Press release from: Fund for Animals - www.fund.org
Published on CSR Wire - Dec 31, 2002
(CSRwire) SILVER SPRING, MD - The Fund for Animals is
celebrating a banner year for animal protection and looking back on some
of the year's biggest achievements. "We have made great strides this
year to improve the lives of animals across the country," said Michael
Markarian, President of The Fund for Animals. "We hope to continue that
success through 2003 and beyond."
Some of The Fund's accomplishments this year include:
Crackdown on Cockfighting: The Fund worked with The
Humane Society of the United States and other groups to pass a voter
initiative making Oklahoma the 48th state to ban cockfighting, state
legislation to strengthen cockfighting penalties in Kansas, and an
amendment to the federal Farm Bill prohibiting the export and interstate
transport of birds for cockfighting.
Ending Cruel Confinement of Farm Animals: In Florida,
The Fund worked with The Humane Society of the United States, Farm
Sanctuary, and the Animal Rights Foundation of Florida to pass the
nation's first voter initiative to ban the cruel confinement of pregnant
pigs in two-foot-wide metal crates.
A Day of Rest for Wildlife: Hunters were dealt a double
blow in their efforts to open hunting on Sundays across the country,
when Governor Parris Glendening vetoed a bill that would have overturned
Maryland's 300-year-old prohibition on Sunday hunting, and when West
Virginia citizens overwhelmingly voted to reject Sunday hunting in 41 of
41 counties voting on the measure.
Black Beauty Ranch: The Fund purchased an additional 140
acres of land for its Black Beauty Ranch animal sanctuary in Texas, and
provided homes for new animals rescued from abuse and abandonment
throughout the year, including horses, burros, swans, a tapir, a zebra,
and a camel.
The Kindest Cut of All: The Fund's Have-A-Heart Spay and
Neuter Clinic in New York City provided subsidized services for more
than 5,000 dogs and cats.
Pigeon Shoot Shot Down: The Fund's investigators
provided undercover video footage of a live pigeon shooting contest in
Bensalem, Pennsylvania, and town officials promptly ordered the gun club
to shut down the cruel and illegal event.
New Cyber Tools: The Fund launched its new Web Action
Center (www.action.fund.org) to provide an easy way for citizens to
respond to critical animal protection issues, and its new fundraising
guide (www.animalfunding.org) to assist animal shelters, rescue groups,
and grassroots organizations with funding.
Save the Whales: The Fund won a U.S. Court of Appeals
decision stopping the hunting of gray whales by the Makah tribe in the
Pacific Northwest.
Public Education: The Fund provided new PSAs to
television stations nationwide, featuring Julia Barr of "All My
Children" on the importance of spaying and neutering dogs and cats, and
actor Judd Hirsch on tips for driving safely and avoiding car accidents
with deer and other wildlife.
Fur Crying Out Loud: The Fund launched a new radio ad
campaign in New York City and Washington, D.C., featuring Wendie Malick
of "Just Shoot Me," telling consumers that compassion is the new fashion
and urging them not to purchase cruel and unnecessary fur coats or
fur-trimmed clothing.
Binny the Binturong: The Fund helped to rescue a rare
Asian binturong from the exotic animal trade and place him in a
permanent home at the Austin Zoo.
The Fund for Animals was founded in 1967 by famed author
and humanitarian Cleveland Amory.
Copyright Notice: Distributed in accordance with Title
17 U. S. C. Section 107.
Go on to Rusty By
Kimberly Locke
Return to 5 January 2003 Issue
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