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ARFF Newsletter: January - February 1996
Hunting Victory
Resulting from State Representative Susan Jacobs' bill to prohibit the hunting of exotic animals on hunting preserves in the 1995 legislative session, the Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission (FGFWFC) formed a committed t review current hunting preserve regulations. ARFF member Les Inglis was asked to serve on that committee. Rep. Jabobs bill brought about some improvements to be incorporated into the regulations.
The changes to be made are (1) no animals that have been held at a zoological attraction may be taken to a hunting preserve, (2) except for hunting wild hogs, unleashed dogs may not be used on a hunting preserve, (3) minimum acreage requirements for fenced enclosures have been substantially increased (in some cases tripled), (4) animals may not be taken directly over feeders and (5) motorized vehicles many not be used to drive game animals. However, the shooting of mammals in fenced areas has not been eliminated.
What you can do: Rep. Lois Frankel will soon introduce a bill in the Florida legislature to ban the despicable practice of shooting tame, exotic mammals in fenced in areas, a practice commonly referred to as "canned hunting." Florida has at least five canned hunting operations where hunters gun down water buffalo, sika deer, corsican rams and other exotic mammals for a hefty fee. Please contact your State Senator asking him/her to support legislation introduced by Rep. Daryl Jones to ban canned hunts and your state representative to support legislation introduced by Rep. Lois Frankel. Write to them at The Capitol, Tallahassee, FL 32399 Please contact ARFF to become more involved.
A BIG ARFF THANK YOU to Les Inglis for his hard work and to Reps. Jacobs and Frankel and Sen. Jones for initiating legislation regarding canned hunts.
Circus Victory!
In the November/December 1994 newsletter article "Bill Ledue, Shame on You," ARFF asked for letters to be written regarding the scheduled use of circus animals during the January 1, 1995, Orange Bowl New Year's game. ARFF placed an advertisement in the Miami Herald on December 21, 1994, titled "Miami Orange Bowl - A Festival of Danger." Additionally, ARFF sent out an ARFF Action Alert, and ARFF and PETA held a rally and march on Miami Beach. ARFF and PETA also contacted city officials and the coordinators of the Orange Bowl.
A victory for the animals was won! This year, the elephants will not return during the half-time show of the Orange Bowl. A BIG ARFF THANK YOU to PETA, and to all who wrote letters and participated in the march.
FUR VICTORY!
In late October, 1995, it was reported to ARFF Spokesperson Laura Strickland that a 'fur sale' was scheduled to be held by Dimensions at the Holiday Inn of Baymeadows. Strickland immediately contacted the hotel and started to plan an anti-fur demonstration. In a decision that was a wonderful victory for the animals, the manager of the Holiday Inn at Baymeadows wrote to Strickland, stating that "in the future our hotel will refrain from renting our banquet facilities to companies which promote the sale of fur."
Please send a thank you note or card to the Holiday Inn manager, letting him know his decision looked good for Holiday Inn because it was compassionate to the animals and kind to the environment. Please write to: Mr. David Potts, Manager, Holiday Inn, 9150 Baymeadows Road, Jacksonville, FL 32256.
An ARFF THANK YOU to the whistle-blower who tipped us off about the fur sale. His/her name cannot be printed because of feared repercussions.
Chicken Victory
The Chicken-Plucking Contest started twenty-five years ago as a promotion by Deltona Corporation to help market homes for sale. Recently, it has become a Veteran's of Foreign War (VFW) Post 10209's major annual fund-raiser. This year, for the first time, ARFF learned of the cruel contest, and held a demonstration during the festival. The protest was a success! Two weeks after ARFF members demonstrated at the festival, the members of the VFW Post voted to stop the chicken-plucking contest. Tony Mosca, Jr., Post Adjutant, said Spring Hill County promotes itself as part of a large group of counties known as the Nature Coast, and that the fellowship of that group are sensitive to the treatment of birds. Please send a thank you note or card to: Tony Mosca, Jr., Post Adjutant Gus Scumaci, Festival Director VFW Post 10209 VFW Post 10209 15166 Spring Hill Drive 15166 Spring Hill Drive Spring Hill, FL 34609 Spring Hill, FL 34609 A Special ARFF THANK YOU to Sandy Gapin, who organized and drove hours to be at the demonstration. Way to go, Sandy!
Cirus Animals' Victory
On Halloween of 1994, St. Peter's Episcopal Church in Jacksonville, Florida, hosted circus animal acts during their Fall Festival. The acts included dangerous elephant rides and performing Bengal tigers (which are endangered).
ARFF wrote to Father Anthony Ferguson requesting that the animal acts be eliminated from the Fall Festival. Though Father Ferguson would not commit to going cruelty-free for the next Fall Festival, the 1995 event did not include the cruel and dangerous animal acts. An ARFF THANK YOU to all the ARFF members who wrote to Father Ferguson, and to all ARFF members who demonstrated during the Festival.
ARFF's "Taste of Compassion" Picnic
October 1, 1995, was World Farm Animals' Day, a day set aside to promote vegetarianism to help stop the inhumane treatment and slaughter of seven billion farm animals every year. The event was celebrated by ARFF with a vegan buffet, video and slide presentation by Don Agony, and live music with one-man band (and ARFF Member) Neil Kaplan, and the band Anderson Council.
The event was opened to the public, with 130 people attending. Some were non-vegetarians who were educated and well-fed. Food sponsors were: Health Valley (granola bars), Publix Supermarket (fruit and miscellaneous staples), Boca Burgers (meatless Boca Burgers), Fantastic Foods (chili), Price Costeo (beverages and vegetables), Lightlife Foods (Smart Dogs), ADM (taco mix and burger loaves), Kashi (cereal and rice pilaf), and Broward County Parks and Recreation (pavilion). An ARFF THANK YOU for organizing the event to Caren Lesser and Kathleen Mahoney, and for all their wonderful help to Danielle Bydlinski, Sandy Gapin, Julie Prosa, and Carmen & Gloria Ramirez.
BARNETT BANK SOLD TICKETS TO THE CIRCUS
To raise money, the Inverness Rotary Club hosted the Beatty-Cole Circus. Tickets were sold at the Barnett Bank in Inverness. When ARFF learned of this, an ARFF Action Alert was sent to area residents to write to the Rotary Club and Barnett Bank. Though the Rotary Club showed concern about its image with the local people, the response from Barnett Bank was disconcerting. It was assured by circus officials that the animals are treated appropriately.
Beatty-Cole Circus has a history of animal abuse and of repeatedly exposing people to danger. Earlier this year, two Beatty-Cole Circus elephants caused $20,000 in damages at a Pennsylvania mall where they were forced to perform. Two months later, the same elephants broke loose, injuring about a dozen spectators in New York City. Witnesses stated that the elephants had been beaten with bull hooks before the performance in which they snapped. The Beatty-Cole Circus did not allow the elephants to retire. The elephants were put through a severe punishment program and sent to a facility thst "recycles" (sells to an inferior circus or zoo).
WHAT YOU CAN DO! Letters are needed to Barnett Bank urging them to stop the sale of circus tickets. Please write to:
Arthur Krueger, Jr. , Vice President
Barnett Bank of Inverness
P.O. Box 5630
Spring Hill, FL 34606-0630
Circus tickets were also sold in Palm Beach County at Sears for performances at the Royal Palm Countyr Club. Please send a similar letter to:
Deb Staky, Manager
Sears
5900 Glades Road
Boca Raton 33431
FAX # (407) 338-1132
Arthur Martinez, CEO
Sears
3333 Beverly Rd
Hoffman Estates, IL 60179
WINN DIXIE - THE BEEF (AND CRUELTY) PEOPLE
ARFF has learned that Winn Dixie is airing a television commercial showing a young boy chasing and attempting to rope a calf. Calf-roping is notorious for its savagery against the baby calves. During roping events, calves sometimes have their necks and legs broken, even ribs snapped off from the spinal column.
WHAT YOU CAN DO! Letters are needed to Winn Dixie urging them to stop the commercial immediately. Please write to:
Terry Walsh, Director of Marketing
Winn Dixie Headquarters
1141 Southwest 12 Avenue
Pompano Beach, FL 33069
FAX # (305) 783-2788
Dolphins Threatened By
Change In Federal Legislation
In both the Senate and the House of Representatives, a bill has been introduced that would amend the Marine Mammal Protection Act to allow the killing of thousands of dolphins by allowing the domestic sale of tuna caught with the use of purse seine nets. The bill in the House, H.R. 2179, introduced by Congressman Randy Cunningham, would remove prohibitions on using explosives to chase dolphins into nets and setting nets during darkness hours, when mortality is three-to-five times higher. Also, a technique to release dolphins caught in nets would no longer be required. This bill would repeal the current definition of "dolphin-safe," and change it to be dolphin-safe as long as dolphin mortality is "unobserved." This would lead to fraudulent mislabeling of tuna. In the Senate, S. 1420 was introduced by Senators John Breaux and Ted Stevens.
WHAT YOU CAN DO! Letters are needed to your U.S. Congressperson to oppose H.R. 2179. Please write to: The Honorable ____________, U.S. House of Representatives, Washington D.C. 20515. Letters are needed to Senators Connie Mack and Bob Graham to oppose S. 1420. Please write to: The Honorable _____________, U.S. Senate, Washington D.C. 20510.
Publix - It's Almost A Pleasure
When ARFF Administrative Assistant Michelle Rivera wrote to Publix Super Markets, Inc. regarding possible animal testing on their Publix brand items, she received a very positive response to her letter. Publix assured Rivera that the company does not perform any animal testing on its own nor does it contract with independent labs to perform such tests. This includes items such as shampoos, charcoal, feminine and incontinence products, nail polish removers, rubbing alcohol, eye care, household and laundry cleaners. The exception is Publix Bleach and Publix Cleanser with Bleach, which has been tested on animals during their formulation processes.
WHAT YOU CAN DO! Letters are needed to Publix thanking the company for its cruelty-free stance on the majority of its name brand products, and urging Publix to go totally, one-hundred-percent cruelty-free! Please write to: Tracee Missildine, Corporate Quality Assurance, Publix Super Markets, Inc., Box 407, Lakeland, Florida 33802.
HONDA VICTORY
When ARFF learned that American Honda was running a major ad on national television featuring a chicken crossing a highway and a Honda accelerating toward the bird, along with a question regarding what to serve with the bird (potatoes or stuffing?) once the animal is run over, ARFF immediately sent a letter urging Honda to pull the offensive advertisement.
ARFF was pleased with the quick response from American Honda. By fax the same day, ARFF received a letter letting us know that Honda was pulling the "Chicken" ad and apologized for any offenses taken.
Please send a thank you note or card to Honda for their stance against animal cruelty. Please write to: Mr. Koichi Amemiya, President, American Honda, 1919 Torrance Blvd., Torrance, CA 90501-2746.
Jungle Queen
A day cruise liner in Fort Lauderdale, called the Jungle Queen, takes visitors to a small island on which the primary attraction is alligator wrestling. A man forces the alligators to a desired location by harshly poking them with a sharp stick, then he "wrestles" them until they are rendered unconscious.
Animals used as entertainment suffer from abuse and unending stress. Many times these animals do not have the proper food and medical care, and live in an unnatural environments. The training or subjugation of wild animals almost always involves pain and punishment.
WHAT YOU CAN DO! Letters are needed to the proprietors of the Jungle Queen and the Fort Lauderdale Visitors' Bureau to ask that they not promote attractions which are cruel to animals. Please write to:
Gerome Faber, Owner
Jungle Queen
801 Seabreeze Blvd.
Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33316
Nicki Grossman, President
Ft. Lauderdale Visitors' Bureau
200 East Las Olas Blvd. #1500
Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33301
BOAT PARADE KEEPS CRUELTY AFLOAT
The Seminole entry for the Winterfest Boat Parade had an alligator on board, and a Safari display that promoted canned hunts. Alligators used as entertainment many times have electrical tape wrapped around their mouth and legs, and suffer extreme stress from being mishandled (poked with sticks, wrestled by humans, etc.). Also, canned hunts are enclosed areas where exotic animals, many who are surplus animals from zoos, are often shot (with guns or arrows) at point-blank or close range by wannabe hunters. Many of these animals are friendly to humans, and walk up to the hunter looking for food or affection.
WHAT YOU CAN DO! Boycott Seminole cigarettes and bingo as long as they continue their canned hunts and exploitation of animals. Also, letters are needed to the coordinators of the Winterfest Boat Parade urging them to adopt a policy not to promote animal cruelty. Please write to:
Mike McMurry, Exec. Dir.
Winterfest Boat Parade
5512 Northeast 3rd Stree
Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33301
David Blattner, Esq., Chairman
Winterfest Boat Parade
C/O Ruden, McClosky, Schuster,
& Russell, P.A.
200 E. Broward Blvd.
Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33302
Monkey Victory!
The Banana Derby in Citrus County, in which monkeys ride on the backs of donkeys or ponies, and all other animal events will no longer be featured at the Family Freedom Festival. The victory was due to letters of complaints written by ARFF members in response to an ARFF Action Alert. An ARFF THANK YOU to all who took the time to write.
Baby Bird Rescue
While at work, ARFF Member Joyce Sowers found a baby bird stuffed in a small box and thrown into a trash dumpster. Sowers contacted ARFF, who then put Sowers in touch with Wildlife Rescue. The baby bird was checked out and given a clean bill of health, then was released into a protected nature area. An ARFF THANK YOU to Sowers for taking the time to care and to act, saving the life of a helpless animal.
Free Letter Writing Service
If you don't have time to write a letter, but you really want to speak out on an animal issue, Jill Schechter provides a free letter-writing service. Jill writes on a variety of animal issues, and requests only a business-size, self-addressed stamped envelope (S.A.S.E.) be sent to her for every four letters you want to receive. Please include an extra stamp. Mail your request, S.A.S.E., and extra stamp to: Jill Schechter, P.O. Box 340022, Boca Raton, Florida 33434.
ASK YOURSELF!
Chickens being processed for food are electrically stunned, then have their throats cut mechanically. Some chickens survived this ordeal, and are still alive as they go into the scalding machine.
If you still eat meat, ask yourself the next time you order chicken mcnuggets or a Wendy's chicken sandwich -- do you really want to promote this kind of animal cruelty?
ARFF IN THE COMMUNITY
9/28/95 - ARFF Members Karen Witusik, Sandy Gapin, and Neil Kaplan volunteered to do Animal Compassion Day at Florida Atlantic University (FAU) in Davie. There was ARFF literature, ARFF's slide presentation on vegetarianism, and free meatless Boca Burgers. Over 250 students enjoyed a vegetarian meal.
10/10/95 - ARFF Coordinator Isabell Spindler met with the Citrus County Chronicle editorial board to discuss circuses.
10/11/95 - ARFF Coordinator Isabell Spindler represented ARFF at the Citrus County Council, a civic group, to discuss circuses.
10/22/95 - ARFF Coordinator Don Agony addressed the Health and Life Exposition in Ft. Lauderdale with ARFF's slide presentation on vegetarianism. Sandy Gapin, Irene Vulpis, Carmen Ramirez, and Gloria Ramirez worked ARFF's table.
10/25/95 - ARFF President Nanci Alexander addressed the Palm Beach County State Delegation in Boca Raton where she showed a news clip on canned hunts and spoke about impending state legislation.
10/26/95 - ARFF Coordinator Isabell Spindler spoke on behalf of ARFF before the Citrus County Board of Commissioners against the proposed Suncoast Parkway.
11/8/95 - ARFF Spokesperson Ben Knupp addressed the Orange County State Delegation in Orlando where he showed a news clip on canned hunts and spoke about impending legislation.
11/9/95 - ARFF Staff Writer Kathleen Mahoney addressed the Broward County State Delegation in Fort Lauderdale where she showed a news clip on canned hunts and spoke about impending legislation.
11/9/95 - ARFF Coordinator Isabell Spindler participated in the monthly meeting of the Citrus County Council civic group.
11/12/95 - ARFF Administrative Assistant Michelle Rivera attended a plea hearing of Alan Smith in Palm Beach County. Smith pled guilty to animal cruelty.
11/17 to 11/19/95 - ARFF Director Nan Vollbracht tabled at the Miami Dade Community College International Book Fair. Thousands of pieces of literature were handed out, and many books and T-shirts were sold. Helping to make this a successful tabling event were ARFF Members Esther Lew, Sandra Lopez, Jodi Cortese, Marisa Bezjian, Edna Menendez, and Jalila Clarke. A special thank you to Cindy & Dave Long, Sandy Gapin, and Neil Kaplan.
11/18 to 11/19/95 - ARFF had an information table at the River Days Festival to create
awareness and support of the ecological problems the river is facing. Working the table in Stuart were Laura Guttridge, Lisa Marsh, Caryl Speck, Jim Dunn, Judy Lindley, Faith Prucknicki, and Michelle Rivera.
11/22/95 - ARFF Coordinator Don Agony organized a vegan Thanksgiving "Taste of the World" International Lunch at the Broward House. Helping Don to make and serve up the delicious vegan cuisine was Irene Vulpis and Danielle Bydlinski.
11/24/95 - Approximately thirty ARFF members demonstrated for "Fur Free Friday" outside The Avenues Mall. A special thank you to Diane Reed: though it was her mother's birthday, Reed celebrated it earlier and explained to her mother, "The animals need me."
12/1 to 12/2/95 - ARFF Director Nan Vollbracht lectured and showed ARFF's slide presentation on vegetarianism to thirty-five "English for Speakers of Other Languages" students at Broward Community College.
ARFF IN THE MEDIA
10/29/95 - ARFF President Nanci Alexander appeared on WBZT's Mike Miller Show in West Palm Beach discussing circuses and specifically the Clyde Beatty-Cole Brothers Circus.
11/24/95 - ARFF News Editor Laura Strickland was interviewed by WJKS Channel 17 News Chris Horne and WJXT TV 4 News Erica Johnson regarding "Fur Free Friday."
12/7/95 - ARFF News Editor Laura Strickland was interviewed by reporter Claudia Forestieri of WRUF in Gainesville regarding "That Cute Puppy Is Not A Stocking Stuffer."
12/7/95 - ARFF President Nanci Alexander was interviewed by WJNO regarding the cattle drive.
12/8/95 - ARFF Spokesperson Laura Guttridge was interviewed by WJNO regarding the cattle drive.
THANK YOU TO THE FOLLOWING PEOPLE
Norma Alicea, Raquel Arber, Marisa Bezjian, Alicia Bryant, Danielle Bydlinski, Norma Caraballo, Suzanne Carlson, Jalila Clarke, Beverly Colehower, Jody Cortese, Arlene Cox, Sandy Gapin, Dave Gentry, Nancy Gregoire, P.A. (Ruden, McClosky, Shuster, Smith & Russell), Laura Guttridge, Patty Halas, Evelyn Hallowell, John Haslup, Pattye Haslup, Deborrah Hoag, Valerie Howell, Charlene Inglis, Les Inglis, Joan Jenrich, Louise Kahle, Harriet Kahn, Neil Kaplan, Dale Kennedy, Jeff Kissinger, Megan Kolcun, Marian Lentz, Esther Lew, Judy Lindley, Cindy Long, Dave Long, Sandra Lopez, Edna Menendez, Ron Palamara, Michael Pfalzer, Donna Phillips, Amy Pipkens, Jay Pipkens, Faith Pruchnicki, Carmen Ramirez, Glorida Ramirez, Sheel Raval, Diane Reed, Charlene Ricciuti, Glen Rimondi Jr., Nancy Rimondi, Joe Rosen, P.A. (Pollack & Rosen, Miami), Tim Ross, P.A. (Ross & Burger, Miami), Peyton Rowland, Lisa Sandefur, Vincent Sarrubbo, Jill Schechter, Joyce Sowers, Stacy Straus, James Strickland, Irene Vulpis, Coline Walker, and Diane Watchinski.
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE FOLLOWING PEOPLE FOR HAVING A "LETTER TO THE EDITOR" PUBLISHED!
Nanci Alexander, Raquel Arber, Danielle Bydlinski, Jim Dunn, Ann Douras, Nancy Fidel, Sandra Gapin, Antonia Garbiras, Laura Guttridge, Karen Heinich, Diane Hoffman, Andrea Leeds, Diane Reed, Michelle Rivera, Maria Romero, Bessie Shumansky, James Strickland, Laura Strickland, and Leola Sweeney.
"LETTER TO THE EDITOR" PUBLICATIONS
Clay County Leader, Clay Today, Miami Herald, Naples Daily News, People Magazine, Press Journal Vero Beach, Sun Sentinel, The News (Boca Raton), The News-Journal.
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 Buckwheat (1984-1995). For now it seems we must exist apart, only in distance, never in our hearts. Love Mom, Dad, Dan, Dave, and Robin Levine.
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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