Official: 29 Dogs Killed, Woman Held Captive For Months

HANCOCK COUNTY, W.Va. — A Hancock County man was arrested late Wednesday evening after, police said, he mutilated and killed 29 dogs and held a woman captive for several months.

Jeffrey Nally Jr., 19, is charged with 29 counts of animal cruelty, one count of domestic battery and one count of kidnapping. [...]

Police believe Nally began killing the animals in January.

“Mutilated, skinned, anything you can imagine,” said Chief Deputy Todd Murray of the animals. “[Nally used] everything from a crossbow, to a drill, saws to hammers. There were several means he used to [mutilate and kill the dogs].”

Murray added that it appeared the suspect used a different tool to kill each dog.

According to court documents, officers even found two dogs eyes in a mason jar.

“One dog had been shot several times. One dog had blunt force trauma to the head. One dog, we think, had its neck snapped,” said Nicole Busick, Hancock County Dog Warden.

The dogs were killed inside of the home, according to Murray. Police believe that Nally got pleasure from making his victim watch as he tortured and killed the animals.

“After the dogs were killed, he would make her clean up,” Murray said.

Three dogs were also found alive at the home. Police said the female told them all three were also set to be killed. One of the dogs rescued from the home was a black lab puppy. It had siblings that were killed.

Nally used classified ads to locate and obtain the animals, often finding people to willingly drop off their pets thinking they had found a good home, police said.

Police reported that he had been given many of the animals for free and had paid a small amount for the others.

“I’d like to give people the benefit of the doubt that they didn’t know what was going on,” said Busick.

Most of the animals killed were puppies.

Sherman the snow-dog. Photo courtesy Animal Haven.
——————————

This week’s featured adoptable is a tank. Errr, Yeti. Errr, Abominable Snowman. Retriever Mix? All of the above?

Whichever breed/species Sherman hails from, one thing is certain: he’s five stones+ of pure bliss. Or is that boulders? Meh, who cares. He’s a big hunk of adorable, and that’s all you need to know!

Here’s what the good folks at Animal Haven to say about ol’ Sherman:

Sherman is a BIG boy (he may have been named after the tank!). He is a happy-go-lucky fellow who loves to meet new people. His needs are simple: food & water, a nice cozy bed, an outdoor spot to potty, and a family who loves him. He does well with dogs and cats, as long as he has a chance to get to know them. His favorite toy is a chew bone, so be sure to have plenty of those handy. This guy is house trained and will do great with just about any family (though any kids in the house should be at least 8 years old). Sherman is ready to move into his new lifelong caring home, so come meet him today!

To get in touch with Sherman’s temporary guardians, visit his Petfinder listing or go straight to Animal Haven’s website.
 
 

One of many stray/feral Haitian dogs.
——————————

By the way, I’ve been wanting to say a little something about the recent earthquake in Haiti, but…words escape me. Really, there’s not much to say. Instead, I encourage you to give what you can to help the millions of people who have seen their homes destroyed, their families torn apart, and their lives uprooted by this natural disaster (which was/is being exacerbated by centuries of oppression and exploitation resulting in crippling poverty).

For a list of nonprofit organizations providing assistance in Haiti, see:

CNN: Impact Your World

Haiti Earthquake Relief: How You Can Help at the Huffington Post

Charity Navigator: Help Survivors of the Earthquake in Haiti

InterAction: InterAction Members Respond to the Earthquake in Haiti

Also, Kansas City @ About.com has an ongoing list of local events, activities and fundraisers to assist with the relief efforts in Haiti.

Finally, the many nonhuman inhabitants of Haiti and the Dominican Republic will need aid in the upcoming weeks, months and years as well. While not much has yet been written of anticipated future animal rescue efforts, you can find an excellent summery here. A number of animal welfare groups have joined together to form the Animal Relief Coalition for Haiti (ARCH). Spearheaded by The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) and The World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA), at the time of this writing, the following animal advocacy groups have joined ARCH: American Humane Association (AHA), American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), Best Friends Animal Society, the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) and Humane Society International (HSI), In Defense of Animals (IDA), Kinship Circle, and the United Animal Nations (UAN).

Of course, I encourage you to research any and all organizations before making a donation; check that is legit, will use your money wisely, and is consistent with your beliefs. A few good resources in this regard are Charity Navigator, the American Institute of Philanthropy, and the Better Business Bureau. Be wary of email and telephone solicitations.

Thanks much – and stay shiny, people.

———————–

Each Wednesday, the Kansas City Freecycle blog will feature one adoptable animal from a local KC rescue group or animal shelter.

We do this for several reasons:

- To highlight the plight of abused, neglected and/or homeless non-human animals in the Kansas City (and surrounding) area.

- To remind members of our no-animal policy, and provide an alternative venue for members who wish to adopt an unwanted animal companion.

- To encourage members to adopt a furry, feathered or scaled friend.

- To help out out local animal rescue groups and animal shelters, many of which are overwhelmed by the sheer number of animals in need.

- To illustrate these animals’ unique personalities and characteristics, thus underscoring the fact that they are not objects and should not be “freecycled”.

Click here to view past Featured Adoptables (complete with adoption updates!).

———————–

Tagged: kcfreecycle freecycle kansas ks missouri mo kcmo kcks featured adoptables animal adoption animal rescue petfinder pet companion animal nonhuman companion furkid animal haven sherman dog canine mission haiti animal rescue disaster relief volunteer donate

———- Forwarded message ———-
From: Kinship Circle – info [at] kinshipcircle.org
Date: Sat, Oct 10, 2009 at 4:36 PM
Subject: Act/ Cop Shoots Deaf, 19-Year-Old Family Cat

KINSHIP CIRCLE PRIMARY / PERMISSION TO CROSSPOST
10/10/09: Cop Shoots Deaf, 19-Year-Old Family Cat

Tobey the cat who was shot and killed by Raymore, MO police. (source)

=================

EMAIL BLOCKS: Sample letter follows. Full contact info at end of alert.

=================

* TO SEND: COPY/PASTE EMAIL BLOCKS INTO BCC: LINE OF YOUR EMAIL
* TYPE YOUR OWN EMAIL ADDRESS IN THE TO: LINE
* COPY/PASTE SAMPLE LETTER INTO SAME EMAIL.
* Change some words, sign with your name/full address and send!

RAYMORE & CASS COUNTY, MISSOURI OFFICIALS:

info [at] hsmo.org, rmayberry [at] raymore.com, eberlin [at] raymore.com, jfeuerborn [at] raymore.com, jalonzo [at] raymore.com, john.seimears [at] yahoo.com, kkellogg [at] raymore.com, jeffreycox1 [at] comcast.net, mmedsker [at] hotmail.com, councilmanadams [at] yahoo.com, mlewis250 [at] comcast.net, chhubach77 [at] comcast.net, pkerckhoff [at] raymore.com, thensley [at] casscounty.com, hensley [at] casscounty.com

EMAIL HUMANE SOCIETY OF MISSOURI, THE INVESTIGATIVE AGENCY IN THIS CASE:

hsmo.convio.net/site/Survey?ACTION_REQUIRED=URI_ACTION_USER_REQUESTS&SURVEY_ID=1403&JServSessionIda012=pqwxgz88w1.app11d

***KINSHIP CIRCLE CANNOT GUARANTEE ALL EMAILS WILL WORK***
During campaigns, recipients may change or disable their email addresses.
Emails from government, corporate, or institute websites may be incorrect.

=================

ASK FOR A FORMATTED LETTER (WORD DOC): info [at] kinshipcircle.org

=================

Dear Humane Society Of Missouri, Cass County and Raymore, Missouri Officials:

I am shocked by the Labor Day 2009 shooting death of the Wesner family’s 19-year-old cat Tobey in Raymore, Missouri I understand a Raymore police officer fired two bullets into the elderly cat’s head, wrapped the body inside a plastic bag and tossed Tobey into a city dumpster.

As you know, Tobey had slipped out of his house and roamed into a nearby garage where a neighbor forced him out with hose spray. Raymore police were summoned to apprehend a “large, vicious, feral cat.” Though Kelly Wesner describes her six-pound cat as declawed, deaf, and on prescription meds — a supervisor directed an officer to “put [the cat] down” in a remote area. Unbelievably, no one involved with the cat’s slaying has been penalized.

I trust that an unbiased internal investigation is underway. If inquiries by the police department and/or Humane Society of Missouri warrant animal cruelty charges, these officers should be prosecuted under Missouri Revised Statues, Chapter 578. Punitive action is reasonable, whether Tobey’s killing stems from malicious intent or stupidity. At the very least, the unprovoked killing of a family’s companion animal denotes police misconduct.

When officers encounter any animal perceived as sick, aggressive, or feral — they should know how to neutralize the animal without resorting to lethal force. I commend Captain Roger Mayberry for arranging such training after Tobey’s death. Officers ought to be able to distinguish anxiety, fear and protective behaviors from genuinely hostile or diseased behavior. If they can’t, an experienced animal control officer needs to make that decision.

Circumstances in the case do not make sense. If police believe Tobey had rabies, why did they destroy his head and discard his remains? Certainly they know that the brain of any potentially rabid animal is preserved for analysis. Moreover, this was not their decision to make. Strays, even those deemed dangerous, are taken to shelters rather than gunned down in fields.

Armed law officers displayed an utter lack of judgment. Their response was inappropriate and demands your utmost attention. Please inform me of any progress in this disturbing case.

Thank you,

=================

FULL CONTACT INFORMATION

=================

Humane Society of Missouri
1201 Macklind Ave. / St. Louis, MO 63110
HSOM Rescues And Investigations Department: 314-647-4400
fax: 314-647-4317; email: info [at] hsmo.org
web contact form:

hsmo.convio.net/site/Survey?ACTION_REQUIRED=URI_ACTION_USER_REQUESTS&

SURVEY_ID=1403&JServSessionIda012=pqwxgz88w1.app11d

Captain Roger Mayberry, Acting Chief of Police
100 Municipal Circle / Raymore, Missouri 64083
ph: 816-331-0530; fax: 816-331-0564
email: rmayberry [at] raymore.com

Eric Berlin, Raymore City Manager
100 Municipal Circle / Raymore, MO 64083
ph: 816-892-3002; fax: 816-892-3056
email: eberlin [at] raymore.com

Jim Feuerborn, Assistant City Manager
ph: 816-892-3026; fax: 816-892-3056
email: jfeuerborn [at] raymore.com

Juan I. Alonzo, Mayor
109 N. Darrowby / Raymore, MO 64083
ph: 816-331-4504; email: jalonzo [at] raymore.com

Raymore City Council
100 Municipal Circle / Raymore, MO 64083
John Seimears, Ward 1 Council Member: john.seimears [at] yahoo.com
Kevin Kellogg, Ward 1 Council Member: kkellogg [at] raymore.com
Jeff Cox, Ward 2 Council Member: jeffreycox1 [at] comcast.net
Mike Medsker, Ward 2 Council Member: mmedsker [at] hotmail.com
Jeffrey Adams, Ward 3 Council Member: councilmanadams [at] yahoo.com
Monique Lewis, Ward 3 Council Member: mlewis250 [at] comcast.net
Charlene Hubach, Ward 4 Council Member: chhubach77 [at] comcast.net
Peter Kerckhoff, Ward 4 Council Member: pkerckhoff [at] raymore.com

Teresa Hensley, Cass County Prosecuting Attorney
Cass County Justice Center
2501 W. Wall Street, 2nd Floor / Harrisonville, MO 64701
ph: 816-380-8250; fax: 816-380-8252
email: thensley [at] casscounty.com, hensley [at] casscounty.com

=================

SOURCE OF INFORMATION / REFERENCE LINKS

=================

Kinship Circle member Carol McCormick
EndCruelty [at] aol.com

Raymore, Mo., police shooting of cat investigated

www.stltoday.com/stltoday/lifestyle/stories.nsf/pets/story/F3FC4DE15FD1E0738625762F008251C3?OpenDocument

Raymore police mistakenly kill family cat

www.kansascity.com/115/story/1437680.html?mi_pluck_action=comment_sub

Additional information from Kinship Circle Investigative Researcher

******************

WEAR IT – www.kinshipcircle.org/store/

KINSHIP CIRCLE
ACTION CAMPAIGNS * EDUCATION * ANIMAL DISASTER AID NETWORK
www.KinshipCircle.org * www.kinshipcircle.org/disasters

SUBSCRIBE NOW – FOR BREAKING NEWS & ACTION:
Kinship Circle Primary: subscribe [at] kinshipcircle.org
Action campaigns on animal cruelty issues worldwide
Kinship Circle Animal Disaster Aid Network: disasteraid [at] kinshipcircle.org
Animal rescue coordination/news in disasters + companion animal alerts

UNSUBSCRIBE:
* Select a Kinship Circle ALERT received in your mailbox
* Hit “FORWARD” + Enter info [at] kinshipcircle.org
* Type UNSUBSCRIBE in your subject line and hit send

*DISCLAIMER: The information in these alerts is verified with the original source. Kinship Circle does not assume responsibility for the accuracy of the information or for the consequences of its use. Nothing in this email is intended to encourage illegal action in whatever country you are reading it in. Kinship Circle does not engage in, nor support, any form of harassment or unlawful activity. Nothing in this alert serves to promote such conduct.

———————-

Tagged: animals animal welfare action alert kinship circle cat feline pet nonhuman animal animal companion tobey raymore missouri mo kansas city missouri kansas kcmo kcks Tobey Wesner police brutality police misconduct animal abuse animal cruelty cruelty to animals flickr photos

I am writing today to invite you to a very special event, The Human Face of Climate Change: A Sisters on the Planet Event. On Friday, Oct. 3, Oxfam America welcomes to Kansas City, MO, two women who truly represent the human face of climate change. These women will inspire you, as they’ve inspired me, to join the fight against climate change.

Mrs. Woré Gana Seck from Dakar, Senegal, and Sharon Hanshaw, of Biloxi, MS, will be with us to discuss the impacts of global warming on their regions and outline the policies needed to build communitywide resilience to climate change, reduce gender inequality, and help overcome poverty.

The Human Face of Climate Change event details:

* Friday, Oct. 3, 2008
* Reception at 6 p.m. and the Program runs from 7-9 p.m.
* Truman Forum, Plaza Branch, Kansas City Public Library
* 4801 Main Street, Kansas City, MO

For more information go to www.kclibrary.org/event/2008/ or email me at jfrench [at] oxfamamerica.org.

I hope to see you there!

Sincerely,

Jim French
Oxfam America

Bios:

Mrs. Woré Gana Seck is the director of Green Senegal and president of CONGAD, a consortium of 160 national and international nongovernmental organizations. Seck will speak on the increasing impact of climate change on the lives of families in rural West Africa. Her organizations focus on creating resilient and sustainable rural communities in Senegal.

Sharon Hanshaw, executive director of Coastal Women for Change, is the national ambassador for the Sisters on the Planet initiative. Hanshaw’s organization has been integral in the rebuilding process following Hurricane Katrina. Her current work centers on creating a broad infrastructure that will help communities in the Gulf Coast better prepare for and respond to climate disasters.

Donate | Who We Are | What We Do | What You Can Do | News & Publications | Contact Us

———————–

Tagged: kansas missouri ks mo kcmo kcks kansas city oxfam events environment talk climate change global warming lecture sisters on the planet Woré Gana Seck Sharon Hanshaw coastal women for change

———- Forwarded message ———-
From: Nuclear Age Peace Foundation
Date: Wed, Sep 24, 2008 at 9:00 AM
Subject: Next Wednesday Is Last Chance to Oppose New Kansas City Nuclear Weapons Plant

Nuclear Age Peace Foundation

Public Hearing: Oppose a New Nuclear Weapons Plant in Kansas City

Make Your Voice Heard — October 1

Last Chance for the Public to Oppose $40 Million in Tax Money for a New Nuclear Weapons Plant in Kansas City

Wednesday, October 1
1:30 P.M.

Planning & Zoning Committee Meeting
26th Floor, Council Chambers
City Hall, 414 E. 12th St.
Kansas City, MO 64106

If you believe that a subsidy for a nuclear weapons production plant is contrary to the stated purpose of using tax breaks to improve the quality of human life, tell the Mayor and City Council you want green jobs, not WMDs, for a sustainable Kansas City! City officials should be pushing for needed cleanup and economic development at the old plant instead of pushing for a new nuclear weapons production plant.

The agenda will be available at www.kcmo.org on Friday, Sept 26. Arrive at the hearing 10 minutes early to sign in on the cards provided by the city for the record. It’s not known exactly what time the proposal will be discussed that afternoon. The hearing will be broadcast on local tv on Channel 2.

If you can’t make the hearing, you can email comments to the Mayor and City Council members beforehand at www.nukewatch.org/KCNukePlant/index.html.

For more information, contact Ann Suellentrop at annsuellen@gmail.com, or check for more information at www.nukewatch.org.

Nuclear Age Peace Foundation | PMB 121, | 1187 Coast Village Road, Suite 1 | Santa Barbara | CA | 93108

——————–

Tagged: kansas missouri ks mo kcmo kcks kansas city Nuclear Age Peace Foundation action alerts events Nuclear Weapons Plant

———————–

This week, I’m doing something a bit different for our Featured Adoptables column. In addition to featuring an animal, I’d also like to highlight a local rescue group – Retired Greyhounds as Pets (REGAP) – which will be in need of a little extra help come August 24. What’s so special about August 24, you ask?

The Woodlands Greyhound Race Track is scheduled to close down on 8/23. Consequently, the 600+ greyhounds who previously held down “jobs” there will find themselves “unemployed”. For racing dogs, this means they’ll be homeless. Many of them face euthanasia.

The following is excerpted from Kinship Circle’s July Digest:

2. Race Track Closing. Don’t Let Greyhounds Die

ALERT FROM / REPLY TO:

Buctale13 [at] aol.com

pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/AnimalRightsandActionAlerts/message/3915

BACKGROUND (edited for length):

7/23/08, Woodlands Greyhound Race Track closing in Kansas City: The Woodlands Racetrack in Kansas City is closing August 24th. I have spoken with REGAP (Retired Greyhounds as Pets) here in Kansas City. There are 600 Greyhounds at the track. Greyhound rescue estimates they will be able to get 200 into the rescue network.

The Woodlands is a last-stop track in the Greyhound racing industry, the remaining 400 will be ‘returned’ to the breeders and likely [killed].

CONTACT INFORMATION / TAKE ACTION:

REGAP can be reached at 816-763-3333
REGAP (greyhound rescue) needs urgent help for FOSTERS, ADOPTIONS, TRANSPORTS, etc. Please contact them if you can help and forward to friends you know who may be able to help. REGAP: 816-763-3333

If you can help by adopting or fostering a greyhound (or two!), please contact REGAP today. If you don’t have the room, means or desire to take in a dog, consider volunteering for transport (i.e., driving) duties. It’s not unusual for rescue groups to adopt out animals to homes in other cities or even states; in such cases, these groups need a few kind souls to physically transport the animals to their forever homes. And, of course, a cash donation is always welcome!

You can find out more about REGAP on their Petfinder page, www.petfinder.com/shelters/MO151.html or on their website, www.kcregap.org/public/

For more information on Woodland’s pending closure, here’s a Google News search with the latest.

Sticking with the greyhound theme, this week I’m proud to feature Saffron, a gorgeous greyhound girl:

Just look at that beautiful smile!

Here’s what REGAP says of the lovely Saffron:

This girl always has a big smile for anyone who comes by! Saffron is very outgoing and loving. She is ecstatic to greet the kennel staff in the mornings with tail wags, kisses, and a smile to take on the day! Saffron loves to play and gets along well with other medium to large sized dogs, but small dogs are not good playmates with this big girl. Saffron loves to go on walks in the park and gets so excited she can hardly contain it when she knows it’s time to go on her walk. She needs a home where ear scratching, walks, and love are given freely so she can give her love, loyalty, and silly grin to her special family.

REGAP currently has 11 greyhounds listed on Petfinder (you can also view them on REGAP’s own website), with (presumably) hundreds more to come. If none of these babes strike your fancy, consider calling REGAP about Woodland’s soon-to-be-ex-racing dogs.

Won’t you give these “working” dogs a happy retirement?

UPDATED to add: In case any readers are hesitant to adopt a a racing dog (e.g., “I’m too old/tired/lazy to keep up with a greyhound!”), here’s an excerpt from REGAP’s greyhound FAQ:

What kind of pets do ex-racing Greyhounds make?

Greyhounds thrive on attention and human companionship and make wonderful pets. They are affectionate, intelligent, sensitive and friendly. Raised with their littermates, where they competed for affection, Greyhounds love becoming the center of attention as household pets. (Don’t expect them to be watchdogs, as their friendly nature is just not very threatening.) Greyhounds are extremely clean and rarely need bathed because their soft, short fur is non-oily. As a breed, they have few hereditary health problems. Greyhounds need homes with fenced yards but they do not need an extraordinary amount of exercise. Most Greyhounds are a joy to take for walks because they do not pull on the leash and do not jump on people or other dogs. And in spite of weighing between 50 and 80 lbs, they are very graceful and take an amazingly small amount of space to be happy. Adopted Greyhounds just seem to be extremely grateful to finally experience a home and family. They quickly settle in as the resident ’40 mph couch potatoes’!

Are they good with children?

Greyhounds are very gentle, patient dogs but they tend to get along best with children over the age of 5 who have a clear understanding of rules about and respect for animals. Most Greyhounds do not want to ‘wrestle’ with children. They are excellent with children who are loving and respectful.

How are they with other pets?

Greyhounds are very social by nature and usually settle in well with other household pets. Cats are often a puzzle to a Greyhound, but a little extra time and care are often all that’s required to make a happy home for all.

How old are retired Greyhounds?

The retired racers are usually between two and four years old. We sometimes receive older Greyhounds that make calm, loving companions as well. Many people have learned that older Greyhounds are exactly right for them.

What is their life expectancy?

These pure-bred athletes enjoy many years of good health. With proper care, they have a life expectancy of 12 years or more.

Are ex-racing Greyhounds already housebroken?

Frequently an adopted Greyhound is completely housebroken right from the start. In their kennel environment they are “turned out” three or four times a day to relieve themselves. Therefore, racing Greyhounds are kennel-broken, which means they’re trained to go outside and keep their kennels clean. Let them out frequently at first, and they quickly learn that their new home is the place they keep clean and outside is where they go to relieve themselves.

To find out more, visit REGAP’s website at www.kcregap.org/public/

UPDATED once more to add: After poking around REGAP’s site, I found a link to Pups Without Partners Greyhound Adoption (pups-without-partners.org), where many of Woodland’s greyhounds are listed:

With the announcement that The Woodlands will be closing its doors on Aug. 24, 2008, Pup Without Partners has teamed up with Kansas City REGAP to make sure that every greyhound currently in the PWP Adoption Program or any other greyhound on the compound that needs a “forever home” finds one. If you are interested in adopting any greyhound on this page, please go to the KC REGAP site and fill out their adoption application. KC REGAP will be screening all applicants and together with the Pups Without Partners program, ALL of the greyhounds will find a place to call home.

Click here to view a full list of the dogs!

———————–

Each Wednesday, the Kansas City Freecycle blog will feature one adoptable animal from a local KC rescue group or animal shelter.

We do this for several reasons:

- To highlight the plight of companion animals in the Kansas City area.

- To remind members of our no-animal policy, and provide an alternative venue for members who wish to adopt an unwanted animal.

- To encourage members to adopt a furry friend.

- To help out out local animal rescue groups and animal shelters, many of which are overwhelmed by the sheer number of animals in need.

- To illustrate these animals’ unique personalities and characteristics, thus underscoring the fact that they are not objects and should not be “freecycled”.

Click here to view past Featured Adoptables.

———————–

Tagged: kcfreecycle freecycle kansas ks missouri mo kcmo kcks featured adoptables animal adoption animal rescue petfinder pet companion animal dog racing greyhounds greyhound racing regap retired greyhounds as pets Woodlands Greyhound Race Track woodlands foster transport donate volunteer kinship circle animal rescue dog canine saffron Pups Without Partners Greyhound Adoption Pups Without Partners

Ladies and gentlemen:

There are times in the history of our nation when our very way of life depends upon dispelling illusions and awakening to the challenge of a present danger. In such moments, we are called upon to move quickly and boldly to shake off complacency, throw aside old habits and rise, clear-eyed and alert, to the necessity of big changes. Those who, for whatever reason, refuse to do their part must either be persuaded to join the effort or asked to step aside. This is such a moment. The survival of the United States of America as we know it is at risk. And even more – if more should be required – the future of human civilization is at stake.

I don’t remember a time in our country when so many things seemed to be going so wrong simultaneously. Our economy is in terrible shape and getting worse, gasoline prices are increasing dramatically, and so are electricity rates. Jobs are being outsourced. Home mortgages are in trouble. Banks, automobile companies and other institutions we depend upon are under growing pressure. Distinguished senior business leaders are telling us that this is just the beginning unless we find the courage to make some major changes quickly.

The climate crisis, in particular, is getting a lot worse – much more quickly than predicted. Scientists with access to data from Navy submarines traversing underneath the North polar ice cap have warned that there is now a 75 percent chance that within five years the entire ice cap will completely disappear during the summer months. This will further increase the melting pressure on Greenland. According to experts, the Jakobshavn glacier, one of Greenland’s largest, is moving at a faster rate than ever before, losing 20 million tons of ice every day, equivalent to the amount of water used every year by the residents of New York City.

Two major studies from military intelligence experts have warned our leaders about the dangerous national security implications of the climate crisis, including the possibility of hundreds of millions of climate refugees destabilizing nations around the world.

Just two days ago, 27 senior statesmen and retired military leaders warned of the national security threat from an “energy tsunami” that would be triggered by a loss of our access to foreign oil. Meanwhile, the war in Iraq continues, and now the war in Afghanistan appears to be getting worse.

And by the way, our weather sure is getting strange, isn’t it? There seem to be more tornadoes than in living memory, longer droughts, bigger downpours and record floods. Unprecedented fires are burning in California and elsewhere in the American West. Higher temperatures lead to drier vegetation that makes kindling for mega-fires of the kind that have been raging in Canada, Greece, Russia, China, South America, Australia and Africa. Scientists in the Department of Geophysics and Planetary Science at Tel Aviv University tell us that for every one degree increase in temperature, lightning strikes will go up another 10 percent. And it is lightning, after all, that is principally responsible for igniting the conflagration in California today.

Like a lot of people, it seems to me that all these problems are bigger than any of the solutions that have thus far been proposed for them, and that’s been worrying me.

I’m convinced that one reason we’ve seemed paralyzed in the face of these crises is our tendency to offer old solutions to each crisis separately – without taking the others into account. And these outdated proposals have not only been ineffective – they almost always make the other crises even worse.

Yet when we look at all three of these seemingly intractable challenges at the same time, we can see the common thread running through them, deeply ironic in its simplicity: our dangerous over-reliance on carbon-based fuels is at the core of all three of these challenges – the economic, environmental and national security crises.

We’re borrowing money from China to buy oil from the Persian Gulf to burn it in ways that destroy the planet. Every bit of that’s got to change.

But if we grab hold of that common thread and pull it hard, all of these complex problems begin to unravel and we will find that we’re holding the answer to all of them right in our hand.

The answer is to end our reliance on carbon-based fuels.

In my search for genuinely effective answers to the climate crisis, I have held a series of “solutions summits” with engineers, scientists, and CEOs. In those discussions, one thing has become abundantly clear: when you connect the dots, it turns out that the real solutions to the climate crisis are the very same measures needed to renew our economy and escape the trap of ever-rising energy prices. Moreover, they are also the very same solutions we need to guarantee our national security without having to go to war in the Persian Gulf.

What if we could use fuels that are not expensive, don’t cause pollution and are abundantly available right here at home?

We have such fuels. Scientists have confirmed that enough solar energy falls on the surface of the earth every 40 minutes to meet 100 percent of the entire world’s energy needs for a full year. Tapping just a small portion of this solar energy could provide all of the electricity America uses.

And enough wind power blows through the Midwest corridor every day to also meet 100 percent of US electricity demand. Geothermal energy, similarly, is capable of providing enormous supplies of electricity for America.

The quickest, cheapest and best way to start using all this renewable energy is in the production of electricity. In fact, we can start right now using solar power, wind power and geothermal power to make electricity for our homes and businesses.

But to make this exciting potential a reality, and truly solve our nation’s problems, we need a new start.

That’s why I’m proposing today a strategic initiative designed to free us from the crises that are holding us down and to regain control of our own destiny. It’s not the only thing we need to do. But this strategic challenge is the lynchpin of a bold new strategy needed to re-power America.

Today I challenge our nation to commit to producing 100 percent of our electricity from renewable energy and truly clean carbon-free sources within 10 years.

This goal is achievable, affordable and transformative. It represents a challenge to all Americans – in every walk of life: to our political leaders, entrepreneurs, innovators, engineers, and to every citizen.

A few years ago, it would not have been possible to issue such a challenge. But here’s what’s changed: the sharp cost reductions now beginning to take place in solar, wind, and geothermal power – coupled with the recent dramatic price increases for oil and coal – have radically changed the economics of energy.

When I first went to Congress 32 years ago, I listened to experts testify that if oil ever got to $35 a barrel, then renewable sources of energy would become competitive. Well, today, the price of oil is over $135 per barrel. And sure enough, billions of dollars of new investment are flowing into the development of concentrated solar thermal, photovoltaics, windmills, geothermal plants, and a variety of ingenious new ways to improve our efficiency and conserve presently wasted energy.

And as the demand for renewable energy grows, the costs will continue to fall. Let me give you one revealing example: the price of the specialized silicon used to make solar cells was recently as high as $300 per kilogram. But the newest contracts have prices as low as $50 a kilogram.

You know, the same thing happened with computer chips – also made out of silicon. The price paid for the same performance came down by 50 percent every 18 months – year after year, and that’s what’s happened for 40 years in a row.

To those who argue that we do not yet have the technology to accomplish these results with renewable energy: I ask them to come with me to meet the entrepreneurs who will drive this revolution. I’ve seen what they are doing and I have no doubt that we can meet this challenge.

To those who say the costs are still too high: I ask them to consider whether the costs of oil and coal will ever stop increasing if we keep relying on quickly depleting energy sources to feed a rapidly growing demand all around the world. When demand for oil and coal increases, their price goes up. When demand for solar cells increases, the price often comes down.

When we send money to foreign countries to buy nearly 70 percent of the oil we use every day, they build new skyscrapers and we lose jobs. When we spend that money building solar arrays and windmills, we build competitive industries and gain jobs here at home.

Of course there are those who will tell us this can’t be done. Some of the voices we hear are the defenders of the status quo – the ones with a vested interest in perpetuating the current system, no matter how high a price the rest of us will have to pay. But even those who reap the profits of the carbon age have to recognize the inevitability of its demise. As one OPEC oil minister observed, “The Stone Age didn’t end because of a shortage of stones.”

To those who say 10 years is not enough time, I respectfully ask them to consider what the world’s scientists are telling us about the risks we face if we don’t act in 10 years. The leading experts predict that we have less than 10 years to make dramatic changes in our global warming pollution lest we lose our ability to ever recover from this environmental crisis. When the use of oil and coal goes up, pollution goes up. When the use of solar, wind and geothermal increases, pollution comes down.

To those who say the challenge is not politically viable: I suggest they go before the American people and try to defend the status quo. Then bear witness to the people’s appetite for change.

I for one do not believe our country can withstand 10 more years of the status quo. Our families cannot stand 10 more years of gas price increases. Our workers cannot stand 10 more years of job losses and outsourcing of factories. Our economy cannot stand 10 more years of sending $2 billion every 24 hours to foreign countries for oil. And our soldiers and their families cannot take another 10 years of repeated troop deployments to dangerous regions that just happen to have large oil supplies.

What could we do instead for the next 10 years? What should we do during the next 10 years? Some of our greatest accomplishments as a nation have resulted from commitments to reach a goal that fell well beyond the next election: the Marshall Plan, Social Security, the interstate highway system. But a political promise to do something 40 years from now is universally ignored because everyone knows that it’s meaningless. Ten years is about the maximum time that we as a nation can hold a steady aim and hit our target.

When President John F. Kennedy challenged our nation to land a man on the moon and bring him back safely in 10 years, many people doubted we could accomplish that goal. But 8 years and 2 months later, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin walked on the surface of the moon.

To be sure, reaching the goal of 100 percent renewable and truly clean electricity within 10 years will require us to overcome many obstacles. At present, for example, we do not have a unified national grid that is sufficiently advanced to link the areas where the sun shines and the wind blows to the cities in the East and the West that need the electricity. Our national electric grid is critical infrastructure, as vital to the health and security of our economy as our highways and telecommunication networks. Today, our grids are antiquated, fragile, and vulnerable to cascading failure. Power outages and defects in the current grid system cost US businesses more than $120 billion dollars a year. It has to be upgraded anyway.

We could further increase the value and efficiency of a Unified National Grid by helping our struggling auto giants switch to the manufacture of plug-in electric cars. An electric vehicle fleet would sharply reduce the cost of driving a car, reduce pollution, and increase the flexibility of our electricity grid.

At the same time, of course, we need to greatly improve our commitment to efficiency and conservation. That’s the best investment we can make.

America’s transition to renewable energy sources must also include adequate provisions to assist those Americans who would unfairly face hardship. For example, we must recognize those who have toiled in dangerous conditions to bring us our present energy supply. We should guarantee good jobs in the fresh air and sunshine for any coal miner displaced by impacts on the coal industry. Every single one of them.

Of course, we could and should speed up this transition by insisting that the price of carbon-based energy include the costs of the environmental damage it causes. I have long supported a sharp reduction in payroll taxes with the difference made up in CO2 taxes. We should tax what we burn, not what we earn. This is the single most important policy change we can make.

In order to foster international cooperation, it is also essential that the United States rejoin the global community and lead efforts to secure an international treaty at Copenhagen in December of next year that includes a cap on CO2 emissions and a global partnership that recognizes the necessity of addressing the threats of extreme poverty and disease as part of the world’s agenda for solving the climate crisis.

Of course the greatest obstacle to meeting the challenge of 100 percent renewable electricity in 10 years may be the deep dysfunction of our politics and our self-governing system as it exists today. In recent years, our politics has tended toward incremental proposals made up of small policies designed to avoid offending special interests, alternating with occasional baby steps in the right direction. Our democracy has become sclerotic at a time when these crises require boldness.

It is only a truly dysfunctional system that would buy into the perverse logic that the short-term answer to high gasoline prices is drilling for more oil ten years from now.

Am I the only one who finds it strange that our government so often adopts a so-called solution that has absolutely nothing to do with the problem it is supposed to address? When people rightly complain about higher gasoline prices, we propose to give more money to the oil companies and pretend that they’re going to bring gasoline prices down. It will do nothing of the sort, and everyone knows it. If we keep going back to the same policies that have never ever worked in the past and have served only to produce the highest gasoline prices in history alongside the greatest oil company profits in history, nobody should be surprised if we get the same result over and over again. But the Congress may be poised to move in that direction anyway because some of them are being stampeded by lobbyists for special interests that know how to make the system work for them instead of the American people.

If you want to know the truth about gasoline prices, here it is: the exploding demand for oil, especially in places like China, is overwhelming the rate of new discoveries by so much that oil prices are almost certain to continue upward over time no matter what the oil companies promise. And politicians cannot bring gasoline prices down in the short term.

However, there actually is one extremely effective way to bring the costs of driving a car way down within a few short years. The way to bring gas prices down is to end our dependence on oil and use the renewable sources that can give us the equivalent of $1 per gallon gasoline.

Many Americans have begun to wonder whether or not we’ve simply lost our appetite for bold policy solutions. And folks who claim to know how our system works these days have told us we might as well forget about our political system doing anything bold, especially if it is contrary to the wishes of special interests. And I’ve got to admit, that sure seems to be the way things have been going. But I’ve begun to hear different voices in this country from people who are not only tired of baby steps and special interest politics, but are hungry for a new, different and bold approach.

We are on the eve of a presidential election. We are in the midst of an international climate treaty process that will conclude its work before the end of the first year of the new president’s term. It is a great error to say that the United States must wait for others to join us in this matter. In fact, we must move first, because that is the key to getting others to follow; and because moving first is in our own national interest.

So I ask you to join with me to call on every candidate, at every level, to accept this challenge – for America to be running on 100 percent zero-carbon electricity in 10 years. It’s time for us to move beyond empty rhetoric. We need to act now.

This is a generational moment. A moment when we decide our own path and our collective fate. I’m asking you – each of you – to join me and build this future. Please join the WE campaign at www.wecansolveit.org. We need you. And we need you now. We’re committed to changing not just light bulbs, but laws. And laws will only change with leadership.

On July 16, 1969, the United States of America was finally ready to meet President Kennedy’s challenge of landing Americans on the moon. I will never forget standing beside my father a few miles from the launch site, waiting for the giant Saturn 5 rocket to lift Apollo 11 into the sky. I was a young man, 21 years old, who had graduated from college a month before and was enlisting in the United States Army three weeks later.

I will never forget the inspiration of those minutes. The power and the vibration of the giant rocket’s engines shook my entire body. As I watched the rocket rise, slowly at first and then with great speed, the sound was deafening. We craned our necks to follow its path until we were looking straight up into the air. And then four days later, I watched along with hundreds of millions of others around the world as Neil Armstrong took one small step to the surface of the moon and changed the history of the human race.

We must now lift our nation to reach another goal that will change history. Our entire civilization depends upon us now embarking on a new journey of exploration and discovery. Our success depends on our willingness as a people to undertake this journey and to complete it within 10 years. Once again, we have an opportunity to take a giant leap for humankind.

- Al Gore’s “Generational Challenge to Repower America,” delivered July 17, 2008 at a Washington D.C. energy conference. Transcript via We Can Solve It.

————————-

Tagged: al gore speech transcript we can solve it environment environmental environmentalism environmentalist global warming climate change natural disasters carbon energy oil gas drilling animals wildlife conservation go veg video youtube flickr photos

KINSHIP CIRCLE ANIMAL DISASTER AID NETWORK
Communicating during disasters to mobilize volunteers, supplies, and other resources for animal victims. www.kinshipcircle.org/disasters

7/12/08: Next Steps: Volunteer In Future Disasters
Over the summer, Kinship Circle Animal Disaster Aid Network is updating its volunteer database to keep your skills and experience on file — in the event we are recruited to directly deploy responders in future disasters. (We do NOT automatically send volunteers to every disaster).

=======================

1. Please Fill Out Attached Volunteer Form!

=======================

Your filled-out form will help us contact and send volunteers more efficiently in future disasters.

1. FILL OUT THE ATTACHED FORM:

www.kcfreecycle.org/images/KCDisasterAid_VolunteerForm.doc

2. EMAIL IT BACK TO: kinshipcircle [at] accessus.net

3. TYPE IN SUBJECT LINE: KC ANIMAL DISASTER AID NETWORK

(If you do not type this in subject line, your form may be overlooked).

If you are reading this message as a cross-post, not directly from Kinship Circle:

1. You must subscribe to Kinship Circle Animal Disaster Network email list.
2. You may subscribe when sending back your completed form.
3. In your email, type: SUBSCRIBE to KC Animal Disaster Aid Network

NOTE: KC Animal Disaster Aid Network will always remain a news service for anyone interested in animal disaster victims, but not hands-on volunteering.

=======================

2. Next Steps: Kinship Circle Disaster Aid Network

=======================

As most on this list know, in early June Iowa EOC/State Veterinary Response recruited Kinship Circle to coordinate volunteers for Iowa flood victims. We learned a lot during our work alongside other national disaster response groups in the area… Our experience with state officials and county coordinators at Johnson County Fairgrounds and Lee County Fairgrounds was so successful — we wish to gratefully acknowledge those volunteers who brought their experience, professionalism and devotion to animals in need.

Kinship Circle’s disaster aid network continues to grow since its origins during Hurricane Katrina…

* We’re a list of INDEPENDENT VOLUNTEERS, each responsible for obtaining his/her training and certification in animal disaster aid response.

* We’ll continue to provide NEWSLETTERS to update you on animal victims in disasters and give you the means to donate money or supplies. Please note: Until our volunteer staff expands, we can’t research every disaster (although we wish we could!)

* We are currently forming an ADVISORY BOARD to enhance our disaster outreach, when/where needed. A solid volunteer database will enable this network to have a stronger presence in future disasters.

=======================

KINSHIP CIRCLE OFF-LINE FROM JULY 17 – JULY 22

=======================

KINSHIP CIRCLE WILL BE OFF-LINE: JULY 17 to JULY 22, 2008

Brenda Shoss and board member Bridget Soeder will present and exhibit at the Taking Action For Animals (TAFA) conference in Washington, DC.

Our workshop, “Internet Activism & The Power Of Words” is on Sunday, 7/20/08, from 2:45 to 3:45pm

The TAFA conference is held at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City in Arlington, Virginia. Tickets are still available. Read more about Taking Action For Animals — from July 19-21: www.takingactionforanimals.org

***************************

Kinship Circle Animal Disaster Aid Network was enlisted by Iowa EOC/State Veterinary Response to coordinate volunteers for animal flood victims… We have yet to recover huge communications costs. Any donations are greatly appreciated at this time. Kinship Circle is a 501c3 nonprofit organization. All contributions are tax-deductible.

DONATE ONLINE: www.kinshipcircle.org/donation/

DONATE BY MAIL: Kinship Circle
7380 Kingsbury Blvd.; St. Louis, MO 63130

“Kinship Circle is a wonderful animal welfare/disaster/rescue alert organization. They are a small but dedicated operation.” Nancy Dieterle, Kinship Circle volunteer at Johnson County Fairgrounds, in Iowa City and Lee County Fairgrounds, in Donnellson, Iowa.

***************************

Action Campaigns I Literature I Animal Disaster Aid Networking
info [at] kinshipcircle.org or kinshipcircle [at] accessus.net
www.KinshipCircle.org * www.kinshipcircle.org/disasters/

UNSUBSCRIBE:
* Select a Kinship Circle ALERT received in your mailbox
* Hit “FORWARD”
* Enter kinshipcircle [at] accessus.net
* Type UNSUBSCRIBE in your subject line and hit send

SUBSCRIBE:
Kinship Circle Primary: subscribe [at] kinshipcircle.org
Action campaigns on animal cruelty issues worldwide
Kinship Circle Animal Disaster Aid Network: kinshipcircle [at] accessus.net
Animal rescue coordination/news in disasters + companion animal alerts

———————

Tagged: animals animal welfare action alerts kinship circle brenda shoss natural disaster disaster relief disaster preparedness animal rescue pet companion animal dog canine cat feline livestock volunteer

I know that we recently reached out to you for help, but we are still in urgent need of funding to continue the mission to save pigs from the Midwest flood disaster.

This emergency rescue is historic, both in its mission and scope, and is expected to be one of the most expensive rescue operations Farm Sanctuary has ever undertaken. But we couldn’t turn our backs on farm animals in need; we couldn’t leave any pigs behind.

Farm Sanctuary’s emergency rescue team is continuing to work day and night on the ground in Iowa to save the pigs. The urgency of the situation is only growing, as we have now rescued 69 pigs, most of whom are in very poor condition and a number of whom are pregnant.

We need your help right now to provide emergency onsite care to the pigs and transport them out of the disaster zone, as we have secured all survivors on the Iowa levee. Given the condition, number and size of these animals, this endeavor is massive.

Right now, Farm Sanctuary’s National Shelter Director Susie Coston is onsite in Iowa providing triage care at a temporary holding facility. Here, the pigs are receiving care for third degree burns and treatment for abscesses and wounds.

We urgently need your additional gift this week for:

* Emergency onsite care and security
* A hired veterinarian, medical supplies, electrolytes, antibiotics
* Fans, hoses, kennels, fencing, shovels, rakes
* Temporary housing fees
* A series of large animal transport trailer trips from the disaster zone to our New York Shelter

Many of the farms hit by floodwaters were factory farms where breeding sows, normally confined to gestation crates, are continually impregnated to produce piglets for the pork industry. This means that a number of female pigs we have rescued are in late-term pregnancy and will soon be giving birth to babies, adding significantly to our total number of rescued pigs and making this huge-scale rescue even more challenging.

We need your additional gift today to continue this mission and bring these pigs to sanctuary, where they will be given the vital care they need to recover. Please help the pigs now with a special gift: secure2.vegsource.com/farmsanc/fs/donate_erf_pigs08_alert.html

Many of these pigs once faced a lifetime of confinement in a dark factory building, only to be brutally slaughtered for pork. Today,
they have a chance to live.

Please, help care for and transport the pigs to safety with a donation now.

Yours for the pigs,
Gene Baur
President & Co-founder

Click the link below to view this message as HTML in your browser: action.farmsanctuary.org/site/MessageViewer?em_id=3781.0

————————-

Tagged: animals animal welfare action alerts farm sanctuary natural disaster flood floods flooding midwest iowa missouri indiana animal rescue livestock farm animals farmed animals pigs adopt volunteer donate news in the news flickr photos

KINSHIP CIRCLE PRIMARY / MIDWEST FLOODS OF 2008

7/3/08: Images From A Flood + Rescued Pigs Need Homes
As rescue and emergency sheltering operations head toward maintenance, we share a last glimpse of the flood that covered over 80% of Iowa…and some of the animals who survived.

Photo courtesy of Molly Wald, Best Friends Animal Society.

www.bestfriends.org

IN THIS ALERT:

1. Iowa Floods: Pigs, Pups & Kittens
2. Red Rover, Red Rover…Send Piggy Right Over!
3. Homes Urgently Needed For Rescued Pigs
4. Tessa’s Reunion

====================

1. Pigs, Pups & Kittens

====================

THE WEEK OF JUNE 14, 2008:

Kinship Circle begins discussions with Iowa EOC/State Veterinary Response Coordinator. We are asked to coordinate volunteers in areas other than Cedar Rapids, as HSUS and UAN/EARS are already there. We contact Best Friends Rapid Response Team and ask Iowa officials to enlist them for water rescue. Iowa EOC (Emergency Operations Center) requests a certified water rescue team for “use in search and rescue operations in Louisa, Des Moines, Lee, Johnson or Linn counties as needed.”

Within days, rescue operations are underway — with Kinship Circle emergency sheltering volunteers at Johnson County Fairgrounds in Iowa City, and Lee County Fairgrounds in Donnellson, Iowa.

FROM CHERI DEATSCH, KINSHIP CIRCLE VOLUNTEER:

Lee County Fairgrounds staging area, Donnellson, Iowa: The cats and dogs who come to Lee County are in very good condition or very poor condition. A cat brought in as one of the last rescues is covered in some sort of oily goop that mattes her entire coat from the shoulders down. Despite her terror, she’s ravenous, eating an entire can of wet food once safe in a cage.

The dogs (LEFT PHOTO) are Buddy and Stranger, lying down. Both are surrendered by an owner whose rural property was overrun by the flood waters. Both have terrible fleas, and mange. Stranger’s mange is so bad it caused him to lose most of the hair on the back half of his body. Many animals, such as a beagle (RIGHT PHOTO) are dehydrated and malnourished, but generally happy to be safe and back in a pack! (right photo: David Halperin, Kinship Circle volunteer)

FROM ROBYN URMAN, KINSHIP CIRCLE VOLUNTEER:

LEFT: Chewy is saved and reunited with his family. RIGHT: A rescued cat awaits transport to a flood shelter. Photos: Robyn Urman, Kinship Circle

6/23/08: FROM KINSHIP CIRCLE’S DAILY CONFERENCE CALLS WITH IOWA EOC:

Iowa officials report that over 10,000 acres of land has been underwater. Thousands of evacuated residents seek ways to put their lives back together. Some Oakville, IA residents go to Lee County Fairgrounds to report addresses where cats (mostly) were left during evacuations. As water levels recede, navigation by boat is treacherous. Rescue attempts move slowly. Most left-behind cats are frightened and hide by day. In accordance, rescue teams make preparations to do night search rescues…

LEFT: Kinship Circle volunteers Bob Rude and Cheri Deatsch make food drops for stranded animals in Oakville, Iowa. RIGHT: A cat with her food. Photos courtesy of Molly Wald, Best Friends Animal Society.

====================

2. Red Rover, Red Rover…Send Piggy Right Over!

====================

IN THE MEANTIME, PIGS ARE EVERYWHERE…

They’re adrift from flooded hog farms, some still encased in crates. While 40,000 pigs were pre-evacuated, some 4,000 die. Pigs who scramble atop levees are shot dead by officials concerned they’ll ruin sandbags. Many more drown. Early in this operation, Kinship Circle called Farm Sanctuary to ask if their Emergency Rescue Team could come to Iowa. KC volunteers assist Farm Sanctuary in initial rescues. A coalition of Farm Sanctuary, International Fund for Animal Welfare, American Humane Association, and Animal Rescue League of Boston continue to recover pigs from levee systems…

KINSHIP CIRCLE VOLS ASSIST FARM SANCTUARY IN PIG RESCUE

BOB RUDE, 6/24/08: We arrive in Oakville around 7:00 am. We check out the area and notice a couple pigs. Farm Sanctuary is there and tells us they spent the night trying to catch pigs. They managed to get three by herding them to their trailer, but had no luck after. In the meantime Dan (Farm Sanctuary) and I hear a couple pigs in the underbrush. We devise a plan and then work at catching the 2 pigs. We manage to catch 1 on that attempt…

CHERI DEATSCH, 6/24/08: First, we (Dan and Chuck from Farm Sanctuary with Bob Rude, David Halperin, and I from Kinship Circle) begin herding both pigs, who had been lying together in the forested ravine. We use red pig boards to herd them into a makeshift corral… Once in the corral, the pigs run full speed at the fencing — held up only by the five of us… It reminded me of the childhood game Red Rover, where you run at full speed and try to bust through the arms of the other kids holding hands. “Red rover, red rover, send piggy right over!”

CHERI DEATSCH: The foreground shows Ethan (Best Friends) trying to catchpole the pig, and me to the right behind the “pig board.” In the background is Dan from Farm Sanctuary. It really captures the essence of the chase… It also shows how big that pig really was. He didn’t seem that big at the time! Photo courtesy of Molly Wald, Best Friends Animal Society.

The pigs are so frantic…one manages to escape. We loop a catchpole around the other’s neck. Bob, Chuck and Dan hold the pig on the ground while Dave and I run for the largest dog carrier we can find…

The most amazing thing: The pig who escaped refuses to leave his friend and waits nearby as we load the pig into the carrier. This pig trots behind us down the length of the levee. Then, when we turn our attention to his capture, he runs off. But, he comes back! About an hour or two later, we find him standing outside the trailer where his friend is! I can’t believe his loyalty and attachment. It makes me determined to rescue him, not only to prevent him from a horrible fate, but to reunite him with this other pig to whom he is so obviously attached.

CHERI: Pigs are so exhausted after their ordeal — without food, water, and shelter for days — that once in the trailer, they immediately lay on top of each other (like they need comfort) despite ample room to spread out.

LEFT: Newly-rescued pig with badly sunburned ears. RIGHT: Coalition member comforts pig newly-arrived at the staging area. Photos courtesy of Farm Sanctuary, farmsanctuary.org/actionalerts/alert_erf_appeal08.html

CHERI DEATSCH 6/25/07: The next day we travel to the Wappello holding area to feed them. They are still so exhausted they won’t even get up when I enter the pen. Again, they’re lying on top of each other sleeping peacefully. They seem so relieved, relaxed and happy to be full and out of the sun. All of them have sunburn so bad their ears are cracked and bleeding. Farm Sanctuary people put aloe vera gel on their sunburn…

DAVID HALPERIN: When Cheri’s cell phone rings, it plays a classical melody. Momma pig’s (above) ears and head shoot right up. It’s clear she’s never heard such music…and really enjoys it. LEFT: Molly Wald, Best Friends Animal Society. RIGHT: Cheri Deatsch, with Momma

Once I feed them, they actually become playful. Momma pig, who weighs at least 300 lbs, begins tipping over the water… I can’t figure out what she is doing and get nervous because she’s a bit rambunctious. I soon learn it is because she’s making mud in the pen to lie in. So smart! (KINSHIP CIRCLE: Take a pig out of her factory-farm confinement crate. Give her straw, shade, mud…and soon she returns to her natural self: A genuine pig!)

====================

3. Homes Urgently Needed For Rescued Pigs

====================

All photos in section #3 courtesy of Farm Sanctuary, farmsanctuary.org/actionalerts/alert_erf_appeal08.html

FARM SANCTUARY NEEDS ADOPTIVE HOMES FOR PIGS FROM MIDWEST FLOOD DISASTER:

7/2/08: Farm Sanctuary’s emergency rescue team is currently on the ground in Oakville, Iowa saving pigs stranded in the Mississippi River floods and providing them with emergency care and temporary shelter… We now have 28 pigs in our custody. Many are in critical condition (suffering from injuries, pneumonia, third degree sunburns) and are receiving urgent care.

We continue to find more and more pigs still alive, surviving against all odds in fields, on levees, anywhere they can find refuge. After this tremendous demonstration of their will to live…they deserve peace and comfort in their lives. PLEASE HELP by providing an adoptive home for as many pigs as you can.

Many of the rescued pigs swam for their lives to escape deadly flood waters. They were stranded without food or water, injured, sick, frightened, and confused. These pigs need you to give them hope for the future and keep them safe from harm forever.

ADOPT A PIG INTO YOUR HOME TODAY!

* Contact our Farm Animal Adoption Network: 607-583-2225 ext. 223,
* Or email shelter [at] farmsanctuary.org
* Or visit us online at www.farmsanctuary.org/rescue/adoption.html
* You can also learn more about pig care at www.farmsanctuary.org/rescue/care.html

EMERGENCY RESCUE FUND DONATIONS STILL NEEDED

secure2.vegsource.com/farmsanc/fs/donate_erf_pigs08_alert.html

If you are unable to open your home to animals in need, please consider donating now to our Emergency Rescue Fund, already hard at work funding this critical rescue operation and providing aid to pigs and other farm animals.

====================

4. Tessa’s Reunion

====================

6/26/08: AN IOWA REUNION, BY BOB RUDE
From ruderanch [at] comcast.net — Bob Rude, Executive Director of Rude Ranch Animal Rescue, based in Harwood, MD spent a week in Lee County Iowa, working through Kinship Circle to rescue and aid the animal victims of the Midwest flooding. As he was preparing to pack up to head home on Thursday, a frantic call came in: A couple by the name of Tom Marterman and Jerri Shute were desperately trying to locate their 12 year old cat, Tessa.

Unfortunately, Tessa’s house was flooded and destroyed in Oakville. Tom and Jerri were part of the mandatory evacuation from Oakville before the flood waters hit. Tom and Jerri only had about 30 minutes to prepare to leave. They managed to get the three family dogs and their bird in the car, but Tessa got scared and ran off.

Her family ended up camping in a church parking lot while they are trying to figure out what to do. They also kept trying to find Tessa. Tom even went back into town himself in a canoe but couldn’t find her. Finally they called Lee County Fairgrounds and spoke to a volunteer from Animal Protection League of Southeast Iowa. They asked if an older cat with no tail and no teeth had come in… As luck would have it, she was there. Also luckily for Tessa, her family was along Bob’s route to get back to Maryland.

Bob met up with Tessa’s family in Louisa County. Both Tessa and her family were glad to see each other. Yesterday was Jerri’s birthday, and she said seeing Tessa alive and well was the best birthday present!

For further information, contact Kathy at 410-798-9559
Rude Ranch Animal Rescue, www.ruderanch.org

*************************

Kinship Circle Animal Disaster Aid Network was enlisted to send volunteers for animal flood victims. DONATIONS are greatly appreciated at this time. Kinship Circle is a 501c3 nonprofit organization. All contributions are tax-deductible.

DONATE ONLINE: www.kinshipcircle.org/donation/

DONATE BY MAIL: Kinship Circle
7380 Kingsbury Blvd.; St. Louis, MO 63130

“Kinship Circle is a wonderful animal welfare/disaster aid organization. They are a small but dedicated operation.” Nancy Dieterle, Kinship Circle volunteer at Johnson County Fairgrounds in Iowa City and Lee County Fairgrounds in Donnellson, Iowa.

*************************

Action Campaigns I Literature I Animal Disaster Aid Networking
info [at] kinshipcircle.org or kinshipcircle [at] accessus.net
www.KinshipCircle.org * www.kinshipcircle.org/disasters/

UNSUBSCRIBE:
* Select a Kinship Circle ALERT received in your mailbox
* Hit “FORWARD”
* Enter kinshipcircle [at] accessus.net
* Type UNSUBSCRIBE in your subject line and hit send

SUBSCRIBE:
Kinship Circle Primary: subscribe [at] kinshipcircle.org
Action campaigns on animal cruelty issues worldwide
Kinship Circle Animal Disaster Aid Network: kinshipcircle [at] accessus.net
Animal rescue coordination/news in disasters + companion animal alerts

——————————–

Tagged: animals animal welfare action alerts kinship circle brenda shoss natural disaster flood floods flooding iowa midwest indiana wisconsin cedar rapids disaster relief disaster response pet companion animal dog canine cat feline livestock horse cow bovine volunteer donate flickr photos news in the news farm sanctuary best friends best friends animal society foster farmed animals farm animals oakville molly ward bob rude robyn urman Cheri Deatsch