Dear All, Here is a media release I put out on the subject I am involved in at present. To put the matter to rest, I hope that any of those of you who eat meat or support rodeos don't take offence. I post these two posts because I have received several posts implying I am patronizing for not trying to explain why I am busy. (The name Blackie was later changed to Brenda as a name for the cow by the press- not something I am happy with (renamed after Brenda(n) Abbott - a bank robber here who remained at large and eluded police for a long time) Marguerite 24/8/98 Press release - Rabbit Information Service Blackie the cow - to be handed over to rodeo champ for breeding!!! On Saturday 22nd August, a large contingent of people entered the Murdoch bush area to catch Blackie the cow. She had escaped an overturned truck destined for an overseas live cattle ship 9 months ago and most of her comrads were shot dead on site at the time of the road accident. Blackie had made a daring escape into the bush after the truck overturned and recently residents of Murdoch started to complain about lawns being trampled on and of strange sounds in the night. Environmentalists also complained of Blackie's presence in the bush of this city suburb of Perth, Western Australia. Blackie has remained free in the bush for 9 months and council officers from the City of Melville Shire "say" they could not catch her (but they had not put out a public plea for help as far as I know - animal organisations only learnt of the debacle in the last couple of weeks). On Saturday 22 nd August about 10 horses and 20 state emergency team workers went into the bush reserve along with the Ross Wadell, stock person who shoots cattle for pet meat. He apparently used a laso to help trap Blackie and she was loaded onto a truck and has been taken to Murdoch University where she will remain for several days before being taken to the property of rodeo champ Grant Edwards to breed with his prize bull Silver City. Animal activists are very concerned for Blackie's welfare. They feel that she should spend the rest of her days with someone who is kind to animals not an abuser and exploiter of animals. I spoke to a Melville council spokesperson who said that they had made a "deal" with Ross Wadell and co that if they caught the cow they could have her. Animal activists were never notified of such a deal as having been made and it is very sad that Blackie be delivered into the hands of animal exploiters after her gallant attempt to stay free of humans for so long. An attempt was made on the weekend to buy Blackie the cow for $400 (her alleged market value) so she could retire to a kind hobby farm approved by Animal Liberation WA but apparently the rodeo breeder will not co-operate and wishes to keep the cow who is 2-3 years old. Last minute efforts are being made at this time to try and turn things around but things are not looking so rosy for Blackie the cow. End ****************************************************************************** ***URGENT - BRENDA THE COW NEEDS YOUR HELP-URGENT*** On Saturday 22nd August Brenda the cow was captured by Ross Wadell and friends at the request of MELVILLE City Council (Contact Mark Street). Ross Wadell apparently shoots "downers" at the Midland Sale Yards and is involved in rodeos in Perth. Melville City Council had PROMISED people who are compassionate towards animals that Brenda would be delivered into their hands and arrangements were in place to allow for Brenda to be transported to a compassionate farm home up until Friday the 21st August. Unknown to everyone involved, MELVILLE City Council had done a deal with Ross Wadell and co that they could have Brenda if they caught her!!! Brenda is now at the holding pen at Murdoch University awaiting pick-up to be taken to the farm of a RODEO PROMOTER. After escaping an overturned truck (her comrades were shot dead) on route to a live cattle ship and possible slaughter, Brenda lived for 9 months in the bush. It is UNACCEPTABLE that Brenda be delivered into the hands of one who profits from extreme cruelty to animals in rodeos. Please read the following fact sheets about the pain, injury and cruelty to animals inflicted on them at rodeos. Animal groups offered the rodeo promoter the market value of Brenda ($400) but he apparently declined the offer. Help stop the transfer of Brenda into the hands of an alleged meat eater who plans to breed her with his prize bull to produce more helpless animals destined for a cruel rodeo life or the dinner table. Brenda deserves better than this!!! Why was it alleged that the Mayor of Melville thinks Brenda is spending the rest of her days at Murdoch University? Does the Mayor of Melville know of Brenda's true fate??? *Contact Melville Council and ask for a rethink of Brenda's destiny and to explain to Grant Edwards and Mr Wadell that there was a mistake and that Brenda had already been promised to animal welfare groups. Does Melville City Council support rodeos and cruelty to animals? Phone +61 8 9364 0666 Fax +61 8 9364.0285 Mark letters Attention: Mayor of Melville, Melville City Council, Melville, Western Australia. *Contact Grant Edwards' Mogumber farm (08) 9651.9055 and ask him to relinquish his claim on Brenda so she may live out her life on a compassionate farm approved by Western Australian animal welfare groups. *Write to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Mr Howard Sattler, from 6PR "The Sattler File" has offered to help save Brenda - your letters of support would be appreciated. *Email [EMAIL PROTECTED] any letters of support for Brenda the cow especially mentioning the misleading of animal organisations here by Melville council and pointing to the cruel side of rodeo and why this is not a good ending for Brenda the cow. These letters will be printed out and forwarded to the Fremantle-Melville Community newspaper who are following the issue. *Write to To:Letters to the Editor, West Australian Newspaper, Private Bag 54, GPO Perth, 6001 Fax 9482.3830 Email [EMAIL PROTECTED] Authorised by Marguerite Wegner - Rabbit Information Service - Ph/Fax 9354.2985 25/8/98 ************************************************************************** =========================================================================== /`\ /`\ RABBIT INFORMATION SERVICE: _ _ (/\ \-/ /\) P.O.Box 30, Riverton, Western Australia 6148 (.\_/.) )6 6( http://www.wantree.com.au/~rabbit/rabbit.htm \6 6/ >{= Y =}< VEGETARIAN PAGE =\ /= /'-^-'\ http://www.geocities/RainForest/4620 /O\ / (_) (_) / \ ( | . | U U ) | |} Pity the human race its illusion of permanence (| |)/ \_/^\_/ w'-'w ===========================================================================
