Fri
17 Jul
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The Bird Man of Mule Creek Prison

Published under General.

Summary:   This is an amazing blog written by one of my coworkers, Monica Engebretson, after her experience working with a prison inmate who was fighting to save some tiny little swallows, whose nests were being destroyed by the prison staff. It's never too late to have a change of heart Published 07/17/09 By Monica Engebretson, Senior Program Associate Six feet tall 220 pounds Shaved head Tattoo-covered arms Inmate Not the image that first comes to mind when you hear “tiny bird defender” is it? When I received a letter at Born Free USA stamped “Prison Generated Mail, Mule Creek State Prison” I didn’t expect it to be call for help on behalf of swallows — tiny birds that build mud nests often on the sides of buildings. But that’s exactly what it was. According to the author of the letter (an inmate), prison staff had been in the practice of destroying active nests which resulted in the destruction of viable eggs, and possibly ...

This is an amazing blog written by one of my coworkers, Monica Engebretson, after her experience working with a prison inmate who was fighting to save some tiny little swallows, whose nests were being destroyed by the prison staff.

It’s never too late to have a change of heart

Published 07/17/09
By Monica Engebretson, Senior Program Associate

Six feet tall
220 pounds
Shaved head
Tattoo-covered arms
Inmate

Not the image that first comes to mind when you hear “tiny bird defender” is it?

When I received a letter at Born Free USA stamped “Prison Generated Mail, Mule Creek State Prison” I didn’t expect it to be call for help on behalf of swallows — tiny birds that build mud nests often on the sides of buildings.

But that’s exactly what it was.

According to the author of the letter (an inmate), prison staff had been in the practice of destroying active nests which resulted in the destruction of viable eggs, and possibly chicks, much to the distress of the devoted parents who were helpless to save their homes and families.

The anguish of the swallows and the injustice of their plight touched the heart of a self-described “tough guy” so much that he began speaking out about it and contacted Born Free USA for help.

In response, I sent a letter to the prison warden informing him of humane ways to discourage swallows from nesting in unwanted areas and that, in addition to any humane concerns, swallows are protected by state and federal laws which prohibit killing or destruction of active nests.

I also responded to the inmate and provided him a copy of the letter sent to the warden as well as a copy of our Born Free USA magazine, Animal Issues Digest.

A few weeks later, I received a letter from the warden informing me that proactive action had already been taken by issuing a memo to prison staff detailing appropriate protocol for dealing with swallow and their nesting activity.

I also received another letter from the inmate informing me that 12 nests had been saved. He had become quite unpopular with several of the officers for speaking out, and endured some teasing from fellow inmates, but to him, it was worth it.

He wrote:

Ten years I have watched these birds/swallows struggle to make and keep their nests, this year being the worst of all. Knowing this is my last year incarcerated, I wish there was more I could do for the future of these birds … perhaps these swallows have rehabbed me more than these four walls. I have spent hours just watching these birds, and perhaps true freedom is found in our wildlife when left to be free.

He also reflected on the information he read in the Born Free USA magazine and commented that he now has something important to stand for and hopes that he will be able to do more to help the animals when his sentence is over.

Those tiny birds touched his heart, and his words and his actions have touched all of us here at Born Free USA and reminded us that anyone can have a change of heart and that together we can change animals lives for good.

Blogging off,

Monica

See original article here: http://snurl.com/nfofm

Tue
07 Jul
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New website for reviewing vegetarian beauty products!

Published under General.

Summary:   I am pleased to announce the premier of a new website that is devoted to reviewing vegetarian/vegan beauty products! www.vegetarianbeautyproducts.com is a website that is aimed at bringing consumers with a conscience together to share what products have worked for them, and which have not. Want to try a new product, but hesitant to spend the money on something before knowing if it will work? Have a particularly bad experience with a hair conditioner, or found your Holy Grail facial moisturizer? Please take a moment and share! And their mascots are two adorable, rescued, goats, who can be followed on Twitter @GoatsInCoats!

I am pleased to announce the premier of a new website that is devoted to reviewing vegetarian/vegan beauty products!

www.vegetarianbeautyproducts.com is a website that is aimed at bringing consumers with a conscience together to share what products have worked for them, and which have not. Want to try a new product, but hesitant to spend the money on something before knowing if it will work? Have a particularly bad experience with a hair conditioner, or found your Holy Grail facial moisturizer? Please take a moment and share!

And their mascots are two adorable, rescued, goats, who can be followed on Twitter @GoatsInCoats!

Wed
01 Jul
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Circus comes to Corpus Christi scarred by trial evidence of cruel bullhook and chain use on beloved circus elephants

Published under General.

Summary:   Corpus Christi, TX—The recent federal trial of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus (Ringling) revealed shocking evidence of routine mistreatment of elephants in the circus. As the circus prepares to open July 8 in Corpus Christi, Born Free USA, a plaintiff in the trial, is asking Corpus Christi residents to review the evidence before buying a ticket that supports animal cruelty. “This groundbreaking trial uncovered clear evidence that Ringling Bros. violates the Endangered Species Act­—which states it is illegal to harm, wound or harass an endangered species— by routinely striking, punishing and chaining elephants,” said Nicole Paquette, Esq., senior vice president and general counsel for Born Free USA, who was also a witness in the trial. “The evidence, from Ringling’s own employees, its CEO, and its medical records, is crystal clear: Ringling’s treatment of elephants is inhumane.” “When it comes to animals, Corpus Christi is a progressive city and we hope ...

Corpus Christi, TX—The recent federal trial of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus (Ringling) revealed shocking evidence of routine mistreatment of elephants in the circus. As the circus prepares to open July 8 in Corpus Christi, Born Free USA, a plaintiff in the trial, is asking Corpus Christi residents to review the evidence before buying a ticket that supports animal cruelty.


“This groundbreaking trial uncovered clear evidence that Ringling Bros. violates the Endangered Species Act­—which states it is illegal to harm, wound or harass an endangered species— by routinely striking, punishing and chaining elephants,” said Nicole Paquette, Esq., senior vice president and general counsel for Born Free USA, who was also a witness in the trial. “The evidence, from Ringling’s own employees, its CEO, and its medical records, is crystal clear: Ringling’s treatment of elephants is inhumane.”


“When it comes to animals, Corpus Christi is a progressive city and we hope its citizens will send a clear message that they don’t support animal abuse by refusing to buy a ticket,” added Paquette.

The case against Ringling exposed the following:

  • An independent examination of Ringling’s medical records, by a Board-certified retired veterinarian from the San Diego Zoo, corroborates plaintiffs’ claims that elephants suffer injuries and scarring from bullhook strikes and foot injuries, and lameness from being continually chained. In fact, the evidence revealed that 100% of Ringling’s adult elephants suffer from some form of ailment relating to prolonged chaining on hard surfaces.
  • Ringling’s transportation records proved plaintiffs’ claims that elephants, both in the circus and at Ringling’s Florida breeding center, spend extensive amounts of time being chained. These records documented elephants being chained for up to 100 consecutive hours in cramped circus railroad cars.
  • Kenneth Feld, President of Ringling’s parent company, admitted “all elephant handlers at Ringling strike elephants with bullhooks”.


“Ringling constantly compares their training, confinement and handling tactics to those the average individual would use on a dog, yet their own statements and documents prove the exact opposite: elephants endure a lifetime of abuse at the hands of the circus,” added Paquette.

 

Born Free USA is a leading national non-profit animal advocacy organization working to conserve and protect wildlife in the U.S. and globally. More information is available at www.bornfreeusa.org. Details on the trial against Ringling Bros. circus, including trial documents and exhibits, can be found at www.bornfreeusa.org/ringling.

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