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RANCHO SANTA FE NEWS
SEPT. 20, 2013
Abused pup adopted into perfect home
Jane Cartmill, president, San Diego Animal Advocates with rescue beagle Piper continues to fight against the practices of animal testing and captivity in San Diego. Photo by Lillian Cox
Activist continues fight against animal captivity, testing By Lillian Cox
ENCINITAS — Shortly after arriving in San Diego in 1981 Jane Cartmill accompanied a date to a small dinner party. Raised in Massachusetts, on a meat and potato diet, Cartmill experienced her first vegetarian dinner and an introduction to animal rights that evening. The hostess was Sally Mackler, founder of the San Diego chapter of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), which subsequently became San Diego Animal Advocates (SDAA). “We were kindred spirits from the start,” Cartmill remembers. “My first action was a demonstration at UCSD's University Hospital in Hillcrest. We were protesting the fact that salesmen from a surgical instruments company were using live dogs from the shelter to teach doctors how to use staples.” Pound seizure,a means of acquiring pets surrendered at shelters for animal experimentation, was the dominant issue for SDAA, followed by captivity at SeaWorld. “My favorite quote is ‘God loved birds and invented trees; Man loved birds and invented cages,’” Cartmill said. “Children want to capture bugs in jars and watch them. And it is a short trip from that activity to watching animals confined in zoos and theme parks.” In 1984 SDAA demonstrators joined Greenpeace to protest SeaWorld’s application to capture 100 whales in Alaskan waters. “Some whales were used for research, others for breeding and display,” Cartmill recalled. “The Alaska governor objected and SeaWorld dropped its application.” SDAA was also successful in preventing SeaWorld from exhibiting a great white shark, a species that’s never survived captivity. There were disappointments including an attempt in the late 1980s to persuade SeaWorld to release an orca named Corky — much like the
plot in the 1993 film, “Free Willy.” “Even though our demonstrations never resulted in her release, it was probably the first time most of the public learned that Corky was actually ‘Shamu’ and that every performing orca at SeaWorld was named Shamu to create the illusion that he never died,” she said. Cartmill said SeaWorld tried to thwart their efforts by restricting demonstrators to the sidewalk outside of the park. “San Diego Animal Advocates and I sued SeaWorld for violation of our free speech rights under threat of arrest, even though the park is city-owned property,” she said. “The case is still pending.” Today, Cartmill is heartened with SeaWorld’s report that attendance has dropped 6 percent nationally in the first half of 2013. “I hope this is an indication that films like “Blackfish” and “The Cove”are increasing public awareness of the truth behind capture, captive breeding and life in captivity for marine mammals,” she said. David Koontz is communications director of SeaWorld San Diego. “Since opening in 1964, SeaWorld San Diego has given more than 150 million people from around the world the opportunity to see, learn about and be inspired by marine animals, however, we realize there are individuals and groups opposed to the care of animals in zoos,marine parks and aquariums,” he said. Koontz adds that no organization is more committed to the physical,mental and social care and well being of animals than SeaWorld. “The real advocates for animals are the trainers, aviculturists, animal care staff and veterinarians at our park. We are very proud of what we do regardless of the inaccurate or misleading comments been made by those with TURN TO ACTIVIST ON A28
RANCHO SANTA FE — Pongo has a home. Pongo was one of four 5-week- old puppies found in a dumpster in Chula Vista last May. The puppies had been left for dead with their ears cut off. Yesterday, Pongo went home with his new family, Colleen Lanin and Phil Grossfield, their two children and their senior rescue dog and senior rescue cat. The San Diego family is a dedicated animal rescue adopter. Helen Woodward Animal Center received quite a number of applications but ultimately the Grossfield family was the perfect fit for Pongo. The adoptions depart-
ment sent this note: “Pongo went home with a delightful family. The couple was so nice and thoughtful they called each day after they met him to see if we had decided who would be taking Pongo home. They went on a shopping spree at our store and left with armfuls of toys and supplies. Our little Pongo would not stop licking the woman. We felt like he was saying “Thank you for giving me a forever family. They promised to send lots of updates which we all look forward to reading.” The remaining puppies continue their healing and hope to become available for adoption in the weeks ahead. For more information,
From left, Phil Grossfield and Colleen Lanin won the adoption of Pongo. Courtesy photo
contact the Adoptions ter.org or stop by at 6461 El Department at: (858) 756- Apajo Road in Rancho 4117 ext. 1, visit animalcen- Santa Fe.
An open letter to everyone under age 30 MOTLEY FOOL INVESTOR BY MORGAN HOUSEL Dear Millennials, There’s an old story about a guy taking a smoke break with his nonsmoking colleague. “How long have you been smoking?” the colleague asks. “Thirty years,” says the smoker. “Thirty years!” marvels the co-worker. “That costs so much money. At a pack a day, you’re spending $1,900 a year. Had you instead invested that money at an 8percent return for the last 30 years, you’d have $250,000 in the bank today. That’s enough to buy a Ferrari.” The smoker looked puzzled. “Do you smoke?” he asked his co-worker. “No.” “So where is your Ferrari?” When you think about money and saving, stop, look around and ask yourself: Where are all the Ferraris? Sure, not everyone with $250,000 should buy a Ferrari, or even wants one. But we know the rough financial position of average Americans, and it isn’t within hailing distance of Ferraris. Less than 60 percent of Americans are saving anything, and two-thirds of those who are have less than $25,000 salted away, according to ConvergEx. Almost half of Americans couldn’t come up with $2,000 in the next month if they had to, accord to the National Bureau of Economic Research. According to Nielsen Claritas, Americans age 55 to 64 have a median net worth of $180,000 — less than they’ll likely need for health care spending alone during retirement. How can so many Americans be so poor if accumulating a lot of money over time is as simple as saving a few dollars a day? Because most people don’t take advantage of what you Millennials have
in spades: Time. You have time on your side. Decades in front of you to save and invest. It’s the biggest financial asset you own today, and you’re probably not even aware of it. The single best thing you can do for your finances is to realize how valuable it is. I know you, Millennials. When you think about building money for retirement, you focus on earning more money later in your career. And why not? You’ll likely earn far more in your 40s and 50s than in your 20s and 30s. Waiting until you have a nice fat paycheck before you save money makes sense, right? Wrong. The average American age 16 to 24 earns $444 a week, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Those age 25 to 34 earn $707 a week. Workers age 45 to 54 earn $878 a week. And those age 55 to 64 earn about $900 a week. So, by the time you’re in your 50s you can expect to earn about double what you earned in your 20s and 30s. Optimistically. Compare that to the value of money saved and invested in your 20s and 30s, and we’re not in the same ballpark. For the last 150 years, the S&P 500 has delivered
an average annual return of 6.6 percent, after inflation. During that period, we had nine major wars, 33 recessions, a half-dozen financial crises and an uncountable number of really awful things happen to the economy. Through it all, 6.6 percent a year is what you averaged. It’s the best estimate we have of what stocks will return over the next many decades. And lucky you, earning a 6.6-percent return on your savings does nothing short of miracles over time. If you are 20 years old, every dollar you save today will be worth $18.50 by the time you are 65 (and that’s adjusted for historical inflation). If you’re 30, each dollar saved today will be worth $9.60 by age 65. Think about that. From the time you are in your 20s and 30s until your 60s, your weekly wages might double. But money saved in your 20s and 30s could very realistically grow tenfold by the time you reach your 60s. Saving a little bit of money when you are young can be a more efficient way to build wealth than saving a lot when you’re older. I know how ghastly the jobs market is right now, Millennials. And most of you lucky enough to have a job feel as if your paychecks round to zero. I get it. But don’t overlook the incredible asset you have in time.
Time allows the market to do the heavy lifting of wealth-building for you. Take advantage of that any way you can. Twenty dollars a month. One hundred dollars a month. Whatever. Any small amount you save now will likely be more important to your long-term wealth than much larger amounts saved when you’re older and earning more money. This might sound basic and boring, but in 40 years, you will not care what the 200-day moving average is, or how many basis points Treasury yields rose this month, or the short-term forecast of another welldressed analyst with a charming British accent. I promise. What will matter is whether you saved money and invested it for the long haul. I know you, Millennials. You’re spending $5, $10 a day on stupid stuff you probably don’t even like while working tirelessly in college and working to boost your future earnings. Once you realize cutting out the former can be as important to your finances as trying to boost the latter, you might find yourself closer to your goals. That’s how you leverage your assets. That’s how you turn cigarettes into Ferraris. Good luck.
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