Animal People

Last updated
Animal People
Region served
United States
Official language
English
Website animalpeopleforum.org

Animal People, Inc. is a non-profit animal rights charity dedicated to generating knowledge and raising public awareness of animal sentience and suffering. Animal People was founded in 1992 with the mission of "exposing the existence of cruelty to animals and educating the public of the need to prevent and eliminate such cruelty; conducting or sponsoring animal care projects, both to directly alleviate animal suffering and to demonstrate humane methods of handling and responding to animal-related dilemmas; and studying animal-related issues via research, surveys, and investigative reports." [1] From 1992 until 2013, the organization's main project was publishing the newspaper Animal People News, which covered current events related to animal issues worldwide. The newspaper was retired in 2014 following a split within the board of directors, and in 2015 Animal People launched a new project, the Animal People Forum, an online magazine and social networking site for people interested in animal rights, welfare, and conservation. [2]

Contents

History

Kim Bartlett was hired as editor of The Animals' Agenda news magazine [3] in August 1986, where Patrice Greanville was already associate editor. Merritt Clifton had been freelancing for The Animals' Agenda, and was hired by Bartlett and Greanville as the feature writer in November 1986.

In mid-1988, several of the staff at The Animals' Agenda left to form E: The Environmental Magazine [4] and Bartlett hired Clifton as news editor. In May 1992, shortly after the second annual Where the Money Goes report was published, Clifton was fired by The Animals' Agenda board. Bartlett resigned in protest and on the following day, Bartlett and Clifton incorporated Animal People. The board of directors was later expanded to four members.

In 2014, Merritt Clifton resigned to start his own online publication, Animals 24-7 as editor with his wife Beth as social media editor and photographer. [5] As of 2016, Animal People's staff consists of president Kim Bartlett, executive director Wolf Gordon Clifton, publisher Patrice Greanville, archivist and photo editor Dylan Forest, and social media coordinator Anita Mayangpuspa. [6]

Programs

Domestic

The Animal People founders initiated neuter/return trials for feral cat population control in 1991, and in 1992, the program expanded to eight sites. In mid-1992 Bartlett and Clifton presented their findings at a conference sponsored by the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University. This was among the several developments which established trap–neuter–return in the U.S. as a viable approach. The findings were later reported in the November 1992 issue of Animal People.

Animal People has subsequently engaged in many other hands-on research projects, particularly in the areas of improved housing for shelter animals, disease control, living in harmony with wildlife, and censusing street dogs and feral cats.

International

Animal People increased their emphasis on international coverage beginning in 1997, and in 1998, began relaying funding from U.S. donors to selected overseas projects. This program quadrupled in size after the December 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, when Animal People funded and mobilized 12 animal disaster relief teams, [7] working in India, Sri Lanka, and Thailand (and later in Indonesia). These were the first international animal welfare charities to respond after the tsunami.

From 2000 to 2010, Animal People directly sponsored several start-up African animal charities. Youth for Conservation, [8] and the African Network for Animal Welfare, [9] both of Kenya, have grown and developed considerable influence. Another, the Homeless Animals Protection Society of Ethiopia, [10] did pioneering work in the Gobe and Addis Ababa regions but has since disbanded.

In 2014, Animal People provided financial support to local activists in Nepal for public awareness work against animal sacrifice at the Gadhimai festival, and sponsored the Blue Cross of India's deployment of patrol teams along the border of India and Nepal to enforce an Indian court order banning transport of animals for sacrifice at Gadhimai. [11] [12]

Animal People has co-sponsored the Asia for Animals conference series since 2001, [13] the Middle East Network for Animal Welfare [14] conference held in 2007, and the Africa Animal Welfare Action [15] conference, first held in 2010.

Publications

From 1992 until 2013, Animal People, Inc. published the newspaper Animal People News, as well as a stand-alone supplemental report, the annual Watchdog Report on Animal Protection Charities, which provided information on the leading animal-related charities. Both were retired in 2014. Since 2015, Animal People publishes articles and media submitted by users on the Animal People Forum. It also hosts the online exhibit Beyond Human: Animals, Aliens, & Artificial Intelligence, which explores current scientific evidence for animal intelligence and consciousness, ongoing efforts to discover extraterrestrial life and develop artificial intelligence, and the ethical implications of sentience in non-human beings. [16] [17]

Awards and recognition

Kim Bartlett has received awards for leadership in disaster relief from the Asia for Animals conference, and for leadership in humane work in the Middle East from the Middle East Network for Animal Welfare.

In 2010, Merritt Clifton received the 15th annual ProMED-mail Anniversary Award, [22] presented by the International Society for Infectious Diseases for contributions to the identification and control of emerging disease. Clifton was honored for contributions that led to identifying fruit bats as the host species for Nipah virus in April 1999; helping to identify the roles of cockfighting and falconing in the migration of H5N1; identifying aspects of halal slaughter as the probable source of outbreaks of the tick-borne Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever among Central Asian meat industry workers in 2009-2010; and especially, said ProMed-mail editor Larry Madoff, for contributions to epidemiological understanding of the cultural factors involved in the spread and control of canine rabies in India, China, Indonesia, and Vietnam.

Related Research Articles

Trap–neuter–return (TNR), also known as trap–neuter–release, is a controversial method that attempts to manage populations of feral domestic cats. The process involves live-trapping the cats, having them spayed or neutered, ear-tipped for identification and, if possible, vaccinated, then releasing them back into the outdoors. If the location is deemed unsafe or otherwise inappropriate, the cats may be relocated to other appropriate areas. Ideally, friendly adults and kittens young enough to be easily socialized are retained and placed for adoption. Feral cats cannot be socialized, shun most human interaction and do not fare well in confinement, so they are not retained. Cats suffering from severe medical problems such as terminal, contagious, or untreatable illnesses or injuries are often euthanized.

The Born Free Foundation is an international wildlife charity that campaigns to "Keep Wildlife in the Wild". It protects wild animals in their natural habitat, campaigns against the keeping of wild animals in captivity and rescues wild animals in need. It also promotes compassionate conservation, which takes into account the welfare of individual animals in conservation initiatives. Born Free also creates and provides educational materials and activities that reflect the charity’s values.

The Wildlife WayStation was a 160 acre animal sanctuary in Sylmar in northern Los Angeles County dedicated to rescuing and rehabilitating wild and exotic animals. A charitable corporation located within the boundaries of Angeles National Forest, the facility was founded in 1976 by animal activist Martine Colette, who resigned in May 2019 as president and chief operating officer.

Humane Society of the United States Non-profit organisation in the USA

The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) is an American nonprofit organization that focuses on animal welfare and opposes animal-related cruelties of national scope. It uses strategies that are beyond the abilities of local organizations. It works on issues including companion animals, wildlife, farm animals, horses and other equines, and animals used in research, testing and education. As of 2001, the group's major campaigns targeted factory farming, animal blood sports, the fur trade, puppy mills, and wildlife abuse.

World Animal Protection International non-profit animal welfare organization

World Animal Protection, formerly The World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) is an international non-profit animal rights organization that has been in operation since 1981. The charity describes its vision as: A world where animal rights matter and animal cruelty has ended.

BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir Chicago

The BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir of Chicago, Illinois is a traditional Hindu place of worship built by the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha. The BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha, which is headed by Mahant Swami Maharaj, is a denomination of the Swaminarayan branch of Hinduism. The mandir, located in the Chicago suburb of Bartlett, opened on 7 August 2004. It is built of hand-carved Italian marble and Turkish limestone. The mandir is the largest of its kind in Illinois and was constructed according to guidelines outlined in ancient Hindu texts of temple architecture. The complex spreads over 27 acres and, in addition to the mandir, includes a haveli, a small bookstore. The haveli is a cultural center in which weekly congregations are held. The mandir is open daily for worship and to visitors.

The Universal Declaration on Animal Welfare (UDAW) is a proposed inter-governmental agreement to recognise that animals are sentient, to prevent cruelty and reduce suffering, and to promote standards on the welfare of animals such as farm animals, companion animals, animals in scientific research, draught animals, wildlife and animals in recreation.

Compassion and Responsibility for Animals

Compassion and Responsibility for Animals (CARA) is a registered non-profit, non-government animal welfare organization in the Philippines. It was founded in 2000 by a group of animal lovers determined to help the plight of animals in the Philippines. The current president of CARA is Nancy Cu-Unjieng.

Faunalytics is a nonprofit organization that provides animal advocates with access to the research and analysis of various animal issues. Its research areas include factory farming, veganism and vegetarianism, the overpopulation in companion animals, animal testing, hunting, animal trapping, wild animal suffering, and the use of animals for entertainment purposes. Faunalytics was founded in 2000 by Che Green, and operated under the name Humane Research Council until 2015. In a book about animal activists in the US and France, Elizabeth Cherry cites the use of Faunalytics studies as part of activists' move towards practical research.

Kirsten Rosenberg American singer

Kirsten Rosenberg is an American female singer, currently with the all-female tribute band The Iron Maidens. She is also an animal rights advocate, as well as a former co-owner of Sticky Fingers, an all-vegan bakery in Washington, D.C.

Cynthia Bathurst is an animal welfare advocate, winner of a national veterinary award, and founder and director of Safe Humane Chicago, a nonprofit which includes the first of its kind Court Case Dog Program.

Effective altruism (EA) is a philosophical and social movement that advocates "using evidence and reason to figure out how to benefit others as much as possible, and taking action on that basis". People who pursue the goals of effective altruism are labeled effective altruists.

Philip John Lymbery is the Global CEO of farm animal welfare charity, Compassion in World Farming International, Visiting Professor at the University of Winchester’s Centre for Animal Welfare, President of Eurogroup for Animals, Brussels, and founding Board member of the World Federation for Animals.

NSPCA South African animal welfare organisation

National Council of Societies for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (NSPCA), also known as the National Council of SPCAs, is the largest and oldest animal welfare organisation in South Africa. The NSPCA handles all matters relating to animal cruelty involving all animal species and is a registered Non-Profit Organisation registered with the Department of Social Development.

Gauri Maulekhi

Gauri Maulekhi is an animal welfare activist in India. She is the Trustee of People for Animals, India's largest animal welfare organization founded by Smt. Maneka Gandhi, Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha. A protege of Ms. Gandhi, she has led successful campaigns for animal rights, including campaign against the practice of sacrificial slaughtering of cattle.

People for Animals

People For Animals is one of India’s largest animal welfare organisations, originally founded by Maneka Gandhi in 1992. Currently, the headquarters of this organisation is located in New Delhi, with over 100 regional units located around India.

Dean Schneider is a Swiss animal sanctuary founder and social media personality based in South Africa.

Animal Ethics is a nonprofit organization formed to promote discussion and debate around issues in animal ethics and to provide information and resources for animal advocates. They also do outreach work in several countries on the issue of speciesism. Their aim is to create a world where moral consideration is extended to all sentient beings. The organization's website covers topics such as speciesism, sentience, veganism and wild animal suffering and has content translated into several languages.

Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) is a network of more experienced journalists who have attained the position of editors. It is an independent non-profit and non-partisan organisation established to develop human capacity, economic empowerment, protection and welfare of its members. The NGE in collaboration with other journalistic bodies across the world, work to preserve the traditions and standard of journalism practice and strict adherence to the Code of Ethics of the profession in Nigeria. NGE advocates for Press Freedom and advancement of democratic practice by engaging with stakeholders saddled with public policy and the welfare of journalists. To help Nigerian media practitioners to uphold the tenet and ethics of journalism, NGE develop, publish and distributes brief editing guide to journalists and organises career linkage programs with local and foreign partners to build professional capacity of its members.

Tim Gorski

Tim Gorski is an American cinematographer, film producer and animal rights activist, known for his documentaries concerning animal welfare and wildlife conservation, among them the piece How I Became an Elephant (2012), which has received awards and favorable reviews in the media, and his earlier piece Lolita: Slave to Entertainment (2003). Gorski's filmography is visible online.

References

  1. ↑ "About Us". ANIMAL PEOPLE FORUM. Retrieved 2019-04-18.
  2. ↑ "Looking Ahead in 2016, a Bright New Year for Animal People". ANIMAL PEOPLE FORUM. 2016-01-08. Retrieved 2019-04-18.
  3. ↑ Stallwood, Kim. "Animals' Agenda Magazine".
  4. ↑ "E. Magazine".
  5. ↑ "About Us". Animals 24-7. 2014-03-06. Archived from the original on December 15, 2014. Retrieved 2019-04-18.
  6. ↑ "Looking Ahead in 2016, a Bright New Year for Animal People". 2016-01-08.
  7. ↑ "Tsunami Relief Donations". Animal People Info Services. Archived from the original on 2011-09-30. Retrieved 2011-08-14.
  8. ↑ "Youth for Conservation". Archived from the original on 2011-08-09. Retrieved 2011-08-14.
  9. ↑ "ANAW".
  10. ↑ "HAPS". Archived from the original on 2012-03-30.
  11. ↑ "Help Animal People Fight for the Light in 2017!". ANIMAL PEOPLE FORUM. 2017-01-01. Retrieved 2017-04-01.
  12. ↑ "Blue Cross of India". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2017-04-01.
  13. ↑ "Asia for Animals".
  14. ↑ "MENAW". Archived from the original on 2012-03-30.
  15. ↑ "ANAW".
  16. ↑ "BEYOND HUMAN | Animals, Aliens, & Artificial Intelligence". animalpeopleforum.org. Retrieved 2017-04-01.
  17. ↑ redOrbit (2015-05-15). "Intelligent lifeforms already among us - how should we treat them? Part I - Redorbit". Redorbit. Retrieved 2017-04-01.
  18. ↑ "IGHA". Archived from the original on 2011-08-09. Retrieved 2011-08-14.
  19. ↑ "Wildlife Waystation".
  20. ↑ "Ahimsa". Archived from the original on 2011-07-26.
  21. ↑ "The McKee Project".
  22. ↑ "Excellence in Outbreak Reporting on the Internet". Archived from the original on 2011-08-08.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.