Freegle News

Apologies for the lapse in posting news, but it's for a very good reason. Last Thanksgiving, Beagle Freedom Project rescued 40 beagles from an animal testing laboratory in Spain. The lab was going out of business and 72 dogs were about to be killed. Local activists were able to find homes throughout Europe for 32 of them, and the 40 who remained traveled to Los Angeles (where they were shortly followed by 3 more beagles who had been living in a kennel awaiting homes after being released by a university laboratory).

Evolotus was able to secure major media for this rescue, and after fostering eight (!) beagles in our own home, we adopted Frederick and Douglass, named after the abolitionist and former slave.

Interestingly enough many news outlets linked to an older video from our June rescue, which then got more than three million views on YouTube. Here is some of the news coverage about the Thanksgiving rescue.

NBC Nightly News (this also aired on the Today Show)
CBS News
Los Angeles Daily News
Huffington Post
Time Magazine
Inside Edition
NBC Los Angeles
NBC Nonstop News
ABC Los Angeles
Torrance Daily Breeze

Honestly there was such an outpouring of media and support, it was overwhelming - there were too many articles to list, and so many wonderful things happening, from the Ellen DeGeneres show tweeting about the rescue to the strong support of the local yoga community including dear Kathryn Budig, a world-class teacher based here in Los Angeles, as well as other yogis who put together fundraising classes and products such as ToeSox yoga socks.

Another exciting development for Beagle Freedom Project was that fashion designer James Perse heard about the rescue, reached out to help, and then installed window displays in all his stores promoting Beagle Freedom Project. He also made a limited-edition t-shirt that raised funds for us - I'd link to it, but they sold out quickly. Friends in New York, Las Vegas, and all over Los Angeles saw the striking displays that told the story of the rescue. (At the time James developed the concept and design, we were expecting 41 dogs from Spain, but at the last minute our Spanish contacts were able to place one more in a home there.)

James Perse store, Beverly Hills, Calif.

In one of my favorite features on our growing beagle family, Darwin's dad Richard told The Advocate, "To the team of people dedicated to stopping such cruel acts on animals, I can't thank them enough for enriching my life with the knowledge that I can be a part of this movement and for knowing that Darwin and other animals around the world will have a chance of being who they were born to be."

As an example of how media inspires more media, the photo spread of our LGBT adopters was so touching, our friends Mariann Sullivan and Jasmin Singer discussed the intersection of gay rights and animal rights in this very personal Our Hen House article. Freddie and Douglass were excited to meet them on their last trip to California, and the article on their site features our adorable Douggie.

It's been five months since the rescue, and today, Freddie and Douglass are happy healthy dogs who enjoy going on walks, napping, belly rubs, eating cookies, playing with squeaky toys, and chewing on sticks. Freddie is incredibly affectionate but still nervous around new people. Douglass is very calm, easygoing, and social with guests. Wherever we go, people remember their story. They are ambassadors for cruelty-free living who are making a difference in the world. 

As I write, two of their wonderful beagle brothers are looking for new homes. To foster or adopt, please visit the Beagle Freedom Project website for the applications.

ADI, Bob Barker, Jorja Fox launch circus bill

Although we've kept it quiet until recently, we've been honored to work on federal legislation to stop animal circuses with the team from Animal Defenders International (ADI), the Performing Animal Welfare Society (PAWS), legendary philanthropist Bob Barker, and "CSI" star and activist Jorja Fox.

Yesterday in a news conference on Capitol Hill, Rep. Jim Moran (D-Va.) announced the bill, known as the Traveling Exotic Animal Protection Act (TEAPA). More than 35 media outlets attended the event. Below are highlights of the editorial coverage.

We feel a special responsibility not only to animals, but to other activists, to see this bill become law. We know people who have poured their time and resources into raising awareness about the cruelty and exploitation of the circus; we know people who have put themselves in enormous danger working undercover in circuses to document exactly how wild animals are forced to perform. We know people who have grown so jaded by the animal rights movement that circuses are one of the only issues - or the only issue - they remain passionate about.

You can follow this campaign, take action, and find out more at the Break the Chain website or Facebook page.

Time Magazine
Los Angeles Times
Washington Post
Washington Examiner
Los Angeles Daily News
Huffington Post
Politico
CNN
NBC
Fox News
Mother Jones
Local ABC News

Here is an outstanding photo from the press conference:

Here is a short video of some of Bob Barker's remarks.

Bob Barker addresses Congress from Animal Defenders on Vimeo.


And here is the video ADI showed to media and congressional staffers:

ADI: Congressional Video from Animal Defenders on Vimeo.

PR drives mobile donations

A new study on mobile giving reveals that of respondents who have made a text-to-give donation, 68 percent were inspired to donate by a television or radio news mention.

"Perhaps the most important observation based on these numbers, charities must support their text‑to‑give campaigns with cross-channel marketing activities that include television, radio, print media, events, and viral, word-of-mouth promotions," says the article on Nonprofit Technology Network's website here. "These activities drive greater response to a charity's call to action to donate."

While the rules applying to text-to-give campaigns are prohibitive for smaller organizations, there are still several ways to implement mobile strategies, according to our colleagues at Mobile Matters, a firm specializing in mobile fundraising for health and animal protection nonprofits. If your organization cannot receive texted donations, you can still create a mobile campaign, build a database of supporters' mobile phone numbers, send action alerts, send petitions and polls, and ask for phoned-in credit card pledges.

We look forward to any opportunity to work on projects that combine media/PR outreach with mobile campaigns. People are receptive to mobile giving, and forward-thinking nonprofits need to consider how they can combine it with their current PR strategies.

KTLA News: Testing on Beagles Exposed

Lu Parker reports on Beagle Freedom Project and animal testing:

Huffington Post on MFA's undercover investigation

Thanks to Joe Satran for covering the Iowa Select investigation:

Iowa Select Farms Pig Abuse: Animal Rights Group Releases Gruesome Undercover Footage

Time Magazine on MFA's undercover investigation

Time's Alexandra Silver covers MFA's Iowa Select investigation:

"Consumers watching the video can take little comfort from the idea that these are the doings of one bad company and that the meat produced there represents just an isolated part of the market."

and notably:

"In a nifty bit of moral jiu-jitsu, [company spokesman Howard Hill] also turns the blame back on the MFA investigator. Quoted in the company's official statement, he complains that, 'videotaping abuse instead of reporting it is indefensible.' In other words: Why didn't you stop us?"

Read more: http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,2080546,00.html#ixzz1XmvnJ3rB

For the story "Animal Cruelty: Could a Barbaric Pig-Handling Video Hurt Major Grocery Chains?" click here.

NBC Los Angeles: 2 Stories on Beagle Freedom Project

Their site does not permit me to embed the video, but NBC Los Angeles aired a wonderful story on the rescue of nine laboratory beagles, which can be viewed and read here:

Laboratory Beagles Arrive for Adoption

The network took additional footage from the release, which is here:

Later, anchor Colleen Williams had founder Shannon Keith and Malcolm (whom we fostered) in her studio for her show. That clip is here:

Rescued Lab Dogs Looking for Love

KTLA News: Dogs Rescued from Research Lab Need New Homes

Local reporter Mary Beth ("MB") McDade did a great job with her story on the release of nine beagles from a research lab. We particularly appreciated that this station showed the wonderful fosters who had waited so patiently!



 

KCAL Los Angeles on Beagle Freedom Project

The local media has been incredibly supportive of our Beagle Freedom Project rescues. Here is just one of the four stations' stories:

Rescued Beagles Getting A New Leash On Life

KALW San Francisco: Do slaughterhouse videos influence you?

Rose Aguilar, host of Your Call on San Francisco's NPR station KALW, had Nathan Runkle, executive director of Mercy For Animals, on her show along with Grist's Tom Laskawy.

"Do slaughterhouse videos change your opinion of how animals should be treated? On the next Your Call, we'll have a conversation about undercover investigations into how animals are slaughtered for food. Have you been influenced by amateur videos and how? Join us live at 10 or send us an email at feedback@yourcallradio.org. There have been efforts in many states to make these videos illegal. What do these videos reveal about how we treat animals? And should they be legislated? It's Your Call, with Rose Aguilar and you."

To listen to the show click here. For Tom's article on the subject click here.

‘Ag-gag’ bills face tough row to hoe

Grist continues to be a friend to animals with Tom Laskawy's piece on the "ag gag" bills sweeping many states throughout the nation. If passed, undercover investigations such as those conducted by Mercy For Animals, which often expose crimes against animals, would themselves be criminal acts and the cycle of concealment would be continued.

‘Ag-gag’ bills face tough row to hoe

A few days after this article was published, Tom was kind enough to appear with MFA's executive director Nathan Runkle on San Francisco's NPR station KALW on the show Your Call with Rose Aguilar. That show is available in the archive here.

Grist's Tom Philpott: "animal abuse is rampant"

Grist's Tom Philpott covers the E6 Cattle investigation by Mercy For Animals in Meat Wagon: Undercover video shows sick calves getting brains bashed in with pickax, and more:

"There's no reason to assume this operation is any kind of outlier...To employ a fashionable cliché, animal abuse is a feature, not a bug, of factory farming."

It's very gratifying that Grist, which covers environmental news, is putting more effort into exposing animal abuse in the food system. Animal advocates need to speak frankly to this audience about the impact of their food choices. 

Wall Street Journal: Mercy For Animals investigation impacts price of cattle futures

Lester Aldrich of the Wall Street Journal covered the abuse at E6 Cattle company in Hart, Texas:


"The video, which has been posted to the internet, pressured live-cattle futures on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. Traders were concerned its graphic nature would cause a pullback in consumer demand for beef.

"The video helped to push June futures down 1.3% to $1.1565 a pound after the contract hit a two-week high earlier in the trading day"

Texas Sheriff Investigates Animal-Cruelty Video Rattling Cattle Market

It is ironic that the impact was credited to a predicted reduction in demand for beef, since E6 is a facility that raises dairy cattle. Perhaps the analysts don't think the consumer knows the difference between dairy cows and beef cows?

Later, we learned that it's probable this market dip resulted in fewer calves being born into lives of misery on factory farms - another MFA victory, albeit a much quieter one.

Houston Press on Mercy For Animals "Farm to Fridge" tour

Animal-Mutilation Film Screens Tonight Near Rice U.
"Just in case the online version of Farm to Fridge - The Truth Behind Meat Production wasn't enough for you, go check out the animal-abuse document[ary] on giant screens tonight."

Coverage like this helped draw crowds to the video events held on busy streets, shopping and dining districts, exposing thousands of people to the truth about where their food comes from.

CBS Los Angeles on Mercy For Animals "Farm to Fridge" tour

Many thanks to CBS 2 weekend anchor and reporter Rob Schmitt  and the whole crew for this fantastic story on MFA's "Farm to Fridge" tour.

Animal Rights Group Sets Up Big Screen TVs To Shock And Awe Meat Eaters

 

Thanks as well for all the comments and shares, which tell the media that stories like these are appreciated.

Andrew Sullivan's Daily Dish/The Atlantic

 Beagle Habilitation

Andrew Sullivan is a beagle lover. Who knew? I suppose his caricature gives him away.

Kia Scherr and Barack Obama in Mumbai

Kia Scherr, president of One Life Alliance, was frequently invited on national cable news to tell her story. On the first anniversary of the death of her husband and daughter, Kia met with President and Mrs. Obama in Mumbai, India. Needless to say this was major news in the U.S. and in India.

Visiting Mumbai terrorist attack site brings comfort

Washington Post on One Life Alliance

The Washington Post has always been good to us, and they are a pleasure to work with. Here, Emily Wax covers One Life Alliance and its mission to spread peace.

Va. mother and wife of Mumbai victims seeks to help children in conflict areas