December 23, 2007

A) START Survey!
B) START's New Year's Day Brunch
C) AAA Promotes Ringling Bros. Circus
D) New Bill Restricts Tethering of Dogs
E) Oxygen Masks Receive Broad Support
F) Easy Activism
G) Stiffen MO Dogfighting Penalties
H) NEWS
 
 

A) START Survey
The annual START Survey is now available online.  For those of you who are START members, you should have received yours in the mail.  If not, or if it's easier for you, just go to our website where you can fill it out.  (Members can also cast their ballot for the two Board Members at the top of the page.)  Anyone can fill out the survey.  It doesn't take long and it will really help us in determining where to focus our efforts in the coming year.  We would greatly appreciate it if you could fill it out by December 31.  Thank you so much, and thanks to Justin for setting it up online!

B) START's New Year's Day Brunch
We apologize for the late notice, but we were working out a few details.  This year's New Year's Day Brunch won't technically be a brunch as much as a dinner with brunch foods.  Think of it as a "brinner"... or "dunch," if you like.  We will still have it at Barrister's Restaurant, but it will be at 6:30 pm on January 1.  For those who would like to attend and enjoy all the wonderful foods, the cost is the same as last year, $15.  Barrister's is at 15 North Meramec, in Clayton
C) AAA Promotes Ringling Bros. Circus  (thanks, Margot!)
AAA has decided to support and promote Ringling Bros. Circus by discounting tickets to this outdated "entertainment."  PETA has a pre-written, but editable, letter on its site, asking AAA to reconsider its involvement with animal abuse and neglect.  Please, go to Circuses.com and send this letter to AAA.  Don't forget to change or add your own wording for more impact.  Even if you don't have time to do that, it still helps if you sign the letter.

D) New Bill Restricts Tethering of Dogs  (thanks, Sue!)
A new bill that is expected to be signed into law will put restrictions on the tying of dogs in St. Louis City.  The new law puts limits on the amount of time a dog can be tied up, as well as requires access to food and water and stipulates length and type of tether.  See the article.

E) Oxygen Masks Receive Broad Support (thanks, Mack!) 
Oxygen masks for companion animals seem to be catching on everywhere.  START's campaign to supply the St. Louis City Fire Department was a huge success, thanks to Sue Costello and her networking skills, along with Four Muddy Paws, and several individual donors.  Now, we read about former Cardinals trainer, Gene Gieselmann, providing the Fenton Fire Department with five sets of the masks.

F) Easy Activism
Thank Fox News for Airing Horrifying Smithfield Footage
     (I e-mailed this link to my family who make fun of my husband's and my food "restrictions." It's all the reason we need to be vegan.)
Don't forget to cast your vote for the 10 Worst Zoos for Elephants 
Urge Congress to support Mandatory Alternatives
Ask the FTC to Crack Down on M&M/Mars

G) Stiffen MO Dogfighting Penalties
With the national attention Michael Vick has received (especially his surprisingly stiff sentence), now is the time to tackle dogfighting in other states.  Missouri Senator Scott Rupp has filed a bill to address this issue.  SB 819 would increase the penalty for attending dogfights, would allow law enforcement to confiscate dogfighters' personal property, and would require a disposition hearing for the dogs within 30 days of seizure.  The legislative session begins again January 9, and our legislators need to hear from us before then.  Ask them to support SB 819.  The MO Alliance for Animal Legislation (MAAL) is fully behind this bill.

H) NEWS
Wash U Finally Joins List of Med Schools Without Live Animal Lab!
New Alternative for Testing Chemical Compounds
Animal Cruelty Charges for Puerto Rican Stray "Solution"
Morningstar Farms will Reportedly Use Fewer Eggs
Beware of "Fake" Fur
Basic Parrot Care Class Coming to Arnold
PetSmart will Not Sell Rabbits