IDA e-news: 2/22/06

IDA ACTION ALERTS
1. Alaskan Wolves Under Deadly Aerial Attack
2. Navy Sonar Causes Beached Whale Deaths
3. Stop the Slaughter of Yellowstone's Wild Bison
NEWS & CAMPAIGN UPDATES
1. Warning: Greenies Treats Can Be Fatal to Dogs
2. Three Swedish Restaurants Renounce Foie Gras
3. Goodall and Greek Dissect Primate Experimentation


IDA ACTION ALERTS

1. Alaskan Wolves Under Deadly Aerial Attack
Urge the Alaska Board of Game to "OPPOSE PROPOSALS 162 - 166"

Next month, the Alaska Board of Game plans to make permanent their existing wolf control program by issuing public aerial shooting or public land and shoot permits, as well as allow the use of snowmobiles as legal methods to pursue and kill wolves. The aerial permits will allow as many as 157 gunners and pilots to take part in the wolf reduction scheme aimed at boosting moose populations. An aerial "hunt" involves pursuing packs of wolves with an airplane and then gunning the animals down when they become too exhausted to run any more. Having already exterminated nearly 450 wolves under airborne hunting permits since 2003, Alaska officials are now aiming for an additional 400 kills this season. If the proposals are passed, the Board's commissioner can legally order this slaughter to take place every year until 2010.

Even though Alaskans have already voted to ban aerial gunning of wolves twice (in 1996 and 2000), Alaska Governor Frank Murkowski refuses to respect the people's will, saying, "We've got a state to manage and a game population to manage, and we've got to do it not on a basis of emotion but on a basis of sound science." However, to claim that big game hunters can scientifically "manage" wildlife populations by shooting top predators from airplanes is patently ridiculous. The wording of a proposal by the Alaska Dept. of Fish & Game outright admits that aerial gunning of wolves is not a scientific management plan but rather a manipulative scheme to increase elk and moose populations for trophy hunters who pump money into the state's economy. "If successful," says their proposal, "the continuation of predator (wolf) control efforts will allow prey populations to increase, and provide more animals for future harvest by hunters." State officials are seeking to re-initiate aerial gunning because apparently trapping and snaring have not sufficiently reduced the wolf population and increased "prey" animal numbers enough to suit hunters.

As the Board of Game prepares to officially authorize aerial gunning and other brutal killing methods in a matter of weeks, IDA is joining forces with Friends of Animals (FOA) to promote their "I'd rather be here than in Alaska" travel boycott campaign. Together we are urging people all over the world to avoid traveling to Alaska until the Government stops managing our public lands as playgrounds for state-sponsored murderers. We strongly urge environmentalists and animal advocates to help remedy this travesty of justice by casting their financial vote collectively against it.

FOA's past tourism boycotts have been very effective. Their campaign in the 1990s was crucial to stopping the aerial gunning of wolves in the first place. They were only recently forced to renew the boycott after the Board of Game started issuing permits for the slaughter. In January of this year, FOA filed a lawsuit in Superior Court against the Board for violating their own rules and regulations, and the judge ordered them to stop issuing permits. At an emergency meeting after the ruling, the Board of Game betrayed the animals and mocked the rule of law by inventing new rules that conveniently give those in power the authority to issue aerial gunning permits again. In addition to rejecting and invalidating the decision of a legal court of law, the Board decided it would be best not to tell the public about the plan or accept comments on their wolf eradication program.

What You Can Do:

Right now happens to be the best time of all to make your voice heard loud and clear. Key representatives from Alaska state and federal agencies will be attending a major meeting soon that will be covered heavily in the media. Everyone present will be exposed to the public's comments, including threats to Alaska's lucrative tourism industry, which is largely supported by ecologically conscious nature lovers who oppose wildlife management methods that rely on lethal force.

Please fax the Alaska Board of Game a concise letter stating:

- That you oppose proposals 162, 163, 164, 165 and 166
- Why you believe aerial gunning of wolves is wrong. Please remember to be concise: two or three sentences in your own words should suffice.
- That if one or all of the proposals passes, you will join the "I'd rather be here than in Alaska" travel boycott campaign against the state.

In order to make your comments as credible as possible, please remember to be polite and professional.

Fax your letter to: (907) 465-6094. Also please call Claire in the Boards Support Section at (907) 465-4110 to confirm receipt of your fax. Please send your fax BEFORE 5:00 p.m. on Friday, February 24th to ensure it is included in the Board workbook. Also ensure that your fax is legible and written on 8 1/2" by 11" letter-sized paper with ample margins on all sides to allow for binding.

You may still submit your comments after February 24th via fax or mail, but you must send them by March 9th, 2006 for them to be considered.

Attn: Board of Game Comments
Alaska Dept. of Fish & Game
Boards Support Section
P.O. Box 25526
Juneau, AK 98802-5526

For more information, contact Melissa Gonzalez, IDA's Campaign Program Coordinator at (415) 388-9641, ext.228 or Melissa [at] idausa.org .


2. Navy Sonar Causes Beached Whale Deaths
Civilian Oversight Agency Claims Navy Endangers Marine Mammals

In a recent letter, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) criticized the Navy for ignoring scientific evidence that their mid-frequency sonar tests harm whales and for using a measure for allowable noise 100 times louder than NOAA's recommended level. The letter also challenged the Navy's plans to build a 500-square-nautical-mile underwater sonar training range in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of North Carolina where they plan to hold submarine warfare training exercises.

NOAA is the civilian agency responsible for issues affecting the marine environment and submitted the letter in response to the Navy's draft environmental impact statement for the proposed testing facility. While NOAA have always in general publicly agreed with the Navy's stance on sonar experimentation, the letter indicates that officials have expressed their concerns to Navy personnel on a number of occasions to no avail, reflecting fundamental disagreements between the groups. The Navy bases their conclusion that sonar tests pose no serious threat to migratory whales on research they have conducted on captive whales, but NOAA points out that studies of marine mammals in the wild indicate that military sonar is causing their organs to hemorrhage with fatal results. The Navy's draft also proposes using a maximum allowable sound level of 190 decibels, which is over 100 times noisier than NOAA's 173 decibel standard.

Since the Navy began conducting sonar experiments in 2000, dozens of whales have fatally or near-fatally stranded themselves on beaches in the Bahamas, the Canary Islands, Japan, Hawaii and Washington State. NOAA is still investigating the stranding deaths of 37 whales from three different species off the North Carolina coastline last year and has expressed concerns that the Navy's proposed testing facility could disrupt the endangered right whale's annual migration through the area.

What You Can Do:

Please write to Secretary of the Navy Donald C. Winter and urge him to take practical measures against harming whales with dangerous sonar experiments, such as conducting tests in areas identified as low-risk for whales and reducing the decibel level of signals.

The Honorable Donald C. Winter
Secretary of the Navy
1000 Navy Pentagon
Washington, DC 20350


3. Stop the Slaughter of Yellowstone's Wild Bison
Governmental Agencies Should Protect, Not Persecute Animals

Most Americans don't know that a mere 23 bison escaped the mass extermination that took place in the 1870s. These few animals found refuge from extinction in Yellowstone, the world's first national park, and became the only continuously wild herd in the U.S. Their descendents have grown in number and continue to live in Yellowstone to this day.

Unfortunately, state and federal agencies like the State of Montana, the National Forest Service and even the National Park Service itself choose to slaughter the bison each winter and spring as they migrate to lower and elevations with milder seasonal climes outside of Yellowstone. They do their dirty business with guns, snowmobiles and helicopters, killing many of the wild animals and capturing some for experiments. Since 2001, government employees and private hunters have killed more than 900 of these animals under provisions of the Interagency Bison Management Plan. American taxpayers fund this slaughter to the tune of $3 million a year simply because Montana ranchers grazing their livestock on public land surrounding Yellowstone say bison compete with cattle for grazing resources. Ranchers are also afraid that wild bison will infect their cattle with brucellosis (a bacterial cattle disease), even though there has not been a single instance of this ever occurring.

Rather than killing wild bison, governmental agencies should be protecting them and allowing them safe passage on their migratory journey. Bison are part of our country's national heritage, and must be preserved for their own sake and for future generations of Americans to experience. By engaging in this wholesale slaughter, the U.S. Government is repeating the mistakes of the past and basing its wildlife management policy on the self-serving whims of a small but powerful special interest group.

What You Can Do:

Click http://ga0.org/campaign/YellowstoneBison to politely urge Montana's Governor, Brian Schweitzer, and Suzanne Lewis, Superintendent of Yellowstone National Park, to ensure that America's bison are managed on the basis of wildlife science, not politics. If you live outside Montana, let them know that won't spend your vacation in the state next year if the buffalo are shot down. You can also contact these individuals by postal mail, phone, fax or e-mail.

Governor Brian Schweitzer
Office of the Governor
Montana State Capitol Bldg.
P.O. Box 200801
Helena, MT 59620-0801
Tel: (406) 444-3111
Fax: (406) 444-5529
E-mail web form: http://governor.mt.gov/contact/comments.asp

Suzanne Lewis, Superintendent of Yellowstone National Park
P.O. Box 168
Yellowstone National Park, WY 82190
Tel: (307) 344-2002
suzanne_lewis [at] nps.gov

The Buffalo Field Campaign is dedicated to protecting the Yellowstone bison from government-sponsored extermination. Visit http://www.buffalofieldcampaign.org to learn more about how you can support their effort.


CAMPAIGN NEWS & UDPATES

1. Warning: Greenies Treats Could Be Fatal for Dogs
World's Most Popular "Pet" Treat May Have Caused 13 Canine Casualties

Joe Roetheli and his wife Judy developed Greenies as a way to freshen your dog's breath while simultaneously cleaning his teeth, but recent allegations that the treat endangers dogs' lives may leave animal lovers feeling queasy. According to guardians and veterinarians, at least 13 dogs have died from eating Greenies because parts of the toothbrush-shaped chew sat undigested in the animals' esophagi or intestines for too long. Although a CNN investigation has identified 40 cases since 2003 in which Greenies chunks became lodged in either a dog's intestine or esophagus, company founder and CEO Joe Roetheli maintains that Greenies are completely safe for dogs to eat and that they are highly digestible when properly chewed.

Since being introduced in 1998, Greenies have become the world's most popular dog treats, selling nearly three times as many animal snacks as the leading competitor. Many ethically conscious guardians buy Greenies because they think the treats are vegetarian, but that isn't quite true. According to the manufacturer, S&M NuTec, "the ingredients used for the natural flavoring are proprietary but we can tell you that there is a very small amount of non-beef based animal protein used."

As a precautionary measure, IDA strongly recommends that guardians avoid feeding Greenies to their dogs until the treat's safety is determined. IDA will keep our members informed of any new developments in this story. For more information, read the CNN investigative piece at http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/02/14/dangerous.dogtreat/index.html .


2. Three Swedish Restaurants Renounce Foie Gras
Worldwide Momentum Continues to Build Against Cruel Culinary Creation

The efforts of animal advocates to educate people about the inherent violence of force-feeding fowl for their engorged livers is paying off as restaurants around the world continue to drop foie gras from their menus. Most recently, three restaurants in Stockholm, Sweden stopped serving foie gras after activists provided them with brochures and videos produced by IDA. On behalf of everyone who cares about the happiness of ducks and geese, IDA thanks Operakallaren, Amaranten and Villa Brevik for taking compassionate action that will greatly reduce the number of animals killed for foie gras.

The restaurants' decision also prompted Sweden's biggest hotel and restaurant trade journal to publish an article that explores the positive public response restaurateurs experience when they give foie gras the old heave-ho. In the article, head chefs at the restaurants explain why foie gras shouldn't be a part of 21st century dining. Swedish activist Daniel Rolke is hopeful for the future because he believes more restaurants will scrap foie gras after hearing about it straight from their respected colleagues.

Foie gras production has already been banned in many countries, including Denmark, Germany, Switzerland, Norway, Poland, Austria, Israel and the U.K. California became the first U.S. state to pass legislation outlawing it in 2004, and other states are considering similar bans. If activists keep up the good work, Sweden could be next to join the ranks of countries that legally protect ducks and geese from the torture of force-feeding.

What You Can Do:

Join with others in your area to convince restaurants to remove foie gras from their menus. Click http://stopforcefeeding.com/page.php?module=serving&article_id=30 to see which restaurants in your state still serve foie gras. E-mail banfoiegras [at] idausa.org for free campaign materials and IDA restaurant cards that you can leave at establishments serving foie gras. Sometimes all it takes is a simple phone call or letter to get a restaurant owner to recognize that selling this delicacy of despair is bad for business. To get inspired, click http://stopforcefeeding.com/page.php?module=victories&article_id=31 and check out or list of restaurants that have chucked foie gras.

For more information about foie gras, visit IDA and the Animal Protection & Rescue League's (APRL's) website http://www.stopforcefeeding.com .


3. Goodall and Greek Dissect Primate Experimentation
Scientists Poke Holes in Claim that Vivisection Helps Humans

Many Americans are unaware that each year, tens of millions of animals are dissected, infected, injected, gassed, burned and blinded in hidden laboratories on college campuses and research facilities. This torture takes place under the guise of improving human health, even while the billions of dollars spent of animal experimentation have not paid off in the form of concrete medical advances.

Human and animal lives depend on people speaking out and taking action. Primatologist Jane Goodall and medical research expert C. Ray Greek have set a good example of this by writing an intelligent, cogent argument against animal experimentation in their recent Boston Globe op-ed. These accomplished scientific figures are two of the animals' most persuasive allies. Dr. Goodall is world-renowned for her decades of studying chimpanzees, and has made a PSA with IDA blasting invasive research on great apes. Dr. Greek is the author of several books, including the highly influential "Sacred Cows and Golden Geese: The Human Cost of Experiments on Animals" and president of Americans for Medical Advancement. Working with IDA's Matt Rossell, in Portland, Ore., Professor Greek once offered to debate anyone at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) on the subject of vivisection, but no one would accept his challenge. In "The Sad Lot of Lab Chimps," Goodall and Greek offer a strong argument against using primates in experiments based on both scientific practicality and ethical concerns.

They begin by addressing the inherent inaccuracy of applying results from experiments done on animals to human physiology. "An apparent similarity in genetic makeup doesn't take into account differences in how genes are 'expressed,' or turned on and off," state the authors. "So, even in identical twins, there can be widely varying reactions to disease-causing agents and drugs. Chimpanzees, despite their relative genetic similarity to us, will be even more different."

The op-ed also describes the biological, psychological and emotional characteristics we share with chimpanzees and asks, "Can it be morally acceptable to conduct invasive research on beings so like us? To imprison them in 5-foot-square, sterile cages, their only stimulation, other than the delivery of food and the cleaning of their cages, lab personnel performing protocols on them? If we look into the eyes of one of these chimpanzees, shall we not feel deep shame?"

The piece ends with a plea on behalf of all sentient beings: "With the knowledge gained from the sequencing of the human and chimpanzee genomes, we must realize that we humans are part of the natural world, a world peopled with beings who, like us, think and, above all, feel. Their lives have meaning in their own right not meant for our selfish benefit, to be used, abused, and discarded. It's time we used our superior intellect to find alternatives to invasive medical experiments on all sapient, sentient beings. Let's hope, too, that the new evidence of our close relationship with chimpanzees will lead to more support for efforts to save great apes from extinction."

Read the op-ed online at http://tinyurl.com/b3ehz .

What You Can Do:

- The op-ed presents a great opportunity for people to write letters to the editor of the Boston Globe critiquing vivisection. Send letters to letter [at] globe.com and be sure to include your full name, address and daytime phone number. Also remember that shorter letters have a better chance of getting published.

- World Week for Animals In Laboratories (WWAIL) offers another opportunity for people to stand up for the primates and other animals victimized for medical research. IDA has been the international coordinator for WWAIL every year since 1986, and encourages everyone to speak out against animal experimentation by joining others in a WWAIL event during the week of April 23 - 30. In 2005, WWAIL events were held in cities across the world, including San Francisco, Boulder, Orlando, Atlanta, Boston, Grand Rapids and Paris. Start planning a WWAIL event today! If you would like to organize and register an event in your community, IDA would be happy to assist you. Visit http://www.wwail.org for more information and to receive free materials.


National Television Premiere of The Witness on Saturday, February 25th

Thanks to IDA's Gabe Quash, the acclaimed animal rights documentary The Witness will be aired to 27 million homes nationally during Link TV's pledge drive on Saturday, February 25th. A film festival favorite, The Witness has won seven Best Documentary awards and one Best of Festival award. The film highlights the dramatic and inspiring personal transformation of tough Brooklyn construction contractor Eddie Lama, whose heart is opened by the tender love of a kitten. After his remarkable change in consciousness, Eddie dedicates himself to rescuing homeless animals and bringing a message of compassion for animals to the streets of New York City via his TV-equipped FaunaVision van.

Be sure to tune in to Link TV (channel 375 on DirectTV, and channel 9410 on the DISH Network) this Saturday, February 25th at 7:00 p.m. PST / 10:00 p.m. EST. The documentary will also be aired again in six subsequent encore broadcasts. We are gratified to have played a part in making this broadcast possible, and that IDA will be mentioned following the film.

Visit http://www.tribeofheart.org/tohhtml/linktvevite.htm for more information about Link TV's national television premiere of The Witness, including dates and times for encore broadcasts.


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 fine feline companions. Click http://www.idausa.org/cat_therapist/index.html to read the latest edition of Cats on the Couch.
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.


The Homeopathy Series:
What is homeopathic medicine?
Featured Remedy: Arnica montana

by Jan Allegretti, coauthor of The Complete Holistic Dog Book: Home Health Care for Our Canine Companions

This is the first in a series of articles on homeopathic medicine. There are thousands of remedies to choose from, and they're among the easiest to use and safest types of medicine available. In this and future articles, we'll look at a featured remedy and its unique healing properties, and also explore some of the guidelines and background information that will help you get the maximum benefit for the animals in your care.

Homeopathy may be the answer to a caregiver's dream. Its remedies are easy to administer, have virtually no side effects, and can be used safely in the treatment of illness and injury in any species. Unlike conventional medicines, or even other natural medicines like herbs and supplements, it is not species specific?the same guidelines for choosing the right remedy and dosage apply whether the patient is a human, a cat, a bird, or a bear. While it can be helpful to have a precise diagnosis, it's not necessary because the choice of remedy is based primarily on symptoms. That makes it easy to treat minor ailments at home, and can be particularly helpful if you must deal with a more serious problem when veterinary care isn't immediately available.

Homeopathic medicines are highly dilute forms of the substances from which they're made. For example, the remedy known as Arnica starts with a tincture made from the leopard's bane plant. A pharmacist dilutes a small amount of the tincture in water or alcohol until the desired dilution is reached?that might be 1:10 (one drop tincture to ten drops water), 1:1,000,000, 1:1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000, or greater. In some cases the remedy is given to the patient as a liquid; more commonly we use tiny sugar pills that have been impregnated with the solution. Both forms are much easier to administer to an animal than most any other type of medicine.

Many homeopathic remedies are made from substances that in their natural state would cause the symptoms you're trying to treat. A good example is Ipecac. Ipecac syrup is used to induce vomiting when a poisonous substance has been ingested. However, the homeopathic version of Ipecac helps to eliminate the symptom of vomiting. How is that possible?

The exact healing mechanism is unclear, but the answer lies in the way the medicines are made, the dilution process we discussed above. The prevailing opinion among homeopathic practitioners is that the remedies themselves carry the energy of the original substance. This energy stimulates a response on an energetic level in the animal who takes the medicine. When that animal is ill and has symptoms that are similar to the ones that might occur if the substance were taken in its pure form, the remedy stimulates the patient's life force, or "vital energy," to begin the healing process. If your dog gets carsick, giving her homeopathic Ipecac may help stimulate her innate healing process to eliminate the symptom of vomiting, so she can enjoy the journey as much as the
destination.

All of these principles explain why homeopathic remedies are as safe as they are. Because they are so highly dilute, we can assume they contain virtually none of the original substances from which they're made, and so there is nothing to react with the body in a way that would cause side effects or toxic reactions. It also explains why the same remedies work for animals of any species. Because they heal on an energetic level, homeopathic remedies never interact with the physical body, which differs from one animal to the next. You might even say that their ability to work with all animals?humans, dogs, cats, birds, reptiles, you name it?is just one more bit of evidence that we are all the same once we get past the unique costumes we wear.

Featured Remedy: Arnica montana
Homeopathy's answer to aspirin. That's a common reference to the remedy you'll probably use more than any other in your medicine chest. Arnica is the first remedy to begin healing any injury, and can help relieve pain in a variety of circumstances. Given after a strain, sprain, bruise, cut, scrape, and even after surgery, it will minimize swelling and speed the healing process. It can also help prevent soreness in muscles and joints after a particularly long romp in the woods.
Consider giving Arnica when you see the following symptoms:*
- Visible injury
- Lameness, or an unwillingness to bear weight on a limb
- Swelling that is not due to infection
- Pain that is not due to illness

*Any of these symptoms could be a sign of a serious illness or injury that requires professional care. Contact your veterinarian if you're not sure.

Do you have a comment or a question? Is there a topic you'd like to see addressed in this column? If so, send a message to Jan at AskJan [at] idausa.org . It won't be possible to respond to all emails personally, but she will welcome and read every one.