IDA - Bay Area Events

IDA EVENTS
1. North Bay Production of "Annie" to Benefit IDA
2. IDA Protests Canadian Seal Massacre in San Francisco & L.A.

OTHER BAY AREA EVENTS TO HELP ANIMALS
1. Protest against Six Flags' Discovery Kingdom Animal Abuse
2. Action Alert: Stop Frog Extermination in Golden Gate Park
3. Compassionate Cooks' April Cooking Class: "Simple, Healthful Japanese Cuisine"
4. SFSPCA Classes for Feral Cat Caretakers
5. Disaster Preparedness Training Classes in SF
6. Kermit the Cat Needs a Furever Home


IDA EVENTS

1. North Bay Production of "Annie" to Benefit IDA

The North Bay Repertory Company will present a special production of the play "Annie" with all proceeds going to support IDA's work for animals. Come enjoy this timeless tale of a spunky Depression-era orphan abandoned on the doorstep of a New York City orphanage and determined to find her parents.

The play will feature renowned local actress Sharon Boucher, a beloved acting and singing coach in Marin for over 20 years, in the role of Miss Hannigan, the cruel orphanage owner. This will be the very first time she performs alongside her own students. Also for the first time in North Bay Rep history, "Annie" will feature a real life father and daughter team in the starring roles. Walter Burns will portray Daddy Warbucks alongside his eleven-year-old daughter, Elizabeth, who plays Little Orphan Annie.

Ms. Boucher's plays have raised thousands of dollars for other worthy causes, and IDA thanks her and everyone involved in this play for their generosity. Please come out to support them and IDA.

What: North Bay Rep production of "Annie" to benefit IDA
When: Fridays, March 16th & 23rd at 7:30 p.m.
Saturdays, March 17th & 24th at 2:00 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.
Sundays, March 18th & 25th at 3:00 p.m.
Where: San Rafael Community Center, 618 "B" Street, San Rafael ( http://tinyurl.com/33852j )

Tickets are $15: advance purchase is recommended. For more information and to purchase tickets call (415) 485-3333.


2. IDA Protests Canadian Seal Massacre in San Francisco & L.A.

On Thursday, March 15th, IDA joined animal advocates throughout the U.S. and in 17 countries around the world for the annual International Day of Action to end the seal massacre in Canada. More than 325,000 harp and hooded seals, mostly pups, are killed by Canadian fishermen in Newfoundland and Labrador every year, making this the largest massacre of marine mammals in the world. About 95% of the victims are newborn pups less than four weeks old who are clubbed or shot for their fur. A panel of veterinarians conducted a random post-mortem study on the remains of a seal massacre site and tests revealed an estimated 42% of seals were likely skinned while still conscious.

IDA's headquarters are located in San Rafael, Calif., about 15 miles north of San Francisco, so we co-organized a demonstration with the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society ( http://seashepherd.org ) at the San Francisco/Silicon Valley Consulate General of Canada. About 10 activists held signs and handed out leaflets at the Consulate, and Channel 7 TV News came to cover the protest.

IDA's Southern California Coordinator Bill Dyer also attended a protest at the Canadian Consulate in Los Angeles organized by Harpseals.org. About 65 animal advocates participated in the demonstration outside of the Canadian Consulate in Los Angeles, which was closed because of the protest. Activists handed out many flyers detailing Canada's shameful slaughter of seals to passerby, encouraging them to boycott the Canadian seafood industry until the massacre is officially banned.

The seal slaughter kicks into high gear later this month, when sealers will take to the ice wielding clubs, hakapiks, and guns. Activists from various animal protection organizations will also be there to witness and document the killing. IDA will continue to participate in the global effort to expose the atrocity of Canada's seal slaughter until Prime Minister Stephan Harper declares a permanent end to the seal hunt. Until this happens, we are asking the seafood industry -- which includes restaurants, supermarkets and consumers -- to refrain from the wholesale and retail purchase of all seafood caught in Canadian waters.

What You Can Do:

Recently, there has been a strong push in Europe to ban sealskin products. Germany ( http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,2144,2207697,00.html ) and Belgium ( http://www.ifaw.org/ifaw/general/default.aspx?oid=202696 ) have already initiated bans. Meanwhile, the Canadian government has chastised Britain for expressing their support for a ban on sealskin products throughout the European Union ( http://observer.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,,2010512,00.html ).

Please write or call the British Ambassador to the U.S. and politely urge him to continue pushing for an EU-wide ban on products made from sealskin.

Sir David Manning
3100 Massachusetts Avenue,
Washington, D.C. 20008
Tel: (202) 588-7800
Web email: http://www.britainusa.com/functions/feedback/enquiry.asp

If you write a letter to the Ambassador, please cc the Canadian Ambassador to the U.S. to make sure he knows people are urging other governments to take action against the seal slaughter.

The Honorable Michael Wilson
Office of the Ambassador
Canadian Embassy
501 Pennsylvania Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20001


OTHER BAY AREA EVENTS TO HELP ANIMALS

1. Protest against Six Flags' Discovery Kingdom Animal Abuse

Join Silicon Valley In Defense of Animals (SVIDA) in protesting the City of Vallejo officials for allowing and condoning the exploitation and deaths of many animals held at Six Flags' Discovery Kingdom amusement park. One demonstration will be held at Vallejo City Hall, and another at Six Flags Marine World.

Dozens of marine mammals, four elephants, and other animals are held captive at the noisy park, and many have died unnatural and premature deaths for the sake of profits. The city of Vallejo is responsible for these cruelties because it is part owner of Six Flags Marine World and also "owns" many of the animals on exhibit there.

What You Can Do:

Please help SVIDA inform the public about the animal abuse taking place behind the scenes at Six Flags Marine World during these upcoming demonstrations:

What: SVIDA protest against Six Flags Marine World
When: Friday, March 23rd from 12:00 noon to 2:00 p.m.
Where: In front of Vallejo City Hall, 555 Santa Clara Street, Vallejo (directions - http://www.ci.vallejo.ca.us/GovSite/default.asp?serviceID1=134 )

What: SVIDA protest against Six Flags Marine World
When: Saturday, March 24th from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Where: Six Flags Discovery Kingdom amusement park, 1001 Fairgrounds Dr., Vallejo (directions - http://www.sixflags.com/parks/discoverykingdom/ParkInfo/directions.html ); meet at the park entrance by the ticket booths

Signs and leaflets will be provided. School teachers and students are welcome. For more information, contact Alfredo Kuba of SVIDA at (650) 965-8705 or defendanimals [at] gmail.com .


2. Action Alert: Stop Frog Extermination in Golden Gate Park

On Thursday, March 8th, the San Francisco Animal Control and Welfare Commission ( http://www.sfgov.org/site/awcc_index.asp ) voted almost unanimously to request funds from the city's Board of Supervisors to exterminate what could be thousands of African clawed frogs (Xenopus laevis) from Golden Gate Park's Lily Pond. Only one commission member -- vice-chair Christine Garcia, Esq., founder of the Animal Law Office ( http://www.animalattorney.com ) in San Francisco -- voted against the plan to eradicate the non-native amphibians.

According to Garcia, "These frogs have as much right as any other animal to live in Golden Gate Park," which she points out, is an artificially-created environment to begin with. African clawed frogs are commonly used in medical research, and the ones that founded the colony at Lily Pond may have been released by someone intending to rescue them from lethal experiments at UCSF. However, it is more likely that they were introduced by a well-meaning person who purchased them as "pets" out-of-state and dumped them when they found out that California considers African clawed frogs a controlled species, and possession is a misdemeanor.

"These animals have already been victimized is so many ways," Garcia said. "Now that some frogs have finally found a measure of freedom in nature, people want to kill them off. If there is a problem, it was caused by humans, so we now have an ethical responsibility to find a humane solution that allows these amphibians to co-exist with other species," she said.

City officials have been aware of the frogs' presence since at least 2003, when the California Department of Fish and Game ( http://www.dfg.ca.gov ) started gradually capturing and euthanizing them in an attempt to keep their numbers down. Some scientists have speculated that there may be as many as ten thousand African clawed frogs in Lily Pond, a small human-made body of water just to the east of the Academy of Sciences that also hosts a variety of birds, turtles and fish. Like many other wild species in contained habitats around the world, the frogs also practice their own natural form of population control: cannibalism.

The five-inch olive-brown frogs have a reputation for being voracious eaters, and have been charged with consuming many of the pond's smaller denizens and competing with turtles for insects. They can also carry the chytrid fungus, which can wipe out other frog species. In addition, conservationists fear the species could wreak environmental havoc by leaping their way to other waterways in Golden Gate Park and beyond, although this has yet to happen.

Now, after four years of successfully containing the frogs in Lily Pond, the Animal Control and Welfare Commission is asking the San Francisco Board of Supervisors to eradicate the frogs once and for all. Perhaps they fear potential litigation from property owners, or being perceived as soft on "invader species." Whatever the reason, they are suddenly recommending the most drastic possible action: killing every living creature in the pond in order to save it.

The most likely extermination method would be draining the entire pond, killing every animal who is not relocated by park staff or able to find a new home on their own. Another scenario would be to net all the adult frogs and poison the pond with Rotonone, killing their tadpoles, but this is less likely given the city's integrated pest management plan, which seeks to minimize the use of toxic substances in favor of trapping. In any case, the plan is to kill all the African clawed frogs in Lily Pond, and many other animals will die along with them.

What You Can Do:

Please "Take Action" to politely urge the San Francisco Board of Supervisors to seek a humane approach to dealing with the African clawed frogs in Lily Pond ( http://ga0.org/campaign/acf ) and to post signs around Golden Gate Park warning people not to release animals there. Also follow up with a letter, phone call, fax or email.

San Francisco Board of Supervisors
1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, Room 244
San Francisco, CA 94102-4689
Tel: (415) 554-5184
Fax: (415) 554-5163
TTY: (415) 554-5227
Email: board.of.supervisors [at] sfgov.org

San Francisco residents: It would help if you also personally contact your Supervisor and let him/her know that you are a constituent and a voter who opposes killing the frogs and everything else in Lily Pond. Find out who your Supervisor is and get his/her contact information ( http://gispub02.sfgov.org/website/nuviewer/monsmap.asp?bhiw=999&bhih=588 ).


3. Compassionate Cooks' April Cooking Class: "Simple, Healthful Japanese Cuisine"

Join IDA-sponsored Compassionate Cooks ( http://www.compassionatecooks.com ) at their next cooking class, "Simple, Healthful Japanese Cuisine." Japanese food is one of the most elegant, simple, and healthful cuisines on the planet, and in this class you'll learn to make five delicious, nutritious dishes, including Asparagus & Carrots with Walnut Dressing, Sea Vegetable Salad, Koyadofu Teriyaki (Teriyaki Tofu), Eggplant with Dengaku Sauce, and Soba Noodle Soup with Kale and Shitake Mushrooms.

Using local, in-season, mostly organic ingredients, Compassionate Cooks features easy-to-prepare recipes and debunks myths about plant-based diets. Join the class in April for yummy food samples, a sampling of Japanese tea, and a lot of fun!

What: Compassionate Cooks' April Cooking Class: "Simple, Healthful Japanese Cuisine"
When: Saturday, April 14th, 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Where: The First Unitarian Church of Oakland, 685 14th Street (at Castro), Oakland ( http://uuoakland.org/directions.htm )

The cost of the class is $45, plus $5 food/materials fee due on the day of class. Fees cover demonstration, food samples, copies of recipes, coupons for restaurants and local groceries, resources and much more. Be sure to register by Friday, April 13th either online ( http://www.compassionatecooks.com/reg.htm ) or by calling (510) 531-COOK. Also check out Compassionate Cooks' class packages ( http://www.compassionatecooks.com/deals.htm ), podcasts ( http://www.compassionatecooks.com/audio.html) and cooking DVD ( http://www.compassionatecooks.com/video.htm ).


4. SFSPCA Classes for Feral Cat Caretakers

In 2007, the San Francisco SPCA (SFSPCA) ( http://www.sfspca.org/home.shtml ) will offer a number of classes on providing care for feral cat colonies. If you are already a caretaker for a feral cat colony or have been thinking about helping feral cats in your neighborhood, then be sure to check out these workshops:

March 17th - Medical Issues
April 21st - Feral Moms and Kittens
May 19th - Colony Caretaking
June 16th - Community/Neighborhood Relations
July 21st - Recovery and Aftercare
August 18th - Socializing Feral Kittens

All of these classes will be offered at the SFSPCA shelter at 2500 16th Street in San Francisco ( http://tinyurl.com/2zkswc ) from 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. For more information, write to jkipnis [at] sfspca.org .


5. Disaster Preparedness Training Classes in SF

Among the most indelible images from the Hurricane Katrina tragedy were photographs of people who risked their own safety to move animals through knee-deep floodwaters. People's unwillingness to abandon their animal friends led the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to adopt a policy requiring local and regional disaster planning to include provisions for the rescue and sheltering of companion animals.

The San Francisco Disaster Preparedness Animal Coalition (SFDPA), which consists of six agencies throughout San Francisco, invites members of the public to attend three free volunteer trainings at the San Francisco SPCA. Participants will learn how to protect their own animal companions and assist with the care of the community's animals in the event of an emergency or disaster. The SFDPA includes: San Francisco Animal Care and Control, Pets Are Wonderful Support (PAWS), Pets Unlimited, the San Francisco Veterinary Medical Association, the San Francisco SPCA, and Vet SOS.

Training will consist of three mandatory sessions to be held from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on the following dates:

- Thursday, March 29th: Orientation to disaster preparedness and the role of volunteers with the animal coalition.

- Thursday, April 26th: Volunteers will receive specific training on their assigned roles.

- Thursday, May 31st: Instruction in leadership skills for crisis management.

Space is limited, so if you're interested in taking this free course, please sign up now by emailing publicrelations [at] sfspca.org or calling (415) 554-3050.


6. Kermit the Cat Needs a Furever Home

Hello,

My name is Kermit. It's kinda sad and a bit of a blur how I ended up without a home and on the streets so I will keep that secret to myself. But when I was trying to live the best I knew how on the road, I injured my leg. Boy did it hurt. I was really scared. I didn't even know where I was going. Fortunately I was rescued by a shelter and they fixed my leg and it stopped hurting. But just when I thought I was out of the woods, I was told that my rent was up and they might have to kill me. Fortunately for me, I'm a charming guy. I sweet talked them, sang to them, and purred in such a different way, they were spellbound. As a matter of fact, they told me I sounded like a frog when I purred and I made everyone smile. That's how I got my name. Instead of killing me, they begged the Humane Society of Santa Clara Valley to let me live with them. Whew! Lucky for me, the Humane Society said YES!

Don't get me wrong, I like these people at the shelters, but I want a real home. I like rolling on my back, belly rubs and sitting in laps. I love attention. Did I tell you I sing? Really and truly I do. It's not just a sales pitch!

Gulp...here's the hard part. I'm kinda afraid to tell you because it is the reason no one wants me. I am FIV positive. Don't worry. It's not contagious to people, but it is to other cats. That means I have to find someone who will love only me, and no other cats. (Hey, maybe that's a good thing!) Or, if you already have a cat who is FIV positive, maybe your kitty and I can become good buddies too. Even though my past is a bit of a blur I think I'm about five or six years old. That means I'm still a young, handsome guy. Hey...and even though I'm FIV positive, I probably have a lot of years ahead of me. I don't like the streets or being outdoors on my own anymore, so your home will be my palace. With my good looks and all of this charm! I think you will fall in love with me.

If you are interested in adopting me, please call the Santa Cruz SPCA at (831) 465-5000 and tell them that you are interested in Kermit.