDA is excited to begin our partnership with this compassionate and dedicated veterinary practitioner who has demonstrated a strong commitment to advancing the status of animal companions in our society. We are proud to name Dr. George Cattiny our Guardian of the Month for January, and look forward to a fruitful partnership that will benefit our animal friends.

What You Can Do:

- Help your community become the next Guardian City by working with your elected leaders to incorporate "guardian" language into city ordinances, charters, by-laws and other official documents. See http://guardiancampaign.com/guardiancity.htm for a listing of Guardian Cities and check whether your city is there. If not, you can make a huge difference for the animals in your community by becoming one of IDA's Guardian Angels ( http://www.guardiancampaign.com/guardian_angels.htm ). To get involved, contact IDA Campaign Coordinator Anjee Lang at Anjee [at] idausa.org or (415) 388-9641 ext. 219. She will send you a Guardian Pack to get you started, and is also available to personally guide you through every stage of the process. To learn more about the campaign and how you can help, please visit http://guardiancampaign.com .

- Pet Planet ( http://www.petplanet.ca ) - a chain of full-service animal companion specialty stores in Canada offering retail products, grooming, a resort and day spa, training, day care and nutrition counseling - has generously produced attractive green wristbands to promote IDA's Guardian Campaign. The bracelets are imprinted with the words "Embrace Guardianship," and are a great way for people to show their support for animal-compassionate guardian values. To get your free guardian bracelet from IDA, contact Anjee Lang at anjee [at] idausa.org .


2. Help Protect Farmed Animals During Interstate Transport
Tell USDA Officials to Create Federal Regulations for Transport Trucking of Animals

During transport between factory farms, stockyards and slaughterhouses, animals raised for food are often trucked over long distances between farms, stockyards and slaughterhouses without food, water or rest. They are also often completely exposed to extreme weather conditions, from sweltering heat to freezing ice storms. The meat industry crowds these animals tightly together on transport trucks and trailers along America's highways with no regard for their welfare because they can: no law prevents them from treating living creatures like mere cargo. High transportation expenses make it "cost-effective" for companies to move as many animals as possible at one time, even if some of them fall ill and die from stress during the journey. Sadly, it is once again the animals who are forced to pay the price for corporate profit.

There is a federal regulation called the Twenty-Eight Hour Law, which requires livestock in transit to receive food, water and rest at least every 28 hours. However, the law was passed in 1873, and applies only to animals being transported by train. Today, over 95% of farmed animals are transported across state lines in trucks, and have no laws protecting them from starvation, dehydration and exhaustion during interstate transport.

What You Can Do:

Please click http://ga0.org/campaign/FarmedAnimalTransport to urge U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) officials to give animals transported by truck the same legal protections as those transported by train. To have a greater impact, also contact these officials by phone and/or postal mail.

The Honorable Mike Johanns
Secretary of Agriculture
U.S. Department of Agriculture
1400 Independence Ave., S.W.
Washington, DC 20250
Email: agsec [at] usda.gov

Dr. W. Ron DeHaven, Administrator
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services
U.S. Department of Agriculture
4700 River Rd., Unit 84
Riverdale, MD 20737-1234
Email: ace [at] aphis.usda.gov


3. Protest Animal Abuse When the Circus Comes to Your Town
Educate Circus Attendees by Handing Out IDA's Fun & Educational Circus Coloring Book

It's the start of circus season, and you know what that means: bad news for the elephants, tigers, monkeys and other wild animals who are forced to perform. How do circus trainers get wild animals to "dance" on command, leap through hoops of fire, and ride motorcycles around the ring? Numerous exposes and the testimony of many former circus employees confirm that they rely on violence, brutality and intimidation to get animals to perform these demeaning acts. Whips, chains, sharp hooks, electric prods, muzzles and choke collars are the standard tools trainers use to inflict pain and force obedience from helpless animals. They also suffer from severe confinement and isolation when traveling from city to city crammed into small cages. These inhumane conditions prevent animals from engaging in their most basic natural behaviors, causing severe physical and psychological stress and sometimes even death.

Fortunately, audiences that once thrilled to the spectacle of wild animals being tamed under the crack of a whip are today realizing that circuses force these intelligent and sensitive creatures to suffer for our amusement. Attendance is down at circuses that use animals thanks to the ongoing outreach efforts of animal advocates around the country, forcing circuses to reevaluate what entertainment under the big top can be. More and more circuses are dropping animals from their performance rosters, both saving money and delighting audiences who are increasingly concerned about the humane treatment of animals. Most recently, Cole Bros. Circus, founded in 1884, dropped wild animal acts from their repertoire (they still have an act featuring domestic cats). In their place they've added "virtually all new acts" performed by human acrobats, daredevils, and even superheroes like Spiderman and the Incredible Hulk.

What You Can Do:

- Join other animal advocates when the circus comes to your town and let circus patrons know that animals used for entertainment are treated cruelly. Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus is a popular target for activists because of their long and well-documented history of animal abuse. Check their schedule at http://www.ringling.com/schedule to find out when they'll be in your area, and organize with others for maximum effectiveness.

- Be sure to give IDA's Circus Coloring Book to everyone as they enter the big top. Written by IDA's Matt Rossell based on his real-life experiences working undercover at Walker Brothers Circus, this unique book tells the story of General Custer Pie, a former circus clown who quit the biz because the animals were treated so badly. Captivating illustrations by artist Steve Herrington make this coloring book both educational and fun for children of all ages. Contact Anne Campbell at (415) 388-9641, ext. 216 or anne [at] idausa.org to order your copies today.

- Attend an animal-free circus when one comes to your town. The astounding feats of human acrobats, aerialists and jugglers are simply incredible, and you can enjoy them even more knowing that no animals were harmed for your or your family's amusement. Click http://www.idausa.org/campaigns/circuses/noanimals.html for a list of animal-friendly circuses.


CAMPAIGN NEWS & UPDATES

1. IDA's Campaign to Stop Mark Laudenslager's Cruel Primate Experiments Intensifies
Tell University of Colorado President and Regents to Pull the Plug on Inhumane Study

IDA's campaign to stop Mark Laudenslager's idiotic and unbelievably cruel experiments on primates at the University of Colorado (CU) continues to intensify. In his latest questionable five-year project, he serves alcohol to young monkeys to determine whether those with less attentive mothers will drink more than those whose mothers provided better care. It is hard to conceive how this will apply to the real lives of adolescent humans, or why CU and the National Institutes of Health would agree to fund this inhumane and wasteful project.

Following a protest by IDA's Rita Anderson and other activists, The Rocky Mountain News published a front-page photograph with an article that included quotes about the futility and cruelty of Laudenslager's work. Thanks to that coverage and the thousands of postcards and letters pouring into the Regents' offices, the pressure is on the University to terminate Laudenslager's actions.

What You Can Do:

It appears that the regents are getting the message and responding to public opinion. It's important at this point that the pressure stays on, so we urge you to continue writing the Regents and University President Hank Brown.

- Click http://ga0.org/campaign/StopLaudenslager to urge CU President Hank Brown and the CU Regents to end Laudenslager's pointless project now.

To have an even greater impact, write polite letters to President Brown and the CU Regents. You can reach President Brown at:

Office of the President
University of Colorado
35 SYS
914 Broadway
Boulder, CO 80309

Contact information for the CU Regents can be found on the University's website at http://www.cusys.edu/regents/RgntsPUB0101.html .


2. IDA Continues Hurricane Relief Effort Through the New Year
IDA Employees Continue to Make Crucial Food and Water Drops for Surviving Animals

IDA employees spent the week between Christmas and New Years on the ground in New Orleans doing food and water drops for the many animals roaming the streets. Many have been humanely trapped and brought to shelters, yet countless others are still scavenging to avoid starvation. Workers spotted many animals (who were once loving companions) waiting for humans to leave so they could feast on the food left behind. Rescuers were often flagged down while driving around doing food and water drops. On several occasions, IDA workers provided food to residents who have been caring for roving cats and dogs in their neighborhoods left homeless by the storm.

IDA's work was not just relegated to cats and dogs. The guardians of an overweight potbellied pig named Gordy abandoned him just before Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans. When a caring neighbor who had been feeding Gordy had to move out of the area, she called IDA, and we helped transport Gordy to a sanctuary in Baton Rouge.

In another instance, IDA rescuers, lured into a house by a wayward cat, discovered a neglected aquarium full of fish. Four months after the hurricane struck the area, seven small fish were still alive in the filthy tank, having survived only by eating the remains of their dead tankmates. Sadly, thousands more former animal companions are likely still languishing in the storm-ravaged area, slowly dying of starvation after being left behind and assumed dead by their guardians. These seven fish had a much happier ending: they were transported to Virginia and will spend the rest of their days in a forty gallon tank replete with clean water and lots of plants and rocks to explore.

The week culminated in the transport of 20 dogs and cats to California, Maryland and Virginia. A Virginia delegate and his wife are adopting one lucky dog after reading about IDA's life-saving work in the Gulf region. With your help and continued support, IDA has saved countless lives over the last four months.

What You Can Do:

- It has been a continuous challenge to keep the Animal Rescue New Orleans (ARNO) Food and Water program stocked with wet and dry cat and dog food. Workers report that for the last four days they have had no food to drop for the thousands of Katrina animals who are alive today because of its extensive food and water program and the hundreds of volunteers who have been maintaining it since early September 2005. ARNO needs your help to keep a steady flow of food coming to New Orleans well into the New Year so these animals (and their new litters) can continue to have a chance at survival. Please send donations of food to:

ARNO Food & Water Program
Attn: Cadi Schiffer, ARNO F/W Coordinator
Celebration Station
5959 Veterans Memorial Blvd.
Metairie, LA 70003

- IDA needs funds to continue our relief work. Please contribute to IDA's hurricane relief fund. To donate, send checks made payable to IDA with a note reading "for hurricane relief" to In Defense of Animals, 131 Camino Alto, Mill Valley, CA 94941. Click https://secure.ga0.org/02/varescue and scroll down to donate online using your credit card.


3. Registration for Animal Rights 2006 Conference Starts January 16th
Join With Other Animal Rights Advocates this August 10th - 14th in Washington D.C.

Early registration for the Animal Rights 2006 National Conference is scheduled to start on January 16th with substantial discounts for early birds. When you register, you will be assigned a personal web page in a highly sophisticated virtual conference community system. This will enable you to receive conference updates and messages from other registrants, publish a personal profile, interact with other registrants and conference personnel, request or offer shared rides or housing, seek or post employment opportunities, make lunch dates, arrange private or public meetings, schedule your conference agenda, and much more.

The actual Conference will be held on August 10th -14th at the Hilton Mark Center in Alexandria, a suburb of Washington D.C. This is the most attractive venue since Farm Animal Reform Movement (FARM) ( http://www.farmusa.org ) started hosting this national animal rights conference in 1981. The Hilton Mark Center is located on a small lake and adjoins a botanic preserve with running trails. The building has lots of windows to let in sunlight, and an entire level has been reserved for the Conference.

The program will celebrate the 25th anniversary of the modern animal rights movement. A special plenary session will feature reminiscences and progress reports by key figures in the animal rights field. Other traditional features will include workshops, rap sessions, campaign reports, videos, exhibits, a Newcomer Orientation, an Employment Clearinghouse, Networking Receptions, musical interludes, and the Awards Banquet. A number of post-conference activities are also planned for Monday, August 14th. Don't miss this exciting event!

As we have been in previous years, IDA is a proud co-sponsor of the Animal Rights 2006 National Conference. Visit http://www.arconference.org to register (after January 16th), see a program schedule and photos from last year's conference, and hear selected talks in mp3 format.


On the Move? Take IDA With You

IDA's weekly e-news keeps you up to date on important IDA campaigns and events that can help you help animals. In addition, through our Action Center, IDA sends local and regional e-alerts that give you the chance to get involved in issues that affect animals in your community. To stay informed of the latest developments in animal rights, be sure to tell IDA when you change your email address so we can keep in touch with you. Go to http://www.idausa.org/action to update your subscription and preferences. While you're there, click the Tell-A-Friend button and encourage friends and family members to sign up for our e-news today!


The Cat Therapist

Twice a month, Carole Wilbourn, the Cat Therapist, answers questions and offers advice on how guardians can enrich their relationships with their beloved feline companions. Click here ( http://www.idausa.org/cat_therapist/index.html ) to read the latest edition of Cats on the Couch.
Men: the deadline to enter Carole's "Men and their Cats" contest has been extended through January, so there's still time to enter. Also visit Carole's Cat Store at http://thecattherapist.com/cat_store.htm to purchase a copy of her classic book, "Cat Talk: What Your Cat is Trying to Tell You."

Contact Carole at TheCatTherapist [at] idausa.org with your questions about cats.