October 20

Upcoming Events
   1. National Primate Liberation Week ~ We have not heard from anyone interested in a demo, so WE WILL NOT BE MEETING ON SUNDAY. We apologize for any confusion.

   2. An Evening for the Animals Silent Auction ~ Saturday, October 27, 6:00 to 9:00 pm, at the Regional Arts Commission (6128 Delmar). START's biggest annual fundraiser is a lot of fun, but also a lot of work. Call or e-mail START if you would like to volunteer. Anyone who puts in a three-hour shift will have free admission for the auction, food, drinks, and goody bags!

There will be a buffet dinner and dessert, drinks, prizes for best costume, trick 'r treat goody bags, and a whole range of auction items to fit any
budget. Tickets are $15 in advance, or $20 at the door. You can get all the details and even conveniently buy your tickets through our website!

   3. Ringling Bros. Demos ~ Thursday, November 8, and Sunday, November 11. The show on Thursday starts at 7:00 pm, so we will demo from 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm. The Sunday show starts at 1:00 pm, and we will be there from 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm. The circus is at the Scottrade Center, and we will meet across the street from the main entrance. (The MetroLink station is right there on that side.)

   4. OpSPOT Sweat 4 Pets ~ Sunday, November 11, at Tower Grove Park. See details.

   5. Animal Mask Fundraiser at Four Muddy Paws ~ The good guys at Four Muddy Paws Dog Wash and Healthy Pet Market, are hosting a fundraiser for our Animal Oxygen Mask Project. It will be held the weekend of November 9. That Friday, November 9, from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm, will be the humans-only event, with a cocktail party and silent auction, featuring real fire hydrants decorated by local artists! Saturday, November 10, from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm, you can come in with your canine friend while the fun continues! Fire department related toys will be sold with 100% of sales going towards the oxygen masks. Four Muddy Paws is located in Lafayette Square, at 1711 Park Avenue (at the corner of Park and Dolman, by Squires Restaurant and Stray Rescue).

   6. Monthly Membership Meeting ~ Tuesday, November 13, 7:00 pm at the Brentwood Community Center.

   7. St. Louis Vegetarian Society's Turkey-Free Thanksgiving ~ Saturday, November 17, 5:00 pm at the First Congregational Church, 6501 Wydown Boulevard in Clayton. All the details are on their website. START will have a table there if anyone is interested in helping staff it. The VS could also use some volunteers that evening, so let them know if you can pitch in.

   8. Fur-Free Friday Demo ~ Friday, November 23, Noon to 1:00 pm at the Galleria. We have signs, or you can make your own.

B) Mars Candy STILL Involved in Vivisection
Mars Candy Company is still torturing rodents for who knows what inexplicable reason. Mars -- the makers of M&Ms, Mars bars, Snickers, and a host of other candy -- performs outlandish and perverse experiments on mice and rats. There can be no defense for a candy company to be involved in vivisection. Go to the PETA alert page to tell Mars what you think of them. AND, be sure NOT to give out Mars candy for Halloween.

C) Great Way to Support the SHAC7
The SHAC7 Support Fund has a great new way to lend moral and financial support to the imprisoned SHAC activists. They have a new T-shirt that helps spread the word while also benefiting their defense fund and appeal.

D) In the News
Hardee's rolls out another obscene menu item (This crap should come with its own cardiac paddles.)
Industry-sponsored study touts benefits of fish, refutes warnings

E) Global Warming Pledge (Thanks for the heads-up, Joe!)
Urge Al Gore to recommend going vegetarian to benefit the environment. Conspicuously missing from the Alliance for Climate Protection's seven-point pledge is a commitment to go veg. Ask Gore and the Alliance to make it an eight-point pledge by adding going vegetarian to the list.

Denny’s Statement

Before agreeing to partner with Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey, we spoke with representatives from Ringling Bros. and thoroughly reviewed information about their animal care policies and practices. We learned that in all aspects of animal care and safety, Ringling Bros. meets or exceeds all federal animal welfare standards set by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) under the Animal Welfare Act. Based on our review of the information we received, we are confident that Ringling Bros. provides the highest standards of care for their animals. Please visit www.elephantcenter.com if you would like more information on Ringling Brothers animal care.