Scraps & Treats

Legislative Winner: Sterilization Stipend

In 2003, Anna Cieslewicz was killed by two dogs while she was jogging in Dan Ryan Woods. Her death was among the 95 percent of attacks by unsterilized dogs that prove fatal each year. A bill (HB 315) named in her honor would provide more than $3.5 million for spaying, neutering, and vaccinating dogs and cats of disadvantaged owners. The Illinois Public Health and Safety Animal Population Control Act would be funded through private donations, voluntary individual income tax check-off, and a $3 public safety fee on each rabies vaccination. The bill would help make communities safer by reducing the stray population, aiding in the prevention of dog bites, and increasing the number of dogs and cats vaccinated for rabies.

Call your state representative or visit www.ASPCA.org to support this bill.

Ducking Criticism

Charlie Trotter has scratched foie gras from the menu at his Lincoln Park restaurant. The world-renowned chef says he banned the item from his menu on ethical grounds. Foie gras (translated from French as “fatty liver”) is duck liver that’s affected by swiftly force-feeding young ducks with grain, causing their livers (and the rest of their bodies) to grow abnormally large. The result is considered a delicacy by some, and an abhorrent act of animal cruelty by others. Trotter says he decided “enough is enough” after visiting several foie gras farms where he felt the inhumane treatment of the ducks outweighed any dining benefit. Foie gras foes say the ducks suffer terribly during this practice, and some ducks die before the process is even complete. In California, animal advocates succeeded in helping pass a bill (which goes into effect in 2012) that bans the production and sale of foie gras in the state. In

Illinois, the Force Fed Birds Act, pending discussion, initially proposed a similar ban, but it was amended to appease restaurateurs and currently only addresses its production. Still, it’s a step in the right direction for animal rights advocates, and Trotter’s action could influence other restaurants to follow suit.

Double the Celebrations:

Be Kind to Animals Week and National Pet Week, May 1-7

The American Humane Association began its “Be Kind to Animals Week” tradition in 1915 to do what we do in every issue: celebrate the bond between pets and their people! It’s a great excuse to donate to your local shelter and encourage others to help make a positive difference for animals. National Pet Week was founded jointly in 1981 by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and the Auxiliary to the AVMA. Its goals are to promote responsible pet guardianship, celebrate the human-animal connection, and support public awareness of veterinary medicine. It’s a great time to schedule a wellness check-up and be sure that your pets are in tip-top shape.

For more information visit www.AmericanHumane.org or

www.PetWeek.org.