Assemblymember Ted Lieu

May 9, 2009

State Capitol
P.O. Box 942849
Sacramento, CA 95814

Re: Support AB 1122

Dear Assemblymember Ted Lieu,

I am writing to express my support of AB 1122, which will address animal welfare problems at flea markets, swap meets, street corners, and other outdoor venues. This is a growing problem and it is very timely, especially in light of the recent flu virus as many of these animals are smuggles across the border.

Animals sold at these locations are often housed in sub-par conditions and are bought on impulse. They often require extensive veterinary care leaving the purchaser with an unanticipated financial and emotional burden. Often the animals are discarded, furthering their suffering and taxing our already overburdened shelter system.

I appreciate you taking leadership on this issue.

Thank you,

[Your name and address here]

March 21, 2009

Re: Stop the Horrific Suffering and Torture of the Iditarod Dogs

Dear Iditarod Supporter:
I am a college student and single working mother writing in hopes that your organization will end its support of the horrific suffering and torture of the Iditarod dogs in the sled race. It has been brought to my attention of the deaths, paralysis, frostbite, bleeding ulcers and diarrhea, pneumonia and lung damage, ruptured discs, viral diseases, broken bones, torn muscles, tendons and sprains that these dogs suffer, not only when training, but when participating in these 1,150 miles of rough terrain.

Most Iditarod dogs are forced to live at the end of a chain when they aren't participating in the Iditarod race. It has been reported that dogs who do not make the team are never taken off-chain and some of these chained dogs have been attacked and killed by hungry wolves and bears.

Dog beatings and whippings are common. During the 2007 Iditarod, eyewitnesses reported that musher Ramy Brooks kicked, punched, and beat his dogs with a ski pole and a chain. It has also been reported that some mushers are in such a hurry to get to the finish line that they speed through checkpoints and the dogs are not getting check ups from veterinarians to see if they are well enough to continue. According to a report published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, on average, 53 percent of the dogs who start the race do not make it to the finish line.

Please end your support of the Iditarod Dog Sled Race

Sincerely,

[Your name and address here]

Senator Gloria Negrete McLeod

Chair, Senate Business, Professions and Economic Development Committee

State Capitol, Room 2059

Sacramento, CA 95814

Fax: (916) 445-0128

Re: SB 762 -- OPPOSE

Dear Senator Negrete McLeod:

I respectfully request that you oppose AB 762 when it comes before the Business, Professions and Economic Development committee.

Under existing California law, cities and counties can regulate licensed professions and occupations, in a limited manner and in limited circumstances, in order to advance local interests. Court decisions in the past have allowed local governments to exercise police powers that respond to changing local social conditions and values.

This California Veterinary Medical Association-sponsored bill was introduced to circumvent a decision by the California courts upholding the right of a city to ban non-therapeutic surgery on animals - surgery that is illegal in many other countries and that is considered unethical by professional veterinary organizations in other countries. If adopted, SB 762 will prevent local governments from enacting animal welfare ordinances that they consider necessary to protect animals from inhumane practices. SB 762 would preempt the ability of local governments to advance interests that are different, but equally important, to those of the state.

For these reasons, I oppose SB 762.

Please Stop SB 762 and protect our animals from inhumane practices

Respectfully,

[Your name and address here]

Senator Mark Wyland

State Capitol, Room 4048
Sacramento, CA 95814

Re: SB 762 -- OPPOSE

Dear Senator Mark Wyland:

I respectfully request that you oppose AB 762 when it comes before the Business, Professions and Economic Development committee.

For these reasons, I oppose SB 762.

Please Stop SB 762 and protect our animals from inhumane practices

Respectfully,

[Your name and address here]

May 2, 2009

Re: Help End Senseless Slaughter of Seals in Canada

Dear Friend,

This year the Canadian government will allow commercial sealers to slaughter 280,000 seals for their fur. Almost all of them will probably be babies as young as 12 days old.

Seal hunting is an off-season activity for Canada's east coast commercial fishermen. They earn a small fraction of their incomes from selling seal skins to the fur industry: less than $7 million (Canadian) in 2008, compared to the nearly $2.4 billion taken in by the Canadian fishing industry from seafood exports to the United States.

The connection between the commercial fishing industry and the seal hunt gives consumers all over the world the power to end the cruel slaughter of seals.

The Canadian fishing industry has suffered a $750 million (Canadian) decline in the value of snow crab exports to the United States since the boycott began. That's more than $200 million a year.

Please stop the seal hunt and join us in the Canadian seafood boycott.

Thank you,

May 9, 2009

Senator Barbara Boxer

112 Hart Senate Office Building

Washington, DC 20510

(202) 224-3553

Re: Help End Senseless Slaughter of Seals in Canada

Dear Senator Barbara Boxer,

This year the Canadian government will allow commercial sealers to slaughter 280,000 seals for their fur. Almost all of them will probably be babies as young as 12 days old.

The connection between the commercial fishing industry and the seal hunt gives consumers all over the world the power to end the cruel slaughter of seals.

The Canadian fishing industry has suffered a $750 million (Canadian) decline in the value of snow crab exports to the United States since the boycott began. That's more than $200 million a year.

Please stop the seal hunt and join us in the Canadian seafood boycott.

Thank you,

May 9, 2009

Senator Dianne Feinstein

331 Hart Senate Office Building

Washington, DC 20510

(202) 224-3841

Re: Help End Senseless Slaughter of Seals in Canada

Dear Senator Dianne Feinstein,

This year the Canadian government will allow commercial sealers to slaughter 280,000 seals for their fur. Almost all of them will probably be babies as young as 12 days old.

The connection between the commercial fishing industry and the seal hunt gives consumers all over the world the power to end the cruel slaughter of seals.

The Canadian fishing industry has suffered a $750 million (Canadian) decline in the value of snow crab exports to the United States since the boycott began. That's more than $200 million a year.

Please stop the seal hunt and join us in the Canadian seafood boycott.

Thank you,

May 9, 2009

Cirque de Soleil

PO Box 955

1800 Argyle St

Halifax Nova Scotia

B3J 2V9 Canada

Re: Requesting More Affordable Rates of a Human Based Circus

I find animal entertainment to be cruel. I object to the treatment, care, and confinement of the animals forced to perform. Behind the scenes, it is a brutal world for the animals. All animal entertainment imposes an unnatural living environment for the caged, chained, and often corporal-punishment trained animals. It encourages animal cruelty and teaches children to view animals as commodities and not as sentient beings as nature created them.

I am requesting the option of a more affordable rate for attendance to a human-based circus as opposed to an animal based one. Cirque de Soleil offers this type of entertainment.

Sincerely,

May 9, 2009

French 75

1464 South Coast Hwy
Laguna Beach, CA 92651

Re: Remove Foie Gras from Your Menu

Dear French 75 Restaurant,

I ask that you remove the sales of Foie Gras from your restaurant. I am horrified and appalled to learn of the process of excessive force feeding of an animal just for the consumption of its liver.

In order to maintain a liver that would be considered “acceptable” for sale, the animal must suffer a grueling process of a tube shoved down its throat while it is being held and forced to swallow the contents given. These animals suffer this process for 12-18 days before being slaughtered.

Specific complaints include livers swollen 10 times their normal size, impaired liver function, expansion of the abdomen making it difficult for birds to breath, death if the force feeding is continued, and scarring of the esophagus.This inhumane a cruel treatment must be stopped.

Stop the sale of Foie Gras at your restaurant.

Sincerely,

May 9, 2009

Hush

858 S Coast Hwy
Laguna Beach, CA 92651

Re: Remove Foie Gras from Your Menu

Dear Hush Restaurant,

I ask that you remove the sales of Foie Gras from your restaurant. I am horrified and appalled to learn of the process of excessive force feeding of an animal just for the consumption of its liver.

Stop the sale of Foie Gras at your restaurant.

Sincerely,

May 9, 2009

DearKevin,

Hi, how are you? We of Orange County People for Animals (OCPA) are hosting a letter write-in on the evening of May 9 at the Goddess Temple in Irvine, CA. OCPA originated in 1988 and our goal is to create a compassionate and healthy planet for all living beings.

Our members are active within the community and have researched your case. We want you to know that we support you!!! We are sorry for your present living conditions, but know that you stand for a cause in the hopes of changing societies view and treatment of animals.

Thank you for all you do for the animals.

Sincerely,

May 9, 2009

President Barack Obama

The White House

1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW

Washington, DC 20500

Re: Please Adopt Animals from a Shelter

Dear President Obama,

I am writing to let you know how disappointed I am that the first family did not adopt your dog from a shelter or rescue, even though you and the First Lady expressed a desire to do so during the campaign.

I fear that your selection of a puppy from a breeder may in fact cause a surge in the demand for purebred puppies and act more as a boon to puppy mills than a deterrent. This is distressing news to those of us who would like to end the inhumane suffering endured by dogs in puppy mills.

Further, at any one time there are several million homeless dogs in the United States. Certainly, out of those millions, your family could have found one ideal companion.

In light of this, I would respectfully ask that, should you decide to add another dog to your family, you adopt him or her from a shelter or rescue organization. Bo would do well to have a playmate, and it would send a powerful message to the country about the importance of adoption of a mutt rather than preference to a pure bred.

Thank you for your attention to this matter. I always take animal protection issues into account come election time, and I always vote.

Sincerely,

May 9, 2009

Pascal’s Restaurant and Catering

1000 Bristol St N
Newport Beach, CA 92660

Re: Remove Foie Gras from Your Menu

Dear Pascal’s Restaurant and Catering,

I ask that you remove the sales of Foie Gras from your restaurant and catering company. I am horrified and appalled to learn of the process of excessive force feeding of an animal just for the consumption of its liver.

Stop the sale of Foie Gras at your restaurant and catering company.

Sincerely,

May 9, 2009

Colleen Beinhart, Director of Marketing and Communication

Mission Hospital

27800 Medical Center Road

Suite 330

Mission Viejo, California 92691

Re: Stop Financial Intake from Rancho Mission Viejo Rodeo

I was horrified to see a photo of a steer’s head and horns being twisted as it was being toppled to the ground by a cowboy and the accompanying article on the Rancho Mission Viejo Rodeo in the August 25 Orange County Register. I found it disturbing to learn that the Camino Health Center is a recipient of money raised at the rodeo.

Rodeo activities such as steer wrestling, roping calves, and riding bucking broncos subject its unwilling animal participants to brutality and constitute nothing more than animal cruelty. Shame on your organization for accepting money raised on the misery and inhumane treatment of animals.

I urge your organization to reconsider any future association with the rodeo, or any other event, that involves animal cruelty. Abusing animals for any reason should never be supported.

Sincerely,

May 9, 2009

Senator Dean Florez

State Capitol, Room 313

Sacramento, CA 95814

Re: Support SB 250

Dear Senator Florez,

I am writing to support SB 250, which I believe will greatly reduce the amount of homeless animals being euthanized each year. This bill will save the state millions of dollars annually.

In the past decade, spay and neuter laws have proven effective in reducing the homelessness of our pet population. The Pet Responsibility Act-SB 250, will alleviate the needless suffering of millions of animals, as well as provide some relief to our overburdened shelters.

Thank you for you support in this issue.

Thank you,

May 9, 2009

The Honourable Stockwell Day

Minister of International Trade

Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade

125 Sussex Drive

Ottawa, ON

Canada K1A 0G2

Re: Please End Canada's Commercial Seal Hunt

Dear Mr. Day,

As Minister for International Trade and the pending Olympic games in Vancouver, you are well aware of the importance of Canada's international reputation to your economy. I am asking you to protect both by working to end the commercial seal hunt now.

Canada's commercial seal hunt is opposed by the overwhelming majority of people in Canada and around the world, and governments are increasingly taking action on behalf of their citizens. In 2007, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a unanimous resolution calling on the Canadian government to end the commercial seal hunt. In recent years, Belgium, the Netherlands, Austria, Germany, Slovenia, France, Croatia, Italy, Mexico and Panama have either ended their trade in seal products or announced their intentions to do so. In 2006, the European Parliament passed a resolution calling for an EU wide ban of seal products, and the Council of Europe called on its 46 member states to promote initiatives aimed at prohibiting the trade in seal products. Notably, 67 percent of Canadians holding an opinion support foreign nations banning seal product trade (Pollara 2007).