May Newsletter: Jackie Coyote's 15-Year Anniversary at PAWS; update on Mack the 3-legged black bear; action you can take to help elephants and big cats; and lots more!

May 2017 News

PERFORMING ANIMAL WELFARE SOCIETY

Thirty-three years of protection, education, advocacy & sanctuary

Jackie Coyote's 15-Year Anniversary at PAWS

It was in 2002 that a small, human-dependent coyote (pictured above) first arrived at PAWS. We named her Jackie. She had been found by the side of a road by a well-meaning person who, instead of leaving her alone or taking her to a licensed wildlife rehabilitator, took Jackie home and fed her with a bottle as if she were a young domestic dog. In a home setting, with intensive human contact, Jackie quickly became very attached to the person who found her, losing her natural fear of people. This made her a poor candidate for successful return to a life in the wild.

It is critically important for young coyotes to learn from their own mothers how to survive. Wild mothers often leave their small pups alone and hidden for extended periods of time while they look for food. When people come across these pups they may mistakenly think they have been abandoned or orphaned, and attempt to intervene. Unfortunately, once a young coyote becomes habituated to people it is extraordinarily difficult, if not impossible, to completely "re-wild" them. They will always remember that people are a source of food and shelter. If a hand-raised coyote is released into the wild there is always a chance the animal will seek human attention and may end up being killed because coyotes are often seen as a danger to humans and pets.

Jackie's enclosure at our Galt sanctuary is filled with tall grasses to hide in and soft soil for digging. She likes to curl up and watch the world from hiding spots she has created among tufts of grass. Although she remains rather aloof with most of her keepers, she seems to enjoy visits from PAWS' co-founder Ed Stewart and veterinarian Dr. Jackie Gai. Jackie was also especially fond of PAWS co-founder, the late Pat Derby, who often "sang" with Jackie, resulting in a joyous display of tail wagging and howling from this sweet coyote.

One November morning just over a year and half ago, Jackie suffered a stroke. It was a sudden and devastating event that rendered her partially paralyzed and disoriented. Because of her trust and affection for Dr. Gai, whom she literally leaned on for support while re-learning to stand and walk, she gradually regained her strength and mobility over a period of several weeks. (To read more about Jackie's stroke and her journey back to health, click here).

Thanks to her strength and determination, as well as supportive medications and nutritional supplements, Jackie recovered well from this setback and was soon back to her playful, curious self. In terms of coyote lifespan, Jackie is considered elderly and although she has a hitch in her gait due to neurologic damage from the stroke, she is content and active and still enjoys visits with her favorite people.

To donate towards Jackie's care, click here. If you would like to "adopt" Jackie, click here for more information about PAWS' animal adoption program.

New Video of Mack the Bear

Makes Quite a Splash!

Mack is an orphaned, three-legged black bear who arrived at PAWS in August 2016. During the nine months since his arrival, he has made himself right at home at our Galt sanctuary. Mack lives in a specially-designed habitat that is safe and easy to navigate for a young bear with a disability. Although no one knows how he lost part of his leg, it is suspected that it may have been traumatically amputated in a trap.

Mack has not let his rough start in life slow him down. He spends hours each day exploring his enclosure and playing in his pool. He especially loves the fountain-like stream of water that his keepers set up for him. Read Mack's story here, and click on the arrow below to watch a new, heartwarming video of this special bear.

BIG Day of Giving a Huge Success!

A big thank you to everyone who donated so generously to PAWS on the BIG Day of Giving on May 4th, an annual 24-hour challenge for non-profit organizations in the Sacramento, California, area, but open to donors around the world. Because of you, we raised $24,633 in 24 hours for the feeding and care of the many rescued or retired animals living at our three sanctuaries, including elephants, tigers, bears, emu, primates and others.

We're grateful for your kindness and generosity, and for making the work we do possible.

3rd Grade Animal Lover

Raises Funds for PAWS

Caressa Cordova (pictured above) is a third grade student at the MUSE school in Calabasas, California, who cares deeply about animals. She is especially passionate about elephants and decided to learn more about them for a school project. Caressa studied wild elephants and the challenges they face, such as poaching for the ivory trade, and the abuse of captive elephants in circuses and other entertainment.

Inspired by her studies, Caressa circulated a petition among her classmates, with students pledging to never visit a circus with wild animals. She then designed and created beautiful, one-of-a-kind block print t-shirts (below) and greeting cards, and offered them for sale at her school. All of the proceeds ($225!) from the sale were donated to PAWS.

Through this project, Caressa raised awareness about wild and captive elephants, and helped the animals at PAWS. More important, she showed that the actions of every individual help make a big difference for animals.

PAWS Advocacy: Updates

PAWS actively supports important legislative efforts around the country addressing the use of wild animals for entertainment, including working with legislators on animal protection bills, providing expert testimony and assistance, and mobilizing our supporters to take action. Following are some important legislative updates, opportunities for action, and news about an important victory.

Urgent Action Needed

for New York City Bill!

If you are a New York City resident, please take action today! Councilmember Rosie Mendez's bill, Intro 1233, to ban the use of wild or exotic animals in entertainment, is expected to go to a vote soon. PAWS testified in committee last year on this key bill. If you live in NYC, please make one crucial phone call to your council member, and urge him/her to vote yes on Intro 1233, the bill to prohibit wild animal performances in NYC. Click here to locate your NYC council member.

Illinois

A bill to ban the use of elephants in traveling shows is now on Governor Rauner's desk. If you live in Illinois, please send a message to the governor here , urging him to sign the bill. Under "Subject," choose "SB1342: Ban Elephants in Circuses" from the menu so your message is properly delivered.

Massachusetts

PAWS Director of Science, Research and Advocacy Catherine Doyle testified before the Massachusetts Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture earlier this month in support of a bill to end the use of elephants in traveling animal acts. If you live in Massachusetts, please contact your state senator and representative and urge support for S. 1898 and H. 418, respectively. To find your state legislators, click here .

New York State

The Elephant Protection Act, a bill that would ban the use of elephants in entertainment acts, has passed the state Senate and is now headed for a vote in the Assembly. If you live in New York State, please call your Assembly member and urge support for A464B, the Elephant Protection Act. To locate your Assembly member, click here .

Los Angeles, California

Victory! The Los Angeles City Council unanimously voted to direct the city attorney's office to draft an ordinance prohibiting the use of wild animals for entertainment. Once written, the ordinance must return to committee for review before proceeding to the full council for final approval. PAWS has been working closely with Councilmember Ryu's office on this important ordinance along with The Humane Society of the United States, and the support of the Animal Legal Defense Fund, PETA Foundation, In Defense of Animals and Born Free USA. We will keep you informed as the ordinance nears final approval.

Take Action to Stop Big Cats

Export to German Circus

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) has published a notice that Feld Entertainment, owner of the recently closed Ringling Bros. Circus, is applying for an Endangered Species Act permit to export 15 big cats (lions, tigers and a leopard) to the Zirkus Krone in Germany. Rather than send the cats to a sanctuary or other acceptable location, these animals will instead continue to endure the inhumane conditions that are inseparable from circuses, including constant travel, intensive confinement and abusive training methods.

Issuance of a permit by the FWS requires an applicant to demonstrate that the underlying activity for which the permit is sought will enhance the propagation or survival of the species. In reality, the use of big cats in circuses fails to educate the public or provide any conservation benefit for the species. In fact, research has shown that seeing an endangered species such as the chimpanzee in an entertainment context can hinder conservation efforts. Still, the FWS has historically engaged in a controversial "pay-to-play" approach that enables an applicant to make a token donation to a conservation program to fulfill the conservation enhancement requirement.

Please submit a comment to the FWS by June 26, 2017, in opposition to issuance of a permit to export the big cats to Germany. (The application is available for viewing on the website.) In your comments, please reference Feld Entertainment, Inc., PRT-22685C. Thank you!

Support Proposed Hong Kong Ivory Ban - Urgent Action Needed by June 5

The government of Hong Kong is proposing to prohibit the local ivory trade by banning the import, re-export and possession of pre-Convention ivory (acquired before 1975) for commercial purposes. The ivory trade is lobbying hard against this important legislation, and PAWS needs your help to ensure it is passed.

Hong Kong currently allows the trade of pre-Convention ivory products such as ivory carvings and crafts, as long as accompanied by certificates of verification. The problem is that pre-Convention ivory is often a cover for illegal ivory taken from recently poached elephants. Nearly one hundred African elephants are slaughtered each day for their tusks, threatening their very existence. Hong Kong is also considered to be an important hub for the transit of illegal ivory to China and the rest of Asia, making the need for legislation even more critical.

The ivory trade is working to derail the Hong Kong proposal, including demanding that compensation for loss of business be written into the bill. This could cause the bill to be abandoned altogether, potentially fueling even more elephant poaching. The Hong Kong government needs to hear from the world that elephants are more important than trinkets. Your message counts more than ever!

What you can do

Send an email by June 5 in support of the proposed ban to the Honorable Tanya Chan, Chairman of the Environmental Affairs Panel, at [email protected] .

You can use the following sample message (please personalize your message as much as possible to make it even more effective):

To the Honorable Tanya Chan,

I fully support Hong Kong's proposed legislation to prohibit the import, re-export and possession of pre-Convention ivory for commercial purposes, as well as increased penalties for wildlife crimes. Please reject any amendment that would include any type of compensation for ivory traders. No jurisdiction that has passed a ban on ivory sales has included this provision.

I write as someone who cares deeply about elephants, who are being driven toward extinction because of the ivory trade. The action you take now will determine the future of elephants, and whether coming generations will share the planet with these intelligent, self-aware and sensitive animals.

Thank you.

Please remember to send your email by June 5! Ask friend, family and colleagues to send a message as well. Each and every email counts!

Pictured: Kenny, an inbred white tiger.

Photograph courtesy of Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge

More PAWS Advocacy. . .

Fighting the inhumane breeding

of big cat hybrids

PAWS is proud to be part of a group of organizations that recently submitted a petition for rulemaking to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) seeking to end the creation of "Frankencats" - tiger and lion hybrids that include ligers, tigons and liligers (see descriptions below). The breeding of these unnatural hybrids produces cats who are more likely to experience a range of debilitating health problems than other big cats. Other group members include Animal Legal Defense Fund, Big Cat Rescue, Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries, Keepers of the Wild, Lions, Tigers & Bears, PETA Foundation and The Wildcat Sanctuary.

Ligers are the result of breeding a female tiger with a male lion, and tigons result from breeding a female lion and a male tiger. Liligers are the result of breeding a male lion with a female liger. White tigers are also highly inbred, and, contrary to misleading claims, have no conservation value. While better-run zoos prohibit such breeding, these unfortunate big cats can be found in roadside zoos across the U.S.

The petition calls for changes to current federal Animal Welfare Act regulations that would require dealers or exhibitors housing big cats to specify in their written program of veterinary care details specifying methods and practices being employed to prevent inbreeding and selective breeding for deleterious genetic mutations and the creation of interspecies hybrids. PAWS will keep you informed of the progress on this important petition.

* * * *

For more information on the efforts to outlaw the breeding of "Frankencats", click here to read the article, " Ligers and tigons: activists aim to outlaw 'inhumane' breeding of frankencats" published on May 19, 2017, by theguardian.com.

PAWS' Notable Dates In May

When PAWS rescues or receives wild animals in need of sanctuary, we commit to many years of providing the best possible care for them. Meet the special animals with May birthdays, or anniversary dates marking their arrival at PAWS.

15 years at PAWS:

Jackie the coyote (left) arrived at PAWS Galt sanctuary 15 years ago this month. Her story is this month's feature article, above.

7 years at PAWS:

African lioness Camba (right) spent years in a Bolivian circus before coming to PAWS on May 28, 2010. We still fondly recall watching her step onto grass for the first time. After living in a small metal cage for most of her life, Camba now roams a large habitat and naps under shady trees. You can "adopt" Camba, and read more about her by clicking here.

12th Birthday:

Canadian Lynx Misha (left), who turned 12 this month, lived at Storybook Gardens in Canada, until her arrival at PAWS in June 2012. She now lives at PAWS' Galt Sanctuary. Click here to learn more about Misha.

30th Birthday:

Former circus elephant Prince (right) turned 30 on May 24th. We don't know much about Prince's circus days, but fate had something good in store for this deserving elephant. In July 2011, he was donated voluntarily to PAWS, at its request, by Feld Entertainment, the parent company of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. Read more about Prince, here .

PAWS Participates in 4th Global Animal

Welfare Congress at Detroit Zoo

This month, PAWS President Ed Stewart and Director of Science, Research & Advocacy Catherine Doyle participated in the 4th Global Animal Welfare Congress, titled "Zoos and Aquariums as Welfare Centers: Ethical Dimensions and Global Commitment," held at the Detroit Zoo. Spearheaded by Detroit Zoological Society CEO Ron Kagan, the three-day, invite-only event featured keynote speakers such as animal behaviorist Marc Bekoff and conservationist Carl Safina, and panel discussions featuring speakers from around the world. Ed participated in a panel on the role of zoos and aquariums in animal protection and rescue, and Catherine moderated a panel on the role of zoos in animal welfare advocacy. While many differences exist between the zoo/aquarium and animal advocacy worlds, PAWS believes in seeking areas of mutual agreement in order to further the welfare of wild animals in captivity.

Good News for Animals

The Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus performed its final show on May 21 . Since its founding in 1984, PAWS has fought to end the use of wild animals in circuses and other types of "entertainment." We are especially proud of our instrumental role in passing the bans on cruel elephant bullhooks in Los Angeles and Oakland, California, that preceded Ringling's decision to end its elephant acts last year. (These were the first U.S. cities to pass legislation where major circuses actually performed.) Not long after, the circus announced it would shut down entirely this month.

Ringling's closure reflects an important change in public attitudes about the use of wild animals in entertainment and a reported decrease in ticket sales. A 2015 Gallup poll found that 69% of Americans are concerned about wild animals in circuses.

PAWS thanks everyone who has ever protested a circus or took an action to end the use of wild animals in these shows. There are circuses still using elephants, big cats and other wild animal acts, but the writing on the wall is even clearer now: Animal circuses are quickly coming to an end. It's only a matter of time. PAWS is stepping up its efforts to end the use of wild animals for entertainment, and we hope you will join us in this fight!

More circus news . . . The European organization Animal Advocacy and Protection (AAP) reports that a Spanish circus has voluntarily ended its animal acts and relinquished two of its lions to the group. AAP also reports that a well-known French circus has made a similar decision to stop performing with wild animals and relocate them to a rescue center or sanctuary.

THANK YOU!

May Amazon Wish List Donors

Patricia L. Connelly: one 2-pack of Purell hand sanitizer. James C. Cooper: one, 10 lb. tub of Psyllium, one 5 lb. bag of Missing Link Ultimate Skin & Coat. Teresa Dillinger (donated in memory of her mother, Jean L.H. Anderson): one 2-pack of Purell hand sanitizer, one bottle of Renal Essentials. Carole Bognar: one 5 lb. tub of Psyllium, three Probiocin. Yanina Vashcenko: one pack of AAA Batteries, 60#. Anonymous Donors: one gallon of bleach, one bottle of CosequinDS, 132#, one gallon of Red Cell, one 10 lb. tub of Psyllium, one gallon of Red Cell.

VIEW OUR AMAZON WISH LIST

View wish list items that are needed,

but not listed on the Amazon list, here.

There are many ways you can help PAWS animals:


Adopt A PAWS Animal If you would like to help our animals, one of the best ways is to become an "adoptive parent," or give a PAWS adoption as a gift to an animal lover in your life. PAWS adoptions are symbolic adoptions only. No animal will be sent! Learn more PAWS Amazon Wish List View here EBAY Giving Works List items on EBAY and choose PAWS as your charity. Donate a percentage of each sale to the animals. Visit our EBAY charity listing page here. Start selling! Corporate Donations and Matching Fund Programs Learn more about what is needed. Donate Your Vehicle To PAWS. Learn more	PAWS Partnerships Help us change the life of a victim of captivity by becoming a PAWS Partner. PAWS partnerships help support our sanctuary operations and the day-to-day care of the animals. Learn more FOR EVERYONE WHO SHOPS ONLINE! Shop through IGIVE and raise money for PAWS! Up to 26% of your purchase - at more than 1,600 retailers - can be donated to PAWS. Learn more PAWS is rated a 4-Star Charity	Purchase PAWS apparel and merchandise. Clothing for adults, kids, toddlers and infants, as well as other fun merchandise like coffee mugs - available from our online gift shop . Estates/Planned Giving You can help us make sure captive wildlife in need of shelter will always have a PAWS sanctuary to call home! Learn more Donate To PAWS PAWS receives no government funding and must rely on your donations to continue our work. Three ways to give and every donation matters. Learn more