International

INDIA: CHENNAI: THE BEGINNINGS OF ABC, WITH BLUE CROSS OF INDIA

sharonstjoan — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 22:11:48 GMT

In this first of several resource documents on model ABC/TNR/spay-neuter-return programs for street dogs and cats, Dr. Chinny Krishna describes the fifty years of Blue Cross of India's pioneering efforts to put into place the first such program in the world--what they learned--what worked--and what didn't. This is Part One of Two Parts. (Part Two will follow soon.)

Help bring 3 homeless puppies from Turkey to the UK

Kopekler — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 10:49:31 GMT

Karen and Avril, two dedcated animal lovers are trying to bring these pups to the UK. Although the shelter in Didem is one of the better ones in Turkey, puppies have a hard time surviving due to parovirus and distemper. They are asking for people to donate what they can to assist in covering the quarantine fees and transport. A little as $1, 1 pound or 1 Euro will be very appreciated.

To help out, please visit:

http://www.facebook.com/avril.simms1#/group.php?gid=139489879565&ref=ts

http://s1.webstarts.com/threepups/index.html

http://puppyrescue.chipin.com/mypages/view/id/272f5455aad82274

Victory in Kas, Turkey

Kopekler — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 04:31:30 GMT

Thanks to the efforts of animal lovers around the world, the dogs of Kas have been spared. In addition, the MP from Istanbul, Mehmet Sevigen, intervened gaining a direct promise from the mayor that nothing like this will happen again. Thanks to anyone that wrote or called!!

Write letters to stop the killing of dogs in Kas, Turkey

Kopekler — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 03:39:38 GMT

Dear All,

The Municipality of Kas is planning on killing the dogs in the village, even though most are paret of tha TNR program. Animal activists in Turkey are organizing a campaign to prevent this (story to come on Turkish Go Local), but now we especially need non-Turkey based animal lovers to support us by writing letters to the MAyor of the town and the Minister of Culture and Tourism. Kas is almost completely economically dependent on tourism, so international voices will be especially listened to.

Please write Abdullah Gultekin. CHP: info@kas.bel.tr

Minister of Culture and Tourism: ertugul.gunay@kulturturizm.gov.tr

Thank you!

Katya in Belgrade, Serbia

Mimi — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 18:09:58 GMT

Just ran across a blog about a woman working with homeless dogs in Belgrade. Wow! http://katyasdogs.blogspot.com/.

Resources

admin — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 09:06:59 GMT

Documents

Links

Northern Ireland: Update on Bruce

sharonstjoan — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 19:33:41 GMT

Recent update

Best Friends has received the following update:

Good news everyone, for now Bruce won’t be killed this Monday we need to tell the authorities he must NOT be killed full stop and that there is a loving home for this little guy standing by right now.

Cheers,

John Carmody
Animal Rights Action Network
www.ARAN.ie

This is a fluid situation, and we cannot confirm reports that are coming in. Please check Bruce's Facebook pages (see link below) for current updates.

Condemned for his looks

A July 2, 2009 article by K9 Magazine News Editor relates the sad story of Bruce, a dog whose only fault is that he is a Pit Bull-type dog.

A court has ordered that Bruce be euthanized after his family has spent nearly two years trying to save him. This is to take effect imminently.

In September 2007, Bruce was seized by officials and his owner was charged with violating the Dangerous Dog Act (Northern Ireland) Order 1991.

His family were allowed to visit him twice while he was being held in the kennel he was sent to, in October 2007 and March 2008. They found that he was not in good condition and not being well cared for.

Experts have stated that Bruce is a friendly dog that presents no danger to the public.

A series of court cases and appeals have ensued, and most recently, a judge has ordered that Bruce be euthanized immediately.

Over nearly two years, his family have created a world wide campaign to save Bruce. The laws of Northern Ireland related to Pit Bull-type dogs are much more stringent than those of southern Ireland or the rest of the UK.

Bruce is being condemned only for his looks, not for his behavior. A rescue organization in Southern Ireland has agreed to accept Bruce if he is allowed to leave Northern Ireland to go there.

What you can do

To read the original article in K9 Magazine online, please go to
http://www.dogmagazine.net/archives/3045/eleventh-hour-mercy-plea-to-save-death-row-dog-bruce/

To sign the petition for Bruce, please go to
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/BRING-BRUCE-HOME-X

Bruce's facebook groups:
http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?uid=10616243761&topic=10151#/group.php?gid=10616243761

http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?uid=10616243761&topic=10151#/group.php?gid=95559364078

Summary posted by Sharon St Joan, Best Friends Network

Photo: xmasbaby / Dreamstime.com / A dog who looks like Bruce.

Romania: Californian reaches out to save Romania’s street dogs

candaceritz — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 19:25:03 GMT

For Nancy Janes of northern California, what started out as a hiking trip to Romania has turned into an amazing journey offering hope to the country’s millions of homeless dogs.

By Linda Wasche – Best Friends Network Volunteer International Writer

It all started in 2001 when Janes and two friends visited Romania on a trip to the Carpathian Mountains. Intrigued by the region’s political past, the three women were looking forward to visiting the capital city of Bucharest and then hiking in the surrounding countryside. They had read up on the local history and culture. They researched local attractions and sites. What they were not prepared for was the site of homeless dogs everywhere.

“Wherever we went, the cities and villages, there were homeless puppies and dogs, “Janes said. “It is not that the people don’t care, but that the animals are misunderstood. They are seen as something different from the pets that people have and love.”

Janes returned home to California where she and her husband Rory live on eight acres in a valley east of San Francisco. She brought with her a paralyzed Romanian street dog that had been hit by a car. Janes named her Anna Marie. Even though Anna Marie had a rough start, Janes could see that she was a loving and sweet dog that just needed a second chance. Janes had Anna Marie fitted with a wheel cart so that she could get around. Then she went to work on how to help the rest.

Janes’ first focus was the city of Galati, Romania. Galati has a population of 330,000 people with an estimated 16,000 street dogs. Janes and her husband Rory helped local animal rescue groups build a much-needed shelter to serve as an alternative to the overcrowded and underfunded municipal shelters. They took working vacations to Romania. They provided business expertise and financial support - even remortgaging their house.

In 2003, Janes officially started her charity, Romania Animal Rescue (RAR), as a registered Romanian nonprofit. Her plan was to help more dogs, humanely control the population and build a base of support to sustain her goals.

Spay and neuter catching on

One of the goals of RAR was to humanely control the street dog population with a trap- neuter-return program. This would not only prevent the birth of more puppies, but also start to alleviate some of the cost incurred by the private shelters and the citizens. However, there was a roadblock. Local vets, primarily trained in agriculture at the country’s four veterinary schools, knew little of pet sterilization procedures. So Janes started an international veterinary exchange by recruiting six American vets to train their Romanian counterparts in properly spaying and neutering a high volume of dogs. Today, 22 Romanian vets and veterinary students have been through the program. And to date, RAR has sterilized over 5,400 street dogs.

One of the six American veterinarians, Jeanne Olson, DVM, traveled from Alaska to help RAR. Dr. Olson has been to Romania twice to teach spay and neuter techniques to Romanian vets and has worked under diverse and less than ideal conditions to get as many dogs sterilized as possible.

“In Romania, “ she says, “it’s as if Hurricane Katrina struck every day.”

Pretty soon, Janes decided that it was time to take the show on the road. She got an old travel trailer, or what Europeans call a “caravan,” and launched a mobile spay and neuter clinic. Two local veterinarians, brothers, came on board to drive the spay and neuter caravan into villages that were without veterinary services and to shelters needing veterinary care. Soon the villages were helping to promote the weekend “spay-a-thons” and people came from miles around with their pets. Sometimes local TV crews would come out to help spread the word.

As word of Janes’ efforts spread, so did her reputation of working closely with local officials and going through proper channels. RAR formed a relationship with a clinic in Bucharest that began offering spay and neuter at discounted prices while a vet trained by RAR in Braila, a city of about 240,000 people, also began offering discounted spay and neuter services. Spay and neuter was catching on.

An international base of support

RAR’s efforts are made possible by the Janes’ hard work and a growing donor base. Janes and her husband have raised money through golf tournaments, theater shows, and wine and appetizer events. Friends organize garage sales. Local businesses pitch in. And funding is trickling in from animal lovers in the U.S. and Canada and in Europe from Greece, Bosnia, Hungary, Austria, the United Kingdom, Germany, Switzerland, Italy and Spain.

“For the most part, these are people who have never been to Romania,” Janes said. “They are the true heroes. They just want to help these animals.”

One such hero is a man who came up to Janes on a street in Galati, Romania. Janes was holding a stray three-legged dog in her arms. The elderly man was wearing a torn ragged overcoat and approached her. He was obviously very poor, and might be looking for a handout. With his eyes on the dog, he pulled his hand out of his pocket and extended it to Janes. In it were several silver coins.

“He wanted to look out for the dog,” Janes said. “Things are starting to change. “People are beginning to recognize that the animals are living creatures that deserve their respect.”

And it sounds like Janes’ dream to earn respect for these beloved street dogs is starting to come true.

The dogs are starting to get adopted. Local residents are volunteering to help. One volunteer has started transporting Romanian street puppies to a rescue group in Germany where they are placed in loving homes. The volunteer, Livia Brenner, runs a professional photography business and is also working to “re-brand” the street dogs in an effort to pave the way for more adoptions. (Check back to read about Brenner in another Best Friends international news story.)

Janes, a former flight attendant and bookkeeper for her husband’s horse equipment and supply stores, has made RAR her full-time calling. In addition to Anna Marie, the Janes have adopted five more Romanian dogs. The Janes also have two American-born shelter dogs, two chickens and two horses. They are still making trips to Romania, and each time, Janes brings back more street puppies that she is putting up for adoption through several rescue groups around the San Francisco Bay area.

Funding needed to expand spay and neuter program

What is next for Janes and RAR? A new spay and neuter caravan is being organized, this time to target gas stations that often attract stray dogs looking for food and handouts. Janes also wants to launch a trap-neuter return program in Baila, Romania, where there are lots of street dogs and a large group of animal lovers who are ready to make a difference. The projects need about $40,000 (U.S.) to get going so Janes is reaching out on Facebook and appealing to donors. A friend is helping her apply for grants.

There are an estimated 5 million dogs on the streets of Romania. While there are a growing number of animal lovers concerned about their plight, they are still for the most part a silent majority. But that is changing. As a result of the efforts of Janes, RAR, its volunteers and its supporters, city-by-city, village-by-village, they are seeing it happen - the changing mindset; the hand reaching out to help.

“We have proven that yes we can. We are trying to make it a sign of character to love an animal, “Janes said. “That it is an honorable cause.”

How you can help

For more information about Romania Animal Rescue (RAR), www.romaniaanimalrescue.com.

Photo credits:

Rory and Nancy Janes on the road with Anna Marie.
Photo provided by RAR.

Local supporter standing in front of the RAR spay and neuter caravan.
Photo provided by RAR.

Vasile Cenac, a retired engineer, feeds homeless dogs at the Galati Municipal Shelter.
Photo provided by RAR.

Jeanne Olson, DVM, one of six veterinarians training Romanian veterinarians for RAR.
Photo provided by RAR.

Posted by: Candace Ritz – International Team Leader

Africa: Republic of Rwanda - Endangered Black Rhinos Find a New Home

candaceritz — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 13:20:18 GMT

Akagera National Park in eastern Rwanda is preparing to receive a number of endangered Black Rhinos being relocated from Kenya and Tanzania.

By Julia Henriques, Best Friends Network Volunteer International Writer

A Critically Endangered Species

The Black Rhino, which, according to some sources, is said to have inhabited the earth for 60 million years, has been listed by the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources) as Critically Endangered since 2001. The Black Rhino population dropped dramatically from an estimated 65,000 in the 1970s, to a low point of 2,400 in the 1990s. The main cause of this drastic decline has been poaching in response to the demand for their horn in some markets. Despite the challenges, things are looking up for the black rhino.

Thanks to vigorous conservation efforts, Black Rhinos today number about 4,200. The aim of the relocation project is to give the species a better chance at survival by expanding its habitat. There are four subspecies of Black Rhino; the animals being relocated to Rwanda are probably Eastern Black Rhinos, of which about 700 remain.

Black Rhinos are impressive animals. They weigh anything from 1,750 to 3,000 lbs, and measure from 4.5 to 5.5 feet at the shoulder, and 10 to 12.5 feet in length. Black rhinos have two horns. The front (anterior) horn is larger and can be up to 4 feet long; the rear (posterior) horn is smaller and measures up to 22 inches. As a herbivore, the Black Rhino has a relatively broad snout with a prehensile lip adapted for grasping the branches and leaves that make up its diet.

Akagera National Park

Akagera National Park is located along the Akagera River which forms the border with Tanzania. Compared to the steep cultivated hills in the rest of Rwanda, Akagera rests at relatively low altitude and features a savannah landscape of acacia and brachystegia bush, interspersed with patches of open grassland and swamp-fringed lakes.

Akagera is home to many big game species: elephant, buffalo, lion, leopard and spotted hyena share this habitat. There are also hippos, crocodiles, giraffe, zebra, and more than a dozen types of antelope, as well as birds such as fish eagles, storks, egrets, ibises, plovers, sandpipers, kingfishers and herons.

Moving the Rhinos

The plan calls for approximately 20 Black Rhinos to be relocated to Akagera National Park from Kenya and Tanzania; if successful, wildlife authorities will consider relocating some of the 709 remaining Black Rhinos to other neighboring states including Rwanda, Uganda, Burundi and Ethiopia. The park will be fully fenced and rangers will be trained to protect the animals from commercial poachers. Officials have explained that the move is not intended to lure potential tourists, but solely to conserve one of the most threatened species by spreading the Rhinos out across a larger geographic territory than the concentrated population today.

This new arrangement is an important step in international efforts to expand the Black Rhino population; however, getting the Rhinos to Rwanda will not be a quick process: wildlife authorities and other conservationists have agreed to an initial plan, and will hold further meetings over the next two years to establish the details. And details are important. Just moving Rhinos is a difficult process, as an adult can weigh more than a ton and the distances to be covered are considerable.

Good News for People and Rhinos

Despite the challenges and demanding logistics involved in rhino relocation, conservationists and wildlife protection organizations are determined to save the Black Rhino. African governments, businesses and local communities are also doing their part to ensure the survival of one of the continent's most famous inhabitants. In addition to the actual relocation, the eradication of poaching has been at the forefront of the project.

In addition to the creation of anit-poaching and wildlife protection units, jobs that focus around wildlife are being created for local community members. Such jobs in wildlife protection and at safari lodges are replacing the lure of illegal poaching by giving the community a stake in the survival of wildlife - including the Black Rhino. With so many people working to ensure the survival of the Black Rhino, we look forward to more good news for these giant creatures.

For more information and to help the Black Rhino

Read about and provide support for Rhino conservation efforts at The International Rhino Foundation.

Learn all about Rhinos at The Rhino Resource Center.

Lead photo Black Rhino - by Dvur Kralove;

Second photo by Tom CollierIntl Rhino Foundation in Yulee, FL US

Posted by Candace Ritz – International Team Leader

Iran: The VAFA shelter a cool place for dogs!

sharonstjoan — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 09:26:39 GMT

They have a new pool!

By Fatemeh Motamedi, Founder of the VAFA Shelter and its supporting organization, the Center for Animal Lovers

The VAFA shelter, which came into being in 2003, is located around an hour or so to the west of Tehran. They run spay/neuter programs while providing care and finding new homes for street dogs. Mrs. Lida Esnaashari, is the Director and Manager of the VAFA Shelter.

For a while the shelter had needed major renovation, but we didn't have enough funds to go ahead and begin. This spring we decided to start it anyway, hoping to borrow some money for our project.

Once again something beyond our expectations happened, and along the way we received several generous donations from our supporters. We began our project with insufficient funds and finished with a little extra money in our hands!

For this project, we renovated all the dens, the quarantine which includes 20 dens, built a pond for dogs to cool themselves down and play, put several gazebos near the pond for shade, and put a clean mixture of sand and soil in our playground, which is a big fenced yard.

Among all of these new features, it seems that the dogs enjoy the pond the most. They either sit beside the pond with their paws inside the water or simply jump inside the water to cool themselves down and enjoy playing with their pals.

The cement cylinders are another of their favorites. Some of them would rather have their nap in there, and the youngsters prefer to follow each other through them and play.

In our shelter, dogs are free most of the day and can visit and play with each other in both yards. They get along very well and live like a big family, except for the little puppies that have a separate house for themselves.

To achieve this success, lots of people helped.

Our driver and caregiver, Mr. Karam Fakoori, supervised the renovation work. Our other caregiver, Gholam, worked incredibly hard on the construction.

And, of course, we thank our supporters whose donations made all this possible.

What you can do

To visit the website of the Center for Animal Lovers, please go to the link below. The website is in Farsi; but there are photos to look at if you don't read Farsi.

http://www.cal.ir

Photo: VAFA / The dogs staying cool

Lebanon: A vulture, a jackal and others brought to safety!

sharonstjoan — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 08:08:40 GMT

Creating new lives for animals freed from a zoo

By Animals Lebanon

This story began with an Animals Lebanon member coming by chance across an abandoned zoo. She was dismayed to discover this space in which a number of wild and endangered animals were abandoned and left to fend off hunger, thirst, and sickness in tiny cages.

You have followed our story as we began to shed light upon these animals and their plight. You supported and encouraged us as we successfully negotiated for a month with the owner of the zoo and were finally able to rescue of almost all the animals inside it. Now, three months later, Animals Lebanon is happy to report that they are healthy and happy in their new homes at Animal Encounter in Lebanon.

No more chain

The vulture, who had spent many years tied by a chain which prevented him from ever flying or moving out of his two square meters of space, now lives in an enclosure he shares with a rescued falcon. He can now walk freely and fly up to branches on which to perch at will. He is in good health, and has been quickly transformed from a creature with a broken spirit to a truly happy and majestic bird.

When we first came across the jackal she was suffering from a skin disease that was caused from living for years in a tiny space which never dried out and which was rarely cleaned. Today, the jackal has grown a new full coat of fur with no traces of the skin disease left. She has an enclosure instead of a small cement cage, and it is hoped that she can one day be released back to nature.

Teddy and Baloo

Also living at Animal Encounter are two of the four bears that were at the zoo. Renamed Teddy and Baloo, the bears were negotiated through the efforts of Animal Encounter. They lived in separate cages while at the zoo, but today Teddy and Baloo live together in an enclosure and are still in the process of getting used to each other. They enjoy a nutritious diet of fish and fresh fruits and vegetables, and have a small pond in their enclosure that they use to bathe and cool down as the weather warms up in Lebanon.

The rabbits live outside of cages, roaming the grounds and nibbling on grass at their leisure. The guinea fowl roams around the Encounter at will and the goats have adopted her as part of their family. It is a heart-warming scene to see her moving about Animal Encounter and then coming into the area of goats to have them snuggle their heads against her. In times of rescue, compassion is borderless.

Be it the monkeys Animals Lebanon sent to the Wales Ape and Monkey Sanctuary or the animals now in the relaxing and green setting of the Animal Encounter, the animals rescued from the zoo are now experiencing a second chance at life.

Prying open rusted doors

The feeling of cutting through these chains, prying open rusted doors which haven’t been opened for years, and breaking locks for which keys were lost so long ago, made all of the negotiations and struggle worth it.

Animals Lebanon would love to say that this is the happy ending to a once sad story, but the struggle is not over yet as there are still two bears remaining at the zoo. Animals Lebanon is in the process of mediation with the zoo’s owner and we will not give up on the bears. We continue to feed them on a regular basis to help improve their condition until we can finally remove them from the zoo. The animals we have rescued so far have visibly improved in such a short time, and we will continue to this process until we can guarantee a safe environment for these last two bears and see the same change and improvement in with them.

Thank you for all your support, generous contributions, and belief in Animals Lebanon.

What you can do

To visit the website of Animals Lebanon, please go to
http://www.animalslebanon.org

To visit the website of Animals Encounter, please go to:
http://www.animalencounter.org/en/main.php?view=get_category&idcat=13

Top photo: Vandenborre / Dreamstime.com

Ethiopia Update

sharonstjoan — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 12:26:01 GMT

Part Two of Two: Exciting news!

continued from Part One…

Addis' plans for nine more clinics!

Mr. Fitsum Aregaye, Chief of the Trade and Industry Development Bureau is the lead city official running the TNR program and has been a staunch supporter from the beginning. In a meeting with Mr. Fitsum and one of his assistants, with Dr. Anteneh, and Dr. Tesfaye, the Coalition Liason, they discussed the future of the program.

The ongoing TNR program has been included in next year's city budget! Not only that, but Addis has plans now to build nine more clinics!

Addis is divided into ten areas called sub-cities. Each sub-city will have a clinic. The clinic will be staffed with government vets, and there will be a sliding scale of payment. Those who can will pay, and those who cannot afford their animal's treatment will be subsidized. This will make a big difference to the animals of Addis. These clinics can also be part of the TNR program for the street dogs.

Including the TNR program in the budget and planning to build and staff nine additional clinics is a major sign that the program has the government support needed to be all set for the long haul.

It is hoped that there will continue to be some international help along the way.

The Vet School open to spay/neuter

Another real milestone crossed has been the openness of the School of Veterinary Medicine to incorporating spay/neuter into their curricula.

When Dr. Anteneh met with Dr. Takele Abayeneh, Assistant Dean of The Veterinary School of Medicine, and Dr. Tefera Yilma, Clinical Department Head, they came up with some exciting concepts.

They'll soon be signing an MOU to lay the groundwork for visiting vets to come from abroad to lecture and give spay/neuter training for two-three weeks at a time--a program to be sponsored by the Amsale Gessesse Memorial Foundation.

The School of Veterinary Medicine already has a very well-equipped surgery. Just a bit more equipment and some more medicines are needed.

The Club for Animal Welfare

When the Best Friends/HSI teams were there doing the spay/neuter training at the clinic, among the most enthusiastic participants were a few of the vet students at the University. Although the program, as it was set up, stipulated that only vets, not vet students, were to be trained, one of the vet students, Milkesse, sometimes with a few of his friends, showed up nearly every day anyway--just to watch!

Since then, these enterprising students have started the Club for Animal Welfare (CAW). Now an official student club of the vet school, it will be sponsored by the Amsale Gessesse Memorial Foundation. A grant has already been given for some educational materials. The vet students will be doing programs in schools around the suburbs of Addis. They are also quite keen to set up projects teaching people who have working animals, especially donkeys, how to care for their animals--by providing water and by not giving them too heavy a load to carry. Promoting spay/neuter will be a major aspect of their programs too.

Susie Q

As we spoke with Dr. Anteneh who was on the phone in Houston, he had by his side, the lovely dog, Susie Q, who he had brought back all the way from Addis. She is settling in beautifully, and beginning to get used to the different sounds of Houston. Susie Q seems to symbolize--if not yet a joyful ending--at least steady and significant progress!

As Dr. Anteneh is fond of saying, "Sometimes things go four steps forward and two steps backwards." It looks like the animal programs in Addis are beginning to grow now. The TNR for dogs program is not new. It has been successfully done, especially in India, for decades.

This will be truly a landmark though--a sustainable, working TNR program in a major African city, with the full support of the government, may well inspire other cities across several continents. Hopefully, cities in many countries will put aside the brutal dog control methods of the past and will look ahead towards kind and effective TNR programs.

Then the street dogs of Addis--and street animals everywhere--will have a kinder, brighter future, thanks to the people of Ethiopia who are leading the way.

What you can do

To read other recent articles about the Ethiopia project, please go to:

Ethiopia: An insight into TNR for dogs
Click here.

Animals Need Help Everywhere
Click here.

Posted by Sharon St Joan, Best Friends Network

Photos: Molly Wald, Best Friends photographer
Top photo: A puppy who was spayed and returned
Second photo: Suzie Q

Ethiopia Update

sharonstjoan — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 10:53:02 GMT

Part One of Two: Progress!

In late May, when Dr. Anteneh Roba left the airport, having flown from the U.S. and found himself once again in his home country, on the streets of Addis Ababa, he recalls, "It never fails to be a gorgeous 70 degree day! The breeze hits, and I can't help feeling, 'What wonderful weather'!"

Addis Ababa is only about 600 miles north of the equator, but the weather is always in the 70's because of the high altitude--around 7,500 feet. The midday sun can be very powerful so one has to seek shade, but the weather is mostly just about perfect. Early morning and early evening are beautiful. There is no air conditioning because it isn't needed.

Dr. Anteneh had come on this trip to achieve a number of objectives--to set up an important and urgently needed pediatric center for babies (Dr. Anteneh is an emergency room physician at a Houston hospital)--and to check on the progress of the TNR for dogs program that had been launched in March by a coalition of Best Friends, Humane Society International, the Amsale Gessesse Memorial Foundation and the city of Addis Ababa. He was also here to pick up Susie Q, the charming street dog, who'd been found living near the TNR clinic--they'd promised her a loving home.

Groundbreaking TNR program

The groundbreaking TNR (trap/neuter/return) program for the city of Addis had coalesced as a plan in 2008. Gregory Castle, one of the Founders of Best Friends, had flown to Addis, and he and Dr. Anteneh had met with city government officials to talk about the catastrophic problems of the street dogs of the city. There were possibly around 250,000 days roaming the streets--unspayed and unneutered.

The city officials were under considerable pressure to "do something" about the dogs. Gregory outlined a proposal that did not involve killing the dogs--a humane solution which would entail bringing in a team to train Ethiopian vets to do spay/neuter.

Then these vets, once they had completed their training, with the full support of the Ethiopian government officials, could undertake a massive spay/neuter program--TNR for dogs. It wouldn't happen all at once, but over time--the dog overpopulation problem could be brought under control--with kindness, not with cruelty.

(If you are wondering, "What about the cats?" cats are included too, but it is often the case that--in a city where there is a dog overpopulation problem, it's necessary first to look at the dogs because the cats are not much in evidence until after the dog population has stabilized.)

The meetings with the Addis officials went spectacularly well. No persuasion was needed. No one had wanted to kill the animals. TNR for dogs (or ABC--Animal Birth Control, as it's known in some countries)--offered the possibility of a humane and effective way to stabilize the dog population! It was like the proverbial light shining at the end of the tunnel.

A Memorandum of Understanding was drawn up and signed by four parties: Best Friends, the Amsale Gessesse Memorial Foundation (Dr. Anteneh's foundation), Humane Society International, and the city of Addis Ababa. The project would go ahead!

Getting started

In March of 2009, Rich Crook, Best Friends Rapid Response Manager, led a team from Best Friends, including Dr. Michael Dix, Chief Veterinarian of Best Friends Clinic, to Addis.

There they would join Dr. Anteneh and an HSI team, led by Rahul Sehgal, of several vets who specialize in launching urban ABC programs in Asia, along with the very skilled dogcatchers they work with.

Their combined mission would be to train Ethiopian government vets in how to do spay/neuter--also to train dogcatchers in the safest, most humane way to catch street dogs--and to get this innovative program up on its feet.

Apart from a little unexpected hitch or two--the inevitable facts of life that happen--the few weeks the teams spent in Addis training the Ethiopian vets went unbelievably well (You can read more by going to the links at the end of Part Two.)

Now, a few days ago, early in June, Dr. Anteneh was back in Addis--hoping that the program hadn't run aground somewhere in the meantime--and that everything was still progressing. The plan had been that, after the training teams left, then the real work would actually begin--and the Ethiopian teams themselves would run the entire TNR program.

Back at the TNR clinic

Dr. Anteneh arrived around noon at the Clinic that the city of Addis had remodeled and turned over to them for the TNR program. Two of the Ethiopian dogcatchers that he knew from before were there--and were all smiles when they saw him. They'd just brought in four street dogs. Two were still settled quietly in their nets--and two were being prepped for surgery.

"The guys told me that with the old way they used to catch dogs--it wasn't just inefficient and not good for the dogs, but also dangerous--they could get bit," Dr. Anteneh explained. "Now, using the long nets that they'd been taught by the HSI team how to use, the dogs could be handled safely and they were much quieter--more peaceful."

Dr. Tigiste, the Clinic Supervisor and one of her colleagues, Dr. Mistire, were both there too, getting ready to do surgeries. Four of the Ethiopian vets come in regularly to carry on the program--with two others coming in as often as they can--six altogether. Dr. Anteneh is estimating that they've been able to do 170 more spay/neuters on their own--after the training teams left in April.

This is major progress, and it something to build on. Vet students in Ethiopia, as in many developing countries, are not taught how to do spay/neuters--so learning this valuable new skill and then being able to practice it with ease and success is quite an achievement.

"Dr. Tigiste was reporting that they'd had no complications with any of the surgeries. She and the other vets were really happy and confident!" Dr. Anteneh noted.

A snag that had caused a bit of a slowdown was that it's very hard to catch street dogs in the daytime. They can't be found. Street dogs come out at night or early in the morning. They talked about the problem--and now the city will make some extra funds available to hire dogcatchers who can work at night. That way the vets can start out the day early, doing surgeries for dogs who are already there waiting, who've been picked up overnight.

The dogs are cared for attentively, kept a day or two until they've recovered from their surgery, and then they are released exactly at the spot where they were picked up. That's to ensure that they'll be okay--back again in the neighborhood where their friends are and where they know how to survive.

to be continued in Part Two…

Posted by Sharon St Joan, Best Friends Network

Top photo: Molly Wald, Best Friends photographer / a dog who was neutered and then returned to his neighborhood
Second photo: Molly Wald / Pam Crook, of Best Friends with a dog who was spayed and returned
Third photo: Molly Wald / Dr. Sunil Chawla (center), of HSI, teaching Ethiopian vets

US Wildlife: Help Stop the Slaughter of Canada Geese

sharonstjoan — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 23:54:13 GMT

Geese near airports targeted - in New Jersey and Michigan

By Cathy Liss, President, Animal Welfare Institute
http://awi@awionline.org

The highly publicized accident that landed U.S. Airways Flight 1549 in the Hudson River after colliding with a flock of geese in January has caused much anxiety throughout the country. Unfortunately, the media failed to highlight how planes are specifically designed to withstand bird strikes. Now, in a desperate attempt to put passengers at ease, New Jersey plans to kill thousands of Canada geese in the next few weeks, rationalizing that the cull will prevent further plane collisions.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently announced the state's plan to trap geese from parks, golf courses and areas near airports in 20 locations within nine counties. According to media reports, the state started trapping geese on June 16. Therefore, it is critical that officials hear from you as soon as possible.

State Officials and the USDA are trapping the geese during their molting season, when the birds are flightless and particularly vulnerable. Once collected, these geese will be gassed to death, yet the slaughter of Canada geese will not prevent future collisions.

The widespread killing will only temporarily reduce the goose population. Canada geese and other animals will move into these spaces around airports because they remain attractive to wildlife.

Instead of killing these animals, New Jersey should make the airport vicinity less inviting to birds through habitat modification, exclusion and hazing, and by controlling their populations through egg addling - the process by which eggs are removed from the nest, embryo development is stopped, and the egg is then returned to the nest. The presence of dogs is also a persuasive deterrent.

WHAT YOU CAN DO:

Please write to the officials listed below and request that they immediately stop trapping and killing Canada geese in New Jersey. Be sure to request a response back on this issue to ensure that your position is not ignored.

1. Write to the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, under whose leadership the killings are taking place:

The Honorable Tom Vilsack
Secretary of Agriculture
U.S. Department of Agriculture
1400 Independence Ave., S.W.
Washington, DC 20250
Fax: 202-720-2166

2. Send a copy of your letter to:

William Clay
Deputy Administrator
USDA APHIS Wildlife Services
4700 River Road, Unit 87
Riverdale, MD 20737
E-mail: Bill.Clay@aphis.usda.gov
Fax: 202-690-0053
Ph: 202-720-2054

3. Also contact the Port Authority:

The Port Authority of New York & New Jersey
225 Park Avenue South
New York, NY 10003
Ph: 212-435-3008
Web form: http://www.panynj.gov/feedback.php

You can mention the following points:

* killing thousands of Canada geese in the vicinity of airports will not prevent bird strikes, particularly in the long-term;
* to keep geese away from the vicinity of airports, the landscape must be modified to make the area less inviting to the animals;
* scare tactics and hazing have been shown to be effective in managing populations of Canada geese;
* you would like to see your tax dollars put towards humane methods to reduce flock growth (i.e. egg-addling) as opposed to killing the birds;
* planes are specifically designed to withstand bird strikes; and
* bird strikes don't just occur in the immediate vicinity of airports.

Please share our "Dear Humanitarian" eAlert with family, friends and co-workers, and encourage them to contact the officials listed above, too. As always, thank you very much for your help!

Sincerely,

Cathy Liss
President
Animal Welfare Institute
900 Pennsylvania Ave., SE · Washington, DC 20003
(202) 337-2332 (main) · awi@awionline.org
Copyright 2009, All rights reserved.

Thanks to the Avian Welfare Coalition (http://avianwelfare.org) and to Serda Ozbenian for making sure that we saw this.

Posted by Sharon St. Joan, Best Friends Network

Photo: Genrommel / Dreamstime.com / Canada goose

Ethiopia: Government makes great strides

sharonstjoan — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 19:22:31 GMT

Plans nine more TNR clinics

By Dr. Anteneh Roba, the Amsale Gessesse Memorial Foundation

I recently returned from Ethiopia. Two weeks of frantically trying to get things done that usually would take a month. One of my objectives was to assess the progress of the recent spay/neuter/vaccination program that started in March. A collaborative effort that includes Best Friends, Human society International, the Amsale Gessesse Memorial Foundation and the city government of Addis Ababa. I went to see the clinic and was very happy to see Ethiopian female doctors doing surgery on dogs. They told me since the coalition left they have had no complications and have been sterilizing dogs at a rate of six to eight per day which is pretty good, although the last few weeks they have had a slow down due to unexpected problems that will be quickly corrected.

I also had a one hour discussion with Mr. Fitsum Aregaye, head of the Trade and Industry Development Bureau, who is the lead city official running the program. I was very pleased to hear that the city has already budgeted money for the program after the pilot program is finished. They plan to build nine more clinics to cover the whole city of Addis Ababa . Although they still would like some assistance from international organizations, they are willing to take the majority of the responsibility of running and expanding the spay/neuter program.
Part of the money will come from a sliding scale fee arrangement that will allow those that do not have money to still get their dogs spayed/neutered and treated.

The Amsale Gessesse Memorial Foundation and the city government have agreed to mutually come up with brochures that will inform citizens on how to take care of their dogs, how not to chain them, proper nutrition, exercise, regular medical check ups, and vaccinations.

Realizing the limited availability of courses pertaining to small animals at the Veterinary School of Medicine our foundation will be actively soliciting help from US universities to have vets travel to Ethiopia for two to three weeks at a time to lecture and teach surgical and medical procedures at the Veterinary School of Medicine. To this effect the school will be signing an MOU with our Foundation. Talks were held on June 4 with Dr Takele Abayeneh ( Assistant Dean of The Veterinary School of Medicine) and Dr. Tefera Yilma (Clinical Department Head) and myself.

The Amsale Gessesse Memorial Foundation will also be financially supporting the activities of a group called (CAW ), otherwise called Club for Animal Welfare. The club members are made up of veterinary students who created the club to champion teaching humane treatment of animals in Ethiopia. Their activity is supported by the school. Among other things the students plan to go to elementary, junior high and high schools to teach humane treatment of animals, as well as to go to rural parts of Ethiopia to do the same. I had talks with Dr. Getachew Terefe (Student Dean) who will sign an MOU on behalf of the students with our Foundation.

Last but not least, the Amsale Gessesse Memorial Foundation will team up with some local media outlets to desiminate information about the benefits of vegetarianism on health and the environment and the proper care of domestic and working animals. The Foundation will have brochures translated into Amharic, the official Ethiopian language and desiminated to the public, as well as periodically posting useful information in local newspapers and magazines.

All in all my trip was very fruitful. Much needs to be done, but as the saying goes a journey of a thousand miles starts with one step. We are taking the first steps.

What you can do

To visit the website of the Amsale Gessesse Memorial Foundation, please go to
http://amsalefoundation.org/

To read the blog of Dr. Anteneh Roba, please go to
http://network.bestfriends.org/Blogs/Detail.aspx?b=1983&g=1ab1ab37dd654d36b15aff4357c7b0ff

Posted by Sharon St. Joan, Best Friends Network

Photo: Moly Wald, Best Friends photographer, two puppies in Ethiopia, alive and well

U.S.: California: International Day Of Action For Elephants In Zoos

sharonstjoan — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 20:25:22 GMT

Saturday June 20

Uniting the world to end elephant suffering in zoos

In Defense of Animals is sponsoring the first annual INTERNATIONAL DAY OF ACTION FOR ELEPHANTS IN ZOOS this coming Saturday, June 20, to bring attention to the sad plight of captive elephants in zoos. Activists around the world will be participating in this important cause. Bring your friends and join IDA at events around California this coming Saturday. Fliers and posters will be provided.

LOS ANGELES

What: IDAEZ LA

When: June 20, 2009, 11am to 2pm

Where: L.A. Zoo, 5333 Zoo Drive (meet in front of zoo main gates)

Contact: Catherine Doyle, email zoos@idausa.org or call 323-301-5730.

VALLEJO

What: IDAEZ Vallejo

Where: Six Flags Discovery Kingdom, 1001 Fairgrounds Drive (Please meet in front of the metal detectors by the main entrance.)

When: June 20, 2009, 9:45 am - 12:00 pm

Contact: Melissa Gonzalez, email Melissa@idausa.org or call 707-981-7701.

SAN DIEGO

What: IDAEZ San Diego

Where: San Diego Zoo, 2920 Zoo Drive in Balboa Park, just north of downtown San Diego

When: June 20, 2009, 11:00 a.m.

Contact: San Diego Animal Advocates (SDAA), email Barb at cabosmom@hotmail.com or Jane at jane@animaladvocates.org.

MORE WAYS TO GET INVOLVED:

• Coordinate an event. Submit your event information here and IDA will post it on their web site so others can join you on June 20 and help make your IDAEZ event a huge success.

• Bring a friend or two to an IDAEZ event. Share information about the elephants’ plight with your family, friends and colleagues.

• Hold an elephant awareness party. If you do not live near a zoo that holds elephants but are passionate about taking action on June 20, hold an elephant party to raise awareness and donations for IDA’s elephant campaign. Contact IDA for materials and suggested videos to share.

Originally posted by Carrie Jones, Best Friends Network Volunteer, on the California Community

Information and photo of Billy provided by IDA

Gabon, West Africa: World’s Largest Leatherback Sea Turtle Nesting Area Discovered

candaceritz — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 19:45:16 GMT

Gabon’s beaches are home to the largest leatherback turtle nesting area in the world.

By Kristen Funk - Best Friends International Network Volunteer Writer

On May 18, 2009 a Science Daily online article reported the finding of the world’s largest leatherback sea turtle nesting area in Gabon, West Africa. Land and aerial surveys of the country led international scientists to estimate a population of female turtles that utilize the nesting beaches to between 15,730 and 41,373.

Because of the Indo-Pacific’s massive 90% decline in leatherbacks from 1980 to 1990, an immense amount of research headed by the University of Exeter, and co-operated with the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), was implicated to conserve the protection of turtles in Gabon. In 2002, in an effort to protect endangered and rare wildlife, Gabon created a network of National Parks, which interestingly enough, make up 79% of the leatherback’s nesting areas.

The comprehensive aerial and ground-based studies of Gabon’s coastline have been able to identify significant nesting sites, which is pivotal in the preservation endeavors of the leatherback turtles. These findings have prompted the University of Exeter and local agencies to create conservation efforts that protect the leatherbacks against illegal fisheries, habitat disruptions, nest poaching, changes in the climate, and pollution.

This discovery will help efforts to increase the population of leatherbacks and will aid in their protection so that future generations can flourish and live safely along the coast of West Africa.

The May issue of Biological Conservation published the original findings.

What you can do

To read the original article on Science Daily click here.

Visit the website of the Wildlife Conservation Society at www.wcs.org

Lead photo by Shane August
Posted by Candace Ritz – International Team Leader

US Wildlife: Arkansas: Foreclosure looms over wildlife refuge

sharonstjoan — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 23:50:57 GMT

Witter Wildlife Refuge seeks help for animals

By Sharon St Joan, Best Friends Network

For the past ten years Jim and Cyndi Orr have been caring for orphaned and injured wildlife at the Witter Wildlife Refuge near Witter, Arkansas. Licensed by the state of Arkansas, they have rehabilitated and released hundreds of wild mammals, mostly paying for their care out of their own pockets.

Their goal, like that of all legitimate wildlife rehabilitators, is to release wild animals back to the wild, so they can live out their lives as nature intended. In a few cases, the animals have been too severely injured or handicapped to be released, and with permits from the state of Arkansas, they have been able to provide ongoing care for these animals--including four Arctic and Timber wolves, six deer (one of whom is blind), as well as foxes, raccoons and opossums--around sixteen animals.

This spring, like every spring, dozens of orphaned babies were brought to them. It's important for these babies not to become tame--or else they can't be released back to the wild. After an initial period of being bottle fed, the youngsters are set up in outside enclosures. Then they make a transition--instead of being given a bottle, they discover that they'll have to start learning to find their own food--the food has been hidden--and the food they're looking for is just the kind of food they'd be looking for in the wild. This is important to teach them survival skills, so that when they are released, they'll know what they need to be doing.

When the time comes for them to be released, Jim and Cyndi do what's called a "soft release," which means that a cage is placed nearby, with food available in it, so that they can find it easily. Usually, within a day or two, they no longer need the extra help--and they're gone--off to pursue their lives in the wild. It's a state regulation that they need to be released where they were found--that way they'll have a better chance of survival.

News from the bank

On May 11, just as the wild baby season was getting underway, Jim and Cyndi received some shocking news. The bank was about to repossess their property. This was the last thing they'd expected. They'd both suffered serious accidents several months before and had been incapacitated; however, another company had taken on the arrangements with the bank, and it had been understood that all the payments were being made on time. Well, they weren't, and, out of the blue, their property was about to be foreclosed on.

Their first thought was for the animals, though their home on the property is also threatened. The fifty wild babies they had in May have all been transferred to other nearby licensed wildlife rehabilitators, to be cared for and then released--so all the babies that they'd been feeding so diligently every four hours will be fine and well cared for.

The non-releasable mammals that they have state permits for are harder to place and are some cause for concern--especially the one blind deer. Deer are easily frightened and stressed, and Jim and Cyndi are worried that she might not be okay if she has to be moved to an unfamiliar place. She cannot be released because she's blind--and the other animals still with them are also handicapped and would not survive in the wild.

There will be a meeting about the impending foreclosure on July 13. In the meantime, kind people have been assisting in setting up a 501 (C) 3 non-profit organization that can accept donations. When Jim and Cyndi were working, this had not been a concern, and they'd generally been able to cover the wildlife expenses themselves. Now, the circumstances are a lot more challenging, but, it is hoped that if they can get the non-profit set up and begin to get some funding, that the Witter Wildlife Refuge can be saved. Then the animals who cannot be released will be okay, and Jim and Cyndi will be able to get back to their regular lives of dedication, caring for the many orphaned and injured animals who so urgently need their help.

What you can do

To visit the website of Witter Wildlife Refuge, please go to:

http://witterwildliferefuge.com

The 501 C 3 non-profit status should be set up by next week, then they can receive donations that will help them get the wildlife refuge back on its feet. You can keep an eye open for this announcement on their website. If you wish, you can make a non- tax-exempt donation in the meantime.

Photo: © Linda52 / Dreamstime.com / Two wolves

Africa: Zambia - Chimfunshi Wildlife Orphanage

candaceritz — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 11:12:53 GMT

The Chimfunshi Wildlife Orphanage is a non-profit sanctuary in central Zambia, housing about 100 orphaned chimpanzees, as well as several other injured or orphaned animals.

By Julia Henriques, Best Friends Network Volunteer

Chimfunshi’s history

Chimfunshi began in 1983 with the care of a wounded infant chimpanzee - “Pal” - that a game ranger brought to the cattle ranch of Sheila and David Siddle, a British couple who had lived in Zambia since the 1950s. The Siddles nursed Pal back to health, and the rescue of that one injured chimp sowed the seed of what is now a 1,200-acre animal refuge. After Pal’s recovery, the Siddles began receiving chimpanzees confiscated from poachers, as well as many rescued from poor conditions in zoos and circuses worldwide. David Siddle passed away, aged 78, in 2006, but Sheila has continued the work they commenced together, and is now assisted by Managing Director Tony Rauch, a veteran ranch and livestock manager with over 30 years experience in Zimbabwe and South Africa.

“Virtual wild” enclosures

The sanctuary is now home to over 120 chimps who live in various social groups in the orphanage as well as 4 different enclosures. Thanks to the large expanse of land Chimfunshi occupies, 99 of the 123 chimpanzees are in free range enclosures in a “virtual wild” environment.

Other species rehabilitated at the orphanage have included antelopes, baboons, monkeys, tortoises, squirrels, bush babies, dogs and birds, and - the biggest of all - Billy the hippo, who was rescued in 1992 as a 10-day old orphaned calf and now weighs 1,500 lbs. To read Billy’s story click here.

Over 25 years helping animals

Chimfunshi celebrated its 25-year anniversary in 2008, making it one of the oldest and largest chimpanzee sanctuaries in the world; Chimfunshi has pioneered and set the standards for many of the protocols and techniques used at sanctuaries around the world today. The refuge unveiled a new anniversary logo and merchandise collection to commemorate the occasion.

Baby boom

Population control at Chimfunshi is important. Most of the female chimpanzees at Chimfunshi are being implanted with birth control devices. 69 chimpanzees have been born at the sanctuary since it was founded; this baby boom strains the resources of the sanctuary and takes up valuable space. The Pan African Sanctuaries Alliance (see below) is seeking to limit captive reproduction at all its member sanctuaries; sanctuary space across the African continent is valuable, and needed for other rescued chimpanzees still awaiting placement.

Pan African Sanctuaries Alliance (PASA)

Wild ape populations continue to decrease due to poaching, the bushmeat trade and deforestation, while the number of orphaned primates has increased. PASA is an umbrella organization that was formed in 2000 to help coordinate the efforts of 18 African sanctuaries, including Chimfunshi, which is a charter member of PASA. These facilities house more than 800 great apes. One of PASA's goals is to reintroduce primates to the natural environment.

In 2003, Chimfunshi hosted, at its Education Center, PASA’s annual Education Workshop. Now, in May 2009, PASA has held its first ever US-based Workshop in Columbus, OH; Sheila Siddle travelled to the US to attend the event, and took advantage of her trip to speak at several zoos in the US Midwest. In Chicago she offered a lecture to employees of the Lincoln Park Zoo. The Zoo supports PASA’s efforts through research guidance and financial assistance.

Lincoln Park Zoo is assisting PASA with predicting the future population size of sanctuary apes, and managing the risk of disease spread both in sanctuaries and in reintroduction efforts. (Watch for a follow-up story on the Zoo’s work in this field).

For more information

Read more about Chimfunshi Wildlife Orphanage at www.chimfunshi.org.za/.

Watch a brief Chimfunshi video provided courtesy of Chimfunshi Wildlife Orphanage.

How you can help

Click here to learn more about a Chimfunshi membership.

Support the care and rehabilitation of one of Chimfunshi’s youngest chimps through their Adopt-A-Chimp program.

Read, In My Family Tree, Sheila Siddle’s autobiography.

Lead photo by Magdalena Lukasik-Braum

Story photo & video courtesy of Chimfunshi Wildlife Orphanage

Posted by Candace Ritz – International Team Leader

lndia: Not a boxer!

sharonstjoan — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 07:51:34 GMT

Friendicoes --a peaceflul haven

Click here.