Way cool.

———- Forwarded message ———-
From: DawnWatch – news [at] dawnwatch.com
Date: Jul 29, 2006 6:33 PM
Subject: DawnWatch: LA Times on Disney decision to include breed warnings with DVDS 7/29/06

The Saturday, July 29 Los Angeles Times includes an article headed, “Doggone It, That’s Good Advice. Disney includes DVD inserts to discourage viewers from buying a tail-wagger on impulse.”

It tells us:

“The American Kennel Club and Walt Disney Co., aware of the potential for popular films about dogs to inspire not just love at first sight but also spontaneous purchasing, joined forces last month to head off what could be called the ’101 Dalmatians’ effect, when the “Eight Below” DVD went on sale. For the first time, an insert was packaged inside each DVD warning wannabe Maya owners that ‘The Siberian Husky is a beautiful and intelligent dog, but not right for everyone.’ When ‘The Shaggy Dog’ is released Tuesday, it will contain a similar informational insert on bearded collies.

About the ’101 Dalmatians effect’ we read:

“Many people enamored with the spotted puppy stars of Disney’s 1996 live action “101 Dalmatians” learned the hard way about living with a big screen beauty. Dalmatians are cute, but they’re also a high-energy breed with great endurance. Like many active breeds, their frustration can turn into destructive, neurotic behavior if they don’t get enough exercise. The Dalmatian that chews up the furniture because it’s been left alone all day often winds up in a shelter, or worse, abandoned.”

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PETA’s weekly eNews (7/28/06) is now online; you can view the entire newsletter here.

Action alerts from this edition include the following:

Urgent: New Mexico Police Reportedly OK’d Cruel Measures to Quiet Barking Dogs

URGENT! Urge Illinois Officials to Humanely Relocate Fish Before Draining Lake

Call for a Ceasefire for Bears!

And some good news (for a change!):

Rhode Island Law Is the Cat’s Meow: State to Require Cat Caretakers to Spay or Neuter Their Feline Companions

As always, you can find additional alerts online, in their Action Center.

———- Forwarded message ———-
From: Farm Sanctuary – info [at] farmsanctuary.org
Date: Jul 28, 2006 4:17 PM
Subject: Farm Sanctuary’s E-News & Action Alert 07/28/06

From Here to There Without Harm

Farm animal transportation in the United States lacks adequate legal guidelines, especially for poultry, which often results in unnecessary stress and suffering. Fatalities are not uncommon in the transport of animals from breeder, to grower farms, and then to slaughterhouses. Recently, improper handling by Northwest Airlines caused the deaths of more than 9,000 turkey chicks, who were then disposed of in an airport trash compactor. In light of this recent case, it is more important than ever to oppose a federal bill that benefits the bird-shipping industry, not the birds!

Rescued Runt Grows Up and Proves He’s Larger Than Life

Lassen was born into a 4-H swine project. The runt of the litter, he was very tiny and sick as a piglet, and was in desperate need of veterinary care. But, instead of helping Lassen grow healthy and strong, the participants in the project allowed him to suffer. They refused to waste their time on an animal that was much too small to be profitable at market. Thankfully, a local animal control officer thought the little piglet deserved to live. Without her help, Lassen could never have made it to our California Shelter, where he has now spent three happy and fulfilling years. Read more.

Welcome Back!

Farm Sanctuary is grateful to the more than one thousand interns who have donated their time and effort since we began in 1986. On July 15 and 16, many of them returned to our New York Shelter for our first ever Intern Retreat, a free weekend event that included presentations, outdoor activities, time with the animals, and delicious vegan food. Best of all, they got to reconnect with old friends – people and animals alike! Click here for pictures of the Intern Retreat. For more information on Farm Sanctuary’s Internship Program, click here.

Take Action for Animals in D.C. this Labor Day

Join Farm Sanctuary and other leading animal advocacy groups over Labor Day weekend (September 2-5, 2006) for this year’s Taking Action for Animals conference in Washington, D.C. This event will bring together activists from all over the U.S. to motivate, inform and inspire. Book your hotel on or before Monday, August 14, 2006 and mention “Taking Action for Animals” to receive a special discounted rate!

To book a hotel, click here.

Service and Compassion

Service and compassion are just two of HAVE, Inc.’s hallmarks. HAVE provides unsurpassed personal service for all your DVD, CD, video and audio duplication, and replication needs. The company also offers video to DVD transfer services, custom packaging, graphic design, fantastic web-based order fulfillment services, and online store hosting. HAVE, Inc is proud to provide duplication services for “Life Behind Bars,” and to support Farm Sanctuary’s Corporate Partners for Compassion program.

FARM SANCTUARY NEWS & NOTES

Last Chance to Register for the New York Country Hoe Down – Deadline July 30!

* Frequent flyer miles needed for Farm Sanctuary staff travel. Please contact us if you can help!: esiebenhar [at] farmsanctuary.org

* AVMA Rejects Welfare Resolutions

IN THE NEWS

Animal Cruelty Charges Sought After Turkey Deaths
NBC11.com, July 24, 2006

Heat Causes Pileup of Livestock Carcasses
The Examiner, July 26, 2006

Vegan Diet May Treat Diabetes
CBS News, July 26, 2006

SHOP AT FARM SANCTUARY

Stop Factory Farming T-shirt
100% preshrunk cotton. Made in the USA!

Farm Sanctuary is the nation’s leading farm animal protection organization. Since incorporating in 1986, we have worked to expose and stop cruel practices of the “food animal” industry through research and investigations, legal and legislative actions, public awareness projects, youth education, and direct rescue and refuge efforts. Our shelters in Watkins Glen, NY and Orland, CA provide lifelong care for hundreds of rescued animals, who have become ambassadors for farm animals everywhere by educating visitors about the realities of factory farming. For more information about Farm Sanctuary or our programs, please visit www.farmsanctuary.org or call 607-583-2225. To become a Farm Sanctuary member or to make a donation today using our secure online form, www.farmsanctuary.org/join/donate2.htm. For updates on previous action alerts, www.farmsanctuary.org/actionalerts/update.htm.

–

To subscribe: www.farmsanctuary.org/signup.htm

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Via Center for Biological Diversity:

Preserve Tejon Ranch as a new Natural Park

Please take action today to help preserve southern California’s largest and most valuable unprotected natural area, Tejon Ranch.

Located between Los Angeles and Bakersfield near the Interstate 5 “Grapevine,” the 271,000-acre Tejon Ranch embodies a diverse, natural California landscape and is home to the critically endangered California condor. From ancient oak groves to forests of Joshua trees and Pinyon pines, Tejon Ranch represents the quintessential California natural landscape. Tejon also contains many Native American cultural and sacred sites and is steeped in California history.

The current property owner, Tejon Ranch Company, is aggressively pursuing construction of a series of large-scale developments that would become the cornerstone for unchecked urban sprawl from Los Angeles to Bakersfield to Lancaster. The developments would carve out Tejon’s natural heart, jeopardize the California condor, and bring bulldozers, smog and gridlock to one of southern California’s last, relatively untouched rural landscapes.

To preserve Tejon’s natural and cultural heritage for future generations, the Center for Biological Diversity is campaigning for the protection of Tejon Ranch as a new National Park or State Park.

Click here to learn more.

Via Defenders of Wildlife:

Don’t Let the Forest Service Take the Wild Out of the Wilderness!

The U.S. Forest Service wants to make it easier to kill wolves, bears, cougars and other carnivores in federally designated wilderness areas — America’s most wild and remote places. Worse, the proposal would relax restrictions on using aerial gunning, motorized vehicles and cyanide guns to kill these magnificent creatures.

Take action now. Tell the U.S. Forest Service to withdraw this invasive proposal. Submit your comments before the August 7th deadline!

———- Forwarded message ———-
From: Save the Manatee Club – action [at] savethemanatee.org
Date: Jul 28, 2006 10:25 AM
Subject: Protect Manatees’ Winter Refuge!

Speak Up to Protect Manatees’ Winter Refuge!

Meeting on August 8 is our last chance to protect Blue Spring

Blue Spring is one of the very few natural warm water refuges remaining for manatees in Florida. It is the winter home for Save the Manatee Club’s adoptees and one of only two places in the state where the manatee population actually appears to be increasing.

But a proposal by the St. Johns River Water Management District (District) will allow significant reductions in Blue Spring’s flow to support increasing development and demands for water from surrounding counties. Less flow from the spring means less warm water available for manatees in the winter. Manatees are susceptible to cold-related disease, and any reduction in Blue Spring’s flow could have catastrophic consequences.

The District is basing their proposal on an erroneous model that “predicts” future flow and when the manatees would “need” the warm water. But the District model has already underestimated actual manatee use. For example, a minimum of 190 manatees were documented at Blue Spring during the 2005/2006 season, while the District model would not provide warm water for that many manatees until 2009. Furthermore, the District proposal doesn’t require the Blue Spring flow to be restored to present levels until 2024. By that time it will be too late for manatees!

Both Florida and Non-Florida Residents: Please speak up to protect Blue Spring for manatees!

What You Can Do:

1. Attend the Public Hearing

Please come to the public hearing on August 8, 2006 (see more information below) and state that you are OPPOSED to a proposal that allows any additional reduction in Blue Spring’s flow.

Blue Spring Minimum Flow Public Hearing
Regulatory Meeting of the Governing Board
When: Tuesday, August 8, 2006, 1:00 p.m.
Where: St. Johns River Water Management District
4049 Reid Street
Palatka, FL 32177

Click here for more information and driving directions

2. Send a Quick Online Letter and tell Florida Governor Jeb Bush, the Secretary of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, and the Chairman of the District Governing Board that you oppose the District’s proposal. Please click on the link below to get more background information and send a quick and easy online letter. If you prefer to send a personal letter or e-mail, contact information is listed below.

Take action: www.savethemanatee.org/actionalert.cfm?id=8

Contact Information:

Governor Jeb Bush
The Capitol
400 South Monroe Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399
Fax: 850-487-0801
E-mail: jeb.bush [at] myflorida.com

Secretary Colleen Castille
Florida Department of Environmental Protection
3900 Commonwealth Blvd, MS 10
Tallahassee, FL 32399
Fax: 850-245-2128
E-mail: colleen.castille [at] dep.state.fl.us

David G. Graham, Chairman
SJRWMD Governing Board
4049 Reid Street
Palatka, FL 32177
Fax: 386-329-4125
E-mail: nmesser [at] sjrwmd.com

3. Please forward this e-mail to as many people as you can.

Thank you for your help on this important issue for manatees!

Sign up for our free Paddle Tales E-Newsletter: Go to www.savethemanatee.org/enews_signup.htm

Our postal address is:

500 N. Maitland Ave.
Maitland, Florida 32751
United States

About SMC

Save the Manatee Club is a nonprofit organization founded in 1981 by former Florida Governor Bob Graham and singer Jimmy Buffett. To learn more about manatees and our work, go to www.savethemanatee.org

Join Us!

Adopt-A-Manatee and join Save the Manatee Club. Your contribution will support our work to help protect endangered manatees and their habitat. For more information, go to www.savethemanatee.org/adoptpag.htm

Pass It Along

Help spread the word about manatees! Please forward this action alert to your family and friends. If you got this message from a friend, sign up to receive our Action Alerts at our Take Action page at www.savethemanatee.org/action.htm

Questions?

You can get updates on Action Alert issues by visiting the Take Action page of our web site. If you have additional questions, e-mail us at action [at] savethemanatee.org

I’m not quite sure why I received two different versions of this week’s ASPCA weekly eNewsletter, but for convenience’s sake, I included them both in a single post. Enjoy!

———- Forwarded message ———-
From: ASPCA – news-alert [at] aspca.org
Date: Jul 28, 2006 7:00 AM
Subject: Check Out the New Online ASPCA Community/Abused Pup Finds Forever Home

JULY 28, 2006

Welcome to our weekly email newsletter, your source for the latest news from our animal welfare community and information on pending humane legislation.

——————————
ASPCA NEWS ALERT
——————————

JUST OPENED: THE NEW ONLINE ASPCA COMMUNITY!

Do you like to talk all about pets, all the time? We know some people who’d like to meet you! Please come check out our new ASPCA Community, a place where animal lovers can come to share and learn, and have lots of fun making friends in the process. Signing up is simple–so come on over, we’re waiting for you!

ASPCA SUCCESS STORY OF THE WEEK: FLOWER POWER

When it comes to Christina Malmberg and her Jack Russell terrier, Daisy, love and good times are always in bloom.

THE BIG FIX RIG IS HERE!

What do you call a 53-foot semi-trailer with room enough to hold 160 cats?

THE PERFECT GIFT? PUT A PET ON PERSONALIZED WINE LABELS

The award-winning Windsor Vineyards has a great deal for ASPCA supporters.

CALLING ALL ILLINOIS COPS: “DANGEROUS DOGS” DISCUSSION, 8/2

The ASPCA’s Ledy VanKavage, Esq., serves up a presentation on dangerous dogs–and how officers can deal with them–at the Midwest Security and Police Conference/Expo next week.

—————————
ASPCA ADVOCACY
—————————

LOBBYING 101

How does a bill become a law? What’s the right way to write to legislators? Our ASPCA experts explain it all.

MORE ALERTS FOR YOUR AREA…

————————————————

Tell a Friend: www.aspca.org/site/R?i=CQusoiH-e5pRmn5EapL_ig..

Become a Member: www.aspca.org/site/R?i=WPnty0tjt9GtBIgm8RzAmA..

ASPCA Store: www.aspca.org/site/R?i=vYLMcyynIvdOuM9PmNtxZA..

ASPCA Credit Card: www.aspca.org/site/R?i=wECAB88OoUv3qdjcUotQCQ..

© 2006 The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®
424 E. 92nd St
New York, NY 10128
Visit us online at www.aspca.org

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Many of my favorite bloggers have a weekly feature called Friday Random Ten, which involves loading up your mp3 player with all your tracks, setting it to shuffle, and listing the first ten songs that pop up. Usually said bloggers throw in a few too-cute pictures of their furry companions to sweeten the deal.

I’ve tried this over at my main blog, but let’s just say that I’ve been less than consistent. I guess I’m just too antsy to wait for Creative to spit out ten songs. Anyway, I think it would be fun to ditch the musical part of this tradition and just skip to the adorable animal shots. So, every Friday I’ll post a sappy sweet animal picture and file it under “Friday Random Cuteness”. Just a fun way to start the weekend, particularly after poring over all that depressing animal- and enviro-related news all week.

If you want to play along, find a cute animal picture and post a link to it in the comments. Bonus points for pictures that come with adorable animal stories!

Today’s dose of sugar is an oldie but a goodie: our family X-Mas card from last December. Just in time for X-Mas in July!

——————–

Tagged: friday+random+cuteness my+furbabies

Via Audubon:

The U.S. Senate will vote Monday on S 3711, a bill to open eight million acres off of Florida’s west coast to offshore drilling. S 3711 threatens the longstanding tradition of protection for America’s coastal-dependent economies and most valued coastlines. Please let your Senators know today that you do not support offshore drilling.

Urge your Senators to oppose S. 3711.

———- Forwarded message ———-
From: DawnWatch – news [at] dawnwatch.com
Date: Jul 27, 2006 4:46 PM
Subject: DawnWatch: Vegan ultramarathoner wins Badwater for second time in a row — 7/25/06 (Coverage 7/27)

An update on Saturday’s New York Times article about vegan ultra-marathoner Scott Jurek who won the Western States race seven straight times between 1999 and 2005, and the Badwater last summer: He just won the Badwater for the second time in a row.

The Thursday, July 27, Washington Post article on the race, headed, “Marathon Melt” (p C01) tells us:

“When the National Park Service records the official daily maximum temperature, it takes the measurement in the shade. On Monday, it reached 123 degrees Fahrenheit.”

“Naturally, given these conditions that morning, a group of 85 runners assembled at the dry lake bed known as Badwater, 280 feet below sea level, the lowest, often hottest point in the Western Hemisphere — to race in the Badwater Ultramarathon. Organizer Chris Kostman describes it nicely as ‘the most demanding and extreme running race offered anywhere on the planet.’

“The race covers 135 miles, nonstop, from Badwater in Death Valley to the trailhead of Mount Whitney in the Sierras, the highest mountain in the Lower 48. The successful runners cross three mountain ranges with a combined, cumulative vertical ascent and descent of 17,400 feet, which is like a flight of stairs three miles high.”

We learn: “Jurek wins the race again, in 25 hours 41 minutes and 18 seconds.”

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