Man, and I thought King of Queens was on hiatus. $#%&^^%

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From: DawnWatch - news [at] dawnwatch.com
Date: Apr 17, 2007 10:20 PM
Subject: DawnWatch: Doug goes veggie for an episode of “The King of Queens” 4/16/07

The Monday, April 16 episode of the hit CBS series “King of Queens” presented some wonderfully animal friendly material.

I will share the plot, and some of the lines, below:

The lead character, Doug, who is a delivery man, almost runs over a chicken. He is relieved to see the animals is ok. But then he sees a man looking for the chicken, coming out of a restaurant that has dead chickens in the window. Doug grabs the chicken and makes a run for it.

We see him driving along with chicken in the front seat, making his deliveries and trying to find the chicken a home. He finally drives many miles to deliver the chicken to a small farm where it seems the animal will be well looked after.

When Doug gets home, his wife, Carrie, pulls a big roasted chicken out of the oven.

As the sweet romantic song, “Just the two of us” plays, we flash back to scenes of Doug driving along chatting with the chicken and then leaving the farm after giving the animal one last pat and a look of love.

We then flash back to the kitchen where Carrie is pulling a leg off the roasted animal on the table. Doug yells, “Stop it!” and runs outside.

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———- Forwarded message ———-
From: DawnWatch - news [at] dawnwatch.com
Date: Apr 14, 2007 9:10 PM
Subject: DawnWatch: New book — “Committed” by PETA’s Dan Mathews. April 2007

PETA’s glamorous, provocative and definitely committed activist Dan Mathews has new book coming out — called “Committed.”

The Thursday April 12 edition of USA Today included an interview with Mathews. It is on line here.

That web page includes a picture of the book jacket cover, a take-off on our fearless astronauts that made me laugh out loud. And it links to an excerpt from the book.

USA Today’s Craig Wilson introduces the Mathews interview with:

“Dan Mathews isn’t just another pretty face, although he was a model in a previous life. Over the years, he has made a name for himself as the high-profile rabble-rouser for the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, better known as PETA. He’s out with a memoir, Committed, in which he recalls everything from a fish that changed his life to getting arrested to running with celebrities such as Paul McCartney and Pamela Anderson. He talks with USA TODAY about his life in and out of jail.”

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———- Forwarded message ———-
From: DawnWatch - news [at] dawnwatch.com
Date: Apr 14, 2007 3:56 PM
Subject: DawnWatch: “Year of the Dog” has opened this weekend — 4/13/07

A few weeks ago I wholeheartedly recommended Amazing Grace as powerful feel-good movie bound to appeal to anybody involved in social justice movements, including animal rights. On Thursday I saw another animal friendly film, the Sundance festival hit, “Year of the Dog.”

While I also recommend this film, I do so with a couple of caveats: It is quirky. If you love Mike White films, you will love it, if you generally hate them, you will probably have some problems with this one. I think, however, all animal advocates will be glad they saw it. I saw it at a screening full of animal people who generally adored it. I had somewhat mixed but mostly positive feelings about it, and find that days later it is still on my mind — an unusual film feat.

My mixed feelings came from my discomfort at seeing animal rights activists portrayed as utter dweebs, and even worse, as crazy. This is what Manohla Dargis’s New York Times review says about the film and its leading character:

“‘Year of the Dog’ is exactly the kind of story you would expect Mr. White to make for his directing debut. It’s funny ha-ha but firmly in touch with its downer side, which means it’s also funny in a kind of existential way. It stars the comic Molly Shannon as a woman who discovers her true self through a love of animals, though, not that kind of love. She’s not Catherine the Great, just Peggy the Good. It’s a film about what it means to devote yourself to something other than your fears and desires, to shed that hard, durable shell called selfishness. It is, rather remarkably, an inquiry into empathy as a state of grace. And if that sounds too rarefied for laughs, rest assured, it’s also about a stone-cold beautiful freak.”

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———- Forwarded message ———-
From: ASPCA - news-alert [at] aspca.org
Date: Apr 13, 2007 7:00 AM
Subject: Pet Food Recall Update/New Animal Precinct Episodes

ASPCA WEEKLY UPDATE

April 13, 2007

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

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ASPCA NEWS ALERT
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DO YOU KNOW WHICH PRODUCTS HAVE BEEN RECALLED, PET PARENTS?

The ASPCA offers some important reminders to help ensure that all pets stay healthy. If you have not already done so, examine your pet’s food products. If they fall into the categories identified as contaminated, discontinue their use immediately. To keep updated about foods that may have been added to the list, visit the ASPCA Pet Food Recall Resource Center regularly.

ASPCA SUCCESS STORY OF THE WEEK: PERFECT TIMING

Meet the Kody-roo, a husky who really knows how to make an entrance.

COULD YOU BE THE ASPCA COMMUNITY LEADER OF 2007?

Did you go orange for animals on April 10? Tell us your story and you could win a trip to visit the ASPCA in New York City.

NOW PLAYING: THE NEW SEASON OF ANIMAL PRECINCT

Catch our hometown heroes in action all next week.

GREAT NEWS: HORSE SLAUGHTER HALTED IN THE U.S.!

On March 28, a federal district court effectively ended horse slaughter for fiscal year 2006.

ASPCA PARTNERS UP TO FIGHT CANINE FLU

This two-year study could save the lives of thousands of shelter dogs across the country.

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ASPCA ADVOCACY
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FEDERAL: DOG AND CAT FUR PROHIBITION ENFORCEMENT ACT

Think it’s “faux”? How do you know?! This important federal legislation will protect consumers’ rights by closing a loophole in current fur-labeling laws, insuring that all products containing fur are properly labeled.

TWO BIG VICTORIES FOR INDIANA’S ANIMALS!

Governor Mitch Daniels recently has signed into law two important animal cruelty-related bills supported by the ASPCA:

- SB 108 requires courts to consider psychological counseling as part of the animal cruelty sentences.

- HB 1387 allows courts to prohibit a person convicted of animal cruelty from possessing an animal, and makes killing an animal a felony under certain conditions.

MORE ALERTS FOR YOUR AREA…

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ASPCA GOES MOBILE!
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Sign up to receive text messages on pet care and pending legislation from ASPCA experts.

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PET FOOD RECALL FAQ
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Q. Do you have a list of recalled pet foods?

www.aspca.org/site/R?i=1m3JLSu7y7m6HqKBEh6cdw..

Q. I think my pet may be sick from eating contaminated food. Whatshould I do?

www.aspca.org/site/R?i=OK340WDlTrNtyyFyQADOJw..

Q. What advice does the ASPCA have for pet parents?

www.aspca.org/site/R?i=FQvs7DkXq2zdo1_tdHNqJA..

Q. Does the ASPCA recommend homemade diets for pets?

www.aspca.org/site/R?i=RSQNpP71RrU-7XYjcpaDZA..

Q. My children are scared that our pets are going to get sick. How can I talk to my kids about the pet food recall?

www.aspca.org/site/R?i=RCoSME5y8tyiK_JARwijFg..

For more frequently asked questions, please visit our Pet Food Recall

FAQ: www.aspca.org/site/R?i=NtHkzU8TH0bsiM9pDk5znw..

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Tell a Friend: www.aspca.org/site/R?i=O9ftNU09IATdAsE5Kg9A3Q..

© 2007 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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Tagged: animals animal rights animal welfare action alerts ASPCA American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals fur dog canine cat feline pet companion animal dog fur cat fur faux fur China Dog and Cat Fur Prohibition Enforcement Act Menu Foods recall dog canine cat feline pet companion animal pet food dog food cat food animal precinct horse horse slaughter horse meat Indiana animal abuse cruelty to animals

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From: DawnWatch - news [at] dawnwatch.com
Date: Apr 1, 2007 4:28 PM
Subject: DawnWatch: Unforgettable elephants PBS Sunday 4/1/07. Great review in New York Times.

This evening, Sunday April 1 at 8pm, the PBS Nature series will air “The Unforgettable Elephant.” I will paste below information about the program, and a strong review from Saturday’s New York Times.

If you miss it this evening, you should be able to catch an encore. This page will help you find out when it will air again: www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/schedule_airdates.html.

(I share this email with those not in the US as your public stations may air the show at other times, and you can keep an eye out.)

If you catch ‘Unforgettable Elephants’ and enjoy, please don’t forget to express your appreciation. Nature takes feedback at www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/feedback.html.

There is a little promo video, with a scene from the documentary, at www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/unforgettable/video.html.

Here is the Introduction to the show, from the Nature web page www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/unforgettable/index.html:

NATURE chronicles African elephants families through stunning film and still photos in UNFORGETTABLE ELEPHANTS, premiering Sunday, April 1.

We have seen them dressed in costumes and dancing at circuses, living solitary lives at zoos or giving our children a thrill with a ride on their back. But the largest land animals live a life that is completely foreign to us when left to their own in the wild-one complete with battles and births, kidnappings and camaraderie. Fifteen years ago, Martyn Colbeck chose to document in film and photos the life of one family of African elephants. For the better part of two decades, his subject, the elephant matriarch Echo and her close-knit family, have never failed to astonish him, amuse him and inspire him.

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Get right with D-O-G!:

These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages.

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From: DawnWatch - news [at] dawnwatch.com
Date: Mar 20, 2007 2:14 PM
Subject: DawnWatch: Heather Mills (McCartney) on Larry King Live tonight 3/20/07

Thanks to David Sickles for the heads up that Heather Mills (previously McCartney) will be on CNN’s Larry King Live tonight, Tuesday March 20, 9pm ET (6pm PT live, repeating at 9pm PT). As Heather has stayed actively involved in animal rights issues, it is likely that they will come up on the show. She has been working with the group Viva, in the UK, to publicize the housing of pigs in gestation crates. (See UK Daily Mail story at tinyurl.com/2kno4f.)

As Larry King Live takes viewer questions via both the phone and email, the chances of animal issues being discussed on the show are greatly improved if many of us email Heather questions on those issues — and call if we can get through. (I believe the call in number is 1-800-676-2100)

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———- Forwarded message ———-
From: DawnWatch - news [at] dawnwatch.com
Date: Mar 3, 2007 2:16 PM
Subject: DawnWatch: “The Friend I had for Lunch” — Daily Mail, Saturday March 3, 2007

The Saturday, March 3, Daily Mail (London) has a terrific article, by Tom Rawstorne, headed, “The Friend I had for Lunch.”

He opens discussing “four slices of meat, carved from a saddle of lamb,” and writes:

“Just the job normally, a real favourite, but today I can’t stomach it. I try, cutting off a sliver and putting it in my mouth, but have to force myself to swallow, and it’s all I can do to hold that morsel down, to stop myself throwing up there and then.

“The trouble is the lunch and I are somewhat over-acquainted. We first met on a hillside on Dartmoor on Tuesday afternoon. Together with farmer Brian Lavis, I picked out the nine-month-old lamb from a skittering flock, and on Wednesday followed behind as it was transported to an abattoir in Dorset, where we met, briefly, again that night.

“The following morning I returned at daybreak, to watch as Faw-Faw, my fluffy friend, was turned from mammal to meat — electrocuted, throat-slit, beheaded and skinned. An abattoir worker then carved a slice from the carcass’s steaming hindquarters and handed the still-twitching flesh to me in a plastic bag. I took it away and an hour later cooked it, and now it’s on my fork, in my mouth, then sliding haltingly down my throat.”

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———- Forwarded message ———-
From: DawnWatch - news [at] dawnwatch.com
Date: Feb 22, 2007 5:00 PM
Subject: DawnWatch: Amazing Grace opens this weekend! 2/23/07

As I have been overwhelmed with other projects, DawnWatch took an inordinately long President’s Day weekend. I will be playing a little catch-up today. The highlight of that weekend was an HSUS advance screening of Amazing Grace, directed by Michael Apted, which opens tomorrow, Friday February 23.

Amazing Grace is the story of William Wilberforce’s parliamentary battle to end the British slave trade. What I had not known before seeing the film, but was not surprised to find out, is that Wilberforce was also one of the founding members of the original Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. The film opens with a scene in which Wilberforce intervenes as a horse is being beaten. There are many references to his passion for animals throughout the movie.

Even without the animal friendly theme, I would fervently recommend Amazing Grace to all activists. It shows what can be achieved against what appear to be insurmountable odds. It is inspiring. It is also beautifully acted and directed — a pleasure to watch.

DawnWatch generally encourages animal friendly media by asking people to respond to it favorably with emails to media outlets. The best possible way to show support for an animal friendly film is to go see it — not to wait for it on DVD. Box office sales the opening weekend are the most important, influencing the length of the movie’s run and its distribution to other theatres. Big sales on opening weekend also let the production company know that the public is eager for movies that matter.

So if you are thinking about a movie this weekend (even if you weren’t) — why not show support for messages about making the world a better place, by going to see Amazing Grace? And please forward this recommendation to anybody you know who cares.

Yours and the animals’,
Karen Dawn

(DawnWatch is an animal advocacy media watch that looks at animal issues in the media and facilitates one-click responses to the relevant media outlets. You can learn more about it, and sign up for alerts at www.DawnWatch.com. You may forward or reprint DawnWatch alerts if you do so unedited — leave DawnWatch in the title and include this parenthesized tag line. If somebody forwards DawnWatch alerts to you, which you enjoy, please help the list grow by signing up. It is free.)

To discontinue DawnWatch alerts go to www.DawnWatch.com/nothanks.php

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Tagged: animals animal rights animal welfare action alerts Dawnwatch Amazing Grace Michael Apted William Wilberforce SPCA Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Salon movie review abolitionist slavery England Ioan Gruffudd

———- Forwarded message ———-
From: Humane Society of the United States - humanesociety [at] hsus.org
Date: Feb 16, 2007 6:07 PM
Subject: See the power of film to help animals

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The Humane Society of the United States
THE POWER OF FILM: Watch, Vote For, and Create Movie Magic for Animals
February 16, 2007
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Sometimes all it takes is a good story. And when that story is told through the language of film, its power can inspire viewers to change how they think and act. Today I want to share with you three ways you can celebrate the power of film to change animals’ lives.

See Compassion in Action in Amazing Grace

Next weekend, you won’t want to miss the true story of William Wilberforce (1759-1833), a political activist who was not only a leading abolitionist but one of the founding figures of the animal protection movement. The film captures Wilberforce’s determination to end the cruelty and suffering imposed on both humans and animals in his era, and it’s an inspiring story of how one person can make a difference. I loved Amazing Grace and hope you’ll see it on opening weekend, beginning February 23.

Watch our exclusive movie preview: community.hsus.org/ct/-1S7Mss1Rzm6/

Find a theater near you: community.hsus.org/ct/J1S7Mss1Rzm7/

Vote for Your Favorite Animal-Friendly Film

Academy Award-nominated Happy Feet (shown at left) is one of three animated family feature films nominated for our 21st annual Genesis Awards, which acknowledge positive portrayals of animal issues in film, television, and print. Which movie will win? Vote for your favorite film in this and each of three other
categories, and we’ll enter you in a drawing to win a free weekend trip to New York, courtesy of Southwest Airlines and W Hotels.

Vote now and enter to win. Click here: community.hsus.org/ct/-pS7Mss1RzmI/

Make Your Own Film for Animals

If you’re 16-25 and an aspiring filmmaker — or just someone who wants to do more than upload funny home videos to YouTube — then check out the Film Your Issue (FYI) competition. FYI invites young people to create short films that address issues that are important to them. The Humane Society of the United States is a featured partner, and we’ve even provided “B roll” you can use to create your own movie about our top campaigns.

Make your own movie. Click here: community.hsus.org/ct/-7S7Mss1RzmW/

Thanks for all you do for animals.

Sincerely,

Wayne Pacelle
President & CEO
The Humane Society of the United States

********************************

Copyright (c) 2007
The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS).
All Rights Reserved.

humanesociety [at] hsus.org | 202-452-1100 | www.hsus.org
The Humane Society of the United States
2100 L Street, NW
Washington, DC 20037

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Tagged: animals animal rights animal rights animal welfare hsus humane society of the united states happy feet charlotte’s web William Wilberforce Amazing Grace media movies entertainment activism advocacy animal advocacy you tube

Yesterday’s alert is available here.

———- Forwarded message ———-
From: DawnWatch - news [at] dawnwatch.com
Date: Jan 31, 2007 4:04 PM
Subject: DawnWatch: Boston Legal’s strong cosmetic testing stance! 1/30/07

Last night’s (January 30, 2007) episode of Boston Legal was wonderful for animals! The show is a bizarre kind of comedy, but even in that context serious points about cosmetic testing on animals were made. We also got to hear about the dark side of horse racing — terrific timing given Barbaro’s passing this week.

I will summarize, below, the parts of the plot that had to do with the animal testing scenario, and transcribe some small sections.

Bella, who owns a cosmetic company, comes into the law firm covered in blue paint. She says she has been attacked by “vicious terrorists.” Given that it has become common to seriously try and pin the terrorist label on animal rights activists, it is a pleasant relief to hear the label used in a way that is clearly meant to be hyperbolic, by a character who seems unbalanced and says she has “had enough of these psycho animal loving Liberal thugs.”

We learn that the DA has picked up a Mr. Steinkellner, head of COTA, the Coalition Opposed to Testing on Animals. Bella’s lawyers tell her “While he is officially denying that COTA painted you blue, the Coalition condones and supports it, thinks you look good in a primary color, and is in fact calling for a second coat.”

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