Vermont Low Cost Rabies Vaccinations Clinics

More Info: http://healthvermont.gov/prevent/rabies/Rabies_vaccination_clinics_2010.htm

Check out GMAD's Exciting 2009-2010 Newsletter!

Mile of Money - We've Reached the Halfway Mark!

We're reached the halfway mark in our spay and neuter fundraising! Help us achieve the entire mile by donating as little as $1. Donate Now! And thank you to our current volunteers and wonderful donors for all their hard work and generosity in getting us this far!

Check out our Mile of Money Thermometer!

In our latest fundraising effort, GMAD will be attempting to raise a FULL mile of dollar bills, with all the proceeds going to help spay and neuter dogs and cats in our area. While many may think that over-crowded shelters are a thing of the past, every year between 6 and 8 Million dogs and cats enter shelters, and it is estimated that half of those are euthanized (HSUS). We believe the only answer to the pet overpopulation crisis is to reach as many dogs and cats as possible before they can produce more unwanted puppies and kittens. Since a $1 bill is approximately 6 inches long (based on an old MacGyver tip) we will need $10,560 to raise a mile of money. You can donate 0.5 feet ($1), a yard ($6), or longer! And you will have the opportunity to remember your pet, or a loved one, with each donation. To donate online, please go to the Special Donations sections of our Donate page. And check back for updates on our progress! If you would like more information about our Mile of Money fundraiser, or if you would like to donate by mail, please e-mail Lindsey and she will set you up! Together our dollars can prevent puppies and kittens from entering an already overpopulated world and give the ones here a better chance.

Free Food for Pets with just One Click!

This is pretty simple... Please ask ten friends to each ask another ten today!

The Animal Rescue Site is having trouble getting enough people to click on it daily so they can meet their quota of getting FREE FOOD donated every day to abused and neglected animals. It takes less than a minute (about 15 seconds) to go to their site and click on the purple box 'fund food for animals for free'. This doesn't cost you a thing.

Their corporate sponsors/advertisers use the number of daily visits to donate food to abandoned and neglected animals in exchange for advertising. Here's the web site! Please pass it along to everyone you know.

More Info: http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/

The Eastern Shore Sanctuary and Education Center has moved to Vermont

Established in 2000, the Eastern Shore Sanctuary has offered refuge to thousands of chickens, turkeys, and ducks, including rescued cock-fighting roosters and breeder hens. Find out more about the sanctuary at bravebirds.org.

If you are interested in the sanctuary, please contact Miriam Jones at 802-885-4017 or by email at miriamjones79@gmail.com.

More Info: http://bravebirds.org/

Low Cost Rabies Clinics in Vermont

Rabies Vaccination Clinics:

Despite difficult economic times, it is always very important to make sure that your companion animals are vaccinated against rabies. This, and other vaccines, help keep your pets, other animals and people safe by preventing the spread of rabies and other life-threatening diseases.

Please click here for a list of low-cost rabies vaccination clinics in Vermont: RabiesClinics09.pdf

Is your furry friend ready for STARDOM?

Enter the HSUS Spay Day Photo Contest and win great prizes!

Goodsearch.com: Help GMAD Every Time You Search the Internet

Please support GMAD by using Goodsearch.com every day. This is a free search engine (similar to Google) and each time you search, a penny will be donated to the charity of your choice (hopefully Green Mountain Animal Defenders). It?s simple to choose your charity to support & then click verify so the animals will benefit each time you do a search! Of course, please encourage your friends, neighbors, relatives & even complete strangers to do so as well.

More Info: http://www.goodsearch.com

Beaver Update

Here is the latest news on the beavers at Indian Brook Park in Essex. Unfortunately, five of the beavers were killed by conibear traps before we were able to convince the Essex Selectboard to order it stopped. However,at our urging, the traps have been taken out of the water, and the remaining beavers are no longer in danger- for now. GMAD members have visited the site, and it is clear that some of the beavers, including at least one adult beaver, did survive, and is able to provide for the younger beavers. Fresh wood shavings and other signs indicate that the beavers have been cutting trees and branches recently.

GMAD has also gotten word of another case involving beavers. At the Burlington waterfront, part or all of a beaver colony's lodge or food supply may have inadvertently been removed by a construction crew who were ordered to clean up debris at a renovation site. GMAD was alerted to this by a concerned citizen. Therefore, we have been in contact with the Mayor's office and Larry Kupferman, who is in charge of the construction project.

Fortunately , they have agreed not to cause further damage to the beaver’s home, or harm other wildlife at this construction site.
However, we are looking into the possibility of supplementally feeding the beavers- in case they have in fact lost their food supply for the winter.

We are now looking for suggestions for any places where we may be able to cut tree limbs or collect fallen limbs of trees that may provide food for beavers. Donations of tree limbs from the following trees would be greatly appreciated: black or white birch, aspen, willow, cottonwood, and alder. In addition, apples are a favorite treat of the beavers, so if you have a large excess supply of apples, we will gratefully accept donations.

Cruelty Free Cosmetics and The Leaping Bunny

Have you ever wondered about the "Leaping Bunny" logo? It is awarded to companies that have met the cruelty free standards that were developed by the Coalition for Consumer Information on Cosmetics (CCIC). By promoting a single, comprehensive standard, the CCIC allows consumers to know that claims of "cruelty-free" or "animal friendly" mean that the company has met a minimum set of guidelines that ensure that their products and policies are truly animal friendly and cruelty free.

For a complete list of companies that have earned this distinction, please see the Complete List of Cruelty-free Companies

More Info: http://www.leapingbunny.org/indexcus.php

Maisy, the Horse Rescued in VT

As the result of a cruelty/neglect case, Maisy the horse was rescued on November 14th by Spring Hill Horse Rescue in Clarendon, VT. She is a sweet young filly who was found tangled in some fencing and emaciated. Sadly, the goat on the same property was already dead. A necropsy showed he had most likely starved to death.

The good news is that Maisy has been seized from that situation and is slowly recuperating, regaining her will to live & now able to stand up (with help)!

Maisy's Palomino coat is now clean and dry. She is expected to make a full recovery, but this will take time and money. Green Mountain Animal Defenders hopes to sponsor Maisy's recuperation, at least in part. The price of hay and other supplies is up, and funds are needed to cover these costs, as well as veterinary bills.

For example, a bale of hay costs approximately $4 and as Maisy recovers, she is expected to eat about a bale a day, at a cost of about $4/day, $25/week, or $100/month. If you are able to sponsor her for a day, a week or a month, that would be fabulous! Of course, a donation in ANY amount will be greatly appreciated and put to immediate use. Let's give Maisy and her rescuers something to be thankful for this holiday season!

If you send a donation for Maisy's care online on the Donate page. You may also send a donation in the mail: GMAD, PO Box 4577, Burlington, VT 05406, please be sure to note that is it for Maisy. Since we are a 501(c)(3) organization, donations to GMAD are tax deductible.

SPECIAL KITTY Gourmet Blend cat food Recall

On October 27, 2008, Mars Petcare US announced a voluntary recall of a limited number of bags of SPECIAL KITTY Gourmet Blend dry cat food sold at Wal-Mart locations in Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia, Vermont, and West Virginia.
The pet food is being voluntarily recalled following a positive test result indicating a potential contamination with Salmonella. Pets with Salmonella infections may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever, and vomiting. Some pets will have only decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain. Animals can be carriers with no visible symptoms and potentially infect other animals or humans. If your pet has consumed the recalled product and has these symptoms, please contact your veterinarian.
Pet owners who have questions about the recall should call 1-877-568-4463.

More Info: http://www.petcare.mars.com/.

September 2008 Pet Food Recall

Friday September 12, 2008:

Mars Petcare announced a recall of its dry pet food produced between Feb. 18 and July 29 at its plant in Everson, Pa due to possible salmonella contamination.

The affected brands are: Pedigree, Country Acres, Retriever, Doggy Bag, Members Mark, Natural, Ol' Roy, Special Kitty, Paws & Claws, Wegman's, Pet Pride, PMI Nutrition and Red Flannel.

To see if a product you purchased has been recalled, look for "17" as the first two digits of the second line on the UPC. For Pedigree products, look for "PAE" on the bottom line.

To see whether a product you purchased is subject to recall, you can check the UPC code against the chart on the Mars Web site.

If you have questions about the recall you can call 1-877-568-4463.

Vermont Animal Cruelty Response System: Phone Number & Contest Winner Announced!

The Vermont Humane Federation (VHF), in partnership with The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), has launched the Cruelty Response System (CRS), a new statewide initiative to help animals throughout the state. The CRS is a network and tracking system to help identify, address and alleviate animal cruelty and other forms of abuse & neglect in Vermont. The Cruelty Response System's phone number is being sponsored by Green Mountain Animal Defenders. The CRS phone number is a resource that provides information on how to report animal cruelty in each county, as well as information on spay/neuter resources and how to help injured and abandoned wildlife.

The winning entry of our contest for an available, easy-to-remember toll free number is: 1-877-9 HUMANE, submitted by GMADer Deb Loring. Congratulations Deb!

Please memorize this number, or keep it with you. Thank you to all who submitted your great ideas for the CRS phone number

Donkey Ball Cancelled

am pleased to let you know that the Barre Recreation Dept director confirmed that the donkey ball game which was originally scheduled in April, then changed to May, has been canceled! Thank you to all who wrote letters, made calls & sent e-mails!

Last spring a dedicated GMAD member made us aware of a donkey ball "game" held in Barre, Vermont and fortunately she kept a look-out for it again this spring. She kept calling the fire department in Barre to find out where and when the donkey ball game was to be held.

Once the event was scheduled, this GMADer even attended a city council meeting at which the mayor encouraged people to attend the fund-raising event. Then the GMAD Board of Director's sent letters of protest to all parties involved, including the mayor.

Thanks to research done by GMADer Erica Sussman, mention of prior lawsuits resulting from injuries sustained during other donkey ball events was included in the GMAD's board's letters.

At the next city council meeting the mayor announced he had received GMAD's letter opposing this cruel event, and felt it was a "union matter". He then passed the letter to the council members who each read it during the session.

End result: Game postponed and then canceled.

Our thanks also go to Laura Yanne and Valerie Sicignano from In Defense of Animals who assisted GMAD with research and calls.

Although we cannot confirm exactly why the event was canceled, it is quite probable that GMADer's actions were very influential! GREAT JOB TO ALL!

Support GMAD by Selling on eBay : ANY DAY!

Did you know the average person has $1,200 in sellable items just sitting around the house? Just imagine what you--and Green Mountain Animal Defenders--could do with the extra cash!

Now you can sell an item on eBay and donate 10% to 100% of the final sale price to help protect animals and the environment. Clean out that closet or basement or attic! You can sell practically anything on eBay and donate a percentage of your net proceeds to GMAD.

How Does It Work?
MissionFish, a nonprofit organization specializing in online charitable auctions, developed Giving Works for eBay. Although items will be posted through MissionFish, they will appear with all other listings on eBay.

Giving Works items are marked with a charity ribbon icon so buyers know they are supporting a good cause. Buyers tend to trust charity sellers more and these items often sell for more than non-charity listings. In addition, Giving Works items appear in three places for the price of one: the eBay category you select, the eBay Giving Works category, and the MissionFish GMAD homepage.

Want to Find Out More?
Go to Mission Fish to get started.

Never used eBay before? Visit eBay Help for a wealth of information for new buyers and sellers:

Are you an experienced eBay seller? Would you like to hold regular auctions and/or list items for others to benefit GMAD? If so, contact chateauchat@comcast.net about becoming a Direct Seller through MissionFish.

Thank you for your continued support, and happy selling!

GMAD Raffle Results!

We held our raffle drawing at Petfood Warehouse (PFW) on Williston Rd in So. Burlington this afternoon, Monday, February 4th! We had sold all 250 tickets, making this a very, very successful fundraiser.

Evan from PFW had the honors of drawing the winning tickets and here are the results:

3rd prize: iPod Shuffle: Ty Robertson of Underhill, VT

2nd prize: DVD player: Brenda Hudson of Underhill Center, VT who amazingly donated the full value of her prize back to us so we can help even more animals!

GRAND prize: 32" LCD Television: Robin Orcutt of Swanton, VT

CONGRATULATIONS to the winners and a heartfelt THANK YOU to all of you who purchased and/or sold tickets to raise money to spay or neuter animals in need, thereby saving lives by preventing hundreds of litters of unwanted puppies and kittens! A special thanks goes to GMAD member Lindsey Deon for spearheading this fabulous effort.

Here is confirmation, once again, that GMADers are wonderful, generous and compassionate people!

GMAD Newsletter - December 2007

GMAD's December 2007 newsletter has arrived!

More Info: http://www.greenmountainanimaldefenders.org/GMADnewsletter.pdf

Good News for Farmed Animals!!

We are delighted to report to you about some wonderful news regarding improvements in the world of factory farming in the past week or so. Many companies are moving towards more humane standards for the treatment of hens as well as pigs. Below are links to several articles with more information about these recent successes and improvements.

Hope you are as excited about these changes as we are!

1. The University of Minnesota (one of the largest universities in the country) has stopped using liquid battery eggs (about 90% of its egg usage). Article

2. The New York Times mentioned the trend on campuses moving away from battery eggs. Article

3. Food service provider Chartwells is converting 45 of its schools away from battery shell eggs. Article

4.Omni Hotels announced a new no-battery-egg policy. Article


5. The Berkeley City Council unanimously passed a resolution condemning the confinement of laying hens in battery cages and urging city residents not to buy battery eggs. Article

6. Wendy's has made some interesting new statements about gestation crates. More info

7. The Oregon State Senate passed a bill to ban gestation crates by a 20-9 vote. It now goes to the House. This is the first time in U.S. history that a gestation crate bill has passed an entire state legislative chamber. Article

8. The United Egg Producers called student activists working on factory farming campaigns "one of the biggest threats to dairy, meat and poultry production." Full article

9. Harvard Hatches a Cage-Free Egg Policy (article from the Humane Society of the United States)

The Humane Society of the United States Applauds University for Implementing New Policy

WASHINGTON (May 1, 2007) The Humane Society of the United States, the nation?s largest animal protection organization, applauds Harvard University today for implementing a policy that will significantly improve the welfare of egg-laying hens.

Harvard has implemented an exclusively cage-free policy for the shell eggs it uses in all its residential restaurants. The change will be effective May 7. Harvard University Dining Services (HUDS) uses more than 500,000 shell eggs a year.

?Harvard?s decision is an important advance in the growing movement away from battery cage confinement in the egg industry,? commented Paul Shapiro, Factory Farming Campaign director for The HSUS. ?The university should be applauded for helping to improve the welfare of egg-laying hens and sending a strong message to the egg industry that confinemeent of hens in cages must end.?

Harvard is in good company. It joins more than 150 other schools such as Princeton, Dartmouth, Tufts, and Berkeley in implementing a policy to eliminate or greatly reduce the use of eggs from caged hens.

In the Boston area, Finagle A Bagel has implemented an exclusively cage-free egg policy, and Bagel Rising is using exclusively cage-free eggs in one of its restaurants. Au Bon Pain has done the same for one of its Boston restaurants.

Facts

U.S. factory farms confine nearly 300 million hens in barren battery cages that are so small, the birds can't even spread their wings. Each bird has less space than a single sheet of paper on which to live. The European Union has banned barren battery cages, effective 2012.

Cage-free hens generally have better lives than birds confined in battery cages. While caging is not the only animal welfare problem in the egg industry, it is a significant cause of laying hen suffering. Cage-free hens generally have approximately 250-300 percent more space per bird and are able to engage in more of their natural behaviors than are caged hens.

There is a snowballing national movement against battery cages. Wolfgang Puck is ending his use of cage eggs. Burger King is beginning to use cage-free eggs. Several grocery chains, including Whole Foods Market and Wild Oats Natural Marketplace, have stopped selling cage eggs. Companies such as AOL and Google have ended the use of cage eggs in their employee cafeterias. And local municipalities in Maryland, California and Florida have condemned battery cage confinement.



Timeline


April 2007 Berkeley, Calif., unanimously passes a bill condemning battery cages and encouraging egg consumers not to purchase eggs from caged hens.

April 2007 Food service provider Chartwells announces that it is phasing in the exclusive use of cage-free shell eggs for 45 of the schools it serves.

March 2007 Burger King annnounces that it has started phasing in the use of cage-free eggs in its North American locations.

March 2007 Celebrity cheff Wolfgang Puck announces that he will no longer use eggs from caged hens.

March 2007 New Port Richey, Fla., unanimously passes a bill condemning battery cages and encouraging egg consumers not to purchase eggs from caged hens.

January 2007 West Hollywood, Calif., unanimously passes a bill condemning battery cages and encouraging egg consumers not to purchase eggs from caged hens.

October 2006 Takoma Park, Md., unanimously passes a bill condemning battery cages and encouraging egg consumers not to purchase eggs from caged hens.

September 2006 Ben & Jerry?s announces that it will phase out the use of eggs from caged hens in all its ice creams.

May 2006 Google implementts an exclusively cage-free egg policy for its employee dining facilities.

October 2005 Bon App?tit Management Company announces that it is phasing out the use of eggs from caged hens in all of its 400 caf?s.

May 2005 Whole Foods Markket and Wild Oats Natural Marketplace announce that they have ended sales of eggs from caged hens.

November 2003 The Better Business Bureau rules that it is misleading to label eggs from battery-caged hens as ?Animal Care Certified.?

Rabies and Vaccination Clinics - VT and NH

This is the time of year when there are many opportunities to find low cost vaccinations for dogs and cats.

Here is an excellent list of low cost rabies clinics in the state which we obtained from the Rabies Hotline. The first few are in regular format, but there is a full list underneath with locations, times, and phone numbers. Please distribute to anyone whose pet may not otherwise be vaccinated without these low cost options.

Please be aware that this should not take the place of an annual veterinary visit.

All animals must be leashed or in carriers~
Many clinics offer other vaccinations as well ~
Call your local Humane Society for times of other clinics

Bolton
Rabies Clinic- Saturday March 24, 2007, at the Bolton Fire Station on Rt. 2. People can get their dog or cat vaccinated from 8am-10am for $12. If you have any questions, please call (802) 434-3064.

Westford
Rabies and Vaccination Clinic- Saturday March 31, 2007, at the Town Garage on Cambridge Road, Westford. People can get their dog or cat vaccinated from 8:30am-12:00pm. The prices for dogs and cats are different. If you have any questions, please call (802) 878-4587.
Dogs Cats
Rabies $12 Rabies $12
Distemper $20 Distemper $17
Kennel Cough $17 Leukemia $20
Lime Disease $22
**************************************************
Dog Wash and Rabies Clinic ? Saturday, April 28, 2007, at the Humane Society of Chittenden County in South Burlington. People can get their dogs washed for just $5 by students from Alpha Zeta, UVM?s Agricultural Honor Society; and their dogs or cats rabies vaccinated for just $7 each by Dr. Susan McMillan of Vet2Pet from 1 - 4 pm. Dog Wash hours to be determined. All dogs must be on leash and cats in carriers. The rain date is Sunday, April 30th. If you have any questions, please call DeVida at (802) 862-0135 x16 or send her an email.

RABIES/VACCINATION LIST


County Contact Person/Vet Phone Town Place Date Times
Addison Bristol Animal Hospital 453-2191 Bristol Holley Hall 03/20/07 5:30 - 7:00 pm
Addison Middlebury Large Animal Clinic 388-6321 Shoreham Firehouse 03/20/07 6:00 - 8:00 pm
Addison Valleywide Veterinary Services 462-2233 Orwell Firehouse 03/23/07 5:00-7:00 pm
Addison Valleywide Veterinary Services 462-2233 Goshen Town Clerks Office 03/24/07 10:00-noon

Caledonia Danville Animal Hospital 684-2284 Danville Danville Animal Hosp. Cats only 04/07/07 noon- 2:00pm
Caledonia Danville Animal Hospital 684-2284 Danville Fire Station 03/24/07 10:00 - 12:30
Caledonia Ryegate Small Animal Hospital 633-3660 Ryegate Ryegate Small Animal Hospital 03/29/07 5:45 - 7:00 pm
Caledonia Danville Animal Hospital 684-2284 Hardwick Fire Station 03/31/07 10:00 - 1:00 pm

Chittenden 434-3064 Bolton Bolton Fire Station 03/24/07 8:00 - 10:00 am
Chittenden Dr. Vrba 878-4587 Westford Westford Town Hall 03/31/07 8:30 - noon
Chittenden Humane Soc.of Chittenden Cty. 862-0135x16 South Burlington Humane Soc.of Chittenden Cty 04/28/07 TBA
Chittenden Humane Soc.of Chittenden Cty. 862-0135x16 South Burlington Humane Soc.of Chittenden Cty 09/08/07 TBA

Franklin Animal Medical Hospital 888-7755 Berkshire Berkshire Town Clerks Office 03/21/07 4:30 - 5:30 pm
Franklin Animal Medical Hospital 888-7755 Montgomery Montgomery Firestation 03/23/07 4:30 - 5:30 pm
Franklin Clearwater Veterinary Clinic 848-7389 Richford Clearwater Veterinary Clinic 03/24/07 9:00 - noon
Franklin Dr. Michael Romp/FCHS St. Albans City St. Albans City Fire Station 03/24/07 9:00 - noon
Franklin Animal Medical Hospital 888-7755 Richford Richford Fire Station 03/28/07 4:30 - 5:30 pm
Franklin Animal Medical Hospital 888-7755 Fairfax Minors Store 03/29/07 5:00 -6:00 pm


Lamoille Animal Medical Hospital 888-7755 Eden Eden Town Garage 03/24/07 12:30 - 1:30 pm
Lamoille Animal Medical Hospital 888-7755 Wolcott Wolcott Fire Station 03/27/07 4:30 - 5:30 pm

Orange River Valley Vet Hospital 866-5922 Newbury Firehouse 03/21/07 6:00 - 7:30 pm
Orange Dr. William Barry 276-3434 Williamstown Williamstown Fire Station 03/24/07 noon - 1:00 pm cats, 1:00 -3:00 dogs
Orange Chelsea Animal Hospital 685-3232 Chelsea/Tunbridge Chelsea Town Hall 03/31/07 9:00- 12:30 pm

Orleans Derby Pond Animal Hospital 766-2222 Derby Derby Town Garage 03/24/07 9:00-noon
Orleans Animal Medical Hospital 888-7755 Lowell Lowell Fire Station 03/24/07 1:45 - 2:45 pm
Orleans Animal Medical Hospital 888-7755 Westfield Westfield Community Center 03/24/07 3:00 - 4:00 pm
Orleans Orleans Veterinary Service, Inc. 754-6625 Brownington Town Clerks - TBA 03/31/07 9:00 - noon
Orleans Orleans Veterinary Service, Inc. 754-6625 Barton Town Clerks, 34 Main St. 03/31/07 9:00 - noon
Orleans Animal Medical Hospital 888-7755 Craftsbury Craftsbury Town Hall 03/31/06 12:30 - 1:00 pm
Orleans Animal Medical Hospital 888-7755 Albany Albany Town Hall 03/31/07 1:45 - 2:45 pm
Orleans Animal Medical Hospital 888-7755 Irasburg Bob's Quick Stop 03/31/07 3:00 - 4:00 pm
Orleans Derby Pond Animal Hospital 766-2222 Holland Town Garage 03/31/07 TBA

Rutland Rutland Vet Clinic 468-5576 Castleton Castleton Town Garage 03/24/07 10:00 - noon
Rutland Otterside Animal Hospital 247-3335 Brandon Blue Seal Feed Store 03/24/07 10:00 - noon
Rutland Dr. Lisa Hickman 775-4333 Wallingford Town Hall 03/31/07 10:00 - noon
Rutland Rutland Vet Clinic 468-5576 Fair Haven Fair Haven Fire Dept. 03/31/07 10:00 - noon
Rutland Rutland Vet Clinic 468-5576 West Rutland West Rutland Town Garage 04/07/07 10:00 - noon

Windham Windham Cty Humane Society* 254-2232 Jamaica behind Town Clerk office 03/23/07 noon-2:00pm
Windham Rockingham Vet Clinic 875-3985 Rockingham Rockingham Vet Clinic 03/24/07 1:00 - 3:00 pm

Windsor Riverside Vet Care Ludlow 03/03/07 11:00 - 1:00 pm
Windsor Springfield Animal Hospital 885-2505 Cavendish Cavendish Vol. Fire State 03/17/07 9:00 - 11:00 am
Windsor Country Animal Hospital 224-5999 Bethel Town Clerks Office 03/21/07 5:00 - 7:00 pm
Windsor Springfield Animal Hospital 885-2505 Baltimore Baltimore Town Offices 03/24/07 9:00 - 11:00 am
Windsor River Road Veterinary Clinic 649-3877 Norwich River Rd. Vet Clinic, Rte. 5N 03/24/07 noon - 4:00 pm
Windsor Springfield Animal Hospital 885-2505 Springfield Springfield Animal Hospital 03/27/07 6:00 - 7:30 pm
Windsor Dr. Chris Mangini 457-4545 Sharon Sharon Fire Dept. 03/31/07 noon -1:30 dogs;1:30-2 cats

NH River Valley Vet Hospital 866-5922 Woodsville, NH Firestation 04/18/07 6:30 - 7:30 pm

Living a Nightmare: Animal Factories in Michigan

The National Sierra Club has posted the Michigan Chapter?s 24 minute documentary, "Living a Nightmare: Animal Factories in Michigan" on Google Video and on the Sierra Club web site. It will soon also be on the Michigan Chapter?s site.

Through these links, you can watch the entire video. At this time, the viewing screen is bigger if you watch the film from the google site.

View Documentary or Another link to documentary

Thanks go, again, to Future Media Corporation of Okemos, MI who produced this video for the Sierra Club! What a gift to the entire universe of people working to put and end to factory farm pollution!

More Info: gayle.miller@sierraclub.org

Ben & Jerry's Supports Cage Free Eggs!

We want to thank all of those at Ben & Jerry's for their great decision to use certified humane cage free eggs. They are the first national food manufacturing company to make this move, and we are proud to have another Vermont company leading the way.

Spay Day USA - February 28, 2006

GMAD was very busy on Spay Day this year! We were successful in our requests to Governor Douglas and Mayor Clavelle to each sign a proclamation naming Spay Day USA as a Vermont and Burlington-recognized day. GMAD ran ads in several newspapers to educate the public about the importance of spaying and neutering, resulting in an increase of these surgeries performed. Special thanks go to the Williston Observer, Stowe Reporter, and the South Burlington Other Paper for donating ad space and especially to Angela Baker for helping it happen!

GMAD members also sent letters to the editors of major newspapers across the state explaining the importance of spay/neutering in the fight against cat and dog overpopulation. Finally, GMAD printed coupons for low-cost spay/neutering on educational flyers. These flyers are still being distributed!

Earth Week 2006

In honor of Earth Week, GMAD partnered with Students for True Animal Rights (STAR) from UVM and together sponsored Harold Brown from Farm Sanctuary in New York as well as two staff members, Paul Shapiro and Michael Markarian, of the Humane Society of the United States in Washington DC. Harold spoke at UVM, at Middlebury College and on Mark Johnson?s radio show.

Paul and Michael are leading a cage-free egg campaign, a campaign that STAR and GMAD are assisting with in Vermont. Both sets of speakers were also interviewed and featured on Channel 17 by GMAD?s own Monica Farrington!

Picture This

The Burlington Free Press? Pet Idol Contest has generated over $2,500 to help fight pet overpopulation. All the proceeds that were designated to GMAD are going to alleviate the suffering caused by pet overpopulation and to feed and house animals in need. We are grateful to the BFP for promoting awareness in this fun and creative way!

Did You Know?

Did you know that GMAD has a new office? We are now conveniently located in the Peace and Justice Center on Church Street in Burlington. With the new office comes some new expenses and new responsibilities. That?s why we are looking for some extraordinary people to volunteer their time and/or money to support this move.

It would be a great help to have twelve caring donors to sponsor twelve months for $200 each, or many people to
sponsor one week each for $50. This includes rent, telephone service, computer hook-up/DSL and all utilities. Perhaps that would make a perfect gift to honor a special day, or a hint to someone who wants to get you the perfect gift!

Another important way to help is by volunteering to staff the office one day per month or week (commitment of a few hours would be great), so we can spread our animal protection messages to the public more effectively. Help is needed to update the database, answer the telephone, reply to emails, help people who come to the office and work on our many projects and events. Please note that we are only open by appointment at this time. We would love to be open more, but we need more volunteers to make that happen!

Kudos to Whit Hewat, Tammy Parker, Aaron Bilsing, Kristen Cameron, Dana Dimetrio and Kate Kissner for painting, cleaning and organizing our new space!

If you are interested in helping to support the new office, please contact Sharon at smatgmad@aol.com or call 861-3030.

Lance Polya's Katrina Diary

January 28, 2006
Hi folks,
It's hard to know where to start. New Orleans is like a war zone. It resembles London or Berlin after it was bombed. I drove through mile after mile of utter devastation. The water level from Katrina swelled to 9 feet in the homes. Nine feet; that's not a misprint. Impoverished neighborhoods and wealthy neighborhoods....none were spared. It looks like a moonscape.
It's been 5 months now since Katrina roared through, but though the water has subsided, some areas look much like they did just after the storm when we all saw it on the news. In some ways it looks worse. Many people have returned to gut their homes of all their water-damaged insides which now lie in huge mounds by their curbsides waiting to be hauled away, so the streets resemble vast garbage dumps. Maybe, in one house out of fifty, the owners have returned and are living in trailers parked on their lawn, while they are slowly drying out and renovating their water- logged interiors. Perhaps, in one in one hundred homes, it appears that people are actually living inside. All cars stay abandoned exactly where they were when the hurricane hit, because the salt water of the floods corroded the electrical systems rendering them non- drivable.
Yesterday I helped in a food and water program for abandoned animals on the streets. Certain abandoned houses are designated as food and water drop-off stations for dogs and cats animals left by their owners. We leave them food and water so they can live until they are live trapped and rescued. Most of these animals hide during the day, but we know they are there because we record what they eat from previous visits and it is gone when we return. We go into these neighborhoods in teams and wade through the debris to leave them food in strategic locations. If we actually see any animals, they usually run from us in fear.
That?s all for now. Tomorrow I?ll tell you about the other Katrina animal rescue programs that care for and place for adoption the thousands of animals rescued in the aftermath. Also, I?ll share stories about the hundreds of volunteers down here working day and night in these programs.
Lance
January 29, 2006
Hi Everyone,
Today I?ll talk about what goes on daily. I live and work in what is called the staging area. The staging area is where all the animal rescue operations originate. It is named Celebration Station and it's located in an old gambling casino that was abandoned after Katrina hit. It runs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
There are a few paid staff from an animal rescue organization called Best Friends, but almost everyone is a volunteer. There are about 60 volunteers here at any given time. They come from all over the country, and they are young and old. There is a crisis situation mentality here, so there is never a break from the work, day and night. It resembles ordered chaos.
At night, those who can, sleep on the floor in a massive room. Privacy? Forget about it. And there?s always the constant lullaby in the background of barking dogs and meowing cats.
Here?s the daily procedure. Trappers go to the abandoned districts and use live traps to capture animals that are still roaming the area. Since these animals mostly feed at night, that is when most are caught. These animals are then transported to the intake staging area in the middle of the night. When the animals arrive, they are given immediate medical attention.
The next day they are taken to veterinarians who check them over, spay/neuter them, and insert microchips under their skin to trace them if they are ever lost again. Then they are returned to the staging area where they are digitally photographed and their pictures and location they were found are put on a website for owners to scan them. (We?re talking about thousands of animals.) Some get reunited with their original owners, but that number is dwindling over time.
If no one claims them in five days (most aren?t), they are put in holding pens to wait for adoption. That means there are hundreds of cages of animals that must be cleaned daily. They must be fed, walked, and played with. This is a massive undertaking. Everybody chips in. All of us, even the center director, are cleaning up dog poop. It?s a great ego deflator.
Every day, dozens of people come in considering adoption. The lucky critters get adopted. The rest get transported to animal rescue farms and shelters across the country. None, if in decent health, ever get euthanized. That?s a hard and fast rule.
There are many people in the area who are very supportive of this massive undertaking. Some donate a few hours; some have come here right after Katrina and have never left. Some contribute money; some cook great meals for us. Companies donate supplies. Vets donate their services. There?s so much donated, but it is still not near enough to make this operation flow smoothly.
Next time, I?ll write about why there are so many abandoned animals. It?s not as cut and dry as I originally thought. Most people didn?t abandon their pets. But that?s another story.
Lance

January 30, 2006
Hello again,
Most people didn?t abandon their pets. When Katrina was predicted and evacuations were mandatory, many people left their pets with food and water thinking they would return in a couple of days. When New Orleans became flooded, the dogs were trapped in their homes and had to be rescued on a house-by-house basis.
Those people who didn?t evacuate and had to be rescued were forced into a terrible dilemma. FEMA and the National Guard wouldn?t permit families to take their pets with them either by bus, boat, or helicopter. Many had to make an on-the?spot decision to leave their pets. Many of the people who chose to not abandon their pets and not be rescued died.
Now we?re paying the price of this horrible policy. The rescue operation continues here until the end of February. By now the offspring of the abandoned animals are out on the streets. They are called feral cats and dogs?they are wild and have never had human contact. Not being spayed or neutered, they will procreate without limits, which will exacerbate an already enormous pet population problem.
The limits to this growth will be reached when all the food in this region is gone. The food and water program that I described previously is being discontinued as of mid-February. Then all the stray animals will have to fend for themselves. Most natural ground vegetation was killed by the flooding from the hurricane. That means, in all likelihood, that the animals that are left on the street will starve to death. Bulldozing some of the neighborhoods, as is now being planned, will remove all their protective hiding places and any remaining food sources, and only hasten this starvation process. It is a very gruesome outlook.
So, the more animals that are removed from the neighborhoods now, the slower will be this population explosion and ensuing starvation. That?s why this rescue work is critical and urgent.
If you want to read more about what?s going in the rescue operation that I?m involved with or to donate money towards it, you can go to: www.bestfriends.org
A video of one rescue operation can be found at: http://network.bestfriends.org/Campaigns/SaveAPet.aspx? g=e0fff6b53f5f41bdac7d0d13572bd724
If you have a question about what we?re doing here, please email it to me and I will try to answer it.
On a lighter note, here are Katrina expressions that I?ve seen on T-shirts and bumper stickers. Some of this stuff really speaks to the sentiments of many residents of New Orleans:
 Gut FEMA
 F.E.M.A.?Fix Everything? My Ass!
 Make levees, not war
 Forget Iraq. Rebuild at home
 New Orleans?I?ve swum home again
 I stayed in New Orleans through Hurricane Katrina and all I got was this lousy T-shirt?and a plasma TV.
 N.O.P.D.--Not Our Problem, Dude
 Twisted Sisters?Rita, Katrina, Wilma
That?s all for now.
Lance

February 03, 2006
Hi folks,
Yesterday, I went to "ground zero" where Katrina hit in New Orleans. When I first wrote you, I was in areas where the water went over the levees and flooded the homes up to 9 feet deep. But, yesterday I went to very low lying areas where the levees broke and the water surged through uprooting everything in its path.
Like you, I've seen hundreds of pictures of the devastation in newspapers and newsreel on television, but it didn't have nearly a smidgen of the impact as being there. I alternately cried and gagged. I expected to see trees on top of houses, but I didn?t expect to see houses on top of trees. And most homes weren't even recognizable as homes; they were simply masses of waterlogged construction debris. And through all that unrecognizable junk of building material, I'd spot something personal, like a shoe or the head of a doll.
When I was in the flooded districts a few days ago, I reported that a few people were returning and gutting their homes. But I saw no residents where I was yesterday. I suspect that's because there is nothing to return to and salvage...absolutely nothing. And since over a thousand people are still missing and unaccounted for, I suspect that under all that rubble lie human corpses. So these monuments of debris are also graves for humans and animals. It's so utterly tragic.
There is very little animal rescue going on in this area because no life form can survive here. Yet, I have heard of remarkable stories of saving animals that occurred shortly after the hurricane hit. I met one rescuer who swam through canals over dead human bodies to save the lives of animals caught in the currents.
Even now, incredible stories of survival abound. A boxer that was trapped in a yard since Katrina hit was found and brought to the staging area on January 9. So, for over four months, he apparently lived on only water from puddles. He was severely emaciated and traumatized, but is recovering nicely now. His amazing story is detailed at http://network.bestfriends.org/news/1199.html
There?s also a dog here that was found under a tree that crushed and paralyzed both of his hind legs. Every day he patiently waits in his pen for one of us to strap his hind legs to a sort of wheel chair that raises them off the ground. He runs around the staging area with his two front legs at top speed for an hour in this contraption. He is in his glory.
Every day owners are being reunited with their lost pets. Through better databases and pictures and public information, people are scanning websites that have pictures, detailed descriptions, and locations where pets were found and they are making matches. I was fortunate enough to witness one of these reunions. There were tears of joy all around.
At the end of this month, the two Katrina animal rescue organizations will be pulling out of New Orleans, after working tirelessly there for 6 months. The food and water program and the trapping/neutering/release program will be taken over by local residents. But the reunion and adoption program will be discontinued, leaving the fate of hundreds of rescued animals uncertain. Even though other shelters across the country are taking in some of these critters, many hundreds of others have nowhere to go. It is very, very sad.
And I too am leaving New Orleans tomorrow. Working twenty hours a day for eight straight days has taken its toll on me. Also, seeing the vastness of the devastation to both humans and animals has left me numb and emotionally exhausted.
I feel like a war correspondent telling these stories. But I know many of you wanted to know what is going on down here, now that most of the media has left and post-Katrina has partially slipped out of the public eye. And writing this journal has been therapeutic and cathartic for me.
I feel like I?ve donated a few drops of aid in an ocean of need. Some volunteers have been here for months, some come for a few hours. We all do the best we can.
Peace, Lance

Shop Humanely This Holiday Season

Read about GMAD Member, Ellen Jareckie's Experiences Assisting the Animal Survivors of Hurricane Katrina

One of GMAD's members, Ellen Jareckie, a wildlife rescuer and rehabilitator, has been working in Northern Louisiana with one of the rescue groups involved in caring for the animal survivors of Hurricane Katrina. We will be posting Ellen's emails as we get them:

Sunday September 18, 2005

So sorry I have not written until now. We couldn't get the internet connection to work for awhile and we have been so busy working at the shelter that we have not had time to work with the computer to get it going. Finally, I'm able to get a brief note off to you tonight. Well, we are finally in Louisiana after three days on the road. When we arrived, there was a lot going on, as the shelter was moving from one facility to the next. We did our best to fit right in and begin helping by learning the procedure for walking and feeding the dogs. In addition, we spent the next couple of days loading crates and supplies and bringing them to the new location.

Today we spent the day getting the shelter at the new location set up and ready to take in a potentially large number of strays from the floodwaters south of us. It was long, hard work in 99-100+ degree heat but we are happy to be here to help out. Sometimes when you work in that kind of heat, you don't know how hot/dehydrated/tired you are until you feel like you are about to pass out. Then you realize it's time to stop and sit down and drink more water but it's difficult to stop when you have such an intense desire to accomplish a goal--and our goal was to get this new shelter ready as soon as possible. We built kennels, cleaned old horse stalls, cleaned and disinfected floors, brought in dog/cat crates and other supplies on trailers, and then organized them neatly in the new building.

This evening, as we all sat on the floor of the new shelter, I was in awe of how much a group of people can accomplish in a short amount of time. To look at this new, neat, organized, well supplied shelter was like looking at a fine piece of art for me. It was somehow stunning and beautiful at the same time. All of the people we are working with are kind, dedicated people who dislike suffering as much as I do, and I enjoy working with them. I would write more, but we have to be at the shelter at the usual time of 7:30 AM and will probably stay there until 8:30 PM or later so I have to get to bed

Wednesday September 21, 2005

Hi all,

Here is the latest update on the rescue effort in our area of Louisiana. I?ve been up for two days straight and can't quite remember where I left off but I'll start with what happened last night. We were told that 150 stray dogs would be arriving last night in the middle of the night so we spent the day yesterday finalizing our preparations at the new shelter. We did things such as placing water and food bowls inside each crate, hanging leashes and collars, putting up signs, etc. It was over 100 degrees which made us all feel a bit slow. There is no air conditioning in the barn, of course, so we are using fans directed at the 150 cages and crates to try and keep the animals as cool as possible. The fans kept blowing fuses in the barn and Mike was being called upon to fix that problem.

We went to sleep in our cars just outside the barn and awaited the arrival of the two tractor trailer loads of dogs. The trucks pulled in at about 2:00 AM and we were jolted awake by adrenaline. Each semi backed up in turn to the entrance of the barn and all of us watched intently as the rear door was opened on the first truck. There was incredible tension in the air and everyone's face looked lined and stressed because we were all so worried about the welfare of the dogs who had already been through a horrible time, only to be loaded again onto these trucks and hauled off in the pitch black interior, not knowing what was happening.

The rear door was finally open and the smell hit us like a wave as it rolled out of the truck--a sickly sweet stench of fear and dog manure accompanied by barking and howling dogs. The fact that some were almost screaming put everyone in tears. The dogs were in separate crates which were unloaded and lined up in the dark outside the entrance. Each dog was taken out of it's crate, photographed and taken immediately to the veterinarian on duty in the barn. All of us stood around waiting to take the incoming dogs one by one to the vet and then on to a crate or kennel within the building.

When we saw a German shepherd who could barely walk due to starvation stagger out of a crate, we were in shock that it could walk at all because there was practically nothing left to it's body--just bones covered by skin. Quite a few of the dogs arrived looking this way, but luckily only a couple of them had trouble walking. Some were little puppies, others were old dogs with sweet, gray faces, others were young dogs in their prime years. They arrived in all shapes and sizes and all were scared and stressed but at the same time sweet and friendly and in need of reassurance. You could see that these were animals that someone loved and that I'm sure are missed by disaster victims. The reason each dog is photographed on arrival is because we make every effort to reunite them with their human families if possible and a file is kept of these dogs. I've heard that Petfinders.com is helping in this process but I have not had time to verify this myself.

At any rate, it took us from 2:00 AM until 6:00 AM to finish taking in all the dogs and settling them into their cages within the building. The truck drivers kindly waited all that time during the process and finally left after all the dogs had been unloaded. I'm grateful to the drivers of these trucks who took the time to bring those dogs, as it was the only way such a number of them could have been transported out of an area where the numbers of rescued animals had become completely unmanageable. More rescued animals are still arriving each day, adding to the already severely overloaded shelters who are doing a magnificent job of working hard to do their best despite the extreme circumstances.

After getting two hours of sleep we returned to the shelter to continue caring for the dogs. The more vocal ones were barking incessantly, a sign of stress in such a situation. After a short time you tune out the barking and don't really even notice it, even though it's pretty loud. Mostly, we just focused hard on giving the animals basic care while talking to them in order to reassure them. Each of us was assigned a group of dogs to walk, feed and clean up after and this is what we have been doing all day. We all wish we had time to sit with each dog and give him/her attention but this is impossible due to the sheer numbers we are trying to shelter. Now we are concerned that this new storm (Rita) may further complicate efforts to save the people and animals that are still out there if it strikes in the same area. We have briefly discussed this at the shelter but it's such an overwhelming problem that nobody wants to think about it. Since we are so far north we are not particularly concerned about wind damage but we do worry about a power outage which would prevent us from using the fans to help cool the dogs. If that happens, I hope we are able to locate a large enough generator to supply the needed power.

Well, the good news is that these animals are off the streets and out of the toxic floodwaters. They are being sheltered, fed and cared for by a group of people who really care about them and who are working hard to do their best in a difficult situation. Other organizations such as the local PAWS and the Red Cross are supporting us and we are incredibly grateful. A kind family has donated the use of their barn and property for the shelter location and we couldn't have done this without their help, as it's not easy to find a building to house a large number of animals in a disaster situation.

I guess I had better get some sleep, as I have to be up early to feed and walk the dogs.
Take care,
Ellen

Friday September 23, 2005

Hi All,

Here is the latest on what's going on here. I have not had time to write due to lack of sleep. We were up until 12:30 AM (I was wired again) and then I woke up at 5:00 AM worrying about the animals in Rita's path.

We got to the shelter today and started walking and feeding the dogs at 7:30 AM. I would tell you what went on yesterday but I actually can't remember! I just know we have been walking, feeding, cleaning and that sort of thing. Today we did the same, trying to get into a routine because we have so many dogs to care for. We finally got into more of a routine today which made all the chores more efficient. We also discussed plans for the incoming hurricane Rita and according to the weather reports we are not due for any hurricane force winds--just regular stormy winds and lots and lots of rain. The building we are in is an old steel structure and the roof is just steel, nothing more, so we hope it holds well enough to keep the dogs dry. According to the directors, we will not be allowed to stay in the shelter during the storm because the organization is strict about volunteer safety. However, I really want to be there to care for the dogs and am trying to figure out how I can get them to let us stay there. Otherwise, I hope to bring some of the more pitiful dogs to our hotel room to give them some comfort and companionship during the storm, as I hate to think of them going through this trauma again (in terms of hearing the rain and wind).

Speaking of which, I thought I would put a face on some of the dogs who are here at the shelter--those that are my favorites. One of them is a little white dog who is completely blind in both eyes due to cataracts, we think. All the people who saw her for the first time started to cry when they realized that she had gone through the entire ordeal without being able to see. She's incredibly sweet and very tentative when she walks outside because she doesn't know her surroundings. Mike likes to carry her out of the shelter and set her on the ground so she doesn't run into anything inside the building. Another dog is a completely deformed young German shepherd. He/she is also very sweet and loves attention but is such a sad sight. The dog walks with it's "heels" all the way down on the ground, it's back hunched over and the front feet splay badly out to the sides as though the front feet are double jointed. We can only think it was really poorly bred or given very bad nutrition as a pup. It's also rail thin but Mike says it's very strong and pulls when he walks the dog, which made me happy to hear that the dog has some strength.

Another adorable dog is a tiny black Chihuahua who is so friendly that his whole back end wags when he greets you. All he wants to do is come out of his crate and visit with people. He too is rail thin, all his ribs showing and also has some skin problems from having been in the toxic waters. Then there is a young cocker spaniel who at first was very shy and kept his head down in submission. He cowered at the back of the crate for a couple of days and yet today, suddenly, he's jumping forward and greeting people, wiggling his tiny tail and asking for attention. When I walk him and kneel down, he comes over and puts his head against my chest as though he needs comfort. He is rail thin also, but starting to recover from his starvation.

There was an incredibly thin German shepherd that came off the truck, barely able to walk. Everyone kept checking on him as he lay in his kennel on blankets, making sure he was still alive. The volunteer vet has been tending to him by giving fluids and working on his feet. He had been found clinging to a hot roof and his feet were also burned from chemicals in the water. The vet worked on his feet but decided to send him/her and another emaciated dog to a local vet for critical care. I still have not heard an update on those dog's conditions but I know the vet will do his best. There are many other dogs here that are such lovable personalities that I could go on and on. Tonight, just before we left the shelter for the night, I gave each dog a treat and as I handed the treat through the bars, each dog happily and delicately took the tidbit. It feels good to give them any kind of happiness, even if it's just a treat.

In preparation for the remnants of hurricane Rita, we ordered sandbags to put at the entrances to the barn, placed the dog's crates up on wood pallets and reorganized some aspects of the shelter in case of flooding--our main concern.
Well, hopefully I'll get some sleep tonight. I'll try and write as the storm passes, but if I don't get a chance it will be due to focusing on the animal's welfare. Hope you are all well!

Ellen

On-line Hunting Goes Live, Vermont Takes a Stand

GMAD is proud and thrilled to announce Vermont Senate Bill S-166, which prohibits the use of remote controlled devices to participate in canned hunts, was enacted into law in the 2005 legislative session. Thanks for everyone's hard work and support!

More Info: http://www.leg.state.vt.us/docs/legdoc.cfm?URL=/docs/2006/bills/intro/S-166.HTM

The Emotional Life of Animals

A recent Guardian article chronicles the latest research that suggests that animals have a lot more emotional complexity than most people believe they possess. Maybe not a surprise to all; this article is a must read for everyone, including those of us who have always believed this to be true. Read more at the Guardian's website - "More than Meats the Eye" by Laura Spinnery.

More Info: http://www.guardian.co.uk/print/0%2C3858%2C5149235-111414%2C00.html

Farmed Animal Slaughter Statistics

Animals Slaughtered for Food in the U.S. in 2000 and 2003 (Minimum) (individuals rounded to nearest thousand)

Animals    2000              2003



Chickens  8,424,208,000  8,684,434,000

Turkeys  268,026.000       267,781,000

Pigs  98,106,000           101,043,000

Cattle  36,416,000          35,648,000

Ducks  24,494,000           24,301,000

Lambs/Yearlings  3,141,000   2,691,800

Calves  1,172,000            1,039,000

Goats  542,000                 647,000

Sheep  166,900                 145,000

Horses  47,000                  50,000

Bison  18,000               35,000

__________________________________________________



TOTALS 8,856,337,000    9,117,814,800

Ban on Wild Animal Acts Passes for Burlington

Dear Humane Friends:

It is with utmost pleasure that I report?the?PASSAGE of the BAN on Wild Animal Acts in Vermont's largest city, Burlington.

Because animals used in the circus, and other traveling acts, travel thousands of miles each year without water,?are forced to stand in their own waste, are chained in place for up to 100 hours during transport; and training for these animals is almost always based on fear and intimidation, this ban is a triumph for them!

The ban was the brainchild of Green Mountain Animal Defenders' board member, Gary Kowalski, who has been spearheading this campaign since last year. As a resident and well respected?member of the community, Gary was able to convince the?Burlington Ordinance Committee to pass a resolution banning these acts from city owned property several months ago. ?

Some people may have been?content to rest on their laurels, but not Gary! He wanted these acts banned from the city limits entirely by an ordinance which has more "teeth" than a resolution, and?is also harder to pass!

Of course, Gary had the dedicated help and support from many people.?I would like to take this opportunity to extend the appreciation of the GMAD board of directors to?the individuals?who testified, wrote letters, called and sent e-mails to the city council members and submitted letters to the editor in support of the ban.

Our special thanks for outstanding support (in alphabetical order) go to?Ann Albano,?the Animal Protection Institute (API) for the use of their advertising concept,?Sandy Bissonette, Lucy Boyajian, Councilor Ian Carleton who spoke so eloquently in favor of the ban, Mayor Peter Clavelle who has already committed to signing it, Pat Cram, Dr. Holly Cheever, Councilor Russ Ellis for his unwavering support, Martin Gold,?Jodi Harvey (Burlington Animal Control Officer) for her excellent testimony, Steve Hingtgen (candidate for Lt. Gov),??the Humane Society of the US (HSUS) staff including Joanne Bourbeau and Linda Huebner?(for alerting their membership and providing testimony,?info and?a video),?Monica Farrington,?the staff at People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) ?for providing the booklet of USDA violations committed by the circus industry, Ken Picard for his supportive article in Seven Days newspaper, Phelan Fretz, Ph.D.,?executive director of ECHO (who assured the committee that this ordinance would not have a negative impact on his center), Whit Hewat,?Dori Jones, Holly Jones (for bravely testifying on behalf of high school students), Kimberly Korona, Dr. Peggy Larson (for her multiple expert testimonies as a veterinarian,?former USDA inspector and attorney), Kathee Ludwig, Dr.?Steven Metz, Andi Mowrer, Julie Plovnick,?Dr. Roger Prior, Lisa Raffael, Tom Rogers, Susan Roghair?(aka EnglandGal) for her list of resources, Joanna Scott, Councilor?Joan Shannon for her encouragement and advice, Eileen Whitney, Simon Woodrup and of course,?everyone else who played a part in raising concern on behalf of the animals! I apologize, in advance, if I have failed to mention anyone by name.

The following is a list of Burlington City Councilors who voted in FAVOR of the ordinance that
was adopted by the City Council at their 9/7/04 meeting:? (to see a copy, download the document.)

Ian Carleton, Russ Ellis, Joan Shannon, Phil Fiermonte, Tim Ashe, Jean O'Sullivan, Jane Knodell, Cheryl McDonough, Barbara Perry & Ellie Blais. KUDOS to them all!

THIS IS A VICTORY FOR ANIMALS!?

We are now one step closer to a more humane world,

Sharon MacNair

AVMA Will No Longer Support Starving Hens

American Veterinary Medical Association Will No Longer Support Starving Hens: "Neither food nor water should be withdrawn." - AVMA Resolution

In a surprise show of compassion for millions of suffering chickens, the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) voted at its annual meeting on July 23, in Philadelphia, to stop supporting the factory-farm practice of starving hens to manipulate egg production - the practice known as forced molting.

The surprise came after the AVMA had stated its intention to reject a resolution presented for the 6th year by the Association of Veterinarians for Animal Rights to cease support for a cruelty so traumatic it wrecks the birds' immunity making them prey to diseases including Salmonella poisoning. No longer can egg producers invoke AVMA support for this horrific abuse of chickens for profit.

United Poultry Concerns has worked for 11 years to get the AVMA to stop supporting the egg industry's practice of starving hens to manipulate egg production. We launched our campaign in a letter to the AVMA on June 8, 1993. On September 28, 1998, UPC sponsored the first animal rights protest ever held at the AVMA's headquarters, in Schaumburg, Illinois, with a banner proclaiming THE AVMA SUPPORTS STARVING HENS.

In the 1990s, United Poultry Concerns and the Association of Veterinarians for Animal Rights published op-eds in newspapers around the country including The Chicago Tribune (03/ 31/1999), arguing that "Instead of condoning the starvation of hens for profit, the AVMA should stand up for the hens."

United Poultry Concerns protested at the AVMA convention last summer in Denver and at the AVMA convention this summer in Philadelphia. On June 21, 2004, UPC joined Animal Rights International, PETA, and AVAR in sponsoring a scathing full-page ad in The New York Times: "Has anyone betrayed more animals than the American Veterinary Medical Association?"

"The AVMA's turnaround on forced molting shows how important it is for animal advocates to persist in their battles on behalf of suffering animals," says UPC President Karen Davis. "When appeals to conscience fail, public exposure is the next step. It is no longer 'humane' to starve hens, just as we said all along."

More Info: http://www.upc-online.org

S100 Passes House Vote!

The Humane & Proper Treatment of Animals?bill (S.100), aka?the Animal Cruelty Bill, is finally going to be passed, after over three years of hard work!

After getting the bill out of the conference committee, the final real obstacle was to get it passed by the House ... and that happened on Friday!? The bill is now headed for the Senate, where we expect easy passage, and then to the Governor's desk for his signature.?

S. 100?has gotten this far because of the calls, letters, emails and other support?from YOU! Everyone?should pat themselves on the back for their involvement!???

Vermont?will be a better and safer place for?animals because?of your involvement in passing S.100.

Captive Wildlife Safety Act Signed Into Law

In November the U.S. Senate passed S. 269, which limits the keeping of lions, tigers, leopards, cheetahs, jaguars and cougars as pets by prohibiting interstate transport of these big cats for this purpose. A similar bill passed in the House of Representatives as well, and on December 19th and President Bush signed the Captive Wildlife Safety Act into law. Thank you to everyone who took the time to contact your representatives and President Bush in support of this critical new law!

Lawsuit Results in Plan to Cancel All Mute Swan Killing in US

This morning in federal court, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service made the startling announcement that it will withdraw all permits to kill mute swans nationwide. The announcement comes just eight days after Judge Emmet Sullivan granted a request by The Fund for Animals to block the State of Maryland from killing hundreds of swans throughout the Chesapeake Bay while The Fund's lawsuit was pending.

The new decision by federal officials will apply not just to Maryland, but to dozens of permits to kill tens of thousands of mute swans throughout the U.S.

Awesome News For Elephants

On Monday evening, July 14, 2003 the Burlington City Council voted unanimously to pass a resolution that would prohibit circuses with elephants, big cats, bears and non-human primates from appearing in city-owned facilities like Memorial Auditorium and Leddy Park Arena.

The resolution stipulated that circuses which receive an endorsement from the Humane Society of the United States would be exempt and permitted to operate--this provision was included as an incentive for circuses to "clean up their act"; it also exempted dogs, horses and other domesticated animals from its strictures. Finally, the resolution asked the Ordinance Committee to draft a statute that would forbid such circuses within the Burlington city limits.

Two more hearings are required before a final vote that would make this proposal a legal ordinance, but we have passed a crucial first hurdle in the effort to make Burlington a more humane community for all of us.

Green Mountain Animal Defenders thanks all of you who have supported the process up to this point. We would also like to encourage you to thank the members of the Burlington City Council (and especially the co-sponsors of the resolution, Russell Ellis, Ellie Blais and Joan Shannon) for their vision on this issue. Their contact info is listed below.

We applaud Gary Kowalski, member of the GMAD Board of Directors, for spearheading this campaign. GREAT WORK!

Please continue to make your voices heard, even as we celebrate this important milestone!

Burlington City Council:

Ward One
Ian Carleton 951-8837; icarleton@yahoo.com
Sharon Bushor 658-3604; sharonbushor@adelphia.net

Ward Two
Cheryl McDonough 862-0132
Jane Knodell 862-2469; jknodell@zoo.uvm.edu

Ward Three
Philip Fiermonte 658-2180;philipf@adelphia.net
Carina Driscoll 865-0345; carinavt1@yahoo.com

Ward Four
Kevin Curley 660-0455
Russell Ellis 862-4584; rrellis@adelphia.net

Ward Five
William Keogh 862-5270; billk1@adelphia.net
Joan Shannon 860-7489; joan@longswimwear.com

Ward Six
Barbara Perry 658-61-4; perrybd@earthlink.net
Andrew Montroll 658-2478; montroll@riser.com

Ward Seven
Ellie Blais 658-3786; emblai@peoplepc.com
Jean O' Sullivan 658-0492; jeanosullivanvt@hotmail.com

Looking For a Good Book?

Review by: Melissa Bailey

Are you looking for a good book to read or give as a gift? Try The Bible According to Noah by Vermont's own Gary Kowalski, a local minister at the First Unitarian Universalist Society in Burlington. Gary is a long time GMAD member and activist.

You don't have to be religious to find this book enlightening. Gary pulls together traditional thoughts and puts a new twist on them to include animals of all kinds.

Some of these concepts come from other cultures, which makee the book even more interesting. Gary teaches how to continue to treat animals with respect and view them on the same level as humans, with the understanding that all creatures have importance in the world.

The book explores many aspects of animals and our continued journey of finding peace on this earth. It gave me a renewed hope in this world of tragedy. I was reminded of what is important in my life; my family, including my animal companions, and the beauty of this earth.

Burger King Offers Veggie Burger

According to an article on Erik Marcus's Web site, there is a very small amount of dairy in the burger so it's not quite vegan. But Erik - and PETA, according to his article - think it's vital that we support this by buying.

If we don't support BK, they are afraid lack of consumer interest would set back the cause of veggie burgers at fast food places by several years.

You can write and thank CEO Colin Storm at: Burger King Corp, 17777 Old Cutler Rd, Miami, FL 33157.

More Info: http://www.erikmarcus.com