Letters [March 2010]
From ANIMAL PEOPLE, March 2010:
Rhinos & elephants
Re “Zimbabwe suspends hunting to save rhinos,” in your
January/February 2010 edition, I have no doubt that rhino poaching
is closely linked to ivory trade. I have circulated your article to
the Kenya Elephant Forum. As a forum we oppose Tanzania’s current
proposal to downlist the African elephant population from the
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species appendix I,
meaning that elephants and their parts may not be sold
internationally, to appendix II.
Tanzania and Kenya share elephant populations. Kenya was not
consulted by Tanzania before Tanzania prepared their proposal.
–Steve Itela
Youth for Conservation
P.O. Box 27689
Nyayo Stadium
Nairobi 00506, Kenya;
Phone; 254-733-617286
<itela@youthforconservation.org>
Sacrifice
A couple of articles in the November/December 2009 edition of
Animal People dealt with animal sacrifice (although one of the
mentioned slaughters did begin with drops of blood from the body of a
human leader).
The normal concept of sacrifice is giving up something of
personal value, as in Jesus sacrificing his life on the cross,
parents sacrificing their vacations for a child’s education, etc).
We need–all of us–to engender personal responsibility.
Killing an animal doesn’t require anything of us other than blatant
cruelty. Unless the animal is voluntarily willing to die for our
religion, what some call “sacrifice” is nothing more than
self-serving slaughter.
–Tim I. Martin
<whatifi@earthlink.net>
Corona, California
King pigeons
People here in the San Francisco Bay area are buying baby
king pigeons from live food markets and setting them “free,” either
to save them from being butchered for the dinner table or to release
them as part of a wedding or funeral ceremony–in which case they
should be using white homing pigeons who are trained to return home
and have a home to return to!
What these people are doing is just dumping helpless
creatures into a short life of fear, misery and death. King pigeons
are domestic birds who have no survival skills. They don’t know
where to go or how to find food. Few survive long enough to get to
shelters. Those who do are sick, injured, and starved.
These birds are extremely smart, sweet creatures, and if
people were better informed, they would never want them to be
wandering around lost, hungry, doomed.
–Elizabeth Young
San Francisco, California
<adoptkings@gmail.com>
<www.RescueReport.org>
Eating birds
After implementing neuter/return of feral cats here in my
corner of the world, I got some criticism from bird lovers. When I
asked them if they eat chicken or turkey, almost all said they do.
I tell them that chickens and turkeys are birds too; are they less
sacred? That usually ends it and they walk away angry.
–Michael Sowders
Life Time Friends Animal Sanctuary
P.O. Box 54
Careywood, Idaho 83809
(208) 755-6298
Russian animal labs
Perm State Pharmaceutical Academy on February 4, 2010 became
the 10th Russian higher education institution to work with InterNICHE
to introduce alternatives to animal labs. We provide computer
programs for use instead of dissection and animal experimentation,
while the academy agrees to stop all student animal labs.
The St. Petersburg State Academy of Veterinary Medicine in
October 2005 became the first Russian higher education institution to
work with us, cancelling pharmacology and toxicology experiments.
The Velikie Luki State Agricultural Academy signed an agreement in
2006 that covers the whole faculty of animal science. At both
institutions there has been significant further progress.
–Nick Jukes, coordinator
InterNICHE
98 Clarendon Park Road
Leicester LE2 3AE, U.K.
Phone: 44 116 210 9652
<coordinator@interniche.org>
<www.interniche.org>
Breeders & taxes
Backyard breeders of puppies, birds, snakes, big cats,
and other species sell them, but, do they pay taxes on the sales?
The IRS hates tax evaders.
–Karen Benzel
Carmel, California
<KarenBenzelPR@Comcast.net>
India, China, DVDs
I was just looking back through past issues of ANIMAL PEOPLE,
especially noting the recent progress in India and China. I hope
your realize what a part you have played in this. Without your
in-depth coverage, we would have no connection with those in other
nations who are so dedicated and working against such odds.
I still get numerous requests monthly for our DVD Prosecuting
Animal Cruelty & Illegal Animal Fighting, reviewed in your April
2004 edition, and for QuickSpay, reviewed in October 2005. Both
are distributed to bona fide humane organizations free of charge. I
sent out more than 100 copies of QuickSpay in January, and am
burning 200 copies of the Spanish version for a veterinary conference
in Mexico in April. I hope to make a couple of new ones soon.
–Phyllis M. Daugherty, director
Animal Issues Movement
420 N. Bonnie Brae St.
Los Angeles, CA 90026
Phone: 213-413-SPAY
<ANIMALSSU@aol.com>
