2018 -- H 8069

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LC005435

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2018

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

CONGRATULATING DEFENDERS OF ANIMALS, A NONPROFIT ANIMAL ADVOCACY

ORGANIZATION, ON THE OCCASION OF ITS 40TH ANNIVERSARY

     Introduced By: Representatives Lima, Mattiello, Shekarchi, Serpa, and Winfield

     Date Introduced: April 10, 2018

     Referred To: House read and passed

     WHEREAS, Dennis and Patricia Tabella, inspired by the good works of Cleveland

Armory's group, the Fund for Animals in New York, and a childhood cat named Wishy, began a

40 year journey of caring for and defending the rights of animals. In April of 1978, they founded

Defenders of Animals, a non-profit organization whose mission statement is "To defend the

inalienable rights of both companion animals and wildlife through education, legal and legislative

activism"; and

     WHEREAS, Defenders of Animals has spearheaded the humane movement in the State

of Rhode Island. Through the tireless perseverance of its founders, Dennis and Patricia Tabella,

countless dedicated members, and dedicated legislators, the organization fought for 20 years to

end the barbaric practice of killing animals by using carbon monoxide. They succeeded on July

13, 2005, and in accomplishing this monumental goal, they have spared dogs and cats from

tortuous deaths. In addition, Defenders of Animals contributed to the passage of numerous pieces

of legislation such as the Puppy Lemon Law, Dog Protection Bill and Cat Permit Program; and

     WHEREAS, Over the last 40 years, Defenders of Animals, without compensation, has

advocated for the rights of both wild and domesticated creatures. Such advocacy involved:

helping to rescue Fanny the elephant, who was chained to a windowless barn at the Slater Park

Zoo; ending illegal practices such as jacklighting deer on Block Island; snapping the necks of

female swans in Middletown; and importing snowshoe hares from Canada for the purposes of

canned hunting and geese hunting. Other measures were taken to stop the killing of mourning

doves, prevent the destruction of the state's otters, and end the annual practice of hunting sharks,

antelope and raccoons. Additionally, Defenders of Animals brought to light the cruelty of leghold

traps which injured innocent creatures including Gideon, a cat who was featured on NBC/TV 10

after having his leg amputated, and Whitey the cat who almost had his tail amputated due to a

leghold trap; and

     WHEREAS, Defenders of Animals offers rewards of up to $2,000 for information

leading to the apprehension and conviction of persons who commit crimes of cruelty including

the clubbing and stabbing of three deer off Patience Island, poisoning cats in Bristol, leaving a

beagle in its cage to starve to death in North Kingstown, and an oil-soaked cat being burned in

Ashaway; and

     WHEREAS, The US Fish and Wildlife Service consulted with Defenders of Animals on

the master plan for Trustom Pond National Wildlife Refuge in South Kingstown which resulted in

the protection of the piping plover and other wildlife; and

     WHEREAS, In 1979, Defenders of Animals was awarded a contract to operate a no-kill

shelter at the East Providence Animal Shelter, which resulted in more than 1,000 dogs and cats

finding homes, and no healthy pets having to be destroyed; and

     WHEREAS, In addition to the previously mentioned acts of compassion, Defenders of

Animals dedicates the majority of its resources to placing homeless pets in loving homes and

eliminating the reproduction of homeless cats and dogs by bringing in spay/neuter veterinary

services to communities statewide at low or no cost to pet owners; and

     WHEREAS, Defenders of Animals seeks to keep the plight of animals in the public eye

and celebrate the souls of all innocent creatures by holding annual events such as the Homeless

Animals' Day and an annual candlelight vigil; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and

Providence Plantations hereby congratulates Defenders of Animals and honors its founders

Dennis and Patricia Tabella for 40 years of volunteerism and personal sacrifice on behalf of

innocent creatures; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Defenders of Animals' founders Dennis and

Patricia Tabella.

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