Happypets.org Action_Alerts & More!
NEWSLETTER No.9
Hello Everyone! This is the 9th happypets.org Action_Alerts and More Newsletter.
If
you missed any previous newsletters, please visit our archives at: happypets.addr.com/Newsletter_Archives.htm
IN THIS ISSUE:
ACTION ALERT: Cooking up Cruelty at MACY'S
RECIPE: Foie Gras Faux (2 mock pate recipes)
ACTION ALERT: Fur Free Friday
JOKE OF THE WEEK
PET TIP OF THE WEEK
ANIMAL BYTE: Companion Animal Renters Study
UPDATE: Update on the Suarez Polar Bears
ACTION ALERT: Cooking Up Cruelty at Macy’s
De Gustibus Cooking School at Macy’s NYC is planning to offer a cooking
class called "Sizzling Holiday Entertaining" on December 18 that will
feature foie gras. Michael Ginor, co-owner of Hudson Valley Foie Gras,
is scheduled to be a guest chef.
Foie gras (meaning Fatty Liver) is produced by force-feeding ducks and geese
three times a day by jamming open their bills, shoving long stiff pipes down
their throats and driving several pounds of food directly into each bird’s stomach.
Apart from being fed far more than they would eat naturally, the diet of foie
gras birds is deliberately deficient in the basic nutrients the animals need
to ensure that the liver accumulates so much fat that it no longer functions
properly. After two or three weeks, when the birds are ready for slaughter,
their diseased livers will have swollen to between six and ten times their
natural size. How appetizing!!?
Foie gras production is so cruel that it is illegal in many countries,
including Denmark, Finland, Germany, Luxembourg, Norway, Poland, Sweden,
Switzerland, the U.K., and the Czech Republic.
Many US restaurants and institutions have already removed this
atrocity from their menus and programs after learning about the intense
cruelty involved in its production. Some recent examples include the following:
Williams-Sonoma removed the item from its catalog;
Smithsonian Associates canceled a panel discussion on foie gras;
D.C. Dining Society banned any promotion of foie gras during a banquet held last
December; Sur la Table restaurant canceled a foie gras seminar last February,
and A Dinner of Hope charity removed the item from its fundraiser in September.
Please ask Macy's to do the same, and let them know that if they refuse, we will
take our Holiday shopping elsewhere this year!
Contact:
James Gray, President
Macy’s East Executive Office
P.O. Box 8220
Mason, OH 45040
Tel.: 1-800-264-0069
Fax: 513-573-2957
E-Mail Form: http://www.macys.com/service/contact/index.ognc
Please also remind De Gustibus that cruelty need not be a part of holiday
cuisine. Ask that the school remove foie gras from the menu and uninvite
Ginor. Contact:
Arlene Felman Sailhac, Director
De Gustibus Cooking School at Macy’s
343 E. 74th St., Ste. 14a
New York, NY 10021
Tel.: 212-439-1714
Fax: 212-439-1716
E-Mail: grtcooks@aol.com
RECIPE: Foie Gras Faux ( 2 mock pate recipes)
I have never tried Foie Gras or any kind of liver pate, so I can't say
if these recipes taste like "the real thing". I've been told by
some that they do, by others that they taste like cat food ;-)
but mostly I've been told that they are good on crackers as an
appetizer and taste nothing like real pates.
RECIPE No. 1:
1 large carrot, diced
1 cup cooked black beans,
(or one 14 0z can rinsed and drained).
2 Tbsp water
1 Tbsp olive oil
1 cup finely chopped onions
1/4 tsp salt
Steam or boil carrots until soft. Set aside. In a blender or food processor, puree beans and
water to form a paste. Add carrots; process until well blended.
In a nonstick skillet, heat oil over medium heat.
Add onions and cook until soft and browned.
Stir in salt and bean mixture; cook 3 minutes or until heated through.
Cool, then refrigerate until ready to serve.
RECIPE No. 2:
Ingredients
1/2 cup walnuts
8 - 10 button mushrooms
2 shallots, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
2 cups green beans
1 teaspoon dried basil
1 teaspoon dried marjoram
Sea salt and black pepper to taste
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon lemon juice
Mix all of the ingredients (except the olive oil and lemon juice) in a
blender to the consistency of coarse bread crumbs.
Heat the olive oil in a small skillet and sauté the mixture for 6-8 minutes.
Add the lemon juice, cool, then refrigerate until ready to serve.
ACTION ALERT: Fur Free Friday : November 29, 2002
Fur Free Friday, held annually on the first Friday after Thanksgiving,
is designed to draw attention to this tragedy and to encourage consumers
to stop buying fur in all its forms. Activists across the nation and abroad
take their messages of compassion to the streets. Past Fur Free Friday
activities have included street theater, non-violent civil disobedience and
educational outreach and displays. This year's events will take place on
Friday, November 29th.
Phoenix, AZ
11:00am - 1:00pm
Meet at the SW corner of Camelback and Scottsdale Rd.
Contact: phoenix@adlaz.org
Beverly Hills, CA
11:00am at Rodeo Drive & Santa Monica Blvd.
Bring signs (no sticks); nearby parking
Contact: Bill Dyer, 310-301-7730, bill@idausa.org
Palo Alto, CA
11:00am - 1:00pm
Meet at Stanford Shopping Center, in front of Neiman Marcus
Please RSVP if you plan to attend; signs & leaflets provided
Sponsored by South Bay In Defense of Animals
Contact: Alfred Kuba, 650-965-8705, bkind2animals@attbi.com
San Francisco, CA
Gather at 11:00am; march at 12:00 sharp, rally until 1:00pm
Meet at Union Square
Contact: Carla Brauer, 415-388-9641 x19, carla@idausa.org
Washington, DC
12:30pm - 1:30pm
Meet at the Neiman Marcus at Mazza Gallerie
5300 Wisconsin Ave., N.W., Washington, D.C.
Contact: 301-891-2458, info@cok.net
Atlanta, GA
11:00am - 1:00pm
Lenox Square Mall on Peachtree St. in the Buckhead area.
Targeting Macy's, Rich's and Neiman Marcus
Contact: 404-228-2114, or adlatlanta@hotmail.com
Kansas City, KS
Call for time and location
Sponsored by Animal Outreach of Kansas
Contact: 785-766-9700, aok@animaloutreach-ks.org
New York City, NY
10:00am at 59th St & 5th Avenue
Contact: 212-947-7744 or adam@wetlands-preserve.org
Raleigh, NC
10:00am - 12 noon
Meet at Herzberg Furs on 6000 Glenwood Ave.
Contact: Gina at gg-w@att.net
Columbus, OH
11:45am - 1:00pm
Meet in front of Lazarus, 141 S. High Street at City Center Mall
Contact: 937-652-8258, info@mercyforanimals.org
Tulsa, OK
11:30am - 1:30pm
Meet at the southeast corner of 21st St. and Utica
Contact: Rich Shumberger, 918-584-7600 or shumlaw@juno.com
Portland, OR
11:00am - 1:00pm (march starts at 11:30am)
Meet at Saks Fifth Avenue, 850 SW 5th, Portland
Black or grey clothing is suggested.
Contact: 503-249-9996,or primates@aracnet.com
Houston, TX
12:00 - 2:00pm
Meet at Neiman Marcus @ Westheimer & Post Oak Blvd.
Contact: info@houstonanimalrights.com
McLean, VA
2:30pm - 4:00pm
Meet at International Drive in front of the Tysons Galleria
Contact: 703-461-3283, or anmlntwk@erols.com
Vancouver, BC
Noon - 1:00pm
Meet at The Bay @ Georgia & Granville, downtown
Contact: 604-682-3269, info@veganvoices.org
More than ever before, we need to join together to speak out for the 40
million animals who are trapped, imprisoned, gassed, strangled and anally
electrocuted by the fur trade!
If you would like more information on getting involved, or are planning an
event in your area, please contact Carla Brauer of IDA by calling 415-388-9641 x19,
or by email, webmaster@furkills.org.
JOKE OF THE WEEK:
How To Give Your Cat a Pill
by Peggy Althoff
Grasp cat firmly in your arms. Cradle its head onyour elbow,
just as if you were giving baby a bottle. Coo confidently, "Thats a nice kitty."
Drop pill into its mouth.
Retrieve cat from top of lamp and pill from under sofa.
Follow same procedure as in 1, but hold cat's front paws down with left
hand and back paws down with elbow of right arm. Poke pill into its mouth
with right forefinger.
Retrieve cat from under bed. Get new pill from bottle.
(Resist impulse to get new cat.)
Again proceed as in 1, except when you have cat firmly cradled in
bottle-feeding position, sit down on edge of chair, fold your torso over cat,
bring your right hand over your left elbow, open cat's mouth by lifting the
upper jaw and pop the pill in - quickly. Since your head is down by your knees,
you won't be able to see what you're doing. That's just as well.
Leave cat hanging on drapes. Leave pill in your hair.
If you're a woman, have a good cry. If you're a man, have a good cry.
Now pull yourself together. Who's the boss here anyway? Retrieve cat and pill.
Assuming position 1, say sternly, "Who's the boss here, anyway?"
Open cat's mouth, take pill and...Oooops!
This isn't working, is it? Collapse and think. Aha! Those flashing claws are
causing the chaos.
Crawl to linen closet. Drag back large beach towel. Spread towel on floor.
Retrieve cat from kitchen counter and pill from potted plant.
Spread cat on towel near one end with its head overlong edge.
Flatten cat's front and back legs over its stomach. (Resist impulse to flatten cat.)
Roll cat in towel. Work fast; time and tabbies wait for no man-or woman.
Resume position 1. Rotate your left hand to cat's head. Press its mouth at the
jaw hinges like opening the petals of a snapdragon.
Drop pill into cat's mouth and poke gently. Voila! It's done.
Vacuum up loose fur (cat's). Apply bandages to wounds (yours).
Take two aspirins and lie down.
PET TIP OF THE WEEK: No, Really - How to give a cat a pill.
Kiki just had surgery and needed to take
antibiotics and Micki has
severe allergies and also on Meds. What works for one may not
work for the other, but with Micki we hide the pill in a smidgen of
canned cat food on a spoon, ( and don't put the bowl of food down until she eats
the "pill" food first. With Kiki, who only eats dry food, we quarter the pill
( it's big) and poke holes in four cat treats ( Pounce , Bonkers, whatever your
cat can't resist) and stick the pills through the holes.
ANIMAL BYTE: Companion Animal Renters Study
In an effort to increase available pet-friendly rental housing,
thereby reducing the amount of abandoned and euthanized
companion animals--FIREPAW is pleased to announce the
Companion Animal Renters Program.
This is a multi-level program comprised of
(1) a national research study of landlords and pet-friendly rentals (the
Companion Animal Renters Study--CARS] and
(2) a unique, applied three-prong program to encourage and assist
rental property owners to offer pet-friendly housing.
The customized landlords program is tailored to meet the unique needs
of all types of rental properties--from single unit buildings to large complexes.
In conjunction with the program for landlords FIREPAW has also developed
an information and resource packet for tenants: "How to Find, Keep and
Enjoy a Pet-Friendly Rental".
Findings from pilot study interviews indicate that tenants with pets
mean good business for rental property owners. With the right conditions
tenants with pets tend to stay longer, be more loyal, have less complaints,
and have stronger bonds within their rental community. Dr. Pamela Frank,
co-researcher on the national landlords and pets study and developer of the
Companion Animal Renters Program said, "An increasing amount of savvy
landlords already know that pet-friendly rentals can mean good business.
One of FIREPAW's goals with the national study and the three-prong landlords
program is to get the word out to many more rental property owners about the
economic advantages and the overall attractiveness of renting to tenants with
animals."
The Companion Animals Renters Program is free to rental property owners
and managers. The Tenants Information Packet is also free for renters.
FIREPAW is a charitable, nonprofit organization and donations are
tax-deductible. For more information contact FIREPAW, Inc., at 518-438-5939,
email: firepaw@earthlink.net
or visit their web site at:
http://www.firepaw.org.
For the latest animal news headlines, check out Animal Bytes on our website at www.happypets.org.
UPDATE:
THE SUAREZ POLAR BEARS:
Last Tuesday, 11/19 the Suarez Six polar bears, who were taken into
custody earlier this month by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service after being
seized from the Suarez Brothers Circus, were sedated and flown via
Federal Express to their new homes. Sadly, one of the bears, Royal,
was too weakened and did not survive the journey. However, the remaining
five are headed to various accredited zoos throughout the U.S. Baerle,
the only female, is going to the Detroit Zoo, Wilhelm and Marsha are
headed to the North Carolina Zoo in Asheboro. Boris and Kenneth are
destined for the Point Defiance Zoo, in Tacoma, Washington. Compared
to the tiny cages and sweltering tropical heat they have been enduring in
Puerto Rico, their new zoo homes will be welcome havens.
That wraps up this week's newsletter. I hope you are all enjoying it but if not,
you can unsubscribe at any time. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving/Chanukah
weekend! There will not be a newsletter next week, but I'll be back in your inbox
on Monday, December 9th. As always, I welcome your feedback, comments
and suggestions.
Warmest Regards,