IFAW's Animal Rescue Blog

Animal Action Week Grand Prize Winner - Poem and Pics

The 2008 Animal Action Week award winner Kathy Pina,a 4th Grade Teacher at Jackson Avenue School in Hackensack, New Jersey just returned from her trip to Trinidad where she visited the sea turtle population there.

She discussed her classroom efforts in her submission for the award:

"The Beneath the Waves curriculum provided by the International Fund for Animal Welfare has added substantial value to the environmental science lessons held in Room 303 at Jackson Avenue School. It sparked thinking about not only what we, as a class can learn and do, but what our entire school and community can learn and do! I turned the curriculum contributed to us by IFAW into a SMART notebook lesson activity. The students took part in, and continue to work on, each of the suggested activities in the resource guide on a weekly basis."

"This curriculum inspired me, my class and our community to help the Earth in seven distinct ways!"

• "My class tried to get the entire school to sign the Plastic Pledge. We got 135 pledges back and will seek out more signed pledges at our science fair in January."
• "I am using the IFAW curriculum as a jumping off point to conduct our class project for the school science fair. Our project and display will be based on the environmental influences causing the decline of whale and sea turtle populations."
• "My class is writing essays about the threats to the marine animals they chose from the IFAW website. They will create illustrations and all of the pictures and essays will be "professionally" published in a book."
• "I asked the PTA to contribute to purchasing reusable bags for the entire school to hand out at the science fair. They accepted!"
• "I asked the local Girl Scout troop to set up a booth at the science fair that will help to raise money to buy the school a recycling dumpster"
• "I booked a one hour assembly program, paid for by a Clean Communities Grants, for our parents and students on the night of the science fair called "Kids Going Green!"
• "My Destination Imagination team now wants to center their entire challenge, "Instinct Messaging" on the ways that whales communicate and environmental issues that tend to stand in the way of this unique ability. The IFAW resources gave us a head start on our research"

IFAW Animal Action Week Award Winner Holds Walk for Seals!

2008 International Fund for Animal Welfare Animal Action Week award winner Marcelo Hoynowski, is a Seal Campaign Activist living in Clark, NJ. Since the age of seven, this 8th grader has campaigned to end the Canadian seal hunt - promoting his message through his Web site, www.mypointis.net, which generates 2,500 visitors a month.

Take action to help IFAW end the Canadian commercial seal hunt today at http://www.stopthesealhunt.org

'Pick-Up-Plastic' Images From Around The World

As part of Animal Action Week this year 13 IFAW country offices are coordinating beach clean-up operations with a theme called 'Pick Up Plastic'.

'Pick Up Plastic' has allowed communities to participate in the clean-up effort globally. Animal Action Week is designed to raise awareness and this year IFAW's focus is on the terrible crisis within our oceans and the fight against careless pollution. The number one culprit being plastic, in all forms.

'Pick Up Plastic' events are underway in Australia, China, East Africa, France, Germany, India, Mexico, the Middle East, Netherlands, Russia, South Africa, the UK and USA. Cleaner and safer marine habitats are the leading result of this wonderful initiative, however IFAW is also asking that teams in every country collect data to illustrate just how serious the problem is. This data will be used to document the most polluted areas and can contribute to lobbying efforts for better protection of our ocean waters!

Additionally, IFAW asks everyone to consider the 'Plastic Bag Pledge' during Animal Action Week this year. Signing up is a simple commitment you can make that will have an enormous impact on our Earth.

Thanks to everyone who has helped IFAW make a difference so far!

Leonardo DiCaprio and IFAW are teaming up for Animal Action Week, October 4-10, 2008

Join me in taking action for animals.

I’m thrilled to join IFAW in celebrating Animal Action Week 2008.

As a long-time supporter of IFAW, I share with them a deep concern for the health of the ocean and the environment.

Our ocean faces more threats than ever before, from pollution to global warming to commercial whaling.

This year’s Animal Action Week theme, Beneath the Waves, highlights the actions we all can take to make sure that our ocean is healthy, clean, and full of life.

What you can do to protect the ocean

To help us protect the ocean, you can start by joining me in these three easy actions:

1. Visit animalactionweek.org to learn more about Animal Action Week, the largest animal-focused educational event in the world;
2. Take the Plastic Bag Pledge to help combat one of the main threats to marine wildlife;
3. And spread the word by telling your family and friends about IFAW Animal Action Week 2008.

The health of the ocean is extremely important to me. Together we can return our ocean to the way we like to picture it - healthy, clean, and full of life.

Please take action for animals by joining me and IFAW in celebrating Animal Action Week 2008

Sincerely,
Leonardo DiCaprio
IFAW Honorary Board Member

IKE Update 09/17: ER Team Continues Sheltering Operation in Texas

The following is an update from IFAW Emergency Rescue team member Michael Booth currently in Texas

As flood waters quickly receeded, IFAW's on the ground efforts turned from search and rescue to several sheltering operations.  As of September 16th, the ER crew will be working in Orange and Anahuac, Texas.

The shelter in Orange was inundated with 3 feet of water during Ike and was severely damaged. We will help them get on their feet and prepare the shelter for a high influx of stray dogs expected to arrive starting today. In the aftermath of Hurricane Rita 3 years ago, 125 animals were brought to the Animal Shelter in Orange, so we anticipate a similar amount this time around. Our work will focus on getting the basic infrastructure back up and running first and then start runs that will bring in stray animals and animals that were left behind...in homes, fenced in, or tied by their owners.

In Anahuac, the IFAW team there is working closely with Texas SART to set-up a shelter at the local Fairgrounds.  We are expecting to receive between 100 - 200 animals, as well as hundreds of livestock in need of feed.

We would also like to thank everyone who has offered to join us in Texas.  We appreciate the support.

And finally - Mufaso, the rottweiler we rescued earlier this week is currently still housed at the local shelter.  He has not yet been returned to his legal owner.  We will keep you posted if we receive any further updates.

Animal Action Week: Stop Global Warming Pledge

Scientists warn that global warming is having – or will have – a negative impact on many species of animals, including humans. Melting polar ice caused by global warming is affecting marine mammals like harp seals and polar bears. Warmer oceans will likely have negative impacts on whales and if semiarid parts of Africa where elephants live become even drier, elephants will be at greater risk.

The IFAW Stop Global Warming Pledge gives you a chance to help protect the environment. Get your friends and family to sign the pledge. (in PDF)

FREE T-Shirt
Collect 100 signatures (in PDF) for the IFAW Stop Global Warming Pledge and you will receive a FREE T-shirt. To claim your free tee, send your Climate Change Pledge forms with at least one hundred different names to: Animal Action Week Pledge, IFAW Public Affairs, 411 Main Street, Yarmouth Port, MA 02675.

About Animal Action Week

Natural and human-made disasters affect the lives of thousands of animals and people every year. This year's theme is "To the Rescue! Emergency Relief for Animals." Learn more about Animal Action Week.

Animal Action Week: Join My Animal Island

Log onto www.myanimalisland.org to become a penguin and rescue animals in distress! Sign up, create your avatar and build your own island or join a friend's. You can be part of an emergency relief operation and learn how to save animals! Get started!

Plus, Get the Zed & Zee Animal Crusade eBook

Read our exciting illustrated eBook and follow the adventures of our young animal crusading heroes Zed and Zee as they embark on a series of exciting animal rescues. Start reading now!

About Animal Action Week

Natural and human-made disasters affect the lives of thousands of animals and people every year. This year's theme is "To the Rescue! Emergency Relief for Animals." Learn more about Animal Action Week.

Animal Action Week: 'Adopt' a Penguin - It's Free!

Be a part of our campaign to rescue animals in crisis - like the African penguin, which is affected by oil spills. You can virtually 'adopt' a penguin - it's free and it's for fun only. Though you won't be adopting a live animal, of course, you will get some great stuff! In return for 'adopting' a penguin, you will receive:

• - An adoption certificate
• - A photo of your penguin
• - A cool screensaver
• - A special penguin fact sheet
• - A fun e-card to send to your friends

Get started now!

About Animal Action Week

Natural and human-made disasters affect the lives of thousands of animals and people every year. This year's theme is "To the Rescue! Emergency Relief for Animals." Learn more about Animal Action Week.

Animal Action Week: Nominate someone for an Animal Action Award

IFAW’s awards run in the USA and many other countries around the world. If you know someone who has done something outstanding for animals, you can nominate them for an award. Perhaps they’ve devoted their lives to caring for needy animals, campaigned tirelessly for animal welfare or carried out a brave rescue.

We want to recognise the work of these exceptional people, so tell us why you think they should receive this prestigious award by filling out our online form.

About Animal Action Week

Natural and human-made disasters affect the lives of thousands of animals and people every year. This year's theme is "To the Rescue! Emergency Relief for Animals." Learn more about Animal Action Week.

Animal Action Week: Get Your Free Education Pack and Video

Welcome to Animal Action Week! Natural and human-made disasters affect the lives of thousands of animals and people every year. This year's theme is "To the Rescue! Emergency Relief for Animals."

Day 1: Get Your Free Education Pack and Video

Get your school or youth group to join in. We have free thematic educational materials that are ideal for students of many ages. The middle school pack, designed especially for US students in grades 5 - 9, includes a 16-page classroom guide, DVD/video and large fullcolor calendar poster.

For elementary students, we have a Poster Guide to meet standards for grades 3 and 4. It features a teacher’s guide and reproducible student activities panels on one side and a large full-color calendar poster on the other.

View the video and download the packet 

Learn how you can prepare your family for a disaster! (in PDF)