Articles:
Zoochotic: Is Keeping Wild Animals in Captivity Crazy?
On Christmas Day 2007, a 4-year-old Siberian tiger called Tatiana escaped her enclosure at the San Francisco Zoo, fatally mauling 17-year-old Carlos Sousa, Jr. and injuring two other men, brothers Paul and Kulbir Dhaliwal. The story instantly made international headlines and commentators from all backgrounds took to the airwaves to offer hypotheses of how such a dreadful tragedy could have occurred.
On Our 40th Anniversary, an Extraordinary New Chapter Begins
The Animal Protection Institute has never been afraid to do the right thing when it comes to helping animals. Fighting animal cruelty, suffering, and neglect, requires courage and vision.
In this issue we announce probably the most visionary step in our history. In a move that redefines the animal protection movement, API has joined forces with Born Free USA to become Born Free USA united with Animal Protection Institute.
Retailer Report
In addition to working toward federal legislation to limit transport times, API worked to educate grocery retailers about the cruelty of long-distance transport by sending information packets complete with a DVD of our groundbreaking investigation and a survey on long-distance transport. The survey included questions on how far animals used in meat products sold in their store traveled from farm to slaughter or from farm to feedlot, and whether consumers were provided with information such as store signage to make an informed choice when purchasing meat products.
Too Many “Pets”
Our nation is in a pet overpopulation crisis. Three to four million cats and dogs nationwide are euthanized each year at our animal shelters. This sobering number should act as a wake-up call for all of us to take action to decrease this horrifying statistic. API took this to heart and joined a coalition effort in our own backyard to end the pet overpopulation problem in the Sacramento region.
All the Way to the Governor’s Desk
Martin Buber, the great philosopher, translator, and educator, said, “An animal’s eyes have the power to speak a great language.” In California, if we could translate that language, what we would all too often see in the eyes of pet store animals is pain and suffering.
API has received many complaints from people who bought animals at pet stores and then, heartbroken, find that the animals are ill, sometimes even near death. These complaints spurred API to conduct an undercover investigation of 64 pet stores in four key California cities.
2006 Circus Wrap-Up
Another circus season has come to a close, but this does not mean that the elephants and other animals get a break. The time they have off from the road will be spent learning new tricks for the 2007 season. For the elephants, this means they will be forced to learn the new routine through force and intimidation at the hand of a bullhook.
Learning to Coexist with Coyotes
API wants to reduce human-coyote conflicts and the number of coyotes killed as a result.
Our Coexisting with Coyotes program helps communities develop ways for individuals, neighborhoods, local agencies, and public officials to work together in developing and implementing long-term coexistence plans. We emphasize the role people play in causing conflicts with coyotes (and other urban wild animals), and how they can reduce those conflicts.
Pound Seizure: Victory!
API is pleased to report that our efforts to end the cruel practice of pound seizure have met with success in Sacramento County, California!
