Home  |  Events Calendar  |  Links  |  Local Groups  |  Activism  |  Volunteer Opportunities  |  Dining Out  |
Local Businesses  |  Vegan Debates  |  Bulletin Board  |  About AZVegan  |  Contact AZVegan

Last updated August 17, 2008

I wondered why somebody didn't do something; then I realized I was somebody.
-- Unknown

Farm Sanctuary Fundraiser Party/Silent Auction and Walk For Farm Animals
It's that time of year again and the Farm Sanctuary events are right around the corner!  Please join us again this year to help raise funds for the animals at Farm Sanctuary and for nationwide rescues and campaigns. 

Farm Sanctuary Fundraiser Dinner and Silent Auction
Friday, October 10th, 2008, 7pm-10pm
Historic Heritage Square, Lath House   
115 N. 6th Street, Phoenix, AZ 85004- Map
Parking is located just west of the facility.  Casual party attire is suggested for the open-air venue.  Download an event flyer

Tickets are just $25 per person, which includes dinner, drinks, and music by the band, Elusive Groove!  Tickets purchased after October 3rd will be $35 per person.  Admission is limited to the first 200 people to purchase tickets.  Register online at http://www.firstgiving.com/azfarmparty

We have a few items already available for the Silent Auction including: Yoga sessions for two including yoga mats and T-shirts from Inside The Bungalow, Specialty Handmade Vegan Bath & Body Products by Strawberry Hedgehog, 1 hour massage from Hands of Health, Gift Certificate and Kitchen Gadgets from Plate It Up, Gene Baur's book, "Farm Sanctuary" and Jana Kohl's book, "A Rare Breed of Love", donated by Michelle Andria.  We are still looking for more items and donations for the Silent Auction.  They can be gift certificates, gift baskets, etc!  We ask that all items are vegan and animal friendly.  Please download the donation form here. 


Walk for Farm Animals
Saturday, October 18th
Registration 9am, Walk begins at 10am
Margaret T. Hance Park- East Ramada
67 West Culver Street, Phoenix, AZ 85004- Map

Join our 2008 Walk for Farm Animals and raise funds for and awareness about Farm Sanctuary's vital rescue, education, and advocacy efforts for farm animals in need.  Please register and begin your fundraising today at www.firstgiving.com/farmsanctuary   You can create your own personal online fundraising page-its quick and easy!   For printable pledge sheets, please go to www.walkforfarmanimals.org

Spread the word to friends, family, and strangers!  Please download and print the event flyer and post it around town to let others know about the event. 

Please email phoenix@walkforfarmanimals.org with any questions, or for more information. 

Volunteer Opportunities!
We couldn't do the events without the great volunteers that help us out.  We are currently looking for volunteers for the following areas.  Please email azvegan@gmail.com if you are interested in volunteering and please let us know what area you are interested in.  Thank you!

Silent Auction-  We are looking for Silent Auction donations.  We are also looking for anyone interested in helping out with the Silent Auction on the evening of October 10th.  This would include helping setup the Silent Auction items and helping with the checkout at the end of the evening.
Dinner Party Volunteers- Help with the guest registration at the door, setup and teardown of the facility, and helping with food and beverages during the party.
Walk Volunteers- Assisting with setup and registration and pledge collections the morning of the Walk for Farm Animals. 

Take Action...

	Ask County Attorney To Press Charges Against Man Accused Of Dragging Horse In Florence Many of us heard the headlines last week about a man and his daughter accused of animal abuse in Queen Creek, AZ.  Link to story.  Please contact Pinal County Attorney,, and ask him to press felony charges against this cruel individual.
	Tell Department of Health and Human Services to investigate the real source of the contamination-the meat industry Salmonella are intestinal organisms. Needless to say, tomatoes and peppers do not have an intestinal tract. When feces end up in irrigation water, salmonella can contaminate the surfaces of plants and can apparently pass into their rootlets, ending up inside produce. Infectious bacteria from animal feces also contaminate agricultural fields, workers’ hands, retail shelves, and kitchen surfaces.  Send a quick message to tell them where they mind find the source of the contamination.
	Posh Puppy Store Demo's-Saturdays and Sundays The Posh Puppy store demos are continuing.  Please join others to spread the message and encourage people to adopt their puppies from shelters or rescue groups.  Reminder: Do not park or walk on Northsight Shopping Center property. Please park in the Home Depot lot north of Northsight Center and do not cut through the Northsight Center lot. Stay on the sidewalk. Posh Puppy and property management are demanding police issue trespass tickets. What: Pro-Adoption Anti-Puppy Mill Rally When: 9 - 11am Saturday and Sunday mornings, ongoing Where: Posh Puppy store - 15060 N. Northsight Blvd., Scottsdale (west side of street across from Sam's Club, north of Raintree)
	Take a moment to urge Starbucks to provide more vegan options! Starbucks has created a new Web site, www.mystarbucksidea.com, to solicit suggestions for new products (click on the "Share" button).  While the company is well-known for offering soy milk at every location, its selection of vegan-friendly food items is almost non-existent. Starbucks has told PETA that it takes the comments received from the new Web site very seriously, so please take a few minutes today to ask the company to start offering vegan pastries, snacks, and sandwiches!  It only takes a moment to register, and submitting an idea could go a long way toward making Starbucks more vegan-friendly and compassionate.

Legislative Updates...

	Advice From A Local Activist For Voting In The Next Election Thanks so much, Julie N. for putting this great information together!  One of the many ways to prevent animal cruelty is starting on a political level. Stronger, stricter laws need to be passed to protect animals and punish those who commit crimes against them.  With the upcoming election, I'm urging ALL VOTERS to start doing their homework now. Recently, you should have received a booklet listing all candidates that are running for state Senators and Representatives. In this booklet you can locate your respective District and find out who is running & vying for your vote.  You can obtain & download the pamphlet online, but it’s lengthy. Might be best to scroll down to find your district and simply print the pages specific to your candidates. Go to: www.azcleanelections.gov , click on the left side for “Publications”, slide over to “2008 Primary Candidates Statement Pamphlet”. Most of the candidates have websites and/or email addresses. Please take a moment to craft a letter to your nominees and let them know your concern for animal welfare, as well as feedback on where they stand. I have included a SAMPLE letter that I sent to my candidates and urge you to do the same. (Please revise/ reword before sending.) Dear ______, Thank you for your interest in running for State (Senator/Representative) I'm a constituent in District __ and starting to do my homework before casting my vote in the upcoming election. I have the following question and would appreciate your feedback to my concerns: Where do you stand on issues pertaining to animal welfare and protection of animals in our community & statewide? This is an extremely important issue for me, as well as my family, friends, and many co-workers. I have reviewed other candidates and will not vote for those who have a track record of voting against issues to protect animals.  I'd love to hear from you and know where you stand on my concerns for animal welfare.  Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to hearing from you.  Sincerely, Full name, address, phone number, email address.
	Help Get Animal-Friendly Representative in Congress Rebecca Schneider, a huge animal advocate, will be running against Representative Flake, the Congressional Representative with the worst record in the state on animal issues, for Arizona Congressional District Six.  Please do what you can to support her campaign! www.schneider2008.com
	Anti-Cruelty Measure certified for the November Ballot California Secretary of State Debra Bowen today certified an anti-cruelty ballot initiative for the statewide general election on November 4, 2008. Californians for Humane Farms, sponsored by The Humane Society of the United States, Farm Sanctuary and other animal protection groups, family farmers, veterinarians and public health professionals, said the Prevention of Farm Animal Cruelty Act will provide the most basic protection to nearly 20 million animals confined in industrial factory farms in California: that they merely be able to turn around and extend their limbs.   For more info on the campaign, visit:  http://www.humanecalifornia.org/ In California, The Prevention of Farm Animal Cruelty Act has been added to the ballot for this fall. This measure would provide the most basic protection to farm animals: merely allowing them to turn around and extend their limbs. The purpose of the measure is to prevent three of the most cruel and inhumane forms of extreme confinement in the world of animal agribusiness: veal crates, battery cages, and gestation crates. And as moderate as these reforms are, this would be the most important step forward for farm animals in history impacting 20 million animals in California!   Please, do what you can to help!

Check out the latest additions..

Puppy Mill Presentation At Maricopa County Animal Care and Control Join Theresa Strader, director of Mill Dog Rescue Network and Clay Myers, renowned animal welfare photographer, for a presentation that exposes the horrors of the puppy mill "industry" in this country. Mill Dog Rescue Network has rescued hundreds of dogs from puppy mills across the Midwest; and Clay has captured hidden photos and video from these efforts that will shock and haunt you.  You'll also meet dogs who have escaped the tortures of puppy mills through the help of Mill Dog Rescue Network – and you'll marvel at the spirit and love that still shines in their eyes, despite their tragic pasts.  Please join us. The only way to stop this atrocity is to shine a light on it. Link to event flyer Date: Wednesday, August 20, 2008 @ 7:00 p.m. Place: Maricopa County Animal Care and Control – West Valley Center 2500 South 27th Ave (27th Ave / Lower Buckeye) • Phoenix, AZ 85009 • (602) 506-2772 RSVP: Lisa Brennan @ MinPinHaven Rescue: lisabrennan406@msn.com (623) 262-0286

Take A Few Moments to Complete a Survey About Being Vegan This survey is being conducted by M. Butterflies Katz, who has published several popular articles on vegan subjects, including 'vegan companies', 'vegan-organic gardening' and 'feeding your pets vegan'.  The results of the survey will be used to research an article that will be published on-line and in magazines.  The survey can be found at this link.  Please contact M. Butterflies Katz with any questions.

Farm Sanctuary Scores Landmark Legal Victory for Farm Animals Farm Sanctuary recently scored a precedent-setting victory in its decade-long battle against the New Jersey Department of Agriculture's (NJDA) inhumane standards of farm animal care. In a monumental legal decision, the New Jersey Supreme Court unanimously declared that factory farming practices cannot be considered "humane" simply because they are "routine husbandry practices." The Court also rejected the practice of tail-docking cattle, the manner in which the NJDA had provided for farm animals to be mutilated without anesthesia, and ordered the agency to readdress many of the state-mandated standards for the treatment of farm animals.  More info.

Veg options in Yuma and beyond! "I am the owner of Nature's Express, a healthier fast food restaurant in Yuma that is completely plant based. We are planning to open up more stores. Our next restaurant will be in San Diego and is opening in September.  I am an oncologist so the motivation for the restaurant is primarily a health related focus - see our website natures-express.com "

Notes from Vegan Outreach:  Dealing with Family Vegan Outreach asked their members about dealing with intractable family members.  Here are some excerpts from a few of the many responses they received.

Don't Miss This...

Free Stuff!

• AZVegan.com bumper stickers!  
  8.5" by 2.5" vinyl stickers.  Click here for a preview.  If you would like one, just send an email to azvegan@gmail.com letting us know you want a bumper sticker and we'll send you one for free.  Spread the word...expand the network...widen the circle!

• "Chew on This" - an amazing video from PETA.
  Every year, more than 27 billion animals (including fish) are killed for food in the United States alone. PETA’s video Chew on This sheds light on animal suffering and highlights many of the other reasons to choose a compassionate, plant-based diet.  Watch the video, order a free copy of the DVD, and pass it on!  (just three and a half minutes long)  

Home  |  Events Calendar  |  Links  |  Local Groups  |  Activism  |  Volunteer Opportunities  |  Dining Out  |
Local Businesses  |  Vegan Debates  |  Bulletin Board  |  About AZVegan  |  Contact AZVegan

AZVegan.com - the free calendar & information source for vegans, vegetarians & animal rights activists in Arizona.
Questions, comments, suggestions:  website@azvegan.com