National Animal Welfare Organization that Rescued 22 Michael Vick Dogs to Become Exclusive National Sponsor of Safe Humane Chicago
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Melia Carter, 708-224-1900
March 31, 2008
Best Friends Animal Society Joins Local Coalition to Strengthen Efforts against Community Violence; Safe Humane Program to be Expanded to Other Cities
Chicago, Illinois – Best Friends Animal Society (Best Friends) and Safe Humane Chicago (SHC) announced a new alliance today that will expand the existing program and establish the SHC anti-violence, anti-dog-fighting initiative as a national model. Recently spotlighted for rescuing 22 dogs from the Michael Vick dog fighting case, Best Friends will become the exclusive national sponsor for Safe Humane Chicago, the nation’s most comprehensive community-wide partnership to address dog fighting and animal abuse in the context of community violence
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“We’re very impressed with this unprecedented coalition of leadership here in Chicago,” said Paul Berry, chief executive officer of Best Friends Animal Society. “We want to do everything we can to ensure its success here, and our plan is to take this model to other cities across the country.”
Safe Humane Chicago is a partnership between animal advocates, government leaders, community activists and faith-based institutions to conduct education and youth intervention programs while promoting community involvement to stop violent crimes and provide beneficial activities.
Cynthia Bathurst ,Co-founder of DAWG and Safe Humane Chicago“With the Best Friends alliance, Safe Humane Chicago will greatly expand its programming of education and care-giving to reach all population segments – kids, teens, and adults, especially in at-risk communities,” said Cynthia Bathurst, co-founder and principal director of Safe Humane Chicago and Best Friends’ national director of project safe humane. “We will also continue our extensive court advocacy program and other activities that assist law enforcement to positively impact arrests, prosecutions, convictions and remedies for situations involving animal neglect, abuse and fighting.”
Beneficiaries of the program highlighted the impact Safe Humane Chicago has already made and the appeal of its programming to Best Friends, a national organization whose work with dogs is profiled on the National Geographic Television series DogTown.
“The brilliance of the Safe Humane Chicago program is that it pulls together the entire community to effectuate change where the roots of violence are formed,” said Reverend Dr. Walter B. Johnson, Jr., pastor of Wayman AME Church. “In the end, this benefits everyone.”
Students from SHC Pilot program, and Chula the rescued bait dog, CPD Animal Crimes Unit in back rowOne of the goals of the “safe humane” programming is to address the plight of pit-bull-type dogs. These breeds are not only the most victimized in dog fighting operations across America, but they are the most commonly euthanized in shelters across the United States. To call attention to this issue, one of the attendees at the news conference was a gentle “pit bull” mix named Chula that was rescued in South Holland, Illinois, from the fourth largest dog fighting bust in the nation.
Melia Carter, Safe Humane Chicago co-founder and director of public affairs, said, “Dogs like Chula are not only victims of the abuse suffered at the hands of dog fighters but are also victims of the wrongful stereotypes imposed by society. Safe Humane Chicago will not only work to stop the violent practice of dog fighting, but it will properly educate people that dogs should be judged on their individual personality and not by their breed.”
The event also included children and teens who have actively participated in Safe Humane Chicago programming. These programs include classes conducted at faith-based institutions that teach children how to safely and humanely interact with dogs and a semester-long class that certifies high school students in the Chicago Public Schools system to educate elementary school children about kindness to animals.
According to Anisha, a freshman enrolled in the program for teenagers, “Safe Humane Chicago has given us the opportunity to make a difference for people and companion animals. If we can touch the heart and mind of a young child, that lesson will stay with him or her forever. By teaching young children how to be compassionate with animals, we will change the way we treat animals and each other.”
About Safe Humane Chicago: Safe Humane Chicago is an unprecedented community-wide alliance to combat violence by promoting compassion and caring for people and animals. It accomplishes these goals by educating the public about responsible pet ownership and safety; promoting programs that stop the violence associated with dog fighting and animal abuse by providing positive, beneficial activities; and connecting pet owners to available resources. By taking steps to instill kindness and to reduce violence in our communities, the campaign will create safer, more humane neighborhoods across Chicago.
About Best Friends Animal Society: Best Friends Animal Society, one of America’s foremost animal rescue organizations, operates the country’s largest sanctuary for abused and abandoned animals. On any given day, Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, located in southwestern Utah, is home to approximately 2,000 dogs, cats, horses, rabbits, birds, and other animals. Founded in 1984, Best Friends advances nationwide initiatives that promote community involvement to make the world a better place through kindness to animals. Best Friends also promotes adoption, low-cost spay-neuter services, and humane education programs through its work with animal shelters and rescue groups around the country. The society publishes Best Friends magazine, the nation’s largest general interest, pet-related magazine with approximately 300,000 subscribers. For more information, visit www.bestfriends.org.
Posted by Susan A. Robinson, Best Friends NetworkPhotos by SAR