Friday, August 8th, 2003
PAWS
Actionline
A weekly opportunity
to make a difference
for animals
PAWS Campaign Against Circuses That Use Performing Animals
Important Links
PAWS Animal Cruelty Resources and Links
Legislative Links
Washington State- House of Representatives
- Senate
Federal
- House of Representatives
- Senator Maria Cantwell
- Senator Patty Murray
Vote Smart is an excellent resource for all sorts of legislation.
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Progressive Animal
Welfare Society
PO Box 1037
Lynnwood WA, 98046
Rodeo Fever Grill and Steakhouse to open in Everett
PAWS has learned that a new type of “family restaurant” is scheduled to open in Everett sometime in late August or early September. Rodeo Fever Grill and Steakhouse plans to feature “a little bit of Texas” by having an indoor bull-riding arena equipped with real bulls and professional bull riders. The animals will be kept in holding pens while they are performing, but will not be kept at the restaurant overnight. The owner believes that his new restaurant “may be a little bit of a culture shock for some here in Western Washington,” but is confident it will ultimately be a success.
Flank or bucking straps are frequently used tools by rodeos that scare and badger animals into performing. These leather straps are cinched tightly around the animal’s abdomen causing intense pain and discomfort. These animals are also often tormented with the use of electric prods, spurs and caustic ointments in an attempt to provoke wild and unnatural behavior.
Please contact the city of Everett’s Economic Development Director Lanie McMullin to let her know that you are extremely disappointed that they would welcome and condone this type of “entertainment” in Everett. Tell her that rodeos are not a form of family entertainment and that we no longer live in a time where this type of treatment to animals is acceptable. Send an email to Lanie McMullin at lmcmullin@ci.everett.wa.us or contact her by phone at (425) 257-7100.
Snohomish County Animal Control Officers in danger of losing their jobs
The Snohomish County Sheriff’s Department is proposing cutbacks for 2004. Three out of the four animal control officers are in danger of being laid off.
Animal control officers are an integral part of our community. They play a central role in facilitating harmony between animals and humans. Officers make the community safer place by addressing issues such as dog bites, animal cruelty, and dog fighting rings which are often times linked with drugs and gambling. They are also responsible for picking up and receiving a surplus of animals that could cause human injury or spread disease. In addition to making our community a safer place, they help keep our community more humane by responding to citizen complaints and issuing citations to owners when they are found to be in violation of the law. Animal control is a preventative method to an entire list of problems.
According to the Washington State Office of Financial Management, in April 2002, the population of Snohomish County was 628,000. One animal control officer servicing 628,000 residents is not enough.
Please write a letter to Sheriff Rick Bart letting him know how valuable animal control officers are to the community and that one animal control officer is not enough. Contact Sheriff Rick Bart at rick.bart@co.snohomish.wa.us or by calling the sheriff’s office at (425) 388-3393.
Help build the co-sponsor list for the Downed Animal Protection Act
Reposted from The Humane Society of the United States humanelines.org.
Downed Animal Protection Act needs more cosponsors
Last week, we came extremely close—just three votes shy—of passing
legislation in the House to end the suffering of "downed" animals.
Although we narrowly lost the battle in the House, we can still
ultimately pass the bill into law, by gaining support in the Senate
for S. 1298, the Downed Animal Protection Act. Currently, downed
animals—those who are too sick or injured to walk on their own—are
terribly abused en route to the slaughterhouse. They are kicked,
shocked, beaten, dragged with chains, and even pushed with bulldozers
to move them to the killing floor. Others are left in a "dead pile,"
to slowly die from their disease, injuries, or dehydration. The
Downed Animal Protection Act would prohibit this abuse, instead
requiring that the animals be immediately, humanely euthanized.
What you can do:
We need to build the cosponsor lists --especially in the Senate-- to
keep pressure on Congress to end the brutal treatment of livestock
and get this legislation enacted finally! Call or fax your two U.S.
Senators today, and ask them to "Co-Sponsor S. 1298, the "Akaka
Downed Animal Protection Act." Just a single sentence is enough!
All federal legislators can be reached through the Capitol
switchboard at 202-224-3121, or www.congress.org.
For more information on farm animals and a vegetarian lifestyle please go to www.vegseattle.com or www.farmsanctuary.com.
