ROCKY & ADRIAN AT THE PHILADELPHIA ZOO

Here are a couple of scenes from Rocky II including the opening scene from Rocky's wedding proposal to Adrian in front of the tiger cage at the Philadelphia Zoo.



I don't know if there's any film scholarship on this particular scene, but it's interesting to note that Rocky proposes to Adrian in a zoo and in front of a tiger exhibit. The Rocky/tiger symbolism runs throughout the film. The decision to stage the marriage proposal at the zoo may be a not-so-subtle comment on marriage and zoos as institutions that cage or domesticate "wild nature."

And yet Rocky is in love with Adrian and wants to marry her. "I kinda like the zoo a lot," he says. When it snows, "it smells clean and everything like that."

HUMAN-ANIMAL BOND

The next "Voices in the Family" (1 P.M. Monday, 29 March, WHYY) will focus on human-animal relations. Here's the synopsis:

Americans love their pets, and spend billions of dollars on them each year. Pets provide friendship, companionship, and they can have a positive impact on people's mental health.

On the next Voices in the Family (Mon, March 29th at noon on 91fm or online), we’ll discuss the relationship between humans and animals, and hear about new research on the many benefits that come from these relationships. We’ll also talk about grief after losing a pet. We’ll continue the conversation here with our guests right after the show – please join us.

For more information, click here.

Right to Emotional Support Animals in "No Pet" Housing

"Advocates and professionals have long recognized the benefits of assistive animals for people with physical disabilities, including seeing eye dogs or hearing dogs who are trained to perform simple tasks such as carrying notes and alerting their owners to oncoming traffic or other environmental hazards. Recent research suggests that people with psychiatric disabilities can benefit significantly from assistive animals, too. Emotional support animals have been proven extremely effective at ameliorating the symptoms of these disabilities, such as depression and post-traumatic stress disorder, by providing therapeutic nurture and support. The Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act protect the right of people with disabilities to keep emotional support animals, even when a landlord's policy explicitly prohibits pets. Because emotional support and service animals are not "pets," but rather are considered to be more like assistive aids such as wheelchairs, the law will generally require the landlord to make an exception to its "no pet" policy so that a tenant with a disability can fully use and enjoy his or her dwelling. In most housing complexes, so long as the tenant has a letter or prescription from an appropriate professional, such as a therapist or physician, and meets the definition of a person with a disability, he or she is entitled to a reasonable accommodation that would allow an emotional support animal in the apartment."

Special Care Foundation for Companion Animals

The Special Care Foundation for Companion Animals (SCFCA) is a non profit organization dedicated to finding new, and "innovative" treatments for cancer. This foundation works with scientists who use the latest developments in treatment for cancer in animals and eventually humans.

Companion Animal Protection Alliance

The Companion Animal Protection Alliance (CAPA) is a coalition of individuals brought together by the common desire to protect our companion animals from veterinary malpractice -- which we believe has touched all of our lives by either taking the lives of our dear animal friends or injuring them irreparably.

Through these life-changing and eye-opening incidents, and our subsequent attempts to see the veterinarians held accountable, we became aware of the virtual absence of any kind of accountability for harm done to our pets, particularly when that harm is committed by "licensed professionals."

We became committed to changing this system by fostering consumer awareness and education, fighting to expose the veterinary boards who fail to honor the public trust by coddling and protecting vets who kill and injure animals, and fighting for recognition of our pets' value in the eyes of the law.

http://forourcompanions.com/home.html

Mercy for Animals (MFA)

The Mercy for Animals (MFA) is a national, non-profit animal advocacy organization. Founded in 1999 and over 25,000 members strong, MFA works to create a society where animals are treated with the respect and compassion they so rightly deserve.

[section from Entertainment Animals: Zoos]

Zoo babies are great crowd-pleasers, but what happens when babies grow up? Zoos often sell or kill animals who no longer attract visitors. Deer, tigers, lions, and other animals who breed often are sometimes sold to "game" farms where hunters pay for the "privilege" of killing them; some are killed for their meat and/or hides. Other "surplus" animals may be sold to smaller, more poorly run zoos or to laboratories for experiments.

Phoenix Zoo

http://www.phoenixzoo.org/

The Phoenix Zoo, the largest non-profit zoo in the United States, opened in 1962 and has been voted one of the top 5 zoos for children in the United States. The Phoenix zoo is home to about twelve hundred animals. The zoo is divided up into four sections; there is the Arizona trail (animals on display are from southwestern America), the Africa trail (animals from Africa), the Tropics trail (which incporates animals from rain forest regions) and finally the Children's zoo which includes a petting zoo.

Los Angeles Zoo

The Los Angeles zoo was opened in 1966 and was owned and operated by the city of Los Angeles. The zoo was a part of the City Recreation and Park Department until 1997. After that it became its own city department. This zoo has one of the largest volunteer non-profit organizations, GLAZA, which helps support it. The zoo houses over 1100 animals on 133 acres, including reptiles, birds, mammals, and amphibians. Among them are 29 endangered species.

Companion Animal Protection Society

Founded by President Deborah Howard in 1992, Companion Animal Protection Society (CAPS) is the only national nonprofit organization dedicated exclusively to protecting companion animals from cruelty in pet shops and puppy mills. CAPS actively addresses the abuse and suffering of pet shop and puppy mill dogs through investigations, education, media relations, legislative involvement, puppy mill dog rescues, consumer assistance and pet industry employee relations

Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens

Enter the lush tropical world of the Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens. A relaxing, entertaining and educational experience for the entire family. Besides seeing over 400 animals, you can take to the sky and enjoy our aerial adventure course, ZOOm Air Adventure Park or bring your flip-flops and swimsuit to cool-off in the Wharton-Smith Tropical Splash Ground. The Central Florida Zoo is dedicated to the conservation of wildlife and to engaging and educating our guests by sharing knowledge and celebrating our natural world. The Zoo is committed to excel as a dynamic regional resource providing a unique interactive experience with the natural world.

The Humane Society of the United States

http://www.humanesociety.org/

The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) sets out to have a humane world for animals and in a way where it will benefit humans. HSUS states, "We work to reduce suffering and to create meaningful social change for animals by advocating for sensible public policies, investigating cruelty and working to enforce existing laws, educating the public about animal issues, joining with corporations on behalf of animal-friendly policies, and conducting hands-on programs that make ours a more human world".

Animal Welfare Instution

http://www.awionline.org/

"Since its founding in 1951 AWI has sought to reduce the sum total of pain and fear inflicted on animals by people"

This institutions main goal is to reduce animal suffering, and they do so in many different areas of which animal suffering exists, the two most emphasized being slaughterhouses and laboratories. They also do a lot of promoting of non animal testing methods in order to reduce animal suffering that takes place in result of experiments. The Animal Welfare Institute Website serves as a place where people can view the latest news in the world of animal conservation, where people can see what active projects or missions AWI is involved in that will lower the amount of animal suffering, and where people can learn the ways in which they themselves can take action and help in lowering the amount of animal suffering that takes place.

Pennsylvania Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals(PSPCA)

http://www.pspca.org/
Here at the PSPCA, we address the needs of thousands of homeless animals a year. We started out with a single center in Philadelphia and, with the help of our dedicated staff and generous donors, burgeoned into a state-wide operation with five busy shelters.
--As a frequent guardian of patients at the PSPCA I know that this organization tries to do as much as they can with the little amount of money they earn and receive.

Animal Conservation

http://www.zoo.org.au/Conservation/Programs/International/Tenkile_Conservation_Program

This website is about a zoo in Austrailia trying to protect the animals indigenous to the area. "The program is working with local communities to protect the biodiversity of the Torricelli Mountains for future generations. Using two tree kangaroo species as flagships, the program takes an integrated approach to conservation, coupling support for community development with conservation outcomes."

College of Veterinary Medicine

This page is actually part of Washington State University's website. It is a blog in which people write facts, or recent newspaper articles about issues concerning companion animals. General opinions on controversial matters are laced throughout, along with stories of individuals and their pets. Overall it seemed like an interesting website, I hope you agree!

The Detriot Zoo

http://www.detroitzoo.org/

Statement of Purpose

“Celebrating and Saving Wildlife”

Mission Statement: Demonstrate leadership in wildlife conservation and animal welfare. Provide a broad audience with outstanding and unique educational opportunities that lead to the appreciation and stewardship of nature. Inspire our community with engaging, meaningful and memorable experiences. Provide innovative zoological facilities that contribute to the region’s economic vitality and demonstrate organizational excellence consistent with a commitment to outstanding service, progressive resource management and environmental leadership.

The Detroit Zoo is committed to saving and helping animals. They care about the welfare of animals and they want to provide excellence in showing outstanding living conditions for animals within their zoo.

Companion Animal Welfare Council (CAWC)

http://www.cawc.org.uk/


CAWC was launched on the 26th April 1999 and was set up to conduct independent studies into the welfare, care and treatment of companion animals and their role within society. The Council offers specialist advice, especially to organisations, institutions and Government primarily by publishing the results of their studies.

Group for the Education of Animal-Related Issues (GEARI)

GEARI is a non-profit, educational group dedicated to assisting you in your search for animal rights related information as well as to raising awareness to the many issues affecting other-than human animals, the environment and human health. We are dedicated to providing you with relevant, timely, and authoritative animal rights related information. We seek to be your reference source and starting point for animal rights related information and research.

The World Wildlife Fund

The World Wildlife Fund http://www.worldwildlife.org/

"For more than 45 years, WWF has been protecting the future of nature. The world’s leading conservation organization, WWF works in 100 countries and is supported by 1.2 million members in the United States and close to 5 million globally. WWF's unique way of working combines global reach with a foundation in science, involves action at every level from local to global, and ensures the delivery of innovative solutions that meet the needs of both people and nature"

San Diego Zoo Conservation Research

http://www.sandiegozoo.org/conservation/about

Purpose

Committed to generating, sharing, and applying scientific knowledge vital to the conservation of animals, plants, and habitats worldwide.

Beckman Center

As part of its ongoing conservation efforts, the San Diego Zoo constructed the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Center for Conservation Research using green practices and materials. The project earned the LEED Silver Certification by the U.S. Green Building Council.

History of the National Zoo

In 1889, The Smithsonian National Zoo was founded and is located Northwest, Washington, D.C. In the early 1960s, the Zoo turned its attention to breeding and studying threatened and endangered species. In 1965, the zoological research division was created to study the reproduction,behavior, and ecology of zoo species, and learn how best to meet the needs of animals. The Smithsonian National Zoo's mission to provide leadership in animal care and animal education which are vital to maintain Earth's biological diversity.


http://nationalzoo.si.edu/AboutUs/History/default.cfm

Captive Animals

http://zoograeme.edublogs.org/about/

Created by Graeme Phipps, this blog is dedicated to the study of animals in the wild in hopes that zoos and other wildlife captivities will make their environments more like the natural environment of the animals to ensure that the animals are the most natural as possible.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA)

http://www.peta.org/

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), with more than 2 million members and supporters, is the largest animal rights organization in the world. PETA focuses its attention on the four areas in which the largest numbers of animals suffer the most intensely for the longest periods of time: on factory farms, in laboratories, in the clothing trade, and in the entertainment industry.

Companion Animal Overpopulation

It is a sad fact of life in our society that millions of “surplus” cats, dogs and other domesticated animals have no place to call home. The kennels and cages of America’s animal shelters are filled to capacity with these abandoned, lost and unwanted creatures. New strays and discarded family companions arrive continuously, yet there is not nearly enough space for them all so their stay must be short as they await an uncertain fate.

http://www.idausa.org/facts/overpopulation.html

Companion Animal Rescue Effort (CARE)

http://www.carepets.org/index.html

Founded in 1987, CARE is a non profit, all voulenteer, animal rescue organization. They take owner-relinquished, abandoned, abused, and neglected kittens, puppies, cats and dogs that would otherwise face uncertain futures. The animals are then taken into foster homes where they recive quality medical care, nutrition, and love until then placed into a permanent, pre-screened home.

Philadelphia Zoo

http://www.philadelphiazoo.org/

Like many other Philadelphia landmarks and institutions, the Philadelphia Zoo is an American first. The charter establishing the Zoological Society of Philadelphia was approved and signed on March 21, 1859. Due to the Civil War, however, it was another 15 years before America's first zoo was ready to open.

In its first year of operation, the Philadelphia Zoo had 813 animals and received well over 228,000 visitors. Today, the Zoo has more than 1,300 rare and endangered animals, and its attendance is approximately 1.1 million visitors a year.

Associated Humane Societies and Popcorn Park Zoo

http://www.ahscares.org/default.asp

The Associated Humane Societies, founded in 1906, is the largest animal sheltering system in New Jersey. We comprise three shelters located in Newark, Forked River, and Tinton Falls . The Society is a not for profit organization, and Popcorn Park is also a federally licensed zoo. The Society prides itself on our devotion to the thousands of animals that we care for annually and the chance for a better life we offer them.

Asian Animal Protection Network (AAPN)

AAPN aims to develop intra-regional co-operation and provide an entry point for enquiries from other regions. It is a loose, cost-effective network for exchanging information and ideas and general mutual support. Issues include but are not limited to: animal welfare, animal rights, vegetarian and vegan concerns, humane education, wildlife habitat conservation, traditional medicine, zoos, safari parks, circuses, the fur trade, elephants, bears, tigers, wolves, dogs, cats, etc.

http://www.aapn.org/

Captive Wild Animal Protection Campaign (CWAPC))

The Captive Wild Animal Protection Campaign was formed by the Captive Wild Animal Protection Coalition in 2002 for the purpose of addressing the issues surrounding the growing US trade in captive wildlife. The Captive Wild Animal Protection Campaign envisions a world where wild animals are not kept as pets or used for entertainment or commercial purposes, and live free from commercial exploitation.

http://www.cwapc.org/

North Shore Animal League America

North Shore Animal League America, headquartered in Port Washington, NY, is the largest no-kill animal rescue and adoption organization in the world. Since 1944, The Animal League's mission has been saving the lives of pets through adoption, rescue, spay/neuter and advocacy initiatives. Evey year, the Animal League reaches across the country to rescue, nurture and adopt approximately 20,000 pets into happy loving homes. To date, the Animal League has placed close to 1 million puppies, kittens, cats and dogs into carefully screened homes.
This League is well known throughout the region for having an extreme dedication to the well being of companion animals. It was started by a small group of animal lovers who had set up shop in their garage, and slowly branched out into an organization that has helped animals through countless situations, including hurricane Katrina. Even in their early years of development the League had their "no-kill" policy, even for the most "undesirable" (to some) of patients. Their role is animal preservation has made quite a differnece, and without them, i'm not sure who would help the animals that everyone else has given up on.



http://www.nsalamerica.org/about/

American Anti-Vivisection Society

American Anti-vivisection Society

The American Anti-vivisection Society aims to end all experimentation on animals and also to end other forms of cruelty. Their goal is to legally and effectively end the use of animals in science through education, advocacy, and the development of alternative methods to animal use.

The American Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA)

http://www.aspca.org/about-us/about-the-aspca.html

The ASPCA's mission is “to provide effective means for the prevention of cruelty to animals throughout the United States.” The ASPCA rescues animals from abuse, helps shelters across America, and works to pass laws encouraging people to be humane to animals.

Northwest Animal Companions (NAC)

Northwest Animal Companions (NAC) is a 501c(3) non-profit organization whose mission is to provide foster care, low-cost spay and neuter, and adoptions for homeless, abandoned, and abused companion animals in a no-kill sanctuary setting.

Animal Liberation

http://www.animalliberation.org.au/sport.php

The Animal Liberation organization is located in South Australia and is devoted towards explaining what organizations in which animals are kept are conducive towards their health and safety, as well as many other controversial animal issues. They explain how some zoos are great for animals, but only due to the fact that they are free range zoos with plenty of space. Many zoos are not and never will be free range and are poor areas for an animal to live. They also explain how animals are never kept in good condition in a business such as a circus since they are always traveling.

Born Free

http://www.bornfree.org.uk/


Born Free takes action worldwide to protect threatened species and stop individual animal suffering. Born Free believes wildlife belongs in the wild and works to phase out zoos.

Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC)

The Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC) is an independent council of veterinarians and other animal health care professionals established to create guidelines for the optimal control of internal and external parasites that threaten the health of pets and people.
Initially convened in 2002, CAPC was formed with the express purpose of changing the way veterinary professionals and pet owners approach parasite management.

Companion Animal Protection Society (CAPS)

Founded by President Deborah Howard in 1992, Companion Animal Protection Society (CAPS) is the only national nonprofit organization dedicated exclusively to protecting companion animals from cruelty in pet shops and puppy mills. CAPS actively addresses the abuse and suffering of pet shop and puppy mill dogs through investigations, education, media relations, legislative involvement, puppy mill dog rescues, consumer assistance and pet industry employee relations.

The Captive Animal's Protection Society (CAPS)

The Captive Animal's Protection Society (CAPS) was founded in 1957. CAPS seeks to prevent the use and exploitation of captive and preforming animals, and investigate cases of alleged cruelty against captive and preforming animals.

Association of Zoos and Aquariums

Founded in 1924, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) is a nonprofit 501c(3) organization dedicated to the advancement of zoos and aquariums in the areas of conservation, education, science, and recreation.

Humane Society

The Humane Society of the United States is the nation's largest and most effective animal protection organization. Established in 1954, The HSUS seeks a humane and sustainable world for all animals, a world that will also benefit people. It is America's mainstream force against cruelty, exploitation and neglect, as well as the most trusted voice extolling the human-animal bond.

Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS)

The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) is working to conserve key wildlife populations across their project sites. WCS conservationists are working with over 350 species around the globe, and continue to make new discoveries. They also are committed to the conservation of a selected set of “global priority species” that are vulnerable to extinction, important to humans, and powerful icons of nature.

At Commonly Asked Questions About Service Animals in Places of Business, the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Association) answers commonly asked questions. This document is targeted to business owners. It delineates the laws that apply to businesses, what defines a service animal, how to differentiate between a service animal and a pet, and how to accommodate a disruptive animal. It also explains that the customer with a disability has the right to behave in the same manner as any other customer; for example, he or she has the right to ride in a taxicab with his or her animal and he or she shall not be segregated from other customers. This document does not address the issue of the individual animal, only saying that it is the customer's responsibility to take care of his or her animal.

Companion Animal Resource and Education (CARE) Center

The Companion Animal Resource and Education (CARE) Center provides education and resources that foster a mutually supportive bond between companion animals and people.

US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal Welfare Information Center

The Animal Welfare Information Center (AWIC) is mandated by the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) to provide information for improved animal care and use in research, testing, teaching, and exhibition.

EARTHLINGS SCREENING AT TEMPLE

Nature. Animals. Humankind.
Make the Connection.

Movie screening hosted by Temple University’s
Promoters of Animal Welfare (PAW)

Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 6:00pm
Tuttleman Learning Center
Room 303AB

Join PAW in a screening and discussion of the
documentary “Earthlings,” which addresses the connection
between animals and humans, and the effects on human
lives, animal lives, and the environment.

Refreshments will be provided.
Nature. Animals. Humankind. Make the Connection.

THE LEGAL RIGHTS OF NONHUMAN ANIMALS

Here's a superb article on animal law that appeared last week in The Guardian. The article primarily features Swiss attorney and animal advocate Antoine Goetschel, but it also brings up many questions we've been asking in class and in our writings regarding the moral and legal status of nonhuman animals: Should nonhuman animals be represented by a lawyer during any criminal trial in which it is judged to be the victim? Why shouldn't an animal . . . have the same legal right to representation as any other victim in a criminal trial? Do all animal species deserve equal rights? What about the legal and moral status of genetically engineered nonhuman animals?

On Sunday the Swiss voted down a proposal that would have given animals legal representation during any criminal trial in which the animal is judged to be the victim.

THE ANIMAL WELFARE ACT AND THE DEFINITION OF "ANIMAL"

A few of you were surprised to discover in class readings and discussion that the United States Animal Welfare Act (AWA) excludes certain animals from its definition of “animal,” including birds, rats, and mice, and animals used in the livestock and poultry industries.

For those of you interested in reading the act and its various amendments, I’ve added a link on our blog.

Here is the AWA’s legal definition of “animal”:

Animal means any live or dead dog,
cat, nonhuman primate, guinea pig,
hamster, rabbit, or any other warmblooded
animal, which is being used, or
is intended for use for research, teaching,
testing, experimentation, or exhibition
purposes, or as a pet. This term
excludes birds, rats of the genus Rattus,
and mice of the genus Mus, bred for use
in research; horses not used for research
purposes; and other farm animals,
such as, but not limited to, livestock
or poultry used or intended for
use as food or fiber, or livestock or
poultry used or intended for use for improving
animal nutrition, breeding,
management, or production efficiency,
or for improving the quality of food or
fiber. With respect to a dog, the term
means all dogs, including those used
for hunting, security, or breeding purposes.

THREE POUNDS OF WELL-MARINATED GOLDEN RETRIEVER

The above is a brief video from Dr. Melanie Joy, author of Why We Love Dogs, Eat Pigs, and Wear Cows: An Introduction to Carnism. Joy discusses carnism in the following passage from an interview with U.S. News and World Report:

The system [of carnism] . . . is structurally similar to other systems that are built around exploitation, in that it uses one group, in this case its animals, in particular farmed animals to serve the interests of another group. And it uses certain defenses to prevent humane people from recognizing what they're doing when they're participating in the system. . . . It is coercive in that it prevents the average person from being aware of what they're contributing to, what they're participating in, and prejudices they may have in the process. . . . There's a growing body of literature looking at the connection between meat and masculinity and it's very interesting.

We'll discuss the topic of eating animals in the last unit of the semester. Meanwhile, it may be useful to think about Joy's notion of carnism vis-a-vis moral, ethical, psychological, social, and cultural factors that inform a person's decision to use (or not use) animals as food. We'll also talk about what Joy notes above as "the connection between meat and masculinity." A good place to start is Carol J. Adams's The Sexual Politics of Meat. We've already looked at the ideological connections between gender rights and animal rights in Josephine Donovan's work, and you'll notice Carol J. Adams has an essay in the "Animals for Food" section of The Animal Ethics Reader.

I may be wrong here, but it seems that there are more female scholars than male scholars working on the connections between gender politics and the politics of eating animals. If anyone finds any information on this, feel free to share it here.

D & LUCIEN

Thanks to Dylan for providing the above banner photo for our companion animals of the week, D (black) & Lucien (tuxedo).