Help Get Ruby the Elephant to a PAWS Sanctuary

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.helpelephants.com/feature_070228.html

Help Get Ruby the Elephant to a Sanctuary
Tell the L.A. Zoo it's time to do right by long-suffering pachyderm

Ruby the elephant continues to languish in solitary confinement at the Los Angeles Zoo, despite a choir of opposition calling for her release to a sanctuary. After 40 years in zoos and circuses, Ruby's has become a 9,000-pound cause celebre, with a story capturing national media attention and the hearts of many. A campaign is under way to convince the director of the L.A. Zoo to move Ruby from her small enclosure to an animal sanctuary, bringing her relief from the cramped and unnatural environment she has endured for decades.

The L.A. Zoo's poor track record with elephant care fuels the ongoing concern for Ruby's welfare. For example, they fail to meet national zoo guidelines, which call for elephants to live in groups no less than three. Yet Ruby has lived in solitude since her previous companion Gita died on June 10th from captivity-induced ailments, and has spent over two years isolated in a small concrete enclosure out of public view. Although the zoo has no plans to bring Ruby back into public display, they have so far resisted requests by the public to move her to the Performing Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) sanctuary in San Andreas, Calif. This move would provide Ruby more than 500 times the living space of her current enclosure.



Due to a fundraising campaign on Ruby's behalf, the move to a sanctuary would come at no cost to taxpayers. Owing to matching donations from TV personality Bob Barker, over $600,000 has been raised to pay for Ruby's transport to, and care at, the PAWS sanctuary. Currently the stubbornness of L.A. Zoo officials is all that stands between Ruby and the life she deserves.

Ruby's fate currently rests with the director of the L.A. Zoo. The proposed release of Ruby to the PAWS sanctuary has the endorsement of the Los Angeles Zoo Commission and former zoo professionals, yet Ruby remains in isolation and in unnatural captivity. A campaign is underway to get the mayor of Los Angeles to fulfill his campaign promise to help Ruby. Your voice can deliver her from a life of painful servitude to one of peaceful comfort.

What You Can Do

1) Call, write, and email Los Angeles Zoo Director John Lewis, politely urging him to request the L.A. Zoo to turn over Ruby to the PAWS sanctuary:

John Lewis, Director
Los Angeles Zoo
5333 Zoo Dr.
Los Angeles, CA 90027-1498
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
[e-mail]

2) Fax, write, and email Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and politely ask that he convince zoo officials to release Ruby:

The Honorable Antonio R. Villaraigosa, Mayor
200 N. Spring St., Rm. 303
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Fax: [phone]
[e-mail]

[CrispyQ]

1. k&r for Ruby.

[Mojorabbit]

2. Kick

[nosmokes]

3. done FREE RUBY! n/t

[Theres-a]

4. Kick for Ruby

[stimbox]

5. Done.

:kick:

[roguevalley]

6. Let them know the PR black eye they are getting. Its a way to move

them. We have an elephant in Alaska that needs help too, Maggie.

[Pooka Fey]

7. Done - emailed LA zoo and cc'ed LA mayor. Free Ruby !!!

[truedelphi]

8. I am an elephant-lover lover!

People who like elephants are usually unique and sensitive and well grounded.

Well get this done first thing tomorrow. Thanks for posting.