WSPA News - Spring/Summer 2012

World Society for the Protection of Animals

WSPA NEWS SPRING | SUMMER 2012

A NEW LIFE for a rescued bear Thousands more dogs saved through COLLARS NOT CRUELTY 30 YEARS OF WSPA – what your support has achieved

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WSPA NEWS World Society for the Protection of Animals

CONTENTS IN EVERY ISSUE

4

From the Executive Director

SPRING | SUMMER 2012

5 Headlines 8

Making a world of difference

FEATURES

7

What’s on Your Plate?

The Hidden Costs of Industrial Animal Agriculture in Canada – a new report from WSPA

10 Saving lives in Bangladesh –

update on the Collars Not

Cruelty campaign

10

12 A “gracious” bear finds a

world of peace

Editor: Elizabeth Sharpe Contributors: Catherine Gerson, Holly Hewitt, Josey Kitson, Kirsty McFadden, Michaela Miller, 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. WSPA News is published twice yearly by the World Society for the Protection of Animals.

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 2012

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EDITORIAL

FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

IT’S ABOUT MAKING CONNECTIONS WSPA News is one of our favourite publications at WSPA – it’s our chance to tell you, our generous supporters, about all the great things you’ve accomplished for animals. In the pages of this magazine, we get to share with you inspiring stories of hope, rescue and dedication. It’s important for us to keep you connected to the animals you have saved.

Through updates on our latest victories and tips on how you can become even more involved, it’s clear that together we are making the world a better place for animals. Make sure you also stay connected to WSPA through our online channels. Visit www.wspa.ca to sign up for our electronic newsletter and to join our Facebook and Twitter community.

Throughout this issue of WSPA News you’ll see that the future of WSPA and animal welfare is about making connections. How we treat animals and the value we place on their welfare has a profound impact on our lives and the future of our planet.

Some of the most striking examples of the consequences of undermining animal welfare are outlined in WSPA’s new report, What’s On Your Plate? The Hidden Costs of Industrial Animal Agriculture in Canada (page 7). This report, the first of its kind in Canada, details the negative impacts of industrial animal agriculture on animal welfare, the environment, public health and rural communities. The report also outlines how making changes to improve the lives of farm animals and moving away from industrial farming will protect our planet, help farming communities and safeguard our health.

Our Collars Not Cruelty campaign is another amazing example of how improved animal welfare can also protect human life. In parts of the world where people still die of rabies, fear of the disease is causing communities to brutally kill their stray dog populations, often thousands at a time. But, the only way to stop rabies is the mass vaccination of dogs. Thanks to your support, WSPA now works with communities to set up vaccination projects protecting dogs and people alike. Read individual stories of hope on page 10.

We think WSPA News is a wonderful opportunity to reflect on everything we have done together for animals. I hope you enjoy this issue and thank you for your generous support.

Josey Kitson Executive Director, WSPA Canada

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WSPA NEWS

GET CLOSER to the animals you help.

Throughout this issue of WSPA News we are using QR codes so you can access even more details about the animals you are helping to protect – through online content and videos.

What are QR codes?

QR means Quick Response code. They are printed codes, scanned using a mobile Smartphone – a phone that allows access to the internet and contains applications, known as ‘apps’.

Why use QR codes?

At WSPA, we want to bring you, our supporters, closer to the animals you help by giving you information quickly and easily. Scanning the QR codes with your Smartphone will take you straight to the WSPA website where you can watch wonderful videos and see photos of the animals you’ve helped with a few clicks on your phone.

How to use QR codes Open up the QR app (you will need to download the app first) and hold your Smartphone over any of the QR codes printed in WSPA News. Try scanning the QR code above to watch our 2011 achievements video. Look out for more QR codes in WSPA News and use them to access exciting new information about the animals you help.

online and see even more!

Visit wspa.ca/wspanews to subscribe.

Since the 2010 release of our Curb the Cruelty report the Government of Canada has made some encouraging strides to help farm animals. In October 2010, a few months after we launched the campaign, Canada’s Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz announced a plan to more than double the fines for those found improperly transporting animals.

In the spring of 2011, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency announced it would publish information about transport violations, allowing public access to information on repeat offenders. In 2012, the Canadian Government pledged to invest $320,000 in improving the handling and transporting of farm animals through more driver training.

Your letters have made an impact but farm animals still need your help.

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

Follow us for up-to-the-minute news.

Go to wspa.ca/twitter

some amazing moments are only available through video wspa.ca/youtube

Learn more or send a letter at www.wspa.ca/curbthecruelty

At the start of 2012, the lengthy battle to ban bullfighting in the Spanish region of Catalonia finally drew to a close, as last year’s prohibition ended bullfighting there. The hard-fought measure followed massive campaigning on a local scale by the PROU citizens platform, and saw 165,000 WSPA supporters sign the petition asking for a ban. Now, WSPA is bringing the fight to Mexico and we need your help again. Please visit www.wspa.ca for updates and to see how you can help.

© WSPA/Ed Bayer

NO MORE BULLFIGHTS in Catalonia

THANK YOU From bears in captivity to animals struggling in the aftermath of natural disasters, our amazing donors have truly made a difference in the lives of thousands of animals. You have made each and every success possible, and on behalf of all animals we give you our heartfelt thanks.

HEADLINES

Read WSPA NEWS

Update on CURB THE CRUELTY: Your letters are making a difference

HEADLINES

FLOOD RESCUE Operation in Brazil Starving and alone in the flood stricken city of Guidoval, in the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais, a frightened little puppy finally had some luck when he was scooped up and examined by WSPA vet Dr Juan Carlos Murillo.

This puppy is just one of the 3,500 cats and dogs that have been rescued from the floods by WSPA teams. Thanks to your generosity they have been working since early January delivering emergency food, veterinary care and equipment.

To stay up to date on our disaster management work in Brazil and all over the world, visit our blog: http://animalsindisasters.typepad.com

Taking steps towards ENDING BEAR FARMING in Korea The Korean National Assembly recently voted through a proposal to prepare measures to end the practice of bear farming through an investigation of its current status. The approval of this proposal is a sign that the Korean government recognizes the need to end the cruelty of bear farming.

“The Korean National Assembly has made a great beginning towards ending this cruel practice,” said Chris Gee, WSPA Wildlife Campaign Manager, “it is clear that pressure delivered by WSPA and local partner Green Korea United was crucial”, as the Ministry of the Environment chose to reference a WSPAfunded poll and our campaigning results in their submission to the National Assembly.

Help make FARM ANIMALS MATTER with Pawprint You know that good farm animal welfare is important, but did you know that it can also protect your health, the enviroment and the livelihoods of farmers?

© GKU

This summer, the United Nations is holding the Earth Summit in Rio – the most significant discussion on the future of the planet. Through WSPA’s new Pawprint campaign, we need your help to engage with Summit representatives and decision makers to encourage them to include animals in their plans. Visit www.wspa.ca/pawprint to learn more and to join WSPA’s petition.

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WSPA NEWS

REPORT © Twyla Francois

© Dr Olivier Berreville

WHAT’S ON YOUR PLATE? The Hidden Costs of Industrial Animal Agriculture in Canada

WSPA is proud to announce the release of the first comprehensive Canadian report that examines the impacts of industrial animal agriculture on animal welfare, the environment, public health and rural communities. We are using the findings of this report to spark policy discussions in Ottawa and help improve the lives of farm animals across the country.

Nous sommes fières d’annoncer la publication de la première enquête complète canadienne qui étudiera les conséquences de l’élevage industriel sur le bienêtre animal, l’environnement, la santé publique et les collectivités rurales au Canada. Les conclusions tirées serviront à provoquer des discussions dans un cadre législatif à Ottawa afin d’améliorer la vie des animaux de la ferme dans tout le pays.

Industrial animal agriculture is bad for animals, people and the planet

L’élevage industriel nuit aux animaux, aux humains et à la planète

Intensive livestock operations (ILOs) jeopardize our health through the unregulated use of antibiotics on animals that aren’t even sick. Also, the abundance of manure produced contributes to pollution on the planet and on our plates.

Les exploitations d’élevage intensif mettent en péril notre santé par l’usage non-réglementé des antibiotiques sur des animaux qui ne sont pas malades. De plus, la quantité de fumier produit pollue la planète et contamine notre assiette.

The environmental consequences of industrial animal agriculture have negatively impacted the earth more than any other single human activity. ILOs make it nearly impossible for small farms to compete economically, effectively destroying the quality of life in rural areas.

Plus que toute autre activité humaine, l’élevage industriel a eu des effets néfastes sur l’environnement. Les petits éleveurs ne peuvent concurrencer économiquement les exploitations d’élevage intensif, ce qui mène à la désintégration de la qualité de vie des collectivités rurales.

It’s farm animals that pay the highest price in the quest for ‘cheap’ food – unable to move, subjected to painful mutilations and bred to produce huge amounts of meat, milk and eggs. Farm animals are suffering but with your support, WSPA can stop this cruelty.

Mais ce sont les animaux de ferme qui paient le prix fort dans la quête pour un produit moins cher. Incapables de bouger, souffrants de blessures douloureuses et élevés de manière à ce qu’ils produisent tellement de viande, de lait et d’œufs, qu’ils ne peuvent se comporter de manière naturelle, les animaux sont en train de souffrir. Avec votre aide, la WSPA peut mettre fin à cette cruauté.

What can you do?

Que pouvez-vous faire?

Visit www.wspa.ca/food for more information on the report and to add your voice of support for our work!

Visitez www.wspa.ca/food pour de plus amples informations sur l’enquête et pour unir votre voix à notre travail.

WSPA would like to thank Debbie Fong for her generous support of the report launch. Debbie is a vegan and activist who supports the humane treatment of all forms of life. In addition, WSPA would like to thank Canadians for the Ethical Treatment of Food Animals (CETFA) for their generous support of the production of this report.

WSPA NEWS

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REPORT MEXICO: Melania Gamboa Melania is our programs manager for Central America, Mexico and the Caribbean. Recently she established an agreement with the Association of Mexican Veterinary Schools to ensure animal welfare is central in the training that new vets receive. Throughout 2012, she will be working with the Pan American Health Organization as part of Collars Not Cruelty, to encourage rabies prevention in Latin America.

Making a world of

difference

COLOMBIA: Maria Nelly Cajaio

Thanks to your support, WSPA vets are protecting dogs from cruel culls, rescuing animals affected by disasters, and relieving the suffering of the world’s billions of farm animals. Since their important works is only made possible by your gifts, we thought you’d like to meet some of them…

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WSPA NEWS

Maria Nelly, our development manager for South America, has been an advisor to the Pan American Council of Veterinary Education, a member of the board of the Pan American Veterinary Council and the editorial board of Veterinary Education International. She has worked closely with the World Organization for Animal Health and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.

UK – LONDON: David Wilkins David Wilkins MBE is our chief veterinary adviser. He is former chief veterinary officer of the RSPCA (UK) and director of Eurogroup which became one of the most influential animal welfare lobbying organizations in the European Parliament. While at WSPA he has influenced the veterinary profession to support a Universal Declaration on Animal Welfare and created a formal agreement between WSPA and the World Organization for Animal Health.

Last year when floods and landslides devastated communities in Rio’s mountain areas, Rosangela and her team helped more than 3,000 animals by distributing 14 tonnes of food for dogs and cats and 1,500 kg of food for cattle, pigs, horses and birds.

They also vaccinated more than 500 dogs and cats to prevent the spread of disease.

BRAZIL: Rosangela Robiero

REPORT

Thanks to your support of Rasto’s work, more than 6,000 people involved in meat production in Brazil and China have been trained by WSPA-dedicated teams in how to treat animals more humanely at the time of slaughter and how to improve the facilities that handle them too. Rasto has also introduced a similar training program in Vietnam and Cambodia and will be focussing on Indonesia in 2012.

CHINA: Rasto Kolesar

PAKISTAN: Jan Schmidt-Burbach Wild animals are the passion of Jan our wildlife veterinary programs manager for Asia Pacific.

One of his key roles is to oversee our bear sanctuary at Balkasar which gives bears, rescued from the horrors of baiting, a safe haven. The sanctuary, run in partnership with the Bioresource Research Centre, has been made possible through your support and gives veterinary care to bears that have suffered some of the worst animal cruelty imaginable.

TANZANIA: Wilson Joseph

THAILAND: Ian Dacre

Dogs are Wilson’s favourite animal and as WSPA’s project manager for companion animals he is helping local and national governments in several African nations introduce rabies vaccination projects and humane methods of population control.

When disaster strikes, Ian our disaster management operations manager works hard to protect animals from harm. More than 50,000 animals and their grateful owners were helped by WSPA teams in 2011. Last year, during the floods which devastated parts of Thailand, we distributed nearly 56 tonnes of food, as well as medicines and veterinary supplies. Around 10,000 animals were helped in Bangkok.

WSPA NEWS

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FEATURE

SAVING LIVES IN BANGLADESH

For the people and dogs in the slums and villages in Bangladesh’s Cox’s Bazar district, life is hard. Fear of death by rabies is never far away and with this fear comes the threat of cruel culls to dogs. But, WSPA’s Collars Not Cruelty campaign is bringing hope to both dogs and people alike.

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very year, more than 55,000 people around the world die from rabies. Twenty million dogs are also brutally killed every year and fear of rabies is often used as the excuse. People think it will stop rabies.

It doesn’t. There is only one humane and effective solution – the mass vaccination of dogs.

Based on past successes tackling the spread of rabies through large-scale vaccination projects in Sri Lanka and Bali, WSPA developed our Collars Not Cruelty campaign. Working with governments and community leaders, we vaccinate the dogs and puts a red collar on them, showing the communities that they are safe – saving them from rabies and cruel deaths.

WSPA recently completed a large-scale dog vaccination project in the principal resort town of Cox’s Bazar in Bangladesh. There, it supported the national government in vaccinating at least 70% of the area’s dog population – enough to ensure that the local dogs will be safe from rabies. Here are just some of the stories…

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WSPA NEWS

A red collar for Pinko Pinko is a year old and has recently had her first litter of puppies. But not so long ago she and the rest of the village’s dogs were at risk of being poisoned and killed. Pinko’s mother was caught in a cull and fed poisoned meat but thanks to your support, Pinko’s future is much brighter. WSPA’s vaccination program means that Pinko and her pups will now be safe from culls and rabies.

Nurul Kabir kneels down in a dusty street of Cox’s Bazar and coaxes a timid young dog towards him. Nurul scoops him up and within minutes, the little animal is vaccinated by WSPA and given the bright red collar and flash of non-toxic yellow paint to mark him as officially vaccinated against rabies.

Nurul’s job hasn’t always been about saving dogs from rabies – as a former municipal street cleaner he was expected to poison them in a misguided attempt to prevent the spread of that disease. “We should not have been doing such things to dogs.” he says. But now, thanks to your support, Nurul is helping WSPA save thousands of dogs instead.

Playing safe Joysna, from one of the fishing villages in Ward Two of Cox’s Bazar, had her puppy Tony vaccinated. She told the WSPA team that up to 15 people from her community had died of rabies in the last few months alone.

“My neighbour was bitten by a dog and only a few days later he died. The family tried to get him help, but couldn’t save him,” she explained. “I’m pleased that Tony has been vaccinated and that my children will be able to play with him safely…”

To support Collars Not Cruelty or to stay up-to-date on our progress visit www.wspa.ca/redcollar

UPDATE Dhaka says ‘YES’ to Collars Not Cruelty Your generous support of our Collars Not Cruelty rabies vaccination campaign has already helped to save 20,000 dogs per year, in Bangladesh’s capital Dhaka, from cruel and agonizing deaths.

Prompted by the success of our rabies vaccination program in Cox’s Bazar, the city’s government has decided to abandon inhumane culls as a rabies control method. “For decades tens of thousands of dogs were put to death unnecessarily and brutally. Yet the rabies situation never improved” said Bangladesh local government secretary Abu Alam Shahid Khan.

Throughout 2012, we will be using your donations to work with the Bangladesh government to stamp out rabies through a nation-wide mass vaccination of dogs that will save countless human and animal lives.

WSPA NEWS

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FEATURE

A new lease on life for people too

FEATURE

A “GRACIOUS” BEAR FINDS A WORLD OF PEACE By: Holly Hewitt, WSPA Canada

It’s not easy bringing a centuries old “sport” like bear baiting to an end. But bating events, where 2,000 spectators assemble to watch as a tethered and clawless bear is set upon by fighting dogs, must stop.

T

hankfully WSPA and our working partner in Pakistan, the Bioresource Research Centre (BRC) are tireless in our efforts. The BRC team works to discover the location of future baiting events and determine which bears need the most urgent rescue. The members of the team develop relationships with religious leaders, landlords and former bear owners, to stop as many events as possible before they even get started.

Happily, in October of 2011, everything fell into place, and another bear named Milla was rescued. Her owner surrendered her so that he could learn a new, more lucrative living through WSPA’s alternative livelihoods initiative.

Milla (meaning gracious) is five years old and had spent most of her short, harsh life in baiting rings. The scars on her face and muzzle give testimony to the life

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WSPA NEWS

of terror she once led. Unfortunately, due to the severity of an injury, Milla also became blind in one eye, a condition that made it even more difficult for her to defend herself.

On arrival at our state-of-the-art Balkasar sanctuary, Milla was anesthetized in the veterinary clinic, had her wounds treated, and her painful nose ring and chains removed. Like most newly rescued bears, Milla had many untreated wounds, and was severely malnourished.

FEATURE A healthy, confident Milla takes her first step of freedom, as she leaves the quarantine area for the large, lush enclosure of her new home.

After treatment, all the new bears go through a quarantine period. This allows the sanctuary vets to administer ongoing treatment as needed, and also allows the staff to monitor improvements in the overall condition of each bear. The bears receive a diet that is high in nutrients and is supplemented with additional vitamins and minerals to make up for a lifetime of neglect.

Some of the bears have difficulty eating as they have few or no teeth, and have suffered extensive damage to their muzzles during

Milla (left) and Shama (right) enjoying a sunny day at Balkasar.

their fights. Food is specially prepared for these bears so that they can eat more easily, and gain some much needed weight.

Under the watchful eyes of Balkasar’s caring staff, Milla’s condition quickly improved. After spending six weeks in quarantine, she was released into the large enclosure with trees, lush grass and a swimming pool. According to the reports we have received from Balkasar, Milla has a lovely personality and has embraced her new life, enjoys exploring the enclosure, and loves to nap in the sun with some of her newfound friends.

Thanks to you, the remaining baiting bears in Pakistan will be able to leave the horror of the baiting rings in exchange for the life of peace that you have given them.

The story doesn’t end here. We have just learned that other bears have been rescued, and we look forward to introducing them to you as well. Visit www.wspa.ca for the latest updates and visit www.wspa.ca/bearbaiting to support our bear rescue campaign.

Milla enjoys investigating her new home.

WSPA NEWS

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When disasters strike, WSPA is there for the animals.

After the devastation caused by earthquakes, floods, and tsunamis, animals are often the forgotten victims. They may be injured or left to fend for themselves with no food, water or shelter after their owners are forced to evacuate.

Yet animals are vital to the people that depend on them. The survival of animals is crucial to the recovery of entire communities.

WSPA’s disaster relief teams work year round to provide animals with food, water, shelter and veterinary treatment after disasters all over the world, even those that don’t make headlines.

That’s why your ongoing support is so valuable.

By making a donation to our Animal Disaster Fund you can help ensure that our disaster management teams have the resources they need to respond quickly and effectively. You can help by visiting www.wspa.ca/disasters

For the latest news and updates on our disaster relief work, visit our blog:

www.animalsindisasters.typepad.com

Reward yourself and give to animals Help animals while you shop.

Every time you use your BMO WSPA MasterCard to make a purchase, a payment is made to WSPA from BMO Bank of Montreal at no additional cost to you. © The Endangered Species Restoration Project, South Korea

GIVE

Help animals in disasters

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With Gold BMO WSPA MasterCard, WSPA receives 0.15% of each purchase and, with all of the non-Gold BMO WSPA Master Cards, WSPA receives 0.25% of each purchase. This equals $0.15 and $0.25 on each $10 you spend, respectively, which adds up quickly. To date the BMO WSPA MasterCard has generated over $240,000 to help alleviate animal suffering.

These funds help WSPA carry out life-saving animal programs around the world. Every time you shop a percentage of every purchase will go to WSPA. To apply visit www.bmo.com/wspa

WSPA NEWS

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.

Visit

www.wspa.ca/donate

Text RESCUE Call 1

to make an online donation

to 30333 to donate $5 from your mobile phone

800 363 9772 to donate by phone

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

Thanks to you…30 years of making animals matter Since our founding 30 years ago you have helped us make an amazing difference for animals. Here are just some incredible highlights…

1985

1990

1981 • Making new beginnings The merging of The World Federation for the Protection of Animals (WFPA) and the International Society for the Protection of Animals (ISPA), in 1981 led to our beginning as the World Society for the Protection of Animals.

Dance with Death our first anti-bullfighting campaign video was launched. Since then we have battled bullfighting around the world – more than 49 cities in Europe have banned this cruel sport.

2010

Since 1990 we have supported Dr Gudush Jalloh of the Sierra Leone Animal Welfare Society to vaccinate 56,000 dogs against rabies, as well as sterilize and de-worm them.

Libearty our high profile campaign to save the world’s bears from cruelty was launched.

The campaign focussed on the horrors of bear baiting, bear dancing and the farming of bears for their bile; it laid firm foundations for all of our work to protect bears from harm.

When the lives of thousands of animals were at risk after a volcanic eruption in Montserrat, we sent disaster experts to coordinate relief efforts. Since then our disaster response work has continued to develop. With your help we were able to help 330,000 animals in 11 countries last year.

Your generosity helped us support the Nyaru Menteng Orangutan Sanctuary in Borneo when it fell upon hard times.

During 2007, thousands of you were inspired to donate by the image of little Kesi, the orphaned orangutan.

2010 • Making a mark

1990 • Saving dogs

1996 • Relieving suffering 1996

2007

1985 • Banning the bullfights

1992 • Caring for bears

1992

2007 • Building a brighter future © BOS

1981

When India’s Minister of State for External Affairs Tharoor pledged his support for the development of a Universal Declaration on Animal Welfare at the United Nations (UN) he became the two millionth signatory to support our Animals Matter campaign.

2011 • Focussing on farming

2011

THE NEXT

30

YEARS

At the end of 2011, we launched our Pawprint campaign to put the need for kind farming firmly on the agenda at the next UN Earth Summit in Rio in June 2012.

Thanks to your dedication and generosity we have already helped so many animals, but we know that in the next 30 years we can do even more.

To find out how you can help, please visit www.wspa.ca

World Society for the Protection of Animals

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