Florida's Wild Pigs

In June 1998, ARFF sent a letter to then Governor Lawton Chiles regarding the suffering of wild pigs during chase, capture and transportation by hunters and trappers, and their uncertain final disposition. We also requested to be allowed to witness the state-run program in progress.

In November 1998, ARFF staff made the first of four visits to Myakka River State Park near Sarasota, where we accompanied a trapper and witnessed the trapping of dozens of pigs, a terrifying and often bloody ordeal. Myakka State Park is the site of the state's largest eradication program, where an average of 1000 pigs are killed each year.

Based on our observations, we made several recommendations for humane improvements, although we remain firm in our opposition to the entire program. The Florida Division of Recreation and Parks recently agreed to several of ARFF's recommendations regarding the removal of wild pigs from parks statewide:

• Traps must be checked within a 24 hour period after they are baited.
• Trailers used to transport pigs must have non-slip floors.
• Injured or ill pigs should receive humane euthanasia.
• Dogs will be allowed to catch wild pigs "only as a last resort or when other methods to remove the feral hogs have failed." The use of dogs will require approval from a park manager.

Thanks to Senator Mario Diaz-Balart, Representative Sharon Merchant and Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz for meeting with ARFF and for urging the Division to make changes.

Please write to the Division of Recreation and Parks and thank them for making positive changes, but encourage them to go further and ban the use of dogs to catch wild pigs altogether:

Ms. Fran Mainella, Director
Division of Recreation and Parks
3900 Commonwealth Boulevard
Tallahassee, FL 32399-3000

Florida Legislation

Senator _______________
The Capitol
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1100

The Honorable ___________
The Capitol
The House of Representatives
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1300

(Please contact ARFF if you don't know who your legislators are, or go to: www.leg.state.fl.us/citizen/findleg/index.html)

• Animal Fighting
  A bill* to be introduced by Rep. Eleanor Sobel would strengthen the Florida law that makes fighting or baiting animals a felony, by prohibiting the possession, transport and sale of animals for the purpose of fighting. The bill would aid law enforcement in cracking down on cruel cockfighting and dogfighting operations, as well as other crimes and violence that often accompany them.

• Trapping Reform
  A bill* to be introduced by Sen. Howard Forman would regulate trappers by requiring that traps be checked at least once every 24 hours; that trapped animals be provided protection from rain, sun and other extreme natural or man-made conditions; that animals that are to be killed be humanely euthanized within 48 hours; and that trappers must avoid separating lactating or other mother animals from dependent offspring.

• Animal Agriculture
  A bill* to be introduced by Rep. John Rayson, would prohibit two of the cruelest agricultural practices- keeping pregnant pigs in metal "farrowing" crates barely larger than their bodies, and keeping young calves in wooden veal crates so small that they can't walk or even turn around (these intensive agricultural practices have been banned in Britain).

• Performing Elephant Protection
  S. 944, introduced by Sen. Daryl Jones, would prohibit elephant rides, chaining elephants for more than 8 hours in any 24-hour period, and confining an elephant in a truck or rail car for more than 30 days during a calendar year. The House version of the bill* will be introduced by Rep. Curt Levine. Both bills are modeled after a federal bill.

• Dog & Cat Fur
  H.B. 55 (sponsored by Rep. Dave Russell) and S. 150 (sponsored by Sen. Jim Sebesta) would make it illegal to import or sell dog or cat fur items and clothing in Florida. In the 1999 legislative session, the bills passed unanimously through their committee assignments, but ran out of time waiting to be voted on by the full House and Senate. The bills have been refiled for 2000.

Please contact your legislators and urge them to strongly oppose the following bill:

• Greyhound Racing
  H.B. 317, which would create a tax exemption on greyhound feed, is yet another attempt to bail-out Florida's struggling dog racing industry. The bill would benefit only a very small, special-interest group- racing greyhound trainers, breeders and owners- at the expense of animals.

*Bill numbers may be available by the time you read this. Please contact ARFF for more information.
Contact ARFF for updates and to volunteer to make important phone calls on these bills.

Upcoming Demonstrations:

Join ARFF to Demonstrate Against Cruel Animal Tests

Friday, March 3, 10:00 a.m. in Boca Raton, Florida
Directions:
I-95 to Palmetto Park Road exit. East to U.S. 1, turn right (south) to Camino Real, then left (east) to the circle at the hotel.

World Week for Animals in Laboratories

• University of Miami:
  Each year at the University of Miami, hundreds of dogs, cats, guinea pigs, hamsters, rabbits, sheep, pigs, goats, voles and monkeys- plus countless numbers of rats, mice, birds and other animals that are not covered by government regulations- are killed in laboratories.

  Saturday, April 22, 11:00 a.m. in Miami, Florida
  Directions:
  The demonstration will be held at the University of Miami School of Medicine. From I-95, take exit #6 toward airport. Turn right onto NW 12th Avenue and go north to NW 14th Street. The demonstration will be at this corner.

• University of Florida:
  The University of Florida in Gainesville is the leading animal research institution in the state. In 1997 (the most recent year for which records are available), 73 dogs, 301 cats, 127 sheep, 39 pigs, 210 rabbits, 81 monkeys, 40 horses, 10 goats, 37 voles and 59 guinea pigs were used in experiments involving "accompanying pain or distress" to the animals. Experiments included Prof. Marc Branch's research in which squirrel monkeys are subject to repeated cocaine exposure; Prof. Douglas Anderson's research on spinal cord injury using cats; a project in which new dental devices are tested on dogs; plus an agricultural experiment which exposed cows to 10 days of "heat stress" in an experiment on fertility.

  Wednesday, April 26, 12:00 noon in Gainesville, Florida
  Directions:
  Please contact ARFF for directions.

Updates:

Coyotes in the Panhandle

King the gorilla

Because they were in violation of new standards set forth by the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission with respect to the minimum cage dimensions for King's cage, the owners of Monkey Jungle in Miami have closed his exhibit, and claim to be commencing construction on an expansion that will incorporate his present cage, as well as some outdoor area.

This latest ploy by Monkey Jungle will simply prolong King's stay there and, even if the exhibit is eventually completed, King will remain alone. Monkey Jungle does not qualify to receive gorilla companions for King because the outmoded, roadside attraction lost its accreditation in 1992 and, therefore, cannot participate in the Gorilla Species Survival Plan.

With Monkey Jungle's history of greed, and the abusive conditions to which it has subjected King for the past 20 years, we can expect the zoo will want to recoup its expenditures for the new exhibit by holding onto King and exploiting him with renewed vigor. Nevertheless, ARFF plans to continue the campaign to send King to Zoo Atlanta where he can live out the remainder of his life with companionship and dignity.

In a more encouraging development, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has reversed its previously held position of condoning King's exhibit. In an August letter to Monkey Jungle, the USDA urged owner Sharon Dumond to send King to a facility where he can be with other gorillas. For the history of ARFF's campaign, visit www.SaveKing.com.

Progress Against Cruel Chemical Tests

In October, it was announced that animal protection organizations, including PETA and the Doris Day Animal League, had reached an agreement with the federal government that will save the lives of hundreds of thousands of animals destined to be killed in the Environmental Protections Agency's high production volume (HPV) chemical-testing program. HPV is a flawed program designed to test thousands of common chemicals. The agreement was the result of several months of protests against HPV. In addition to reducing the number of animals poisoned and killed, the agreement includes a commitment from the federal government to incorporate non-animal test methods in the future.

Last Spring, ARFF President Nanci Alexander met with Vice President Gore to discuss the issue. The meeting was arranged by ARFF Advisory Board member U.S. Congressman Peter Deutsch.

Victories:

Exotic pets

Often exotic animals are purchased by people who lack the knowledge or skill to properly care for them. The animals can be subjected to improper environments, isolation, poor diets, inept handling and even abuse.

In response to an ARFF letter, the editor of Pet Finders promised that future issues of the magazine will not include ads for exotic pets.

To Whose Health?

City Commission Votes Against Elephant Rides

After testimony by ARFF members John & Suzanne Carlson, and with the support of commissioner Kay McGinn, the Pompano city commission granted a permit to The Zoo, but prohibited Engesser from offering elephant rides. ARFF protested at the mall and received positive media coverage. The issue also drew the attention of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, who sent a letter to a local newspaper bemoaning the fact that the elephant was not allowed to give rides in Pompano Beach.

ARFF continues to work closely with the city of Pompano Beach on a new ordinance that would restrict exploitive live-animal displays. Write to the mayor and commission and thank them for their decision not to allow the elephant in Pompano Beach, but urge them to enact an animal-display ban.

Mayor E. Pat Larkins and Commission
City of Pompano Beach
100 West Atlantic Boulevard
Pompano Beach, FL 33060

AquaBabies

Mr. L. Daniel Jorndt, CEO
Walgreens
200 Wilmot Road
Deerfield, IL 60015
(800) 289-2273
or submit comments via www.walgreens.com

Exploitive Expo Exposed

Besides the mainstay of the show- purebred puppies yelping in their stacked cages and terrified "show cats" cowering in their litter boxes- there were snakes for sale curled up in what resembled take-out food containers; a young leopard belonging to exhibitor Wildlife on Easy Street (charged in 1998 with violating the Animal Welfare Act) pacing nervously in her small cage for hours; a toothless monkey trying to eat a simple carrot displayed by the dubious outfit "Helping Hands;" and Dominique and His Flying Cats, best known for making his domestic cats jump through hoops of fire.

Following the Expo, ARFF met with convention center officials who conveyed our concerns to Osborne-Jenks Productions, show organizers. Apparently insulted that anyone would question their judgment, Osborne-Jenks cancelled their remaining contract dates with the convention center and will not return. Rather than being upset with the booking loss, convention center officials expressed gratitude to ARFF for documenting and bringing to their attention the unsavory nature of the show's exhibitors.

Please thank the Greater Ft. Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center for placing ethics above economics.

Nicki Grossman, President and CEO
Greater Ft. Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center & Visitors Bureau
1950 Eisenhower Blvd.
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316

Another Sad Running of the Breeders' Cup

Federal Legislation to Help Elephants

Rep. Bill McCollum, Chairman
Subcommittee on Crime
(202)225-2176
email: bill.mccollum@mail.house.gov

Congratulations Congressman Hastings!

ARFF In The Media:

• 10/20/99: ARFF's protest at a Tyson chicken hatchery was covered by the Jacksonville Times-Union.
• 10/26: A demonstration against the Sterling & Reid Bros. circus in Naples was covered by WINK Ch. 11, WZVN Ch. 26, WFTX Ch. 36 and the Naples Daily News.
• 11/5: ARFF Communications Coordinator Nicolas Atwood was interviewed by WAMI Ch. 69 about horse racing and the Breeders' Cup.
• 11/10: ARFF's demonstration against the Clyde-Beatty Cole Bros. circus in Vero Beach was covered by WPTV Ch. 5 and was the subject of an editorial in the Vero Beach Press Journal.
• 11/19: ARFF President Nanci Alexander was interviewed in the Sun-Sentinel "Society Spotlight."
• 11/21: ARFF had a letter published concerning the dairy industry in the Palm Beach Post.
• 11/25: ARFF's demonstration against the Clyde-Beatty Cole Bros. circus in Coral Springs was covered by WCIX Ch. 6, WSVN Ch. 7 and the Coral Springs/Parkland Forum.
• 11/26: ARFF's Fur Free Friday demonstration in Fort Lauderdale was covered by WTVJ Ch. 4.
• 11/27: ARFF's demonstration against The Zoo petting zoo was covered by the Miami Herald and WSVN Ch. 7.
• 12/22: ARFF Managing Director Joe Taksel had a letter published concerning rodeo in City Link newspaper.
• 12/29: ARFF's protest against abusive animal exhibitions in the "Cracker Day" festival was covered by the Jacksonville Times-Union.
• 1/5 & 1/6/2000: ARFF's demonstration at Monkey Jungle on behalf of the gorilla King was covered by WPLG Ch. 10 and WCIX Ch. 6.
• 1/6: ARFF Managing Director Joe Taksel had a letter published against drug research on animals in the Boca Raton News.
• 1/11: ARFF's demonstration against Miami-Dade County Mayor Alex Penelas' promotion of the circus was covered by WFOR Ch. 4 and WTVJ Ch. 6.
• 1/12: An article in the Daytona Beach News-Journal mentioned ARFF's efforts on behalf of Muscovy ducks.
• 1/13: ARFF's demonstration against the Royal Hanneford Circus and other animal acts at the South Florida Fair was covered by WPTV Ch. 5.
• 1/15: ARFF's demonstration against Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus in Miami was covered by WTVJ Ch. 6.

ARFF In The Community:

• Pompano Beach, 11/20/99: Volunteers Sandy Burns and Colleen Ferro staffed an information table at the Broward County Fair.
• Miami, 11/19-21: ARFF had a booth at the Miami Book Fair International. Thanks to our volunteers: Don Agony, Valerie Howell, Heather Lischin, Karen Newman, Ana Maria Salaya, Lilliana Torreh-Bayouth, Leor Veleanu and Nan Vollbracht.
• Coral Springs, 12/2: ARFF placed an advertisement against the circus in the Coral Springs-Parkland Forum.
• Clay County, 12/11: ARFF placed an ad against animal exhibits in the "Cracker Day" fair in the Florida Times-Union.
• Sunrise, 1/28/2000: ARFF tabled at the Pretenders concert at the Sunrise Musical Theater.

Letters to the Editor: