1st Annual Washington DC Week for the Animals to be Celebrated May 30-June 7, 2009!

DC Week for the Animals is an exciting metrowide event created to celebrate and joyfully build awareness for the animals.


(Washington, DC) Animal World USA is pleased to announce exciting news about the 1st Annual Washington DC Week for the Animals, which will kick off Saturday, May 30th and run through Sunday, June 7th, 2009. The metrowide celebration is designed to celebrate and recognize the unique and life-changing role that animals play in the lives of citizens through all walks of life. The week will bring underscore community spirit as people come together on behalf of the animals across the entire region of our nation's capital.

Beginning on the kickoff day of Saturday, May 30, 2009 Washington DC Week for the Animals will be bringing together educators, animal shelters, humane organizations, sanctuaries, zoos, businesses, students, musicians, artists, community leaders, decision makers and caring citizens in an action-packed compassionate week of community activities for the animals in an unprecedented manner!

This extraordinary week will feature fun-filled pet adoption events and festivals , sweet pet therapy in hospitals and nursing homes, a salute to animals in law enforcement and the military, creative school and art displays and activities, library story-telling and R.E.A.D. dog activities, blessings of the animals, law seminar event, farm animal events, book signings, art exhibits, musical concerts, film documentaries, low cost spay and neuter events, walk for animals and much much more! These events will shine the spotlight on the amazing animals and compassionate people across the DC region who love them and work tirelessly on their behalf.

Precious lives will be saved and communities transformed during this incredible week. Organizers expect 1st Annual Washington, DC Week for the Animals to build new relationships for the animals and people will come together for the greater good across the metrowide region of Washington, DC in a history-making manner. If you would like to learn more, please call 866-376-6123 or 877-454-0807. Visit the official website for complete contact and event information at http://www.dcanimals.org/

Learn more about Animal World USA Weeks for the Animals campaign at http://www.weeksfortheanimals.org/

Governor Bev Perdue Proclaims 2nd Annual North Carolina Week for the Animals May 2-10, 2009!

North Carolina Week for the Animals is an exciting statewide event created to celebrate and joyfully build awareness for the animals.

(Raleigh, North Carolina) Animal World USA is pleased to announce that Governor Bev Perdue has graciously proclaimed 2nd Annual North Carolina Week for the Animals Saturday, May 2- Sunday, May 10, 2009. The special week will highlight the importance that animals play in our lives and bring communities together on behalf of the animals throughout the great state of North Carolina.

This statewide event is designed to celebrate and build awareness on behalf of all animals, as well as, recognize the organizations and citizens who support them. The NC Week for the Animals is bringing together educators, animal shelters, rescue organizations, sanctuaries, businesses, students, musicians, artists, pastors, community leaders, and caring citizens in an exciting week of community-building activities.

The fun-filled week will feature awesome pet adoption festivals and events, pet therapy in hospitals, school/art displays and activities, kid’s art day, birdhouse making activites, library story-telling and R.E.A.D. dog activities, blessings of the animals at shelters and parks, concerts, book signings, special Animal World USA magazine to celebrate the week, low cost spay and neuter opportunities, meet and greet events, special animal law seminar, pet therapy in over 40 classrooms including special needs students, salute to Ft. Bragg K-9’s and much more! All these events will shine the spotlight on the amazing animals and compassionate people of North Carolina who love these mystical creatures.

Precious lives which will be saved and communities will be transformed during this week through a wide variety of animal-related events and activities. Special events are being scheduled and can be viewed on the website calendar, and more are being added regularly. We encourage all North Carolinians to become involved and create an event for the animals in your community. If you would like to learn more, become involved, collectively organize an event or list an event, please call 877-454-0807 or visit the official website for complete contact and information at http://ncanimals.org/

Governor Jack Markell Officially Proclaims 2nd Annual Delaware Week for the Animals April 18-26, 2009!

(Dover, DE, April 18, 2009) Animal World USA is pleased to announce that Delaware Governor Jack Markell has officially declared 2nd Annual Delaware Week for the Animals April 18-26, 2009. The special week will kick off Saturday, April 18th and will highlight the importance that animals play in our lives and bring communities together on behalf of the animals throughout the great state of Delaware. Over 75 events are scheduled throughout the week.

This second year statewide event is designed to celebrate and build awareness on behalf of all animals, as well as recognize the organizations and citizens who support them. Delaware Week for the Animals is bringing together animal shelters, rescue organizations, sanctuaries, businesses, students, musicians, artists, educators, community leaders, and caring citizens in an exciting week of community-building activities.

The fun-filled week will feature awesome life-saving pet adoption festivals and events, student artwork saluting the Dover Air Force Base working K-9’s and handlers, pet therapy in nursing homes and hospitals, special art exhibit, library and R.E.A.D. dog activities, blessing of the animals, student pet essays, low cost spay and neuter events, farm events, motorcycle ride for the animals, zoo events, feral cat free spay day, Earth Day special events, special law seminar at Widener University, pet food drives, music events, restaurant benefits for the shelters and much more! All these events will shine the spotlight on the amazing animals and the truly compassionate people who love them.

Precious lives which will be saved and communities will be transformed during this week with a wide variety of exciting animal-related events and activities. A list of events are scheduled on the website calendar, and more are being added daily. If you would like to learn more, become involved or schedule an event, please call
866-376-6123 or visit the official website at http://www.delawareanimals.org/

Governor Bobby Jindal Officially Proclaims 1st Annual Louisiana Week for the Animals March 21-29, 2009!

(New Orleans, LA) Animal World USA is pleased to announce that Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal has officially declared 1st Louisiana Week for the Animals Saturday, March 21- Sunday, March 29, 2009. The special week will kick off Saturday, March 21 and will highlight the importance that animals play in our lives and bring communities together on behalf of the animals throughout the great state of Louisiana.

This first statewide event is designed to celebrate and build awareness on behalf of all animals, as well as, recognize the organizations and citizens who support them. The LA Week for the Animals is bringing together animal shelters, rescue organizations, sanctuaries, businesses, students, musicians, artists, educators, community leaders, and caring citizens in an exciting week of community-building activities.

The fun-filled week will feature awesome pet adoption festivals and events, pet therapy in hospitals, school/art displays and activities, library story-telling and R.E.A.D. dog activities, blessings of the animals, book signing by the famed “Blue Dog” LA artist George Rodrigue, low cost spay and neuter events, EarthFest, special law seminar at Tulane University and much more! All these events will shine the spotlight on the amazing animals and compassionate people who love them.

Precious lives which will be saved and communities will be transformed during this week with a wide variety of animal-related events and activities. A list of events are scheduled on the website calendar, and more are being added daily.If you would like to learn more, become involved or schedule an event, please call 877-454-0807 or visit the official website at http://www.louisianaanimals.org/

Congressional Animal Protection Caucus is Formed!

U.S. House of Representatives Press Release

Moran and Gallegly to Co-Chair Congressional Animal Protection Caucus

WASHINGTON, D.C., February 18, 2009 – Reps. Jim Moran (D-VA) and Elton Gallegly (R-CA) announced today that they will co-chair the newly formed “Congressional Animal Protection Caucus (CAPC),” a bipartisan organization committed to raising awareness of animal welfare issues in Congress. CAPC replaces the Friends of Animals Caucus that existed in previous Congresses.

Through non-partisan forums and briefings, CAPC will seek to highlight important issues affecting animals and upcoming animal welfare legislation. CAPC will also track the progress of relevant legislation, provide members of Congress with dependable information, and attempt to build broad coalitions in support of common-sense, humane animal welfare laws.

In the 110th Congress, the caucus was instrumental in the passing tougher animal fighting legislation, and tightening animal welfare regulations in the 2008 Farm Bill. Priorities for the 111th Congress include legislation banning the slaughter of horses, stronger regulations on Internet sales of puppies, and legislation requiring accurate labels on all fur products.

Rep. Moran stated, “Animals are sensate beings that deserve to be treated with respect and dignity. I look forward to building a consensus among my colleagues in support of sensible animal welfare laws that reflect our common values. Protecting animals from cruel treatment is not a partisan issue.”

“Animal cruelty has no place in a civilized society,” Rep. Gallegly said. “Other crimes often go hand-in-hand with animal fighting, including illegal gambling, drug trafficking and acts of human violence. Virtually every arrest for animal cruelty has also led to additional arrests for at least one of these criminal activities.”

"The American public is united in its belief that all animals deserve humane treatment," said Wayne Pacelle, President and CEO of The Humane Society of the United States. "The newly constituted Congressional Animal Protection Caucus will help better align our federal policies with public opinion, and we are excited to work closely with its leaders and with the entire Congress to combat cruelty and abuse."


Austin J. Durrer
Deputy AA/Communications Director
Office of Rep. Jim Moran (VA-08)
2239 RHOB
Washington D.C. 20515
202-225-4376
(c) 202-957-6075

Governor Charlie Crist Officially Proclaims 1st Annual Florida Week for the Animals

February 7-15, 2009!

Florida Week for the Animals is an exciting statewide event created to celebrate and build awareness for the animals.

(Tallahassee, Florida) Animal World USA is pleased to announce the 1st Florida Week for the Animals, to be held from Saturday, February 7- Sunday, February 15, 2009 has been officially proclaimed by Governor Charlie Crist. The special week which will kick off Saturday, February 7th will highlight the importance that animals play in our lives and bring communities together on behalf of the animals throughout the state of Florida.

This first statewide event is designed to celebrate and build awareness on behalf of all animals, as well as, recognize the organizations and citizens who support them. Florida Week for the Animals is bringing together animal shelters, rescue organizations, sanctuaries, businesses, students, musicians, artists, educators, community leaders, and caring citizens in an exciting week of community-building activities.

The fun-filled week will feature pet adoption events, pet therapy in hospitals, a salute to animals in law enforcement and the military, school/art displays and activities, R.E.A.D. dogs in libraries, blessings of the animals, golf outings, art exhibits, low cost spay and neuter events, walks for animals and much more! All these events will shine the spotlight on the amazing animals and compassionate people who love them.

Precious lives which will be saved and communities will be transformed in this week with the variety of animal-related activities and events. Over eighty events are scheduled on the website calendar, and more are being added daily. Animal World USA Weeks for the Animals campaign is kicking off 2009 with Florida, and the Weeks for the Animals National Campaign Manager Patricia Haddock says, “We are overwhelmed at the response Florida has demonstrated in coming together for the greater good. We are very grateful for Governor Crist for proclaiming the week which lends added significance.”

If you would like to learn more, be involved or schedule an event, please call 877-454-0807 or visit the official website at http://www.floridaanimalweek.com/

The Ancient Bond Between Animals and Humans...

In a world changing faster by the minute there is one thing that has not changed, and that is the sweet sound of a bird singing, or an elk bugling, or a dog barking in wild exuberance as it races off on a journey of delightful exploration. While humans have always looked to the natural world for peace and serenity, the other beings that share our planet in such a myriad, magical variety, have a deeper message for us that we really need to hear if we are to heal ourselves and our world.

We look at a butterfly, or a bluebird, and we think, oh, how lovely. But all we see most of the time is the outer shape, the outer form. We don't touch the essence behind the form. We say, 'Oh, there's a pretty butterfly,' and we move on to the next thing. Yet if we were to pause and open our heart and really feel the being that is parading before us in the cool disguise we call a butterfly, or a robin, or redwood, or a flower, it would change our life.

We would realize in an instant, and in the very marrow of our soul, that all life is one. We would know, without need for any further enlightenment from other wise humans, that we share a bond with animals and with nature that is irreversible and that can bring us serenity and comfort in difficult times such as face us now.

William Blake spoke of seeing the world in a grain of sand, or heaven in a wild flower. Even in these dark times, there is some real good news crying out to be heard by the ears of all of us. All we have to do is open those ears, the "inner ear" so to speak of the soul, and we will hear the song the universe is singing.

The oneness, and abiding harmony that bind the atoms of creation--as far as the eye can see, and further into the infinity of space--is not really hidden. It's just that for the most part we are so busy and preoccupied with day to day affairs that we do not notice. We all have that inner ear--that inner eye--whereby we too may experience immediately and intimately a moment of insight into the mystery and beauty that so arrested the poet, William Blake.

There was nothing special about Blake, or any other wise or holy person that ever lived, that is not also true of us. We all are special. We all come from the same heavenly realms. We all have the same birthright. We all have the same equipment. We are part of a mysterious and wonderful creation, and animals, even the simplest, most overlooked creature, can remind us of that. They are our kin--and have been our kin for a long, long time. Even more importantly, we have something important to offer to the creatures of this world.

If we think we are vulnerable, how about them? Low down on the totem pole, for sure. Good day, brother fish. Good day, sister antelope. Good day, all you wild creatures that share this earthly home with me. Much love to you, and may the bond between us continue forever.

By Christopher Foster

Born in 1932 in London, England, Christopher Foster started work as a reporter on a South London weekly newspaper at age 17, following in the steps of his father, a longtime British journalist. At age 18 he left home to see the world. He lived for two years in Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) and worked as a laborer and reporter in New Zealand before returning home to the UK. After a two year spell as a reporter with the London Daily Express, Foster emigrated to Canada in 1955. A longtime spiritual search led him to a spiritual community in 100 Mile House, British Columbia, known as The Emissaries, where he lived for over 30 years.

During this time he was editor of the local weekly newspaper and later initiated a worldwide newsletter named Integrity which took him and his first wife, Joy, on travels all over the world.In 1984 Foster wrote his first book, a novel entitled Bearers of the Sun. He followed this with a biography, two books of poems, and a second novel, Winds Across the Sky.

His latest book, The Raven Who Spoke With God, is a story of a young raven who overcomes grief and fear as he pursues his dream to be a friend and ally to humankind. "Buoyant as the air through which the birds soar, the story lifts the heart and carries it, dancing lightly, all the way through to the end," said NAPRA ReView. "This is a book you will read and then instantly think of ten friends to whom it must be lent." Bob Spear, at Heartland Reviews, has recommended The Raven, saying, "It reminded me of Jonathan Livingston Seagull in the Rockies."

Posted by Michelle Buckalew, Animal World USA editor