ANIMAL WELFARE
THE BIG CAT PUBLIC SAFETY ACT
Big Cat Public Safety Act gets major backing amid growing buzz from Netflix's Tiger King.
Diane Keaton and Louise Linton are working with Congress to gather support for the crucial bill in the wake of abuse highlighted in the controversial show.
The issues in Tiger King motivated Diane Keaton, Hollywood superstar and prominent board member of the animal rights legislative advocacy group Social Compassion in Legislation (SCIL), to take immediate action to prevent future abuse and exploitation of big cats. Keaton is being joined in her efforts by another SCIL board member, Louise Linton.
Keaton and Linton had a strategic conference call on April 6, 2020 with Congressman Mike Quigley regarding his important bill, The Big Cat Public Safety Act, HR1380, which is discussed in the Netflix Series, and has currently made it over its first hurdle in the House Natural Resources Committee. The bill would prohibit the private ownership or commerce of big cats and makes it illegal for regulated exhibitors to allow public contact with cubs. The call laid the critical foundation for Rep. Quigley and SCIL to build impactful grassroots support for the legislation in order to effectively push Congress to take action on the bill, which will be after it is able to focus on legislation unrelated to Covid-19 matters.
The grassroots support is gaining momentum due to the recent Tiger King exposure and SCIL urges people to visit their website and sign up to support the bill.
WHITE COAT
WASTE
PROJECT
Louise began working with the White Coat Waste Project in 2019 and joined their board in 2020. Her aim is to help the organization reduce the amount of tax payer dollars spent on wasteful government animal experiments. The vast majority of wasteful and cruel animal experimentation is paid for with taxpayers’ money — and without taxpayers’ approval. Tackling the problem where it originates is the best way of stopping animal experiments before they even begin. Wasteful spending on federal grants, contracts, and experiments inside the government’s own animal laboratories all contribute to the problem.
LOUISE &WCW WORK
1. Lobbied for the passage of the federal AFTER Act, a bipartisan bill to allow animals in government labs to be adopted out to loving homes or retired to sanctuaries when experiments end.
2. Urged the FDA to eliminate cruel and outdated dog testing requirements for drug makers and allow companies to use modern and human testing methods.
3. Exposed that agencies are killing healthy lab animals instead of adopting them out to taxpayers. The AFTER Act would require all federal agencies to have policies allowing lab animal retirement.
4. Worked to help expose and end cruel and outdated experiments on dogs and cats at the US Department of Veterans Affairs.
SOCIAL COMPASSION IN LEGISLATION
(SCIL)
In November, 2019 Louise joined the Board of Social Compassion in Legislation. Social Compassion In Legislation (SCIL) has been a vanguard voice sponsoring landmark legislation since our founding in 2007. Whether local, state, or federal our mission is saving and protecting animals. Social Compassion In Legislation's achievements have transcended into many other states also passing SCIL's sponsored humane laws.
LEGISLATION SCIL IS SPONSORING (CALIFORNIA)
01 Pet Microchipping
(Chang) Mandates all pets leaving a shelter – whether adopted or reclaimed by owner be microchipped. We got this done in 2019, SB 64, but the governor vetoed it, so we are redoing with his changes so he will sign in 2020.
02 Animal Blood Banks
(Wilk) Another one we got done this year, but the governor vetoed, so we are redoing with his wishes. We currently have two animal blood banks in the state, where greyhounds are caged and bled every 14 days…very cruel and to boot not working, we have a blood shortage in the state. So, our bill will open the market, so veterinarians can run blood banks and it will be more like the human model where animals can donate blood that live in homes.
03 Horse-racing Reform
(Kalra) New bill to address all the horse deaths at Santa Anita Park and beyond.
04 Mountain Lion Depredation Permits
(Maienschein) Makes it harder for a rancher to get a permit to simply kill a mountain lion for attacking one of its farm animals. Will mandate non-lethal methods be used. We are running out of mountain lions for them to kill.
05 Farm Transition Bill
(Kalra) Many farmers are stuck in the old way they have been doing business that is no longer making them money. They are depressed, have huge debts, suicides on the rise, been in the press almost weekly. This bill will help them out of the dying animal agriculture they are in and move them to emerging plant-based farming that is greatly needed for emerging market.
06 AB 485 Pet Rescue & Adoption Act
(O’Donnell) Working on amendment to our original bill signed in 2017 for enforcement purposes – this is the one you read about in OC Register. Change to the bill will make it impossible for out of state puppy mills to skirt the law.
07 AB 479 Plant Based Meals and Milk Options K-12
(Nazarian) This bill is a “two year bill” that we started at the beginning of this year 2019, it is stuck in appropriations committee needing funding, which we are working on with Governor and his staff.
08 Deforestation-Free Procurement Act
(Kalra) This bill will make it mandatory that the state of California only enter contracts for goods that come from sources that have a deforestation-free policy in place. So, for instance not buying paper or lumber that came from razing the Amazon rainforest.
09 Iconic African Species Protection Act
(Stern) This bill we original got done in 2018, but Gov. Brown vetoed because of the cost to Fish & Game for enforcement. We are doing it again, because Gov. Newsom is stronger on these issues. What it does is make it illegal to possess body parts of endangered species from Africa (i.e. trophy hunting – head of a lion, etc.).
VIVA GLOBAL RESCUE
Saving lives four hooves at a time
The Louise Linton Charitable Fund has donated to fund the rescue and care of neglected and abused horses at Viva Global Rescue.
Viva's two founders, Kalli Quigg and Maya Benperlas, at the tender age of only 19, have rescued over 1100+ animals together-run this rescue group with the incredible help of their amazing team of regular and part-time volunteers committed to helping the animals. VIVA also works with disaster response teams in the Southern California fires to provide a comprehensive network and system of dispatchers, volunteers, trucks and trailers to get hundreds and thousands of animals to safety. Along with our partners we have participated in a few hundred equine and small animal rescues in the Woolsey fire - Nov. of 2018, the Ridgecrest and Trona quakes and the Easy fire of 2019.
Louise joined Viva's Advisory Board in 2020.
WILD AID
We believe that when the buying stops,
the killing can too.
The illegal wildlife trade is a multi-billion dollar global industry largely driven by consumer demand in expanding economies. While most wildlife conservation groups focus on scientific studies and anti-poaching efforts, WildAid works to reduce global consumption of wildlife products and to increase local support for conservation efforts. They also work with governments and partners to protect fragile marine reserves from illegal fishing and shark finning, to enhance public and political will for anti-poaching efforts, and to reduce climate change impacts.
BORN FREE
Envisioning a co-existent future where humans no longer exploit wild animals.
On September 17th, 2019, Louise Linton hosted a fundraiser to celebrate Born Free’s work at their 186-acre sanctuary in Texas. It’s the largest primate sanctuary in the US and home to more than 500 monkeys, many of whom were rescued from abuse or neglect. We raised approximately $80,000 over the evening. Louise joined Born Free’s expert Honorary Council in 2020.
"Primates are sentient, emotional and intelligent. They exhibit some uniquely human aspects of social cognition… the capacity to feel, perceive, and to experience love, loyalty, and pain - just as we do. Born Free works in the US and internationally to end animal cruelty and protect threatened wildlife. Born Free’s Primate Sanctuary exists to give their rescues the highest possible standard of care, allowing them to live happier, more natural lives in the company of other primates.” - Louise Linton
SPACE FOR GIANTS
A secure future for elephants and their landscapes forever
Louise joined The Giants Club in 2018. The Giants Club is an initiative of Space for Giants that gives us the real political, financial and technical muscle to get our work done. It unites sitting or former Heads of State of the four countries that hold half of Africa’s remaining elephants: Botswana, Gabon, Kenya, and Uganda. Its initial goal is to protect half of Africa’s elephants, and it is already looking beyond that to long-term threats.
PRECIOUS PALS PET RESCUE
Precious Pals Pet Rescue is dedicated to rescuing, rehabilitating and re-homing animals from high-kill shelters throughout Southern California. Their main focus is rescuing abandoned and neglected animals with medical needs. The Louise Linton Charitable Fund wrote a grant in March 2020 to rescue and rehabilitate “Daisy”.
MUTT MATCH LA
Louise met Mutt match founder, Sheilah Aragon in 2008 and continues to support her life saving work in 2020. In the course of this long friendship and partnership focused on dog rescue, Louise has donated tens of thousands of dollars to cover the charities needs. In 2019 LLCF purchased a school bus for Mutt Match LA and financed the conversion of the school bus into a mobile adoption unit and treat truck. In 2019 LLLCF purchased a new transport vehicle for the animals to be shuttled from shelters to vets and adoptions. This transport vehicle replaced the one Louise fundraised for and acquired for Mutt Match back in 2012.
Louise is on the Mutt Match board, but also participates on the ground level, collecting and pulling dogs from LA kill shelters, bringing them home, paying for their medical care and treatment and finding them new homes. She rescued and fostered four dogs in the fall of 2019. A blind dog named Penelope, a three-legged dog named Snow, and geriatric dog named Old Baby and Lily.
OL JOGI, KENYA
Ol Jogi is a 60,000 acre wildlife conservation in Kenya that rescues and rehabilitates many species of wild animals including rhinos, elephants, giraffes and zebras. In 2015, Louise bought a lifelong sponsorship for a black rhino orphan she named Zawadi (Swahili for Gift).
PETA
.
Louise has been a passionate advocate of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals since 2005. In 2019, Louise worked for six months in partnership with Peta on the release of a Black Asiatic Bear named Dillan that was languishing at the Sportsmen’s Lodge in Millmont, PA. Thanks to their tireless work, and to the USDA and APHIS, Dillan the Bear was finally confiscated and sent to live out the rest of his life at the Wild Animal Sanctuary in Colorado. In 2019, Louise joined Peta's Vanguard Society.
I STAND WITH MY PACK
I Stand With My Pack is a non-profit organization providing global assistance to save the lives of animals and prevent suffering and cruelty. ISWMP’s domestic efforts focus on the successful removal of dogs from LA city and county as well as other parts of California high risk kill shelters, assisting them through the rehabilitative process and successfully placing them in their forever homes.
THE PAWERFUL RESCUE
The PAWerful Rescue is a 501c(3) that rehabilitates and re-homes rescue dogs. On January 7th, 2020, The Louise Linton Charitable Fund issued a grant to PAWerful Rescue to pay the medical and rehabilitation bills for a Pit Bull Mix rescued from an LA Kill Shelter who had sustained horrific injuries from dog fighting.
@thepawerfulrescue
MUTT SCOUTS
Mutt Scouts is a Los Angeles based dog rescue where they believe that every mutt deserves a second chance. Mutt Scouts is dedicated to saving all dogs regardless of size, age, breed, or needs. They strive to find a safe and loving home for every mutt they rescue.
THE GENTLE BARN
The Gentle Barn works to stand up for the innocent, and help animals and children alike to remember that they matter. The goal is to raise future generations to have reverence for all life, protect our planet, live good healthy, happy lives, and create an atmosphere that brings us all closer to having peace on earth.
FARM SANCTUARY
Farm Sanctuary is an American animal protection organization, founded in 1986 as an advocate for farmed animals. It was America's first shelter for farmed animals. It promotes laws and policies that support animal welfare, animal protection, and veganism through rescue, education, and advocacy.
THE HUMANE SOCIETY OF THE US
The Humane Society of the United States is an American nonprofit organization that focuses on animal welfare and opposes animal-related cruelties of national scope. This 501(c) organization is working to end puppy mills, factory farms, trophy hunts, animal testing and other cruel industries in order to promote a humane society.
FRIENDS OF FERDINAND
Friends of Ferdinand, Inc. is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, and currently the only Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance accredited organization in Indiana. They are dedicated to preventing thoroughbreds from joining the slaughter pipeline, matching the right rider with the right horse, and rehabilitating the horsese so they are healthy and happy.
GOATS OF ANARCHY
It is the mission of Goats of Anarchy, Inc. to rescue, rehabilitate and provide a forever home to sick, injured and permanently disabled goats, while educating the public about animal welfare and the vegan lifestyle. Goats of Anarchy Inc. is headquartered in Annandale, NJ, and is a 501(c)(3) organization.
BALI ANIMAL WELFARE ASSOCIATION
The Bali Animal Welfare Association (BAWA) is a non-profit organization working to save, protect and improve the lives of all animals in Bali and beyond. BAWA directly relieves the suffering of animals by providing emergency response and rescue, food and medication, rehabilitation and adoption.
SOI DOG FOUNDATION THAILAND
Soi Dog Foundation (Soi Dog) was established in 2003 in Phuket, Thailand, to help the street dogs and cats who had no-one else to care for them. Over 70,000 strays roamed the island, with the numbers growing alarmingly due to a lack of spay and neuter programmes to control the population. Soi Dog was created to provide a humane and sustainable solution to managing the stray population and to address their medical needs. Funding then, as it does now, came entirely from individuals who shared, and continue to share, the vision of the founders.
START ANIMAL RESCUE
It is the mission of S.T.A.R.T to prevent cruelty, promote spay/neuter, and to encourage awareness through education, while also teaching respect for all animals and the environment they live in. S.T.A.R.T. is a 501 (c)(3) private non-profit organization that rescues stray, abandoned, injured, and abused kittens, puppies, cats, and dogs.
DALLAS DOGS RRR
Dallas Dog Rescue Rehab Reform rescues abandoned dogs straight off the streets and rescues dogs who are set to be euthanized from high-kill shelters.
SECOND CHANCE RESCUE
Second Chance Dog Rescue is one of San Diego’s largest non-profit 501(c)3 organizations dedicated to saving homeless dogs. Second Chance Dog Rescue is focused on re-homing the dogs in the perfeect homes.
ALL HANDS AND HEARTS VOLUNTEER
All Hands and Hearts is a U.S. 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that is a volunteer-powered disaster relief organization which addresses the immediate and long-term needs of communities impacted by natural disasters.
AUSTIN PETS ALIVE!
Austin Pets Alive! pioneers comprehensive, innovative programs designed to save the animals most at risk for euthanasia.
TALL TAILS RESCUE
Tall Tails Rescue is a 501 (c) 3 nonprofit organization dedicated to serving the dogs of the City of Wagoner. They assist dogs in distress of any age or breed, to the extent that our finances will allow. They also volunteer hours a day at the city shelter working to rehabilitate the abused and injured dogs.
THE LA COUNTY POLICE CANINE ASSOCIATION
The purpose of the LACPCA is to unite, in a common cause, all law enforcement agencies in Los Angeles County utilizing the services of the canine as an aid in the prevention and detection of crime, to promote friendship and brotherhood among those interested in the training and utilization of the canine in police work.