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Maryland Bear Hunt Opposed by a Majority of Voters Efforts to Ban Force-Feeding of Ducks and Geese Close to Passage in California Treatment of Farm Animals Brings Out the Worst and the Best Support The Fund at No Cost to You!
MARYLAND BEAR HUNT OPPOSED BY A MAJORITY OF VOTERS
 A survey of registered Maryland voters, by Annapolis-based Gonzales Research & Marketing Strategies, revealed strong opposition to the state's proposed black bear hunt, the first in more than 50 years. The survey, conducted from August 10th to 15th, 2004, found that voters in all political parties and across the state--including western Maryland where a majority of black bears are present--oppose the hunting of bears, prefer non-lethal methods to address bear conflicts, and would be less likely to vote for a political candidate who supports the hunting and killing of bears. An overwhelming 73% of Marylanders would prefer that state officials address bear conflicts using non-lethal measures, such as trash management and aversive condition to frighten bears away, rather than hunting. In western Maryland, 55% prefer non-lethal methods, and only 36% prefer hunting. "This independent survey confirms what we have long known: Maryland voters want the half-century tradition of bear protection to be retained, not repealed," said Michael Markarian, President of The Fund for Animals.
Former Maryland Governor Parris N. Glendening has weighed in on the proposed black bear trophy hunt. In a letter to the editor published in The Baltimore Sun, the former governor criticizes the newspaper for reversing its position and writing a pro-hunt editorial. Governor Glendening reminded the editors that black bears were nearly extinct in Maryland before being making a comeback. "Now we're reneging on the promise we made to future generations by allowing development to creep farther and farther into the bears' habitat, and planning to kill them if they dare to stick around," he wrote.
» Click here to visit MarylandBears.com for the full Gonzales survey, Governor Glendening's letter to the editor, and how you can help stop the trophy hunt.
EFFORTS TO BAN FORCE-FEEDING OF DUCKS AND GEESE CLOSE TO PASSAGE IN CALIFORNIA
 Foie gras (or fatty liver) is produced by using a pipe inserted into the esophagus of a duck or goose and force-feeding excessive amounts of food several times daily. This agonizing and terrifying process is repeated for two or three weeks until the birds are slaughtered. This practice intentionally causes their livers to swell to up to ten times their normal size. Many countries, including Denmark, Norway, Poland, Germany, and Israel, have banned forced feeding because it is considered cruel. In the United States, there are only two producers of foie gras, one in New York and one in California. But California legislators are poised to ban the inhumane practice.
"Cramming food down a duck's throat to make a gourmet item known as foie gras is not only unnecessary, it's inhumane," said Senator John Burton, California's Senate President Pro-Tem. Senator Burton is sponsoring SB 1520 which bans forced feeding and prohibits the sale of paté de foie gras if it is the result of forced feeding. The bill has already passed the Senate, and we need your help to pass it into law before the Assembly recesses at the end of August. If you live in California, please contact your Assemblymember and ask him or her to support SB 1520, and most importantly, please contact Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and ask him to sign the bill when it comes to his desk.
» Click here for more information on the bill and how to contact your California legislators.
» Click here to find out who your Assemblymember is, and to find contact information for Governor Schwarzenegger.
» Click here for more information on California state legislation from The Fund for Animals.
TREATMENT OF FARM ANIMALS BRINGS OUT THE WORST AND THE BEST
 Viewers around the country have been shocked by the graphic and disturbing images from an undercover investigation into a chicken slaughterhouse in Moorefield, West Virginia, where workers were caught on video stomping birds, kicking them, and slamming them against floors and walls. The slaughterhouse is run by Pilgrim's Pride, the second-largest chicken company in the United States, and a major supplier to KFC. Dr. Bernard Rollin, a bioethicist at Colorado State University, summed up the sad truth: "The tape showed evidence of a work force that apparently failed to recognize that chickens are living sentient beings capable of feeling pain and distress." Shockingly, birds are not even covered by the federal Humane Methods of Slaughter Act, even though nine billion chickens and turkeys are slaughtered every year, representing 95% of all animals killed for food in the United States. The Fund for Animals and other groups are calling on Congress to close this glaring loophole by giving poultry the same basic protections given to cows and pigs in the current law.
The connection to an individual animal, a companion dog or cat, is what spurred many animal advocates to join the cause to end animal suffering. Chickens, cows, sheep and other farm animals are often out of sight to our increasingly urban population, but their stories make them excellent animal ambassadors. The documentary "Peaceable Kingdom" explores the lives and moving stories of the animals at Farm Sanctuary in Watkins Glen, New York. Equally moving is the transformation of many of the visitors to the sanctuary who form a bond with "their" cow or pig and are forever changed. The stark contrast between the horrifying images from the poultry slaughterhouse and the wonderful footage of chickens running free at Farm Sanctuary shows the distance we need to bridge in order to bring about a true "peaceable kingdom."
» Click here to find out who represents you in Congress, and to ask them to add poultry to the Humane Methods of Slaughter Act.
» Click here for information on the undercover investigation at Pilgrim's Pride.
» Click here for "Peaceable Kindom" screenings or to purchase a copy of the film.
SUPPORT THE FUND AT NO COST TO YOU!
 Supporting The Fund for Animals doesn't always mean a direct donation. Here are two easy ways to support us at no additional cost to you. Looking for a way to help animals while you shop? Sites such as CompassionaTee, GreaterGood, iGive, and the Animal Rescue Site donate a portion of their profits to The Fund for Animals every time you make a purchase. Put your old car or truck to good use by donating it to The Fund for Animals. Your vehicle will be picked up at no cost to you, and the amount raised from its sale will be tax- deductible.
» Click here for a list of websites that support our work.
» Click here for more information on our vehicle donation program.
Whether we are rescuing and caring for abused animals at our Black Beauty Ranch sanctuary or helping to pass stronger animal protection laws, The Fund is there for animals, and we need you there with us. Thank you for helping us "speak for those who can't."
» Contributions online through our secure server are always welcome.
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