9.28.05

Dear Rocky Mountain Animal Defenders:

This is the busiest time of year for activism, but issues also arise that need tending to immediately. Please see the bottom of this announcement for two action alerts that you can help with — both of which directly and immediately affect animals in Colorado and beyond.

There are many protests and events coming up, so please save some time and energy to devote to advocating for the animals. Please check out the list of events coming up — there are three this weekend alone.

Thanks to Scott Keating for hosting a great RMAD benefit party last week! We ate great food, including a monster vegan Boston Cream Pie from Watercourse. Scott has generously donated the proceeds from the party to RMAD.

Special thanks to veterinarian Erica Rambus and Rocky Mountain Alley Cat Allies who handled the spaying & neutering of 40+ feral cats this past Saturday. Several RMAD volunteers helped with the trapping and fostering, but Erica and her assistant Karen (with the help of 2 RMACA volunteers) tirelessly devoted their day to caring for these cats. Thanks so much for helping to better the lives of ferals!

Volunteers needed for web design and programming. RMAD has an immediate need for help with various web projects. If you can help, please contact us immediately at 303-449-4422 or chrisj@rmad.org. We have lots of other volunteer opportunities, including our upcoming December winter party/fundraising event. We need help soliciting donations and help with the event, so if you would like to participate, please let us know right away.

Feel free to contact us with any pressing concerns or questions. Have a good week and weekend!

Chris and Donna
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Saturday, October 1: Farm Sanctuary Walk for Farm Animals

When: Registration: 9:00 a.m. — Walk: 9:30 a.m.
Where: Civic Center Park (1437 Bannock), Denver

Late registration and T-shirt pick up, for all those who are preregistered, will begin at 9 AM . We will walk from 9:30 to 10:30 AM, have a quick picnic snack, then we will head over to the fur demo at 11:15 (see demo details below) After the fur demo we will have lunch at Little Ollie's (GREAT Chinese food) on the corner near the fur demo. The registration deadline has past to receive your T-shirts on time. It's NOT too late to join us for the walk! We will have a few extra T-shirts at the walk for late entries. If we run out, T-shirts can be mailed. If you haven't registered, but you plan to join us, please let Harriet know, or respond to this e-mail ASAP. Thanks! We will meet on the sidewalk next to Civic Center Park (1437 Bannock) across the street (to the East) from the City and County building. At 9:30 we will walk on the 16th Street Mall. If you arrive late, you can catch up with us on the mall. http://www.walkforfarmanimals.org/locations/denver.htm; Harriet Balhiser, 719-276-2201

Saturday, October 1: Fur Demo

When: 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM. Posters and leaflets will be provided. Bring an umbrella just in case!
Where: Marks Lloyds Furs, 263 Josephine between 2nd and 3rd in Cherry Creek See directions below.

Winter is fast approaching and sadly, fur sales will soon be on the rise for the season. Please help us spread the truth about fur, in Denver.
Here's the scoop about fur:
http://www.furisdead.com/feat/ChineseFurFarms/
http://www.hsus.org/wildlife/issues_facing_wildlife/fur_and_trapping/
http://www.furisdead.com/getActive.asp
http://www.furisdead.com/photos-traps.asp
http://www.bancrueltraps.com/
http://www.furkills.org/
http://www.infurmation.com

Directions: From I-25 take Speer South to University. Turn Left (North, see Whole Foods Market on your Right after you turn onto University). University turns into Josephine after you cross 2nd. Marks Lloyds will, be on your Left just before 3rd. Don't forget to buy a parking ticket to place on your dash board from one of the green parking boxes marked with a (P) that are located on each block. From 6th Avenue going East, or 8th Avenue going West. go South on York (a one way street) to 3rd. Turn Left (East) on 3rd. Josephine is the next street. Marks Lloyds is behind Little Ollies which you will see on the corner of 3rd and Josephine. Call 303-807-1886 if you need help with directions.

Sunday, October 2: HEALTH Potluck

When: 5:30 p.m.
Where: We will be meeting on the 2nd floor at the Highlands Methodist, on the corner of 32nd and Osceola, between Sheridan and Federal in Denver.

HEALTH welcomes everyone, regardless of dietary preference, to share a plant-based meal (a meal free of animal products), while learning about a more compassionate lifestyle. For the potluck, bring a plant-based dish (no meat, fish fowl, gelatin, dairy, eggs, honey or other animal derived products) to serve at least 8 people. A plant-based dish can be as simple as, cut up fruits or veggies or a bottle of natural apple juice to share. If you are new to the group, please to come as our guest and let us feed you. Those comfortable with plant-based, please feel free to show off, dazzle us with your talent and bring extra if you like. Also bring a serving utensil, your own place setting, your own drink and a recipe card (with some extras to share) listing the ingredients in your dish (Please note on your recipe card if your dish contains hydrogenated oils for the health conscience folks in the group and also if it contains common allergens such as nuts).

Directions: From the S.E., take Federal, North to 29th. Turn left (West) on 29th to Osceola and turn Right (North). Just before 32nd you will see the Church on the left and a parking lot on the right. You may park in the lot if there's room. You can also take Speer Boulevard, North to 32nd, then go West (left) on 32nd.
From the N.E., take Federal, South to 32nd. Turn Right (W) on 32nd to Osceola, the lot will be on your left.
From the West, take Sheridan to 32nd and go East to Osceola. The Church and lot will be on your right. 32nd, runs East from 13th and Ford in Golden all the way to Osceola, for those of you coming from Golden or the west side of town. It changes from 13th to 32nd somewhere behind the Coors plant. Go East on 13th and just stay on the main road. We will be collecting a small donation (whatever you can afford) for the rent. They usually charge a $75 fee per use but they are being so kind to only charge us $30 + any extra we collect.

Questions? Call 303-449-4422 M-F and leave a message for Ann

Saturday, October 8: Ringling Brothers Circus Animal Vigil

When: 6:00 p.m.
Where: Denver Coliseum

Let’s show them what Colorado is made of, and that they will never be welcome here as long as they’re torturing and killing animals. Here is your once-a-year opportunity to speak up for those who are beaten, chained, starved and lonely. Here is your chance to do something! Posters, leaflets, and candles will be provided. We will also have some special guests paying Ringling a “grim” visit! If you are interested in being one of these special guests, please contact me at sisley@milroy.com. We hope to see all of you there! Thank you.

Dress: Black clothing, please
Contact: Sisley Milroy sisley@milroy.com
Forward this to everyone you know, bring your friends and family. Last year we had 90 activists out there, giving Ringling the ol’ one-two. Let’s do even better this year!


Sunday, October 9: Prairie Dog Coalition Bowl-A-Thon

When: Sunday, October 9, 2005 3-5pm
Where: SPLITZ Bowling Center, 10685 Westminster Blvd. Westminster

All bowlers are graciously asked to get a minimum of 10 sponsors of $10.00 each. There is a $6.00 entry fee payable at the door that includes: 2 games, shoes, prizes and FUN! Please contact the Prairie Dog Coalition office to reserve your space to bowl and get a sponsor sheet at 720.938-0788 or info@prairiedogcoalition.org Bowl-A-Thon pledge sheets and instructions can be found at www.prairiedogcoalition.org/events/shtml

Help the prairie dogs and have fun at the same time!

Tuesday, October 11: Howard Lyman Talk

When: 7:30 p.m.
Where: Ramaley C250, CU, Boulder, http://www.colorado.edu/campusmap/map.html?search=ramaley&x=9&y=9

Not to be missed!!

Friday, November 25: Fur Free Friday

When: 11:00 a.m.
Where: Cherry Creek

More details to follow!!

Ongoing: Vegetarian Parents of Denver Meeting

Vegetarian Parents of Denver meet the second Saturday of every month. We discuss a variety of issues, share resources and are even starting an organic food buying club. We welcome parents of children of any age. Bring the kids and we have a babysitter watch them in another room. Our next meeting is June 11 at 10 a.m.- 12 p.m. You can call 303 355 5272 or e-mail Laura Patrick (veganmom2002@yahoo.com) for directions. Or join our online discussion group at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/compassionate_future/.

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The Endangered Species Act Is in Danger

Proposed amendments to this landmark legislation would be an unnatural disaster for endangered animals and critical habitat.

September 27, 2005

House Republicans, led by Representative Richard Pombo (R-CA), seem to be taking advantage of the fact that the country is distracted to fast-track legislation that would eviscerate the Endangered Species Act, a move that would seal the fate of many endangered species, pushing them over the brink of extinction. The Endangered Species Act has been an effective tool to combat the plight of animals used in entertainment, such as Asian elephants and great apes, as well as to protect animals who remain free in the wild.

While Americans are busy focusing on the hurricane-ravaged Gulf Coast, doing what they can to help victims recover, Pombo has sponsored H.R. 3824, perversely called the “Threatened and Endangered Species Recovery Act,” which would significantly weaken legal protection for animals and their habitats, severing the only lifeline that stands between endangered species, greedy developers, and other vested interests. H.R. 3824 would effectively gut the Endangered Species Act with the following provisions:

· Make it more difficult to list a species as threatened or endangered
· Eliminate protections for critical habitat
· Eliminate the Endangered Species Committee
· Weaken scientific decision-making
· Exempt projects from independent scientific review
· Remove the prohibition on “takings”
· Take mandatory recovery plans and make them voluntary
· Allow individual states to adopt piecemeal approaches to recovery based on arbitrary state lines as opposed to critical habitat boundaries
· Shorten the amount of time that agencies can oppose action that would harm threatened or endangered species.

Pombo’s bill reads like a Letter to Santa Claus penned by money-grubbing logging, mining, development, and property rights extremists. If H.R. 3824 passes, Christmas will come early for these powerful corporate interests. It’s up to concerned citizens everywhere to see to it that they get a lump of coal instead.

Urgent action is required TODAY in order to preserve legal protection for endangered species. The House of Representatives is set to vote on the measure sometime this week. Pombo has already seen to it that H.R. 3824 passed through the House Resources Committee (of which he serves as Chairman). Please call or fax your representative immediately and ask him or her to oppose Rep. Pombo’s attempt to gut the Endangered Species Act - H.R. 3824. Let your representative know that endangered species and their habitats are more important than short-term profits, that greed is not a core American value, and that you oppose any attempt to weaken the protections of the Act as it exists today.

You can find contact information for your representative at http://www.house.gov/.

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Help Save Highlands Ranch Prairie Dogs

From Leslie Johnson:

We're asking that you send a letter to Shea Homes, the distribution is below this sample letter - send as many letters as possible - your friends, spouse, siblings. Numbers will make an impact here. Tim Roberts is the guy we were talking to, the others are on the Highlands Ranch Metro Districts board (Shea actually has a board and a say in running Highlands Ranch government). There is another Shea property on Lucent Blvd. where hopefully they haven't already killed those prairie dogs.

Shea Homes actually took most of the remaining animals here on Friday morning. I wasn't here - my husband said it was a good thing I wasn't here to see it. They took them from the drainage areas where they wouldn't be bulldozing anyway - they took rabbits. They took the prairie dogs behind my house, so I'm just sick about it. They plan to poison any animals not trapped for the ferret program.

Sample letter to send to Shea Homes. Please edit for your personal feelings (or feel free to write your own) and send to the distribution below:

I am so disappointed and disgusted that Shea Homes has removed the prairie dogs on the Backcountry development. I understand that Shea owns suitable habitat where the animals could have been relocated with little or no cost to Shea Homes.

The prairie dog is a Keystone Species. Scientists now understand that more than 160 species are dependent to a greater or lesser degree on the prairie dog. With its abrupt decline, we are at risk of losing numerous dependent species including burrowing owls (endangered), antelope, swift fox, coyotes, badgers, ferruginous hawk, golden eagle and the mountain plover. Prairie dog populations have declined to 1- 2% of their historic numbers. This development, "The Backcountry", just by its name infers a place to live with wildlife. The homes at the back end will view the Backcountry Wilderness Area. Prairie dogs in your development or in the wildlife refuge would pull wildlife into the area. The cat is out of the bag about "relocations" to the ferret program. The public is shocked and appalled by the deception and the fate of the prairie dogs. You are not helping the ferrets. The reason the black-footed ferret is endangered is there are not enough prairie dogs left in the wild. You are just contributing to the problem. In addition to their value to wildlife, prairie dog towns are a valuable education resource for the schools in the area. Denver's Natural Areas Program is planning to protect a number of towns in that city for local schools to observe on field trips, for example. The towns are a prime wildlife-watching area for local residents. Boulder County designs prairie dog parks where people can come view the prairie dogs.

We request that you cease your senseless killing of prairie dogs on this development, and relocate the remaining few to the Backcountry or the drainage area identified by the DOW representative. We plead with you to not poison the remaining animals. We strongly urge you to include prairie dog towns in your planning and development.

Your Signature
Send to these individuals:tim.roberts@sheahomes.comjkappes@highlandsranch.orgtkershisnik@highlandsranch.orgjkilrow@highlandsranch.orgsormiston@highlandsranch.org