The Pegasus Foundation

PEGASUS HIGHLIGHTS
October 2002
******************************************************************************
IN THIS ISSUE:
Pegasus Helps Form New Alliance to Save Yellowstone Bison
Caring Circle for Animals Fund Launched
Including Animals in Disaster Planning
Island Nations Invited to Submit Proposals
Pegasus Organizes Florida Funders Meeting
*******************************************************************************

Pegasus Highlights is an occasional newsletter highlighting some of the recent activities and accomplishments of the Pegasus Foundation, a private independent foundation that supports environmental and animal protection programs. This newsletter is also available on our Web site at: www.pegasusfoundation.org


PEGASUS HELPS FORM NEW ALLIANCE TO SAVE YELLOWSTONE BISON

The Pegasus Foundation is currently helping to organize a new coalition to protect Yellowstone National Park’s bison, which can be shot and killed by the Montana Department of Livestock if they leave the park. Many organizations were involved in the issue but not all were synchronizing their efforts. Pegasus provided the necessary funding to bring the groups together in June to begin discussing how they could better coordinate with each other.

The resulting coalition, called the Greater Yellowstone Wildlife Alliance, now involves more than 15 organizations that are developing common principles, goals, objectives and strategies to protect the bison. Pegasus Foundation Executive Director Peter Bender serves on the coordinating council for the alliance, which last met in late September to further develop the alliance's strategic plan.

The alliance’s primary goal is to protect and promote free-ranging bison and other wildlife as an essential component of the Greater Yellowstone ecosystem. Alliance goals include publicizing the issue to a broader national audience, and working with government officials to change existing policies that fail to protect the Yellowstone bison herd.



CARING CIRCLE FOR ANIMALS FUND LAUNCHED

The Pegasus Foundation and Fleet Bank Private Clients Group recently launched the Caring Circle for Animals, a joint initiative to generate new funding for animal protection efforts.

Through the Caring Circle, donors deposit contributions into the Fleet Boston Charitable Gift Fund account in the name of the Caring Circle for Animals. They will then have the opportunity to meet with other Caring Circle donors to decide as a group how their pooled funds will be spent. The Caring Circle give donors a say in spending a larger pool of charitable funds than if they give individually to non-profits. Donors will also be able to introduce others to their favorite charities and to learn about new opportunities for giving through other Caring Circle donors.



INCLUDING ANIMALS IN DISASTER PLANNING

Recent disasters have demonstrated the importance of including animals in disaster planning. Some people refuse to evacuate their homes without their animals, endangering everyone’s lives. Animals abandoned during disasters are often left without sufficient food and water, and frightened animals that run away after being left alone end up either lost or filling animal shelters to overflow capacity.

In order to address the need to include animals in overall disaster planning efforts on Cape Cod, Massachusetts, the Pegasus Foundation funds a part-time consultant to bring together animal care agencies with disaster planning officials. The resulting Cape Emergency Animal Planning Team began meeting this spring to develop animal emergency plans. The team has surveyed shelters, kennels, animal hospitals, and other animal-friendly accommodations across Cape Cod to identify safe places where people could leave their animals during an emergency.

An animal disaster seminar held September 25 on Cape Cod served to educate and involve an even wider array of town officials, animal welfare organizations, and local and state emergency planning officials. The team is also working with the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency and the Cape Cod Commission’s Project Impact to help educate the public about emergency preparation for animals.



ISLAND NATIONS INVITED TO SUBMIT PROPOSALS

As an outgrowth of the Pegasus Foundation's sponsorship of the Humane Society International's April 2002 conference, Challenges of Animal Protection on Island Nations, the Foundation announces the availability of challenge grants for companion animal spay-neuter surgeries and related services in the Bahamas and Caribbean countries. The Foundation seeks proposals that identify collaborations with dollar-for-dollar matches in cash or in-kind contributions. Proposals are due by November 1. The full Request for Proposals can be found on the Web at: www.pegasusfoundation.org



PEGASUS ORGANIZES FLORIDA FUNDERS MEETING


Florida funders are invited to attend the first meeting of Florida Funders of the Environment and Animal Welfare on Nov. 14 in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. The purpose of the meeting is to explore how funders in Florida can more effectively work together to protect Florida's environment and animals. Speakers include world-renowned conservationist and author Mark Plotkin, and Clay Henderson, a leader in Florida's environmental movement for over 15 years. For more information contact Cynthia Frisch, Pegasus Foundation Florida Representative, by phone at 239-403-7979 or by E-mail at cfrisch@pegasusfoundation.org

*******************************************************************************************
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE PEGASUS FOUNDATION, CONTACT:

Anne Ostberg, Communications Director and Program Officer
The Pegasus Foundation
27 Merrimack Street, Concord, New Hampshire 03301 USA
603.225.3918 (phone) 603.225.4624 (fax)
aostberg@pegasusfoundation.org

www.pegasusfoundation.org
******************************************************************************************