46 U.S. states Allow Testing, Two Major Milestones for Animals & Testing Without Animal for COVID-19

46 U.S. states still allow animal testing for cosmetics. Sign the petition to support a nationwide ban.

In the midst of a global pandemic, many of us are understandably feeling scared, uneasy about the future, and uncertain about what we can do to keep helping others, including vulnerable animals.

Activists across the U.S. are still fighting for those that are abused, neglected, and in danger. Will you join them?

Every year, hundreds of thousands of animals are forced to endure cruel testing procedures by cosmetics companies.

Yes, it's hard to believe, but even in this day and age, many cosmetics companies still test on animals prior to releasing products to the market. Alternative testing methods do exist, and both activists and scientists alike have tirelessly encouraged companies to switch to using these instead. With 50 approved types of non-animal testing methods, there really is no reason not to do so.

Animals are rubbed with painful chemicals to check if they will irritate the skin. They are also forced to ingest large quantities of toxins to determine what constitutes a "lethal dose." And when these sad, sick, exploited animals are no longer needed, they are killed.

Thankfully, four U.S. states — California, New York, New Jersey, and Virginia — have banned animal testing for cosmetics, sending a strong message to cosmetic manufacturers that animal testing is not okay.

Unfortunately, though, animals can still be used for testing in the rest of the country. Sign the petition to demand that every state pass anti-animal testing legislation!

Encourage Testing Without Animal Torture for COVID-19

Human diseases are usually a death sentence for hundreds of thousands of monkeys, mice, dogs, rats and other animals in laboratories. But in an unprecedented move, the National Institutes of Health is not waiting for the results of cruel and inaccurate animal tests and scientists are moving right ahead to human-relevant research! This could be the beginning of the end for an industry of cruelty that dooms millions of animals to short, brutal lives of suffering. This World Week for Animals in Laboratories beginning on April 20, please join with animal organizations around the world in our urgent call to support COVID-19 researchers who are breaking the mold by using modern, animal-free research! ACT NOW

Two Major Milestones for Animals

April 22, 1970 catalyzed the modern environmental movement when Earth Day was first observed. For 50 years, concerned activists worldwide have been working to protect the planet, and benefit all life upon it.

This year, AAVS is also celebrating 30 years since we launched our humane science education program, Animalearn. For the past three decades, Animalearn has been enlightening the public about the unnecessary use of animals in science class curricula, and promoting hundreds of amazing alternatives that can be used instead. These efforts also have a positive environmental impact.

In this time of crisis, educators and students are adapting to overcome the unprecedented challenges created by the Covid-19 pandemic. Remote learning has become the new normal, and with traditional animal dissection not being an option, alternative methods are being more widely adopted in virtual classrooms all over the country. Dissection alternatives result in learning outcomes that equal or surpass traditional dissection, and also allow students to learn without exposure to hazardous chemicals.

Animalearn has compiled a comprehensive list of online science resources to enable students to learn at home without the use of animal specimens, and also assist teachers who traditionally conduct dissection labs at this time.

Animalearn’s 2019 Humane Student of the Year, Indigo Prasad, recently checked in to let us know that she is working with her science teacher to offer a virtual dissection experience for her class using frog models from our partner companies, SynDaver and Rescue Critters.

If you are interested in accessing Animalearn's online resources, or if you want to share them with a teacher or student in your community, please visit the links below.

By promoting humane education, you are supporting compassionate learning experiences for students, and also saving animals like frogs, pigs and cats, who are sacrificed for archaic dissection exercises.

Stop Animal Testing - Animal Testing Weekly Updates

Dogs, cats, monkeys, horses, mice, rats, and many other animals are being cut open, burned, poisoned, and killed in cruel and archaic experiments.

Animal testing is a major problem. About 1,438,553 animals [Not including rats, mice and other small animals] are killed in testing each year!  

These tests are cruel and in-humane.  

Animals are often taken form streets or bought from shelters to become test subjects! 

Just think, you could loose your pet one day and find out the animal shelter sold him/her to testers! 

The tests preformed are extremely cruel. And we fund them.

Many tax dollars go to these cruel companies to make animal tests happen. we need to reduce the amount of animal tests going on, if not get rid of tests for good.

But today, you can do twice as much to help end their suffering.

Please help the PETA "Stop Animal Testing" challenge today and sign the Petition to Stop Animal Testing at once!

"Corporations are people, my friend."

Our companies are known for creating products that enhance people's lives.  Through Sunset Corporation of America and its companies, we’re equally dedicated to improving lives.  Our commitment extends to helping local communities, fostering better educational systems, supporting the arts and culture, helping disadvantaged youth, protecting and improving the environment, animal welfare, wildlife issues and encouraging employee volunteerism.

Activism and Sustainability:

• Gun Safety & Gun Laws

• Cruelty Free

• Death Penalty

• Demand Action

• Sustainable Action Network

Fairness and Equality:

• Grammy District Advocacy

• Privatization

• Voters Issues & Gerrymandering

• Private Prisons & the War on Drugs

• Finance, Housing & the Economy

Corporate Responsibility:

• Candidates, Bills, Laws & Protections

• Wildlife & Oceania

• Labeling & Transparency

• Comprehensive Captivity & Hunting Results Databases

Jahn, Ellie, Chiang Mai, Zimbabwe, Maesa Elephant Camp & What You Can Do in the Elephant in the Room

Dozens of Elephants Enjoy First day Without Wooden Carriages Strapped to Their Backs

Following years of hardship and misery, dozens of elephants at the Maesa elephant camp in Thailand have been freed from the burden of carrying heavy wooden and metal chairs on their backs.

With coronavirus having wiped out the tourist trade, the 78 elephants at the camp in Chiang Mai have finally been set free after having been forced to give daily rides to tourists in the burning heat for years.

Elephant rides are completely unnecessary and cause immense suffering to the animals, who are often prodded with bullhooks and develop lasting physical complications due to the relentless work they are made to do, sometimes working 18 or more hours a day.

The elephants at Maesa elephant camp before they were set free from their burden of carrying tourists in the blazing heat (Image Credit: Maesa elephant camp)

This “tourist activity” has been going on for 44 years at the camp, but now, the Thai Government has ordered it to stop due to the COVID-19 crisis.

Thankfully the change will not be temporary, and the elephants are now allowed to walk freely around the camp. The focus of the business has supposedly changed too, according to camp director Anchalee Kalampichit, who says it will become a place for visitors to simply observe and learn about the majestic mammals.

“We are not planning to put the seat supports back on the elephants,” Kalampichit said, “even if we can operate again. We want to change the style of the place and find more natural ways that the public can enjoy the elephants. We will welcome tourists to enjoy learning about the elephants’ ways of life naturally instead of using them to entertain the tourists.”

Unfortunately, although these elephants have finally been freed, their future is uncertain.

“The cost for taking care of the 78 elephants and 300 staff is five million THB ($160,000) per month,” says Kalampichit. “So for now, we have to bear that expense without income from tourists.”

With hundreds of other elephant camps shut down or facing imminent closure, animals in some areas are being chained up and left without enough food due to lack of funds, according to a report in The Daily Mail. There are concerns that the elephants from these now-defunct camps will starve, be forced into the illegal logging trade, or eventually be sold to zoos.

This goes to show that without the support of tourists, the elephant entertainment industry across the globe will fail, as these facilities cannot exist without our revenue. People have more power than ever to encourage the entire world to end elephant exploitation for good and get these innocent creatures transferred to sanctuaries that can provide the care they deserve.

A couple of weeks ago, I wrote to you about Jahn, a rescued elephant, and I shared the heartwarming story about her last ride.

For her whole life, Jahn (pictured above) wore a backbreaking saddle as she gave rides to an endless line of tourists. At night, heavy chains kept her movement restricted, and she had no way of keeping herself sheltered from the blistering elements.    But you helped break her chains, and last October, Jahn gave her final ride. She now roams free at our partner sanctuary, Following Giants, enjoying the grass beneath her feet. 

Now, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Jahn and her friends are facing a new threat. Tourist dollars have dried up, and without a steady flow of income, high welfare venues like Following Giants are struggling to feed and care for their rescued elephants. This is putting them at risk of starvation, malnutrition, and health problems.

Please help animals like Jahn. With your help, we can ensure that Jahn and other animals are taken care of during this unprecedented time. Your gift will help provide elephant food, supplements, veterinary care, and additional lifesaving support.

Jahn has already lived a troubled life. Used many years for "entertainment" and subjected to immense cruelty, we have to make sure that she does not know another day of struggle!

Animals like Jahn are counting on YOU to help save their lives. Please rush your most generous donation today to support our efforts around the world.

Meet Ellie the Elephant

Celebrate Save the Elephant Day with a presentation from Ellie, PETA’s walking, talking 6.5-foot-tall robot, whose larger-than-life personality and message of compassion has captivated—and empowered—young audiences in schools across the country.

What You Can Do:

• Stay informed. Don’t visit places that offer elephant rides. Inform your travel agent and any local guides about your preference.

• Share your opinion. Be vocal and object strongly. Post on social media. Tell your friends, family, and colleagues why it’s important to avoid riding elephants. We know most people will avoid doing it once they know the issues. Spreading awareness is the key to reducing exploitation and abuse of animals.

• Write to travel websites, magazines, guidebooks, tour operators, and travel agents to discourage them from offering elephant rides to tourists.

• Write to the local tourism departments and the parks you plan to visit expressing your concerns about elephant riding. Politely request that they put an end to it.

• Support only responsible tourism projects. Look into tours and centers that do not offer elephant rides. Make sure they are reputable conservation centers, sanctuaries, national parks, or wildlife reserves—places where tourists and animal lovers are educated about these special creatures in a conducive space that is safe for everyone involved.

Beware of False Tourism Claims

When booking your travel, be skeptical even when places advertise themselves as an “ecotour” or as "humane." If they advocate for the riding of elephants, painting/decorating them, or if they keep any elephants in chains, they should be avoided. To experience elephants in a humane way, please visit Wildlife SOS Elephant Care and Conservation Center in Agra to meet our rescued elephants.

Elephant in The Room

"Corporations Are People My Friends."

Our companies are known for creating products that enhance people's lives.  Through Sunset Corporation of America and its companies, we’re equally dedicated to improving lives.  Our commitment extends to helping local communities, fostering better educational systems, supporting the arts and culture, helping disadvantaged youth, protecting and improving the environment, animal welfare, wildlife issues and encouraging employee volunteerism.

Our companies are known for creating products that enhance people's lives.  Through Sunset Corporation of America and its companies, we’re equally dedicated to improving lives.   Our commitment extends to helping local communities, fostering better educational systems, supporting the arts and culture, helping disadvantaged youth, protecting and improving the environment, animal welfare, wildlife issues and encouraging employee volunteerism.

Activism and Sustainability:

• Gun Safety & Gun Laws

• Cruelty Free

• Death Penalty

• Demand Action

• Sustainable Action Network

Fairness and Equality:

• Grammy District Advocacy

• Privatization

• Voters Issues & Gerrymandering

• Private Prisons & the War on Drugs

• Finance, Housing & the Economy Corporate Responsibility:

• Candidates, Bills, Laws & Protections

• Wildlife & Oceania

• Labeling & Transparency

• Comprehensive Captivity & Hunting Results Databases

Rescue TV features the 210th Bear Rescue at Animals Asia, HUGS Foundation, LIONSROCK & Sanctuarys!

The SAN Rescue Network, Wildlife Aid TV, Official PETA TV, Flying Fur Animal Rescue, Animals Asia, ASPCA, Hope For PAWS, Beagle Freedom Project...

Emergency Bear Rescue from an Illegal Farm in Tam Duong

Tuan the bear becomes 210th bear rescued by Animals Asia in Vietnam. Brave, bear, Tuan spent 15 miserable years locked in a cage. As a result, he is deeply traumatised.

A rescue really is just the beginning. Now that he is safe at our Vietnam sanctuary, the hard work to repair this broken bear begins.

Please, can you help care for this gentle giant with a donation today? http://bit.ly/TuanBearRescue#TuanBearRescue Music: Pain of Loss: www.chanwalrus.com.

Strong winds fell trees at Vietnam Bear Rescue Centre

Last Sunday a strong storm blew down trees at the Vietnam Bear Rescue Centre. Fortunately none of the bears or our staff were hurt, but damage was caused to two of our bear houses. The maintenance team did a great job of clearing the damage and the bear care team provided extra enrichment for the bears who were kept in their dens temporarily while the mess was cleared away and the enclosures made safe.

Moon bear Tuan returns from his operation.

Moon bear Tuan is back in the enclosure with his best friend Valerie after a month in the hospital recovering from a cholecystectomy operation to remove his infected gallbladder. #MoonBearMonday

Please donate today to support our work so we can rescue and care for even more bears who have suffered decades of unimaginable isolation and give them new lives. www.animalsasia.org/donate

Thanks to our supporters, we raised enough money to rescue four doomed ponies and are paying for food and medical care for them.

They are now safe at the HUGS Foundation in Bodmin, England.

The badly abused ponies were abandoned in Surrey, 200 miles (360 kilometers) from HUGS, but the rescuers could not look after them. They approached HUGS, HUGS approached us, we asked for your help and you responded.

One of the ponies is already receiving urgent medical treatment for what appears to be injuries after being struck by a moving vehicle. The poor thing’s wounds were oozing puss, but thanks to the HUGS medical team, he’s going to be fine. Mission accomplished…

…BUT, these ponies who will help vulnerable children need long-term care.

HUGS already looks after 40 horses and ponies – most rescued from cruel situations or heartlessly abandoned. These animals are also in danger because the good people at HUGS are struggling to feed and care for them. Many of the ponies are used to help vulnerable children. Contact with the ponies helps the children’s emotional and mental health, providing long-term benefits.

The ponies you helped save will one day, bring vulnerable children such joy. Thank you again – your donation ensures the ponies will live in safety and repay your generosity by helping children in need.

In this time of the corona crisis, we are flooded with requests for help from around the world. We are doing our best to help everywhere we can. We know that any minute now, we will open our email and find many more requests to help animals caught up in the corona crisis.

LIONSROCK feeding day

Today we take you behind the scenes and show you the nitty gritty of feeding day at our LIONSROCK Big Cat Sanctuary.

Turkey’s Interior Ministry recently issued a letter urging local administrations to protect and feed the country’s hundreds of thousands of stray dogs and cats, as residents stay at home to contain the spread of coronavirus.

“Food and water will be left at the living environments of street animals, such as parks and gardens, and particularly animal shelters,” the ministry wrote in the notice. “All necessary measures must be taken to ensure stray animals don’t go hungry.”

Turkish society has a strong cultural emphasis on caring for animals in need. Municipal veterinarians vaccinate strays, and citizens help ensure their safety as part of everyday life. New stay-at-home orders and social distancing policies are heavily impacting these animals, who normally rely on the general public for nourishment, especially in Istanbul where there are over 150,00 stray cats and nearly 130,000 stray dogs, according to the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality.

As cases of COVID-19 rise in Turkey, the government is considering imposing heightened restrictions on movement, but thankfully, lockdown efforts seem to be coupled with ways to mitigate the suffering of homeless animals throughout the country.

The decision requiring local leaders to care for strays is being well-received.

In a recent Tweet emphasizing the importance of caring for local cats and dogs, Istanbul’s Bayrampasa district shared pictures of its municipal workers feeding and interacting with the animals.

Thank you to the dedicated officials, workers and activists throughout the world, who are acting diligently to ensure that the most vulnerable populations are not forgotten during this chaotic and trying time.

A captivating video of a one-eyed bull terrier mix reveals that her trust and desire for human love was far from destroyed when she suffered a horrendous attack.

Homeless dog told us to leave her alone or she WILL BITE!!!

Maddy told me and Loreta to leave her alone, but we didn't listen!!! This was seriously dangerous and the result is something you'll just have to see for yourself:

https://www.HopeForPaws.org We try to post more blogs these days, so please check those out as well: https://www.HopeForPaws.org/Blog

This rescue kind of reminded me of this #HopeForPaws rescue video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bww3n...

Thank you so much for helping us by sharing videos from the @Hope For Paws - Official Rescue Channel - it really helps us out!

During this #COVID19 mess, please stay home, stay safe and stay healthy.

We are already working on the next video... the next one is of a wild animal.

Let's see if you can guess what it is (there is a hint in one of our blogs).

Volunteer with the Animal Rescue Team

One of the most commonly asked questions for our Animal Rescue Team is, “How can I volunteer?” Our team has—and relies on—a strong network of volunteers to help us make a real difference for animals in rescue and disaster relief work. We truly depend on them to help us get this important, lifesaving work done.

One of the most common mistakes prospective volunteers make is waiting until a natural or man-made disaster strikes to begin the application process and to begin proper training and preparation for becoming an Animal Rescue Team volunteer. Unfortunately, by then, it’s too late. If you want to volunteer, it’s important to apply before a disaster. If you get everything done early, you, like our many other volunteers, will be ready to deploy when animals need our help.

I can’t speak enough to the impact people feel from saving animals in need. If you want to make a difference, this is a way to do it. I encourage you to start your application today. With hurricane season on the horizon, our team will be ready to deploy at a moment’s notice - The Humane Society of the United States