R.I.P Pat Derby – Co-founder PAWS – US Sanctuary For Performing Animals Especially Elephants

“It is with much heartache that I post the following information!”

” R.I.P –  Pat Derby – June 7th 1943 – 15 February 2013 – PAWS Sanctuary”

“My condolences to all her family & friends. I’m sure  the animals, who’s home became the ARK…will greatly miss her too…especially the elephants!”

Published: Sunday, Feb. 17, 2013 – 12:00 am | 

During her early career in Hollywood, Pat Derby tamed tigers and coached cougars. After a breakthrough book, she co-founded a world- renowned sanctuary and proved to be circus elephants’ best friend.

Derby, 69, died Friday night at her San Andreas home at ARK 2000, a 2,300acre refuge she created for elephants, tigers and other exotic animals – most of them circus or movie veterans.

The animal trainer turned activist had been diagnosed with throat cancer in July 2010. After remission, the cancer returned last fall, but Derby kept her illness private.

Ed Stewart, her partner for 37 years and co-founder of the Performing Animal Welfare Society, was by her side.

Derby served as PAWS president and tireless advocate. PAWS will continue under Stewart’s leadership, according to an official statement from the nonprofit organization.

A celebration of Derby’s life will be held at a later date.

“Pat Derby was a partner, leader, mentor, teacher and friend,” the statement added. “She was the first to champion the cause of performing animals, and today, because of her tireless work and fierce determination, most animal protection organizations now have captive wildlife programs that address the issues of performing animals.”

More than 36 years ago, Derby began her crusade while working with captive wildlife as a Hollywood animal trainer. She handled Chauncey and Christopher, Lincoln Mercury‘s famous “Sign of the Cat” cougars, and worked with animals for such TV shows as “Gunsmoke,” “Lassie,” “Daktari” and “Flipper.”

But Derby also witnessed widespread abuse and neglect of performing animals. That prompted her to write the 1976 best-seller, “The Lady and Her Tiger,” which launched her crusade.

In 1984, Derby and Stewart co-founded PAWS and opened a wildlife sanctuary in Galt the following year. PAWS became the first U.S. elephant sanctuary.

Today, PAWS operates three Northern California sanctuaries, including ARK 2000 in San Andreas. The refuges are home to eight elephants and more than 100 other exotic animals.

“Initially we did a lot of protesting, and peaceful leafleting, educating the public about animals in circuses,” Derby told The Bee in 2001. “I really believe the public gets it now.”

News Link:–http://www.sacbee.com/2013/02/17/5196493/obituary-pat-derby-was-world-renowned.html

  “It had to begin with elephants.

I was born in love with all elephants:

not for a reason that I know,

not because of any of their individual qualities, 

 – wisdom, kindness, power, grace, patience, loyalty –

but for what they are altogether, for their entire elephantness.”

PAT DERBY, 1976, THE LADY & HER TIGER

Patricia B. Derby

June 7, 1943- February 15, 2013

 Our hearts are broken.

 Pat Derby died peacefully last night in her home at ARK 2000. Ed Stewart, her partner of 37 years, was by her side.

 Diagnosed with throat cancer in July of 2010, she fought her way through radiation and chemotherapy and continued to deal with side effects from treatment, including anemia. In early fall of last year came the news that cancer had returned.

 Pat and Ed chose to keep this last fight a private matter. We honored their wishes.

 It’s impossible for any of us to imagine life without Pat Derby – PAWS without Pat Derby – but she chose, and trained, her support team well, and under the leadership of Ed Stewart, Pat’s dreams and visions will be kept alive, her advocacy for animals will continue and PAWS will move forward.

 We’ll miss her fire, determination and fearlessness; her intelligence and her passion.

 We’ll miss her sense of humor.

 Pat Derby was a partner, leader, mentor, teacher and friend. She was the first to champion the cause of performing animals, and today, because of her work and her fierce determination, most animal protection organizations have captive wildlife programs that address the issues of performing animals.

 Pat chose a life for herself that was not for the timid.

 She built ARK 2000.

 Rest in peace dear friend.  

Link:–http://campaign.r20.constantcontact.com/render?llr=68strdcab&v=001uhMSa17EQAcIQGazYQb-lh-01pcWlsaZgLnWEGxcuqro82XEV75cP2UUT-CGYvzwEID4i9sdOQ8sM_wsHxRo1uP0m04AioKhQJ8I9tFCsLi5yXLUObrd7E4jR2O_8EyGs8XRnJQUin-zRJintTEYpAeRl1Mxdts9Mh5e31U9GXXQ9zS0_CCbnDKJdZl3aKHcWdIR8jjOFw0JZe-6FSXwEw1fA8ru21YcAXIviCuzEDh0IhmmLusJUXjZ56rBaxzRjFxgT3ZAzEvUH9wu8KyBf0i-rSzUhS-s

A celebration of Pat’s life will be planned at a later date. Ed has requested no flowers be sent. For anyone wishing to honor Pat, he would prefer donations be made to PAWS in her memory. Letters of condolences can be sent to P. O. Box 849, Galt, CA 95632, or emailed toinfo@pawsweb.org.

The Animals Of PAWS 

A Tribute to Pat & All The Animals She Cared For

Uploaded on 25 Feb 2007

The Performing Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) http://www.pawsweb.org is a non-profit organization that rescues and provides sanctuary to abused and abandoned animals. PAWS has garnered international recognition for it’s work with captive elephants. PAWS is located in Galt and San Andreas California

Toronto Council votes to send zoo’s elephants to California — again

 Elephants Going To PAWS At Last, Hope they have a Happy Christmas, best of luck to them all xxxx

After a year of political wrangling and opposition from Toronto Zoo staff, city council has reaffirmed its decision to send the zoo’s three ageing elephants to the Performing Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) sanctuary in California.

Zoo management, who had opposed the move, indicated after the 32-8 vote that they will abide by council’s edict.

One of the Toronto Zoo’s elephants wanders near a transport crate placed in the elephant paddock for the animals to get used to. A year after the decision was made to send the last three to California, only to meet with strong opposition from Zoo staff, the original decision has been reaffirmed.

“I think it’s disappointing but we also have to accept the decision of council and move on,” said John Tracogna, the zoo’s chief executive officer.

Council has had the benefit of receiving a lot of information over the past year. It still thinks the sanctuary is the best place, and zoo management is now prepared to accept that, Tracogna said.

“The public debate on this issue has occurred, and so we’ve got the direction and we’ll move on.”

Zoo staff vehemently disagreed with council’s decision in October 2011, in part because of PAWS’s lack of accreditation from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, and then because of concerns about disease at the sanctuary in San Andreas, Calif. Staff hoped to send the elephants to a new, accredited sanctuary under construction in Florida instead.

“There was concern around tuberculosis at the facility,” Tracogna said. “But council’s heard all this and made their decision so we have to respect that.

“We’ve had a public debate. The information has come out fully. Council has made a decision.”

He noted that there are logistical hurdles to overcome, and stressed it’s up to PAWS to come up with an acceptable plan to fly the elephants westward.

“A good part of it is having a sound transportation plan that is going to move the elephants safely,” Tracogna said, adding he believes retired game show host and animal advocate Bob Barker, who had offered to pick up transportation costs, is still willing to do so.

“Basically we need a transportation plan from PAWS that’s going to be safe and meet all the requirements to fly three elephants all that distance. Along with that, we need the proper permits and the proper crate training.”

Tracogna couldn’t give a timetable to move the elephants, but councillors who pushed for the move want to see it happen as soon as possible.

“We just want to do what’s best for our elephants, and that’s what we did here today,” said Councillor Michelle Berardinetti, who has fought hard for the move.

“We did that a year ago, but we saw that they dragged their feet. They found every reason to drag their feet. You saw a sound decision by council once again. Sending them to PAWS is the best place.”

Not so, said Councillor Gloria Lindsay Luby, who fought the move.

“They’re sending them to a facility that’s got TB, active TB. Why would you do that?” she said.

“I can’t understand what goes through some of these people’s minds. They are our elephants; one was born here. How could you do that to them? But council rules supreme, even though I certainly can’t agree with it.”

 News Link:–http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/cityhallpolitics/article/1294168–toronto-council-votes-to-send-zoo-s-elephants-to-california-again

Adopt* A PAWS “Wild Child”

For Yourself Or To Give As A Gift

Adopting a PAWS animal helps us provide nutritious food, veterinarian care and an enriching habitat for your animal — and you’ll have the satisfaction that comes from knowing you’re making a difference in the life of a PAWS animal.

Adoptive parents receive:

•  Biography of their adopted animal
• Certificate of adoption and a color photograph
• A guest pass to one regular PAWS ARK 2000 open house (special events are not included)
• Periodic updates about the adopted animal
• Periodic mailings and invitations to special events
• PAWS online E-NEWS (Adoptive parent’s email address must be provided. Recipient may opt out at any time and no email address will ever be sold or given away.)
• Opportunities to take direct action to help captive wildlife

Happy ele day’s

PAWS:-http://www.pawsweb.org/about_paws_home_page.html

Ben The Bear’s Journey From Hellhole to Sanctuary – Video

 

“I’ve Just seen this video of Ben the bear & cried for him, happy tears of course; so thought I would share it with you! Ben was  bear kept at Jambbas Ranch Tours, & had been confined for years to a tiny cell made of concrete and chain link, until people spoke up about his neglect. Now at the PAWS sanctuary, Ben can live as he should…just being a bear!”

“When you see an animal that’s been rescued, looking so happy, probably for the first time in their lives, it makes all the petition signing, letter writing & donating, so worth while. don’t you think? So the next time you think ‘oh can’t be bothered to sign that petition’ just think of Ben & his happy little face…I’m sure it will give you the motivation you need!!”

Published on 27 Aug 2012 by officialpeta

After a long and hard-fought battle, Ben the bear has been rescued and will now live out the rest of his life at a beautiful accredited wildlife sanctuary in northern California. http://bit.ly/benrescue

Related articles

• Judge Grants Ben The Bear Permanent Sanctuary (preciousjules1985.wordpress.com)

 

Cost of moving elephant could reach $500k

The cost of moving an Auckland elephant which crushed its keeper to death to a Californian sanctuary could reach half a million dollars but is the best option, the SPCA says.

Helen Schofield was killed by Mila at Franklin Zoo and Wildlife Sanctuary, south of Auckland, last Wednesday when the elephant picked her up with its trunk before bringing her down and crushing her.

Schofield, 42, will be farewelled in Tuakau on Thursday.

Schofield had been preparing the ex-circus elephant, formerly known as Jumbo, to be transported to the Performing Animal Welfare Society in San Andreas, which last week confirmed it would still take her.

SPCA director Bob Kerridge said he had been in contact with the sanctuary and is trying to determine what steps need to be taken so Mila can be moved.

“We firstly need to have in place care for Mila at this stage, which at the moment is being undertaken by the Auckland Zoo.

“We then have to, with experts, look at the physical and mental condition of Mila to determine whether she is ready, or what needs to be done to make her ready to undertake such a trip.

“And we also have to put into place whatever is necessary financially to allow that to happen.”

Kerridge couldn’t say when Mila would leave but said transporting her could cost up to $500,000.

He said the SPCA will collect donations towards Mila’s future and Franklin Zoo is accepting them through its website.

Kerridge previously said transporting Mila to the sanctuary was the “ideal” option; otherwise a new keeper would have to be found for her.

He said in a worst case scenario the elephant would be euthanised, however, Franklin Zoo has stated it’s committed to realising Schofield’s dream of giving Mila a better life.

On its Facebook page last week the zoo said talk of putting Mila down had been “upsetting for the family and the staff of both Franklin and Auckland zoos“.

“This talk of euthanasia has presumably come from us telling people that we wanted to take each day as it comes with Mila and that it was too early for us to start thinking about the weeks and months ahead.

”Helen’s dream for Mila was that she would eventually be moved to another zoo facility where she could live out the rest of her days with other elephants. We want to realise that dream and, when the time is right we will start to work towards it.”

The zoo also acknowledged the support of many offering donations to the Franklin Zoo Charitable Trust.

”These funds will greatly assist with the continuation of the welfare of the animals – thank you in advance.”

The zoo remains closed while the incident is investigated by the Department of Labour.

Pat Derby, from the Californian sanctuary, said she had been working with Schofield for two years to prepare Mila for the move.

Schofield was training Mila how to live in a crate during the trip and told Derby just last month that it was going well.

News Link:-http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/6833300/Cost-of-moving-elephant-could-reach-500k

African Elephants: Iringa’s Custom-Made Transport Crate – YouTube

Tuesday afternoon, February 21, 2012, the first transport crate for moving the Toronto Zoo’s three elephants, Iringa, Toka and Thika, to the Performing Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) sanctuary in San Andreas, CA, was loaded onto a truck for its journey to Toronto, Canada.

The crate has been custom made to accommodate Iringa, with additional height to allow her to comfortably stand inside. The crate will be utilized by the zoo to begin the process of training the elephants for their journey, by truck, to ARK 2000. All training by the zoo is done with food rewards and zoo staff has already begun preliminary training.

As we often say once the process begins, “We’re on elephant time now.”

The target date for the trip is the end of April, but the elephants will ultimately determine when they are ready to move. When we moved Maggie from Alaska, we were amazed at her quick response to treats and training.

Wanda and Winky, two Asian elephants, were moved by truck, from Detroit Zoo, almost seven years ago. Detroit keepers and veterinarians joined our staff in the move which was quite successful despite some medical issues for Wanda.

Maggie’s and Wanda’s keepers, docents, zoo administrators and a myriad of fans continue to visit their elephants each year. We look forward to welcoming the Toronto Zoo elephants’ friends and fans to ARK 2000.

via African Elephants: Iringa’s Custom-Made Transport Crate – YouTube.

PAWS History
The Performing Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) captive wildlife sanctuaries are places where abandoned, abused, or retired performing animals and victims of the exotic animal trade can live in peace and dignity. For more than 25 years PAWS has been at the forefront of efforts to rescue and provide appropriate, humane sanctuary for animals who have been the victims of the exotic and performing animal trades.

PAWS investigates reports of abused performing and exotic animals, documents cruelty and assists in investigations and prosecutions by regulatory agencies to alleviate the suffering of captive wildlife.

Founded in 1984, by former Hollywood animal trainer and author, Pat Derby, and her partner, Ed Stewart, PAWS maintains three sanctuariesfor captive wildlife in Northern California.

Not a new story but worth watching again and again! So amazingly touching – the story of Shirley and Jenny, two crippled elephants reunited at The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee after a 22-year separation. The bonding was immediate, intense and unforgettable between the two former circus elephants. But long after the cameras were turned off, the wondrous moments would continue..

“I have watched most of the PAWS elephant videos but the one above still makes me fill up; how wonderful it is that 2 elephants snatched away from their homes, then forced to perform stupid tricks in the circus…finally found peace together at long last.”  It would be a dream come true if all circus animals could end up at this facility; freedom, love & contentment…Perfect!

Mission Statement

PAWS is dedicated to the protection of performing animals, to providing sanctuary to abused, abandoned and retired captive wildlife, to enforcing the best standards of care for all captive wildlife, to the preservation of wild species and their habitat and to promoting public education about captive wildlife issues.

http://www.pawsweb.org/index.html