IN BRIEF WSPA NEWS | ISSUE 2 NEWS Campaigns 2008 Working to end the suffering endured by the millions of animals involved in long distance transport, stopping the cruelty of whaling and achieving a ban on the barbaric ‘tradition’ of bullfighting are just a few of the campaigns that we’d like your help with in 2008. These campaigns and many more will be featured in our campaign fundraising appeal which will be launched later this month. To find out more about WSPA’s campaigns for 2008 visit: www.wspa.org.uk Focus on whales With the 60th annual meeting of the (IWC) International Whaling Commission approaching, a new WSPA campaign will pressure the IWC to discuss how to protect and enjoy whales. We believe that instead of debating hunting bans and kill quotas, the IWC should protect whales from the threats they face and encourage a sustainable whale watching industry which would help people understand how these creatures live. Only around five percent of last year’s IWC meeting focussed on what countries can do to protect endangered whales. You can help Please add your name to the letter on our website addressed to IWC Commissioners. Ask them to change the focus of the IWC to reflect that the most humane and economically important use of whales in the 21st century is watching, not hunting. We’ll send the letter to them with details of how many people have signed it around the world. To sign the letter please visit: www.wspa.org.uk/whales Our battle against the cruel practice of farming bears for their bile in Asia has received a fantastic boost from the Calvin Ayre Foundation, set up by Canadian billionaire and philanthropist Calvin Ayre. “We’re happy to be teaming up with WSPA – one of the most well-known animal protection organisations in the world,” said Mr Ayre. “This will be a joint effort to raise the level of international awareness about the intensely cruel practice of bear farming.” Thousands of bears are kept in appalling conditions in China, Korea and Vietnam – in cages no bigger than a telephone box – and are subjected to the severe pain of daily bile extractions. Their bile is believed by some to have medicinal qualities and is used to produce some Traditional Asian Medicines. Key Support The Foundation’s financial support will help us campaign even harder to stamp out this cruel practice. For more information on the Calvin Ayre Foundation, visit High profile: Campaigning against the long distance transport of farm animals for slaughter will be high on WSPA’s agenda in 2008 www.calvinayrefoundation.com Boost for farmed bears Bullfight ban for Spanish TV Our campaign against bullfighting received a major boost from Spanish state television when broadcaster TVE announced that it will not show bullfighting during the day and early evening while children could be watching. The move is a response to new Spanish regulations which call on broadcasters to avoid showing children behaviour that is dangerous to their health and explicitly violent scenes. Throughout 2008 we will be working closely with our member society the Asociación Defensa Derechos Animal (ADD A) to achieve a total ban on bullfighting in Catalonia. There is currently a bill before the Catalan parliament calling for a ban and 45 towns in the region have already declared themselves antibullfighting. Campaign success: Bullfighting is banned from Spanish TV when children could be watching You can help To support WSPA’s work in this campaign, sign our petition for a ban on bullfighting in Catalonia at: http://www.wspa-international.org/pet_bullfighting.asp Also, please encourage your friends and families not to attend bullfights. Raffle wins for bears A big thank you to everyone who responded to our raffle and urgent appeal to raise funds to save the dancing bears of India from their lives of cruelty. An incredible £353,664 was raised – more details in the next WSPA News. © Dexter Quinto Calvin Ayre: Takes action for bears

FEATURE Neglected, suffering from disease and often feared by people – the life of a Colombo stray dog is far from easy – but this is changing thanks to your wonderful response to our recent appeal…. More than 2.2 million people live in the hot and bustling streets of Colombo. They share Sri Lanka’s capital with thousands of dogs who face a daily struggle for survival. Many are starving, carrying diseases including mange and distemper. And always, hovering over both humans and dogs, is the threat of rabies. But the future is looking brighter; WSPA supporters have brought hope to the dogs and people that live in the poorest parts of the city. By responding to our Christmas appeal you have helped to raise a fantastic £155,000 – ensuring 2007’s pilot project can continue. Thanks to you, WSPA will continue working with our member society – Blue Paw Trust – and the Colombo Municipality Pound, to protect dogs now and into the future. Community action Building trust in new areas takes time, but the local community has been very responsive. The two WSPA-funded mobile clinics have already performed almost 400 sterilisations and vaccinations in just six months. Some of this work has been in Mattakuliya – a community typical of where help is needed most. Mattakuliya is home to some of Colombo’s dumps – where dogs, cats, chickens and goats scratch around on piles of rubbish around 40 feet high. In such desperately poor areas, animal welfare is not a priority. Even so, residents line up eagerly at the mobile clinics to get dogs the care and attention they need. Some have had their animals neutered and vaccinated in the past by the Blue Paw Trust and are keen to seek advice on other welfare issues. One old lady in Mattakulyia came over as soon as she saw the Blue Paw Trust T-shirts, knowing she could get help for her neutered dog which had developed a painful limp. Thanks to you… HOPE FOR COLOMBO’S STRAYS WSPA NEWS | ISSUE 2 Street life: The pavement is home for these stray