10th Anniversary Celebration

ARFF's 10th Anniversary Dinner & Celebration was a tremendous success! Held March 20 in Fort Lauderdale, the event drew 235 guests who enjoyed a gourmet, vegan dinner. The event was chaired by Pam Huizenga-Van Hart.

Congressman Peter Deutsch was presented with ARFF's first-ever Decade of Achievement Award. Others that received awards included Don Agony, Suzanne & John Carlson, Jim Dunn, Charlene & Les Inglis, Faith Pruchnicki, Lilliana Torreh-Bayouth, and Nan Vollbracht in recognition of their outstanding and enduring dedication to animal rights.

Honored guests at the dinner included actress Bea Arthur (best known for her television role as Maude and as one of The Golden Girls), State Representative Ken Gottlieb, former Hollywood City Attorney Jamie Cole, Hair Club for Men founder Sy Sperling and others.

Hollywood City Commissioner Cathleen Anderson read a proclamation from the city commending ARFF's ten years of accomplishments.

Thanks to the following for their generous support of ARFF's 10th Anniversary. . . Supporters: Blockbuster Video, Houston Rockets, Mr. & Mrs. Wayne Huizenga, JM Family Enterprises, NationsRent, Republic Industries, Eric & Harriet Reichenbach, Coach & Mrs. Don Shula, Sy Sperling, David Stern, Stiles Corporation. Patrons: Hudson Family Foundation, Scott Huizenga, Jody Snook. Others: Frank Barrett, John & Jan Melk, Sandy Bell, Charlene & Les Inglis, Mr. & Mrs. Peter Koeppel, Cean & Jeffrey Smith, and Dr. & Mrs. Charles Waldner.

Experts Come to Miami to Plead King's Case

On April 8, ARFF held a press conference at the Omni Colonnade Hotel in Coral Gables at which three prominent figures with the Gorilla Species Survival Plan (SSP) and the American Zoo and Aquarium Association (AZA) made the case for King's liberation from his hideous concrete cell at Monkey Jungle in Miami. Representing the scientific community were Dr. Dan Wharton of the Wildlife Conservation Society, who is also Director of the Central Park Wildlife Center, as well as chairman of the gorilla SSP; Dr. Michael Hutchins, Director of Conservation and Science for AZA, and author of more than 120 technical and popular articles and books covering various topics in wildlife conservation and science; and Lori Perkins, Director of Conservation Technology at Zoo Atlanta.

Five television stations and both major south Florida newspapers listened as our three guests explained- from a scientific standpoint- why it is imperative that King be transferred to the 4-acre, naturalized habitat at Zoo Atlanta, where he can be socialized with other gorillas for the first time since he was stolen from the wild as an infant. Not surprisingly, Monkey Jungle responded to the press conference by repeating its claim that it will "break ground" for King's new exhibit soon. Monkey Jungle has been promising to start the project every year for the past 5 years. Even if the owners of the unaccredited, roadside zoo were able to raise the needed funding and build a new enclosure, King would remain alone.

Last year, ARFF presented more than 6,000 coupons to Monkey Jungle bearing the names of individuals pleading for King's transfer. Since that time we have accumulated nearly as many more. We intend to present them in a few weeks. Please call the office and ask for a sheet of coupons to be completed and returned to ARFF.

Please visit King's new website: SaveKing.com for updates on the campaign. ARFF thanks BloomingTree Productions for donating their resources to create and maintain this website.

Upcoming Demonstrations

Look for announcements in the mail about additional demonstrations in your area.

Join ARFF to Demonstrate Against the Carriage-Horse Industry

Monday, June 21, 1999, 5:00 P.M. in St. Augustine, Florida

The beginning of summer is not a time to look forward to for the working horses in Florida's oldest city. For them, summer means long months pulling heavy carriages for hours in blistering heat and humidity, and the ever-present threat of accidents. Last year, there were no fewer than five reported accidents involving carriage horses in St. Augustine. Contact ARFF for directions.

Close Loophole on Cockfighting

Legislation recently introduced will close a loophole in the Animal Welfare Act relating to cockfighting, an activity that is illegal in 47 states. The legislation will prohibit interstate movement of birds for the purpose of fighting from states where cockfighting is illegal to states where cockfighting is legal.

In Florida, where cockfighting has been a felony since 1986, breeders of "gamecocks" frequently and openly bring birds into Louisiana, where the practice is legal, for fights.

Please write to your U.S. Senators and Representatives and urge them to support this important legislation. Ask that they consider becoming a cosponsor of the legislation. In the Senate, refer to bill S. 345:

In the House of Representatives, refer to H.R. 1275 (Florida Rep. Joe Scarborough is an original cosponsor):

Class B dealers

H.R. 453, introduced by Florida U.S. Representatives Charles Canady and Porter Goss, would prohibit research laboratories from using animals obtained from "Class B" dealers. Class B dealers obtain the animals they sell to research facilities from "random sources," such as responding the "free to good home" ads in newspapers, adopting from local animal shelters, and even stealing companion animals from their guardian's property.

H.R. 453, the Pet Safety and Protection Act of 1999, would ensure that dogs and cats used in research are neither stolen nor obtained through fraudulent practices.

Write to your U.S. Representative in support of H.R. 453

Protection for Mice, Rats, and Birds

The USDA is seeking comments on regulating the use of birds, mice, and rats. The Animal Welfare Act, enacted almost 35 years ago, was designed to regulate the care of "animals" used for testing, research, exhibition, and pets. However, the USDA has never included most of the animals used in research labs (mice, rats, and birds) in its regulations' definition of "animal." A petition has been filed to change this so that these animals would legally be afforded the most basic standards of humane care and housing. Comments in support of the petition are due May 28, 1999. Write:

March of Dimes

ARFF Advisory Board Member Pam Huizenga-Van Hart respectfully requested that her name be withdrawn from consideration for the Broward County chapter of the March of Dimes "Woman of the Year Award." A growing number of people are choosing not to support charities that fund questionable animal experiments. The March of Dimes should redirect its funding from animal experiments to humane, human-centered research and prevention programs. Contact ARFF for a list of health charities that do and those that do not fund animal experiments.

Chimp Farm

In April, the USDA revoked the federal license of the Chimp Farm in Tarpon Springs, due to chronic problems, including horribly small, dirty cages. The roadside zoo was also fined $25,000. Without a USDA license, the Chimp Farm must close their doors to the public. In light of the USDA's findings, ARFF has contacted Florida's Game & Fresh Water Fish Commission requesting revocation of the Chimp Farm's state permit to possess animals.

Florida Aquariums

Marineland near St. Augustine reopened its doors in March after completing repairs ordered by government inspectors, although the facility is still in poor financial shape. ARFF is keeping a close eye on developments at the aquarium, and on their partnership with Jacoby Development Inc., which has expressed interest in opening a "dolphin-assisted therapy" center using dolphins from Marineland.

Although the idea of performing dolphins in tanks is becoming less popular, the Florida Aquarium in Tampa may be considering adding a dolphin or seal exhibit in hopes of increasing attendance at the money-losing aquarium. Please write to the Florida Aquarium and ask them not to add exhibits that feature marine mammals. Write:

Lolita & the Miami Seaquarium

In 1970, the orca Lolita was violently captured from the waters of Puget Sound in Washington State, and brought to the Miami Seaquarium, where she has performed daily ever since. The Tokitae Foundation is working to retire Lolita and possibly reunite her with her family in their native waters. To learn more about Lolita and orcas in the wild, and to get involved in the campaign, visit the new webpage: www.FreeLolita.net, or call (305) 672-4039. There will be a demonstration at the Seaquarium, May 9.

Disney's Animal Kingdom

In April, as Walt Disney World celebrated the one-year anniversary of its Animal Kingdom theme park, it was revealed that animals continue to die unnaturally at the park. A gazelle was killed by a coyote; another gazelle is missing. An Orlando TV station also reported that Disney failed to test its elephants and elephant handlers for tuberculosis, a disease that is easily transmitted from elephants to humans.

Disney came under international scrutiny a year ago when it was revealed that at least 36 animals at Animal Kingdom had died from accidents, injures, and illness. Other fatalities went unexplained.

Rodeo: Violence Against Animals

Crown Royal liquor is the newest major sponsor of the Davie rodeo, one of Florida's largest. Crown Royal is also a major sponsor of rodeos nationwide, and is the "official spirit" of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association. Write to the Seagram Company, which owns the Crown Royal brand, and ask that they do not associate their company's name with animal abuse:

Bentley Bros. Circus

In March, ARFF sent an e-mail Action Alert to our members with access to the internet about a performance of the Bentley Bros. Circus at El Dorado Furniture in Miami. The two elephants owned by Bentley Bros. were captured in the wild years ago and brought to this country to a grim existence with the other animals in the circus.

El Dorado Furniture responded to our emails positively, "Thank you for bringing your concerns to our attention. It was not our intention to be party to the mistreatment of animals. In the future we will consider other shows such as 'Cirque du Soleil' that do not include animals in their shows."

Unfortunately, Midway Ford in Miami continues to sponsor the Bentley Bros. Circus every year in March. Write to Midway Ford and urge them- for the welfare of the animals and the safety of the public- not to sponsor the circus next year:

Burger King & the Universoul Circus

The lions, elephants, and chimpanzees of the Universoul Circus performed last March in Miami and Jacksonville.

As a relatively new circus, they are dependent on sponsors. Among corporate sponsors is Burger King, based in Florida. Please write to Burger King and ask them to end their sponsorship of the Universoul Circus:

Traveling Sea Lion Show

At the Brevard County Fair in April, animal exhibitor Marco Peters debuted a new act featuring sea lions. The wild caught sea lions in Peters' show were formerly owned by the infamous Emil Popescu, who had performed in Las Vegas and with the Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey Circus (in September 1998, a sea lion died in her cage while traveling with the circus). Sea lions can suffer greatly from the heat and stress of travel and performance. If this act comes to your community, please contact ARFF immediately!

ARFF Victories

Avitrol

In the January-March 1999 issue of ARFF News we alerted you to a bird control program at the Embassy Suites hotel in Deerfield Beach. Exterminators hired by the hotel were using Avitrol, a poison that causes horrible suffering to birds. We are happy to tell you that General Manager Bob Barenberg responded to your letters by pledging never again to use lethal methods to control birds. Mr. Barenberg wrote, "we have no intentions of continuing this process at any time in the future, and in fact, we have solicited the help of the Animal Rights Foundation of Florida to assist us in non-chemical methods to solving this problem."

We are grateful to Embassy Suites for their sincere efforts to correct this situation.

ARFF has also been working with the Town of Golden Beach after receiving complaints about the use of Avitrol to remove pigeons near the town beach. ARFF has provided Golden Beach with information on humane bird-control methods.

Speak Out!

That's just what ARFF member Harriet Kahn did and got fast results. Nurse Manager at a private hospital, Harriet noticed that the exterminator had put down cruel "sticky traps" because someone had spotted a lone mouse on the premises. Also known as glue traps, these devices cause animals caught in them to suffocate or chew off their tiny limbs in an attempt to escape.

Harriet first approached the person responsible for ordering the traps, who was wholly unsympathetic. Undaunted, she approached supervisors who agreed to take up the matter with the C.E.O. who readily agreed to terminate use of the traps, replacing them with live-catch-and-release- types. ARFF commends Harriet on her resolve and ultimate success.

ARFF encourages everyone to voice objections at work if ever your workplace subscribes to lethal control of unwanted animals. Offer to assist in establishing pest-prevention measures using humane alternatives.

Traveling Zoo

In February, at the West Boca Square shopping center in Boca Raton, animal exhibitor Robert Engesser set up his sad display of animals. An adult tiger, camel, ring-tailed lemurs, and a solitary female baboon spent the hot weekend on display in the parking lot. Elephant rides, pony rides, a glimpse of a "rare" white tiger, and photos with lion and tiger cubs were also available for a fee.

ARFF sent an Action Alert to our members in Boca Raton. Property Manager Leanne Thayer wrote back encouragingly, "since the exhibit outraged and offended many who patronize the shopping center I would like to assure you that I will no longer permit any live animal exhibits at West Boca Square."

ARFF would like to thank Southern Management and Development for their compassionate decision, and to all of our Boca Raton members who wrote in response to our Action Alert.

Changing "Times" at Eckerd's

When ARFF member Nan Vollbracht noticed clocks with hunting & fishing themes on sale at her local Eckerd's, she sent a simple letter of complaint to the drug store chain.

The Eckerd Corporation responded by pledging to discontinue the clocks from their product selection and remove the clocks from their shelves. Good work Nan!

Humane Education Kits

ARFF's Humane Education Kits contain the book Save The Animals! 101 Easy Things You Can Do by Ingrid Newkirk, a 20-minute video (Changing Minds, Changing Times) and a colorful poster. The kits are given free of charge to high school libraries. So far in 1999, ARFF has distributed 25 Humane Education Kits to high schools in Bay, Brevard, Broward, Charlotte, Citrus, Desoto, Escambia, Highlands, Lee, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Okaloosa, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, St. Lucie and Seminole Counties!

ARFF In The Media

• 2/3/99: ARFF Communications Coordinator Nicolas Atwood was interviewed by Florida Radio Network about greyhound racing.
• 2/16: ARFF member Lilliana Torreh-Bayouth spoke about animal rights on the Martha Flores show on Radio Mambi 107.5 FM.
• 2/27: ARFF's comments were included in a story in the Sun-Sentinel about legislation to ban the selling of dog and cat fur.
• 2/28: ARFF's demonstration at the annual meeting of the Cosmetics, Toiletry and Fragrance Association (CTFA) was covered by the Boca Raton News.
• March/April: ARFF's 10th Anniversary Celebration was featured in the society pages of the Boca Raton News, The Miami Herald, Sun-Sentinel and the Palm Beach Post.
• 3/2: ARFF Managing Director Joe Taksel was interviewed by TV 2 Norway about Walt Disney World's Animal Kingdom theme park.
• 3/11: ARFF's comments were included in a story about otters at Flamingo Gardens on WTVJ Ch. 6.
• 3/18: ARFF's demonstration in Melbourne against the Clyde Beatty-Cole Bros. Circus was featured in Florida Today.
• 3/31: Joe Taksel was interviewed by the British television network ITV about the Animal Kingdom theme park.
• April: ARFF had a letter about rodeo published in South Florida Parenting magazine.
• 4/6: Nicolas Atwood had a letter regarding zoos published in the St. Petersburg Times.
• 4/8: ARFF's news conference about King the gorilla was covered by The Miami Herald, Sun-Sentinel, WIOD AM 610 radio, WTVJ Ch. 6, WFOR Ch. 4, WPLG Ch. 10, WSVN Ch. 7, WDZL Ch. 39, Telemundo Ch. 51, and WAMI Ch. 69 television.
• 4/15: Joe Taksel had a letter published in The Miami Herald about King the gorilla.

ARFF In The Community

Fort Lauderdale, 2/13/99: ARFF volunteers Dona McCaffrey and Brad Sitlick tabled at Broward County Animal Care and Regulation's Open House.

• Miami, 3/26/99: ARFF volunteer Nan Vollbracht spoke about animal rights with children at Phyllis Wheatley Elementary.
• Miami, 4/16/99: ARFF volunteer Nan Vollbracht spoke with students at Shenandoah Elementary School.
• West Palm Beach, 4/17/99: ARFF tabled at Palm Beach Animal Care and Control's "Pet Fest."

Letters to the Editor:

Congratulations to the following for having letters published: Jennifer Amos, Jennifer Armstrong, Miriam Asher, Barbara Bancker, Susan Beattie, Jeannie Campe, Marilyn Carpenter, Wendy Causey, John Cielukowski, Judith Fish, Les Inglis, Howard Lebowitz, Lorle Liebman, Joey Matthews, Bonnie Mazliach, Dona McCaffrey, Barbara Miller, Susan Munroe, Lynn Nobil, Faith Pruchnicki, Michelle Rivera, Gilbert Schwartz, Loretta Servidio, Caryl Speck, Joyce Stanhope, Maria Tarquinio, Irene Vulpis, Doris Wall and Rona Zelinka.

Publications:

Letters to the editor appeared in: Amarillo News, Asheville Citizen-Times, Boca Raton News, Florida Today, Fort Pierce Tribune, Miami Herald, Naples Daily News, Orlando Sentinel, Palm Beach Post, St. Augustine Record, Sarasota Herald-Tribune, South Florida Parenting, and the Sun-Sentinel.