Whether it came from an animal on a fur farm or one who was trapped in the wild, every fur coat, trinket, and bit of trim caused an animal tremendous suffering—and took away a life.

Animals on fur farms spend their entire lives confined to cramped, filthy wire cages. Fur farmers use the cheapest and cruelest killing methods available, including suffocation, electrocution, gas, and poison.

More than half the fur in the U.S. comes from China, where millions of dogs and cats are bludgeoned, hanged, bled to death, and often skinned alive for their fur. Chinese fur is often deliberately mislabeled, so if you wear any fur, there’s no way of knowing for sure whose skin you’re in.

Animals who are trapped in the wild can suffer for days from blood loss, shock, dehydration, frostbite, gangrene, and attacks by predators. They may be caught in steel-jaw traps that slam down on their legs, often cutting to the bone; Conibear traps, which crush their necks with 90 pounds of pressure per square inch; or water-set traps, which leave beavers, muskrats, and other animals struggling for more than nine agonizing minutes before drowning.

> How You Can Help

Source: People For The Ethical treatment of Animals .

Get Baked! Holiday Bake Sale
When: Sunday, December 19th, 12 noon-5 PM
Where: Main Space, 350 East 2nd Avenue, Vancouver

The friendly folks over at Vancouver’s own Vegan Project are hosting their first holiday bake sale, featuring:

~Hot apple cider as soon as you walk through that door.

~A plethora of vendors sharing their yummy vegan delights.

~The best holiday music playlist you’ve ever heard.

~St.Nick himself, available for pictures with kids and pets!

Entrance fee is $2 or FREE with a healthy snack donation for the kids at Grandview Elementary.

If you’re interested in helping out, contact meetus@theveganproject.ca for more info or check out their facebook event page!

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Holiday Turkey Leafleting
In the week leading up to Christmas, we will be handing out copies of our “Talking Turkey” leaflets to rush hour commuters around Vancouver. Here are the times and locations:

Dec 20 – 4:30-5:30pm – Burrard station
Dec 21 – 4:30-5:30pm – City Centre/Granville Skytrain stations
Dec 22 – 4:30-5:30pm – Cambie & Broadway
Dec 23 – 4:30-5:30pm – Commercial & Broadway

We’d love to have your help! If you would like to volunteer, please contact Roger at roger@liberationbc.org or 778-991-7614.

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Button Design Contest!

Got some ideas for funny, clever or super cute buttons?  Liberation BC is in need of new button designs and we want to hear from you!  We need 2 new button designs: one about the cruel dairy industry and one about holiday turkeys. For the turkey design we prefer that the message is not limited to just Thanksgiving or Christmas but can be used throughout the holiday season.

There will be two winners (one for turkey & one for dairy) picked by a public voting process.  The design with the most votes will receive a free Liberation BC bamboo/cotton blend, sweatshop-free t-shirt - a value of $25 - and a free one year Liberation BC membership valued at $15.

Most importantly, the buttons containing your powerful message will be sold at all Liberation BC events to help speak up for the cows and turkeys!

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Special Advanced Screening of Forks Over Knives
When: January 20, 2011, 7-9 PM
Where: Vancouver Public Library
Admission: Free!

The feature film Forks Over Knives examines the profound claim that most, if not all, of the degenerative diseases that afflict us can be controlled, or even reversed, by rejecting our present menu of animal-based and processed foods.

This is a special free advanced screening of the film in partnership with the Vancouver Public Library!  Fork Over Knives is due out in theatres March 2011.

If you’d like to help out, please print these posters to promote this film screening:

• Large (11×17)
• Letter size
• Letter size (white background)

. Source: Liberation BC .

Dear Readers,

Max was sold by NUVAS on April 15, 2010, in order to be used for experimentation.

You probably think of an animal shelter as a safe haven for homeless animals looking for a second chance at a loving home. Tragically, many animals at North Utah Valley Animal Shelter (NUVAS) never get that opportunity.

PETA recently received 50 photos of dogs NUVAS sold to the University of Utah for use in cruel and deadly experiments. Some of the animals sold to the university have holes drilled into their skulls, their chests cut open and medical devices implanted onto their hearts, and hard plastic tubes repeatedly forced down their throats.

NUVAS is the only animal shelter in the state of Utah that continues to betray animals in its care by selling them for experimentation, and it’s time for the shelter to stop this disgraceful practice of profiting at the expense of these dogs.

See photos and read about Max and other dogs who were denied a second chance at a loving home and learn about what you can do to help end this practice.

Thank you for helping dogs!

Sincerely,

Justin Goodman
Associate Director
Laboratory Investigations Department

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.

To most of us, the start of winter means that our warm clothes come out and the heater gets switched on. We can cope comfortably with the coming chill. But to neglected “backyard” dogs, the change of seasons means that they must endure many months of long, cold nights with nowhere to go to get out of the wind and sleet. It means aching joints and uncontrollable shaking—no matter how small a ball they try to curl into. > You can change that.

The Humane Society of the United States today released the results of an undercover investigation documenting shocking animal abuse at a Vermont slaughter plant. > more> facts about Factory Farming > Personalise draft & Email Letter to the Department of Agriculture now .

Halloween Safety Tips for Animals

By taking a few simple precautions, everyone—humans and animals alike—can have a safe and happy Halloween. Check out PETA’s tips for protecting animals during this haunting holiday.

Watch: The Downed Cow Story

See the heartbreaking true story of a downed cow who was kicked in the face, ribs, and back in an effort to get her to stand up. Watch now and learn what you can do to help dairy cows! >Prime Minister’s wife Sarah Brown refuses Veal & Foie Gras served at summit > Mistreated veal calves > Facts about veal .

‘Save the Seals’ Celebrity Ad Series

Kelly Osbourne, Perez Hilton, and Animal Collective are among the celebs speaking out against Canada’s annual seal slaughter. See their ads and find out who else is speaking up for seals.

Texas Animal Shelter Sells Cats for Use in Deadly Lab

Odessa Animal Control has been selling lost and stray cats to the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, where they are used in deadly medical training courses. Help these cats now!

PETA’s Cruelty-Free Shopping Guide Featuring Kelly Carlson

Nip/Tuck star Kelly Carlson knows that true beauty comes from compassion. Check out our new cruelty-free shopping guide with Kelly on the cover.

Tell Circuses With Animals to Hit the Road!

You can help keep circuses that use animals from bringing their cruel shows to your town. Order free leaflets and stickers and learn more ways to help take on circuses!

Source: People For The Ethical treatment of Animals .

You go, Girl ! > read details here .

Richard Gere, who will be starring in a role as a professor, said he “cried like a baby” as he was so moved by the script for his new movie, based on the story of a dog which spent days and days waiting for its owner who never came back. > more .

Original article from The Associated Press .

Karina Smirnoff Interview

Visit Action Center to see the various simple actions you can take to help animals speak up.