years “Be Kind to Animals Kid” Grows Up Call Off the Dogs: Working to End Dogfighting Families: Creating Solutions to the Problems Within Turner Classic Movies Animal Filmfest American Humane Protecting Children & Animals Since 1877 Spring 2007 The National Humane Review Volume 6, Number 1 The National Humane Review is published quarterly for professional members, donors and supporters of American Humane. It is distributed via mail and e-mail, and is available online at www.americanhumane.org. President & CEO Marie Belew Wheatley Vice President, Marketing & Communications Randy Blauvelt Publications & Project Manager Teresa Zeigler American Humane May 6-12, 2007 Managing Editor Steve Nayowith Be Kind to Animals Week® is just Contributing Writers Ann Ahlers, Phil Arkow, Michael Blimes, Jone Bouman, a reminder to be kind... Lara Bruce, Tracy Coppola, Anita Horner, Cheryl Kearney, Karen Kessen, Lisa Merkel-Holguin, Heidi Oberman, to Animals, Phil Pierson, Alyson Plummer, Karen Rosa, to Children, Leslie Wilmot, Delise Wyrick to Each Other, Every Day. American Humane Protecting Children & Animals Since 1877 Since 1877, American Humane has been celebrating the The mission of American Humane, as a network of unique bond between humans and animals. This year, individuals and organizations, is to prevent cruelty, American Humane continues this tradition May 6-12, 2007 abuse, neglect and exploitation of children and during Be Kind to Animals Week. animals and to assure that their interests and well- Be a part of the celebration! being are fully, effectively, and humanely guaranteed by an aware and caring society. Visit www.americanhumane.org for more information. American Humane Association 63 Inverness Drive East Denver, CO 80112 (800) 227-4645 Fax: (303) 792-5333 www.americanhumane.org Printed on recycled paper with soy-based ink. Table of Contents “Be Kind to Animals Kid” Grows Up ..............4 Call off the Dogs: Working to end Dogfighting..........................6 Families: Creating Solutions to the Problems Within ............................................8 Turner Classic Movies Animal Filmfest ....10 Social Capital ..............................................12 Humane Philanthropy ..................................14 Snowbound – Animal Emergency Services Response ......................................................15 2 The National Humane Review www.americanhumane.org Message from the President Dear Friends, The new year is still young, but it is already shaping up to be a very important and historic one for American Humane. In addition to celebrating our 130th anniversary — an occasion that we are proud to have reached with your continued support — we have been blessed with some wonderful developments that will have lasting, positive effects for American Humane and the children and animals we are dedicated to protecting. In December, American Humane received the largest individual gift in the organization’s history — a $34 million bequest from the estate of Mr. H. Guy Di Stefano, of Santa Barbara, Calif. American Humane’s staff, board of directors and volunteers would like to express their deepest gratitude and appreciation to the Di Stefano family. Although we cannot thank Mr. Di Stefano in person, we can and will honor his memory, his generosity and his kindness through our accomplishments in the months and years ahead. In February, we witnessed another stunning outpouring of generosity, this time from tens of thousands of people who responded to a fundraising challenge spurred by The PEDIGREE® Adoption Drive. PEDIGREE® Food for Dogs offered a gift-matching challenge to donors, committing to a total donation of up to $250,000 to American Humane. The fundraising campaign gained valuable publicity during the nationally televised Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, thanks to the PEDIGREE® advertisements that encouraged viewers to donate to American Humane to help shelter dogs. As a result, in just one week’s time, American Humane received more than $1 million in donations — many from new supporters. Together, the ongoing generous gifts from our long-time supporters and these considerable new funds will enable American Humane to take a major step forward. Our strategic plan calls for measured but accelerated actions that build upon the renewed progress we have been making over the past several years. We have already begun intensifying our efforts and increasing the degree of support for our vital programs and initiatives. And, as always, we will use every donation responsibly and efficiently to fulfill our mission. Leading our board of directors at this exciting time for our organization is a new chairman, David Gies, who had the pleasure of representing American Humane at the Westminster Dog Show. David is the executive director of the Animal Assistance Foundation, and he has served on American Humane’s board of directors for the past three years. He succeeds John Nobil, our previous chairman. Please join me in congratulating David and thanking John for his years of devoted service. As we look back on American Humane’s history during this special anniversary, I hope you share our pride in all that we have accomplished since 1877. It has been possible only through the kindness of generation after generation of dedicated supporters like you. And as we move further into our 130th year, and well beyond, I also hope you will share our enthusiasm about the opportunities ahead of us — new opportunities for advancing humane values as, together, we continue to build a more aware and caring society. Sincerely, Marie Belew Wheatley President and Chief Executive Officer years The National Humane Review 3 American Humane “Be Kind to Animals Kid” Grows Up 10 Years Later, Contest Winner Is Still Devoted To Helping Animals When a child’s glimmering dreams meet cold reality, too often those dreams are quickly extinguished. But for Shanin Leeming, the winner of American Humane’s 1997 Be Kind to Animals Kid Contest™, when her dreams met reality — they were ignited! Today, Shanin is as busy as ever helping animals. And she is charting a career path that will enable her to help them even more in the years ahead. As the national contest winner, 13-year-old At the time of the contest, Shanin’s mother wrote a letter Shanin received an assortment of sponsored prizes and a to American Humane that stated, “Be assured that Shanin trip to Hollywood, including close encounters with film will continue to be a Be Kind to Animals Kid.” Sure and TV stars, both human and animal. But what made the enough, 10 years later, Shanin is grown up, but her Be biggest impression on her (besides meeting Beethoven, Kind to Animals spirit is still growing. the Saint Bernard of movie fame)? Saving One Animal at a Time “One of the best things that came from winning American Today, Shanin serves on the board of directors of Humane’s contest was that I got to meet so many adults PetsConnect! Inc., a not-for-profit, all-volunteer who made a career out of the thing that they loved — organization in the South Bend, Ind., area that works with caring for animals,” recalls Shanin, now married and a shelters to treat, foster and place animals in forever first-year law student at the University of Notre Dame. homes. With loving support from her husband, Judah, “That was inspirational for me. I felt like it showed me you Shanin continues fostering animals and training guide could make that your life. It was a very pivotal experience dogs. (At the couple’s wedding last year, a guide dog in my deciding to make a career out of helping animals.” Shanin trained was their ring-bearer!) In the past 18 From Pigeons to Puppies months, she has fostered Animals became an “One of the best things that came from dozens of animals, important part of Shanin’s winning...was that I got to meet so many adults including many requiring life at an early age. At 3, special attention — in she found an injured who made a career out of ...caring for animals” spite of the demands of pigeon and asked her her law-school studies. mother if they could help it. Although the bird died soon Somehow she manages to fit it all into her daily schedule. after, Shanin’s “career” of caring for animals had just been “That’s what I love to do — taking care of animals. I don’t born. think of it in terms of time,” she says. When she turned 8, Shanin chose a trip to the local Though never having received formal training in how to animal shelter as her birthday present — not to pick out a care for animals, Shanin learned a great deal from her puppy or kitten, but to present herself as a volunteer. years of volunteering, as well as from “shadowing” a Shanin’s commitment was impressive, and she became veterinarian when she was about 13 years old. Even now, the youngest volunteer at the Central Brevard Humane she says, “I feel like I’m learning every day.” Society in Cocoa, Fla. For years, she spent her free time Her work with shelters has given her an appreciation for a and weekends there. By age 11, she began to foster critical issue: too many animals and not enough space or animals and train guide dogs for the blind. resources to care for them all. As a result, Shanin is a 4 The National Humane Review www.americanhumane.org strong advocate for spay/neuter programs to stop pet Shanin is studying public interest law so she can become overpopulation. And, in spite of the sad reality that, each an even stronger advocate for animals. “I feel that law is year, millions of animals in shelters nationwide will not proactive. You can change things on a larger scale,” she find a home, she stays positive and focused on her says. “I’d also like to work on animal-cruelty cases.” But personal mission.