PERFORMING ANIMAL WELFARE SOCIETY Rescue. Advocacy. Sanctuary. For Life. Since 1984 January 2019 | Newsletter

African elephant Mara arrived at PAWS in January 1990. Born in the wild around 1980, she has lived at PAWS longer than any other sanctuary resident. Read her story here .

PAWS Celebrates 35 Years of Rescue, Sanctuary and Advocacy

The Performing Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) has reached yet another milestone – 35 years of working to save, care for, and advocate on behalf of captive wild animals – including elephants, bears, and big cats. And we owe it all to you, our supporters, who have been at our side throughout our amazing journey to protect these animals.   Founded in 1984 by PAWS President Ed Stewart and the late Pat Derby, PAWS has become a vital and influential organization, recognized worldwide for its expertise in the care of captive wildlife. PAWS has rescued and cared for hundreds of animals throughout the years at our three sanctuaries, from elephants, lions, tigers and bears, to monkeys, exotic antelope and emu. They have come from the entertainment industry, circuses and zoos; some were once someone's exotic pet. Among PAWS' greatest achievements is the creation of the 2,300-acre ARK 2000 sanctuary in California, which opened in 2002. PAWS established a new model for the care of captive wild animals by providing large expanses of space set in nature where big cats, bears and elephants could safely roam grassy, tree-studded hills and engage in behaviors that are important to them. More natural environments, paired with expert husbandry and veterinary care and the monitoring of animals 24 hours a day/seven days a week, make ARK 2000 an important example that others can emulate. While PAWS does not believe in keeping wild animals captive, it is imperative that those animals already in captivity be provided with the best lives possible.   While PAWS' primary focus is the rescue and care of captive wild animals, advocacy is another important part of our work. PAWS has always recognized that the only way to end the suffering of captive wild animals is to address the root problems: unrestricted breeding of exotic animals, private ownership of exotic and indigenous wild animals, and the use of wild animals as entertainment. Pat and Ed were at the forefront of efforts to investigate, document and expose circus cruelty, including brutal training, intensive confinement, and constant transport. In a 2011 article, “ The Cruelest Show on Earth ,” Mother Jones magazine called Pat the circus’ “no. 1 antagonist.”   It’s exciting to see realization of the groundwork that PAWS has laid throughout the years, with public sentiment turning against the use of wild animals in entertainment and protective legislation being passed at the local and state levels. Just this year, New Jersey passed the first statewide ban on the use of wild animals in traveling shows, and Illinois and New York passed statewide prohibitions on the use of elephants in circuses in 2017 — bills for which PAWS provided expert support. PAWS has long championed efforts to end the use of bullhooks, the menacing weapons used to control elephants through fear and pain. When Pat and Ed rescued their first elephant, "71", in 1986, they vowed to never chain her or use a bullhook to manage her — and they never did, even though it was standard practice at the time. (The more humane "protected contact" management method was later developed and is now used exclusively at PAWS.) PAWS co-sponsored the successful effort to prohibit cruel elephant bullhooks in California (enacted in 2017) and teamed up to ban bullhooks in Rhode Island. In California, we worked alongside The Humane Society of the United States and the Oakland Zoo to pass this important bill. No California zoo with elephants was using bullhooks at the time, showing how far we've come. But we still have farther to go. There are still zoos using bullhooks in other states.   We’ve also seen the world’s largest circus, the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, first abandon its trademark elephant acts and then bring down its final curtain, due in part to PAWS’ successful efforts to pass the first bullhook bans in Los Angeles and Oakland, California. These were the first big cities to establish regulations that affected the larger circuses and directly impacted their star attractions.   PAWS continues its advocacy efforts on behalf of captive wildlife, with an increased focus on big cats and bears. We also focus on education, including through our biennial International Captive Wildlife Conference, "Wild Animals in Captivity" college outreach program, the PAWS e-newsletter, and ARK 2000's "Seeing the Elephant" and Open House events.   As we look back, you might say it’s been a wild ride! We sincerely thank you for your support and invite you to continue working side-by-side with us in this 35 th year and beyond. There is so much more to be accomplished for captive wildlife, and so many more animals in need of rescue. Together we can change the world for captive wild animals!

Boo Boo and Winston: January Birthday Bears

Winston (left) and Boo Boo are black bears who have been best friends since coming together at PAWS 24 years ago. They also happen to share the same birthday month. This month Winston turned 26 and Boo Boo celebrated his 25 th birthday.   Both bears were bred for the exotic “pet” trade, and both endured pain and hardships because of it:

Boo Boo (right) was bought as a “pet” for a young girl and left chained by the neck in a backyard. As he grew, the chain became deeply embedded in his neck, almost strangling him. Boo Boo was finally freed when PAWS rescued him and the chain was surgically removed.   Winston was kept illegally as a “pet” until local officials confiscated him. Although still young, he was confined with older, more aggressive bears and was severely bitten on the hip. Winston arrived at PAWS limping and in poor condition.   Bears never make good pets. They are highly intelligent and active wild animals with complex needs that simply cannot be met in captivity. Bears raised to be “pets” are taken from their mothers prematurely, disrupting their important bond and causing both to suffer. “Pet” bears are often destined to live in miserably inadequate conditions and develop serious health disorders and abnormal behaviors. Even when captive-born and hand-raised, bears remain wild animals and pose a serious risk to human safety.   PAWS is proud to care for Boo Boo and Winston, who share a spacious natural area in the Bob Barker Bear Habitat at ARK 2000 that is filled with grass, bushes and shady oak trees. The two are rarely far apart from one another and can often be spotted sleeping together.   It costs about $10,000 a month to care for Boo Boo, Winston and the four other bears at PAWS, including daily monitoring and husbandry, nutritious diets, and veterinary treatments when necessary.   You can make a special birthday donation by clicking here or you can “adopt” Boo Boo and/or Winston for a year. A PAWS “adoption” makes a great Valentine’s Day gift. See the article in this issue on how to “adopt” an animal for yourself or as a gift, or make a donation to PAWS in the name of your Valentine.

Tiger Alka is under general anesthesia as PAWS' veterinary team performs a health exam. Pictured left to right: Dr. Jennifer Curtis, Lynn Dowling R.V.T., Dr. Jackie Gai, and PAWS President and Co-founder Ed Stewart.

Alka Tiger Gets a Check-up

Two years ago Alka, a 20-year-old female tiger who lives at our ARK 2000 sanctuary, was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease, a condition that is common in both wild and domestic older cats. Since her diagnosis she has benefited from special medications and nutritional supplements to support kidney function, as well as extra TLC from PAWS' staff.   Regular health checkups are part of the excellent veterinary care provided for all of PAWS' animals. Earlier this month it was Alka's turn. Although we have an on-site veterinary clinic, it is sometimes advantageous to provide medical care in the area where an animal lives. Because of Alka's advanced age and health status our veterinarians wanted to make her procedure as quick and as stress free as possible. Most of the veterinary equipment we use in the Pat Derby Animal Wellness Center at ARK 2000 is portable, enabling us to provide quality medical care in a field setting.

On January 24th our doctors made a big cat "house call" to the tiger habitat area of the sanctuary. While Alka slept safely under general anesthesia, PAWS' veterinary staff trimmed her claws, collected blood samples, and administered treatments. She recovered quickly from her exam, and was back to her playful, active self the next morning.   Thank you to everyone who gives to PAWS via our Amazon Wish List . Alka is a perfect example of the many older animals who benefit from the health supplements we have included on that list, and arrive every month thanks to generous friends like you!

Adopt an Animal at PAWS or Make a Donation in the Name of Someone Special

Valentine’s Day is coming up soon! Put a smile on the face of that special person, friend or family member by giving the gift of a PAWS animal “adoption” or making a donation in their name. This compassionate gift supports PAWS’ rescue and sanctuary work, and provides your “adopted” animal with a more enriched and natural life.   Valentine Adoption Gifts Your Valentine will receive an adoption packet and card acknowledging your special gift within 7 to 10 days of your order and includes: Color photo and biography of adopted animal Certificate of adoption Two guest passes to one regular PAWS ARK 2000 Open House event Invitations to special events Subscription to PAWS’ e-newsletter   To “adopt” an animal on the PAWS web site: Click here to access our “Meet the Animals” page and choose the animal you wish to adopt. Click on the “adopt” button under your animal's photo. This will take you to the donation site where you can use your credit card or PayPal account. When you see the pencil icon/“message to PAWS” during your transaction, click it and type in the name, mailing address and email of the adoption recipient. Indicate that this is a Valentine’s gift adoption. Then complete the transaction. Donations In Your Valentine's Name Your Valentine will receive a card acknowledging your special gift within 5 to 7 days of your donation.   To make a donation on the PAWS web site: Click here to access the PAWS donation page. Click on the yellow "one time" donate button. Enter your donation amount using your credit card or PayPal account. When you see the pencil icon/“Message to PAWS” during your transaction, click it and type in the name, mailing address and email of the adoption recipient. Indicate that this is a Valentine’s gift adoption. Then complete the transaction.   To make a donation or “adopt” an animal by phone: Call the PAWS office at (209) 745-2606 between the hours of 9 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, Pacific Standard Time. We accept VISA, Discover, MasterCard and American Express. For adoptions, be prepared to provide the name of the animal you would like to adopt and the Valentine recipient's name, mailing address, and email address, along with any special message.   Make sure to let your Valentine know their special gift will be arriving soon. H ave a Happy Valentine’s Day!

PAWS Educates: U.C. Davis Students Visit ARK 2000

On a sunny January day, 48 University of California, Davis undergraduate students and nine first-year veterinary students (above) toured PAWS' ARK 2000 sanctuary with their instructor, Dr. Lynette Hart. This year's visit marks the 30th consecutive year that Dr. Hart has organized this field trip as part of the "Human-Animal Interactions - Benefits and Issues" course.

During the tour, led by PAWS President and Co-founder Ed Stewart, Sanctuary Manager Brian Busta, and PAWS Director of Veterinary Services Dr. Jackie Gai, the students observed African elephants Thika and Mara (left), black bears Boo Boo, Winston, and Ben, and tigers Roy, Kim and Claire. The students listened to the powerful and compelling stories of how each of these animals came to be at the sanctuary, igniting interactive discussions about some of the many ways that wild animals are harmed by captivity.   "It’s wonderful for me to see PAWS taking an even bigger role in education and outreach with students," said Dr. Hart. "A strong majority of the undergrads have already applied, or will be applying to vet school, so visiting PAWS is really valuable exposure for them."

The following week, 16 third-year U.C. Davis veterinary students (above) visited the sanctuary. This class tour was requested by Dr. Ray Wack, head of Zoological Medicine at U.C. Davis, to expose students to the unique aspects of sanctuary medicine. Dr. Gai gave the students a tour of the recently opened Pat Derby Animal Wellness Center at ARK 2000, named after our late co-founder Pat Derby. It is PAWS' first on-site, full-service veterinary clinic. Dr. Gai discussed how veterinary care is provided for the animals who live in our sanctuaries.   Following the Wellness Center tour, the students were joined by Ed Stewart and Brian Busta and given the opportunity to observe Asian bull elephant Nicholas. They watched eagerly as PAWS' staff demonstrated how Dr. Gai provides medical care for our elephants using positive reinforcement training in a protected contact system.   "It is such an honor to contribute to the training of veterinary students, many of whom will go on to careers working with captive wildlife," said Dr. Gai. "PAWS provides excellent, comprehensive, lifelong medical care to the deserving animals who call our sanctuaries home. This tour gives students an intimate look into the unique aspects of sanctuary care, including prioritizing individualized veterinary care for each animal, and keeping animals healthy and comfortable into old age."

Tickets For PAWS March 9 ARK 2000 Open House Are Now on Sale   We have a limited number of tickets available for our upcoming ARK 2000 Open House to be held on Saturday, March 9th, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tickets are $50 for adults, $35 for seniors (65 and over) and $35 for children age 12 and under. If you're planning to attend, we advise you to purchase your tickets early. No tickets will be sold at the gate on the day of the event and these events do sell out.   Visitors to ARK 2000 open houses will board shuttles to the bear, lion, tiger, leopard and elephant habitats. Once you exit the shuttle you will be walking on grass, dirt, gravel, and sometimes paved surfaces, so please wear comfortable shoes. PAWS management, keepers and volunteers will be on hand to tell you about the animals and answer questions. A gift shop will be available on the day of the event. We accept cash, checks and all major credit cards.   This event happens rain or shine. Tickets are not refundable.   Two ways to purchase:  Click here  to buy online and print your tickets at home; or call 209-745-2606, Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. PST, to charge by phone. Visit our calendar of events page for more information.  Ticket sales close on Thursday, March 7th, or earlier if this event sells out.

Thank You January Amazon Wish List Donors

The Alvarez Family: one 8 oz. bottle of EicosaDerm; two Probiocin gels. Lisa Klotz: one gallon Red Cell. Willie Nelson: one 5 lb. tub of Psyllium. Kelly Fitzgerald: one 8 oz. bottle of EicosaDerm and one 32 oz. bottle of EicosaDerm. Azadeh & Craig Morrison: one 5 lb. bag of Missing Link; four Probiocin gels. Jenny Fields: one 8 oz. bottle of EicosaDerm; one 5 lb. tub of Psyllium; four Probiocin gels. Nicole (no last name): one pop-up canopy. Peggy Buckner: one 5 lb. tub of Psyllium. Roxanne Coryell: one bottle of AminAvast, 60#. Shannon (no last name): three Probiocin gels; one gallon of Red Cell. Marilyn Massa: three 32 oz. bottles of EicosaDerm. Kathy Barbour: two Probiocin gels; one 5 lb. tub of Psyllium; one 8 oz. bottle of EicosaDerm. Heather Ramage: one Probiocin gel; one 8 oz. bottle of EicosaDerm; one 5 lb. tub of Psyllium, one package of AA batteries, 100#. Anonymous Donors: two 8 oz. bottles of EicosaDerm; one box of 9x12 envelopes. Click on the Amazon Wish List link below to donate specific items that are needed at our sanctuaries:

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:

Donate To PAWS. Although we work closely with regulatory agencies on animal rescues, 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 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 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 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 Give to one of PAWS' ongoing MightyCause fundraisers: the "Dollars for Dirt" or "Give BIG" campaigns for PAWS' elephants, or our "Support a Rescued Tiger" campaign to benefit the 14 rescued tigers living at our ARK 2000 sanctuary. 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 . Shop online 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 Amazon Wish List. View here , and shop using  AmazonSmile . 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 Attend A Fundraiser. PAWS sanctuaries ARE NOT OPEN TO THE PUBLIC but we do schedule a limited number of special events throughout the year. Click here to view PAWS' Calendar of Events.

PAWS provides lifetime care to the tigers, bears, elephants, and other animals who call our sanctuaries home. Your kind support provides expert daily care, necessary veterinary treatments, and specialized nutritional support, all tailored to the individual needs of each animal. Your generous donations make this excellent care possible.

DONATE TO PAWS

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