It’s that time again! Care2 members are dedicated to making positive change, and often their efforts lead to media attention. Read on to check out some citizen petitions that made waves in the press during the past two weeks.
63,000 Demand Oregon End Horse-Tripping Once and For All
Oregon banned “horse tripping,” a competitive and cruel rodeo event, last year. This year, local law enforcement officials planned to interpret the law in such a way that alleviated them from enforcing the ban — but not if Oregon-based activist and Care2 member Debbie Catalina had something to say about it.
Catalina was adamant about preventing such abuse at this year’s Big Loop Rodeo in Jordan Valley, OR.During horse tripping events, horses are literally tripped by participants, who chase the horses, first lassoing the horse’s head and then the front legs. Points are awarded for how fast the competing cowboys can bring the horse down.
Catalina started a Care2 petition asking Gov. Kitzhaber to enforce the ban and end horse tripping in the state once and for all — and got significant media attention for her efforts.
Debbie was interviewed about her petition live on local NBC and FOX news stations, and Oregon Live covered her campaign extensively — view the coverage here, here, here, and here.
The event still went on, but Debbie had some positive updates: “Thirty teams competed at Big Loop roping, only two horses were successfully roped,” she told Care2. “Significantly, the footers threw the loop to slide up the horses’ legs almost to the chest, which did not interfere with the horses’ ability to walk or run…Neither of the two horses who were successfully roped tripped or fell. [Activists on site] were generally treated with a kind of grudging respect. Spectators sitting behind us mentioned that it was ‘nice to see them being a lot easier on the horses.’”
You can check out Debbie’s petition here.
More than 3,000 Demand Justice for Ike the K9
Arizona resident and Care2 member Barbara Siewert was outraged when she learned of the death of Ike the K9. The dog’s partner left him in a car without food or water in 98 degree heat, leaving the dog to die a painful death.
“In cases like this, it’s crucial to get the public aware of cruelty that goes unpunished. For corrections officers who have partners, the partners are like family — the animals will give their lives for you if necessary. What a waste to have them cruelly killed by the very person they protect,” Siewert said.
Siewert’s Care2 petition asked the Arizona Department of Corrections to include anti-animal cruelty training provisions in its officer training programs. Her petition racked up 3,633 signatures, and AZFamily.com featured the petition in an article.
You can support Siewert and Arizona K9s by signing the petition.
107,000 Demand eBay Crack Down on Ivory, Endangered Species Sales
After a report from the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) found a whopping 282 listings for products created from endangered species on top auction sites — a large proportion of them listed on eBay Australia — Care2 members sprung into action.
eBay has a policy against trading ivory, teeth, skin, bones, or other parts of endangered animals, but the report shows the site isn’t doing enough to keep these products from slipping through the cracks. The items IFAW discovered included those made of ivory, rhino horns, orangutan teeth and bones, and even live exotic animals.
A petition demanding eBay do more to prevent the sale of items made from endangered species gathered a whopping 107,484 signatures and coverage from top political news site The Hill. You can add your name to the Care2 petition here!
113,000 Demand Canada Do More to Indict Animal Abusers
Six dogs died after being left in a hot SUV by a dog walker in Langley, BC. The dog walker subsequently lied to the media and the public, saying someone stole the dogs as she used the bathroom.
Care2 members wanted justice for the dogs — but in Canada, animal cruelty is not a severe indictable offense under the criminal code. In the U.S., it is a felony in all 50 states.
A Care2 petition on the topic was featured in two news stories in the Delta Optimist. Support the petition by adding your name!
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All of these stories are a great testament to the power of online petitions created on Care2. Is there an issue or cause you care about? Create a petition today, and show the world what you would like to be changed.