Greetings

We are so excited to communicate with you over the fabulous results of the Fur Ball and the incredible time we shared with you. We also have creative holiday gift ideas for you and some important updates, one of which is critical legislation that needs your urgent action. We hope you enjoy this edition, as well as the beautiful fall weather. Happy Thanksgiving to you all. We are immensely grateful for your support.

Carole Baskin, Founder

	ONE MORE 2006 VOTE PLEASE!

Vote at www.WEDU.org to help us win this special award…

Last year our local PBS Station, WEDU, started a wonderful program to recognize non profit organizations in our area. The “Be More” Awards are given out in four categories, marketing, educational outreach, innovation, and special events.  We have entered the special events category based on our unique Fur Ball gala.  In addition to these four awards, there is an award based on which non profit receives the most votes at the WEDU.org website.  Would you take a minute to help us win that award by voting?  Just click here or go to WEDU.org, click on WEDU Be More Awards on the lower right side of the page under Featured Events, then on Vote Now in the blue box.  Thanks!!

	2006 Fur Ball Gets Rave Reviews

The most frequent comment we heard at this year’s Fur Ball was “I can’t believe you made it even more fun than last year!” The live auction, conducted by Wade West, was far more exciting than ever with 5 exotic international trips to Italy, Argentina, Africa and Paris.  The casino tables by DanMar were absolutely hopping as guests sought to win raffle tickets for ten great prizes, including four days in Africa and 30 days in a Jaguar XJ8 sports car. Shoppers loved the steals they got on great certificates and gift items at the Big Cat Bargains Sale. And the food! Both dinner choices by A La Carte, the wild Alaskan King Salmon and the Portobello Mushroom, were to die for.  They were perfectly complemented by the wonderful wine provided by Papio Wines, who donate part of their profits to wildlife conservation.  And the chocolate fountains from Heavenly Fountains had non stop traffic all night.  For details and photos click here

Special thanks to our generous King of Beasts sponsors, Jaguar of Tampa, Regions Bank and Teasdale Worldwide, and our major media sponsors, Cox Radio, Tampa Tribune and News Channel 8, and to our many other sponsors and 500 guests who gave of their time, goods, services and money to help support the cats through the Fur Ball!

We have also posted the highly requested video presentation from the event HERE

	Loss of Free Speech for Animals?

The Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act has just passed in the House and Senate. It has been deceptively attached to the Homeland Security Appropriations Bill HR 5441. It hides the truth about the way animals are treated in factory farms, circus acts and other uses by calling the investigation an act of terrorism.  It is misleadingly called a bill to provide the Department of Justice the necessary authority to apprehend, prosecute, and convict individuals committing animal enterprise terror.  The true intent of the bill is to keep the public from ever seeing what goes on behind the scenes of industries that abuse animals.

Since this bill was first introduced in January of 2006, Big Cat Rescue has been trying to bring it to your attention.  This is a matter of free speech and the danger of losing it. If we cannot get enough people to care about what is happening to our ability to speak up for the animals this month, this bill could become law.

We have provided the entire bill text on our web site and pages and pages of reasons, testimony and allies from the American Civil Liberties Union to HSUS in an effort to let you know just how dangerous this bill is to the animals, but only 3% of our supporters have taken the time to help. Our hope now is to get the President’s attention and veto on this. Please use our easy form to write him now.

Click here

	Holiday Gift Ideas

Calling all early Santa’s helpers! November is the perfect time to take the pressure off of December, and think about fun gift ideas for your loved ones. We can really help in that department. Never has our gift shop been filled with such variety and interesting items. Our on-line store is here for your convenience and is bursting with gift ideas. We would like to point out some special merchandise that we think you will find affordable and that offers variety. Maybe your teen would like to sport our cool khaki field bag? How about showing off your Big Cat Rescue support with our license plate, not to mention the vibrant magnets featuring stunning photographs of our cats? Maybe you can picture a family or friend game night, all gathered around our new “animal-opoly” or “cat-opoly” board games? If you’re looking for ornaments, we have two very special ones to tell you about. Please follow this link for all the fun shopping.

Start shopping here

	“Reach Out and Recycle”

Did you know you could bring in amazing funds for Big Cat Rescue by including our printer cartridge recycle bags in your holiday card mailings? Yes, when you send your personal greeting cards this year, you can simply slip in up to 3 of our lightweight flexible recycle bags. The recipients can use them to turn in old ink cartridges, and they will in turn, benefit Big Cat Rescue. This can be done all for the same card postage of $.39. Big Cat Rescue receives the proceeds from the recycled printer cartridges, so it’s win-win for us and the environment. Think ahead and make your request now to ink@bigcatrescue.org with your postal address and number of holiday cards you plan to send. We’ll send the plastic recycle bags to you with in a week or so. We thank you in advance for allowing us this opportunity.

	Conferences & Connections

“2006 Carnivores” was hosted in St. Pete by Defenders of Wildlife Nov. 12-15, and Big Cat Rescue was there.  Patricia Massard brought the event to our attention and worked on getting us a booth in the exhibit hall.  Regina Renaldi took on the lion’s share of staffing the booth and has several of our terrific volunteers spotting her.  Jamie Veronica and Glen Yancy signed up for the courses that include: Climate Change and Carnivores, Incentives for Carnivore Conservation, and Big Cats of the World.

Animal Planet’s Jeff Corwin and Dr. Alan Rabinowitz, the director of science and exploration for the Wildlife Conservation Society are some of the stars of the show.  Dr. Rabinowitz has studied jaguars, clouded leopards and tigers.  His work in Belize resulted in the world’s first jaguar sanctuary; his work in Thailand resulted in the first field research on Indochinese tigers; and his work in Myanmar has led to the creation of the country’s first Himalayan national park for Snow Leopards.  He spoke with Jamie Veronica about getting involved with the work we are doing to save the Jaguars in Guyana.  This could be very exciting for all of us.  Stay tuned for updates!

	Thanksgiving Fun for All

Going to have some down time over the holiday and need some ideas to entertain yourself and the kids? We have big cat news and photos, a new story book about Thanksgiving and also thirty three new screensavers, wallpapers, puzzles and fun Thanksgiving things to do. Enjoy browsing and playing!

Click here 

	Kitty Quip

“A kitten in so flexible that she is almost double; the hind parts are equivalent to another kitten with which the forepart plays. She does not discover that her tail belongs to her until you tread on it”

Henry David Thoreau