WSPA NEWS - Fall/Winter 2013

WSPA NEWS FALL | WINTER 2013

Helping hens has never been so easy; learn how to make a difference today Exclusive: a letter home from a Canadian on our Disaster Response team Making a world of difference for dogs with collars not cruelty

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Give Comfort. Care. Respect. Sanctuary.

Thousands of bears are experiencing great suffering and exploitation through bear baiting and the bear bile industry.

They are living in inhumane conditions and enduring some of the most extreme forms of cruelty faced by any wild animal today.

This holiday, please consider purchasing a Really Wild Gift and help WSPA move one step closer to a world in which wild animals are protected – not used, abused, farmed or sold.

reallywildgifts.ca

WSPA NEWS World Society for the Protection of Animals

CONTENTS IN EVERY ISSUE

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FA L L

From the Executive Director

5 Headlines 8

Making a world of difference for dogs

7

You can help end the bear bile industry

10 A letter home from our

Disaster Response team

© WSPA / Mahmud

FEATURES

12 How you can make a difference

for hens today

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W I N T E R 2013

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Comment vous pouvez améliorer la vie des poules pondeuses

14 WSPA opens a new chapter 16 Day in the life of a WSPA vet

Editor: Elizabeth Sharpe Contributors: Josey Kitson, Kirsty McFadden, Michaela Miller and Elizabeth Sharpe Designed and produced by: Serina Morris Printed by: DT&P Inc. WSPA Canada 90 Eglinton Avenue East, Suite 960 Toronto, ON M4P 2Y3 T: 416 369 0044 TF: 1 800 363 9772 F: 416 369 0147 E: wspa@wspa.ca wspa.ca Unless otherwise stated, all images are the copyright of WSPA. Cover photo: © WSPA / Mahmud

WSPA News is printed on 100% recycled paper from post-consumer waste with vegetable-based inks.

WSPA is a registered Canadian charitable organization No. 12971 9076 RR0001 © WSPA 2013

© WSPA / Minzayar

WSPA News is published twice yearly by the World Society for the Protection of Animals.

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EDITORIAL

FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

ACT LOCAL, BE GLOBAL To truly transform the world for animals we need to change how we think and act right here at home. Simple decisions everyday can make a world of difference.

I know that looking at the tough challenges our world is facing right now, it can seem impossible to make a positive impact.

But I want to tell you that making small changes, that consider the welfare of animals, will make more of an impact than you can imagine. I am inspired everyday by WSPA supporters who are making a difference. You are proving that every action matters – large or small. Here are some examples…

Intensive farming – An increasing number of people across Canada are choosing to buy cage-free eggs (page 12) and are paying attention to how their food is produced. Consumers supporting humane agriculture can also have a positive impact on our ecosystems and the livelihoods of rural farmers.

Buying cage-free means better hen health, safer eggs and stronger rural communities.

Protecting our wildlife – On page 7 you’ll see how Canadians are improving the lives of bears in Asia through the Barefoot for Bears campaign; adding our voices of support to the compassionate local people taking a stand against the bear bile industry.

Canadian support of Collars Not Cruelty means healthy dogs and communities around the world.

© WSPA / Mahmud

Preventing disease – On page 8 you’ll see how dog lovers in Canada have helped save dogs around the world, stopping them from being killed and protecting everyone from rabies, through our Collars Not Cruelty campaign.

Food security and development – In a letter home to Canada (page 10) Scott Cantin on our Disaster Response team shows us that the lives of animals and people are linked and considering animals means a better world for all of us.

On page 14 and throughout the magazine, you’ll see how Canadians are moving the world to protect animals. Joining together we can make maximum impact both at home and around the globe.

We can only truly thrive when animals and their wellbeing is protected.

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WSPA NEWS

© WSPA / Simon de Trey-White

I hope you enjoy this issue of WSPA News. Looking through it, I hope you feel both proud of what you’ve already accomplished for animals and are inspired to do even more. Without your support, generous donations and advocacy, nothing would be possible.

Josey Kitson Executive Director, WSPA Canada

WSPA’s latest achievements for animals by visiting wspa.ca

HEADLINES

READ ABOUT

Teaching respect for animals prevents violence Thanks to your donations and support, WSPA has been able to work together with the government of the state of Puebla and the local organization, Fundacion Dejando Huella to implement an educational project that brought animal welfare concepts to over 27,000 Mexican children.

The project aims to teach children that all forms of life deserve respect and compassion and that applying these values in everyday life is vital to achieving a culture of peace in Puebla and Mexico.

Become a fan of WSPA or add us as one of your causes at wspa.ca/facebook

Follow us for up-to-the-minute news at wspa.ca/twitter

See amazing moments that can only be captured on video at wspa.ca/youtube

Spicy solution for saving elephants Piles of dried chillies, old engine oil, ropes and squares of cloth are the newest tools in animal welfare for the people living around the Mikumi National Park in Tanzania. They are part of a unique WSPA project aimed to protect straying elephants from being injured or killed.

Due to deforestation, elephants and local villagers have been forced to live closer together and tensions rise when elephants trample and damage crops. Local people use the materials to create strong smelling “fences” that run around their land. This project has been so successful that farmers have been able to grow crops to support their families and extra food to sell at the local market. Elephants are safer too, no longer at risk of being killed by villagers desperate to protect their livelihoods.

WSPA NEWS

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HEADLINES

WSPA recommended for higher level of consultative status at the UN Recently, the United Nations recommended a new, higher level of consultative status for WSPA: General consultative status. This is very exciting and means that WSPA would be the first and only international animal welfare organization with such a status at the UN. At this level, we join the ranks of esteemed organizations like Oxfam, Save the Children International, WWF and Médecins Sans Frontières.

This exciting development shows how important animal welfare is in solving the world’s biggest challenges.

Watch the video

UPDATE: What’s On Your Plate? in action

Last year, when we released the What’s On Your Plate? report you took action to help us tell decision makers about the negative impacts of intensive farming on animals, people and the planet. This year, thanks to your support and letter writing, we went back to Ottawa to meet with politicians and policymakers about the rise of antibiotic resistant bacteria (including superbugs) on farms.

There is still time to show your support and learn how to help. Visit wspa.ca/food for more information and to watch our video.

THANK YOU

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WSPA NEWS

From helping farm animals in Canada find a better life to preventing the suffering of animals and people caught in disasters to protecting our precious wildlife, your generosity has made a difference in the lives of thousands of animals. On behalf of all these animals, thank you!

FEATURE

© istockphoto.com

You don’t have to bear it.

Go barefoot and help end the bear bile industry Thousands of bears are being held captive in bear bile facilities across Asia, suffering in cruel conditions right now — but you can help.

The bear facts Since the 1980s, bears have been kept in captivity in some Asian countries (Vietnam, Korea, China, Laos and Myanmar) in order to extract their bile for sale. Thought by some to cure hangovers, help treat liver and heart disease and even cancer, bear bile is now also added to non-medical products like energy drinks, toothpaste and shampoo. Many cheaper and equally effective herbal alternatives exist.

to mobilize a growing number of people across Asia to join the global movement to end the bear bile industry.

We are also working with practitioners and consumers of traditional medicines to promote alternatives to bear bile.

Put your paws up We believe the bear bile industry must end and we need you to help make it happen. More than 110,000 compassionate Vietnamese citizens have pledged never to use bear bile products and we want to show them that Canadians are standing behind them in support, encouraging even more people to join the movement away from this cruel practice.

Visit wspa.ca/bearbile to see how.

Bear bile is unnecessary.

© ENV

Working to end this unbearable practice WSPA is working in partnership with Asian governments to make the extraction, sale and export of bear bile illegal. We are teaming up with local partners

Make a gift:

Already, through your donations and the help of our local partner in Vietnam, we have been able to reduce the number of bears caught in the bear bile industry there by almost 50% (from 4,500 in 2005 to 2,300 in 2013). Your gift can help end the bear bile industry for good.

WSPA NEWS

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REPORT Mexico AND Dominican Republic The state of Puebla, Mexico, has controlled rabies through vaccination for many years resulting in the region being human rabies-free for 10 years and dog rabies- free for four. We took the Director of the National Rabies Control Centre from the Dominican Republic to see the work in action and are supporting him to implement dog vaccination drives in his country.

BRUSSELS AND PARIS We hope that millions of dogs will be saved through our new agreement with the World Veterinary Association to promote mass dog vaccination campaigns. Its support and influence, along with that of the OIE (the World Organization for Animal Health), is invaluable to our Collars Not Cruelty campaign.

Making a world of difference –

for dogs

Your support of our Collars Not Cruelty campaign is helping us show governments that widespread mass dog vaccination is the only effective way to control rabies in dogs and protect communities from this preventable disease. Here are just some of the achievements that you have made possible…

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WSPA NEWS

We are developing a strong relationship with the Pan American Health Organization, the world’s oldest international public health agency. They have championed mass vaccination throughout Latin America for the past 30 years. Last year they publicly recognized our role in promoting humane strategies to save dogs.

PERU

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Our work against culling with our partner the Blue Paw Trust in Colombo has been such a great success that we have shared it with 11 other governments. Your support funded a project to convince those authorities to stop cruel mass culls and allow us to run dog vaccination and public education programs instead.

REPORT

CHINA

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The China Animal Disease Control Centre (CADC) is working with us on a pilot vaccination project that will save many thousands of dogs. We hope it will inspire the government to roll out a humane approach to rabies control across China.

BANGLADESH An incredible 49,000 dogs across Northern Bangladesh have been vaccinated against rabies thanks to your support of our Collars Not Cruelty campaign. We are offering technical advice about running vaccination programs in other parts of Bangladesh too.

ZANZIBAR

SRI LANKA

Very soon, a vaccination program will begin in Zanzibar. We hope our success there will encourage other African nations to use dog vaccination programs to save dogs and prevent rabies.

Your support of our 2010-2011 mass dog vaccination program saved thousands of dogs and has been so effective at preventing rabies in humans and dogs that the government of Bali and the FAO of the United Nations are working together to continue work there.

BALI

Keep up to date with the progress made by our Collars Not Cruelty campaign by visiting wspa.ca WSPA NEWS

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REPORT

EXCLUSIVE:

A letter home to Canada from Disaster Response team member Scott Cantin.

Canadian Scott Cantin is a member of WSPA’s Disaster Response team. Stationed far from home and journeying into the middle of some of the most severe natural disasters on the planet, Scott documents WSPA’s work protecting animals and the people that depend on them. Here he shares a few stories about the important role animals play in disaster relief and recovery…

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is that communities affected by disasters like earthquakes, cyclones and tsunamis are often places where people’s lives and livelihoods are completely tied to their animals’ wellbeing.

Something I’ve seen firsthand since joining WSPA’s Asia-Pacific Disaster Response team in May 2012

In places like Mongolia, India, Myanmar and the Solomon Islands, I’ve met people who live on the thinnest razor edge of vulnerability where changing weather or a severe event can push them over the

hy animals”? I hear that question a lot from people who want to know why we work in disasters to help animals.

People are naturally curious about our work but some think that by focusing on animals in disasters, we’re somehow unconcerned with people.

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WSPA NEWS

REPORT © WSPA / Minzayar

Gyaneshwar and his buffalo

A young boy tends to his sheep in Myanmar

edge. People like Gyaneshwar, a twelve-year old boy living through a drought in Maharashtra State in India.

He’d been living in a cattle camp for months when I met him, far from his parents and home to care for his animals as they struggled to survive.

Khin Myint Oo, from the Arrewaddy Delta region of Myanmar told me a terrifying story of clinging all night to a coconut tree while Cyclone Nargis ripped through her village in 2008. When the winds passed, she described horrifying scenes of destruction and death and shared that after having lost all her animals, she was left without any income to rebuild her life.

We’ve heard stories from animal owners and rescue teams that often people will not evacuate to safety unless their animals are taken care of. These bonds are more than simply economic and more than a pet/owner relationship.

So, I think when you go help a community like this, you need to help the animals and the people who depend on them and vice versa. Tellingly, no one in the villages where we help ever asks, “Why animals?”

When I was a kid growing up in Montreal, my dad gave me a book on animals and inscribed it with: “Remember to always take care of them.” WSPA has given me the chance to be part of a team doing this across Asia-Pacific.

I’m so honoured to do this work.

And, it is thanks to you, our supporters that we can be there when animals and the people who rely on them need us most.

Thank you!

Scott Cantin Disaster Communications Manager WSPA Asia-Pacific

See more of Scott’s reports from the field by visiting our Animals in Disasters blog at animalsindisasters.typepad.com

Scott filming after the tsunami in the Solomon Islands

WSPA NEWS

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FEATURE

Choose cage-free eggs

and make a difference for Canadian hens today!

Choisissez des œufs produits en liberté et faites la différence pour les poules canadiennes aujourd’hui!

It’s in a hen’s nature to lay her eggs in a nest, perch, scratch and strut about — but cages don’t allow hens to do this. Choose cagefree eggs to promote the humane treatment and proper care of hens. It’s something easy we can all do to make a big difference.

Don’t just wing it

Déchiffrez les emballages

We know that choosing the right eggs can be complicated and there are dozens of ways to describe and label them. To help you make the best choice for you and for hens we created this handy label guide. Check out choosecagefree.org to view it on your mobile while you shop.

On sait qu’il peut s’avérer compliqué de choisir les bons œufs, car il existe des douzaines de façons de les décrire ou de les étiqueter. Pour vous aider à faire le meilleur choix, pour vous et pour les poules, nous avons conçu ce guide pratique sur l’étiquetage. Visitez choosecagefree.org/fr pour voir ce guide sur votre cellulaire directement au magasin.

Egg buying guide 12

La poule pond dans un nid, se perche, picore et se promène, c’est sa nature – mais en cage, c’est impossible. En optant pour des œufs de poules en liberté, on favorise le traitement éthique des poules. C’est facile à faire et on peut tous faire une grosse différence.

WSPA NEWS

Des faits à propos des poules

Need more reasons to give a cluck about hens?

Check out the facts to learn more about our feathered friends and why it’s so important that you choose cage-free eggs.

Besoin d’autres raisons pour justifier votre choix?

Apprenez-en davantage sur nos amies à plumes et pourquoi il est si important de choisir les œufs en liberté.

More than Facebook friends. Chickens form

Meilleures amies que dans Facebook. Les

FEATURE

Facts about the flock

complex social systems and like hanging out with their peers.

poules forment un tissu social complexe et aiment passer du temps entre amies.

A unique family tree. Chickens are the closest

Une généalogie unique. La poule est la plus

living relative to the Tyrannosaurus Rex.

Sweet dreams! Chickens experience REM (rapid

proche cousine du tyrannosaure.

Les rêves. Les poules traversent une période de

eye movement) sleep, which enables them to dream.

sommeil paradoxal, ce qui leur permet de rêver (surement à un champ rempli d’insectes!)

Spreading their wings. Hens can fly – high

Le déploiement. La poule vole – et assez haut pour

enough to get into a tree or over a fence.

Make it a double helix. In 2004, a chicken was the first bird to have its genome sequenced.

monter à un arbre ou survoler une clôture.

Une double hélice avec ça? En 2004, la poule a été le premier oiseau dont le génome a été séquencé.

Head of the class. A chicken understands that an

Première de classe. Lorsqu’on enlève ou qu’on

object, when taken away or hidden, continues to exist.

This is beyond the mental capacity of small children.

cache un objet, la poule comprend qu’il continue d’exister.

C’est au-delà des capacités mentales des petits enfants.

Be a hero for hens Visit Choosecagefree.org and take our cage-free pledge to start making a difference for hens right away. Once there, you can also find out ways to get your friends, family and favourite restaurants and grocery stores to join the flock as well! Visit today!

Devenez pionnier de la liberté Visitez choosecagefree.org/fr et signez l’engagement « Œufs en liberté » pour faire une différence dès aujourd’hui. Dans notre site, vous trouverez aussi des façons d’inviter vos amis, vos épiceries et restaurants préférés à faire aussi partie de la différence! Visitez-nous aujourd’hui même!

Guide d’achat des œufs WSPA NEWS

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GIVE

Introducing the Dalhousie WSPA Chapter We are thrilled to introduce WSPA’s very first student society at Dalhousie University in Halifax. The Dalhousie WSPA Chapter will be helping us address the world’s most challenging animal welfare issues. The student group will work hard to bring about lasting change for animals by: • Educating students and creating effective change on campus – working hard to educate and inspire fellow students to act and make changes within our community and around the world.

• Creating a strong and effective WSPA campaigning force – assisting WSPA with national advocacy and supporting our vision of a world where animal welfare matters and animal cruelty has ended.

• Fundraising in support of WSPA – raising funds to support the many WSPA campaigns around the globe.

On behalf of the entire WSPA staff, special thanks go out to our first student President, Scott Harbinson and his hard working team for helping us kick off the WSPA University Chapters initiative! We look forward to an incredible partnership this school year.

Corporate partners bring us one step closer!

WSPA Canada is an official charity participant at this year’s Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon.

On October 20th, our supporters will walk and run on behalf of animal welfare as they participate in the 5K, half marathon or full marathon.

Our goal is to raise $15,000 to help protect animals from cruelty worldwide.

There are a number of extraordinary people supporting us! Almost 50 WSPA runners will be participating on race day and our group of enthusiastic volunteers will be stationed along the course, cheering them on.

Additionally, WSPA is proud to announce that we have received $4,500 in corporate gifts! Pictured here, Kay Marks, Supporter Development Manager, accepts a cheque from Dario De Cicco, Account Executive, at The DATA Group of Companies.

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WSPA NEWS

Many thanks go out to our inspiring runners, selfless volunteers and generous donors. After race day, check out our photos at wspa.ca/facebook

Give to WSPA

and help make more good news stories for animals.

The work described in this magazine would not be possible without the financial support of individuals who, like you, are passionate about animals. Strengthen your support for WSPA today and help stop the needless suffering of animals around the world.

Donate to WSPA today. Tax receipts will be issued for donations of $20 or more.

www.wspa.ca/donate to make an online donation Text RESCUE to 30333 to donate $5 from your mobile phone Call 1 800 363 9772 to donate by phone Visit

Connect with WSPA WSPA Canada 90 Eglinton Avenue East, Suite 960 • Toronto, ON M4P 2Y3 • Telephone 416 369 0044 or Toll-free 1 800 363 9772 wspa@wspa.ca • www.wspa.ca Canadian charitable registration #12971 9076 RR0001

© WSPA / TomasStargardter

Day in the life of Dr Sergio Vazquez Flash floods struck Buenos Aires and La Plata in Argentina this April and left thousands of animals stranded. Sergio Vazquez was part of the WSPA team sent in to help. Here he shares one of his days…

7:00 am Morning of the third day. Yesterday I visited affected communities with a local vet who helped me sort out food distribution centres. My job is to assess the impact of the floods on the animals and find ways to improve their chances of survival.

8:00 am I meet teams from local NGOs dedicated to animal welfare. There will be 20 people working in La Plata today – vets, veterinary students and volunteers.

9:30 am After a briefing, we divide into teams and travel to our assigned areas with food and medicines. The local people are happy to see us and bring us their animals that need help.

For the next five hours we work quickly. Flood waters carry diseases that make animals (and people) very sick. We give all the working horses, dogs and cats vaccinations to treat and protect them.

6:00 pm

W © WSPA / IFA

1:00 pm

We hear about a mare named Luna who is badly injured after escaping from a gang that planned to kill her for food. Luna has been stabbed near her heart. We act quickly to help her. Volunteers transport her to the veterinary hospital and we agree to fund the treatments she will need to recover.

7:00 pm It’s sundown and time to journey back to Buenos Aires. We have done so much to improve the lives of animals and local people.

Thanks to the generosity of WSPA supporters the team was able to give veterinary care and food to around 2,100 animals. Learn more about how you can help at wspa.ca

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