AP Photo/Nell Redmond
The Philadelphia Eagles announced today the launch of their TAWK program, which stands for Treating Animals with Kindness.
The TAWK program aims at raising awareness of animal rights, animal cruelty, dog fighting, responsible pet ownership, and the need for spaying and neutering pets. The Eagles plan to work with animal welfare groups to educate the public about these important issues.
The Eagles also announced today that they will be awarding $500,000 in grants to animal welfare organizations to further their efforts. They announced that the first they grants of $50,000 each had been awarded to the Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society (PAWS), the Humane Society of Berks County, and the Humane Society of the United States.
PAWS announced that it will use its grant to 1) remove live animals from the city's shelter, 2) provide reduced cost spay/neuter and veterinary services to the more than 40 rescue groups that it works with, and 3) provide low income individuals with access to spay/neuter services, primary veterinary care, and micro-chipping. The low cost veterinary services will be provided at their new wellness center, which will be operational by the beginning of next year and will be partially financed by the grant.
The Berks County SPCA will use their grant to fund a mobile veterinary hospital to provide veterinary services to people who may otherwise be unable to obtain such services. The SPCA hopes that by providing this veterinary care, more people will be able to afford to care for their pets, thereby reducing the number of animals entering shelters. In addition, they hope that the animals entering area shelters will be healthier and more adoptable.
The Humane Society of the United States plans to use the funds from their grant to bring their End Dogfighting Campaign to Philadelphia. The campaign, which has already been implemented in Chicago, Atlanta, and Los Angeles, aims to reach kids before or just after they've become involved in dogfighting. Kids are taught other alternatives to dogfighting, and are given the opportunity to train pit bulls for agility and obedience.
In addition, the Eagles announced other steps they will be taking as part of the TAWK program. Players will be teaming up with animal experts to visit local elementary and middle schools to encourage respect, consideration, and care for animals. The Eagles Television Network has created a short program that is available to any schools in the region. The Eagles will be using their web site to provide information on pet ownership & adoption, shelter resources, and fund raising efforts. They will also create public service announcements in the form of both print ads and television commercials.
The Humane Society of the United States announced that Michael Vick would be participating in a speaking engagement tomorrow in Philadelphia in conjunction with his work with the Humane Society of the United States.
For more info:
Chase Utley's wife Jennifer and PSPCA amoung those barred from Eagles' Michael Vick Press Conference
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Comments
Have subscribed and look forward to reading more about Philly animals. Hope you will do the same for New Orleans.
Vick's PR and legal team approached at least three other animal organizations -- Best Friends, the ASPCA and PETA -- before meeting with Wayne (Sloppy Fourths) Pacelle. No one was surprised that Humane Wayne agreed to the deal - that's who he is.
The 60 Minutes interview was even worse than the biggest cynics (like me) thought it would be - and that's just Pacelle's segment.
Best Friends, the ASPCA and Bad Rap all issued statements following the broadcast decrying Vick's insincerity and HSUS's opportunism. And now the $200 million dollar so-called Humane Society actually has the chutzpah to take $50,000 from the Eagles.
I know its what they do but pardon me while I retch.
Vick will need to make a long-term committment to speaking out against dogfighting, that much is clear. But as someone who works for the HSUS, I can tell you that his notoriety has drawn important attention to the problem of dogfighting. We have received over 150 inquiries from communities across the country about implementing our End Dogfighting program. This program involves outreach to at-risk youth via a pit bull training team that teaches kids how to relate to their dogs as partners and friends instead of fighters and status symbols. Bringing this program to Philadelphia could make a big impact on street-level dogfighting.
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