Click here for Gulf Coast Newspapers feature article Sept 24, 2010
Click here for Baldwin Register feature article Sept 24, 2010
Photos from event courtesy of MillerWardPhotography.com
Rep McMillan, Councilman Palumbo and Chief Press Meeting with Animal Advocates Sept 23, 2010
Click here for printable poster Click here for press release
Representative Stephen McMillan with the Alabama State Legislature 95th District (Baldwin), August “Gus“ Palumbo, Daphne City Councilman District 7, and Fairhope Police Chief Bill Press will meet with animal advocates at the grass roots meeting on September 23 at the Fairhope Civic Center from 6:00 to 8:00pm. 
Mindy Gilbert, Alabama State Director for the Humane Society of the United States, is the guest speaker. Recent laws Gilbert has been involved in are the state’s felony anti-cruelty law, ban on hog-dog fighting spectacles and to require animals to be spayed or neutered before they are adopted.
The Haven and the Baldwin County Humane Society (BARC!) are co-hosting this meeting to further protection of the animals, whether through legislation or corporate and public policy.
Michael Graham, Executive Director of The Haven, encourages everyone to attend. “Albert Einstein once said that the definition of insanity is when something is repeatedly done over and over again. We can learn a lot from this one statement by uniting and creating the change we need to help create new and improved laws to protect animals.”
Palumbo was instrumental in removing the Daphne City Animal Shelter‘s gas chamber in 2007. Palumbo commented “Every rescue group -- big and small -- and every animal advocate needs to unite and make a difference.”
Presley agreed. “Collectively, our voice is very powerful. We will have local, state-wide and national organizations present to hear what Baldwin County residents have to say.”
If you know of a puppy mill, have witnessed animal cruelty in your neighborhood or have responded to animals in danger from man-made and natural disasters, this meeting is for you.
The meeting is free to the public; for more information call 251.928.4585.
Animal Advocates Urged to Attend HSUS Grass Roots Meeting Sept 23
The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) is holding a grass roots meeting hosted by The Haven and the Baldwin County Humane Society (BARC!) to connect with area animal advocates.
This free meeting will be held on September 23, 2010, at the Fairhope Civic Center from 6:00 to 8:00pm.
The meeting emphasizes the importance of grassroots efforts to further protection for animals, whether through legislation or corporate and public policy.
Mindy Gilbert, Alabama State Director for The Humane Society of the United States, is the invited guest of Michael Graham, Executive Director, The Haven, and Sonja Presley, BARC! Executive Director.
Gilbert's presentation reviews the programs and campaigns of the HSUS, and what their efforts in Alabama are. She will receive ideas from the attendees about what animal protection legislation they would support.
In her position, Gilbert is active on many fronts to promote animal welfare legislation, fight animal cruelty in all forms, respond to animals in danger from man-made and natural disasters, and engage like-minded citizens to promote the protection of animals.
Gilbert is a past president of the Alabama Humane Federation. She was involved in getting the state’s felony anti-cruelty law passed as well as laws that ban hog-dog fighting spectacles and that require animals to be spayed or neutered before they are adopted.
Please join us to learn what your area agencies are doing to help animals in your community and what HSUS is doing in your state. Bring a friend and share ideas to make the lives of animals better in Baldwin County.
Organizers met recently to finalize plans for the Sept 23 Grass Roots Meeting in Baldwin County. Pictured, from left: Sonja Presley, BARC! Executive Director; Mindy Gilbert, Alabama State Director for The Humane Society of the United States; and Michael Graham, Executive Director, The Haven.