Recently one individual below who has received communications regarding Nadas complained in the press about the language that some people have used to voice their opinions. Please note that offensive or threatening language is not only inappropriate, it will be counterproductive to the appeal to free Nadas. Ark Online strongly urges readers to voice their opinions in a responsible manner.
You CAN make a difference by sending letters, emailing and calling.
The following should be contacted. The names are in order of what we believe to be where contact will be most effective
Boycott Jackson County Businesses and Tourism - Send Email
Send Email to Oregon Newspapers
Contact John Kitzhaber, Governor of Oregon
Contact Jackson County Officials
Contact Oregon Livestock Organizations
Let us know of your efforts by sending us a copy of your letters to Nadas@arkonline.com
Refer everyone you know to this information and ask them to help!
On January 27th, the Oregon Supreme Court indicated that it would not review the appeal of the Nadas case. Please write to the Court urging them to reconsider. The court provides a 21 day period within which an appeal to reconsider may be made.
See the sample letter to the court and then send it or something similar to:
Oregon Supreme Court 1163 State Street Salem, OR 97310 FAX: 503-986-5560
Contact the internationally acclaimed Oregon Shakespeare Festival.
The Festival puts on a series of plays that runs from February through October. Many of us who live in Oregon customarily visit Ashland to see the plays, and patronize the shops and restaurants. The Festival has a big impact on the local economy. Tell the organizers of the festival that you will no longer attend the festival until the county commissioners agree to consider alternatives to killing Nadas. Shakespeare Festival organizers are very concerned about public opinion.
Contact:
Amy Cuddy Oregon Shakespeare Festival PO Box 158 Ashland, OR 97520 (541)482-2111 E-Mail: osf@mind.net
Contact the Medford Visitors and Convention Bureau.
Indicate that you will not travel to nor conduct business in the area until this tragedy is corrected. You may want to indicate that you are particularly fearful of what might happen to your own dog if you are traveling to the area:
Patti Bills, Executive Director Medford Visitors and Convention Bureau 1-800-469-6307 FAX: (541) 776-4808 E-Mail: business@medfordchamber.com
Contact the Southern Oregon Visitors Association (SOVA)
Let them know of your reluctance to travel to their area. Although they represent several counties in Southern Oregon, you may want to inform them of any decision to stay out of Jackson County.
Southern Oregon Visitors Association 548 Business Park Drive Medford, OR 97504 1-800-448-4856 sova@jeffnet.org
Contact the Ashland Chamber of Commerce:
Sandra Slattery, Executive Director Chamber of Commerce P.O. Box 1360 Ashland, Oregon 97520 1-541-482-3486
Contact Ashland City Government:
Mayor Catherine Golden City Hall 20 E Main Street Ashland, Oregon 97520 fax-541-488-5311
Ashland City Council (Alan de Boer, Ken Hagen, Steve Hauck, Don Laws, Susan Reid, Carole Wheldon) City Hall 20 E Main Street Ashland, Oregon 97520
Contact Businesses
There are several key businesses in Jackson County Oregon that have a large presence outside of the area. Two of the best known are Jackson and Perkins and Harry and David, two very large international mail order gift firms with their own web sites. They can each be contacted by email. Both actually are owned by the same parent company, Bear Creek Corporation, however each has its own Internet site.
Jackson and Perkins 1 Rose Lane Medford, OR 97501 1-800-872-7673 Fax: 1-800-242-0329 Email: comments@jacksonandperkins.com
Harry and David PO Box 712 Medford, Oregon 97501 1-800-547-3033 Fax: 1-800-648-6640 Email: comments@harryanddavid.com
Contact each company and ask them to put pressure on their county government to permit Nadas to be adopted out of the area rather than killed. Politely tell them you will not be able to purchase their products until the county reverses its decision. Although these companies are not directly to blame for the situation, they are refusing to get involved and ask their county government to reconsider, stating that they do not take "political positions". Tell them that this is a humanitarian issue, not a political issue. These companies now send a form letter to everyone contacting them about Nadas, indicating that they are not to blame for the situation but are forwarding letters of concern to the governors office. Thank them for that, but point out that they can have a real impact if they contact their local county commissioners and urge them to spare Nadas. This is the reason for the boycott of businesses in their county.
Also contact the CEO of the parent company:
Bill Williams Bear Creek Corporation 2518 South Pacific Highway Medford, OR 97501
Contact Public Radio in the area:
Jefferson Public Radio 1250 Siskiyou Blvd. Ashland, OR 97520. (541)552-6301 (541)552-6304.
The Medford Mail-Tribune recently printed a very personal attack on Nadas' owner, Sean Roach. We believe this was done as a result of pressure by certain special interests that objected to an editorial the paper had run, calling for moderation in the application of the livestock law that has resulted in Nadas' death sentence. This was a very brave position for a Medford Oregon newspaper to take. However as often is the case, economic and political pressures likely have resulted in a possible libelous article entitled Horse owner says she's not villain in Nadas saga .
After reading this article, you may want to Contact the Mail Tribune or Write a letter to the editor indicating that this cheap and mean spirited attack should not divert attention from the injustice of putting a dog to death for romping in a field with a horse.
The Oregonian, Portland's only daily newspaper, has given scant coverage to the real issues involved. Tell this newspaper how important the story is. When they do cover it, it is always from a sensational perspective that has little to do with the real issues involved. The important questions are not being asked. Such as: Why officials will not permit anyone to see or check on Nadas? Why officials publically claim they can't do anything now that the issue is before the courts, yet privately they are doing everything within their power to thwart any non-lethal alternatives to death, such as adoption by people out of state and away from livestock.
You can write a letter to the editor and send it via email. Letters from out-of-state residents are welcome, particularly if you refer to travel or business in Oregon. You can send letters to either one of the following email addresses:
Governor Kitzhaber's current position, according to his counsel, Jeff Brown, is that he does not have the authority to grant clemency to animals, that it is a county issue, and that it is the legislature's responsiblity to change the law and if they do so he will probably sign it. However there are remedies the governor can take now. In 1994, Governor Christie Whitman of New Jersey saved a dog on death row by revoking the forfeiture order used to impound the dog even though she could not, under New Jersey law "pardon" an animal either. In Nadas' case, this action would be entirely appropriate by the governor since no warrant was ever issued to permit the county to remove the dog from the owner's property. The issue is not, as the governor indicates, a "local" issue since state law is at issue. Also local County government is inflaming rather than solving the issue. Also the implementation of this cruel law makes Oregon look like a medieval backwater and is an embarrassment to his administration. And Nadas cannot wait for the legislature to act - he will die long before any changes are made. To contact the governor:
Governor John Kitzhaber 160 State Capitol Salem, Oregon 97310 (503)378-3111 FAX (503)378-6827
You can also register your opinion electronically at the link below:
Register Web Opinion with Governor Kitzhaber
At this time, we are recommending that you also contact the governor's chief counsel and chief of staff directly. Urge that they have the governor revoke the forfeiture order that resulted in Nadas' impoundment and refer to the action that the governor of New Jersey took, as described above. Jeff Brown has been very hostile to animal advocates on this issue. Contact his boss, instead:
Chip Lazenby Legal Counsel to the Governor 160 State Capitol Salem, Oregon 97310
And contact the governor's chief of staff:
William Wyatt Chief of Staff 160 State Capitol Salem, Oregon 97310 (503) 373-1565
Contact the Jackson County Commissioners and let them know what you think of their behavior. The commissioners are responsible for refusing to consider non-lethal alternatives such as permitting Nadas to be adopted by someone out of the area. Be sure to tell them that you are contacting Jackson County businesses and are holding them responsible for the Jackson County boycott. Be advised that what has happened to this dog could just as easily happen to your own pet under this interpretation of Oregon law.
Rick Holt 541-776-7234 Sue Kupillas 541-776-7236 Jack Walker, Chairman 541-776-7235 or send a FAX addressed to each/all at: 541-776-7565
To write the commissioners, send to the attention of each individual above at:
Jackson County Commissioners 10 South Oakdale, Suite 200 Medford, OR 97501
The Jackson County Commissioners get most of their campaign financing from the livestock industry. Apparently there are several influential individuals in this industry who oppose any leniency for Nadas and these people are the only ones the Commissioners are listening to. Indicate that this attitude is short sighted. If Nadas is killed, there will be MORE PRESSURE to remove any control that local government has to deal with actual livestock predator problems, since the public will see that these officials are not capable of acting reasonably.
Oregon Cattlemen's Association 1200 NW Naito Pkwy, Suite 290 Portand, OR 97209 503-229-6830 FAX: 503-229-5663
Oregon Suffolk Breeders Attn: Diana Benitz 13960 Fishback Rd. Monmouth, Or 97361
Pygora Breeders Ass'n Attn:Chris Utterback PO Box 1112 Clackamas, Or 97015
Oregon Farm Bureau Attn: Andy Anderson 3415 Commercial St., SE Suite G Salem, Or. 97302
Oregon Purebred Breeders Assoc. Attn: Sandy Ricksger 6622 South Miller Rd. Hubbard, Or 98032