Hello Friends! Here is the second Action_Alerts & More Newsletter!

If you missed last week's, you can view it on our website at
happypets.addr.com/newsletter1.htm


IN THIS ISSUE
1: ACTION ALERT: Captive Wildlife Safety Act
2: ANIMAL BYTE (News)
3: PET TIP OF THE WEEK
4: JOKE OF THE WEEK
5: UPDATE: Spay Neuter Stamps 
6: RECIPE


ACTION ALERT: H.R. 5226 Captive Wildlife Safety Act 

Many states have laws prohibiting the private ownership of large, exotic animals as pets, but no such federal law currently exists. As a result, the wild exotic pet trade is growing at an astounding rate. An 
estimated 5,000 tigers are privately owned in the U.S. That's more 
than what is believed to exist in the wild! 

Wild animals are not suitable pets and their confinement in backyards
and other small enclosures across  the country has led to devastating accidents, many involving small children.

More often than not, these private owners are incapable of sustaining
a wild animal  with it's demanding needs. The animals typically end up neglected and suffering terribly. Many of them are abandoned or sold, providing a steady stream of tame targets for trophy hunters at  canned hunts.

*Canned hunts are commercial hunts that take place on private land
under circumstances that practically guarantees a kill. 
For more information about canned hunts click here. 

H.R. 5226, the Captive Wildlife Safety Act was introduced in 
by California Rep. George Miller to ban the interstate commerce of lions,tigers, leopards, cougars, and bears for the pet trade. This act will helpcurtail the practice of keeping these large, dangerous animals as pets by private owners. Facilities licensed by the USDA, such as Wildlife Conservation Parks or zoos will be exempt.

Please contact your federal representative and ask him or her
to support or co-sponsor H.R. 5226. 

Also ask them to support S.1655, and H.R. 3464 S. 1655, sponsored by U.S.  Senator Joe Biden, and H.R. 3464, sponsored by U.S. Representative Sam Farr, will ban the interstate sale or transport of exotic mammals for the purpose of  shooting them for trophies at canned hunts.

All representatives can be
reached by calling the U.S. Capitol switchboard at 202-224-3121. 
To find your representative and his or her mailing address and 
complete contact information, enter your zip code in the designated box at:
www.congress.org


ANIMAL BYTE: Microsoft seeks the "Ultimate Zookeeper" for their
`Zoo Tycoon'' computer game.

Mircosoft's ``Ultimate Zookeeper'' campaign asks the public to vote for the best
zookeeper in America by selecting 1 of the 12 semifinalists who
were nominated by employees of their own home zoo, and chosen by Microsoft.
Representing a wide variety of animal specialties, the semifinalists come from
city zoos across the nation. Each has done something above and beyond the
call of duty to improve habitational platforms and/or conservation efforts at his 
or her home zoo . The deadline to vote for your favorite zookeeper is October 10th.

Five finalists ( the five with the most votes) will then compete in the ``Zoo Tycoon''
Ultimate Zookeeper challenge on Nov. 14th. Activities will include building the
ultimate zoo in the virtual game, and a brief presentation on how each contender
will use the winning donation to enhance their home zoo if chosen. 

The winning prize package includes a $20,000 donation to fund habitat and
animal care efforts in the winner's home zoo and the opportunity to have the
zookeepers likeness appear in the game.

For more information click here.

For the most current animal related news, refreshed continuously throughout the day
check out Animal Bytes on our website at www.happypets.org


PET TIP OF THE WEEK: 

Store old catnip toys in a container of loose catnip to refresh their scent. 
For a new pet tip every day, visit our site at www.happypets.org


JOKE OF THE WEEK: LOST VERSES FROM THE BIBLE

Adam said, "Lord, when I was in the garden, you walked with me everyday
Now I do not see you anymore. I am lonesome here and it is difficult for me to
remember how much you love me." And GOD said, " So I will create
a companion for you that will be with you forever and who will be a reflection 
of my love for you, and his name will be a reflection of my own name, and you
will call him DOG." So GOD created DOG. And it was a good animal. 
And GOD was pleased. And Adam was pleased. And the DOG was pleased to
be with Adam and he wagged his tail. 

After a while, it came to pass that Adam had become filled with pride.
He strutted and preened like the peacock and he believed himself worthy of adoration.  DOG had indeed taught him that he was loved, but no one had taught him humility." And GOD created for him a companion who would be with him forever and who would see him as he really was. The companion would remind him of his limitations and humble him. 

So GOD created CAT to be a companion to Adam. 
And CAT would not obey Adam. And when Adam gazed into CAT's eyes, 
he was reminded that he was not the supreme being. And Adam learned humility. 
And GOD was pleased. And Adam was greatly improved. 
And CAT did not care one way or the other. 

UPDATE: Neuter or Spay Postage Stamps:

The USPS is delighted to announce that in response 
to the collaborative efforts of the STAMP OUT Campaign,
your purchases, letters of support and positive feedback on their web form,
they have increased issuance from 100 million to 200 million stamps! 
Whoo Hoo!


RECIPE:  Garbanzo (Chick Pea) Casserole

Why a recipe in the Action_ Alerts & More newsletter? Well, I love to cook and I like to share. Plus, any time I include a recipe in the newsletter it will be Vegan or
Vegetarian. See, it is relevant. Eliminating animal products from our diet is good
for us, and even better for the animals! I will never preach to you about your diet 
or your lifestyle, but even substituting one or two vegetarian meals per week makes
a difference. This week's recipe sounds like a lot of work, but it's really easy. 

Beans:
1 1/2 cups garbanzo beans (chick peas)
7 cups water 
1 small onion, peeled, whole 
4 cloves 
1 1/4-inch slice fresh ginger 
2 sprigs parsley 
1 cup carrots, cubed 

Sauce:
1 cup onion, chopped 
1 Tbsp. minced garlic 
3 tomatoes, peeled and chopped 
2 cups tomato sauce 
1 1/2 cups bean cooking liquid 
1 tsp. basil 
1 tsp. thyme 
Salt & pepper to taste 

Topping:
1 Tsp. olive oil 
1/2 cup parsley, chopped 
2 cups bread crumbs 

Soak beans overnight and rinse. 

In a large sauce pan or stock pot, place beans with enough water
to cover by two inches or so. Pierce the peeled onion with the cloves
and add to pot along with garlic, ginger and parsley. 
Bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer about 45 minutes. 

Add carrots. Simmer 20 more minutes or until beans and carrots are tender.
Drain, reserving liquid. Discard onion, cloves and ginger. Set aside. 

Sauce: Cook onion and garlic in a small amount of water until soft.
Stir in tomatoes and sauce, reserved cooking liquid , and spices. 
Bring to a boil. Simmer, covered, about 45 minutes.
Add salt and pepper to taste. 
Set aside. 

Topping: Heat oil. Fry parsley and 1 cup bread crumbs for about a minute,
stirring often. Mix with remaining 1 cup breadcrums and set aside. 

Assembly: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine beans and sauce in a deep, 
casserole dish. Sprinkle one-third of bread-crumb mixture on top.
Bake for 15 minutes, then push bread-crums layer down with a spoon. 
Layer another third of the crumbs on top, bake, and repeat after 15 minutes. 
Add remaining crumbs. Bake 10 minutes then place under a broiler for about 5 
minutes or until lightly browned on top. 

Well, that wraps up this week's newsletter.  I hope you are all finding it useful and I welcome your feedback, comments and suggestions.  

Warmest Regards, 

Tara
www.happypets.org