For a better tomorrow
Issue No. 1 - March 2008
Fighting for Wildlife
Few people seem to realize that Indiana hosts one of the nation's largest annual predator hunts and is the nation's largest exporter of live-caught coyotes. Find out how you can help stop this cruelty.
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Say No To Puppy Mills
Puppy Mills are quickly earning a bad reputation for their treatment of dogs as expendable property.
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Vegan Recipes
This month features delicious oatmeal cookies and carrot biscuits for your dogs. These will surely to be favorite household snacks.
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Native Edible Plants
Wild ginger has long been coveted for its distinct taste and medicinal values.
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From The Blog
Japanese whaling ships are ignoring international law and public outcry as they race south on a massive whale hunt.
Read more
Get Involved
See what you can do to help save animals and win animal rights.
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Editor's Note
Wow, what a year. We ended 2007 on a great note. On December 1st, we took possession of 170 acres of land and a 3400-square-foot house just outside of Spencer. We are now officially an animal sanctuary! Well, there are still a few more details before we are fully functioning, but we are a huge step closer in the process.
An Ideal Setting
While the house will make an incredible intake center and clinic, the real selling point was the land. While mostly wooded, it also houses a large pond (and a small one), a creek, a natural spring, a vertical cave, marsh land and nearly 50 acres of pasture. This ecological diversity is perfect for housing a balance of farm, domestic and wildlife species.
You won?t find us taking it easy in 2008, though. We have hit the ground running with events, construction, fundraising and more. On January 19th, we had our first public work day and started construction on the intake center and clinic. We got a great start but there is still work to do such as installing epoxy flooring and sinks, finishing the new wall, building a solar water heater, and setting up caging. We will also soon be working on other projects such as building predator rehab runs and pens, planting native species throughout the property, constructing a greenhouse, and setting up a FIV cat center.
the view from the house
Always Eventful
As if preparing the property for animals wasn?t enough, we are also hosting several events this year. We have our potluck (aka pitch-in) on the second tuesday of every month at 7pm at Boxcar Books and Community Center (310A South Washington Ave. Bloomington) and our regular Vegan Diner. We are also working on several other events such as our Spring Open House, a music and action festival, and a large fundraising dinner.
We are starting up some campaigns this year, as well. Our big one is working to stop the live trapping and export of predators such as coyotes and foxes. We are also working to reduce the number of euthanized animals by focusing on shutting down puppy mills in the state. Our third campaign is an educational component that has been at the root of everything we do: advocating veganism. We are working to expand this program with cooking classes and workshops for new vegans and the parents of.
The Almighty Dollar
Last, and probably the most important to our existence, we will continue full-force with fundraising. In addition to events, we will be starting a massive grant-writing push and a door-to-door canvassing program. We have also set up about 20 tabling events over the next couple of months and will continue expanding our merchandise into several stores throughout the US (and Canada?). We are working to add more to our selection with new designs and products. The best place to get our gear is on our website or at our tabling events (its cheaper for you and more of the money goes directly to us).
I hope you are as excited about this coming year as we are. We could certainly use your help to make this a better year for the animals and the environment.
For a better tomorrow,
E. Chris Lynch
In Defense of Predators
Indiana has become a battle ground for the fate of one of its native residents, the coyote.
The conflict is between citizens and authorities concerned with the integrity of wild animal populations and trappers concerned with economic opportunities. The issue of contention is whether it should be legal to trap and sell live coyotes to "hunting dog trainers" in other states. The canned hunting training simulations are carried out by releasing the animals in enclosed areas to be run down and torn apart by packs of dogs being "trained." This practice has been decried as inhumane from many but fetches high dollar for people who see coyotes as an exploitable resource.
The canned hunting is of major concern, but the conditions and treatment of the wild animals being shipped to other states is at least as troubling. Coyotes are kept in dismally neglected conditions for weeks (often with little food or water and rarely ever with any veterinary attention) after which they are "shipped" hundreds of miles (often packed so tightly individuals have been found having suffocated during the process). Authorities and environmentalists alike are also concerned with the potential coyotes have for being high disease vector animals in regards to contaminating foreign populations of both coyotes and similar species. Being that most Canine species are closely related, the threat of contamination through this practice is potentially far reaching.
We at Deep Roots find this practice heinous at best. We see the role of wild predators as vital to a balanced, and diverse ecosystem. For these reasons, we will continue to work toward the protection of coyotes.
To Find out more about what you can do to help Indiana coyotes and other wildlife, visit our website or come to our weekly volunteer meetings.
You Buy, They Die
Puppy mills are the name given to the breeding facilities that use and sell dogs as profit-making products.
Puppy mills have been able to elude mass public outcry for one reason: undeniable cuteness. Pet stores and websites give us only one side of the breeding industry - furry, tail-wagging face-licking cuteness. The sad reality of breeding puppies for profit, however, is that most of these puppies come from puppy mills, where dogs live their entire lives in small cages, with little-to-no veterinary care and are forced to breed continuously until they are killed.
In addition to the killing of breeders whose fertility just isn't what it used to be, puppy mills will also kill (or force into breeding) any puppies that are deemed un-sellable. Not to mention the millions of dogs that are killed every year in shelters due in large part to people buying from breeders rather than adopting from shelters and rescue organizations.
Unfortunately, puppy mills are not illegal in many states, including Indiana. For this reason, they are run as businesses, with dogs being the product, so animal cruelty laws are rarely, if ever, enforced. That is why it is up to us to shut them down.
We are working with other groups throughout the state to stop this horrendous act of mass cruelty and death. This will be a comprehensive campaign of legislative advocacy, media outreach, and direct action.
For more information about what you can do to shut down puppy mills, come to our weekly volunteer meetings or visit stoppuppymills.org.
Vegan Recipes
Best Oatmeal Cookies Ever
Ingredients: 1 banana :: 1 cup brown sugar :: 1/2 cup white sugar :: 1/4 cup + 1 tsp. oil :: 1 1/2 tsp. vanilla :: 1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon :: 1 1/2 cups flour :: 1 tsp. baking soda :: 1/2 tsp. salt :: 2 1/4 cups oats :: 3 tbsp. water
Directions: Preheat oven to 350?.
1. Mix oil, sugars, and water. 2. Add banana and vanilla. 3. In a separate bowl, mix flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt; then add to above. 4. Stir in oats. 5. Bake for 13 minutes
Canine Carrot Cookies (for the dogs)
Ingredients: 2 cups whole wheat flour :: 1/2 cup nutritional yeast :: 1/2 cup wheat germ :: 6 tbsp oil :: 1 egg replacer :: 1 tsp. molasses :: 1 cup mashed cooked carrots
Directions: Preheat over to 375?
?1. Combine flour, yeast and wheat germ. 2. Mix oil, egg replacer, molasses and carrots. 3. Combine wet and dry ingredients and stir. 4. Form into balls and place on greased cookie sheet. 5. Flatten with fork or cookie stamp. 6. Bake until lightly browned.
Native Edible Plants
Wild Ginger (Asarum canadense)
Wild ginger plants have two large, heart-shaped leaves. Between the two leaves is a one-inch purple-brown flower, shaped like a small bell with three flared pointed lobes. Wild ginger grows 4 to 9 inches tall. Its shallow roots allow it to coexist with larger trees. In moist soil, wild ginger will readily self-sow, carpeting the forest floor. It is a larval food source for the Pipevine Swallowtail Butterfly.
While mostly known for their rhizomes, you can also eat the leaves of wild ginger, which also have a gingery smell and a slightly bitter taste, and not destroy the entire plant.
This is but one of the many edible native plants found at the sanctuary.
From The Blog
Ignoring the global moratorium on killing whales for commercial use, Japan has decided to provoke yet another fight over marine life. Heading to the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary, Japan has announced plans to kill 1,000 whales, including endangered fin whales and humpbacks, in the name of "scientific research." Sea Shepherd Conservation Society and Greenpeace have both departed to intervene.
The Japanese government's "scientific" whaling program is a sham and a source of diplomatic tension between Japan and countries, like the United States, that support whale conservation. "Whaling has no place in Antarctica - it?s a place of peace and science, and this is not science," said Karli Thomas, expedition leader aboard Greenpeace?s Esperanza.
To read more from this post and others or to add your own comments, go to blog.deeprootssanctuary.org.
How To Get Involved
There are several ways to get involved with the work of Deep Roots. We are always looking for people to help out with construction, outreach, events planning, campaigns and more. We are also seeking the services of professionals such as veterinarians and vet techs, plumbers, electricians, accountants and lawyers. Whatever your interests and talents, there is a way to help out.
For a more complete list of volunteer opportunities, check out the Get Involved section of our website. You can also contact any of the committee chairs to find out when the next meeting/event is schedule or come to our weekly volunteer meetings.
Of course, being a grassroots organization, we could also use financial contributions. You can easily donate through our website, by mail or in person. If you are interested in hosting a fundraising party, let us know and we'll help you out! We are also seeking donated materials such as building supplies, food for animals, medications and so forth. You can find a full list of material needs on our website.
In Appreciation
As an all-volunteer, grassroots non-profit, we cannot exist without the awe-inspiring kindness of others. We sincerely thank everyone that helps keep Deep Roots going, and would like to extend a special thanks to the following people for their outstanding support.
$10,000 - $24,999
Andrew F.
$5,000 - $9,999
Michael Hoerger
Jes Neisler
$2,500 - $4,999
Jen Hoffman
$1,000 - $2,499
Donna and Mike Neisler
$500 - $999
Chad Frazier
John Rocheleau
Additional Support
Abbey Freeman
Boxcar Books
Bloomington Swing Committee
Boice Tomlin
Brian Bennett
Chris D.
DJ McVicious
DJ Spikes
Downtown 101 (The Lodge)
Greg Clarke
Joel N.
Kando
Madi W.
Mudd
Nick Deitrich
Rebecca Ciaglia
Everyone that donated art to the show
And, of course, John Loveland for the generous lease.
