Issue 319 --- October 25, 2004
A Project of The Humane Society of the United States and The Fund for Animals
http://www.humanelines.org/

 

DON'T FORGET TO VOTE FOR ANIMALS ON NOVEMBER 2:
With only one week left until Election Day, the animals need us to spread the word far and wide to vote in favor of ballot measures affecting animal protection.  Voters in six states-- Alaska, Arizona, California, Florida, Maine and Montana-- have the chance to cast a direct vote for animals on the following issues on Nov. 2:

Alaska
 
Vote Yes: Ballot Measure 3, which would outlaw cruel bear baiting.

Vote No: Ballot Measure 1, which would increase the requirements to qualify a citizen initiative for the ballot.
 

Arizona
 

Vote No: Proposition 101, requires any voter-approved measure that expends state funds to provide its own special funding source (tax or fee).

Vote No: Proposition 104, which would make it much more difficult to gather the requisite number of signatures for citizen initiatives.
 

California
 

Vote No: Proposition 64, which would take away the rights of citizens to challenge unfair business practices (including those that might harm animals).
 

Florida
 

Vote No: Amendment 2, a referendum, put on the ballot by legislators, that would make it much harder for activists to collect enough signatures to place a measure on the ballot.

Vote No: Amendment 4, which would boost the greyhound racing industry by allowing slot machines at dog tracks.
 


Maine
 

Vote Yes: Question 2, which would ban the killing of bears using baiting, hounding and trapping.
 


Montana
 

Vote No: C-41, which would make hunting, fishing and trapping a constitutional right.
 


 


HELP END THE USE OF ANIMALS IN TESTING BOTOX® COSMETIC:
Millions of Americans have gotten injections of BOTOX® Cosmetic in order to have some of their facial wrinkles smoothed out for a few months.  What they may not realize, and what Botox’s manufacturer, Allergan, doesn’t tell them, is that animal suffering is the hidden ingredient in this beauty product.  Every batch of Botox is tested using the notorious LD (Lethal Dose) 50 Test, which estimates the potency at which 50% of the injected animals will die. The test can last up to 3-4 days, during which the poison paralyzes muscles as it moves through the animal’s body.  Ultimately, the mice die from suffocation, undoubtedly after considerable distress.

Both Allergan and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration share the blame for this outrageous state of affairs.  According to Allergan, the FDA requires LD50 testing for Botox.  The FDA has ignored our requests for information about its oversight of Botox.  And Allergan has refused to provide details on its testing program or on its efforts to develop alternative methods.

Animals should not be suffering for vanity’s sake, especially through the outdated LD50 Test, which has been widely criticized as unreliable in addition to terribly inhumane.  The HSUS is demanding that Allergan undertake a well-funded project to promptly replace the LD50 Test with a non-animal alternative.  The HSUS is also calling upon the FDA to work with Allergan to develop this technically superior non-animal alternative test, and to change its policy on Botox potency testing accordingly.

WHAT YOU CAN DO:
 

  1. Write to Allergan and politely but firmly  express your concerns about its use of the LD50, which subjects animals to paralysis, suffocation, and death, so that people can look younger.  Let the company know that you refuse to use BOTOX® Cosmetic until animals are no longer used to test its potency.  Contact:
David E.I. Pyott
Chief Executive Officer
Allergan, Inc.
P.O. Box 19534
Irvine  CA
92623
Phone: 714-246-4500
E-mail: info@allergan.com
On-line contact form: http://www.allergan.com/site/system/contact.asp?id=&largeText=
  1. Contact the Food and Drug Administration and politely but firmly urge the agency to work with Allergan to develop non-animal alternatives to the LD 50 Test, and to phase out any and all requirements for LD50 testing of FDA-regulated products. Contact:
Dr. Lester M. Crawford
 
Acting Commissioner
Food and Drug Administration
5600 Fishers Lane
Rockville, Maryland 20857
Phone: 1-888-INFO-FDA (463-6332)
E-mail: d.commissioner@fda.hhs.gov
 


 


JOIN TODAY'S CALL-IN DAY FOR MARYLAND BEARS:
This morning a nine-month old female black bear was killed by a hunter...she was the first casualty of this trophy hunt.

By allowing Maryland's first black bear hunt in 50 years, Governor Ehrlich has flouted the will of the majority of Maryland citizens and a legislative committee and has levied a cruel death sentence against the small population of bears in Maryland.
 
At a pre-hunt meeting in Garret County this weekend the Maryland Department of Natural Resources referred to the first bear hunt in fifty years as a landmark and compared it to the Red Socks victory. Further, the MDNR reminded hunters that there is no limit on the age or size of a bear that they chose to kill, and that while some hunters may choose to kill larger or older bears, no one should look down on those that kill small bears.

The slaughter of Maryland's bears started this morning (Monday) at 6:30 a.m. One bear has already been a victim of the senseless hunt. Please call Governor Ehrlich today and remind him that he can and should stop this hunt. The blood of this bear, and any others who are needlessly killed, is on his hands.

Regardless of where you live, please call Gov. Ehrlich TODAY and ask him to cancel the black bear hunt :
 


410-974-3901  
1-800-811-8336

 


NEW YORK BILL TACKLES FUR FARMING CRUELTY:
In New York, legislation has been introduced to ban one of the cruelest methods used on fur farms to kill animals.  S. 7765, introduced by state Senator Malcolm A. Smith (D-14, Queens) and State Assemblymember Scott Stringer (D-67, Manhattan), will ban the use of anal and genital electrocution to kill fur-bearing animals. This practice is commonly used to kill farmed fur animals like foxes, mink, and chinchillas so that their pelts can be used to make full-length fur coats and various fur-trimmed garments.

Although anal and genital electrocution are not approved euthanasia methods
according to guidelines issued by the American Veterinary Medical
Association, (AVMA), it is commonly used on fur farms to kill animals like foxes, minks and chinchillas because the U.S. has no laws or government regulations covering the raising and killing of animals on fur farms.

Anal and gential electrocution are particularly cruel killing methods because, according to the AVMA, the electricity does not go through and stun the brain; the animals must remain awake and feel the full excruciating force of a massive heart attack.

WHAT YOU CAN DO:
New York residents can support this ground-breaking legislation to ban this cruel fur-farming practice by contacting their state (not federal) legislators and asking them to support the fur farming bill introduced by Assemblyperson Stringer and Senator Smith.  (The Senate version of the bill is S. 7765; a bill number has yet to be assigned to the Assembly bill.)
 

Find your state legislators and their contact information by visiting http://action.fund.org/directory 
 

THANK YOU FOR MAKING A DIFFERENCE FOR ANIMALS --- TODAY!!
To receive directly, call 202-955-3668 or email humanelines@hsus.org For more information on legislation, how to find your legislators, or past HUMANElines, go to http://www.hsus.org/ or http://www.fund.org/