PERFORMING ANIMAL WELFARE SOCIETY

Rescue. Advocacy. Sanctuary. For Life.

Since 1984

July 2018 | Newsletter

Above: Mack in his habitat at PAWS' Galt sanctuary.

Help Get Mack

(The Unstoppable Three-Legged Bear)

Into His New Habitat!  

Mack is a very special young black bear who has come far in his short life. (You might remember Mack from his viral video, shown below, ecstatically splashing and playing in his pool.) He was found as a tiny 16-pound orphan, missing part of his hind right leg. He was alone, hungry and begging for food from people. We don’t know why he was on his own; cubs normally remain with their mothers for about two years. Because Mack had become accustomed to humans, California Fish & Wildlife captured him and determined that Mack could not be returned to the wild.

 

Mack arrived at PAWS in August 2016 and has been living in a carefully outfitted enclosure at our Galt sanctuary. We soon learned that nothing stops Mack ! He is high spirited, rambunctious, and loves to climb just about anything – and does so extremely well with three legs.

Now it’s time for Mack to make the move to a much larger habitat at the ARK 2000 sanctuary. There is an available area waiting for him, but first we need to install some special modifications to keep this young, agile and active bear safe and sound. In his new home, we want Mack to climb the beautiful trees in his habitat and not the fence!

 

The cost for refitting Mack’s habitat is $25,000. The sooner we can raise the funds to make all of the modifications, the sooner he can enjoy the new sights and sounds of his forever home.

 

Through no fault of his own Mack ended up in captivity. It’s up to us to give him the best life possible. With your help Mack can live in a much larger, oak-forested home at ARK 2000 where he will have even more space to explore, forage, climb, swim and continue to do the things that bears like to do.

 

Click here to make a donation. . . and make Mack’s day!

Legendary Band Yes Donates $5000 to PAWS!

On July 21 fans of the British band Yes gathered from all over the world to celebrate 50 years of their music at  YesFanFest – 50 True Summers  at The Foundry in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. PAWS was selected as one of two charities to benefit from this special event and received $5000.  YES  is one of the most successful, influential, and longest-lasting progressive rock bands. Lead guitarist Steve Howe believes that it’s everyone’s responsibility to care for our environment and all life within it, “from the smallest cat to the largest whale.”  PAWS thanks Yes - and all their fans - for this generous gift!

Black Bear Winston's

Visit With the Dentist

Dental care is very important for our well-being, and it is no different for wild animals in captivity – including at PAWS. African elephant Maggie has undergone two procedures to address dental problems. And earlier this year, tiger Rosemary underwent a successful root canal. This time it was black bear Winston’s turn for dental work. Captive bears are prone to dental issues, such as broken or worn canine teeth, which may require attention.

 

Winston (left) was a private "pet" who was confiscated in North Carolina and rescued by PAWS in 1995. Winston is 25 years old, which is considered elderly when compared to the average lifespan of black bears. He shares a comfortable home at ARK 2000 in the Bob Barker Bear Habitat with long-time bear companion Boo Boo.

 

On June 29th, veterinary dental specialist Dr. Nicodin Farcas, DVM, DAVDC, and his team from the Animal Dental Clinic in San Carlos, California, provided much needed dental work on Winston's canine teeth. During the 1-1/2 hour procedure that took place at the Pat Derby Animal Wellness Center at ARK 2000, Dr. Farcas performed root canals on three of the bear’s canines, and extracted a fourth canine that had been fractured and was not repairable. Winston experienced no pain during the procedure, performed under general anesthesia and closely monitored by longtime PAWS volunteer and registered Veterinary technician, Kirk Stafford. A comprehensive physical examination, including X-rays, blood tests, and vaccinations, was performed by PAWS' veterinary team while the dental team did their work.

Winston recovered beautifully from the procedure and is back to his active lifestyle, swimming, foraging, and exploring his oak-forested habitat with Boo Boo (right). All of us at PAWS wish to express our heartfelt thanks to Dr. Farcas and his team for so generously donating their time and expertise to help the deserving animals who call our sanctuary home. His team included Practice Manager Stacey Neubert, Veterinary Assistant Jessica Little, and Registered Veterinary Technician Katie Lopes.

 

We also wish to thank Kirk Stafford for his time and skills, ensuring that our animals experience safe and pain-free anesthesia. In addition, PAWS thanks Dr. Kristina Wiley, DDS, for her ongoing support and fundraising for our veterinary dental program, including the purchase of specialized equipment for the Pat Derby Animal Wellness Center, enhancing our ability to provide top-notch care.

What Are You Waiting For?

Register NOW for the PAWS International Captive Wildlife Conference in November!

If you haven’t yet registered for the PAWS International Captive Wildlife Conference, now is the time to do it! This conference is sure to sell out, given the incredible list of more than 40 prominent speakers from around the world (about half of them new to this event). Speakers work on behalf of captive wild animals in countries such as: Australia, Canada, China, India, Japan, Kenya, Lebanon, Namibia, Serbia, South America, Spain, Thailand, United Kingdom, United States and Zimbabwe.

What : PAWS International Captive Wildlife Conference

When : November 9-11, 2018

Where : Burbank, California (Los Angeles area)

 

This is PAWS’ largest conference, presented just once every four years.

 

Day 1 of the conference is all about elephants (covered in the May PAWS newsletter ). The next two days cover a range of topics and countries (partial preview of Day 2 in the June PAWS newsletter ). Days 2 and 3 also include:

 

Jill Robinson of Animals Asia will talk about her organization’s amazing work for captive wildlife in Asia, including saving bears from bile farms and providing sanctuary for them, and bringing about change for wild animals in zoos and safari parks where they are abused for entertainment.

 

A stellar panel on captive marine mammals featuring scientists/advocates Naomi Rose ( Animal Welfare Institute ), Lori Marino ( The Whale Sanctuary Project ), and Toni Frohoff ( In Defense of Animals ). Find out the latest on changing public attitudes and legislation for captive cetaceans.

 

Ever Vimbai Chinoda, founder of Speak Out for Animals (SOFA), has been added to our panel on protecting captive wildlife through animal law, regulations and legislation. SOFA is an animal law organization based in Zimbabwe with attorneys dedicated to protecting animals through the legal system. The organization recently assisted in an important case involving the killing of an endangered rhinoceros. Thanks to their hard work, four persons were convicted and sentenced to 10 years imprisonment for hunting a specially protected animal.

 

Learn about the groundbreaking ZOOXXI Citizen Initiative from Claudia Roca and Rosi Carro of the animal rights group Libera! in Barcelona, Spain. This is an international plan to restructure zoos as we know them today, with the aim of adapting them to suit the science and ethics of our age.

 

And much, much more!

 

Registration is open now.  Get more information on the conference, speakers, and registration by clicking on the "Register Now" button below. See you in November!

 

PAWS would like to thank our sponsors to date (more sponsorship opportunities are available!): Animal Legal Defense Fund, Alyne Fortgang, The Humane Society of the United States, PETA Foundation and David Reuben.

 

If you are interested in sponsoring the 2018 PAWS International Captive Wildlife Conference  or would like more information, please contact PAWS Director of Science, Research and Advocacy Catherine Doyle at  cdoyle@pawsweb.org .  

Program details are still in progress and speakers are still being added; a final program will be released in September. The dates for some speakers/panels may be subject to change.

IN MEMORIAM

PAWS Bids Farewell to Three Special, Older Animals

Jack (above and right) was once a free-ranging, wild black bear in Northern California, until he became habituated to people and was captured in 2007 by wildlife authorities as a "nuisance" bear. It is truly a tragedy when, through no fault of their own, bears rely on garbage as a food source. This happens when people do not keep their trash in secure, bear-proof containers. Habituated bears can pose a threat to people and domestic animals, and often end up shot and killed, or captured to spend the rest of their lives in captivity.

At ARK 2000, Jack lived in a large habitat filled with oak trees, tall grass, and a pool. Wild bears are constantly busy, and the natural environment habitats at ARK 2000 provide the opportunity for them to express some of their natural instincts, such as foraging for acorns, insects, and other treats. Jack once climbed to the top of a 40-foot tall tree in his habitat to check out an unoccupied bird's nest.

As Jack grew older, he began to show signs of arthritis. Although he stopped climbing trees, he continued to enjoy a good swim in his pool and long naps under the trees. Over the last year, Jack's mobility began to decline rapidly and he also began to lose his eyesight. His exact age is not known, but he was at least 18 years old and probably much older, considering his advanced stage of arthritis and compromised vision. When Jack's arthritis reached the point where he was having difficulty standing and walking, and he was no longer responding to medications that helped him for many years, the decision was made to end his struggle and prevent suffering. Jack passed from this life on July 9th, surrounded by the love of many who cared for him. His spirit remained wild until the end, and his memory will remain in our hearts.

Artemis (left) was one of 39 tigers rescued in 2004 from horrific conditions in a roadside attraction in Colton, California, that was shut down by state authorities. Once at PAWS, and for the first time in his life, Artemis had his own comfortable den and access to a large, grassy, tree-filled habitat at ARK 2000. He shared his new home with companion Spanky for many years, until Spanky's death in 2016. Artemis, who tipped the scales at 400 pounds, had a quiet, gentle nature. After Spanky lost his eyesight, Artemis always stayed close to him, like a protective big brother.

The exact ages of the Colton tigers was not known, but Artemis was a mature adult when he arrived at PAWS and was estimated to be at least 21 years old at the time of his passing. He developed chronic kidney disease, common in elderly cats both big and small, which abruptly worsened in early July. The difficult but most compassionate decision was made to euthanize Artemis to prevent suffering, and he passed peacefully from this life on July 14th, surrounded by many who loved and cared for him. This gentle giant will be greatly missed. 

Ella (left), a Capuchin monkey, was once kept as a "pet" in a small cage in someone's laundry room until PAWS rescued her in 1992 when she was five years old. She enjoyed catching bugs and climbing up to watch sanctuary activities from a high perch in her grassy enclosure set among the trees in our Galt sanctuary. Her neighbors were Capuchins Groucho, Chico, and Zeppo.

Ella enjoyed foraging for and discovering bits of fruit and other treats that caregivers hid in her habitat daily. She had a playful personality and an endearing habit of turning her head upside down to look at us through her legs. After Ella was diagnosed with leukemia last year she received special medications, including oral chemotherapy drugs hidden in treats that she eagerly took. These medications, and the extra TLC and attention that she received from her dedicated and doting caregivers, gave her almost a year of life after her diagnosis. Ella's cancer was very aggressive, however, and she lost her battle with leukemia and lymphoma on June 30th at the age of 31 years. Ella's playful antics and unique personality will be missed by all who knew her.

Click here to donate to PAWS in memory of Jack, Artemis or Ella.

Good News for Animals

   

Elephant freed from French circus . Kudos to the French animal protection organization One Voice for its success in freeing the elephant Maya from a circus. The Asian elephant was transferred to the Safari Park Lago Maggiore in Italy. (Europe’s first elephant sanctuary, Elephant Haven in France, is set to open its first barn this year.) PAWS was very pleased to contribute to this effort by providing an expert affidavit used in the court case for Maya.

 

Multnomah County in Oregon has banned traveling animal acts with wild or exotic animals. The ordinance includes carnivals, fairs, festivals and circuses. The county already prohibits ownership of exotic animals.

 

The Uttarakhand High Court in India has given legal rights to animals . The court declared the “entire animal kingdom including avian and aquatic” as legal entities with distinct personas and corresponding rights, duties and liabilities of a living person. The court also declared all Uttarakhand citizens the guardians of animals, with the duty to ensure their welfare and protection.

 

Two years ago this month, Rhode Island became the first state to ban the use of cruel bullhooks on elephants!

Thank You July 2018

Amazon Wish List Donors!

Sammarye Lewis: one gallon of Red Cell. Yanina: one Renal Essentials, 60#; one EicosaDerm, 8 oz. Cristen Esquibel: two EicosaDerm, 8 oz. Carole Bognar: one EicosaDerm, 32 oz.; three Probiocin. Cindy Guillett Beytin: one 2o lb. tub Psyllium. Nancy Gordon: two Motorola walkie talkie sets. Marisa Landsberg: one EicosaDerm, 8 oz. Linda Khym: two EicosaDerm, 32 oz. Shannon Russell: two quarts of Red Cell. Dan Brinkman: two CosequinDS, 132#; one CosequinDS, 132#. Ellie Bryant: two EicosaDerm, 8 oz. Carol Weldin: one Probiocin; one Azodyl; one EicosaDerm, 8 oz.; one Renal Essentials, 60#. Amber: one Probiocin; one Renal Essentials, 60#; one AminAvast, 60#. Angela White: one 20 lb. tub of Psyllium. Margaret Devito: one gallon of Red Cell; two 10 lb. tubs of Psyllium. Joyce Hodel: five bags of dried/diced Papaya; five bags of dried/diced Pineapple. Jessie and Kathy Gillespie: one gallon of Red Cell. Ken and Kathy Barbour: one 5 lb. bag of Missing Link Ultimate Skin & Coat. Maurice D. Enders: one EicosaDerm, 8 oz.; one Probiocin. Alice Witt: one 3-pack of Azodyl. Stephanie Wiggins: two EicosaDerm, 8 oz.; two Probiocin. Anonymous Donors: one quart of Red Cell; one EicosaDerm, 8 oz.; two EicosaDerm, 32 oz.



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PAWS' Amazon Wish List

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but not listed on the Amazon list,  here .



There are many ways you can help PAWS animals:

PAWS provides lifetime care to the tigers, bears, elephants, and other animals that call our sanctuaries home. As animals age, their needs change and they may develop arthritis, kidney disease, and other conditions that are readily treatable with proper care. PAWS expert animal care and veterinary staff provide specialized nutritional and medical support, tailored to the individual needs of each animal.

Your generous donations make this excellent care possible.

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