Animal Welfare Reports on WWE Superstar Daniel Bryan, Kinessa Johnson, Senator Raymond J. Lesniak, Bryan Kinsel Harlan, Coca-Cola, Iditarod dog race, Pigs in New Jersey, seal slaughter begins soon, 'What the Health' Premier, Worldwide Donkey Crisis, Rare Squirrels, Martens, lawsuits & entertainers still wearing fur & goose feathered coats...much more...

WWE Superstar Daniel Bryan Refuses to Wear Leather Championship Belt

If you’re a fan of WWE, doubtless you’ve heard of the lumberjack-like superstar Daniel Bryan. The wrestler has made history during his time in wrestling entertainment, from winning numerous championship titles, to making a return to wrestling after a grisly neck injury forced him into a (temporary) early retirement.

Bryan (whose real name is Bryan Danielson) may be a tough-as-nails wrestler, but he’s also a total sweetheart, and a vegan to boot.

Being a vegan in the WWE does have it’s speed bumps. The championship belt (which Bryan has had the honor of wearing) is made from leather. Last December, Bryan brought his righteous vegan fury to the ring as WWE Champion. He swore an oath that he would win the championship belt from AJ Styles, and replace it with a vegan, eco-friendly alternative.

“After I beat you… I am going to take this leather strap that was made from a skinned cow that I like to name Daisy and I am going to replace it with something sustainable, something better and the new Daniel Bryan is going to create a new world that these people don’t have any part of… You know what? Most of you probably don’t deserve to have a part of it either.”

Was it tongue-in cheek? Most definitely, but on Tuesday’s episode of Smackdown Live, the vegan Japanese submission specialist made good on his promise. After winning the title, he dumped the old Championship Belt in the garbage can. After telling the sad story of Daisy the cow (Bryan named and gave a backstory to the cow that gave it’s life to make the old championship belt), he unveiled the new title belt, crafted from “100% sustainable hemp, carved from a naturally fallen oak.”

To be fair, Bryan has ‘turned heel‘ recently, meaning his character is sort of acting like a jerk. It’s possible the vegan belt is just meant to kick up controversy. Still, such a momentous moment in vegan history must be documented. And I don’t know about you, but I’m really digging the eco-belt. If only for Daisy.

It might sound like the tagline of a Hollywood blockbuster: an army veteran who served in Afghanistan moves to Africa to defend endangered wildlife from poachers. But it’s the true story of Kinessa Johnson, a weapons instructor who uses tactical movement and hard-won experience to fight poaching and train the next generation of park rangers.

Originally from the State of Washington, Johnson works for the Veterans Empowered to Protect African Wildlife (VEPAW), who use their training and expertise to capture criminals trying to get rich by destroying wildlife. She joined VEPAW after spending four years in the armed forces as a weapons instructor and mechanic, including a tour in Afghanistan.

The organization was founded by a former Marine, and is comprised of veterans who joined the army in the wake of 9/11. Much as her life might sound like an action movie, Johnson insists she doesn’t go full Laura Croft on poachers, instead using strategic positioning to detain the offenders.

An animal lover in her own right, Kinessa’s passion for defending wildlife comes from a commitment to the creatures she protects and the people with who she serves. Johnson maintains a social media presence, sharing news about poaching, animal conservation, and two adorable pups of her own. She’s not shy about her opinions, especially her harsh words for anyone harming wildlife, legally or not. It’s led to backlash and slamming online, with insults and sexist comments about her service.

“I work with so many awesome and capable female park rangers here in Africa, who put their lives on the line every day right next to male park rangers,” she said in an interview, “I think these comments are also disrespectful to these amazing women.”

Last month, Johnson underwent neck surgery which took her out of the field, but if her Instagram is to be believed, she wants to return to Africa as soon as possible.

But Kinessa doesn’t let anything get to her, whether it’s poachers, neck injuries, or online trolls, she’s fully capable of rising to the challenge.  “If you are going to accept anything, accept who you are.” She said, in an Instagram post “Stand alone, be a wolf, a rebel, a warrior, a savage, a badass.”

"If he brings his 'trophy' into New Jersey, under my (Senator Raymond J. Lesniak) legislation, he'll be arrested."

(CNN) - An American trophy hunter has sparked outrage after reportedly paying $110,000 for a permit to kill a rare mountain goat in Pakistan, before posing with the dead animal after the hunt. A video posted to social media shows Bryan Kinsel Harlan climbing through mountains in Pakistan's northern Gilgit region, before shooting at the goat, high-fiving with guides and then pulling the animal up by its horns. Harlan poses with the goat, known as a markhor, in pictures published in Pakistani media. "It was an easy and close shot and I am pleased to take this trophy," the hunter said, according to Pakistani newspaper Dawn. CNN has contacted Harlan for comment. Read The Full Story here!

Help Peter and Gerry Speak Up for Suffering Pigs in New Jersey!

Gerry, a gorgeous pig from New Jersey and his compassionate guardian Peter are calling on New Jersey residents to make two crucial phone calls and click once to send a letter to almost a dozen legislators serving on two committees. Taking these quick actions could reduce the suffering of thousands of pigs every year!

Gerry was dumped at a pet store in New Jersey by a heartless person who decided that he wasn't a good "lifestyle fit" anymore! Luckily, he was rescued by Peter despite being very sickly with pneumonia. Now, three and a half years later, he is a robust and healthy young pig! Click here to learn more and take action

In a matter of weeks, Canada's annual seal slaughter will begin.

Many of the seals killed won't have eaten their first solid meal or learned how to swim—yet they'll be shot or viciously clubbed as their mothers watch in despair.

Will you please help seals before the massacre begins by signing our petition urging the Canadian prime minister to end the slaughter?

PETA, our international affiliates, and compassionate people like you have helped promote seal-fur bans around the world and successfully squashed the Canadian government's attempts to create a market in China for seal "products." But even though most Canadians oppose the annual slaughter, their tax dollars are the only thing propping up this violent industry.

We must keep the pressure on the Canadian government to end the slaughter, and we need caring people like you with us to do so.

Evil Chinese donkey slaughter is spreading wildly!

Last year we told you about the horrifying Chinese-led donkey genocide in South Africa and one man’s fight to save as many as he could.

Donkeys are being wiped out because of insatiable Chinese demand for their skins. There are 44 million donkeys in the world, the Chinese want 10 million a year to use their skins in phony ejiao ‘medicine.’

In South Africa, Jonno Sherwin saved 236 donkeys by outbidding Chinese, who would have brutally slaughtered them all. But Jonno is struggling to feed and care for them all. Without our help, he would have no choice but to euthanise 50 donkeys.

Thanks to donations from animal lovers like you, we were able to help Jonno financially. We paid for food and veterinary care while Jonno is finding homes for all of them. With your help, we will save them all.

The bad news is that the fight just got even tougher. The donkey DOOMSDAY CLOCK is ticking because the evil trade is spreading to other African countries.

The Chinese are now slaughtering thousands of donkeys every month in Kenya!

Incredibly, the Kenyan government encourages donkey genocide by permitting their slaughter. There are now three donkey slaughter houses in Kenya and what we found in one chilled us to the bone.

In one slaughter house alone 2,000 donkeys a month are stunned, skinned and sent to China!

Our video shows exactly what happens when a gentle donkey falls victim to the China trade. The video is tough to view, but we urge you to grit your teeth and watch it, because animal lovers like you are the only ones who can save donkeys and you need to see what we face in our battle to end the cruelty.

In Kenya, we are supporting the Kenyan Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (KSPCA) who are fighting the trade, running donkey search and rescue missions and providing sanctuary for abused animals. We will continue our fight to stop this horrific donkey genocide.

BREAKING: Coca-Cola has ended its sponsorship of the cruel and deadly Iditarod dog race ❤️ This comes after PETA protests and more than 205,000 emails from PETA supporters!

Coke joins companies like Jack Daniels, Pizza Hut, and Wells Fargo, who've also cut ties with the Iditarod. Tell Chrysler to drop it too. 

Today Hosts Al Roker and Dylan Dreyer Wear Coats Made From Tortured Animals?! Despite having been informed on several occasions that coyotes' necks and limbs are caught in steel traps and that they can face blood loss, shock, dehydration, gangrene, and more before being bludgeoned or shot—and that geese used for down are often violently shoved into transport trucks before being hung upside down and killed—Today cohosts Dylan Dreyer and Al Roker continue to wear coyote fur–trimmed, goose feather–stuffed coats on air. Fox Image: © Jo-Anne McArthur/We Animals PETA Dominates the Internet During the Super Bowl With Animal-Friendly Messages. When Big Boi showed up at halftime in a fur coat, PETA was there to show who wore it better. And when Hyundai tried making fun of vegan dinner parties, PETA showed what's actually trending in 2019—and it's certainly not speciesism. Lawsuit Launched to Expand Habitat for Rare Squirrels The Center and Maricopa Audubon this week filed a notice of intent to sue and compel the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to expand critical habitat for Arizona's highly endangered Mount Graham red squirrel. Only about 75 are left on Earth. The squirrels no longer live in the area designated as their critical habitat. It's been destroyed by the construction of mountaintop telescopes, wildfires, and fires set to protect the scopes. The squirrels' habitat includes spruce-fir forests above 9,200 feet. "With so few Mount Graham red squirrels left, we need to do everything we can to protect their habitat, particularly the only places they now live," said the Center's Robin Silver. Read more in the Arizona Daily Star.

Suit Filed to Save Martens in California The Center and local allies just sued California to protect Humboldt martens. Although the state declared these forest mammals "endangered" after a Center lawsuit, it's about to let the Green Diamond timber company raze their habitat. Fewer than 200 of these furry, ferocious creatures are left in the state — and clearcutting is the biggest threat to their survival. "This move pushes Humboldt martens toward extinction instead of increasing protection for these feisty little fluffballs," said the Center's Tierra Curry. Read more. Recovery Plan for Endangered California Frog Southern California's tiny population of endangered mountain yellow-legged frogs has a roadmap to recovery at last. These frogs have disappeared from nearly all of their historic range in Southern California. By the 1990s fewer than 100 were eking out a living in isolated headwater streams. After years of scientific and legal work by the Center for Biological Diversity, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has finalized a recovery plan. It calls for re-establishing populations and tackling threats like disease, habitat loss, pollution and nonnative fish that eat the frogs. "It'll be no small feat to recover these highly endangered frogs in the wild, with their numbers so low," said the Center's Jenny Loda. "But we have to try." Get more from MyNewsLA. A Big Win for a Small Texan Victory for a Texas songbird: A federal judge has ruled that golden-cheeked warblers should stay protected under the Endangered Species Act. The birds are severely threatened by runaway urban sprawl. Several right-wing think tanks had petitioned to strip safeguards from the warbler, which is native to the Hill Country of central Texas. The bird was put on the endangered species list in 1990. The Center and allies were part of the court proceedings to keep the bird protected. "With the continued protection of the Endangered Species Act, I'm hoping the golden-cheeked warbler will charm birders worldwide for a long time to come," said the Center's Ryan Shannon. Read more in the San Antonio Express-News. The 20th installment in the Center's Endangered Species Mural Project has just been completed at Arizona Western College in Yuma, Ariz. Painted by Roger Peet and Lucinda Y Hinojos, the mural depicts the Sonoran pronghorn, the smallest and fastest species of pronghorn, and the charismatic Yuma clapper rail, a resident of Colorado River region wetlands. Pronghorns are threatened by increased militarization of the border region, and rails by the encroachment of industrial agriculture into their riparian habitat. Please feel free to help with our wildlife legal defense fund with regard to the following law suits filed: Here are just some of the many cases we have pending in federal court: Red Wolf – The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) has botched red wolf recovery in almost every way possible. Their latest proposal reduces the recovery area for struggling red wolves by nearly 90% – leaving barely enough room for a single wolf pack – and allows for any wolf wandering outside the cramped confines of the Refuge to be gunned down, no questions asked. Arctic and Atlantic Ocean Outer Continental Shelf Defense – This case challenges President Trump’s illegal attempt to strip away protections for the U.S. Arctic and Atlantic Oceans. Big Oil persuaded the Trump administration to force open these critical marine habitats for underwater oil drilling, going back on protections put in place during the Obama administration. Mexican Gray Wolf (Lobos) – We are in court right now against the FWS for their "one step forward, three steps back" approach to recovering lobos. The current so-called recovery plan disregards the best available science, limits the wolves’ population, cuts off wolves’ access to vital habitat, and fails to respond to mounting genetic threats to the animals’ future. Arctic Seismic Testing – The Trump administration continues to push for expanded oil and gas development in protected habitat in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Defenders is already prepared to file suit at the first sign of seismic testing for oil and gas in the Refuge, as massive testing trucks may displace or even crush denning polar bears and cubs.  Come Watch "What the Health" and Make Yummy Burrito Bowls - Free!  This shocking documentary about what BIG Agriculture and BIG Pharma are hiding from us about our health got people talking in a BIG way, and we’re bringing it to the Animal Rights Center! Join us for a fun time enjoying the film while we learn to make healthy, tasty, vegan burrito bowls. Bring your friends! Read more about the film here. Friday February 22nd, 5-7PM Animal Rights Center, 2425 Channing Way, Berkeley, CA What: Free film screening of What the Health and dinner When: Friday, February 22nd, 5-7 pm Where: Animal Rights Center, 2425 Channing Way, Berkeley, CA Check out the Facebook event page for more details. PS: Are you vegan, with a story to share about the power of family and friendship at work for animals? We’re making an inspiring video about the power we have to create change in our daily lives, just by being open about who we are. If someone in your life influenced you to go vegan (or vice versa), and you can both interview in the Bay Area, please contact kecia@idausa.org.

Don Lichterman
Sunset Corporation of America (SCA)
Sustainable Action Network (SAN)