Watching A Dog Starve To Death Is Not Art!

AKC Executive Field Rep

AKC RHP Field Coordinator

Please sign and crosspost to everyone you know. Not just rescuers. Send to friends and family, too.

This is a very serious matter...

In 2007, the 'artist' Guillermo Vargas Habacuc, took a dog from the street, tied him to a rope in an art gallery, and starved him to death.

For several days, the 'artist' and the visitors of the exhibition have watched emotionless the shameful 'masterpiece' based on the dog's agony, until eventually he died.

Does it look like art to you? (there were pictures in my original email that are so horrible to see I couldn't post them - but they are people watching a dog starve to death and the dog begging for help. It's heart breaking)

But this is not all... the prestigious Visual Arts Biennial of the Central American decided that the 'installation' was actually art, so that Guillermo Vargas Habacuc has been invited to repeat his cruel action for the biennial of 2008.

PLEASE HELP STOP HIM.

http://www.petitiononline.com/ea6gk/petition.html


Please read to the end of this....He has been INVITED to do this again THIS year.

Note: He paid five local children to help him catch the terrified stray dog...in the impoverished area. The dog had no way to escape capture or his fate once he was in the hands of this cruel maniac.

But this is not all... the prestigious Visual Arts Biennial of the Central American decided that the 'installation' was actually art, so that Guillermo Vargas Habacuc has been invited to repeat his cruel action for the biennial of 2008.

PLEASE HELP STOP HIM.

http://www.petitiononline.com/ea6gk/petition.html


Besides signing the petition, please also write or e-mail the gallery that will host the 2008 exhibition to ask them to prohibit him. We can also write to other galleries that carry his other works and ask them to boycott him. Here's some addresses:

(1) EXHIBITION IS TAKING PLACE AT:

info@madc.ac.cr

Centro Nacional de la Cultura
Antigua Fábrica Nacional de Licores.
Avenida 3, calle 15/17. San José, Costa Rica.
Teléfono: (506) 257 7202 / 257 9370
Fax: (506) 257 8702


(2) ANOTHER GALLERY SHOWING HIS WORK:
This is the email address to a gallery which currently holds some of
Vargas' work for display and sale. If anyone would like to ask the gallery to
drop him from their list of artists the email address is below.
Email address: info@jacobkarpio-galeria.com

ALSO: The Animal Legal Defense Fund. suggests:

At this point, we feel the most effective method of protest is to write local animal protection agencies demanding they put a stop to this exhibit. You can search for agencies here in the Latin America/Caribbean section http://worldanimalnet.org/new.asp?co=&geo=SA&prov=&cat=are .

Stop China From Skinning Cats & Dogs Alive!

China has emerged as one of the world’s most powerful economies but is still mistrusted and feared (as distinct from respected) because since emerging from behind the bamboo curtain, it’s government has done little to dispel its autocratic image and apparent disregard for human rights. Quite apart from human rights, decent people everywhere could never accept a society so depraved and bereft of common decency as to accept the skinning of live animals as acceptable behaviour.

It’s burgeoning economy has resulted from flooding the world with cheap consumer products produced by a cheap unregulated work force. A fact that is understandable, having regard to its enormous population and fantastic work ethic.

In turn, China has developed an insatiable appetite for raw product from other countries and governments keen to export to China are reluctant to criticise or offend the Chinese government.

Given this background, will your government impose economic sanctions against China or openly criticise the Chinese government or demand that it puts a stop to the Chinese cat and dog fur trade? Most unlikely. However, there will surely be individuals within governments, so incensed and horrified by the trade that they will support Our Cause.

The Chinese government is well aware of the economic power play behind the scenes. It also knows it has a long way to go earn acceptance from the free world.
And make no mistake, China absolutely craves acceptance as a world leader that is trusted and respected and there are emerging signs that it is prepared to adopt more acceptable and responsible policies to earn that acceptance.

It knows that if it behaves or permits behaviour that is abhorrent to people of the democratic world, it will not earn the trust or respect it craves. Its our duty to show China that it can take a single , but highly significant step towards overcoming the prejudice of the millions of free-thinking decent people, if it recognises animal rights and, in particular, abolishes the abhorrent trade in cat and dog fur.

Cat and dog pelts sell for about US$1 each and every year, 2,000,000 cats and dogs suffer a horrific death, skinned alive for the pelts.

For what?

1. An insignificant contribution towards the Chinese economy - a few million US$; and

2. A clear message to the world that so long as the Chinese government permits the trade, China is not fit to take its place as a leading nation and certainly not one that is entitled to any trust or respect.

The “adverse fallout” and abhorrence for the Chinese government resulting from the trade will far exceeds the paltry contribution it makes towards China’s economy. It is in China’s interest, to abolish the trade.

It’s our duty to tell the world about the trade and kick up such a stink that our message reverberates around the world.

Remember Tianamen Square. Let’s make this another Tianamen Square – this time, for the animals.

Please sign the Online Petition. It’s the First Step in Our Fight!”

http://animalsaviors.org/petition.html

Hard-Luck Animal Shelter Must Raise $17,000

MENTOR, Ohio -- There are more problems for the animals at the Lake Humane Shelter in Mentor.

First, the building lost heat and now the sewer system is backed up, but that's only the beginning of what the nonprofit organization is going through.

In the midst of these problems, workers discovered some animals that had been dumped on the property in freezing conditions.

The people who run the shelter had no choice but the close the doors again after the heater stopped working a few days ago, forcing them to put animals in offices and other spaces not designed to house them.

After getting a $17,000 bill to fix the furnace, the shelter had more bad luck.

"We're not a government agency, we get no government funding. We don't get any United Way funding. Everything you see, everything we do is funding by private donations," said the shelter's Gail Keegan. "These animals need to be fed, they need to be kept warm, and our very first priority is our animals."

When shelter workers found a dog and two cats dumped on the property in the middle of the heating and sewage crisis, their hearts were broken.

One of the cats and a dog survived, but the other cat didn't, freezing to death in an icy puddle.

But the people who run the shelter refused to give up, and they finally got some good news: a check from the invisible fence company.

Little by little, the shelter has been getting donations, but it's still far from the $17,000 goal.

To help, go to www.lakehumane.org.

Save Healthy Animals From a Needless Death

Animal care and control centers across the country are doing everything they can, but the number of healthy and treatable dogs and cats that are euthanized is still devastatingly high.

Support comprehensive programs for ending euthanasia of healthy and treatable animals!

What we need is a financial solution to this problem that has the full support of the community. The American Humane Association has a program that does just that. It's called Getting to Zero®.

This program is based on a series of community-based interventions that have proven to reduce pet euthanasia, and includes areas such as adoption, foster care, spay/neuter, training and transfer.

Every year, an estimated four to six million dogs and cats are euthanized in animal care and control facilities in the United States. This problem remains a source of shame for our country.

Sign the petition today supporting programs to bring the number of healthy and treatable animals that are euthanized down to zero in the next 25 years.

Thank you for helping these animals.

LEAVING DOGS IN HOT CARS IS CONSIDERED CRUELTY TO ANIMALS

By Abigail Van Buren


DEAR ABBY: For the second time this week, I saw a dog left in a car while its owner went shopping. Please remind your readers that anything over 70 degrees -- or even 65 on a sunny day -- can mean that the inside of a car will quickly climb to more than 100 degrees!

The dog today, an adorable pug, was panting desperately against the window, which had not even been cracked a couple of inches in an attempt to do the right thing. Abby, the car had a couple of doggie decals on it, as if the owners believed themselves to be animal lovers!

Please also let your readers know it's OK to leave a polite note on a car, telling the owner that it's too hot to leave a dog in a car, and to alert the manager of the store (if they know which one) so an announcement can be made that there is a dog in distress. It is worth the extra minute to try to courteously educate and alert the careless animal owner. -- NO DOGS IN THE CAR AFTER MEMORIAL DAY

DEAR NO DOGS: Thank you for your important message. I spoke with Capt. David Havard of the Los Angeles SPCA, who kindly provided the following information: "Leaving a dog in a car can be considered neglect or abuse. There are laws governing cruelty to animals, and enforcement of those laws would fall under local jurisdiction."

So, readers, if you see a pet left in a parked car, the first thing to do would be to alert security personnel for the parking lot. And if the lot has no security personnel on duty, notify the police. Leaving a note on the offender's car is not enough, because the poor animal could be dead by the time the owner returns.

HSUS to Consumers: Beware of Dog

The HSUS escalated our campaign to protect animals and consumers from widespread abuses by the apparel industry. We filed a legal petition with the Federal Trade Commission seeking to enforce the Fur Products Labeling Act against 14 major retailers and designers concerning false advertising and false labeling of garments with fur trim.

And this morning, a day after the "Today" show aired a story, "Good Morning America" also reported on our investigation that turned up products made with fur from dogs and other species -- products that were sold as either fake fur or other types of animal fur in violation of the Federal Fur Products Labeling Act. In response to our investigation, many retailers and designers acted to put customers and animals first -- notably Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger, which have both pledged to go fur free within a year. But a disappointing number of stores and designers did not take appropriate action and are listed in our petition.

Click here to watch this morning's "Good Morning America" show segment. Or Click here to watch yesterday's "Today" show story.

And I want to thank you contacting your U.S. Representative about the Dog and Cat Fur Prohibition Enforcement Act, which will close the loophole that allowed this deception. Please urge your friends to take action, too.