Central Florida Animal Rescue

We recommend feeding:









Click the picture to see this page's group
http://groups.myspace.com/networkinganimals


Why care?

Think of Newton's Third Law: for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. Take some common, feasible examples: An endangered Everglades Kite choked on the bubble gum wrapper you tossed out your car window this morning. You couldn't resist the cute puppy at the pet store, but 3-month old Lab-mix "Sweetpea" had to be euthanized at the shelter because no one wanted to love her. Being a "conscientious consumer", you buy organic milk at the supermarket; little to your knowledge, the dairy cows responsible for your liter have been sold at a slaughter auction. You buy an SUV or truck to feel safer on the road; you have now contributed to the ever-growing crisis of global warming. Thanks.
It is your duty as a member of the Earth ecosystem to live responsibly. This does not mean becoming an activist. However, I will assume that everyone - animal/earth lovers and apathetics alike - want to see their grandchildren live in a world with less pollution and more humanity. Let's start working toward that goal today!

So, what can I do? First, become aware of the issues. You will make value judgements and act on what is most important to you.

Small implements of change in your daily lifestyle can have a big impact (remember Newton's law). Recycling, using "green" products, refusing to buy from companies that test on animals, buying a low-flow showerhead (it will still have the same water pressure, mind you), and washing your clothes with cold water are all examples of little changes to incorporate. You can start to look for ideas by browsing the links listed in the blog on this page.
The Use of CO Gassing in Shelters
If you have talked to me, I probably have slipped this morbid topic into our conversation. I am a strong advocate for no-kill shelters; however, if an animal must be put to sleep (PTS), I strongly believed that sodium pentobarbital (lethal injection) is the best method.
Here are some quotes I compiled that support lethal injection vs. carbon monoxide gassing. Please utilize this information as well as the links cited when writing to lawmakers. Remember, no argument is valid unless you can back it up with research.

"The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) recommends the injection of sodium pentobarbital ... as the preferred agent for the euthanasia of companion animals" (HSUS).

"The HSUS believes [Carbon Monoxide] is far less suitable than sodium pentobarbital" (HSUS).

"The use of injectable euthanasia agents is the most rapid and reliable method of performing euthanasia" (AVMA).

"The ASPCA recommends the injection of sodium pentobarbital as the preferred agent for euthanasia of shelter animals. Performed properly, euthanasia by injection is the most humane, safest, fastest and least stressful to the animal and is safe for shelter personnel" (ASPCA).

"American Humane considers euthanasia by injection (EBI) of sodium pentobarbital to be the only acceptable method of euthanizing dogs and cats in animal shelters. American Humane considers the use of any other legal method for dogs and cats in animal shelters unacceptable, including the use of carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, nitrogen..." (AHA).

"NACA considers lethal injection of sodium pentobarbital, administered by competent, trained personnel, to be the method of choice utilized for humane euthanasia of animal shelter dogs and cats" (NACA).

There are apparently a significant amount of limitations and risks associated with using gas chambers. The age of animals put to death by this method is a factor, as "animals under four months of age have shown a resistance to hypoxia (lack of oxygen). It is absolutely unacceptable to use CO for the euthanasia for dogs and cats who are old, under four months of age, sick, or injured" (HSUS).

CO gas is hazardous to employees. Misuse, malfunctions, or accidents could cause health problems, resulting the county paying for workers compensation and lawsuits. "Repeated exposure to CO, even at low levels, can result in many serious long-term effects including (but not limited to) cancer, infertility, and heart disease. CO chambers must therefore be used with extreme caution ..." (HSUS).

Sources:
AHA: http://www.americanhumane.org/site/DocServer/animal_statemen t2006.pdf?docID=3741
ASPCA: http://www.aspca.org/site/PageServer?pagename=pp_euthanasia
AVMA: http://www.avma.org/issues/animal_welfare/euthanasia.pdf
HSUS: http://files.hsus.org/web-files/HSI/E_Library_PDFs/eng_euth_ statement.pdf
NACA: http://www.nacanet.org/poleuth.htm

Help Stop Horse Slaughter!

More than one month ago the U.S. House voted to ban horse slaughter. Now we must turn our focus to passing the same bill in the Senate. A key component to our victory in the House was your phone calls to Congress leading up to the vote. For the first time since we began this fight, the voices of the opposition are raising above our own. Senators have reported hearing equally from compassionate advocates in support of the bill and those in favor of slaughter opposed to the bill.
We need to raise our voices above the cries of our opponents and make sure we are ten times as vocal as our opposition!
We cannot fail! The lives of countless horses are at stake. Last year over 90,000 horses were sent to slaughter. If we do not shut the doors on the three remaining U.S. slaughterhouses now, we will have to begin this process again when a new Congress adjourns in January.
Take immediate action:
Call your two U.S. Senators today: dial the Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121 and ask for the offices of your Senators. Ask them to “please cosponsor S.1915 the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act and protect horses from slaughter.”
Spread the word: one phone call is not enough. We need hundreds. Tell your friends, family, and coworkers to call their Senators today.
TWO NATIONAL CALL-IN DAYS: October 25 (Wednesday) and November 13 (Monday) are national call-in days for horses. Hang the attached fliers allover your town, hand out copies at the grocery store, Halloween parties, or any place you can find one more person to make a phone call.
Don’t quit. Call this week, call next week, and call the following week. Let’s keep up the pressure!
Remember, with your help we can save the lives of thousands of horses from cruel and inhumane slaughter.
Sincerely,Jake OsterDirector of Grassroots Advocacy Government Affairs The Humane Society of the United States 519 C Street, NE Washington, DC 20002 202-955-3672 voice 301-529-2987 cell 202-676-2301 fax www.hsus.org Email: joster@hsus. org Interested in taking action online to help animals? Then join our online community and sign up for our Humane Action Network. Go to www.hsus.org/ join

You can find more info at rallyforhorses.com
Please note, the following New England legislators have already agreed to co-sponsor this legislation (S.1915) and should be thanked if they represent you:Sen Collins, Susan M. [ME] - 7/26/2006 Sen Dodd, Christopher J. [CT] - 1/25/2006 Sen Kennedy, Edward M. [MA] - 9/25/2006 Sen Kerry, John F. [MA] - 1/25/2006 Sen Lieberman, Joseph I. [CT] - 10/25/2005 Sen Reed, Jack [RI] - 9/6/2006 Sen Snowe, Olympia J. [ME] - 3/8/2006

NOTE! This list was compiled by a friend on mine in Connecticut. There are more senators supporting the bill.

AETA Explained
UPDATE — Congress Passes HR 4239, the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act From API:
As anticipated, H.R. 4239, the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act(AETA), was brought to the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives in a fast-track maneuver late yesterday, on the Representatives’ first day back after the month-long break.
The House passed AETA by a voice vote under suspension of the rules, a procedure usually reserved for non-controversial legislation. When the bill came up for consideration, only a handful of House members were even back in town, and very few were on the floor of the House when the brief discussion ensued. This bill was rushed through without a serious look at its flaws, by Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Sensenbrenner (R-WI).Next Steps
Because the language of AETA passed by the House varies from the language approved by the Senate in the companion bill, S. 3880, a conference committee will reconcile the differences between the bills. Once the differences are resolved and a conference report is generated, both the House and Senate will need to approve the legislation again.
To keep updated on AETA and for more detailed information, visit www.stopaeta.org andwww.noaeta.org.
Background
AETA seeks to clamp down on animal activist activities by using a broad brush to paint activists as “terrorists” simply because they oppose institutionalized animal cruelty. Sponsored by Representative Thomas Petri (R-WI), HR 4239 would make it a crime punishable by imprisonment to cause any business classified as an “animal enterprise” to suffer a loss of profit — even if the company’s financial decline is the result of legal activities, such as peaceful protests, consumer boycotts, or media campaigns. The term “animal enterprise”; includes manufacturers, distributors, and sellers of animals or animal products including research facilities, pet stores, breeders, zoos, rodeos, circuses, furriers, animal shelters, and the like.
API strongly opposes acts of violence, including vandalism and property damage. However, this bill threatens to criminalize as “terrorism” otherwise lawful, constitutionally protected and valuable acts often utilized by citizens and organizations seeking change. For example, lawful and peaceful protests against the circus or companies that test on animals could be considered a violation of this act if the activity resulted in economic damage to the company.
To find out how your U.S. Representative voted on AETA, please contact his/her office. If your Representative voted against AETA, please thank him or her. On the other hand, if your Representative voted for AETA, politely express your concerns (see talking points below). You can reach your Representative through U.S. Capitol Switchboard: 202-224-3121. To identify your Congressperson, go to www.house.gov or www.senate.gov, or simply enter your zip code at www.vote-smart.org.
Talking Points
· AETA does not genuinely fight terrorism. AETA may divert valuable taxpayer money and resources away from real terrorism.
· AETA is vague and overly broad. AETA isn’t just about illegal actions like breaking windows or rescuing animals from fur farms. It includes penalties for “non-violent physical obstruction” and actions that do not harm people or property. It could label civil disobedience, whistle-blowing, undercover investigations, and aggressive — yet nonviolent — campaigns as “terrorism” if they hurt corporate profits.
· AETA limits free speech. Labeling nonviolent actions as “terrorism” and prosecuting them as federal crimes will have a chilling effect on free speech. You shouldn’t have to be afraid of being labeled a “terrorist” for speaking up for animals.
· Corporate profits aren’t a national security priority. There are better ways to spend scarce anti-terrorism resources than protecting corporate interests and targeting animal activists as “terrorists.”

Did you know that many shelter animals end up in testing facilities?

Don't buy products tested on animals!! Here are some common products and companies that test.



Wear Leather?
Leather may be made from cows, pigs, goats, and sheep; exotic animals like alligators, ostriches, and kangaroos; and even dogs and cats, who are slaughtered for their meat and skins in China, which exports their skins around the world. Since leather is normally not labeled, you never really know where (or whom) it came from.
Most of the millions of animals slaughtered for their skin endure the horrors of factory farming before being shipped to slaughter, where many are skinned alive. Buying leather directly contributes to factory farms and slaughterhouses since skin is the most economically important byproduct of the meat-packing industry. Leather is also no friend of the environment since it shares all the environmental destruction of the meat industry, in addition to the toxins used in tanning.
With every pair of leather shoes that you buy, you sentence an animal to a lifetime of suffering. Instead, you can choose from hundreds of styles of nonleather shoes, clothing, belts, bags, and wallets. Fashion should be fun, not fatal!