Newsletter: July - August 1996
       
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Ban Cruel Farms in FL! Boycott the Swap Shop! Find Your Legislator


 

ARFF Newsletter: July - August 1996

A Successful March for the Animals!

  With the impressive Capitol building in the background, ARFF President Nanci Alexander spoke to over 3,000 animal lovers who were in Washington D.C.. to participate in the March For The Animals. The March was sponsored by the National Alliance for Animals, and was supported by many animal rights organizations. Among the other distinguished speakers were James Cromwell, the human star of the movie "Babe" (who has become a vegetarian since staring in that movie), "Exorcist" actress Linda Blair, singer Chrissie Hynde of the Pretenders, "The Birds" actress l Tippi Hedren, and actress Gretchen Wyler, along, with PETA Executive Director Ingrid Newkirk, author Cleveland Amory, and Jane Goodall, who has worked with primates in Tanzania since 1960, and many others speakers who have been instrumental in promoting animal rights across our nation and the world. To the delight of the crowd, singer/songwriter Neil Kaplan performed a song he wrote for ARFF titled "All Together Now." During her speech, ARFF President Alexander told the crowd, among cheers, of the many accomplishments ARFF has achieved to help stop the exploitation and suffering of animals. She also urged the crowd, of over 3,000, to seize every opportunity to help educate people and to make life better for the animals.  

Fur Victory

In January's QVC's Glamour Hour showed models wearing fur coats for a jewelry show. QVC received so many letters of protest for glamorizing the cruel fur industry that the station has decided it will not show furs again on its station. THANK YOU! Please send letters of thanks to Doug Briggs, QVC Producer, 2930 Old Tree Drive, Lancaster, PA 17699.

Amicus Curiae Brief Victory

On February 9, 1994, Leonard Schendowich, an organ grinder, was served with a Notice of Violation of the City of Hollywood Municipal Ordinance #92.60 for intentionally displaying a monkey for entertainment purposes at Hollywood's Young Circle Park. In 1990, ARFF was instrumental in getting the Animal Display Ban Ordinance passed. Regarding Schendowich's recent court action, the City of Hollywood asked ARFF to file an Amicus Curiae Brief. A victory was won when Schendowich filed a Motion to Dismiss the animal display charge and a trial court denied Schendowich's motion. Schendowich filed an appeal in Broward County, and the Circuit Court affirmed the trial court ruling. Unfortunately, Schendowich has filed an appeal to the State Supreme Court. ARFF will have future up-dates regarding this situation.

Animal Display Ban Victory

During the Renaissance Festival held in TY Park, in the City of Hollywood, festival organizers did not obtain the appropriate permits regarding animal displays. Ordinance #92.60 prohibits the public display of animals inside the city limits of the City of Hollywood without a permit. In a letter to Nanci Alexander, President of ARFF, City Manager Samuel Finz assured her that all necessary actions will be taken in the future to prohibit the violation of the Animal Displays and Exhibits Ordinance. An ARFF THANK YOU to City Manager Samuel Finz for taking immediate and positive action, and to all the Broward ARFF Members who wrote to the County Commission.

Help Stop Pet Theft

Pet theft is a multi-million dollar business that steals an estimated 2.5 million companion animals to sell to medical research laboratories, puppy mills, and illegal dog-fighting rings. Dogs and cats are stolen from their homes and yards, and are snatched from cars. Animals are also obtained from "Free to a Good Home" ads. For the animals, their "new homes" may be a medical facility where they are shocked, drowned, blinded, or starved. Or used as bait during training of pit-bull fighting. Puppy mills buy stolen animals for breeding stock, to produce litter after litter in filthy conditions and inadequate care. LEGISLATIVE ALERT! Rep. Canady (R-Florida) along with Reps. Brown, Dornan, Hutchinson, Goss, Murtha and Foley have introduced H.R. 3398 "Pet Safety and Protection Act of 1996." This amendment to the Animal Welfare Act directly halts the ability of Class B dealers, who obtain their animals through "random sources", to sell dogs and cats for medical experimentation. LETTERS ARE NEEDED! Please write to your congressional representatives strongly urging them to co-sponsor H.R. 3398. 
 The Honorable ____________ U.S. Senate
Washington D.C. 20510
 
The Honorable _____________ U.S. House of Representatives Washington D.C. 20515
 

Death Wish

The Make A Wish Foundation was created to grant the last wishes of dying children. This noble purpose took a sinister turn when the Foundation granted the request of a seventeen-year-old boy whose wish is to kill a Kodiak bear in Alaska. Public outcry over the cruel wish has caused the Make A Wish Foundation to reevaluate their guidelines for granting future wishes. The Foundation has refused requests that the ten-day hunting trip for the teenager be canceled, and a more humane wish allowed in its place. WHAT YOU CAN DO! Letters are needed to the Foundation urging for humane guidelines to be set immediately. Please write to: Steven Torkelsen, Executive Director, Make A Wish Foundation, National Headquarters, 100 W. Clarendon, Phoenix, Arizona 85103 or call 1 (800) 722-WISH. Also write to the Florida Chapter of the Foundation nearest you asking them to encourage the national foundation to adopt no-hunting guidelines. The three locations are: Nancy, Strom, Executive Director, Make A Wish Foundation, P.O. Box 17377, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33318; Delores Crooks, Executive Director, Make A Wish Foundation, 101 East Kennedy Blvd., Suite 100, Tampa, FL 33602; Robert Kinney, Executive Director, Make A Wish Foundation, 725C West S.R. 434, Longwood, FL 32750.

The Torture-Death of a Dog named Lassie

On April 23, 1996, a Miami police department aide was stopped by a citizen about a dog on fire. Investigating the complaint, the aide found a mixed-breed dog hanging by the neck on a gate behind a business office. The dog had been hung with an electrical cord, and his front and back legs were also bound together with an electrical cord. The dog had been recently burned over one-half of his body. The dog, named Lassie, who was approximately a year old, was taken from the yard of a neighbor who was watching the dog for Lassie's guardian. Police investigators have learned that a citizen in the area had heard the dog moaning between midnight and 1:00 A.M. The citizen had also heard footsteps, but did not call the police. In coordination with Crimestoppers and the Miami Police Department, ARFF offered an initial reward of $2,500 for the arrest and conviction of the person(s) responsible for the brutal torture and killing of Lassie. The reward quickly escalated to $15,000, and the animal cruelty case gained nationwide concern. As we go to press, the Miami police department has left this case open and is still investigating, though there are no new leads. An ARFF THANK YOU to all who donated money to the reward, and to Bryan Grosman, a ninth-grade student, for doing something about his concern over Lassie's sad fate. Through family, friends, and neighbors, Bryan raised $540 to be added to the reward money.

Guilty Plea in Cat Slaying

In the March/April ARFF Newsletter, we informed you that Patricia Thomas pled guilty to slaying her companion cats. The Assistant State Attorney received more than 500 letters from outraged citizens regarding the case, and showed the huge file of letters on television. Those letters made a difference. An ARFF THANK YOU to those letter writers!

License Plate Profit Promotes Cougar Cruelty

In 1993, the Florida Game and Freshwater Fish Commission (FGFFC) released Texan Cougars in North Florida under the Florida Recovery Program. In 1995, eight (8) of these animals and, allegedly, one native Florida panther, were captured by the FGFFC and given to an animal dealer. Then the endangered cougars were sold to a known Texan lion hunter who stocks his "canned hunting ranch" with cougars to be hunted and killed. The bitter irony of this situation is that profit made from the sale of special "Cougar" license plates helped the FGFFC to finance the cruel exploitation of these endangered animals. WHAT YOU CAN DO! Please write to the executive director of the FGFFC and demand that the cougars be saved from the "canned hunting ranch" in Texas and be released back into their natural habitat or into South Florida. Also, express your outrage that the profits from the license plates sales were used to harm these animals instead of helping them. Write to: Dr. Allan Egbert, Executive Director, Florida Game and Freshwater Fish Commission, 620 S. Meridian Street, Tallahassee, FL 32399. Please send a copy of your letter to your state legislators.

SouthTrust Bank Promotes Rodeo Cruelty

To promote a checking service, SouthTrust Bank uses a rodeo theme to get their message across. Rodeos are being condemned by many humane animal organization because of its extreme cruelty to the animals forced to participate. Animals are dragged, tripped, roped, wrestled. Straps are sometimes tied around the sensitive regions of horses or bulls. Electric prods are frequently used on the animals. WHAT YOU CAN DO! SouthTrust Bank's use of this theme promotes animal cruelty. Please send letters of protest to the advertisement to: CEO Wallace Malone, 420 N. 20 Street, Birmingham, AL 35203. SEND COPIES OF YOUR LETTER TO: Mr. Tom Ingram, President Central District, 2001 S.W. 17 Street, Ocala, FL 33233 and Mr. James Ford, CEO Central District, P.O. Box 9, Belleview, FL 34421.

Never Free To A Good Home!

Pillar Pigs of the Community Association (Pillar), a potbellied pig rescue organization, has informed ARFF that some pigs placed with Safe Haven Wildlife Sanctuary in Floral City may have been sold to an animal broker, Mary Rybicki, in St. Petersburg. Pillar stated that the pigs were promised a permanent home with Safe Haven, and now the fate of the pigs maybe training dogs for wild boar hunting or an equally cruel existence and death. WHAT YOU CAN DO! Never relinquish a companion animal or wild animal until you have thoroughly screened the person or entity receiving the animal. For a Companion Animal Adoption Contract, please contact ARFF at (954) 968-7622. Also, do not promote the adoption of exotic animals. They require special food, environment, and veterinarian care, and many times die an early death because these needs are not met. LETTERS ARE NEEDED! To the state attorney regarding Safe Haven Wildlife Sanctuary. Though the state attorney's office has closed its investigation of Safe Haven, please ask that there be a reevaluation regarding the circumstances determining if Safe Haven has accepted or relinquished pigs or other animals under false pretenses. Please write to: State Attorney Harry Lee Coe III, 800 East Kennedy Blvd., Tampa FL 33602.

ASK YOURSELF!

Animals brought to slaughter who are too weak, sick, or injured to move upon arrival at the stockyard are tied to the back of a truck and dragged to an area where they are piled on top of each other for easy killing and butchering. These "downed" animals may lie suffering, in the heat or cold, for days without food and water. If you still eat meat, ask yourself the next time you order steak or pork chops -- do you really want to promote this kind of animal cruelty?

ARFF IN THE COMMUNITY

  • West Palm Beach 4/1 & 4/2/96 - ARFF Members Billie Calabrese and Pat Diaz, along with ARFF Administrative Assistant Michelle Rivera and ARFF Managing Director Diana Starr, tabled at SunFest. This was the first year ARFF participated in Florida's Music, Art and Waterfront Festival on Flager Drive.
  • Citrus County 4/11/96 - ARFF Coordinator Isabell Spindler represented ARFF at the Citrus County Council monthly meeting.
  • Citrus County 4/13/96 - ARFF Members Gertrude Schaeffer and Eileen Rippey, along with ARFF Coordinator Isabell Spindler, tabled at the Will McClean Festival.
  • Broward County 4/13/96 - ARFF Coordinator Don Agony tabled at the YMCA for Healthy Kids' Day.
  • Brooksville 4/20/96 - ARFF Coordinator Isabell Spindler tabled at Shakespeare's Sisters.
  • Dade County 4/22/96 - ARFF Director Nan Vollbracht spoke about vegetarianism to approximately twenty fourth and fifth-grade students at Nathan Young Elementary School.
  • Dade County 4/26/96 - ARFF Director Nan Vollbracht spoke about working with animals to the sixth-grade classes at Highland Oaks Elementary School for Career Day.
  • Pompano Beach 5/1/96 - ARFF Coordinator Don Agony presented the vegetarian slide show and discussed animal rights to teenagers at the Multi Purpose Center in Pompano Beach.
  • Naples 5/4/96 - ARFF Spokesperson Charlene Inglis spoke and presented a video at the Kiwanis Club regarding circus animal abuse and danger to humans.
  • Boca Raton 5/8/96 - ARFF Coordinator Don Agony addressed the inequities of Animal Research to the Psychology and Ethical Biology classes at Olympic Heights High School.
  • Miami Beach 5/24 & 5/26/96 - ARFF Director Nan Vollbracht, ARFF Managing Director Diana Starr, and ARFF Members Michelle Dortch, Norit D'Vir, Mike Padykula, Ilya Torreh-Bayouth, The Honorable Lilliana Torreh-Bayouth, and Kristine Wagner tabled at Pet Expo at the Miami Beach Convention Center.
  • Dade County 5/28/96 - ARFF Director Nan Vollbracht spoke about animal rights to high school students at Sunset Senior High School.
  • Dade County 5/29/96 - ARFF Director Nan Vollbracht spoke about lab animals to sixth-grade students at Palm Springs Middle School.

ARFF IN THE MEDIA

  • Brooksville 4/20/96 - ARFF Coordinator Isabell Spindler was interviewed by Glynn on WWJB about vegetarianism.
  • Miami 4/25/96 - ARFF President Nanci Alexander was interviewed by radio station WIOD regarding the torture-death of a mixed-breed dog named Lassie.
  • Miami 4/25/96 - ARFF Administrative Assistant Michelle Rivera was interviewed by Belkys Nerey of WSVN regarding the torture and brutal killing of Lassie the dog.
  • Miami 4/25/96 - ARFF Spokesperson Eric Rickenback was interviewed by Beatriz Cavals of WSVN Channel 7 about the brutal killing of Lassie the dog.
  • Broward County 4/26/96 - ARFF Managing Director Diana Starr was interviewed by WIOD's Terri Griffin regarding the torture-death of Lassie the dog.
  • Miami 4/26/96 - ARFF Spokesperson Eric Rickenback was interviewed by Liz Reyes of WPLG's Eyewitness News concerning the torture and killing of Lassie the dog.
  • Miami 4/28/96 - ARFF Spokesperson Eric Rickenback appeared on CBS's Sunday Morning hosted by Angela Rae. Rickenback addressed the torture-death of Lassie the dog.
  • Palm Beach County--- 5/3/96 - ARFF Administrative Assistant Michelle Rivera was interviewed by Terri Parker of WPLG regarding the bludgeoning of a raccoon.
  • Broward County 5/17/96 - ARFF Spokesperson Sharon Black was on WFTL's Al & Rick Show debating the spokesperson from Make-A-Wish Foundation for their granting a teenage boy's wish to kill a Kodiak Bear in Alaska.

THANK YOU TO THE FOLLOWING PEOPLE

Norma Alicea, Raquel Arber, Bunny Huggers Gazette, John Carlson, Suzanne Carlson, Michelle Dortch, Norit D'Vir, Edie Fine, Scott Fuerst Esq. (Ruden, etc.), Harriet Kahn, Andrea Leeds, Tory Maher (Amar Hardware, Ft. Lauderdale), Mike Padykula, Maria Peneida, Violi Perez, Faith Pruchnicki, Eileen Rippey, Gertrude Schaeffer, Caryl Speck, Ilya Torreh-Bayouth, The Honorable Lilliana Torreh-Bayouth, and Kristine Wagner.

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE FOLLOWING PEOPLE FOR HAVING A "LETTER TO THE EDITOR" PUBLISHED!

Astrid Arrak, Francis Guiffrida, Les Inglis, Margaret Koenig, Vera Kramer, Terry Miller, Melanie Moody, Jean Rickenbrod, Susan Russell, Amy Smith, Aaron Sobel, and Isabell Spindler.

"LETTER TO THE EDITOR" PUBLICATIONS

Citrus County Chronicle, Miami Herald, St. Augustine Record, Sarasota Herald-Tribune, Sun-Sentinel.

REMEMBER ARFF IN YOUR WILL

Please remember ARFF is a 501(c)(3) organization under the Internal Revenue Code. Bequests in your will qualify for an estate tax deduction.

GIFTS & MEMORIALS

In memory of my friend and fellow animal rights activist for 20 years, Winifred Weston. Love Joan Jenrich. In memory of Scooter from Robert P. Fondes.

CAPTIONS

  • CAPTION 1: ARFF Members Greg Roverti and Marily Kyne, along with others, demonstrated at the University of Miami for World Week for Lab Animals.
  • CAPTION 2: When the Citrus County Chamber of Commerce sponsored a circus, ARFF Member Fritz David along with others demonstrated to inform the public that circus animals suffer.
  • CAPTION 3: ARFF members demonstrated in St. Augustine against the cruel carriage horse industry.
  • CAPTION 4: In St. Augustine, ARFF members let the public know that the carriage horses suffer extreme abuse.
  • CAPTION 5: ARFF Member Pat Diaz and ARFF Administrative Assistant Michelle Rivera worked an information table at the SunFest in Palm Beach County.


Animal Rights Foundation of Florida
 P.O. Box 841154 Pembroke Pines, Florida 33084
tel: 954-917-ARFF · fax: 954-979-6415 · email: arff@animalrightsflorida.org


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