In this week's edition: 

• Onorato Banner Action & Virtual Demo Coverage…Big Success
• Week 2 on North Huntingdon Goose Hunts
• Upcoming Bellydance Show Fundraisers for VFA
• Check out VFA on Myspace and Facebook
• And our weekly news briefs...  

 A huge thank you to everyone who emailed Dan Onorato in support of our seasonal protest. We got LOTS of c.c.'d emails from across the state, including from an ex-PA Senator, and all three local TV stations and a couple of radio stations covered the action.  In fact KDKA - the channel that was originally so instrumental in pushing for the North Park slaughter last summer - gave us long and very positive coverage: http://kdka.com/local/Canada .Geese.protesters.2.615885.html 

Those of you who emailed will all have received the same form response from Mr. Onorato's assistant informing you that the Park had been using non-lethal methods for ten years and would continue to do so.  As most of you know by now, their own Parks Director admitted months ago that their non-lethal methods were applied incorrectly from the outset.  So we'll be keeping up the pressure to make sure they do things right from now on and no longer resort to killing. 

Thanks go to Mobilization For Animals and Hugs For Puppies in Philadelphia for their support of this action.  This was the first state-wide, pro-animal action of its kind and we would like it to be the first of many, with a view to developing a sense of solidarity among Pennsylvanian animal advocates. The hunting community is very good at using their numbers to support their "cause" - let's show them that from now on, we'll be fighting back! 

(And yes, if you didn't get a chance to email, you can still do so: just copy and paste the following message to: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it )

 
Dan Onorato

Don’t be a Scrooge to Geese! 

Be nice to wildlife in 2008

On Monday, a small number of geese were present on the lake.  The main flock continued to stay away.  No shots were fired until 8:20 AM when one hunter came out and frightened the geese into the air.  Only one shot went off and we saw no geese fall. We can only presume that the geese had smartly positioned themselves between the hunters' blind and the residential area (and us!) so it was not possible for shots to be fired.  On Wednesday, no geese were at the lake and no shots were fired.  In other words, during the four hunts a maximum of 19 geese were killed (the 18 that the township claims were killed on Monday the 10th and the one we know was killed on Wednesday the 12th).  The numbers could have been a lot worse for the geese but the sad fact remains that those geese who were shot were killed for absolutely no reason.  We noticed that from day to day the amount of support from passing cars increased – one man got out of his car and joined us for the last half hour of a vigil... We hope the township comes to the conclusion that these hunts pandered to the wants of a small number of hunters, caused controversy, brought the township bad publicity and did nothing to solve the goose "problem" since the geese will soon be back in the same numbers.   

Thanks again to the people who emailed and called the township, attended the pre-hunt candlelight vigil, and a big "honk" to Chad R. from North Huntingdon who vigiled at 3 of the 4 hunts, in bitterly cold conditions (since protesters don't get to sit in cozy hunting blinds...).

Last week in the news briefs we mentioned that there will be a Vegan Hafla party fundraiser for VFA on Wednesday, January 16th, featuring a student belly dance show and vegan food and drink.  Donation price to attend is $10 per person, taking place at Your Inner Vagabond Coffeehouse & World Lounge at 4130 Butler Street at 42nd Street in Lawrenceville at 7:00 PM.  Click here for further details: http://www.healingartsbyamethyst.com/Jan_2008_pgh_bellydance.html  

A second belly dance show fundraiser is taking place on Friday, January 25th at Aldo Coffee in Mt Lebanon.  The suggested donation is $3 per person: http://www.healingartsbyamethyst.com/aldo_coffee_pgh_bellydance.html  

Please come out to these events in January and have fun while supporting VFA and its work to help animals! 

Did you know VFA has its own Myspace and Facebook pages?  If you want to join VFA online, network with other members, or check out some pictures from past events, then add us to your Myspace and/or Facebook!  Our pages are located at www.myspace.com/voicesforanimals and http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=3987737687  Check them out!

            ·        A letter written by a VFA member was published in the Tribune Review on December 18th in response to the recent Trib article we notified you about in a past LYnX about the USDA’s plans to “control” the animals living around the Pittsburgh International Airport: http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/search/s_543245.html 

          ·        VFA and LYnX is taking a break for the holiday, but we will be back in the New Year!  Until then have a great holiday!

       January 19th, Saturday, 3:00 PM-4:30 PM, Caryl Gates Gluck  Resource Center at Animal Friends, 562 Camp Horne Road, Nathan Winogard Seminar      

      January 25th, Friday, 7:00 PM, Aldo Coffee (Mt. Lebanon), Turkish Coffee & Bellydance Fundraiser for VFA