2009 Achievements for animals
Jan 29, 2010
Thank you. With your support, WSPA and our member societies achieved great things for animals last year. Many are better cared for, better protected, and have brighter futures.
We have a very long way to go before we achieve our vision: a world where animal welfare matters and animal cruelty ends. But with your help, WSPA is looking forward to a fresh decade of achievements for animals.
Here are just a few of last year's highlights:
Protecting wildlife
WSPA-funded member society Les Amis des Bonobos achieved an amazing world-first, releasing a group of bonobos into the wild. All reports indicate that the bonobos are thriving in their new forest home.
With Pakistani group BRC, we stopped 44 of 56 planned bear baiting events by mid-2009. Working with 1,600 mosques and helping bear owners establish cruelty-free livelihoods, we also ensured lifelong safety for four more bears at Kund Park.
In Canada, WSPA Canada and the OSPCA achieved the first comprehensive changes to provincial animal protection laws since 1919.
We also partnered with LUSH Cosmetics to raise money for the WSPA-funded Nyaru Menteng orangutan sanctuary in Borneo through the sale of a WSPA Charity Pot.
More in brief: An illegally held bear was rescued from a bear bile farm, thanks to WSPA’s innovative microchipping project; work to reduce elephant–human conflict progressed; our lobbying helped ensure Greenland cannot hunt humpbacks in 2010 ...
Defending farm animals
The WSPA/FAI ‘model farm’ in Brazil – which aims to prove humane farming can be profitable – welcomed its first cattle! Our farm-based training courses are helping take the cruelty out of animal handling, transport and slaughter. Hundreds of people have already been trained in humane handling techniques.
More in brief:WSPA-led outcry over the possible resumption of live sheep exports from New Zealand brought welfare to fore of the debate; a WSPA petition convinced the EU Health Commissioner to make protecting animals from long distance transport ‘a priority’ …
Caring for companion animals and working horses
© Dennis Brussard/WSPA
WSPA’s expert advice helped shape 2009’s biggest single move towards protecting the world’s stray dogs: the World Organisation for Animal Health’s new stray dog control guidelines urgently call on all 174 member states to exclusively use humane methods.
In Canada, you helped us work with First Nations communities on stray dog population issues. We funded three sterilization clinics where 459 animals were treated.
Your generosity has helped the Sierra Leone Animal Welfare Society (SLAWS) care for thousands of dogs and cats. Since 2006, the clinic has vaccinated an incredible 32,000 animals.
More in brief: WSPA’s work with the Kathmandu Animal Treatment Centre helped ensure zero suspected rabies cases in the city for the first time; our pioneering ‘human behaviour change’ workshops helped horse and donkey owners in Thailand, Uruguay and the Palestinian Territories begin finding humane solutions to everyday welfare issues …
Mitigating disaster
© WSPA
When a tsunami hit Western and American Samoa in September, WSPA and the New Zealand SPCA joined forces to help animals suffering from infections and trauma. Two tons of dog food together with training sessions enabled local member societies to continue the work.
Your donations helped thousands of animals injured in the crossfire in the Gaza conflict, from animals in the Gaza zoo to farm and working animals.
More in brief: Disaster preparations were successfully tested in Costa Rica and Myanmar; disaster relief operations included activity in Brazil; Costa Rica; Cuba; Bihar and Orissa, India; Indonesia and the Philippines …
Changing minds
We trained over 340 teachers in animal welfare education in Kenya, Thailand and across Latin and South America; 289 university lecturers and 51 Asian trainee teachers also learned about teaching a message of compassion from WSPA.
We teamed up with Norwegian animal protection groups to present an exhibition of whale images, designed to change attitudes to whaling in Norway.
More in brief: WSPA’s Peru education program was endorsed by UNESCO; our veterinary syllabus was rolled out across Indonesia, Peru and Argentina …
Stopping bullfighting
In one of WSPA’s largest ever online actions over 85,000 supporters backed the citizens of Catalonia in calling for an end to bullfighting in their region. A vote will be held in 2010.
More in brief: WSPA co-sponsored the worldwide annual bullfighting summit …
Supporting member societies
WSPA grants helped over 90 member societies carry out work, including improvement of clinics and shelters, delivering education, providing rescue vehicles and holding fundraising training for long-term success.
More in brief: We launched a new resources website to help groups combat cruelty effectively; WSPA supported 10 member society campaigns, from protecting marine mammals to saving bats …
Making a difference for all animals
Alongside the 27 European Union member states, Nicaragua, Palau and Samoa all made a commitment to animals this year by endorsing the development of a Universal Declaration on Animal Welfare (UDAW) at the United Nations.
In Canada, our efforts led to a parliamentary motion in support of a UDAW.
Singer Leona Lewis pledged her support for a UDAW in a campaign video.
More in brief: Our four briefings on animal welfare and sustainable development, held at UN headquarters, reached over 90 governments.
If you would like to help us make change for animals in 2010, please join our Animal Rescue Team. Your ongoing monthly support can help provide our programs with the funds they need to help animals all year round.
Join now at wspa.ca/membership >>
