Interview with In Defense Of Animals (IDA)

Good Evening. Today on Traveling Activist with your host Zachery Ramos a special interview with the globally known animal saving organization called IN DEFENSE OF ANIMALS.  My guest is Fleur Dawes who is in charge of media for IDA discussed what IDA does and the accomplishments they have achieved around the world.

Q. What does your program stand for.

1. Ever since its birth in 1983, In Defense of Animals has been at the forefront of the fight to expose and end animal suffering and exploitation wherever and whenever possible. We have achieved incredible victories for many animals throughout the decades, providing them with renewed opportunities for safe and happy lives.

We hope you will share the pride in some of IDA’s more noteworthy achievements for animals. These, along with many others, could not have happened without your support. On behalf of these animals, and those who still so desperately need our help, we thank you.

Q. What have you accomplished since the beginning of your program.

1. ● IDA’s investigation of the Cole Bros. Circus, and our filing of federal complaints against them with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Fisheries & Wildlife Service, resulted in both formal charges and fines for multiple violations of the Animal Welfare Act and for their involvement in the illegal sale of endangered Asian elephants, Tina and Jewel.

● Since IDA launched the Elephants in Zoos campaign, we have pressured many zoos in North America to close their elephant exhibits permanently, have inspired other zoos to state they will shut down or phase out their elephant exhibits, and have secured the direct transfer of more than a dozen elephants imprisoned in an artificial zoo enclosure to a natural habitat sanctuary, free from bullhooks and forced breeding…for life!

● IDA was instrumental in the passage of legislation banning the cruel production and sale of foie gras in California.

● IDA helped to ban the cruel practice of canned hunting in the state of Oregon.

Q.World wide how active are you.

1. We work around the world with dedicated campaigns across the US, South Korea, India, Cameroon, Australia and many other places besides. We advocate for animals globally.

Q. What challenges have you faced.

1. Animal exploitation presents itself in many ways - animals are actively exploited for food, entertainment, research, or are abused, threatened and neglected.

Q. What was the toughest challenge or worst experience that happened?

The organization has faced many challenges. It is impossible to say which is worst, since we respect every animal and this is why we advocate across many campaign areas instead of favoring just one.

Q. What's the best thing that has happened in this organization?

1. We have had many successes, but the most significant for the organization was shutting down Coulston Foundation after a nine year campaign, and freeing the animals who were experimented on there. It led In Defense of Animals to become the organization it is today.

Q. What is your goal for the animals in the world save them, or How do you plan to save the animals around the world?

1. We work to expose and end animal experimentation; protect wildlife and restore balance in their natural habitats; end the exploitation and abuse of wild species living in captivity, protect domestic and wild species worldwide from abuse and slaughter for food, conduct cruelty investigations and rescue operations, and provide veterinary care for sick, abused and orphaned animals in our natural habitat sanctuaries.

In Defense of Animals works to educate the public to fight apathy, build empathy and take concrete action to end all forms of animal exploitation worldwide. We work to ensure that decisions made involving animals, from the legislative level to the dinner table, are made with consideration of their needs and interests.

We seek to redefine the role of animals in society on local, national and international levels by elevating human perception of animals from that of mere property, objects and things, to that where animals are recognized to be individuals, with feelings, needs and interests of their own. Through our work to inspire and shift the way people think about non-human beings, we believe a positive change will result in the way people treat them today and in the future.

Fleur Dawes thank you for today's interview about Animal Rescue. We can't wait to hear more from you and your organization about the success of your elephant campaign. For now thank you all for reading and staying tuned for more from Traveling Activist. Zachery Ramos signing off.