As we near the eve of the new year, and PAWS' 30th Anniversary,

we reflect back on some of the events and accomplishments of 2013. As many of you know, this year was one of profound loss and, at the same time, landmark achievements. . .

 

 

 

PAT DERBY:

PAWS Co-Founder & An Inspiration To Us All

 

On February 15, 2013, PAWS' co-founder and animal protection pioneer, Pat Derby, passed away after a long battle with cancer. She was featured recently in MSN News' 2013 "The Year in Memorium" - where she was honored alongside a political hero, a rock legend, a TV superstar, a baseball Hall of Famer, an iconic movie critic and a comedic genius - a tribute to her important legacy. 

 

An evening of remembrance and celebration of Pat took place in March, and drew colleagues and supporters from around the world, including PAWS champion and television legend Bob Barker, long-time PAWS spokesperson and Academy Award-winning actress Kim Basinger, Hall of Fame baseball manager Tony LaRussa and his family, comedian and actor Kevin Nealon, Sacramento media personalities Rob Stewart and Kitty O'Neal, and many more distinguished speakers and friends.

 

Pat was a guiding light that shone bright for so many captive wild animals in need, and that light continues to guide us in our mission of rescue, care, education and advocacy. Pat may be gone, but she is always in our thoughts and in our hearts, and her fierce convictions will continue to be the driving force behind our protection efforts for animals. View photos from Pat's remarkable life here. Read Ed Stewart's moving tribute to Pat here.

 

 

July/August

 

Ed Stewart Joins Center For Zoo Animal Welfare Advisory Committee

PAWS' president, Ed Stewart,  accepted an invitation to join the Detroit Zoological Society's Center for Zoo Animal Welfare (CZAW) Advisory Committee. CZAW was created to bring resources and attention to the advancement of captive exotic animal welfare. The Committee is composed of zoo and aquarium professionals, scientists, sociologists and animal advocacy leaders. Members help with the formulation and review of the Center's work. Membership on the CZAW Advisory Committee is by invitation only.

 

  

PAWS Protests Elephant Rides  

PAWS  stood up against elephant rides at the Nevada County Fair in Grass Valley, Calif., working closely with local animal protection organizations, presenting expert testimony, and leading an opening night demonstration that attracted more than 100 participants. Yet despite the volumes of evidence presented about animal welfare and public safety issues, the Fair Board went forward with the rides. Though we didn't win this one, the negative attention and controversy surrounding the rides will likely deter the Fair from offering elephant rides again next year.

 

NEVADA COUNTY FAIR 2013: Opening Night Protest

 

 

The majority of our funding goes directly to caring for all of the rescued and relocated animals currently under PAWS' care, so our budget for vital advocacy work is small and quickly depleted. Please make a special contribution so we can continue essential advocacy efforts, such as making elephant rides a thing of the past, not just in Nevada County, but everywhere! 

 

October Was A BIG Month For Elephants!

 

PAWS joined the San Francisco March for the Elephants in October.

 

March For The Elephants

On October 4, PAWS participated in March for the Elephants, an international event aimed at saving wild elephants from potential extinction due to the illegal ivory trade. PAWS staff and supporters marched in San Francisco, Calif., along with hundreds of other advocates, and PAWS provided an information table in Union Square before, during and after the March. PAWS' president Ed Stewart was a featured speaker at the post-march rally in Union Square, inspiring the crowd to take action for elephants.

 

Listen to Ed's speech here.  View a video from the March, here.

 

 

The first truck, carrying Toronto elephants Iringa and Toka, arrives at ARK 2000 at 5:30 p.m. on Sunday, October 20.

 

The Toronto Elephants

Read "A Message From Bob Barker" here.

After two years of challenges, anticipation and preparation, PAWS welcomed African elephants

PAWS Featured In Fifth Estate Documentary

Elephants On Board: A Journey To Remember is a documentary by the CBC's Fifth Estate that followed Iringa, Toka and Thika's journey from Canada to ARK 2000. View the documentary here. (May not be available in all locations and may not work on some notepads and smart phones.) The documentary is a follow-up to the Fifth Estate's November 2012 report, "The Elephant in the Room," that also featured PAWS. This hard-hitting piece focused on the controversy surrounding the confinement of elephants in zoos, including the Toronto Zoo and the Edmonton Zoo in Canada.

 

 

Los Angeles Bans The Bullhook!

December

 

Oakland Passes Permit Requirements For Circuses

The Oakland City Council unanimously passed an ordinance that establishes permit requirements for circuses. The permit requirements will allow the city to better monitor the animals in circuses and to invite independent experts of the city's choice to assess the animals' health and welfare. An amendment to the ordinance calls for the City to consider even stronger action in the near future, including a ban on bullhooks.

 

PAWS was proud to have played a role in passing this ordinance. We are following up with council members, urging them to follow the City of Los Angeles in adopting a bullhook ban. Thank you to all the Oakland residents who took action and contacted their city council members!

We are excited to report that our Facebook "likes" have more than doubled during 2013. With everyone's help we hope to double, or even triple this year's numbers in 2014 - this means that even more people can learn about and support the important work that we do at PAWS. Thank you everyone - especially all of our new friends in Canada!

 

In December, PAWS was pleased to welcome Kristin Bauer van Straten - star of the HBO hit series "True Blood" (she plays Pam) - to our ARK 2000 sanctuary. Kristin is a committed animal advocate, with a special interest in both captive and wild elephants. She has worked with PAWS to support important legislation to benefit elephants in circuses, including the bullhook ban in Los Angeles.

 

Kristin was smitten with all of the animals living at ARK 2000, including bears Ben and Jack. But the elephants may have most touched her heart. This is what Kristin had to say after experiencing the wonderful refuge that is ARK 2000:

 

"What a special place and incredible people. I'm so sorry I never got to meet Pat [Derby], and I truly loved Ed for his unending desire to create a natural life for these wild animals. Ed seems to have a backbone built on fairness, and he literally lives to give these majestic creatures space, dignity and free will - something none of them have ever had.

 

"Having been to Africa and spent time with elephants in the wild, I was overjoyed to see the incredible life the ex- zoo and circus elephants can now live for the rest of their lives. Words can't express the debt we as humans owe these animals. We can never repay them for our selfishness or undo their years of slavery for our amusement, but PAWS does a heroic job of it.

 

"The incredible people at PAWS deserve huge thanks and support from us. I left PAWS with a feeling of well-being because I'd seen the best of humanity. Thank you PAWS!!"

 

We look forward to again hosting Kristin at ARK 2000 in the future and to working with her on even more important campaigns for captive wildlife.

 

Ed Stewart talks with visitors at PAWS Holiday Open House on December 14. African elephants Mara and Lulu can be seen on the hill in the background.

 

Holiday Open House at PAWS

 

You couldn't have asked for a more beautiful California winter day for PAWS' final educational event of the year, our Holiday Open House. On a blissful warm day under sunny skies, more than 700 people visited ARK 2000 and learned about the elephants, lions, tigers, bears and black leopard who have found safe haven with PAWS.

Nicholas' birthday cake.

 

Many thanks to all who attended and to our wonderful volunteers who not only helped ensure the event was safe and enjoyable for guests of all ages, but baked lots of tasty holiday goodies and treats for guests. We would also like to thank Devra Lewis and her wonderful Blue Mountain Transit Shuttles. Their donation of shuttle services saves PAWS thousands of dollars each year.

 

For those of you who were unable to join us at the open house, you can read the stories about each of our animals on our website. Photos of the open house are available to view on our Facebook page. (See link at the bottom of this newsletter.)

 

Nicholas turned 20 the day after our Holiday Open House. We gave him his cake a day early so visitors could share in the celebration.

 

The PAWS family is saddened to bring you the news that we lost two of our beloved tigers in December, both originally from the Colton group that was rescued in 2004.

Gus was a long-time companion to Grace, who passed away earlier this year from cancer and renal failure. He was always attentive to her, grooming her and always staying close by her side. Gus was small but had a huge personality. He was very expressive and talkative, and his uniquely loud voice could be heard most often as meal time approached. Estimated at 20 years old, he was one of our oldest and most frail tigers. As he gradually lost his sight, hearing, and mobility, our dedicated tiger staff made special enhancements in his enclosure to keep him comfortable and make it easier for him to find his way. We will miss this unique little old man tremendously - his voice, his dedication to Grace, and his spunkyness. 

Patty

 

Patty was described as the "epitomy of grace and beauty" by tiger supervisor Renae. Though tigers in nature are typically solitary, many from the Colton group were compatible and even gregarious. Patty lived with Alka, Ginger, and Mookie - three females of similar age. She had a regal demeanor, and all of the tigers in her area seemed to show her respect, chuffing and rubbing along the fence when she walked by. Patty succumbed to the effects of renal failure at the estimated age of 15. She will be missed by all of us. 

 

Nearly 10 years ago PAWS welcomed the first of 39 tigers to ARK 2000, confiscated from a situation of severe neglect and abuse in Colton, California. PAWS' veterinarian, Dr. Jackie Gai, organized the transport of small groups of tigers at a time, and accompanied each trip to make sure the tigers made the journey safely and comfortably. When we received these tigers, no one knew how old they were, and there were no medical records. When we have a tiger anesthetized for a medical examination, his or her age is estimated by looking at the degree of wear on the teeth. All of the tigers were full-grown adults in 2004, so we estimate that all of the remaining Colton tigers are at least 15 years old. It is a testament to our amazing and caring staff, and also to the resilience of these tigers, that they continue to thrive in the safety, comfort, excellent care, and peace of true sanctuary.   

 

 

 

Every Donation Matters!

 

As you've been reading in this newsletter, you can feel proud to be a part of the PAWS family. Thanks to your support, PAWS is making a huge difference for captive wild animals. There is still time to make a donation and claim an income tax credit for 2013. You can make your year-end, tax-deductible donation to PAWS by contributing online by midnight on December 31, 2013. Or you can send your gift via mail, as long as it is postmarked by the last day of December.

 

It is because of compassionate friends like you that PAWS is able to give sanctuary to animals like our 11 Asian and African elephants. We are committed to giving each of them the best lives they can have in captivity, including spacious, natural habitats, nutritious food and skilled care - not to mention plenty of love.  

 

Your tax-deductible gift will help to provide expert daily care, necessary veterinary care, and food for the elephants, tigers, lions, bears, primates, lynx, and other exotic animals who have found safe refuge at PAWS. Every gift matters! Donate here.

 

 

Looking Forward To 2014

 

PAWS looks forward to 2014 with much hope, and that's because we have such wonderful support from so many caring people.

 

It is with heartfelt appreciation that we thank: 

• You, our loyal supporters. We truly could not do what we do without you!
• Dr. Jackie Gai, PAWS' long-time veterinarian, for her dedication to each and every animal, and for responding anytime, day or night, when a PAWS animal is in need.
• Our dedicated and talented staff who put their hearts and souls into the care of every animal at PAWS.
• Our committed volunteers, who are always there for us and for the animals.
• The wonderful companies and individuals who provide in-kind services that help us help more animals in need.
• Everyone who made our dreams come true by making a donation via the Amazon Wish List and other giving channels.  

We wish you and yours the very best for the coming new year!