CAMPAIGNS WE SUPPORT ...

LEAD THE WAY : lets end puppy mills

• Ban the sale of puppies and kittens in pet shops
• Allow pet shops to sell shelter animals through their stores
• Reduce the current cycle of puppy mill --> pet shop --> shelter

Lord Mayor of Sydney Clover Moore has certainly had her fair share of controversial campaigns over the years, putting her Independent political voice to subjects like Gay & Lesbian rights, Animal Welfare, Public Land rights and the fight for true Democracy. We'll feature an exclusive interview with the Lord Mayor in the future, but in the meantime we want you to hear about the important campaign that will hopefully result in a bill to put an end to pet shops selling puppys and kittens from puppy mills.

ABOUT THE BILL

Put simply, the objective of the Animals (Regulation of Sale) Bill is to protect the lives and well-being of dogs and cats by prohibiting their sale at pet shops and markets, regulating the advertising of mammals and ensuring that prospective purchasers are fully informed of the animal's special needs and requirements.

This does not pertain to livestock or farm dogs, it aims to regulate an industry that is faced with significant issues of animal cruelty and unnecessary deaths.

Whilst it is common practice for registered breeders & rescue shelters to ensure animals are properly vetted, desexed, and microchipped, in most cases, pet shops will not even provide a family background. The lack of regulation, and any kind of reliable evidence to the contrary, means puppy farms and unregistered backyard breeders continue unabated. Even if a pet shop claims that it doesn't buy from puppy farms, there is a good chance that it buys from a broker that does.

The Bill aims to address this, and to reduce impulse buying of dogs and cats by restricting sales to registered breeders, pounds, animal shelters and veterinary practices who will be required to provide extensive written information about the special needs of the animal, including anticipated costs. This will encourage people to make informed choices and to consider their animal as a long-term commitment.

Unfortunately, the Pet Industry have been opposed to the Bill, claiming it would be detrimental to their business... In fact, the Bill will allow pet shops to facilitate the sale of dogs and cats from pounds and shelters. Our concern here is the well-being of domestic animals, and we need your support to make a difference.

For more, visit the websites:

http://www.leadtheway.org.au
http://www.clovermoore.com
http://www.thepuppymill.com.au

WSPA : make yourself beautiful

WSPA is calling for a Universal Declaration on Animal Welfare at the United Nations, similar to previous UN Declarations on global issues such as human and child rights.

The UN statement would acknowledge animals as capable of experiencing pain and suffering, and animal welfare as an issue of importance as part of the social development of nations worldwide.

"Many millions of animals face a life of mistreatment, cruelty, pain and suffering as a result of human indifference, neglect and a lack of education," said Emily Reeves, WSPA Program Manager. "The time has come to protect billions of animals from cruelty by officially recognising their importance and their welfare at a global level.

"WSPA is delighted to work with The Body Shop to help animals around the world. What better way to act, and feel, beautiful by doing your part to make this historic initiative for animals a reality."

So between 22 September to 13 October, sign for the Declaration in-store at The Body Shop. Or go online at www.makeyourselfbeautiful.org.au to sign and then use a special 'virtual ink pen' to draw a picture of your friends and send it to them.

Every drop of ink helps animals!

CAMPAIGN : earn your wings

In 1994, a groundbreaking PETA U.S. investigation revealed the hideous cruelty of the fur industry, including the gruesome genital electrocutions taking place on a California chinchilla farm. The investigation resulted in the first case of cruelty to animals to be filed against a furrier. Investigators documented that chinchillas were hung upside-down by alligator clamps attached to their ears and labia or anuses. The animals were trembling and fearfully silent until a powerful jolt of electricity froze their movements. In other instances, animals had rods jammed into their mouths or anuses and were electrocuted. It takes at least 100 chinchilla pelts to make just one full-length coat.

Launched on the 5th Febuary 2008, the Earn Your Wings campaign is the latest in a series of Anti-fur campaigns by Imogen and animal rights group, PETA. This isn't the first time that Imogen has been an angel for animals; she is an avid fur foe who wants to bring attention to the hell that animals endure when they are trapped and raised for their fur. Animals like foxes, rabbits and even our domestic favorites like dogs and cats are bred in cruel factory farms in horrific conditions before being skinned (sometimes alive) and discarded in trash piles. > Learn more about going fake for animals sake

UPCOMING CAMPAIGNS: battery hens

The plight of battery hens isn't new news ... but did we all forget about it because we thought it had stopped happening? The truth is, while we now have options available to us such as free range & barn laid eggs, they are priced exceptionally high to disuade us from purchasing them so we still eat battery eggs in their millions.

The laws have changed slightly in the last decade and egg companies must now label their eggs as caged or free range, but we eat so much chicken and so many eggs that the only way to keep up with demand while maintaining maximum profits is to grow hens like robots. We think this is simply rediculous in a country with so much spare land.

We've found many local fruit shops that stock free range eggs for less than the price of caged eggs in supermarkets. There are many farmers in Australia who have been struggling in drought conditions so the Government has put up funding for some of them to start free range chicken farms. We're looking into these options currently and will be bringing you more information soon on this future campaign.

CAMPAIGNS: help thai elephants

CAMPAIGNS: hands off the buns

Imogen's second campaign for PETA - this time in protest against the current trend of using rabbit fur on fashion accessories. Many brands of handbag and shoes use rabbit fur to create trim and decorations.

This campaign made it into many countries, and was translated into many languages ... but the message is simple ... Hands Off The Buns!

http://www.furisdead.com/

CAMPAIGNS: 8 second ride In 2007 Imogen appeared in a controversial advertisement for PETA opposing the clamping procedures used in Rodeo's. At the time a Rodeo was travelling through Queensland with Imogen staging protests in Brisbane and on The Gold Coast before the Rodeo continued on to Cairns, where the publicity heated up with front page headlines in the local paper. You can help end procedures like electric shocks and clamping by boycotting any Rodeo known to be using these cruel practices. http://www.bucktherodeo.com

CAMPAIGNS: celebs for animal rights

Some of the world's biggest names have put their name to campaigns to raise awareness for animal rights, including Simon Cowell, PINK, Alicia Silverstone, Pamela Anderson, Sophie Monk, JD Fortune, Dita Von Teese, Steve-O, Joanna Krupa, Andy Dick, James Cromwell, Joss Stone, Charlize Theron, William Shatner, ricki Lake, John McEnroe, Edie Falco, Joaquin Phoenix, Stella McCartney ... we could keep going.

PETA is well known for their attention getting campaigns, using well known celebrities (usually in the nude) to present a pretty image to a horrific issue. To download wallpapers & ecards of your favorite celebrity campaigns, visit our downloads section or the peta homepage.

For more details on these and other campaigns please visit our Facebook Page

  • IM campaigns

• Earn Your wings

• Help Thai Elephants

• Hands off the Buns

• Buckingham Cruelty

• Stop the Bloody Bull Run

• 8 Second Ride

• JJJ Day in a Cage

 • Campaigns we support

• Make Yourself Beautiful - WSPA

• Lead the Way - Clover Moore