IDA eNews: 6/06/07

IDA ACTION ALERTS
1. Help Make Your Community a Guardian City in 2007
2. Undercover Slaughterhouse Investigation Exposes Cruelty
3. Polls Show Strong Support for Banning Foie Gras

CAMPAIGN NEWS & UPDATES
1. Alaska Zoo Announces Decision to Relocate Maggie the Elephant
2. IDA’s Guardian of the Month for June - Jan McHugh-Smith
3. IDA-India Seeks Justice for 17 Dogs Burned to Death


IDA ACTION ALERTS

1. Help Make Your Community a Guardian City in 2007
Learn how to start a Guardian campaign in your community

The number of guardians -- and guardian cities -- is growing. Currently, 2,743,785 Americans and Canadians can be officially recognized as "Animal Guardians." Among these are many famous and prominent animal advocates ( http://www.guardiancampaign.com/friendsofcampaign.htm ) who have voiced their support for IDA's Guardian Campaign ( http://www.guardiancampaign.com ).

In last week's eNews ( http://ga0.org/indefenseofanimals/notice-description.tcl?newsletter_id=9483086 ) we encouraged readers to check out a book called Lauren's Story: An American Dog in Paris, the true and heartfelt tale of a starving, stray beagle who ends up in the City of Love: Paris, France. The book's author, Kay Pfaltz, is one of those who see great value and promise in the guardian concept. "When we begin to speak of animals as intelligent, sentient and sensitive beings, we also begin to see and respect them as such, not mere commodities or property subject to abuse," she says. "I have never felt I 'owned' the animals with whom I've lived, but rather that I cared for them, protected them, and learned from them. I love the term 'guardian.'"

Would you like to add the term "animal guardian" to your city's animal-related ordinances? It's easier than you think, and IDA campaigners are available to help you along every step of the way, from introducing a proposal to your legislators to networking with others in your area who share your vision.

What You Can Do:

1) Make your community the next guardian city! If your community is not yet on the list of official guardian cities ( http://www.guardiancampaign.com/guardiancity.htm ),
please contact Valerie Sicignano at (917) 400-2131 or Valerie [at] idausa.org or Dr. Elliot Katz at (415) 388-9641, ext. 225 or emk [at] idausa.org to learn how you can make your community the next guardian city. We would love to have an additional 10 cities sign on by the end of the year. It truly will make a difference to our animal friends.

2) Make a compassionate statement with your wardrobe by wearing a Guardian t-shirt ( http://www.idausa.org/marketplace/clothing/clothing.html ).

3) Discuss what it means to be a guardian, not an owner, with your family and friends. Learn more about what it means to be a responsible guardian ( http://www.guardiancampaign.com ).


2. Undercover Slaughterhouse Investigation Exposes Cruelty
Urge USDA to protect chickens and turkeys under the federal Humane Slaughter Act

Largely hidden from view, every year over 9 billion chickens and 250 million turkeys are raised on factory farms and killed in our nation's slaughterhouses. Their suffering often goes unseen and their cries unheard - until now.

A new Mercy For Animals (MFA) undercover investigation ( http://www.mercyforanimals.org/hor/ ) goes behind the closed doors of one of the country's largest poultry slaughterhouses -- House of Raeford Farms, Inc. in Raeford, North Carolina. In January and February of 2007, an MFA investigator worked in the "live-hang" area of the plant (where live birds are snapped into shackles on the slaughter line), secretly filming egregious acts of animal cruelty with a hidden camera. Shocking abuses he witnessed include:

- Turkeys with broken wings and legs, bloody open wounds, tumors, and other untreated injuries being slaughtered for human consumption.
- A worker violently punching live, shackled turkeys for "fun."
- Employees forcefully shoving their hands into the cloacae (vaginal cavities) of live chickens.
- Turkeys and chickens being thrown across the facility and up into the air.
- Workers ripping the heads off live turkeys.
- Birds being crushed to death under the wheels of trucks.
- Conscious turkeys having their throats slit.

After viewing the footage, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and meat-industry advisor Dr. Temple Grandin -- who is generally recognized as the world's leading scientific authority on animal welfare -- said, "This is a sloppy poorly managed plant where employees are allowed to abuse animals...There are some management people that need to get fired."

The workers responsible for the abuse cannot be charged under federal law because the USDA refuses to protect turkeys and chickens in its enforcement of the Humane Slaughter Act. And though the abuses MFA's investigator documented are outrageous, it only begins to scratch the surface of the larger picture of farmed animal cruelty in the United States.

As such, MFA is seeking felony cruelty-to-animals charges against House of Raeford Farms, Inc. for violating North Carolina animal cruelty statutes. On May 18, 2007 MFA furnished the Hoke County prosecutor with a criminal complaint containing affidavits and video footage documenting slaughterhouse workers violently punching, throwing, and ripping the heads off of live animals, as well as testimony from world-renowned animal welfare scientists attesting to the pain inflicted on birds at the facility.

What You Can Do:

1) Go Vegan - Every time we sit down to eat, we can refuse to support the abuse of animals. Adopting a vegan diet is the single most important and powerful action you can take to end animal cruelty. June happens to be Turkey Lover's Month, a time when many people "love" turkeys by eating them. However, to truly celebrate Turkey Lover's Month, you can show you really love turkeys by leaving them off your plate.

To learn more about starting a compassionate new diet on behalf of the birds and other animals in slaughterhouses, order a copy of IDA's Vegan Starter Kit ( http://www.idausa.org/vegandays/vegan_kit_order.htm ). Our kit, produced jointly by with MFA, includes advice on making a gradual transition to veganism, health and environmental facts, and many delicious recipes that are cruelty-free and easy to prepare. Also visit http://www.worldgovegandays.com for more general information about veganism.

2) "Take Action" to urge the USDA to start protecting chickens and turkeys under the federal Humane Slaughter Act ( %takeaction-mfa% ). Currently, the USDA does not apply the Act's coverage to birds, which make up over 95% of the animals killed for food in the U.S. Also follow up with a polite letter, phone call, or email:

The Honorable Mike Johanns
Secretary of Agriculture
U.S. Department of Agriculture
1400 Independence Ave. S.W., Ste. 200A
Washington, DC 20250
Tel: (202) 720-3631
Mike.Johanns [at] usda.gov


3. Polls Show Strong Support for Banning Foie Gras
IDA and RSPCA call on consumers and lawmakers to reject deadly "delicacy"

IDA and the Animal Protection and Rescue League (APRL) ( http://aprl.org/ ) recently released the results of an independent Zogby opinion poll on banning foie gras -- liver from ducks or geese that have been force-fed -- in San Diego. The poll found that 85% of San Diegans agree that foie gras should be banned in San Diego, including 74% who "strongly agree."

Section 25980 of the California Health & Safety Code makes it illegal to sell or produce foie gras from force-fed birds in California starting in 2012. The poll asked if the public supports banning foie gras in San Diego without waiting for the statewide law to go into effect. The San Diego City Attorney recently issued a memo stating that the city could legally do this.

A number of politicians and celebrities have weighed in on the heated debate over foie gras. Most recently, San Diego native and star Kathy Najimy ( http://www.kathynajimy.com/ ) sent a letter to the San Diego City Council urging their support on a ban on the sale of the product. "Foie gras is nothing more than a diseased organ with a high price tag, and this cruel product has no place in America's Finest City," Najimy wrote.

Last December, APRL presented a video of its animal cruelty investigations into this controversial industry narrated by Sir Roger Moore (James Bond) to the San Diego City Council's Natural Resources and Culture Committee to support an ordinance that would ban the sale of foie gras. A vote on the proposed ordinance is still pending.

Meanwhile, in the UK, results of a poll conducted by the Royal Society for the Protection of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) ( http://www.rspca.org.uk/ ) showed that 63% of Brits favor banning foie gras. British animal welfare laws prevent foie gras producers from setting up shop in the country, but the popularity of imported foie gras is on the rise. Chloe Alexander, an RSCPA campaigner, says the animal suffering caused by the force-feeding process "should be enough to turn anyone's stomach."

For more information about foie gras cruelty, visit http://www.stopforcefeeding.com .


CAMPAIGN NEWS & UPDATES

1. Alaska Zoo Announces Decision to Relocate Maggie the Elephant
IDA Urges Move to Sanctuary; Not Another Zoo

On Wednesday, June 6, the Alaska Zoo Board of Directors announced that it would relocate Maggie, a 27-year-old African elephant who has long been the center of controversy, to a yet-to-be named facility, provided certain criteria can be met. IDA is applauding the decision to move the long-suffering pachyderm and is urging Alaska Zoo to send Maggie to a sanctuary rather than another zoo. Only a sanctuary can provide the space and natural conditions that Maggie needs to thrive.

"Finally, the Alaska Zoo has made the right decision for Maggie," said veterinarian and IDA president Dr. Elliot Katz. "I only hope that it is not too late."

Inadequate conditions at Alaska Zoo have taken a serious toll on Maggie. Last month, Maggie was twice found lying down and unable to get up. Both times, the Anchorage Fire Department hoisted Maggie up, utilizing as many as 17 firefighters and heavy equipment. During the first incident, Maggie was down for up to 19 hours, an extremely dangerous situation because the weight of the elephant's body can stop blood flow to the extremities, impair breathing, and damage internal organs.

Maggie has captured worldwide attention as the only elephant in Alaska, where she is forced to spend the cold half of the year indoors and sedentary in a 1600-square-foot pen with concrete flooring, which can lead to fatal foot and joint problems. Maggie has lived alone since the 1997 death of her companion, Annabelle, caused by chronic foot infections. Annabelle was euthanized at age 33, half an elephant's natural lifespan.

"At a sanctuary, Maggie will have access to the space, varied terrain, and socialization that all elephants desperately need," explained Katz. "Increased movement on natural surfaces will help Maggie to heal from the punishing years spent indoors and sedentary at Alaska Zoo."

Meanwhile, IDA continues to urge the Zoo to release medical records to the public. As a private facility not subject to state open records laws, Alaska Zoo is not required to publicly disclose records documenting Maggie's current physical condition.

Thank you to everyone who called, wrote, and emailed the Alaska Zoo. Reports indicated that the Zoo has heard from thousands of concerned individuals in support of relocating Maggie, so your voice does make a difference!

For more information on IDA’s campaign to move Maggie, please visit http://www.HelpElephants.com .


2. IDA's Guardian of the Month for June - Jan McHugh-Smith
New SF/SPCA President helped Boulder, Colo. become first guardian city

Jan McHugh-Smith has been a strong supporter of IDA's Guardian Campaign ( http://guardiancampaign.com ) since its earliest days. In fact, she and Rita Anderson (Director of the Committee for Research Accountability, a project of IDA) were the key figures in making Boulder, Colo. the world's first official guardian city ( http://idausa.org/news/newsarchives/news_boulder.html ) in July 2000.

Back then, as Executive Director of the Humane Society of Boulder Valley (HSBV), McHugh-Smith submitted a proposal to the City Council recommending a municipal code modification that would allow people to be referred to as the "guardians" of their animal companions instead of their "owners." The Council overwhelming voted in favor of the measure, making history and blazing a trail for other compassionate communities to follow. Boulder essentially became a test case for the guardian concept, and in time proved that updating the language of city ordinances could advance people's thinking about how animals should be treated without causing any adverse legal repercussions.

"The word 'guardian' denotes a higher level of responsibility towards another being," McHugh-Smith said at the time. "Although it is a simple language change that does not alter the legal status of animals as property, we hope that the increased awareness of the 'guardian' language will elevate the status of animals in our community. We will use the word 'guardian' as another tool to fight animal abuse and exploitation."

The guardian model initially gained acceptance in Boulder in large measure because of the high degree of respect McHugh-Smith has earned within the animal welfare community for her work on behalf of homeless animals. During her 12 years as HSBV's CEO, McHugh-Smith reduced the euthanasia rate from 45% to 15% percent, and raised the rate of animals reunited with their guardians or adopted into a new family to 86%, with 100% placement of healthy animals. She also raised about $6 million to finance the design and construction of a new shelter facility, and oversaw the business development of a Veterinary Clinic, Thrift Store, and Behavior and Training Center. Under McHugh-Smith's leadership, HSBV ultimately increased the number of animals they are able help to more than 8,000 cats and dogs a year.

In April 2007, McHugh-Smith took on a new position as President of the San Francisco Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SF/SPCA) ( http://www.sfspca.org ), a nonprofit animal welfare organization founded in 1868. She is only the eighth president in the SF/SPCA's 139-year history, and also the first woman to be appointed to the job. SF/SPCA's shelter, Maddie's Pet Adoption Center ( http://www.sfspca.org/adoption/maddies.shtml ), located in the city's Mission District, is considered one of the country's model animal shelters, and features clean, glass-walled "condos" for the canine and feline residents. The shelter's success is one of the reasons that San Francisco was recently named America's most humane city ( http://ga0.org/indefenseofanimals/notice-description.tcl?newsletter_id=8999755#7 ), and McHugh-Smith is understandably excited about starting this new chapter in her career and her life.

McHugh-Smith, who recently moved with her husband and three rescued dogs to scenic Marin County, Calif. (where IDA has its main office), is both a consummate guardian and a role model for those who want to make the world a better place for homeless animals. IDA is proud to honor this exceptional advocate by naming her our Guardian of the Month for June 2007.


3. IDA-India Seeks Justice for 17 Dogs Burned to Death
Complaint triggers official inquiry by Animal Welfare Board of India

In response to a complaint filed by IDA-India ( http://www.idaindia.org/ ), the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) has launched an inquiry into the mass-burning of 17 homeless dogs at Shwan Nasbandi Kendra, a municipal sterilization center. The dogs were killed in this brutal manner by shelter personnel "in the interest of public health." Officials who ordered the flaming execution claimed the animals were "rabid, diseased and violent," and could create "unhygienic conditions" that might compromise the health of other canine residents.

While the center did have legal permission to dispatch of the dogs, IDA-India and AWBI both maintain that burning the dogs to death, even for suspected rabies, was illegal as well as unconscionable. IDA-India informed AWBI of the violation after getting a tip from a local resident and animal lover on April 4. IDA-India president Fizzah Shah and two colleagues soon made a personal visit to the center to determine whether the report was true.

To their great horror, it was. Among piles of singed hair and blackened collars, they found the charred bodies of 17 dogs dumped on the ground in back of the locked sterilization facility. According to Shah's testimony, "It was clear that dog burning was a regular practice over there." The kennels and operating room were also disgustingly filthy and lacked proper drainage systems.

The center's mission is to collect stray dogs from the streets, sterilize them, and release them after monitoring their health for five days. However, IDA-India found out from local residents that the killing has been going on for at least two years, and that the dogs barely get any food and water. Even after this scandal, police have so far refused to investigate, claiming that no offense has been proven and indifferently rejecting any evidence to the contrary.

In the face of police inaction, IDA-India used the local cable TV station to break the story. News cameras captured the sight, if not the horrible smell, of burned and rotting dog carcasses scattered like trash behind the center. They also filmed the 12 remaining dogs, who police had locked inside without food or water. The footage was broadcast throughout the Bhiwandi area. The AWBI inquiry is still pending.


Have an IRA? Take Advantage of New Tax Laws to Help Animals!

If you are over 70 and would like to make a special gift to the animals in 2007, you may be interested to learn about a recent update on tax laws that could make it easier.

In August, 2006, President Bush signed the Pension Protection Act of 2006. Under this Act, any donor who is 70 ½ years old or older by the date of contribution may make a gift to their favorite charity from their IRA free of tax obligations. Before this new law, one had to report any amount taken from their IRA as taxable income. Then, if they wanted to make a charitable gift they could only take a deduction of up to 50% of their adjusted gross income. In effect, that caused some donors to pay more in income taxes than if they didn't make a gift at all!

To take advantage of this new law, a donor has to inform his or her IRA or IRA Rollover administrator to make the transfer directly from the IRA to a tax-exempt organization…the donor can't receive the funds and then give them away. The distributions will be tax-free and will avoid the penalty on early withdrawals.

Taxpayers are allowed to donate up to $100,000 in 2007 (a couple may be able to transfer up to $200,000 if both husband and wife have IRAs) directly from their IRA to a nonprofit without paying income tax on the distribution. Since the distribution will not be included in taxable income, individuals will not be able to claim a tax deduction for the charitable contribution. The legislation is set to expire on December 31st of this year. Therefore, to qualify for the tax exemption, gifts must be completed by December 31, 2007.

Donors to whom the new IRA rollover likely will appeal include those already giving at their 50% deduction limit; those whose income level causes the phase-out of their exemptions; those who do not itemize their deductions; and those for whom additional income will cause more of their Social Security income to be taxed.

For further information on the IRA Charitable Rollover, or to request a Sample Letter, which can be sent to your plan administrator, please contact Nicole Otoupalik, Director of Planned Giving at (800) 338-4451 or nicole [at] idausa.org .