AR-News: IDA Enews 2-23-04

[Lydia Nichols]

Vol. 3, Issue 7 
February 23, 3004

Table of Contents:
1.  Another “Guardian” City 
2.  World Week for Animals in Laboratories (WWAIL) 2004
3.  Miracle Dog Raises Awareness About Overpopulation
4.  Chronic Wasting Disease work in CO 
5.  CBS Evening News on Animal Issues 
6.   IDA Job Opening

Welcome to In Defense of Animals' e-newsletter! Please visit our website
to learn more about IDA's work and what you can do to help animals.
www.idausa.org. 

1.  Another “Guardian” City



We are thrilled to announce the passage of the guardian ordinance in yet
another city! Last week, the Woodstock, NY, city council voted
unanimously to amend the city's municipal code to refer to people as
"guardians" of their companion animals rather than the antiquated term
"owner." The action made Woodstock the eighth city in the nation, along
with the State of Rhode Island, to acknowledge the right of individuals
to define themselves as guardians of their companion animals.

IDA applauds the hard work of Andy Glick and Kirsti Gholson with the
Woodstock Animal Rights Movement. Their dedication and work made this
goal a reality. Read IDA’s press
<http://www.idausa.org/news/currentnews/woodstock.html> release
<http://www.idausa.org/news/currentnews/woodstock.html>  on this
exciting news. 

What you can do:

Stay informed about developments in the Guardian Campaign, and learn how
to initiate the process to change the ordinances in your community,
visit here
<https://admin1.getactive.com/pvtd/msg/www.guardiancampaign.org>  for
more information. 

2.  World Week for Animals in Laboratories (WWAIL) 2004

Millions of animals are killed in research laboratories each year under
the guise of helping humans. Sadly, animal research is based on profit
motives by the research industry and fueled largely by fear. But how can
we as activists make a real difference in the lives of animals used in
laboratories?

What you can do:

Thankfully, you don’t have to sit by while animals die. Animals need you
to remind people everywhere, from all walks of life, about the reality
of animal experimentation and what they can do to make a difference. 

World Week for Animals in Laboratories (WWAIL), an annual week-long
event intended to focus attention on the plight of animals suffering in
research labs, is approaching, and we are looking for coordinators to
help us maximize our fight to stop animal suffering in labs. If you
would like to help, please contact us for more information and help
organizing WWAIL events in your area. IDA will send you free posters and
leaflets and can help by informing other activists in your area about
the event. 

Contact Lydia at lydia at idausa.org for more information or
www.vivisectioninfo.org to learn more.

3.  Miracle Dog Raises Awareness About Overpopulation

IDA and Stray Rescue of St. Louis are working together to promote
adoption in St. Louis, where a dog miraculously survived the shelter’s
gas chamber in August last year. As you may recall, the dog was adopted
by Randy Grim, director of Stray Rescue of St. Louis, and subsequently
named Quentin, after the notorious San Quentin prison and gas chamber.
Quentin drew national media attention to the plight of homeless animals
in shelters, and for the need to spay or neuter and rescue or adopt, and
we honored Randy and Quentin for their heroism at our 1st Annual
Guardian Awards in October. 

IDA and Stray Rescue of St. Louis have placed bus ads all over St. Louis
from February through April encouraging people to adopt animals from
shelters. IDA and Stray Rescue of St. Louis have also spearheaded the
campaign to end the use of the crude gas chamber in the state of
Missouri. 

The ad campaign received a great deal of media coverage, including a
cover story on the WB network. There was a special adoption event in
which Quentin was back at the place that tried to gas him to meet
potential adopters. Thanks to the media attention, more animals were
adopted that day than on any other in the facility’s 62-year history!
The mayor was present along with all of the media.  




4.  Chronic Wasting Disease in Colorado 



There is much concern in Colorado about the handling of wild deer and
elk populations by the Colorado Division of Wildlife.  It has been
learned that some "big game rehabilitators" are turning fawns over for
research instead of rehab/release as the public is led to believe.  In
addition, the DOW has killed thousands of deer and elk each year in an
effort to "control" the spread of chronic wasting disease.  CWD is a
prion disease in the same family as mad cow disease in cows and
Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in humans.
 
Rita Anderson of the Committee for Research Accountability, a project of
IDA, is working with the Wildlife Legacy Trust and the CWD Working Group
to gather more information through open records requests.  The Fund for
Animals and the Humane Society of the United States have also pledged
their support in helping to stop the DOW from killing these animals.




5.  Thank CBS Evening News for Its "Man vs. Nature" Series



This week the CBS Evening News is airing a series called "Man vs.
Nature: America's Wild Treasures for Sale?" You can view the reports of
each evening’s story
<http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/02/16/eveningnews/main600519.shtml>
online. The stories are balanced—they are not necessarily pro-animal
pieces—but it is rare to get such extensive news coverage of
long-standing animal issues, and providing feedback to a station
encourages it to air more. 

What you can do:

Please thank The Evening News by emailing evening at cbsnews.com or filling
out its feedback  <http://www.cbsnews.com/feedback/fb_news_form.shtml>
form where you will need to choose "CBS Evening News" from the pull-down
menu. 
 
Sign up for regular alerts to learn about important animal-related media
reports by emailing  <mailto:KarenDawn at DawnWatch.com>
KarenDawn at DawnWatch.com and saying you'd like to receive alerts. 

6.  Job Opportunity: Pubic Relations/Communications Coordinator 


IDA is seeking an experienced public relations/communications
coordinator to be responsible for all IDA public relations and
communications, including press releases, media outreach, production of
the IDA magazine and regional and campaign-specific newsletters,
e-alerts and e-newsletter, content management of IDA websites, creation
of advertisements, and all other press and community outreach materials.

Must be able to work well with a variety of key decision-makers and
support staff, be organized, creative, pro-active, detail-oriented and
possess excellent written and verbal communication skills. Prior
experience with media relations, publication editing, and/or web content
development is desirable. Must be a proficient editor and adept in MS
Word. Prior web and e-advocacy experience a plus.

To apply, mail, fax or email a letter of interest, résumé, writing
samples and salary requirements to: Kevin Connelly, 131 Camino Alto,
Mill Valley, CA 94941; Fax: (415) 388-0388, e-mail: kevin at idausa.org.
Visit here <http://www.idausa.org/jobs.html>  for more job and volunteer
opportunities.

Join IDA today!

The many goals and campaigns of In Defense of Animals depend on the
support of its members: caring and thoughtful people like you who
realize the importance of immediate, focused, and unrelenting action. 

In Defense of Animals has field staff working throughout the United
States and in western Africa protecting and defending the rights,
welfare, and habitat of all animals.  To become a member of IDA or to
make a donation today, please visit our  <http://www.idausa.org>
www.idausa.org.
 <http://ga0.org/ct/q11111118u-1/> 
Joining IDA is as simple as sending a donation of $15 or more via our
online donation form.  Just complete our Online Giving form and click
SEND. Your donation will be received instantly, your membership will
begin immediately, and your contribution will go to work at once. 

If you prefer, you may fill out and print our donations form and fax it
with your credit card information to our main office at 415-388-0388, or
send it with your check payable to: In Defense of Animals 131 Camino
Alto, Mill Valley, CA 94941. 

Thank you for all your efforts on behalf of animals!

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