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Gray Wolf Hunting Ended in Minnesota
A federal judge put the gray wolf back on the Endangered Species list on December 19, effectively putting a stop to "sport" hunting of wolves in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan. This decision overturned a 2011 U.S. Fish and Wildlife ruling that allowed hunting of wolves in the Great Lakes region for the first time in 40 years.
Minnesota is home to about 2,400 wolves and in the third wolf hunting season in 2014, hunters and trappers exceeded the state's killing goal of 250 wolves. In the first two hunting seasons in 2012 and 2013, hunters killed 650 wolves. Shooting and trapping of wolves disrupts a pack's social order, and over half of the wolves killed in the first year of hunting were two years old or younger. Learn more about the wolf's role in the ecosystem.
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Kitty the Hen
As more municipalities allow urban chicken keeping, more chickens are being abandoned when the responsibility of keeping them becomes too great. This is a huge problem as chickens are highly vulnerable in the wild. They are prey animals and dislike being alone and without shelter at night.
ARC Director Dallas Rising received an email about a chicken seen wandering in her neighborhood. She immediately posted the info to ARC's online activist network, and several volunteers set out to search for the chicken. Matt, his dad, and Melissa searched the first day and Dallas the following morning, and the hen was found in the afternoon by Amy and Steve. Chicken Run Rescue gave advice on how to capture and transport a chicken and using the tips from CRR, Amy and Steve were able to safely and gently capture the bird. They named her Kitty and fostered her until a permanent home was found. Kitty had horribly overgrown toenails and frostbite on her comb from being abandoned in the cold. She was very hungry and CRR recommended feeding her foods such as cooked oats, tofu, greens, tomatoes, and ample water. Amy reported that Kitty absolutely loved tomatoes and after she got her fill, she focused on grooming. Once done with that, she started cooing away and allowed her new human friends to snuggle her.
Thanks to the quick response of ARC volunteers and the advice provided by CRR, Kitty is now living out her days in peace with other rescued farmed animals and will never again be exploited for her eggs or her flesh.
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|  | Just one of the many tables filled with
great vegan food at the
Turkey-Free Potluck |
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A Flurry of Activity with 100% Chance of Helping Animals
A heartfelt thank you to everyone who donated to our animal advocacy programs in 2014. We were thrilled by the number of donors who recognized that our work is showing real results. Without your loyal and generous support ARC could not exist. You make our victories for animals possible.
We had a very strong finish to the year with ExtraVEGANza events at two Whole Foods markets featuring vegan shopping tours, food samplings, and cooking demos; a second screening of the film COWSPIRACY that sold over 100 tickets, selling out the Lagoon Theater; and our annual Turkey-Free Thanksgiving potluck which brought in over 125 people with many new faces in attendance. Our Cuddle Coats program reached a major milestone and recently sent its 600th fur donation to one of our 38 wildlife rehabilitation partners, and the fur donations to this program are showing no signs of slowing. We had demonstrations at the Shrine Circus and Ribnick Furs on Fur-Free Friday, the biggest shopping day of the year, and a great Pay Per View event at North Hennepin Community College to a diverse and interested group of students. Finishing off a year of very successful educational outreach, ARC Director Dallas Rising gave a well received talk about speciesism to 145 people as part of the Normandale College Colloquium Series.
If you meant to make a donation before the end of the year, but time got away from you, you can make a year-end donation to ARC now. We so appreciate not only your support, but also your vote of confidence in our work to save the lives of animals. With people like you on our side, we look forward to making even more of a difference for animals in 2015.
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Dedications
Thank you to those who remembered a special person or animal with a donation to ARC on Give to the Max Day or at any other time. It's a lovely way to pay tribute to someone.
To honor my Sister Vonnie Thomasberg on her birth date of 12/13/30 – Dick Ostby
Dedicated to Kenny Feldman – Stefani Tran
Dedicated to Sweet Billie Dog – Emily Rinke
In memory of Pixie a little white mouse with a big sunny spirit – Heidi Greger
Dedicated to ending the suffering of innocent animals – Beth Redwood
For past present and future animal companions – James Lenahan
In honor of Danielle Marie Anderson – Jeannie Guckeen
In honor of Roxi – Patricia Smith
To the animals I ate, used, and exploited before I was awake – Bethany Berhow
For Greg Kiefer's ongoing efforts – Joseph Kiefer
In honor of the work of Brenda Maaske-Burchfield and Melissa Maaske – Tim Tormoen
For the voiceless – Joshua Jacobson
For the animals – Anonymous
For ARC/No Pain In My Name – Anthony Bellotti
Dedicated to Adam Briesemeister – Niels Strandskov
For Humphrey – Katie Arndt
For Miki – Lilia Mannes
For Miki – Karen Mannes
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Want to Help Animals?
Join the ARC In Action meetings on Wednesdays from 7:00-8:00 pm at 317 W 48th St. in Minneapolis. You don't have to be vegetarian or vegan to participate. We'd like to get to know you, and the animals need your help. If you can't make it to a meeting, you can fill out our online volunteer form.
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ARC Booth at Minneapolis Tattoo Arts Convention
Friday, January 9-Sunday, January 11, Hyatt Regency, 1300 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis
ARC will have a booth at the Minneapolis Tattoo Arts Convention to do vegan outreach. Email chelsea@animalrightscoalition.com if you'd like to volunteer to help staff the booth.
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Free Vegan Grocery Shopping Tour at Valley Natural Foods
Saturday, January 10, 10:00 am, Valley Natural Foods, 13750 County Road 11, Burnsville
Are you newly vegan, know someone who is, or looking to expand your plant-based diet? Katie will give you simple tips for reading labels, help you discover products you may have overlooked in the past, and answer all your questions about going vegan. RSVP for this tour at Minneapolis Vegan Meetup.
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| Chipotle Fundraiser
Tuesday, January 20, 6:00 pm, Chipotle Mexican Grill, 515 Winnetka Ave. N, Golden Valley
Join us for a dineout at Chipotle and try their new vegan Braised Tofu Sofrita, which has finally made it to Minnesota, or any of their other yummy options. Chipotle will be donating a percentage of the proceeds from this dineout to ARC. RSVP at Minneapolis Vegan Meetup.
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First Annual ExtraVEGANza at Whole Foods St. Paul
Saturday, January 24, noon-3:00 pm, Whole Foods St. Paul, 30 Fairview Ave. S, St. Paul
Are you vegan, thinking about going vegan, or just want to learn more about plant-based foods? Chat about all things vegan, get your questions answered, and take a free vegan grocery shopping tour at noon or 1:30 pm. Stop at customer service to be directed to where the shopping tours start.
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Free Screening of The Cove
Monday, February 2, 6:30 pm, Minnehaha Free Space, 3747 Minnehaha Ave. S, Minneapolis
Come to a free screening of The Cove. This 2010 Oscar winner for best documentary exposes the dark secret of the small town of Taji, Japan. The film follows the director and activist Ric O'Barry as they uncover the annual dolphin and whale slaughter that takes place from September until March every year. Attend this screening if you haven't seen the film, or if you've seen it, bring someone who hasn't seen it yet. We must continue to spread awareness about this horrific practice which kills thousands of marine mammals a year and is a primary contributor to the captive aquarium industry. RSVP at Minnesota Animal Rights Meetup.
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