PERFORMING ANIMAL WELFARE SOCIETY
Rescue. Advocacy. Sanctuary. For Life.
Since 1984
May 2019 | Newsletter
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Asian Elephant Prince:
His Touching Story
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On any given day at PAWS' ARK 2000 sanctuary, you will see Asian elephant Prince traversing his enclosure, engaged in selecting tasty morsels of grass or other foods, or maybe swimming and splashing in one of his two pools – a favorite pastime. Or you may see him peacefully napping on the hillside.
Prince was born Chang Dee at what is now the Oregon Zoo in Portland, on May 24, 1987 (he just turned 32). His mother, Me-Tu, was also born at the zoo. She was euthanized at the young age of 34 due to foot disease; captive conditions contribute to this painful condition. His father, Hugo, was taken from his wild family in Asia when he was just a calf and spent about 10 years in the circus before coming to Portland. Like Prince's mother, Hugo died prematurely at age 43.
When Prince was just 16 months old – an age at which elephants are still nursing and totally dependent on their mothers – his life changed forever when he was transferred to a circus. Elephants in circuses spend most of their lives on leg chains, intensively confined, and are cruelly controlled with the bullhook. We don’t know much about Prince's life during the next 20 years or so, or what may have happened before his arrival at PAWS. What we can tell you is that he was donated voluntarily to PAWS, on request, by Feld Entertainment, the parent company of the now defunct Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus.
When Prince first arrived at our ARK 2000 sanctuary in July 2011, he repeatedly dusted himself and then took a long nap on a pile of soft soil in his barn. But there was much work to be done. An important part of PAWS’ work is rehabilitation of the animals in our care, and Prince was no exception. He was aggressive and afraid, so the first thing we had to do was earn his trust. Our staff worked patiently with Prince, using reward-based training and kind words. With time, he learned that no one was going to hit, threaten or punish him. No bullhooks or chains are ever used at PAWS. Our positive relationship with Prince allowed him to feel relaxed and secure, and let his true personality emerge.
Today, Prince emits a friendly “chirp” whenever he wants the attention of his caregivers or water out of a hose (many elephants seem to enjoy fresh, running water). He likes most foods, but don’t try to feed him white potatoes – they are definitely not his favorite! Prince loves to be outdoors in his habitat – day or night, rain or shine – where he can take in the sights and sounds of the natural world around him.
PAWS is proud to give Prince the more natural life he deserves at ARK 2000, but we couldn’t do it without you. Please click on the button below if you’d like to make a birthday donation for Prince’s care!
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Big Day of Giving A Huge Success!
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A BIG thank you to everyone who donated so generously to PAWS during the 2019 Big Day of Giving 24-hour challenge event on May 2nd. Because of hundreds of generous friends from 31 states, Canada and Great Britain, PAWS won $500 in cash prizes and raised $92,606 for the feeding and care of the many rescued or retired wild animals living at our three sanctuaries. We exceeded our original Big Day of Giving goal of $50,000 by more than $40,000! Thank you!
Special recognition and thanks to the following donors who so generously provided matching gifts totaling $31,000 for this giving event: Harriet E. Pfleger Foundation, the Lapides Foundation, Mabel and Jeff Bialik, and Isabelle and Jack Stawicki.
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Last Chance for Tickets to PAWS'
35
th
Anniversary Luncheon and Tea Benefiting the Pat Derby Animal Wellness Center
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Celebrate PAWS’ 35 years of rescue, sanctuary and advocacy with some fun, a gourmet multi-course, plant-based meal by executive chef extraordinaire M.J. Espiritu of
Pivotal Foods
, and specially selected teas at the distinctive
Linde Lane Tea Room
– and help support the Pat Derby Animal Wellness Center at ARK 2000.
June 9, 2019
11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Linde Lane Tea Room
Dixon, California
$135 per person
There’s more! You will hear from PAWS President Ed Stewart as he shares personal memories of our 35-year history, toast PAWS with sparkling wine courtesy of
Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi, e
njoy desserts, games, goodies, and maybe win a prize for the most creative animal-themed hat or tiara!
Sacramento County Supervisor Don Nottoli and PAWS’ friend and Linde Lane Tea Room proprietor Dr. Kristina Wiley, DDS, will host the event. Proceeds benefit the Pat Derby Animal Wellness Center at PAWS' ARK 2000 sanctuary, a state-of-the-art veterinary clinic serving the health needs of the wild animals in our care.
A limited number of tickets are still available.
To purchase online, and for more information, click
here
.
To charge tickets by phone, call 209-745-2606, Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. PST.
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Update on California's
Circus Cruelty Prevention Act
SB 313, the
Circus Cruelty Prevention Act
that would ban the use of animals in circuses in California, with the exception of domestic dogs, cats and horses, has passed the California Senate! The next step for the bill, sponsored by Senator Ben Hueso, will be committee hearings in the Assembly.
In circuses, wild animals are forced to perform under threat of painful punishment, confined in cramped cages and crates as they are transported from show to show, and generally deprived of all that is natural to them. Both New Jersey and Hawaii have already banned the use of all wild animals in traveling shows. It’s time for California to take similar action.
How Californians can help
Be sure you’re following PAWS on Facebook and Twitter, where we will provide actions you can take to ensure this important bill passes the Assembly and can move on to the Governor’s desk to be signed into law.
PAWS is pleased to be actively supporting this key animal protection bill that would end the abuse and exploitation of wild animals for entertainment.
Don’t live in California?
What about passing an ordinance in your city? PAWS can help! Contact
cdoyle@pawsweb.org
.
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Other Legislation to End
the Use of Animals in Entertainment
Kudos to
Topsfield, Massachusetts
for passing a citizen’s petition to prohibit wild or exotic animals in traveling shows and circuses. Topsfield joins nine other Massachusetts municipalities that have passed similar bans.
If you live in Massachusetts, please support
S. 2028
,
H. 2934
: An Act relative to the use of elephants, big cats, primates, and bears in traveling exhibits and shows
, sponsored by State Senators Bruce Tarr and James Welch and Representatives Lori Ehrlich and Bradley Jones. Click
here
for more information, provided by the MSPCA.
U.S. Representatives Raúl M. Grijalva (AZ-03) and David Schweikert (AZ-06) introduced the
Traveling Exotic Animal and Public Safety Protection Act
(TEAPSPA),
H.R. 2863. The bill would amend the
Animal Welfare Act
to prohibit traveling circuses from holding exotic animals such as lions, tigers, and elephants. To support TEAPSPA, please contact your Senators and
Representative
and ask for their support of the bill.
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PAWS' 35 Years of
Rescue, Sanctuary and Advocacy
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In recognition of PAWS’ anniversary, throughout the year we will be sharing some of the highlights, achievements, and memorable moments from the last 35 years. This month we focus on the early 2000s, an era of monumental accomplishments including the opening of the ARK 2000 natural habitat sanctuary, welcoming our first bull elephant, and the largest tiger rescue in U.S. history!
PAWS Highlights and Memorable Moments: 2002-2010
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L-R: Pictured with PAWS' co-founders Ed Stewart, left, and the late Pat Derby, right, is Dr. Cynthia Moss, Director of the Amboseli Elephant Research Project and Amboseli Trust for Elephants, who was a special guest at the grand opening of PAWS' ARK 2000 sanctuary in 2002. The sanctuary's African elephant habitat is named in her honor.
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- 2002: PAWS officially opened ARK 2000, a 2,300-acre captive wildlife sanctuary located in San Andreas, California, to provide safe refuge for rescued or retired elephants, big cats, and bears.
- 2004: PAWS undertook the largest tiger rescue in U.S. history at the time when it saved 39 abused and neglected tigers from horrendous conditions at Tiger Rescue, a pseudo-sanctuary in Colton, California. A 10-acre natural habitat was constructed for the big cats at ARK 2000. (Watch the video "39 Tigers" here.)
- 2007: Asian elephant Nicholas became the first bull elephant to be rescued and placed at a sanctuary. He and Gypsy first arrived at PAWS’ Galt sanctuary and were later transferred to ARK 2000. PAWS is the only true sanctuary in the U.S. that cares for bull elephants.
- 2007: African elephant Maggie – the only elephant in Alaska! – was retired from the Alaska Zoo to ARK 2000. In a landmark move, she was transported to California via a U.S. Air Force cargo jet.
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Bob Barker standing in front of one of the bear habitats he funded at ARK 2000. This photo was taken during a Thanksgiving 2011 visit to PAWS.
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- 2010: The Bob Barker/DJ&T Foundation Bear Habitat opened at ARK 2000, providing spacious, natural environments for rescued bears.
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PAWS Hosts Los Medanos College Students for Special Captive Wildlife Program
In May, students from Los Medanos College (above) in Pittsburg, California, participated in PAWS’ innovative outreach program for college students,
Wild Animals in Captivity: Exploring the Interface Between Humans and Wildlife
. This program invites professors to bring their classes to ARK 2000 to learn about the natural biology and behavior of tigers, black bears and elephants, and the many issues surrounding their captivity. Students explore how captive situations affect their perception of wild animals, conservation efforts, and nature itself.
For information on how your college class can participate in
Wild Animals in Captivity: Exploring the Interface Between Humans and Wildlife,
please contact PAWS Director of Science, Research and Advocacy Catherine Doyle at
cdoyle@pawsweb.org
.
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Barcelona’s ZOOXXI
Passes Groundbreaking Law
At PAWS’ 2018 International Captive Wildlife Conference, speakers Rosi Carro and Claudia Roca of ZOOXXI blew everyone away with their visionary work to upend the way that zoos function and convert them into centers focused on education, research and conservation – starting with the Barcelona Zoo in Spain. We are thrilled to report that Barcelona’s town council voted on May 3 to adopt ZOOXXI’s plan.
According to the Associated Press, breeding programs must be halted unless there is a plan to eventually reintroduce captive-born animals to the wild. In other words, there has to be a real conservation strategy for the species, rather than just breeding animals for display. Eventually, elephants, lions and giraffes at the zoo will be replaced with Mediterranean and North African animals, including gazelles, birds and amphibians who are part of a conservation plan.
PAWS congratulates
ZOOXXI
for its bold initiative and the incredible amount of thought, research and planning that went into this project. You truly are leading the way forward.
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Thank You May
Amazon Wish List Donors
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Lisa Klotz:
one book, "Pet, Animal Welfare and Wildlife Funding."
Darlene S. Murchison:
two bottles of Azodyl, 90#.
Cathie VanVeen:
two quarts of Red Cell.
Paula Magdaleno:
one 8 oz. bottle of EicosaDerm; two quarts of Red Cell.
Betty J. Powers:
one quart of Red Cell; one bag of Greenies Pill Pockets, 60#.
Tom Neal:
one bottle of Renal Essentials, 60#; one bottle of AminAvast, 60#; one package of AA batteries, 24#; one case of copy paper.
Patricia Connelly:
two bottles of Renal Essentials, 60#.
Christiana Maffei:
one bottle of Emcelle Tocopherol.
Anonymous Donors:
10 bottles of Emcelle Tocopherol; one gallon of Red Cell; one 5 lb. bag of Missing Link Skin & Coat; two quarts of Red Cell; one Probiocin; one book, "Veterinary Hematology."
Click on the Amazon Wish List link below to donate
specific items that are needed at our sanctuaries:
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View "wish list" items that are needed,
but
not listed
on the Amazon list,
here
.
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There are many ways
you can help PAWS animals:
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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
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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
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.
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.
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PAWS provides lifetime care to the big cats, 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.
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P. O. Box 849, Galt, CA 95632 | (209) 745-2606
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