|
PERFORMING ANIMAL WELFARE SOCIETY
Rescue. Advocacy. Sanctuary. For Life.
Since 1984
| |
Newsletter | November 2023 | |
Wild Turkeys at PAWS' ARK 2000 Sanctuary | |
|
A Message of Thanks from
PAWS President and CEO Ed Stewart
| |
|
The season of giving and gratitude is upon us – a time to reflect and be thankful.
I am forever grateful for you and your kind support as we leave 2023 and look forward to a milestone anniversary for PAWS in 2024: 40 years of rescue, sanctuary, advocacy, and education!
You make it possible for PAWS to do the hard work for captive wild animals in need, whether it’s supporting key advocacy and rescue efforts or funding the care of the animals at the ARK 2000 sanctuary.
I am thankful that the animals in our care have been able to rely on people like you year after year…
Such as our seven tigers, who all came from cub petting operations that exploited baby animals for profit and then condemned them to lives of despair and deprivation once they were no longer of use.
Or our seven elephants – including Gypsy, Nicholas and Prince who once were part of a circus. Gypsy was forced to travel and perform with various circuses for 40 grueling years!
Ben the bear was trapped in a tiny cage at a roadside zoo with no hope of ever leaving the nightmarish place – until his rescue and transfer to PAWS.
Thanks to you, all the animals in our care – elephants, tigers, bears, Capuchin monkeys, emu, and little muntjac Mojo – enjoy large, comfortable habitats set in nature and the opportunity to live a more natural life. They are safe and respected.
For all this, I am ever so grateful. We truly could not do it without you.
Thank you for your love and support!
| |
One Gift That Should Not Be on Your Holiday List! | |
|
This is the time of year when people are pondering holiday trips and future vacations. Sadly, many people have on their bucket list an elephant ride in a foreign country.
People are too often unaware of the cruelty involved in captive elephant tourism, including rides, bathing elephants, petting, and taking close-up photos with them – as well as the danger.
Recently, a Utah couple barely survived an elephant ride in Thailand. They face a difficult recovery from injuries including a broken back and crush injuries. Earlier this year an elephant shattered the bones in a woman’s arm as she stood with the animal for a photo.
The elephants suffer as well. They are violently trained, cruelly dominated, and often kept in poor conditions – all so tourists can ride and interact with them.
PAWS never supports direct or close-up interactions between the public and elephants.
At the ARK 2000 sanctuary, even experienced caregivers do not share the same space with the elephants. There is always a protective barrier between them. Using positive reinforcement training and food rewards we consistently provide a full range of husbandry and veterinary care.
So what can you do to help end elephant interactions? Take the Pledge for Elephants:
- Never ride an elephant – in another country or at home.
- Never pet, bathe, or participate in an up-close photo op with an elephant.
- Never patronize places where elephants are made to perform tricks.
If you want to truly experience elephants, we recommend observation-only excursions in the wild where elephants live freely.
Visit our special campaign page to learn more about the dark side of elephant tourism. You can also sign our Take the Pledge for Elephants petition and help us get to 35,000 signatures (we’re really close!).
|
|
|
Students and staff from American River College, joined by ARK 2000 Sanctuary Manager Brian Busta
(back row second from right)
| |
PAWS Hosts American River College Students for Special Captive Wildlife Program | |
|
This month, students from American River College in Sacramento, 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 issues surrounding their captivity.
Students are guided through the sanctuary where they learn about the animals’ individual histories, and they explore how captive situations affect their perception of wild animals 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 Catherine Doyle at cdoyle@pawsweb.org. The program will be offered again in the spring.
| |
A Wild Holiday Gift Idea! “Adopt” an Animal from PAWS | |
|
Need a unique holiday gift that helps animals at the same time? “Adopt” an animal at PAWS for a friend, loved one, or yourself!
When you “adopt” an animal you make a real difference in the lives of the rescued and retired wild animals at PAWS.
You provide them with room to roam and the chance to be their wild selves. Each adoption supports an animal’s vital care including nutritious diets, daily attention, and veterinary care when needed.
The PAWS “adoption” packet contains a color photo, certificate, and information about the selected elephant, tiger, bear, monkey, or other animal at PAWS.
To adopt an animal, click here to access our “Adopt an Animal” page, and then follow directions.
You can also call the PAWS office at (209) 745-2606 between the hours of 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. Have your credit card handy and tell us which animal you would like to “adopt.”
Please allow 7-10 days for receipt of adoption packet.
| |
Thank You for Making #GivingTuesday a Tremendous Success for PAWS' Elephants! | |
|
An elephant-sized thank you to everyone who donated for #GivingTuesday!
Thanks to you, the event was a big success for the seven elephants in our care. You raised more than $90,000 in 24 hours – again exceeding our fundraising goal!
It costs more than $44,000 each month to feed and care for elephants Lulu, Mara, Thika, Toka, Gypsy, Nicholas, and Prince.
Because of your generosity, we raised enough to cover two months of care for the elephants and then some!
Thank you for your support!
PAWS is grateful to these caring friends who provided $52,500 in matching funds for #GivingTuesday: Dr. Deb Hoffman; Kristina Wiley, DDS; Margo Duckett, Colonel, USAF NC; Sandy and Ray Monticelli; Tigers in America; Kevin and Susan McCourt; Kerr Family Foundation; and three other donors who wish to remain anonymous.
|
|
PAWS’ Year of the Bear Campaign Comes to a Close | |
|
As PAWS’ Year of the Bear educational campaign comes to a close, we hope that throughout this year you learned more about bears and their intelligence (on par with that of many nonhuman primates), agility, and many complex behaviors.
In case you missed any of the interesting articles we provided – such as tool use in bears and self-medication in the wild, as well as the different forms of exploitation in captivity – you can find our archived newsletters here.
Despite their great complexity and capacity to suffer, bears continue to be exploited for circus-style shows, held in dismal roadside zoos, and used for cruel petting operations where people pay to hold and take photos with traumatized bear cubs torn from their mothers.
If there is one thing we hope everyone learns from this campaign, it’s that bears are amazing animals who deserve our respect, protection and compassion, whether in the wild or in captivity.
We hope you will carry this with you and take action to protect bears.
To get started, visit our Take the Pledge for Bears page for more information about bears in captivity and how you can help them.
|
|
THANK YOU!
November Amazon Wish List Donors:
| |
Bernice Meller: one 2 lb. bag of banana chips. Linda Dominic: one 2 lb. bag of banana chips. Joyce Bruno: one syringe of Probiocin. Joleene M.Ladyman: two 8 oz. bottles of EicosaDerm. Michele Bumb: one 16 oz. bag of blueberries. Dawn Brenner: one 16 oz. bag of blueberries. Leona Heraty: one 8 lb. tub of flax seed. James Hall: one 5 lb. tub of Biotin 100; one 8 lb. tub of flax seed. Joyce Bruno: one 8 lb. tub of flax seed. Valerie Marini: one syringe of Probiocin; one 5 lb. bag of pumpkin seeds; one 4 lb. bag of sunflower kernels; one 5 lb. bag of banana chips; one 8 lb. tub of flax seed. Katlyn Grieve: one syringe of Probiocin; one 6.5 oz. bag of papaya; one 4 .lb. bag of almonds; one 5 lb. tub of Biotin 100. Lynn Bruser: one 8 lb. tub of flax seed; one 4 lb. bag of sunflower kernels; one 5 lb. tub of Biotin 100; one 4 lb. bag of almonds; one 2 lb. bag of banana chips; one 16 oz. bag of blueberries. Nancy S. Hair: two 4 lb. bags of sunflower kernels; one 4 lb. bag of almonds. Linda Starr: two 4 lb. bags of almonds; one 5 lb. tub of Biotin 100. Marisela: three 2 lb. bags of banana chips. Samuel Rosado Jr.: one 3 lb. bag of walnuts. Elaine Green (In memory of Leslie's mare Sweetie): one 5 lb. tub of Biotin 100. Carole Bognar: one 8 lb. tub of flax seed. Denise Hurd: two 32 oz. bottles of EicosaDerm. Joyce Bruno: one bottle of CosequinDS, 132# Anonymous: two 5 lb. bags of cashews; two 3 lb. bags of brazil nuts; two 32 oz. bottles of EicosaDerm; one 8 lb tub of flax seed; one 2 lb. bag of banana chips; one 2 lb. bag of sunflower kernels; one syringe of Probiocin; one 8 oz. bottle of EicosaDerm; two 6.5 oz. bags of papaya; one 6.5 oz. bag of papaya. | |
|
We have chosen specific items that are needed at the sanctuary, which you can purchase directly from Amazon. We have an ongoing need for many of the products listed. Click here to review the items and donate.
| |
PAWS provides lifetime care to the tigers, bears, elephants, and other animals who call our sanctuary 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 gifts make this excellent care possible. | |
There are many ways you can help PAWS animals: | |
|
Donate. 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. When you make a contribution for the wild animals at PAWS, it is unlike any other. How many people can say they’ve gifted elephants with spacious rolling hills and a more natural life, or made a present of a lush, tree-filled habitat for a tiger? Or given a bear a new chance at life? And you ensure we are prepared for the next wild animal in dire need of rescue. Three ways to give and every donation matters.
| |
|
PAWS is proud of its 4-star rating with Charity Navigator - the highest rating possible. We are part of an elite group of charities with an "exceptional" designation (at least four consecutive years of 4-star ratings), meaning that your gift will have the greatest impact possible. CharityWatch gives PAWS an "A" rating.
| |
|
Give to one of PAWS' ongoing MightyCause campaigns: Our "Dollars for Dirt" or "Give BIG for PAWS' Elephants" fundraisers for the elephants, like Prince (pictured), or our "Help Captive Tigers" fundraiser to benefit the rescued tigers living at our ARK 2000 sanctuary.
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 PAWS' sanctuary to call home! Learn more
Corporate Donations and Matching Fund Programs. Learn more about what is needed.
| |
|
Purchase PAWS apparel and merchandise. Clothing for adults, kids, toddlers and infants, as well as other fun merchandise like notecards and coffee mugs - available from our CafePress online gift shop.
PAWS Amazon Wish List. We have chosen specific items that are needed at the sanctuary, which you can purchase directly from Amazon. Many items are ongoing. The list is always current! View here.
EBAY Giving Works. Visit PAWS eBay page to view our current listings and to bid. List your 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 or buying!
| |
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
| | | | |
