**~**Story #1**~**
1. Providing disaster relief
WSPA’s disaster management team improved the welfare of over 195,000 animals this year, supplying desperately needed food, veterinary supplies and expertise across Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean. When Myanmar and Cuba were ravaged by storms, we were the only organization able to assist their animals.
2. Campaign launched to end the long distance transportation of animals
The WSPA-led Handle with Care campaign launched across nine countries in a blaze of publicity, moving politicians and the public to call for an end to the long distance transportation of animals. One of 2008’s successes was an 11% drop in the number of pigs being transported to Hawaii from the US mainland, saving almost 2,000 animals from a horrific journey by land and sea.
3. Working to end bear baiting
In 2008 we moved closer to ending bear baiting in Pakistan for good: 15 bears were rescued from the danger and pain of illegal baiting and taken to Kund Park. At this WSPA-funded lifetime care facility they received expert veterinary treatment and can now rest in the pools and long grass of the sanctuary.
4. Building our network of member societies
We are building a global animal welfare movement by collaborating with, funding and sharing learning with our member societies. Over 130 groups, including 15 in the US, joined our network in 2008, allowing WSPA to work with local organizations in Cambodia, Myanmar, Guam, Palau, Kosovo and Palestine for the first time.
5. Making animal-friendly food choices
We launched an “Eat Humane” campaign in the US by ranking the largest supermarket chains on the availability of humanely raised foods in their stores. American shoppers now have a guide to food labels and where to shop to find the most animal-friendly products.
6. Scoring a victory for whales
WSPA scored a victory for whales this year. At the 2008 International Whaling Commission meeting we proved that ‘aboriginal’ hunts in Greenland also turn a commercial profit, giving commissioners the information they needed to block the country’s plans to hunt humpback whales.
7. Promoting the Model Farm Project
In 2008 the Model Farm Project took off in China: 10,000 chickens that would have been caged have experienced life outside, climbed trees and basked in the sun. This project has benefited humans too: shoppers in Beijing are now able to buy humanely reared chickens and eggs for the first time.
8. Providing for sanctuaries
Rescue and rehabilitation work continued in 2008, with the Romanian bear sanctuary’s new enclosure providing life-long safety for nine more abused and neglected bears. Our funding also kept the Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation’s forest sanctuary open to care for injured and orphaned animals.
9. Collaborating with international animal welfare organizations
WSPA USA hosted the first Global Outreach Round Table to explore ways to create effective long distance collaborations and partnerships between US and oversees member societies. US organizations are offering resources and expertise to assist their colleagues abroad with the day-to-day challenges they face in helping animals.
10. Promoting a Universal Declaration on Animal Welfare
In 2008, the governments of Sweden, New Zealand, Fiji, the Seychelles and Cambodia all made animal welfare an issue of national importance by supporting WSPA’s campaign for a Universal Declaration on Animal Welfare. In the US, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) expressed support for the UDAW concept.
11. Continuing work with companion animals
Our work with companion animals and their owners spans four continents. In 2008, this reach helped WSPA and our partners secure the long-term safety of thousands of dogs: we convinced government authorities in Colombia, Sierra Leone and Sri Lanka to give up cruel methods of stray control and commit to humane ways of managing local dog populations.
12. Briefing on animal welfare at United Nations
To highlight the links between animal welfare, food security, the environment and human livelihoods, WSPA briefed the ambassadors of 41 developing countries on how good animal welfare can benefit the world’s poorest people. From 2009, we will encourage them to be active in calling for a Universal Declaration on Animal Welfare.
13. Canada passes legislation to protect animals
In Canada, lobbying activity by WSPA and member society the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals resulted in strong new legislation to protect animals. Animal care standards were established in law for the first time, with greater powers granted to SPCA officers and serious penalties for those who commit animal cruelty.
**~**Story #2 **~**The Best Holiday Gift for Pets: Keep ‘Em Safe from Accidental Poisoning**~**
We’re all for keeping holiday spirits high with fancy decor and bow-topped presents galore, but the best gift you can offer your pets this season is to steer them clear of unhealthy foods, dangerous decorations and holiday plants that can be toxic.
Dr. Louise Murray, Director of Medicine at the ASPCA'S Bergh Memorial Animal Hospital and author of Vet Confidential: An Insider's Guide to Protecting Your Pet's Health reports, "Over the holidays, veterinary hospitals often see an influx of pets affected by a variety of seasonal hazards, from cats vomiting after swallowing ribbons to dogs who’ve indulged in pilfered chocolates. It's important to keep our animal companions safe when celebrating."
The following tips will help keep everyone—furry and two-legged—in good cheer:
O Christmas Tree: Securely anchor your Christmas tree so it doesn’t tip and fall, causing possible injury to your pet. This will also prevent the tree water—which may contain fertilizers that can cause stomach upset—from spilling.
Tinsel-less Town: Kitties love this sparkly, light-catching “toy” that’s easy to bat around and carry in their mouths. But a nibble can lead to a swallow, which can lead to an obstructed digestive tract, severe vomiting, dehydration and possible surgery. It’s best to brighten your boughs with something other than tinsel.
Toy Joy: Stuff your pet’s stockings with gifts that are safe:
Many a dog has been known to tear her toys apart and swallow the pieces, which can become lodged in the esophagus, stomach or intestines. Stick with chew toys that are basically indestructible, digestible chew treats or Kongs that can be stuffed with healthy foods.
Ribbon, yarn and loose little parts that can get stuck in a cat’s intestines often necessitate surgery. Surprise kitty with a new ball that’s too big to swallow, a stuffed catnip toy or the interactive cat dancer—and tons of play time together.
Forget the Mistletoe & Holly: When ingested by pets, mistletoe can cause gastrointestinal upset and cardiovascular problems. Holly can cause nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, and many varieties of lilies can cause kidney failure in cats. Opt for just-as-jolly artificial plants made from silk or plastic, or choose a pet-safe bouquet.
For more poison prevention tips, please visit ASPCA online.
**~**Story #3 **~**Feral Cats: Just the Facts**~**
They live in the shadows—the alleyways, empty lots and condemned buildings—of almost every neighborhood. Their lives are short and usually harsh. They struggle to find food and water in an environment filled with the constant threats of disease, starvation, cruelty and predation. They are the abandoned, the lost and the wild—and they need our help.
The number of feral cats in the United States is estimated to be in the tens of millions. Sadly, many communities still opt to control populations via outdated methods, including lethal elimination or relocation. Not only are some of these methods horribly cruel, they are also ineffective. In an effort to end cruelty towards feral cats, the ASPCA now offers Trap, Neuter, Return: A Guide to Living With Feral Cats.
How Does TNR Benefit the Community? Do You Have Any Tips For Trapping a Cat? How Do I Deal With Difficult Neighbors? What Is a Colony Caretaker? Trap, Neuter, Return: A Guide to Living With Feral Cats offers the answers to these important questions and others, the steps to successfully performing TNR and ways you can get involved in helping the feral cats in your community!
Also, Visit Alley Cat Allies for more info.
**~**Story #4**~**ASPCA Responds to New Family Puppy**~**
When you’re in the public eye like the Biden family, even your new pet is under scrutiny. As recently reported, Vice President-Elect Joe Biden purchased a new German shepherd puppy from a kennel that had been issued five warnings and two citations by the Pennsylvanian Department of Agriculture.
“At the ASPCA, we are happy the Biden family has chosen to bring a new pet into their home,” said ASPCA President & CEO Ed Sayres. “Pets provide us with unconditional love, and I’m sure the Bidens will certainly find a loyal family companion in their new puppy. But we also want to remind people who are looking for a breeder, that for the health and well-being of the dog, they do their homework to find a responsible one.”
Please read the ASPCA’s criteria for responsible breeding to learn more, and check out our press release for additional details of the soon-to-be VP’s pooch purchase.
**~** IT IS ALWAYS BETTER TO ADOPT RATHER THAN SHOP ~ Millions of Pets are seeking new homes and the numbers are growing daily due to the financial & mortgage crisises!!!**~**
In Clyde's Memory
