Anglican Society for the Welfare of Animals The mission of the Anglican Society for the Welfare of Animals is to promote within the Anglican Church and wider human community thankful awareness of God’s animal creation and practical and prayerful concern for its well being.
Oxford Centre for Animal Ethics The Director, the Rev'd Professor Andrew Linzey describes the centre as a theological and ethical think tank on animals.
RSPCA Aims to prevent cruelty to animals by actively promoting their care and protection.
Animals Australia The peak body for 40 animal-related organisations in Australia.
Voiceless Voiceless will work to promote respect and compassion for animals, to increase awareness of the conditions in which they live and to take action to protect animals from suffering.  Voiceless is particularly active in education of the young, in encouraging ethical corporate practices and is a leader in promoting animal law.
Compassion in World Farming The world's foremost organisation working to improve the lives of farm animals.  This site gives an overview of their work plus trends and developments in Europe and of international significance.  In particular, the news archive will allow you to focus on Australian concerns.
World Society for the Protection of Animals WSPA exists for the sole purpose of raising the standards of animal welfare throughout the world.  WSPA works in co-operation with over 600 member organisations in more than 135 countries.
Quaker Concern for Animals in Britain  has had an unbroken link with The Religious Society of Friends since 1891. We seek to extend our testimony to peace and justice to include our fellow species, God’s creatures too.
We value our work with likeminded people of all faiths and none, worldwide.

The worldwide thrust to lessen animal suffering is gathering momentum.  Part of this movement is now the involvement of faith communities.  Because people of faith have been at the forefront of social change for centuries, their support, it is hoped, will increasingly influence thinking, both within their own faith and in the wider community.  To this end Best Friends Animal Society and the Humane Society of the United States have developed Animals and Religion programs. 

The Humane Society of the United States
HSUS seeks a humane and sustainable world for all animals, and is calling on all people of faith, as a reflection of compassion and mercy, to take a stand for animals.  HSUS is concerned for all animals and their wide-ranging website contains a wealth of information.   The organisation produces a monthly on-line newsletter – The Humane Steward – and you can sign up to receive it.  Visit www.hsus.org/religion

Best Friends Animal Society
The US organisation Best Friends Animal Society has given sanctuary to abandoned and homeless animals for over twenty years.  Dedicated to reducing the number of unwanted animals, it now supports numerous grassroots organisations in the States and worldwide  An indication of their success is that in the early 90s 17 million animals (mostly cats and dogs) were destroyed in the US.  That figure is now approximately five million.  To further their aim – “A better world through kindness to animals” - Best Friends has now reached out to faith communities, and after a retreat for religious leaders of over 20 faith traditions, “A Religious Proclamation for Animal Compassion” was unveiled in Washington, DC on 7th November, 2007.  To read the Proclamation, which you can sign on line, and to learn how Best Friends initiatives are reaching into a number of religious communities, visit www.network.bestfriends.org/religion

ASWALfA_letter.pdf

As a corporate member of the Anglican Society for the Welfare of Animals, the Diocese receives several copies of the ASWA Bulletin. If you would like to read the Letter from Australia in the current issue (reprinted with ASWA permission), click on the link above.

Live Exports
Due to international concern about the suffering caused by long-distance transport by sea and land to animals destined for slaughter in other countries, and the cruelty of the slaughtering process (from Australia, for instance, in excess of four million sheep are sent annually to the Middle East where slaughtering is nothing short of horrific), a global coalition has been formed, led by the World Society for the Protection of Animals.  Among the many groups supporting the campaign are Compassion in World Farming, Animals Australia and RSPCA Australia.  For information on the Handle with Care Coalition visit www.handlewithcare.tv/au.  The aim is for exporting countries to export frozen and chilled meat only

Help with the cost of spay/neutering of pets
Hunter Animal Watch works with over 30 veterinary practices in the Lower Hunter to offer pensioners a subsidized cost to desex their cat or dog.  If this program could assist you, or someone you know, please call 49664344 or 49641823 any Monday or Tuesday between 1pm and 4pm.

International Conference to be held in Newcastle

An Interfaith Service will be held in conjunction with the 2009 International Conference on Animals and Society: Minding Animals, on Sunday, 12 July, 2009.   The service will commence at 2.30pm at Christ Church Cathedral, Church Street, Newcastle, close to the Conference venue.  The service will also involve representatives from other Christian denominations, as well as the Jewish, Islamic, Buddhist, Baha’i and Hindu faiths.

The Conference will, amongst other aims, examine how, throughout history, the objectification of nonhuman animals and nature in science and society, religion and philosophy, has led to the abuse of nonhuman animals and how this has since been interpreted and evaluated. All the faithful are invited to attend the Service. 

The Inner World of Farm Animals: Their Amazing Social, Emotional and Intellectual Capacities

Amy Hatkoff, published by Stewart, Tabori and Chang, New York, 2009. 175pp, ISBN 978-1-58479-748-7.

Jane Goodall has written the foreword to this book, and says - “We have to understand that we are not the only beings on this planet with personalities and minds.”

This is a beautifully produced book, full of heart-warming anecdotes and charming pictures of farm animals.  It is divided into chapters featuring poultry of various kinds, cows, pigs, sheep and goats.  We learn of their joys and sorrows, their likes and dislikes, their devotion to their offspring and to their friends.  We learn they are very like us.  Each one is a unique being.

Many of these animals have been rescued and now live in animal sanctuaries where they are cared for, allowing their personalities to flourish.  We learn about their intelligence, their ability to solve problems, and their friendships, which often develop across species, and their sensitivity to one another.

Throughout the book there are comments and observations from scientists and researchers into animal behaviour, now increasingly studied in many universities, as well as the philosophical thinkers and writers of the animal movement.

This book does not set out to shock, but it is certainly intended to make us think, because it is not possible to read of these animals, the now fortunate ones, without one’s mind turning to the billions imprisoned in factory farms.  These systems are one of the evils of our time and we should not remain silent. 

The final chapter of the book is titled: What You Can Do: Creating a More Humane World for Farm Animals.  Suggestions are to spread the word that animals need our help, to get in touch with an advocacy and education organisation, to support a farm sanctuary, to become careful consumers, taking into account the source of our food and the manner of production.  We can all play our part.

To return to the beginning - Ms Hatkoff’s dedication reads:
“This book is dedicated to farm animals everywhere and to all those who are standing by, with, and for them.  It is my hope that as we come to see who they truly are, we will be moved to act on their behalf.”

“Animals are God’s creatures, not human property, nor utilities nor resources nor commodities, but precious beings in God’s sight…..Christians whose eyes are fixed on the awfulness of crucifixion are in a special position to understand the awfulness of innocent suffering.  The cross of Christ is God’s absolute identification with the weak, the powerless and the vulnerable, but most of all with unprotected, undefended innocent suffering.”
Andrew Linzey, Animal Gospel, Westminster John Knox Press, 1999.

For information on animal issues, please contact Olga Parkes, Ph: (02) 49 521358.  Or email her at ocp@idl.com.au.

Olga Parkes is the Australian representative of the Anglican Society for the Welfare of Animals. She is a member of the Executive of Animals Australia.