About me: Mission Statement:
The Animal Rights Coalition, Inc. (ARC) is dedicated to ending the suffering, abuse, and exploitation of non-human animals through information, education, and advocacy.
The Past ... And The Future :
The Animal Rights Coalition is the oldest and most successful animal rights organization in Minnesota, with over a quarter century of helping animals. ARC was founded in 1980 and formally incorporated in 1981. ARC's membership has grown over the years and it continues to be a locally and nationally recognized voice for animal rights in Minnesota.
During ARC's first decade, the organization focused on national efforts including national conferences held in Minnesota with internationally known speakers and participants.
ARC’s second decade saw many successful campaigns such as stopping the University of Minnesota Medical School from using live dogs in cardiology laboratory exercises and persuading the Animal Humane Society in Golden Valley to discontinue using a gas chamber for euthanasia. ARC successfully sued the University of Minnesota for access to records concerning the use of animals in research. Support by ARC members led at least one local school district to recognize students’ rights to non-animal alternatives to dissection. The national controversy over the Make-A-Wish Foundation granting a bear-hunting trip began when ARC formally voiced opposition and led to a ban on such trips.
In its third decade ARC is focusing on spreading the word about compassionate living. We believe we can continue to achieve our goals through practicing non-violence and compassion for all (including the human animal) and that positive change comes about from connection, communication, and education.
Our current programs include:
COMMUNITY OUTREACH
Community outreach activities vary from booths at large community events and professional conferences such as the Twin Cities Pet Expo, May Day Festival, Living Green Expo, GLBT Pride Festival, Education Minnesota Professional Conference, and Twin Cities Book Festival to leafletting at events such as the American Veterinary Medical Association national conference, to assisting the hundreds of individuals who call or email us looking for help with issues related to animals.
CHILDRENS PROGRAMS
Compassionate Kids workshops help kids develop compassion and empathy while empowering them to take action for animals in their own communities. With presentations at schools, community events, and scout troops this program has met with glowing reviews from kids, parents, and teachers.
All About Animals is a collaborative effort between ARC and Pet Haven to teach kids how to behave around animals so everyone has fun. ARC is working to expand this program to local schools and preschools as well as other children's groups.
VegKins is a unique social networking program for families raising vegetarian/vegan children. This program is designed for families with children five years old and under and offers them the opportunity to come together to discuss how they incorporate compassionate eating into their lives.
The Wonders of Wildlife: In collaboration with Wildlife Rehabilitation and Release, ARC has developed Wildlife Workshops for kids to learn about respecting wild animals and their habitats. Cuddle Coats is a complementary project where people can donate fur coats to aid orphaned baby wildlife in their recovery.
ARC SPEAKER SERIES
The ARC Speaker Series regularly brings in nationally known speakers such as Dr. Michael Fox, Harold "Farmer" Brown, Karen Davis, and pattrice jones.
BOOK SIGNINGS
ARC hosts book signings with authors such as Peter Young, pattrice jones, Hillary Rettig, Karen Dawn, Gene Baur, Tom Regan, Gary Francione, Dr. Michael Fox, Dr. Andrew Linzey. Dr. Neal Barnard, and many others.
COMPASSIONATE EATING
Rhymes With Vegan: ARC is teamed up with local vegan chef Meagan Holtgrewe to sponsor her new cooking show "Rhymes with Vegan." ARC is also partnering with Meagan on a "Rhymes with Vegan" cookbook and plans are in the works to offer cooking classes to introduce the public to the delights of compassionate eating.
Vegan Backyard BBQ Kit will help you introduce your family and friends to delicious vegan food. We've put together everything you need to encourage people to try vegan cuisine in a relaxed, informal atmosphere. Kits include postcard invitations, a suggested menu, vouchers for free vegan products to serve, coupons for vegan products for guests, information on vegan eating to share with guests, and much more.
HUMANE FARMING MYTH CAMPAIGN
ARC's "Humane Farming Myth" brochure challenges the myth of "humanely" produced animal products and is a compelling resource to share with family and friends.
Who We Are : The Animal Rights Coalition, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, tax-exempt, organization. Donations to ARC are tax deductible. Anyone interested in joining ARC is welcome.
Your membership dues are tax deductible and entitle you to receive ARC's bi-annual newsletter. New members also receive a free one-year subscription to VegNews magazine and the monthly Vegnewsletter e-newsletter. Since beginning publication in 2000, VegNews has become the most talked about vegetarian magazine. VegNews offers its more than 180,000 readers up-to-date information on living a compassionate and healthy lifestyle with such features as:
• The latest vegetarian news
• Intriguing interviews
• Travel tales
• Food & health
• Celebrity buzz
• Delicious vegan recipes
• Vegetarian city guides... from Los Angeles to Paris
• The hottest new veg products
• Global event calendars
• Practical advice
• Fabulous vegan weddings
and much, much more!
VegNews is printed on 75% post-consumer, recycled paper from New Leaf Paper. The stock they have chosen has been called an "environmental homerun" and is the best in the industry.
Responsible Giving
The Charities Review Council is an independent organization dedicated to empowering people in making informed giving decisions. The Council's standard "Use of Funds" recommends that charities spend at least 70% of their total annual expenses on their stated programs, and not more than 30% on administration and fundraising combined.
According to information on the Charities Review Council web site, the Animal Rights Coalition more than meets this guideline:
/>3-Year Average Charity Expenses
80.9% Programs
19.1% Other = (18% management + 1.1% fundraising)
Oh gah... I don't even know where to begin on pictures. LOL I have so many! I rescue as much as possible, on my own. So I have a whole rescue album of the ones I bring home. Usually I'm pretty lucky in finding their homes that day and they don't have to come back home with me. I still live with my parents, so it's a struggle bringing home a stray, because we have so many already. They used to be crazy about animals like I am, but I guess all the deaths have made them numb, but I still do what I can when I can.
Here are my three girl pups (My old man german just passed away recently, after 11yrs. :( So I only have my three girls now.
Sky (rescue pup, she was dropped off at petsmart a few years ago and no one wanted her, so she was the first pup I got on my own.) I always adopt black babies because they're the last to be adopted.
And Eva is my most recent adoption. She was on death row. :(
Thanks!! Feel free to use any pics of my animal family you like, all 3 of my dogs are vegan..2 of them are rescues...the little guy, Shadow was my mom's Chihuahua's "oops baby" that happened right before she got really sick and went into hospice, so he's my little momma's boy, lol... my fiance brought a mouse home who escaped a snake tank yesterday...he works at the school doing maintenance and found him wandering behind the snake tank in the science room! haha.. Lucky mouse! I plan on eventually getting all 3 of my current dogs tatted on me... the one I have done on my arm is my Shorty who passed away Dec 07... he was 15...and he was a bigger mommas boy than my Shadow..haha..mean little bugger too (to other ppl) Well, I'll be back to check out your albums soon...have a goodnight! ~Missy
You are so sweet. Thank you so much. I love Isabelle to death and is 7 years old. Vet says she so healthy shes gonna be here awhile( thank goodness) Thanks for the Add! Lynda
of course! thanks for the friend request. i don't have any pics to send since i have six rescued cats and they're all hard to get together at once for a family photo, and i couldn't pick a fave, but thanks for the offer. if you have any groups that you want to send my way, i'd love to add them!
Feel free to use any pics of my animal family you like, all 3 of my dogs are vegan..2 of them are rescues...the little guy, Shadow was my mom's Chihuahua's "oops baby" that happened right before she got really sick and went into hospice, so he's my little momma's boy, lol... my fiance brought a mouse home who escaped a snake tank yesterday...he works at the school doing maintenance and found him wandering behind the snake tank in the science room! haha.. Lucky mouse! I plan on eventually getting all 3 of my current dogs tatted on me... the one I have done on my arm is my Shorty who passed away Dec 07... he was 15...and he was a bigger mommas boy than my Shadow..haha..mean little bugger too (to other ppl) Well, I'll be back to check out your albums soon...have a goodnight! ~Missy
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