Action Line Spring 2016 by foaorg

SPRING 2016

ACTION LINE

VEGAN SOCIAL JUSTICE BAR OPENS IN ASHEVILLE PET MATCHMAKING SITES ARE THE NEW EHARMONY CARRIAGE HORSES DESERVE MORE THAN A COMPROMISE

Wildlife Matters

WILD ANIMALS SHOULDN’T HAVE TO PAY A PRICE FOR BEING WHO THEY ARE

4 NEWS Victory Lap: The latest news about FOA’s advocacy

6 S PONSOR AN ANIMAL Celebrate Earth Day by giving 8 NEWS Primarily Primates welcomes rhesus macaque Carter 22

NEW YORK OFFICE 1841 Broadway, Suite 350 New York, NY 10023 (212) 247-8120

PROFILE Cam MacQueen, owner of new vegan social justice bar in Asheville, N.C.

WESTERN OFFICE 7500 E. Arapahoe Rd., Ste 385 Cetennial, CO 80112 (720) 949-7791 PRIMARILY PRIMATES SANCTUARY P.O. Box 207 San Antonio, TX 7891-02907 (830) 755-4616 office@primarilyprimates.org

26 FEATURE Pet Matchmaking sites—Think eHarmony for animals and adopters

VISIT US www.friendsofanimals.org www.primarilyprimates.org

28 MOVIE REVIEWS By All Rights and Unbranded

31 NEWS Carriage horses deserve more than a compromise 36

WHO WE ARE Friends of Animals is an international non-profit animal-advocacy organization, incorporated in the state of New York in 1957. FoA works to cultivate a respectful view of nonhuman animals, free-living and domestic. Our goal is to free animals from cruelty and institutionalized exploitation around the world.

LETTERS

37 CHEERS & JEERS 38 FOA MERCHANDISE

COVER ILLUSTRATION Sebastian Gomez de la Torre / illseabass.com

OUR TEAM PRESIDENT Priscilla Feral [CT] www.twitter.com/pferal www.twitter.com/primate_refuge feral@friendsofanimals.org VICE PRESIDENT Dianne Forthman [CT] dianne@friendsofanimals.org DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS Robert Orabona [CT] admin@friendsofanimals.org DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR Dustin Rhodes [NC] dustin@friendsofanimals.org ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT Donna Thigpen [CT] SECRETARY TO THE PRESIDENT Shelly Scott [CT] SPAY/NEUTER PROJECT Paula Santo [CT] CAMPAIGNS DIRECTOR Edita Birnkrant [NY] www.twitter.com/EditaFoANYC edita@friendsofanimals.org CORRESPONDENT Nicole Rivard [CT] nrivard@friendsofanimals.org SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR Meghan McIntire [MA] www.twitter.com/FoAorg mmcintire@friendsofanimals.org

MEMBERSHIP Annual membership includes a year’s subscription to Action Line. Students/Senior membership, $15; Annual membership, $25; International member, $35; Sustaining membership, $50; Sponsor, $100; Patron, $1,000. All contributions, bequests and gifts are fully tax-deductible in accordance with current laws.

DIRECTOR OF STRATEGIC INITIATIVES Charlotte Min-Harris [CO] charlottemin-harris@friendsofanimals.org

REPRODUCTION No prior permission for the reproduction of materials from Action Line is required provided the content is not altered and due credit is given as follows: “Reprinted from Action Line, the Friends of Animals’ magazine, 777 Post Road, Darien, CT 06820.” Action Line is a quarterly publication. Issue CLXIX Spring 2016 ISSN 1072-2068

DIRECTOR, WILDLIFE LAW PROGRAM Michael Harris [CO] michaelharris@friendsofanimals.org

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR Jenni Best [CO] jennifer@friendsofanimals.org ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT Kaylee Dolan [CO] wlp-admin@friendsofanimals.org EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, PRIMARILY PRIMATES Brooke Chavez [TX] brooke@primarilyprimates.org CREATIVE DIRECTOR Jane Seymour [NY] jane@friendsofanimals.org

Printed on Recycled Paper

PHOTOGRAPH BY LEIGH KENDELL

12 SPECIAL SECTION: WILDLIFE MATTERS Wild animals shouldn’t have to pay a price for being who they are

BY PRISCILLA FERAL, PRESIDENT

IN MY VIEW SPRING REVEALS NATURE’S ARCHITECTS One of the most fascinating times of year to observe nature is when winter gives way to spring. Migrating birds return from their winter homes following routes genetically encoded in their brains at birth. The timing of their return to the Northeast in February or March relies on an internal clock that measures the changing ratio of daylight to darkness as winter advances—the longer days triggering the instinct for birds to head north. As birds find their way home, they follow coastlines, river valleys and mountains. Eventually memory of trees or buildings helps them find their nests, those phenomenal homes of which they are the architects. Among 10,000 species of birds, each nest is a custom-made cradle that carries life and provides a safe place to raise a family. For some nest-building birds, construction doesn’t always go as planned, and it can take a young bird several seasons to get the knack of building a nest. Many species of birds often learn from their mistakes and build better nests as they mature. Weaving gives nests resilience and success, allowing materials to hold up to wind and rain, sometimes for years. If it’s the first reproductive season for the nestbuilder, the bird nest may fail because of a construction error, which leads to it falling apart, or being dislodged from a tree limb. Female cardinals spend four to six days on nest construction, and if they mistime it, the eggs could arrive before the nest is secured. American robins’ nests are large—about six to eight inches wide—and are easy to spot in shrubs and on tree branches, but you can also find them in eaves and gutters. Female robins actually use their wings to form a compacted cup on the inside from dead grass and twigs. Next, mud is added for stability, and then the cup is lined and interwoven with fibers such as animal hair, dead grass, feathers, twigs, string and moss. Their typical breeding season is from April to July. Black-and-white ospreys—known as sea hawks for their fish-catching prowess—build large platform-based nests over a two-week span, and readily adopt humanmade structures such as utility poles to accommodate tall, gigantic nests that are typically close to shore. Remarkably, these birds who weigh just three to four

pounds, construct 400-pound nests made with hundreds of sticks and seaweed. Two osprey searching for building supplies may form a bond that can last for years, and mates rendezvous at the same nest spot. If other males try to unseat the male or steal the nest and take the female, she fends off attacks at the nest and guards it. Ospreys spend eight weeks incubating two eggs. Interestingly, house sparrows take advantage of the ospreys’ impressive homes by tucking their own nests into them. Before spring has completely sprung, I’m intrigued by the bare landscape and the opportunity it provides to see other nests, like the ones built by the Eastern gray squirrel. These nests that look like glued stacks of leaves are typically piled at the fork of a large tree limb— especially in oaks, red maples and beech trees where squirrels find food. After forming a twig platform layered with moss and leaves, squirrels put together a spherical frame of twigs and vines around the base of the sturdy nest. This structure is then covered with moss, leaves and more twigs. A soft lining of shredded bark, grass and additional leaves are added to the inner cavity, along with a private escape hatch across from the entrance, in case an undesired intruder arrives. Squirrels fabricate nests for hiding, storage and breeding, and it’s especially amusing to watch young squirrels practice building them in summer. You can increase your chances for birds and squirrels to create their homes next to yours so you can watch the wonders of nature unfold, by providing materials for them to use when building nests. Here are some ideas: • Leave untreated grass clippings on your lawn as they allow birds to use the cut grass in their nests. • Dog, cat or horse hair can provide a soft lining for nest interiors, so when brushing animals, leave the hair on the tops of shrubs for birds to pick up and use. • Other materials to place for birds are strips of yarn or cloth cut to about six inches. Avoid using dryer lint, as it hardens after getting wet. Best wishes for wildlife watching in the months ahead!

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VICTORY LAP BY NICOLE RIVARD

FoA’s bill that bans import/possession/ sale of 5 African species introduced in Connecticut The phrase “Happy New Year” took on a whole new meaning for Friends of Animals (FoA). On New Year’s Eve, we received a call from Connecticut state Sen. Bob Duff’s office (D-Norwalk/Darien) saying that he would be championing Cecil’s Law in Connecticut (it was slated to be introduced by the Environmental Committee Feb. 3). The historic bill follows one in New York drafted by FoA in April 2015 that would ban the import, possession, sale and transportation of five species of animals native to Africa—elephants, lions, leopards and black and white rhinos—which is currently making its way through the New York legislature with the help of NY state Sen. Tony Avella (D-Queens). We couldn’t think of a better way to kick off 2016. Duff learned about the legislation when he attended “Concert for Cecil,” a fundraising concert held on Nov. 21, 2015 that was conceived and performed by a local teen to benefit FoA. When 17-year-old Christopher Jessup, a resident of Darien, Conn., and a classical pianist, composer, singer and animal lover, learned via social media about the brutal, tragic death of Africa’s Cecil the Lion at the hands of a trophy hunter back in July of 2015, he felt compelled to take action. So Jessup, who currently studies

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piano privately at The Juilliard School in New York City and has performed at New York’s Carnegie Hall on multiple occasions, decided he would perform the benefit concert. “I first learned about Friends of Animals years ago when I was looking for an organization to support that fought for something I strongly believed in,” Jessup said. “I decided that to use my passion for creating and playing music towards the benefit of incredible animals who are at the brink of extinction would be a wonderful cause that would inspire others to take action and to become more aware of the environmental situation the world is currently in.” Clearly, his hopes were realized by Senator Duff.

Flip off fur

In December, FoA and supporters marched from the organization’s new striking “flip-off fur” billboard in Times Square featuring a fox and the middle-finger gesture, to designer Jason Wu’s studio on 35th St., where they chanted “Screw Wu” and plastered his entrance with flipoff fur stickers and anti-fur posters. Wu was chosen because the 32-year-old designer has not shied away from talking about his use of fur and glamorizing the fur industry. In a NY Times’ article, “Fur is Back in Fashion and Debate,” Wu said fur is not a political statement—it’s just another material, like wool or silk, that is canvas for his imagination. FoA wholeheartedly disagrees

and has no respect for him since he has no respect for the lives of animals. He uses an excess amount of fox fur in particular, and it takes 40 fox skins to make a fur coat. FoA also shamed a fur outlet along the way to Wu’s studio and interrupted its bloody business, marching into the store chanting, “Stop the torture, stop the pain, fur wearers are to blame” and passing out informative anti-fur brochures to surprised shoppers. Despite fur being a fashion faux pas in the 80s and 90s, the global fur industry is now being valued at more than $40 billion, because it got busy renovating its image, and designers and consumers have fallen into its trap. But no matter how many feel-good labels it sticks on its fur coats, the fur industry still farms, traps, kills and processes millions of animals who could have lived full free lives.

THE LATEST NEWS ABOUT FOA’S ADVOCACY AND ACHIEVEMENTS FoA exposes Christie’s lies, protests heinous bear hunt

More than 2,300 black bears have been baited and executed since Gov. Chris Christie took office in 2009, so in December FoA and supporters called him out on how he lied to New Jersey residents and betrayed the state’s bears to cash in on campaign promises to pro-hunting groups, like the New Jersey Outdoors Alliance, who rallied for his election. Just days before the most recent bloodbath began, FoA’s Campaigns Director Edita Birnkrant, appearing as a black bear, not only delivered the message to Christie to stop bear baiting and start educating the public about how to peacefully co-exist with black bears—including

using bear-proof trash cans—she “delivered” Christie himself back to the New Jersey State House in Trenton from his doomed presidential run. Onlookers took video and photos as Birnkrant untied a “hunted” Christie effigy from the top of her car, dumped him into a bear-resistant trash can and rolled him around in front of the State House. Joining FoA at the protest was State Sen. Raymond Lesniak (DNJ), sponsor of the Bear Smart Bill, which would require use of bear-resistant containers, dumpsters or food boxes in certain areas located in black bear habitat under certain circumstances, including garbage collection, and prohibits certain actions that would result in feeding of black bears. “Our goal is to not only make New Jersey the Garden State, but the humane state. And there is absolutely

nothing humane about killing bears for fun. Because that’s what this is all about. This is not to protect the public,” Lesniak said. “The way the public is protected is by having these bear-proof garbage containers and by passing my legislation that’s been languishing in both houses for two years.”

Salt River wild horses to remain free

Because of ongoing Friends of Animals’ litigation (other groups bailed and dropped their lawsuits), the U.S. Forest Service filed a declaration on Dec. 14, 2015 with the court to withdraw its July 31, 2015 notice, which classified Salt River wild horses in the Tonto National Forest in Arizona as “unauthorized livestock” and authorized their “impoundment” so they could be auctioned off, sold privately or disposed of. Our Wildlife Law Program Director Michael Harris said about the case: “Friends of Animals is able to dismiss this case because we have been able to achieve a legally binding withdrawal of the roundup notice. This is huge. We feel that it was important that it was legally binding because we wanted to make sure that Friends of Animals, and our members, could rest easy that the U.S. Forest Service wasn’t just going to go in at another time and round these animals up under that notice.” FoA had filed a lawsuit in August against the U.S. Forest Service to stop the round-up and permanent removal of wild horses in Tonto National Forest in Arizona. Spring 2016 | 5

CELEBRATE EARTH DAY BY GIVING

BUBBA: For the girl who loves shoes Bubba, a chimpanzee born at a Colorado zoo, is known for two things at the sanctuary: He is the most acrobatic (his spitting skills aren’t too shabby either) and he absolutely loves shoes! When an enrichment involves shoes, his pan hoots can be heard throughout the sanctuary. His excitement may also stem from the fact that he is no longer living in isolation in a standard-sized 5’ x 5’ x 7’ laboratory cage. Bubba, 24, came to PPI in May of 2005, but he previously lived most of his life at the Buckshire Corporation. Often operating as a supplier, Buckshire bred chimpanzees and leased animals to research labs, as well as those in the entertainment industry. Bubba was leased to Steve Martin’s Working Wildlife. Typically, chimpanzees at Buckshire lived in isolation. Today he lives with Barbara, and in addition to her, he loves bananas, peppermints and cantaloupe.

LENNIE: For the athlete Lennie, an African patas guenon, may look a little awkward, long and lanky, but his agility, strength and speed are noteworthy. Designed for speed, patas are known as the ground-dwelling sprint runners of the primate world because they can reach speeds as high as 35 mph. Lennie is often seen running and jumping around his beautiful grass-bottomed habitat. Before arriving at PPI in 2014, Lennie was a pet for four years, but the playful youngster who was once part of the family matured quickly and it shocked his owners when Lennie became difficult and aggressive. They relegated him to an uncomfortable small cage in the basement. To make matters worse, his owners decided to move to another state where private possession of monkeys was prohibited.

ANDY: For the knight in shining armor Andy, a java macaque who came to Primarily Primates in 2001, shares a habitat with Febe, who he adores. To show his affection he constantly patrols their habitat to make her feel safe. You will often see Andy with a wooden toothpick in his mouth that he’s made from the wood of one of his perches. Another love of Andy’s is red grapes. Before arriving at PPI, sadly Andy had stopped eating after he was taken from his mom at a breeding facility way too early and forced to be a pet in a home in Texas. His owners dumped Andy at a local vet office when he stopped eating. The vet recognized that for Andy to thrive, he needed to be with other primates.

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Earth Day is April 22, and we couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate than sponsoring a resident at our sanctuary in Texas—Primarily Primates. You can sponsor an animal for a loved one or yourself. A photo of the animal will be provided to the gift recipient. To sponsor an animal monthly ($10$50) or annually ($120-$600). Visit primarilyprimates.org/donation; call 830.755.4616; or send a check to Primarily Primates, 26099 Dull Knife Trail, San Antonio, Texas, 78255.

JUSTIN: For the class clown Chimpanzee Justin, 36, enjoys making people laugh—care staff swears he’s laughing with them. He thoroughly enjoys collecting as much water as he possibly can to spit at new care staff until he feels that they are seasoned. Even when displaying, Justin comes across as jovial—he looks more like he is a auditioning to be a drummer in a rock band! In the morning care staff run around the outside of his habitat because Justin loves to play follow the leader. Unfortunately, prior to his arrival at PPI, Justin’s life was not all fun and games. He was shuffled to various biomedical research facilities and was used in Hepatitis A and B studies. Luckily that’s behind him. Now he gets to enjoy his favorite fruit— grapes—and washing them down with some orange juice.

HOPE: For the survivor/optimist No one’s name is more fitting than chimpanzee Hope’s. She was born at the Southwest Foundation for Biomedical Research on Dec. 15, 1972 and was quickly taken away from her mother and raised in a nursery. For the first 10 years of her life, Hope struggled physically, and there was concern she wouldn’t survive. But Hope didn’t give up and fought through her health issues. She improved so much that it was decided she would become part of a breeding colony at the facility. At 12, she gave birth to her first child, Baldi. She was impregnated every year after that and had five more children. Sadly, all were taken away within a year of birth with the exception of her son Garfield, who was allowed to stay with Hope for three years before being ripped away from her. Hope’s medical records indicate, not surprisingly, that the separation was very traumatic for Garfield and Hope. Garfield was later released to Save the Chimps in Florida and we are happy to report he is thriving, and despite everything Hope has been through, she is similarly flourishing at Primarily Primates. Hope’s caretakers say she loves to drink from the hose, watch DVDS, play with socks and have her tummy scratched.

CARTER: For the adventurer To read more about the Carter, see page 8

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PRIMARILY PRIMATES WELCOMES RHESUS MACAQUE

CA RTER BY NICOLE RIVARD

His story exemplifies need to tighten states’ exotic animal ownership laws

nimals typically arrive at Primarily Primates (PPI) in Texas, the sanctuary Friends of Animals manages, with little fanfare, but “Carter the Monkey” is an exception. This rhesus macaque not only made headlines, but people could even follow his journey from Charlotte, N.C., to Primarily Primates in early December on Facebook and Twitter via his hashtag #travelmonkey. Carter first garnered media attention in March 2015 when he escaped the confines of his cage and his owner’s car in the Carolina Medical Center-University parking lot in Charlotte. He then bit a hospital employee who was trying to capture him and remained on the loose. The following day, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department Animal Care & Control officers were able to capture Carter, and he was kept in isolation so he could be tested for contagious diseases. Carter’s owner, Nyeshia Miller, was charged with misdemeanor possession of an animal who is illegal to own in Mecklenburg County, N.C. In August of 2015, she surrendered her ownership rights in court in exchange for having the charge dropped. North Carolina is one of five states that has no law that bans exotic animals such as Carter. But Mecklenburg County, like about half the counties in the state, does have its own exotic animal laws. While residing at the Animal Control, Carter chose kennel attendant Leslie Wright as his best friend and caretaker. Although Wright was his main caretaker, it took a team of dedicated staff and multiple organizations and a lot of financial support to find a permanent home for

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Carter, including a $6,000 grant from Bob Barker’s DJ&T Foundation. The money was used by Primarily Primates for materials to construct Carter his very own green space habitat that is complete with a heated bedroom and a barrel airplane to play with. “He loves his airplane in his green space,” said Brooke Chavez, the executive director of PPI. “He will bring a little toy up there with him and just sit inside the airplane with it. If you don’t know he’s in there, when you are walking by it looks like the airplane is taking off because he’s shaking it. It’s funny.” Before Wright and another AC&C staff member began driving Carter to PPI back in December, they made sure they fulfilled Carter’s travel requests: bananas, fresh water and his portable DVD player so he can watch his favorite movie, “Ice Age,” during his trip. Carter has also taken a liking to oatmeal with dinosaur-shaped fruit in it. He is being slowly introduced to a female companion, another rhesus macaque named Tori. Interestingly, Tori also lived in North Carolina as a pet monkey and found sanctuary at PPI in March of 2015.

NOT SO HAPPY ENDINGS As Carter’s story was unfolding, so too was an effort to tighten North Carolina exotic animal ownership laws. Although Carter’s story has a happy ending, not all incidents involving private possession of captive wildlife, or so-called pets, in North Carolina, have turned out as such. In December of 2003, a 10-year-old North Carolina

“He loves his airplane in his green space,” said Brooke Chavez, the executive director of Primarily Primates. “He will bring a little toy up there with him and just sit inside the airplane with it. If you don’t know he’s in there, when you are walking by it looks like the airplane is taking off because he’s shaking it. It’s funny.”

Spring 2016 | 9

boy named Clayton James Eller was shoveling snow at his aunt’s house in Millers Creek, when he got too close to the cage of her pet 400-pound Bengal tiger. According to reports, the animal dragged Clayton under the chain-link fence and into its cage, mauling the boy. The boy’s uncle, hearing his screams, dashed to the boy’s rescue attempting to get the tiger to relent. When that failed, he ran back into the house to get his gun and shot the tiger. The tiger and the boy died. Regulations changed in Wilkes County, but in other parts of the state people can still own big cats. On April 2, 2015, state Rep. Chuck McGrady, (R-Henderson), introduced House Bill 554, which would make it illegal to possess, breed or sell dangerous exotic animals; it was approved by the House 80-32. The definition of a dangerous wild animal would include large cats such as lions, as well as hyenas, bears and wolves and several categories of primates. The measure provided exceptions for animal sanctuaries, and it grandfathered in exotic animals people already owned. The bill went to the Senate for consideration but stalled because it was never carried by a senator so it could be assigned to a committee. However, McGrady is not giving up on the bill, as it is eligible again in the next legislative session, which begins mid-April. He plans to discuss the legislation with a senate colleague who had expressed interest in carrying the bill when McGrady introduced it. But the bill stirred controversy with sanctuary operators

TAKE ACTION North Carolina residents can find who represents them in the Senate by visiting: ncga.state.nc.us/representation/ WhoRepresentsMe.aspx. Call or email your senator and tell them to support House Bill 554, which would make it illegal to possess, breed or sell dangerous exotic animals. Please consider making a donation to Primarily Primates, which would support the care of Carter and other primates exploited by the exotic pet industry. Visit primarilyprimates.org.

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“There were a huge number of entities that care for in some way a range of primates who thought we were going to put all these sanctuaries out of business. It wasn’t that at all,” McGrady said. “The problem is we do have a number of people who don’t have the ability to take care of these animals by keeping them at home. They end up biting people. It’s not good for the monkey or the neighbors. “Eventually most of those people who had serious concerns realized what we were trying to do with the bill, that it wasn’t an effort to close down sanctuaries who were caring for orphaned monkeys. It was very much an effort to recognize there is a range of animals that frankly shouldn’t be kept as pets. What starts out as something cute can be something that can do great harm.” McGrady is encouraging North Carolina residents to urge their state senators to sponsor the bill so it can be passed by the Rules and Operations Committee and then the entire Senate. The bill would then need to be signed by Gov. Pat McCrory. “A lot of times it’s the people outside the legislature who create the demand for action of some sort,” McGrady said. This is not McGrady’s first time championing stronger exotic pet laws. As a commissioner in Anderson County, McGrady was instrumental in putting forth an exotic animal ordinance, which was primarily requested of him by local law enforcement. “Officers would show up at a trailer home and suddenly find out they were dealing with cobras,” McGrady recalled. “It’s just nuts what people think they can keep as pets at home. Why do people think they can keep a lion at home? It’s just nuts.” Like North Carolina, Alabama, Nevada, South Carolina and Wisconsin are states that have no license or permit requirements or have no state statute governing private possession of exotic animals. The 19 states that have an outright ban on private ownership of exotic animals, including large cats, wolves, bears, reptiles and most non-human primates are: Alaska, California, Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Utah, Vermont and Washington. “Primates are wild animals. They belong in the wild,” added Chavez. “We have a ring-tailed lemur named Jiggy, who was kept as a pet and released to the sanctuary two years ago, and he is struggling a bit. We have not been able to introduce him to a social group because he doesn’t know how to speak their language at all. He was older, almost 4 when he arrived, so he’s having a hard time picking up on primate behavior and language. Primates are so hurt socially and neurologically from being kept as pets.”

EXOTIC ANIMAL INCIDENTS RESULTING IN HUMAN/NON-HUMAN INJURY IN NORTH CAROLINA SINCE DECEMBER 2003 JAN. 9, 2004 IN SURRY COUNTY A 14-year-old girl was mauled by her father’s pet TIGER while she was inside the cage taking pictures. Her father owned four tigers and after the incident shot and killed all four.

MAY 7, 2012, ASHEVILLE City animal control officers were called to a home after a monkey escaped and bit three neighbors while on the loose. The monkey, a MARMOSET, was euthanized and tested for rabies.

JUNE 22, 2007, ASHEVILLE Authorities were hunting for two WOLF HYBRIDS who escaped their possessor and attacked and killed two dogs.

APRIL 27, 2012, PENDER COUNTY In response to multiple bite reports, Pender County Sheriff’s Office Animal Control removed a pet monkey named Elvis from the home of Nancy Browning. The male MACAQUE had reportedly bitten one of Browning’s neighbors for the second time in two months. State authorities stepped in and ordered the euthanization of the monkey and testing for rabies.

DEC. 20, 2007, HILDEBRAN A store clerk tried to pet a MONKEY belonging to a patron of the Family Food Mart and was attacked and bitten on her right cheek. The monkey’s possessor said that the monkey had all his shots and then quickly left the store. The clerk received treatment at an area hospital and was put on strong antibiotics. The local sheriff’s office was investigating the incident. JAN. 30, 2011, REIDSVILLE A pet CAPUCHIN MONKEY bit and scratched a human care-giver and escaped from his cage and was later euthanized to test for rabies. The monkey was being kept in violation of a county ordinance prohibiting residents from owning exotic animals. AUG. 6, 2011, HENDERSONVILLE A man had to be rushed to the hospital after authorities say he was bitten by his pet SNAKE, a European Long Nose Viper. When authorities seized his pet, they discovered 60 snakes and lizards inside his home illegally. Some of the species were so rare that officials had to send them to experts to be identified—most were venomous. A number of dead reptiles were also found.

OCT. 31, 2013, CURRITUCK COUNTY Four CAPUCHIN MONKEYS escaped their enclosure at a residence and later attacked a citizen. The person bitten was taken to the hospital for treatment. Three of the monkeys were caught and one was shot dead. FEB. 26, 2014, REIDSVILLE An 18-year-old was bitten by a CANEBRAKE RATTLESNAKE that was being kept by his friend. The friend who owned the snake had several other poisonous snakes being kept illegally and charges were anticipated at the completion of the investigation.

Spring 2016 | 11

SPECIAL FEATURE

Above: Ground squirrel in Denali National Park, Alaska Photograph by NPS Photo / Tim Rains

INTO THE WILD

CLASHES WITH CRITTERS

WILDLIFE WELCOME

Spring 2016 | 13

INTO THE

Wild ADAPTING HUMAN BEHAVIOR THROUGH EDUCATION IS KEY TO PREVENTING CONFLICT WHEN ENTERING THE HOMES OF WILDLIFE

o say it mildly, Friends of Animals was disappointed by the editorial, “It’s Either the Bears or the Boy Scouts,” that appeared in the New Jersey Star Ledger on Dec. 27. FoA was actually disgusted by the “it’s them or us” mentality and the “bring on the next hunt” rallying cry of the editorial. If the bear in question, who was simply protecting his hibernation spot as conservation officers have pointed out, shared that same mentality, the Scout leader who suffered only minor bites and scratches and the Scouts he mistakenly took to a cave amidst 625 acres of wilderness would certainly not be around to tell their story. We agree that America is full of humans, but disagree with “the plain fact is that bears don’t respect our

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BY NICOLE RIVARD / PHOTOGRAPH BY THOMAS LEFEBVRE

territory.” Split Rock Reservoir, where the incident occurred, only recently opened to the public in 2004—so the “plain fact is” it should be considered wildlife territory that humans have started invading over the last decade, not vice versa. The reservoir is surrounded by woods and can only be reached by traveling a mile on a dirt road. Upon seeing a cave in the remote wilderness, one would think a Scout master should have the common sense to assume that it might be home to wildlife—and that no matter how adventurous you and your fellow Scouts are, the last thing you want to do is take a chance you might disturb a hibernating bear. Felicia Ortner, Connecticut master wildlife conservationist and founder of The Bear Reality, an education and

outreach program, can’t emphasize enough the importance of knowledge and public education when it comes to peacefully co-existing with wildlife. People need to consider that the actions they take when they see wildlife could result in an animal’s death. It’s up to the public to protect wildlife in nature preserves, forests or state and national parks. Ortner questions the comments made by “neighbors” after the New Jersey incident, who said the Scout leader was a great outdoorsman. “It seems to me he failed in what I would call the basics of hiking in the woods...the fact he didn’t know how to act around a black bear, ‘playing dead’, and he had no pepper spray on him, not to mention crawling into a den that could have been occupied by one of a number of wildlife,” Ortner said.

“It’s northern New Jersey, where the bear population has been increasing for years and has been in many news stories.” A study published in February by Scientific Reports, an online multidisciplinary journal published by Nature Publishing Group, underscores Ortner’s points. “Human Behavior Can Trigger Large Carnivore Attacks in Developed Countries,” reveals that risk-enhancing human behavior has been involved in at least half of the well documented attacks by cougars, coyotes and black bears in the last six decades. Among the most common human behaviors occurring at the time of an attack were: parents leaving children unattended; walking an unleashed dog; engaging in outdoor activities at twilight/night; and approaching a female with young.

But humans aren’t the only victims, the study points out. When attacks occur, large carnivores are frequently killed and negative attitudes towards large carnivores harden. Ortner pointed out that innappropriate behavior by a Connecticut hiker resulted in two black bears being shot and killed last summer. The woman was hiking in Sessions Woods in Burlington, when she encountered two bears. During the encounter, which she captured on a three-minute cell phone video she plastered on social media, a bear with red ear tags approached her several times, even putting his mouth to her leg at one point as she talked to the animal. “Unfortunately, it appeared this woman was not familiar with wildlife encounters,” Ortner said. “I believe she was excited about the encounter.

While watching the video online, it looked clear she was not frightened. She was enjoying the fact the bear was following her and actually thrilled by it. I understand that part of it. I’m always excited when I see wildlife. Fortunately, I’m more familiar with the reality of wildlife. Of course, what she should have done was try to chase the bear off but she didn’t seem to have that knowledge. While I think the hiker did want 15 minutes of fame, I truly believe she didn’t realize it would cause the bears to be destroyed.” Ortner said killing the bear and its companion was really the only choice Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) had after the video went viral. While the hiker was vilified by the public, she believes that if DEEP

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didn’t take action and anything was to happen in the future the outcry by the public would be huge and many would want all the bears destroyed. “Unfortunately, that’s how humans work,” Ortner said. “In this case, the behavior being exhibited by the bear sent mixed messages. Hopping up and down, jaw popping, blowing and low vocalization are usually ways the bear is telling us he is afraid. Often these behaviors are mistaken for aggression. There were other behaviors the bear was exhibiting that could be interpreted as predatory actions—the way the bear was following and approaching the woman. The TV news kept showing what looked like the bear nipping at her leg. This may be a behavior associated with the bear trying to get a better smell of the woman, not necessarily trying to bite her.” Ortner personally believes the footage showed a bear acting like an adolescent teenager who was foolishly curious and too bold, but wasn’t a danger. Unfortunately, she hears stories all the time about the way people foolishly react during wildlife encounters. Many people don’t understand the difference between animals

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that are truly wild and those that are in captivity, professional trained or pets, Ortner says. Denali National Park in Alaska has a long history of working towards minimizing wildlife-human conflict and staff puts in a lot of effort educating visitors on appropriate behavior. Denali is an area rich with wildlife. Black bears inhabit the forested areas of the park, while grizzly bears mainly live on the open tundra. Visitors are required to take “Bear Aware” training before getting a permit to head into the Denali wilderness, the part of the park where there are no trails. In its 90-year history, Denali has only had one fatal bear mauling, and staff credits its education efforts. “Bears are powerful and somewhat unpredictable animals. Most if not all wildland areas where bears and humans have the potential to come into close proximity have well-advertised rules on appropriate behavior,” said Dave Schirokauer, resources and science team leader at Denali National Park. “Clearly, lingering close to a bear for a selfie, or entering a den are well outside of compliance with guidelines and common sense. Lingering near a grizzly closer then Denali’s regulation of 300 yards was a factor in this park’s only fatality.” Schirokauer is referring to an incident that took place in August 2012. A grizzly attacked and killed a lone backpacker after the man encountered the bear next to a river and lingered to snap pictures. Photos on the camera and the images’ timestamps showed that the hiker was within 50 yards of the bear for at least eight minutes without retreating. The bear was later shot and killed as part of the park’s policy to destroy bears who become a threat to people. While Denali’s guidelines suggest maintaining a distance of at least 300 yards from bears, park visitors are required to keep a distance of at least

30 yards from other wildlife, dens and nests. (To read about the wonders of nests, see page 3). Typically baby birds are cared for by their parents even after they fall out of the nest, so humans should not interfere. “Biologists do go into dens for research projects...this may be the least impactful method of gathering data. However, this is not a safe practice for the public,” Shirokauer said. The park also cautions visitors not to feed, approach or follow wildlife. Even seemingly ‘harmless’ animals like moose or sheep can grow extremely aggressive if they feel like you are too close. More than one person has been kicked by a 1,200plus pound moose because they failed to keep their distance from it. “Even if an animal does not flee or appear to react at first, it may be stressed. Just being disturbed from feeding has an impact,” Schirokauer said. So before heading into the wild this spring and summer, take time to educate yourself about your surroundings, the types of wildlife you might come across and how to react. Because the less negative encounters between humans and wildlife the better for all parties involved. “Stories of these negative encounters and the pissing match between state officials and the public is not the way to handle these situations,” Ortner said. “I constantly read comments made about the reporting article and usually they’re bashing the officials or the person/people who were involved. This creates animosity and it becomes an ‘us again them.’ It’s no way to handle conflict. It creates bigger problems and then the wildlife—bears in the Connecticut case— are used as pawns and weapons and only come out as the losers.”

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: NPS PHOTO / KEN CONGER. ADAM WILLOUGHBY-KNOX

A hoary marmot in Denali National Park, Alaska

IF YOU ENCOUNTER A BEAR If the bear is unware of you, detour quickly and quietly away. Black bears are generally timid and rarely aggressive towards humans. In most situations, if you see a bear and it sees you, make noise to alert the bear to your presence, avoid startling the bear. (Wearing bear bells around your wrist or waist is typical in national parks. Most often the bear will try to get away from you. Make sure there is a way for the bear to make its escape, you don’t want it to feel cornered. If you have a dog with you, make sure it is secured on a leash. Dogs’ natural instinct to protect may cause a situation that may be harmful to the bear and the dog.

If the bear doesn’t leave the area, increase your distance from the bear slowly and leave the area. Do not run as running may elicit a chase response. If the bear approaches you, speak loudly and deeply telling the bear to ‘go away’. Wave hands above head slowly, make loud noises, clap hands, stomp the ground, or anything else that is possible. In almost 100% of the cases, this is enough to get a bear to leave you alone. Bears that stand up are not threatening you, but trying to identify you. If a black bear makes contact with you, fight back. But play dead with a grizzly. Curl up into a ball with your knees tucked into your stomach and your hands locked behind your neck. Most grizzly attacks are short. However, if the grizzly attack becomes prolonged, fight back vigorously. Always carry bear pepper spray.

CLASHES WITH CRITTERS CAN BE AVOIDED IN OUR CONCRETE FORESTS BY MEG MCINTIRE PHOTOGRAPH BY LILY LVNATIKK

ears ago, if you were to take a stroll after leaving Friends of Animals’ office in New York City, you might be surprised to come across an animal other than a pigeon on the sidewalk or a rat in the subway. But these days increasing numbers of wildlife species, from raccoons to coyotes, have been forced into trying to survive in our concrete forests. And humans have no one to blame but ourselves. We’ve paved over, built on, dammed up or otherwise rudely intruded on almost every inch of available green space in proximity to cities around the country. In addition, climate change is expanding species ranges, and wildlife are finding it more and more difficult to locate a place to call home outside city limits. And animals aren’t stupid—city trash cans provide a cornucopia of food. According to the Massachusetts Division of Fish and Wildlife, these animals are energy efficient in that, when given the choice between a meal that has to be chased or one that is easily found, they will always pick the easy meal. There are an increasing number of articles, blog posts and TV shows being created that are addressing this issue. However, they tend to portray wildlife in a negative light and that’s not good for human or non-human animals. Here are some recent headlines: “Urban Wildlife: When Animals go Wild in the City” “Feral Cities: How Animals are Going Urban Like Never Before” “Urban Wildlife: 5 Animals You Don’t Want to Find in Your City” All of these articles give the impression that somehow, wild animals have a choice about where they can best survive. As though they know they should be living in the woods, but choose to knock over your garbage cans and stroll through your parks just because they find it amusing or want to annoy you. Friends of Animals can assure you, this is not the case.

18 | Friends of Animals

A consequence of this negative coverage of urban wildlife as an “invasive” species is that city-dwellers feel justified in their reactions of anger, disgust or irrational levels of fear when they encounter a wild animal. An excellent example of these disproportionate reactions is illustrated in a recent article in The New York Times entitled “Raccoons Invade Brooklyn,” which included this quote from a Brooklyn native, “They were trashing my grapevine, beating my cat,” Ms. Hooker said. “It was like a frat party. They were insane.”’ Driven by that misguided attitude, many people turn to Animal Control to “deal with” these curious animals. But what does it say about humans when their first reaction to a confused coyote by a park bench or a hungry raccoon rummaging through a trash can is, “They shouldn’t be here. Kill them.” Have we really become that removed from nature that the idea of a wild animal living amongst us causes outrage and panic? Friends of Animals is committed to changing perceptions towards urban wildlife and encouraging people to take measures to minimize conflict and perhaps even enjoy seeing a creature or two. A little effort can go a long way. WHY WILDLIFE CAME TO THE BRIGHT LIGHTS, BIG CITY IN THE FIRST PLACE The first step to successfully coexist with wild animals in urban areas is understanding why they are there and what makes your porch/trash cans/garage so enticing to some species. Our tarmac, metallic, neon world is certainly not the first choice for wild animals, but we’ve left them quite literally no other choice. Wildlife has had to learn to adapt to our dense housing and industry expansion to survive because

we’ve encroached on where they actually would prefer to live—nature. Some species like coyotes and raccoons are becoming more common in cities because of the “heat island effect.” Towns and cities are warmer than the areas surrounding them, because their surfaces are made of tar, stone and other materials that absorb and store heat. Another obvious reason is that there is a huge variety of food available in urban areas to omnivorous animals like fox, raccoons, badgers etc. Your garbage can, backyard BBQ pit, window box herb garden are literal buffets for wildlife, food available for the taking with very little competition. In fact, it’s because of this easy access to food that many animal populations thrive in cities, resulting in the next generation being healthy and more city-savvy than the last. STOP PANICKING AND ENJOY THE VIEW Simple changes to your home and neighborhood can prevent unwanted contact between you and urban wildlife. Since animals are naturally attracted to any food that is easily available, secure your garbage cans. Making your garbage cans tamper-proof prevents wildlife from being attracted to your yard, and helps to protect animals from injuries resulting from discarded food containers (such as peanut butter jars becoming trapped on raccoon’s heads, or yogurt containers on skunk’s heads.) A google search for “critter proof garbage cans” provides several options. Close off crawl spaces under porches, decks and sheds.

HAVE HAVE WE WE REALLY REALLY BECOME BECOME THAT THAT REMOVED FROM NATURE THAT REMOVED FROM NATURE THAT THE THE IDEA IDEA OF OF A A WILD WILD ANIMAL ANIMAL LIVING LIVING AMONGST AMONGST US US CAUSES CAUSES OUTRAGE OUTRAGE AND AND PANIC? PANIC?

Wildlife will use these areas as dens for resting and raising their young. If you happen to come across an animal on your property, don’t approach or try to touch wildlife, just admire from a distance. Wildlife that has become habituated may then approach other humans expecting food or attention. To protect trees and shrubs from cottontails or other small animals who like to gnaw at the bark, you can use cylinders of ¼-inch hardware cloth 18-20 inches high. Remember that the cylinders must extend high enough to be above the rabbit’s reach when the animal is standing on snow. Keep bird feeding areas clean. Use feeders designed to keep seed off the ground as the seed attracts many small mammals that coyotes prey upon. Remove feeders if coyotes are regularly seen around your yard. Unless we start giving wild animals back some of the land we took from them, urban wildlife is here to stay. It’s up to us to make our co-existence as pleasant as possible for everybody. Visit our website, Friendsofanimals.org to order our new living with urban wildlife brochure.

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WILDLIFE

Welcome

BY MEG MCINTIRE / PHOTOGRAPH BY ROGER BURKHARD

It’s simple to turn your backyard into a home for birds, butterflies and other forms of small wildlife just by providing certain native plants and water sources. It’s an easy way to learn the basics of nature appreciation and how to peacefully coexist with wildlife. 20 | Friends of Animals

Eight ways to make your backyard wildlife friendly

Flowering annuals (plants that live one growing season) and perennials (plants that live for more than a year) bring color to your yard and can be added at any stage to attract birds and butterflies. If your yard is large, consider using part of it for tall native grasses that provide beauty, as well as a natural source of food and shelter. Milkweed plants in the genus Asclepias are extremely important for butterflies, especially monarchs.

Butterflies are most active during the day and will benefit from a basking site where they can warm up on cool mornings. Add a light-colored rock or concrete garden sculpture as a basking site.

Toads, frogs, lizards, turtles and snakes all have a place in the backyard and shelter for these creatures is easy to provide. Several rocks piled in a sunny spot will provide basking sites. Consider planting shade-tolerant groundcovers under trees and leaving a thick layer of leaves to provide cool shelter.

Clean, fresh water is as important to birds, bats and other wildlife as it is for people. Water in a saucer, bird bath or backyard pond is adequate for wildlife. Be sure to change the water every few days to keep it fresh. Since butterflies can’t drink from birdbaths or other open water, give them a damp spot of wet sand or dirt and they’ll often flock around it.

Skip the pesticides. Avoid using any sort of chemical treatment on your lawn, like fertilizers, pesticides or herbicides since these are particularly harmful to animals, as well as children. Opt for organic lawn care instead. For more tips read our article “Organic Lawn Care Takes Root” from Action Line at www.friendsofanimals.org.

Be friendly to bees! Choose native wildflowers with blossoms of varying sizes and shapes in bee-friendly colors (blue, purple, violet, white, and yellow), and select plants with varied bloom times to support different bee species.

Leave dead and dying trees, when possible. They attract woodpeckers, owls, wrens and insects. Wildlife must have safe places where they are free from danger and bad weather and can raise their offspring. Most animals find shelter in trees or shrubs. Leaf litter and dead branches provide shelter for insects and amphibians. Dense vegetation provides buffers between wildlife habitat and busy areas such as driveways. If possible, designate a special area of your yard for wildlife.

ALWAYS find humane solutions to any issues that may arise with wildlife. Be sure to take preventive measures to ensure that conflicts don’t arise between you and other animals. Use animal-proof trash bins if necessary, humane traps to catch and release animals in your home and peacefully observe wildlife from a safe distance. Encouraging your neighbors to adopt the same practices will also greatly enhance your yard’s appeal to wildlife as well, since a larger area of protected space will attract more animals.

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PHOTOGRAPH BY RHIANON LASSILA

A NEW VEGAN BAR IN ASHEVILLE, N.C., RAISES A GLASS TO SOCIAL JUSTICE AND ANIMAL RIGHTS

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THE BLOCK OFF BILTMORE BY DUSTIN GARRET RHODES

At first glance, Cam MacQueen’s latest career incarnation—bar owner/ restaurateur—doesn’t seem to make a whole lot of sense. She’s spent a lifetime being a social justice and animalrights activist: She has a master’s degree in social work; attended Howard University School of Divinity where she was voted “Humanitarian of the Year”; served as Friends of Animals’ legislative director for the Committee for Humane Legislation in the Washington, D.C. office in the early 90s (she submitted legislative updates to this very publication 23 years ago); worked as volunteer coordinator for the Washington Animal Rescue League, and has helped organize vegan festivals and countless fundraisers for animal charities. MacQueen even recently stepped into the political arena by helping her brother stage a political campaign in North Carolina. In this capacity, she organized a first—an all-vegan, zero-waste, BBQ fundraiser, surely the first ever in the 10th District. But MacQueen is no ordinary bar owner and The BLOCK off biltmore (TBob), which opened in November of 2015 in the scenic mountain town of Asheville, N.C., is no ordinary bar. The sign above the door reads: “Asheville’s first vegan social justice bar.” “The goal of TBob is to be a social justice, solidar-

ity bar. Potentially, this is a way to cross-pollinate various movements that are often isolated from one another,” said MacQueen, who has been vegan for nearly 30 years. It is no coincidence that TBob, as it’s already affectionately known, is housed in Asheville’s Young Men’s Institute Cultural Center building—the world’s oldest African-American cultural center—in a historic section of downtown Asheville known as “The Block.” “The Block” was once home to a thriving African-American owned business district before “urban renewal in the 1960s.” The YMI center once housed an apothecary, a library, a gymnasium, a swimming pool, night classes, fabulous jazz concerts and was the central hub for cultural, educational, social and recreational happenings before it closed decades ago. It is still considered to be a focal point for the African-American community in Asheville and beyond. Naturally, MacQueen intends for TBob to follow in its historic footsteps by being a multi-dimensional community space. Rich with history, the space features gorgeous recycled architecture, including beautiful stained glass behind the bar, a spacious gathering area and a separate room for music and events. The menu features craft cocktails, local brews, organic wines and non-alcoholic craft sodas—all vegan— and vegan small plates made by local food artists. MacQueen envisions TBob as multicultural and a place for people to converge for live music, art, spoken word, film, Soulfull Sundays, Service Saturdays and more. “We will support human rights and animal rights organizations, environmental groups and community arts programs with veganism being the heart and soul

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of our mission,” MacQueen said. “We plan to get B Corp. certification that monitors the triple bottom line—the level of social consciousness, the environmental footprint and the actual financial bottom line.” In the short time since TBob opened, there’s been a Green Party political gathering with presidential candidate Jill Stein; a fundraiser for a local animal sanctuary; multiple Asheville Vegan Society events; a vegan Thanksgiving celebration; Christmas and New Year’s gatherings, too—in addition to Soulfull Sundays and multiple musical guests. MacQueen explains that working on her brother’s campaign strengthened her resolve to be an agent of change, but “the immediacy of the need to build community was brought home by my experience spending six days in Ferguson, Mo., last year after the decision to not indict Officer Darren Wilson for the killing of Michael Brown.” MacQueen worked with the numerous local groups under the Hands Up Don’t Shoot Coalition, and says the work was inspiring in ways difficult to describe: “It brought people from all over the country who joined together in the struggle to end police violence and promote human rights under the law.” A couple of months later, Macqueen traveled to Selma, Ala., for the 50th anniversary of “Bloody Sunday,” and being in the presence of tens of thousands of activists, remembering the legacy of horrific and shameful tactics used on peaceful civil rights protestors, was inspiring and life-changing. MacQueen has always, to borrow a popular adage, tried to be the change she wished to see in the world. MacQueen says one of her great regrets is that she waited until she was 24 to adopt a vegan lifestyle despite being a life-long animal lover. MacQueen recounts her budding activism in high school when she was the vice president of a civic organization and arranged the collection of animal food for animals in the local shelter for Thanksgiving. “We were the only group collecting food for animals, not people, and a friend said to me, ‘You say you love animals so why do you eat them?’” MacQueen laments that she did not become vegan immediately, but credits that experience for pushing her along on the animal rights journey. MacQueen ended up transitioning to a vegan lifestyle right after college, and hasn’t looked back.

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“THE GOAL OF TBOB IS TO BE A SOCIAL JUSTICE, SOLIDARITY BAR. POTENTIALLY, THIS IS A WAY TO CROSS-POLLINATE VARIOUS MOVEMENTS THAT ARE OFTEN ISOLATED FROM ONE ANOTHER.”

When asked about the vegan aspect of the bar itself, MacQueen asserts that, “many people—even vegans— don’t realize that the some of their favorite libations are contaminated with animal products. Beers, wines and liqueurs can be processed using animal products such as fish bladders, egg whites, casein or gelatin. Unfortunately, for vegans, these animal ingredients are never listed on the labels. MacQueen has curated a diverse menu that caters to practically all tastes—even those who don’t drink (the hand-crafted sodas are deliciously refreshing, not an afterthought). MacQueen admits that TBob is an “experiment in entrepreneurial activism,” that’s pushing the proverbial envelope as it attempts to combine the social justice and solidarity aspects with veganism: “By supporting vegans and helping to influence future vegans, we hope to see more students, educators, artists, environmentalists, progressives and others adopt a lifestyle that is more healthful for them, the planet, hungry people, and of course, the trillions of animals (counting animals from the sea) killed every year for our taste buds.” And, of course, you can simply stop in for a drink, some delicious vegan food or hear some soul-stirring music. Friends of Animals looks forward to hosting an event in the space in the coming year, too. To find out what’s happening at The BLOCK off biltmore, you can visit its Facebook and/or Instagram page(s) at theblockoffbiltmore.com.

Clockwise from top photo: Cam MacQueen, owner of BLOCK off Biltmore, on the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Ala., before the march commemorating the 50th anniversary of â&#x20AC;&#x153;Bloody Sunday.â&#x20AC;? Stained glass adorns the bar area of the BLOCK. Maqueen with Rev. Dr. William J. Barber, II, president of the NC NAACP and Carmon Ramos-Kennedy, president of the Asheville Buncombe County NAACP, at the BLOCK. Green Party presidential candidate, Dr. Jill Stein, depicted with Macqueen, held a fundraiser at the BLOCK. MacQueen and activist friends assist with a dog rescue while in Ferguson, Mo., last year.

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LOOKING FOR A MATCH MADE IN DOGGY (AND KITTY) HEAVEN BY MEG MCINTIRE

ice hair. Good teeth. Gorgeous eyes. And a 91 percent personality match. Could this be the one? Oh wait…”doesn’t play well with children.” Hmmmm...perhaps you should swipe left on this prospect and check out the next one. No, we’re not flipping through photos of eligible bachelors on Tinder...we’re testing out one of the new pet adoption matching sites that have popped up recently to increase the number of shelter animals finding forever homes—forever being the key word. Animal shelters know this scenario all too well—a family adopts a dog, brings the dog home and then returns the poor pup days later claiming it is just not a “good match.” Enter PawsLikeMe— think eHarmony for pets and their potential adopters—which is hoping to cut back on those unfortunate mismatches. The Florida-based company, which recently launched nationwide, invites potential pet owners to take a “Pet Compatibility Test” to find a dog that fits best with their

26 | Friends of Animals

personalities and lifestyles. The dogs available for adoption through the site come from local shelters or from people looking to safely, responsibly re-home their animals. PawsLikeMe’s personality assessment is based on four core personality traits that influence the human-canine bond: energy, focus, confidence and independence. The matching system also takes into account personality, lifestyle and home environment when generating a score. Initial results are based solely on compatibility, but users can then further narrow down their matches by personal preferences, such as size, age or breed. The personality assessment’s purpose is to help determine who your soul pup may be —whether you are the type who wants a canine companion to go on hikes with you, or a person who prefers a lazy ball of fur who is content watching Netflix on the couch with you 24/7. The site also provides adopters with incentives to kickstart a successful new relationship. The “PawsKit” adop-

New pet matchmaking sites connect adopters with their purr-fect soulmate.

tion package includes free 30-day full coverage pet insurance, more than $100 in pet product discounts, coupons and a PawsLikeMe guide for new adopters with tips and tricks on making the move to a new home a smooth transition for the canines. PawsLikeMe isn’t the first of its kind, but we think it’s definitely the most comprehensive way to find an adoptable dog that is likely compatible with your personality and lifestyle. Other sites, like BarkBuddy, focus much more on photos of the dogs as opposed to personality traits, which doesn’t necessarily lend itself to helping pups finding the person who will make a lifelong commitment to them.

energy level, by the amount of training they’ve had or how much shedding you can expect from them. The extras include coat length and color; animal size; pets’ grooming needs; if they’re good with dogs, cats or kids; if they can live in an apartment; if they’re vaccinated. The bottom line is, no matter how flashy, unique or user-friendly a pet adoption website is, potential pet parents need to start the process being 100 percent sure they are ready and capable of welcoming a new family member into their homes. No matter how perfect the personality match, understanding the responsibilities, difficulties and dedication that come with adopting an animal is what will ultimately result in an everlasting relationship.

One other matching site that we did find very userfriendly and helpful was AllPaws.com. This site has the added benefit of including cats and other oft abandoned furry friends. Although it lacks a personality quiz, it does include a wide variety of variables you can choose from. You can choose a pet who’s playful or one who likes to sit in laps (or one who is both!). You can choose pets by

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BY EDITA BIRNKRANT

UNBRANDED is a horror film, not a documentary

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nbranded, a feature-length film released in 2015 and categorized as a documentary, will leave true wild horse advocates feeling like it should be filed in the horror film category. That’s because the film is partly sponsored by Mustang Heritage Foundation, a Bureau of Land Management partner. The film is pure BLM propaganda. Unbranded documents the reckless 3,000-mile ride four friends took, on the backs of wild horses, through dangerous, punishing terrain throughout Western public lands. It’s the macho John Wayne fantasy of these young men brought to life ostensibly to “prove” the worth of wild horses up for adoption by the BLM. Peppered throughout the film are interviews with BLM employees, ranchers and even a representative from a so-called wild horse advocacy group, American Wild Horse Preservation Campaign, who perpetuate the lie that there are “too many wild horses” on public lands, and portray roundups and contraception as necessary, all the while denying that horses are a reintroduced native species. Cattle and sheep are absurdly portrayed in a sympathetic light while wild horses are demonized for destructive “24/7” grazing on rangelands. These fame-seeking egotistical “cowboys” force the mustangs through hell and back, with no regard for the

safety of the horses they treat as disposable machines— all to make for a more dramatic, compelling film and to portray themselves as rugged “heroes.” And all this while erroneously portraying themselves with altruistic motives in promoting the BLM’s wild horse adoption program by proving that wild horses can be tougher than domestic horses. The film begins with the wild horses being sadistically “broken” to become quasi-domesticated—a violent, abusive process they fight by wildly bucking off heavy saddles, ropes and riders. One of the riders foolishly declares during the breaking process, “It’s bad because they have a really deeprooted wild streak,” seeming to despise the fact that these aren’t domesticated horses ready to take orders. Immediately into the actual ride, the wild horses are purposely led into harm’s way by ringleader and map-quester Ben Masters, who steers them through 60 miles of Arizona desert he knew was littered with a variety of unavoidable barbed spine cactuses that attach themselves all over some of the wild horses’ bodies. Viewers are told it took the riders four days to rip out all the long spines, as the horses were bucking and terrified. This is animal abuse engineered to start the trip off with a dramatic effect. Weeks after riding 20 miles a day, wild horses Violet and Tamale are discovered to have serious leg injuries. Both are taken away by trailers and replaced by new wild horses—Tamale’s rider callously declaring “he’s out,” as if the animals were defective cars. A wild horse named Cricket suddenly dies on day 98 of the ride and his corpse is shown lying under a tree. A broken neck and severed esophagus is given as cause of death, but how did such grievous injuries occur? His tail is cut off by a rider and taken. The men hardly seemed concerned. They claim to not know how Cricket died, and they romanticize Cricket’s death as being better then dying in a stall or holding facility. Friends of Animals is included in the film—clips of our rally and press conference outside the 2014 BLM Advisory Board Meeting in Riverton, WY, are shown, and our efforts to get North American wild horses protected under the Endangered Species Act highlighted, yet portrayed as extreme. The idea that wild horses are being managed to extinction only gets airtime as a fanatical opinion that doesn’t jibe with the BLM propaganda. While Unbranded is visually stunning in terms of capturing the beauty of America’s public lands, it is riddled with the ugliness of the animal abuse wild horses can suffer when they are ripped from the range and placed

under human ownership. The message viewers are left with is that wild horses exist to be exploited by people who will use them for their own gain. We couldn’t disagree more. We will continue to fight to ensure America’s wild horse remain truly unbranded— wild and free on public lands where they belong. This means urging more people to be vegan and to put cattle and sheep ranchers who degrade public lands and exterminate wildlife out of business.

BY NICOLE RIVARD

BY ALL RIGHTS makes case for personhood for dolphins and whales

ow come whales and dolphins don’t have legal personhood status, while corporations do? That is the nagging question that repeats itself over and over in my mind as I’m watching By All Rights, a new documentary directed by Stan Minasian and made possible with funding from Friends of Animals and the Summerlee Foundation. By All Rights boldly makes the case for providing whales and dolphins with legal personhood status, a case that takes into consideration their culture, intelligence and their many similarities to humans. Such a change in status would allow lawyers to sue on behalf of these autonomous mammals when they suffer harm from such human activities as the use of sonar, captivity and ocean pollution. “If we took a segment of average Americans and brought them in to hear the arguments for personhood— the moral arguments, legal arguments and biological arguments for personhood for corporations and personhood for whales and dolphins—I really believe that a majority of those people would come out with a strong preference for personhood for the whale and dolphin versus the corporation,” said Michael Harris, director of Friends of Animals’ Wildlife Law Program. Since it’s impossible to get the majority of American’s into a courtroom to do what Harris suggests, By All Rights is the next best thing. In the hour-long film,

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FoA’s Mike Harris in the documentary By All RIghts

viewers hear scientists interpret evidence of culture within whale and dolphin societies, see how researchers prove the exceedingly rare element of self-recognition in bottlenose dolphins and watch as witnesses recount observing human-like behaviors in whales and dolphins. The idea for establishing rights for non-humans is not as unique as one would think, the movie reveals. In December 2014, for instance, an Argentine court recognized that an orangutan named Sandy had legal rights to be moved from an inappropriate zoo condition to a forest sanctuary. In New Zealand, a river was granted legal rights status to protect its environment, and in 2010 the United States Supreme Court, through a case entitled Citizens United, recognized and more firmly established corporations as persons—while other courts rejected this status for those who might have been more deserving.

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One of the most moving scenes in the movie is listening to a surfer recount how a group of dolphins off the California coast saved his life while he was being attacked by a great white shark. Other dramatic footage includes: five sperm whales entangled in a net off Italy being freed by Coast Guard divers, who report how the whales helped with the rescue; common dolphins off South Korea working feverishly to boost a dying herd mate to the surface to breathe; and a humpback whale in Hawaiian waters spending hours caressing and mourning a dead herd mate. This footage along with the sequences of scientific evidence are crucial elements in the effort to gain appropriate legal rights for the protection of whale and dolphin individuals and populations. With those legal rights, actions would reduce or even eliminate current threats such as: protecting killer whales in Puget Sound by restricting salmon fishing and removing dams; altering the Navy’s use of high-powered sonar so whales and dolphins are not negatively impacted and promoting the conviction that whale and dolphin captivity must end. This film is a must see, because while Blackfish delivered a blow to the captive dolphin and whale industry, Minasian’s By All Rights delivers the knock-out punch. To purchase and download the film, visit byallrights.org.

BY NICOLE RIVARD

FOA TO DE BLASIO: ‘KEEP YOUR PROMISE’

Carriage horses deserve more than a compromise

If ever there was a lesson in “actions speak louder than words,” it is New York Mayor Bill de Blasio’s failure to go to war for the rights of horses imprisoned by the horsedrawn carriage industry, by banning the antiquated business like he promised when he was trying to get elected.

Just two years ago in the Spring 2014 Action Line, Friends of Animals prematurely crowned him NYC’s “First Mayor for Animals Rights,” months before the introduction on Dec. 8, 2014 of the historic bill #573 that would ban the industry and ensure the horses would not go to slaughter—legislation that de Blasio asked the City Council to create. That’s why we at FoA, which has led the movement to ban the heartless carriage horse industry for decades, were stunned on Jan. 17, 2016 when de Blasio and the union representing carriage drivers announced that they had reached a “deal” that would reduce the number of horses from about 180 to 95 and confine operations to Central Park, a far cry from the historic bill that would ban the industry outright.

Spring 2016 | 31

Then, at a City Council public hearing on Jan. 22 where the de Blasio administration presented information on the new “compromise bill,” we didn’t know what was more shocking: city officials’ inability to answer basic questions about the new plan posed by the Transportation Committee, or that the majority of council members on the committee left before the public even gave its testimony. More than a 100 people waited to give their testimony for approximately four hours as city officials and members of the local Teamsters union, which represents the carriage drivers, took on courtroom style questioning from council members on the Transportation Committee. Among the people were pedi cab drivers, as the compromise bill would ban environmentally friendly pedi cabs from operating in Central Park’s already clogged southern section. Luckily for the horses, the mayor’s “deal/compromise bill” collapsed Feb. 4, the day before the City Council was to vote on it, because the Teamsters union abruptly withdrew its support. In the media, the mayor expressed his disappointment that a vote didn’t happen and vowed to press on with his campaign to ban carriage horses. But his words are falling on deaf ears. “Mayor de Blasio promised the animal rights community that he would ban the carriage horses the first day in office. He did not and has allowed the carriage horse owners to build support,” said state Sen. Tony Avella (D-Queens). “Had he taken action as he promised the debate would

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have been over. He has clearly chosen political considerations over fulfilling his commitment. I think his new plan was an attempt to gain favor with the supporters of the carriage horses and ease out of his commitment.” This carriage horse issue is near and dear to Avella. When he was a City Council member back in 2007 he took on the carriage horse industry, introducing a bill that would ban the industry, and as a state senator in 2011 he promoted another bill, drafted with the help of FoA. Like Avella, an outright ban on the carriage horse industry is the only option FoA will support, unlike NYClass, PETA, HSUS and the ASPCA, who had backed the compromise bill in the hopes of glomming onto a “victory.” At the City Council hearing Jan. 22, FoA’s Campaigns Director Edita Birnkrant emphasized that the well-being of horses is lost in the compromise bill—it only serves the carriage horse industry at the city’s expense. Anything less than a full ban will not make horses safer and does nothing to put an end to an industry that is not held accountable for what happens to horses when it’s done exploiting them. When FoA made a Freedom of Information Request to the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene recently, we were told it cannot extract information from its systems that answers our questions about how many carriage horses entered and left the city each year since 2008 and where they went. We were told its systems do

not track the data to provide the information we requested. An industry that requires carriage horse owners to report when their animals enter the city, but not leave, is an industry that does not bode well for carriage horses. While the new bill includes language that says owners cannot sell horses to slaughter, we know this is meaningless. The federal Bureau of Land Management is prohibited from selling wild horses on America’s public lands to slaughter, but it happens. For example, a recently released report from the government revealed that a Colorado rancher sold 1,700 wild horses to slaughter after purchasing them from the federal government. Birnkrant pointed out in her testimony FoA believes that New York City carriage horses end up in a New Jersey slaughterhouse, Bravo Packing, Inc., which slaughters privatized older, abandoned horses and then sells the meat to zoos for big cats. (The owner has never said he doesn’t slaughter carriage horses, but explains that he slaughters all the horses that arrive humanely by shooting them in the head.) Birnkrant also pointed out that despite the new bill, horses will inevitably work in hazardous weather and still have to deal with traffic as the proposed new stable for the horses inside Central Park would be located in a heavily trafficked area. She knows all too well the dangers the horses face as she has a bird’s eye view from her office in Columbus Circle.

New York’s Catskill Animal Sanctuary and Elizabeth Forel, president of the Coalition to Ban Horse-Drawn Carriages, agreed with FoA and also continue to support an outright ban. “This so called compromise preserves the carriage trade, with giveaways at the expense of the horses,” Forel said at the hearing. “Street traffic was never the sole reason we advocated for a ban. There are many other reasons including the sensitive nature of horses—Central Park is already very congested and horses have spooked there; and the very high turnover, which leads us to believe many of the unwanted go to kill auctions and/or punishing work conditions.” Other problems with the bill is it doesn’t address turn out to pasture, a basic requirement for horse welfare, and it allows for the same number of drivers while using fewer horses—which would exploit the horses left in the carriage horse industry even more than it already does. “I was watching television coverage of a horse driven carriage in which the horse died,” Avella said when explaining why he became passionate about the carriage horse issue. “I immediately questioned why we allow, in midtown dangerous traffic, these carriages to operate. After reviewing the situation, I discovered the horrible conditions the horses endure, which only further added to my desire to ban this practice.”

Spring 2016 | 33

IN MEMORIAM

n Feb. 8, 2016, Friends of Animals (FoA) lost one of its beloved board members—Carol E. Fleischmann, 73, of Piermont, N.Y., a champion of human rights, women’s rights and animal rights. She died peacefully at home, surrounded by her family, after a battle with cancer. Carol was born in 1942 in New Haven, Conn. to Maurice Fleischmann and Charlotte (nee Kaufman), the oldest of three daughters. She was an adored mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister, wife, entrepreneur and community leader. Carol moved to Nyack, N.Y., in 1989. She loved the people and adored all that the river community had to offer. Through the years, she served as president of the Nyack Chamber of Commerce, on the board of Friends of Nyack and the Rockland Economic Development Corporation. Carol led the effort to renew Main Street in downtown Nyack by serving as chair of the Streetscape Committee for eight years. Carol maintained a private psychotherapy practice for more than 40 years. She cared deeply about enriching the lives of the people in her community and the world. In addition to her community and work, Carol was passionate about several causes. Her parents gave her the middle name Eleanor, and like her namesake, Eleanor Roosevelt, Carol was an advocate of the women’s movement. She was a lifetime supporter of National Organization for Women, founder of the Partnership of Women Entrepreneurs and she served on the board of Nyack Planned Parenthood. She was politically active with both the Democratic National Committee and the Jewish Veterans of War. Carol joined the board of Friends of Animals in 2000, shortly after she visited Primarily Primates, the sanctuary it manages in San Antonio, Texas, where she met an infant chimpanzee Deeter and had an opportunity to bottle feed him. In a correspondence with FoA President Priscilla Feral, Carol wrote: “I can’t begin to tell you how memorable my experience with you and Primarily Primates was. I think of it every day.”

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“What made her so supportive as a board member is, what needed to be done, she shored up and did,” Feral said. “And she made it look effortless, but not everybody would be able to do it. To be as smart as she was, yet have such humility...that was one of her most stunning assets.” Feral also described Carol as uplifting, a nurturer who took care of everyone; vibrant friend, and said she can hear her saying, “Go to the wall for Hillary Clinton.” Carol was devoted to her cats and is widely known for her cheerfulness, generosity and kind heart. Carol is survived by her husband, Larry; her sisters, Laura and Roberta; her children, Tracey, Caarin and Greg; and her grandchildren Jasper, Charlotte, Harley, Matthew, Christopher, Phillip, Melanie, Billy and Luke.

Friends of Animals has received kind donations in memory of the following individuals:

MARY JEAN LECLAIRE SLOCUM ANNA BECKHAM HAROLD D. PARKER MARJORIE HOPE SAMS

ETHEL WEGODSKY

MAZIE

SCORPIO ROJAS

LILY

RORY & TAYLOR HOLMES

TESS

MAX AUSTAD

JENNY

PATRICIA SMITH

TROUBLE

ROBERT LELAND “BOB” KAIVOLA

CHLOE HAWKEYE CHAMPION

CHARLES J. HINTZEN, III.

BELLE

MARVIN GINSBURG CECIL THE LION

ERIN

CURLY FREY

ANGEL

BRANDY

FRITZIE

BENTLEY

SADIE

SHERRY

SABASTIAN

NORMA FLEITMAN

GINGER

FINNEGAN’S RAINBOW

POP HUGHES

DORA

CHAMPION & JOEY

DEXTER BAGRAMIANTHATCHER

GANSET & MULLIGAN

BUDDY

EDGAR

JOANNE WALTERS’ KIDDIES

AGAPE

BRANDI

COCA

BEASLEY

CAROL ROMAN UNA GORDINIER SCOTT M. JONES SWEET SALLY SQUIRE SOUTHWORTH

PEYTON RIEKHOF JEZZIE PUERTAS

Spring 2016 | 35

LETTERS WHERE IS HUMAN COMPASSION FOR ANIMALS?

Thank-you for your in-depth article in the Winter 2015-2016 Action Line on canned hunting. It is truly a sad situation and as you say, no one seems to care. Probably the reason is no one cares because it has become a booming business and as you know, money talks. In fact, money can be so powerful that it can eradicate any kind of human feelings. So what happened to us humans? We have forgotten what compassion is about and it’s the sad truth. This business is simply a glorified slaughter to satisfy a few bloodthirsty hunters. No more, no less. A real hunter would not consider the killing of a helpless animal a hunt. Those poor animals have not a chance to try and save themselves since they are stuck in a locked enclosure. Would you call this a hunt? No. It is simply murder, and murder for what? Just to bring home a “trophy” to brag to your friends. I am a volunteer in a small, well-kept zoo. Two years ago our Jaguar gave birth to cubs who now are grown up and must be placed in another zoo or they will wind up in those killing fields. In the meantime, the slaughter of helpless animals continues unheeded and when you think about all of this, you come to the conclusion that we humans are predators. We simply kill for the enjoyment of killing. ANNICK DROUAULT MILLIGAN • PALM DESERT, CALIF.

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THANK YOU FOR THE INSPIRATION TO HELP

I am writing to say “hurray” and “not a moment too soon” for FoA’s decision to add to its priorities the demolition of the Bureau of Land Management’s “non-management” plan for wild horses and burros. What the BLM has done year after year to these gregarious and exquisitely sentient beings is nothing short of horrifying, and that it continues…well, I have difficulty finding words for it. Staying inspired is difficult in the face of abject cruelty. No, we may not be the ones clubbed over the head or chased by a helicopter until our leg is broken but when we (meaning people who are involved in rescue work or have compassionate hearts) read about or see these events, they hurt us to the core…because they are felt. It is not just understanding, it is empathizing. I don’t know how many months ago I saw an illegally caught whale shark being sawed up alive as people surrounded him, took video and laughed. I watched this sentient being as it struggled to breathe, but when the saw cut into his body I watched his mouth open wide in pain. I still feel pain when I “replay” this horrid video in my head. At times, it is difficult to stay inspired. I have supported FoA for years and look forward to the newsletters I receive because I share them once I have finished. Hopefully, other people will be inspired to be more compassionate towards animals. ILENE LURIE • BROOKLYN, N.Y.

BAN HUNTING FROM PUBLIC LANDS

Thank-you for all you do for the animals. I still read Action Line cover to cover and I always pass it on to educate others. The articles in Winter 2015-2016 Action Line are all right on. I have been involved in anti-hunting work since I was a teenager. I live in Maine and hunters here are dangerous bullies who kill for fun, not to survive. Big game hunting is big money. It’s not about tradition. I think banning hunting from all public lands is a great idea. It’s a steep hill to climb, but worth the hike. It’s always right to do the right thing! R. BORDEN • WELLINGTON, ME

LET’S HEAR FROM YOU! MAIL US: Editor, Action Line Friends of Animals 777 Post Road  Darien, CT 06820 E-MAIL US: contact@friendsofanimals.org

CHEERS

JEERS

2016 IS VEGAN AWARENESS YEAR IN EUGENE Cheers to Eugene, Ore., mayor Kitty Piercy for declaring 2016 Vegan Awareness Year—a year dedicated to raising awareness of the impact individual choices have on the planet and all of its inhabitants. We are thrilled that because of her collaboration with the Eugene Veg Education Network (EVEN) and through her mayoral proclamation, Piercy has acknowledged growing global recognition of the environmental, health and ethical concerns surrounding consumption of animal products. She cites the United Nations Environmental Programme:

MICHAEL VICK IS NOT AN ANIMAL RIGHTS ACTIVIST Jeers to Michael Vick and the Humane Society of the United States. The so-called animal charity organization is helping the serial dog killer to “rehabilitate his image” by having him meet with Pennsylvanian lawmakers and voice his opinion in support of a bill that would protect pets locked in hot cars. There’s absolutely no need for HSUS to parade Vicks around in support of the bill they have been backing. HSUS has been working with Vick since 2009 and the organization credits him with helping them get the message out about the cruelty of dog-fighting. He should know, considering he killed and tortured dogs for his own amusement and financial gain for multiple years. Regardless of what is motivating HSUS and other organizations to support Vick (...money. It’s always money) it’s plainly obvious that this is nothing more than a PR stunt.

Each day a person eating a vegan diet saves 1,100 gallons of water, 45 pounds of grain, 30 square feet of forested lands, the equivalent of 20 pounds of CO2, and one animal’s life. IVORY NO LONGER WELCOME IN HONG KONG Cheers to Hong Kong for beginning the process of phasing out the sale of ivory in the city, a major hub of the trade. Speaking during a policy address in January, Hong Kong’s leader, Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying, said the government will “take steps to ban totally the sale of ivory in Hong Kong,” and added that it would “impose heavier penalties on smuggling and illegal trading of endangered species.” Elephant tusks are used in traditional medicine and to make ornaments with demand high in Asia and the Middle East. Ivory is also popular with collectors who see it as a valuable investment. According to official figures, 242 tons of ivory were sold in Hong Kong between 1990 and 2008, an average of around 13 tons a year. Since 2010, recorded sales have slowed to a ton a year as the elephant population has been severely decimated.

ESA LISTING FOR LIONS ISN’T PROTECTIVE ENOUGH At the end of 2015, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services published in the Federal Register it’s Endangered Species Act listing for two lion subspecies—Panthera leo leo, located in India and western and central Africa, will be listed as endangered, and Panthera leo melanochaita, located in eastern and southern Africa, will be listed as threatened. (The rule went into effect Jan. 22, 2016.) While this is good news for Panthera leo leo, because you can’t trophy hunt an endangered animal, overall the listing continues to promote trophy hunting of threatened lion species and others, which Friends of Animals finds disturbing. Dan Ashe may have been trying to spin this as an uplifting feel-good story before the holidays at his press conference, but trophy hunting is a barbaric practice that society has to move past. “Any rule that allows the killing of these animals isn’t a protective rule at all, and it will continue to lead to their demise,” said Michael Harris, director of Friends of Animals’ Wildlife Law Program. “This type of mentality is what led to these animals needing to be protected in the first place. It’s the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service giving in to a small number of trophy hunters who are living in the barbaric past, putting their self-interests above that of the world’s and these animals.” Spring 2016 | 37

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