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ASPCA is fighting
for Pets everywhere!
The
mission of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) is to provide effective means for the
prevention of cruelty to animals throughout the United States.
There are so many problems and not enough being done!
Animals are made to suffer because they are not important enough ( & they don't vote) to be helped by our politicians.
ASPCA is trying to change that! They need your help!
Please go to the ASPCA site and look through the
different issues being addressed. Then submit your opinion to your state representative or Senator using the form provided!
Check back often to see new issues.
It
is about time we help the helpless!
http://www.aspca.org
Seneca White Deer Conservation
 The Seneca Army Depot –What Fate Awaits?
A strange thing happened in the former Seneca Army Depot, thanks to the protection of the military. After all the munitions
igloos were built, 519 of them to be exact, a 24 mile fence was erected around them for obvious security measures. It was
estimated that within this 12 square mile area, that 20-40 whitetail deer, normal brown coloration deer, found themselves
in their new home. The deer soon thrived with plenty of good habitat, few natural predators and no human predators. About
a decade after the fence was completed, something really unique occurred; a white deer was seen! The acting General ordered
the soldiers to protect that white deer and any others that might appear. Soon, the white coloration gene began to express
itself even more, and with Army protection, the white deer population rapidly expanded and soon became the world’s
largest herd of white deer. Just think, right in our own backyard of New York State!
Today, the fenced area, known as the Conservation Area, is quiet and closed to the public. Its 519 igloos stand in mute
testimony to their participation in all the decades of the Cold War and most recently, Desert Storm. The fence, standing
but slowly eroding, still contains the deer herd, both brown and white deer, probably 600 in total. Their fate and the fate
of all the natural resources of the former Depot, rests in the hands of local politicians of Seneca County. A new Master Plan
was recently unveiled which cut the 7500 acres of the Conservation Area to 1450 acres of which several hundred acres are still
undergoing hazardous waste remediation. Under this plan, conservation and the white deer are truly doomed.
Seneca
White Deer Inc. took on the challenge of trying to protect the natural assets of the Depot because we felt this open space,
so unique in the Finger Lakes and containing the world’s largest herd of white deer, should be conserved for all the
people of the world to enjoy, both now and for future generations. To drive thru the Depot and see mobs of turkeys, many varieties
of raptors and song birds galore as well as wild flowers, wetlands, and the white deer, is a feast for the eyes and the human
mind. I often think back to a quote I have kept in my head since the 60’s, “Of what avail are 40 freedoms without
a blank spot on a map?” Yes, a blank spot containing a treasure trove of flora and fauna, waiting and hoping for the
right decision to be made. I just hope that the right decision, to protect the natural resources of Depot and keep the Conservation
Area as large as possible for eco touring and the deer, is made. There is no place like this in the world and once gone will
not likely happen again.
Dennis Money
Chair, Seneca White Deer Inc.
http://www.senecawhitedeer.org/
Animals matter to me, make them matter to
the government!
Sign this petition if you love animals!!
U.s Senate and house of Reps Pass Bills
to Protect Pets in Emergencies! (Bill no. S. 2548)
In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, it has become overwhelmingly
apparent that provisions need to be made for our trusted companions in major disaster and emergency situations. The
Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards Act (PETS) would amend a federal law called the Stafford Act. It would
require the director of FEMA, in approving standards for state and local disaster preparedness plans, to ensure that the plans
take into account the needs of individuals with household pets and service animals. The bill would also allow the director
of FEMA to make financial contributions to state and local authorities for animal emergency preparedness purposes, including
establishing shelters to accommodate people with pets and service animals.
Many Katrina evacuees and disaster victims were forced
to leave their pets behind when they evacuated their homes, because no provisions had been made to evacuate companion animals
along with their families. The emotional trauma of those forced to leave their pets behind and the suffering of tens
of thousands of animals was compounded by the health and safety risks that resulted from so many abandoned animals in one
area. Conversely, many pet owners, knowing their companion animals could not accompany them, chose to stay in their
homes with their pets, further complicating human rescue efforts. The PETS bill would help ensure that this situation
does not repeat itself if another major disaster strikes!
UPDATE: August 7, 2006 - The ASPCA is happy to announce that
prior to its summer recess on Friday, August 4th, the United States Senate passed S.B. 2548! The House of Representatives
passed its version of the PETS Act in May. Since both versions differ slightly the bills will need to go to a conference
committee where the differences will be reconciled. The final legislation will then be sent to President Bush for his
signature into law or veto. The ASPCA will keep you apprised once the members of the conference committee are appointed
to urge them to support the Senate version of the bill, which is stronger.
Ringling Brothers Charged With Abusing Elephants!
Lawsuit against circus based on Endangered Species Act.
As Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus begins
performing at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Several animal welfare organizations, including The Fund for Animals,
The Animal Welfare Inst. and The ASPCA are warning th public about the brutality circus staff routinely inflict on performing
elephants. The groups charge that to train and control its elephants, Ringling Brothers routinely keeps the 6,000 to 10,000
pound animals in chains and regularly beats them with bullhooks- clubs with sharp metal hooks on the end. In support of these
charges, the organizations presented eyewitness sworn accounts by former Ringling Brothers employees, a recent Dept. of Agriculture
report that Ringling Brothers causes "physical harm" to its baby elephants and recent video footage of Ringing Bros.
Employees hitting elephants.
"People go to the circus because they love animals", according to Nancy
Balney, Director of Government Affairs for the ASPCA, "not knowing they are unwittingly perpetuating the abuse this circus
inflicts on elephants. As long as people continue to buy tickets, Ringling Brothers will continue to torment elephants."
The groups, joined by a former Ringling Bros. elephant worker, have sued Ringling Brothers under the Endangered
Species Act, which prohibits the "harming" of any animal that is listed as "endangered". Ringling Bros.
uses endangered Asian elephants in its circus. The case is pending in federal district court in Washington, DC.
The
reports of routine chaining and beatings are based on several recent eye-witness accounts by Ringling Bros. employees who
recently left the circus and who have submitted sworn testimony to the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture that elephants are routinely
beaten and repeatedly hit and prodded with sharp bullhooks in order to "break" them and make them perform "tricks"
in the circus.
The organizations also point to a recent USDA investigation which found that Ringling Brothers inflicted
"large visable lesions" on baby elephants at its "Conservation Center" in Florida, when it forcibly seperated
the less than 2 year old babies from their mothers during what Ringling Bros. employees referred to as the "routine"
seperation process. After consulting an independant panel of elephant experts, in May 1999 the USDA informed Feld Entertainment,
Ringling Bros. parent company, that this treatment of the babies caused them "trauma and physical harm", and was
completely unnecessary.
"All of this treatment violates the law," said Katherine Meyer, attorney who
is handling the case against Ringling Brothers. "Both the Endangered Species Act and the Animal Welfare Act prohibit
the abuse of these magnificent animals. It's time to put an end to this archaic pratice."
Taken from the ASPCA web site.
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