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Mr. Otterness told me to talk to this "Humane" Society president Nikki Turenne which I did. She told me that gunshots to the head are "quick and immediate death" so therefore are humane in killing the pound animals. As you see, she totally supports the police department. I have written proof that they've been shooting the pound animals. This is not a question. Although the city officials are trying to keep this issue in the dark as best they can.

I have made it known to these people that the American Veterinary Medical Association states: "Gunshot should not be used for routine euthanasia of animals in animal control situations, such as municipal pounds or shelters."  As stated here http://www.avma.org/issues/animal_welfare/euthanasia.pdf

Please continue to contact these people and let them know that this practice needs to stop ASAP. They are good cover-ups and will try to please you and shut you up with their "nicey nicey" ways. They did that with the local news station until I sent them the letters with proof of what they've been doing. The news story has now been reopened and hopefully they'll get some answers. The officials in International Falls need to hear from us people in the rescue community to hold them accountable for what they've done and maybe continuing to do.

 International Falls Police Department at 218-283-4416 Or email: Shawn Mason, Mayor of International Falls at218-283-2746 or email Nikki Tureene, President of the Borderland Humane Society218/285-6218 work or 218/285-7440 home or email: City Administrator Rodney Otterness218/283-9484 Or email Thank you all for helping the pound animals there. They need us to speak for them as they certainly have no voice of their own.

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Hi All,

Am trying to help out Veronica with an URGENT appeal. She has done all the hard work all we have to do is send the emails.

Help her stop Romania from killing any more strays!!!!

Please see this share for details:

http://www.care2.com/c2c/share/detail/706629

Thanx xxxxxxxxx

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Signed ! No support  of China from me!

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...Good idea. signed!

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Signed.

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SIGN UP TODAY to Be one of One Million People to Pledge
to Not Watch The Olympics: Also, Tell Your Friends

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Help End Manatee Harassment
in Crystal River, FloridaSend Your Comments by March 6th! The Issue:

Please send your comments to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS ) on a Comprehensive Conservation Plan that will cover this and other issues by March 6, 2008.

Each winter, over 100,000 people visit the Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) to snorkel and dive with endangered manatees. Inevitably, many of these visitors want to touch the manatees or interact with them in some way.

Manatees are protected under the Endangered Species Act, so grabbing them, feeding, surrounding, or chasing them can be considered harassment and is therefore illegal. But due to budget cuts, there has been a severe staff reduction and law enforcement includes only one full-time officer who divides his time between 5 separate wildlife refuges, so there are many incidents of manatee harassment each year.

Recently, videographer Mark Santa-Maria won an award at an international underwater film competition for his video Choice for Change, which documents several incidents of manatee harassment at the refuge:

See the Video
See the award-winning video that documents manatee harassment at the Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge.

Read an Article
on the issue in the Citrus County Chronicle.

Manatees need this wildlife refuge for survival in the winter!  When people try to touch or pursue manatees, they can alter the manatee's behavior in the wild, perhaps causing them to leave a warm water area, which makes them susceptible to potential harm. Also, people can inadvertently separate a mother and calf by trying to touch manatees. Manatee calves depend on the care of their mothers for up to two years, so a calf that is separated from his or her mother could ultimately die without her.

Get more background on the issue

How Close is Too Close When Humans Meet Manatees?
Read an article in the St. Petersburg Times
on the recent meeting in Crystal River, FL

Managing Manatees
Read an article on the manatee harassment
issue in the St. Petersburg Times

What You Can Do:

1. Please Submit Your Comments for the CCP
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is currently working on a new Comprehensive Conservation Plan for the Crystal River NWR. The Service wants your input on the CCP by March 6, 2008 (see contact information below). Ask them to:

• Strengthen law enforcement efforts in the areas or create a better monitoring system and prosecute appropriately those people who violate the rules.
• Hold tour operators responsible for the actions of their customers and impose fines for those who don't monitor their customers.
• Adopt a strict "no touch" policy when it comes to manatees.
• Limit the number of people allowed near the sanctuary areas in the winter, unless harassment stops.
• Protect the manatees in the refuge by expanding the no-entry sanctuary areas.
• Require educational training for all those who may dive at this refuge in the winter.
• Acquire the Three Sisters Springs and surrounding lands as refuge property.
• Create additional staff positions, including a Public Use staff person and a Law Enforcement Officer for the Crystal River Refuge exclusively.
• Allocate special endangered species funds for the Crystal River NWR.

Send an e-mail to: (copy and paste into your e-mail message)
chassahowitzka@fws.gov, joyce_kleen@fws.gov

Your e-mail will be going to: 
James Kraus, Refuge Manager,
Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge

Joyce Kleen, Wildlife Biologist
Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge

Suggested subject line: Comments on the Crystal River Management Plan


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

Additional Contact Information:

Joyce Kleen, Wildlife Biologist
Crystal River National Wildlife Re

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Urge Donna Karan to Shed Fur!

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===========================================================
SAMPLE LETTER -- This letter is prepared to inform you about the issue.
Try to shorten and personalize your letter before sending.
===========================================================

Dear Montana State and Federal Officials:

Once again, a global spotlight shines on Yellowstone National Park and
Montana state for their hostile approach to wildlife management. Though this
year's slaughter of America's last free-roaming bison is already underway --
I ask you to stop the roundup now.

The estimated 50 million buffalo who once ranged public lands have dwindled
to fewer than 4,500 wild, genetically intact bison. And they all exist in
Yellowstone National Park; elsewhere they are ecologically extinct. It is
irresponsible to let Montana's Department of Livestock shape their fate.

Yet the Park Service seems to easily bow to pressure from Montana's
livestock trade. Since 2/8/08, the agency has overseen the capture and
confinement of 169 buffalo at the Stephens Creek bison trap within
Yellowstone borders. All are destined for slaughterhouses, even 17 young
calves among them.

I strongly urge federal and state authorities to defend our national
heritage and uphold a policy of lenience toward a species vital to the
area's ecological integrity.

The government's quarantine and massacre of our last migrating herd may
appease state cattle interests wary of Brucellosis -- yet there are no
documented cases of wild buffalo spreading this disease directly to cows.
Elk, believed to spread brucellosis, are not systematically herded and
killed. They roam freely, as the buffalo should.

Millions of U.S. tax dollars fund the killing of buffalo whose natural
migration leads them in or near the Church Universal & Triumphant property,
where less than 250 cows graze. Bison are also excluded from Gallatin
National Forest lands, even though Congress once qualified this region as
winter habitat for animals whose forage becomes snow-covered inside
Yellowstone. Buffalo, the only wildlife restricted to Yellowstone, are
killed for roaming into lower-elevation habitat in search of food.

The Park Service's job is to safeguard wildlife. The livestock industry's
job is to protect its animals, including vaccination of all cattle against
brucellosis. Please do your jobs so I may once again support tourism in
Montana.

Thank you,

===========================================================
SOURCE OF INFORMATION FOR THIS LETTER CAMPAIGN
===========================================================

* Buffalo Field Campaign / West Yellowstone, MT
BFC-Media@wildrockies.org
* ADVOCATES HOLD WEEK OF ACTION AS BISON SLAUGHTER CONTINUES
http://www.buffalofieldcampaign.org/media/press0708/pressreleases0708/021408.html
* VIDEO: Yellowstone Bison in the Stephens Creek Capture Facility
http://www.buffalofieldcampaign.org/media/videoaudio/Gardiner2004.mov
* Speak Out! Contact Agencies & Politicians
http://www.buffalofieldcampaign.org/actnow/politicians.html  

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===========================================================
FULL CONTACT INFORMATION. Sample + email block letter follow.
===========================================================

MONTANA OFFICIALS
Suzanne Lewis, Yellowstone National Park Superintendent
PO Box 168; Yellowstone National Park, WY 82190
ph: 307-344-2002, 307-344-2013, or 307-344-7381
email: yell_superintendent@nps.gov, suzanne_lewis@nps.gov

Montana Department of Livestock
Box 202001; Helena, MT 59620
ph: 1-406-444-0782
Christian Mackay, Executive Officer: cmackay@mt.gov
Dr. Marty Zaluski, State Veterinarian: 406-444-0782, mzaluski@mt.gov
Steve Merritt, Public Information Officer: 406-444-9431

Governor Brian D. Schweitzer
Office of the Governor, Montana State Capitol Bldg.
P.O. Box 200801; Helena MT 59620-0801
ph: 406-444-3111; fax: 406-444-5529
email: BrianSchweitzer@mt.gov, governor@mt.gov
web mail: http://governor.mt.gov/contact/commentform.asp

NATIONAL OFFICIALS
Mary Bomar, Director, National Park Service
1849 C Street NW Room 3312; Washington, DC 20240
ph: 202-208-4621; fax: 202-208-7889
email: Mary_Bomar@nps.gov, Director_Bomar%NPS@ios.doi.gov

Dirk Kempthorne, Secretary of the Interior
Department of the Interior
1849 C Street, N.W.; Washington DC 20240
ph: 202-208-7351, 202-208-6843
web mail: http://www.doi.gov/contact.html

National Park Service Advisory Board
c/o Mr. Loran Fraser, Chief Office of Policy
National Park Service
1849 C Street, NW, Room 7250; Washington, DC 20240
ph: 202-208-7468; email: loran_fraser@nps.gov

MONTANA TOURISM OFFICES
West Yellowstone Chamber of Commerce
PO Box 458; West Yellowstone, MT 59758
ph: 406-646-7701; email: wycc@wyellowstone.com
website: http://www.westyellowstonechamber.com/

Montana Promotion Division (Travel Montana)
PO Box 200533; Helena MT 59620-0501
ph: 406-841-2870; fax: 406-841-2871
email: mt-webmaster@visitmt.com, bbaumgart@mt.gov, vbjornberg@mt.gov
website: http://travelmontana.state.mt.us/

===========================================================
EMAIL BLOCK: All emails found for this alert.
===========================================================

yell_superintendent@nps.gov, suzanne_lewis@nps.gov, cmackay@mt.gov,
mzaluski@mt.gov, BrianSchweitzer@mt.gov, Mary_Bomar@nps.gov,
Director_Bomar%NPS@ios.doi.gov, loran_fraser@nps.gov, wycc@wyellowstone.com,
mt-webmaster@visitmt.com, bbaumgart@mt.gov, vbjornberg@mt.gov

Governor Brian D. Schweitzer, web mail:
http://governor.mt.gov/contact/commentform.asp

Dirk Kempthorne, Secretary of the Interior, web mail:
http://www.doi.gov/contact.html

*Kinship Circle cannot guarantee validity of email addresses. During
campaigns, recipients may change or disable their emails. Emails from
government or corporate websites may be incorrect.

(cont.)

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===========================================================
SOURCE OF INFORMATION / REFERENCE LINKS
===========================================================

*   Video Reveals Violations of Laws, Abuse of Cows at Slaughterhouse
    http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/01/29/AR2
*   Inspectors Verify Abuse Of Cows in California
   http://tinyurl.com/35jcdn
*   Questions raised on meat safety
   http://tinyurl.com/yofuzj
*   HSUS Lauds Authoritative USDA Action to Shutter Southern California Slaughter Plant
    http://www.hsus.org/press_and_publications/press_releases/usda_action_shuts_hallmark_westland_plant_downer_.html
*   Animal Cruelty at Hallmark Slaughter Plant Must be Prosecuted
    https://community.hsus.org/campaign/CA_2008_hallmark_da?rk=97NgX2pqSBdnW
*   VIDEO: Charged with Cruelty / Slaughterhouse Employees Charged
    http://video.hsus.org/index.jsp?fr_story=38247e8c8ea570aca40146c9477f280b28113254
*   VIDEO: HSUS Investigates Slaughterhouse/ Cruel and Unhealthy Practices Uncovered
    http://video.hsus.org/index.jsp?fr_story=38247e8c8ea570aca40146c9477f280b28113254
*   VIDEO: Cheap Meat - Working in a Slaughterhouse
    http://tinyurl.com/yul2lw
*   Support Legislation to Help Downed Animals
    http://www.farmsanctuary.org/get_involved/update_downed_animals08.html

 [ accepted]

What really happens at slaughterhouses and stockyards...
VIEW HSUS UNDERCOVER VIDEOS: http://tinyurl.com/yul2lw

EMAIL kinshipcircle@accessus.net FOR WORD DOC OF A FORMATTED LETTER.
Easily modify letter and copy/paste it into an email or print out to fax or mail.

To identify your federal legislators and find contact info, try:
Congress.org: http://www.Congress.org
USA Senate: http://www.senate.gov
USA House of Representatives: http://www.house.gov
Congressional Switchboard: 202-224-3121

===========================================================
CONTACT INFORMATION
===========================================================

Secretary of Agriculture Edward W. Schafer
U.S. Department of Agriculture
1400 Independence Ave., S.W.; Washington, DC 20250
ph: 202-720-3631; email: Edward.W.Schafer@usda.gov
web mail: http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/!ut/p/_s.7_0_A/7_0_1OB?edeployment_action=changenav&navid=FEEDBACK_FORM

The Honorable Representative [YOUR REP'S NAME]
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, D.C. 20510

The Honorable Senators [YOUR SENATORS' NAMES]
The U.S. Senate, U.S. Capitol Building
Washington, D.C. 20510

*Kinship Circle cannot guarantee validity of email addresses. During
campaigns, recipients may change or disable their emails. Emails from
government or corporate websites may be incorrect.

===========================================================
SAMPLE LETTER -- This letter is prepared to inform you about the issue.
Try to shorten and personalize your letter before sending.
===========================================================

Dear Secretary Schafer, Representative, and Senators:

Electric prods shock the heads, necks, spines and rectums of animals
crumpled on concrete. Their eyes blink, but their bodies are limp. Organs
have begun to fail. Some have crushed bones, torn ligaments. Still, heavy
chains drag them. Forklift blades toss their giant bodies as they moan in
pain. Concentrated water jets are fired into their nostrils and throats.

These are downed animals. Suspended between life and death, they are forced
to stand for inspection at slaughterhouses like the Chino, Calif.-based
Westland/Hallmark Meat Co. Recent undercover video from Humane Society of
the United States (HSUS.) depicts Hallmark workers who kick, ram, shock,
harass, and even "waterboard" incapacitated cows.

The gruesome images are hardly breaking news. Downed animals are routinely
tormented at stockyards and slaughterhouses. Hallmark simply got caught.

The breathtaking news is that it took a nonprofit welfare group to disclose
flagrant violations of state and federal law. It took a guy with a hidden
video camera to prompt the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service to
conclude Westland/Hallmark Meat fails to function in compliance with laws
instated to deter animal abuse and keep downers out of the food chain.

Now that this major supplier to U.S. school lunches has been exposed, 143
million pounds of beef have been recalled. An Office of the Inspector
General inquiry could proceed to the Justice Department for criminal
prosecution. FSIS inspectors have effectively closed the Hallmark plant.
School districts and restaurants have purged Hallmark beef.

Yet these band-aid fixes don't address the bigger problem. The U.S.
government must enact enforceable laws to ban the transport, marketing and
slaughter of ALL downed animals for ANY purpose. I call upon Congress and
regulatory agencies to:

* Pass the Downed Animal and Food Safety Protection Act (H.R. 661/ S.
394) which bans slaughter of downer cows, pigs, sheep and all "livestock."

* Require humane euthanasia for all downed animals. A current loophole
lets immobilized animals suffer until they undergo USDA inspection. As
evidenced in the HSUS video, animals are tortured as they await one of 7,600
inspectors charged with monitoring 6,200 processing plants nationwide.

* Forbid use of downed animals for "pet" and "livestock" foods.

* Pass the Farm Animal Stewardship Purchasing Act (H.R. 1726) to install
basic animal protections (such as humane euthanasia of downers) for
producers selling food to federal programs.

* Require mandatory training in methods that prevent animals from
becoming downers in the first place. Temple Grandin, an American Meat
Institute advisor, contends: "90% of all downers are preventable."

In 2004, USDA forbid the sale of downed cows for human consumption after the
discovery of a Washington state dairy cow diagnosed with bovine spongiform
encephalopathy (BSE). Plainly, USDA's interim rule is not working.

Please expand and codify USDA's ban to assure no commercial goods are
processed from animals at risk for transmissible spongiform encephalopathy
(TSE) and other dangerous foodborne pathogens. No suffering animal should be
forced to stagger toward a kill floor for any reason.

Thank you,

cont. in

 [ accepted]

Von: ARAN [mailto:arancampaigns@eircom.net]
Gesendet: Mittwoch, 13. Februar 2008 12:46
An: ARAN
Betreff: Shocking News: Irish MEP Supports Canada's Seal Slaughter


Dear ARAN Members,

We can't believe it either, but yes it's true! At a time when the world is
closing in on Canada's gruesome slaughter of seal pups and when the EU are
at a critical stage on determining whether a ban on Canadian seal products
should come into place or not we hear some bad news for the seals.

Irish MEP 'Sean O Neachtain' has been part of a delegation to the European
parliament to promote Canada's cruel seal hunt. He visited the parliament
with fisheries and governmental delegates from Canada, the very ones who
promote lies to the public and the media in order to reverse growing
opposition to the hunt in Europe. You can read more about the issue here

http://www.thewesternstar.com/index.cfm?sid=107668&sc=506&comments=submit

and we have as of this morning confirmed it's accurate.

URGENT - TAKE ACTION:

Please, email immediately your views on Canada's seal hunt and let Irish MEP
'Sean O Neachtain' know how you feel about Canada's merciless and barbaric
seal slaughter email him at: sean.oneachtain@europarl.europa.eu

Thank you for being a true voice for animals and supporting ARAN's work,
stay tuned for details of ARAN's annual Canadian seal protest this coming
March!

Thank you,

Stephan Wymore
Research Coordinator
Animal Rights Action Network
'Fighting Animal Abuse Across Ireland'
www.ARAN.ie

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