It would be hard NOT to have noticed the amazing job that our national animal protection agencies have been doing this winter - but you may not know that two Chicagoans - one a well-known radio name, and one a new filmmaker - provided some of the force behind the efforts of two major animal protection groups this winter.  And, our own University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine has spearheaded important animal protection issues for a third group.

The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) has paid for a compelling series of ads on radio and TV that feature famous spokespersons such as hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons.  The ads warn about dog fighting, and let consumers know what they can to prevent it, from reporting known fights without danger to themselves to protecting their own pets from being snatched and used as "bait" for attack dogs, to letting consumers know how they can support HSUS's ongoing battle to eliminate dog fighting.

HSUS also sponsored the The HSUS' Knock Out Animal Fighting video contest. This video contest was their first major organized call for "user-generated content" – allowing its supporters to express their views on animal protection issues through the creation of videos, photos and other media.

The contest winner is Chicago's own Ms. Cindy Deir, who entered the contest only hoping to have her work featured on the website of the nation's largest animal protection organization. Ms. Deir recognized that Pit Bulls are intensely loyal dogs and that dogfighters exploit their positive characteristics to create violent animals.  Her message to viewers is a look at the issue through the dog's eyes. "I hoped that viewers would become attached to the portrayal of how a dog would feel about dogfighting," said Ms. Deir. "If a dog could talk, what would he or she say about it?"

Ms. Deir's winning video is titled "Ms. Paisley Sky" in honor of the dog featured in the video. Based on the acclaim given her work, the HSUS decided that Ms. Paisley Sky deserved to be introduced to Chicago television viewers.  "Cindy Deir's video addresses the undying loyalty that dogs used for dogfighting have toward those who betray them," said Sandy DeLisle, Chicago Anti-Dogfighting Coordinator for The HSUS' End Dogfighting in Chicago program.  "Ms. Paisley Sky" will air more than 15 times on Animal Planet, MSNBC, HLN and MTV2 from December 10–15, between the hours of 4 p.m. and midnight.

That's not all that the HSUS is doing to eradicate dog fighting in the Chicago area.  The HSUS' End Dogfighting in Chicago program, which has been developed over the last two years, features specialized police training about dogfighting, media and educational campaigns targeted to youths, a program involving street-level intervention with potential dogfighters, and more. To learn more about dogfighting and how you can help put an end to it, please visit humanesociety.org/animalfighting.

Overall, the HSUS continues to fight for the protection of all animals through advocacy, education, and hands-on programs. The Humane Society of the United States is the nation's largest animal protection organization — backed by 10 million Americans, or one of every 30. For more than a half-century, The HSUS has been celebrating animals and confronting cruelty.  You may contact HSUS at  www.humanesociety.org.  The HSUS' YouTube profile is available at youtube.com/hsus.

And finally...for those of you who have been alarmed about recent reports showing that, of the dollars you give to charity, often only pennies get to the charity - rest assured that with HSUS, your donation DOES get to needy animals.  HSUS is ranked as a Four Star Charity by Charity Navigator, a reputable national group that evaluates how much of your donated dollar actually gets to the charity to which you donate.  (If you've ever wanted to check out just how much your favorite charity gets from your donations, check out the group's website, at www.charitynavigator.org.)

The American Humane Association, one of the oldest animal and child protection agency in the United States, has awarded Chicagoan Steve Dale with its 2007 Media Award for his significant contributions toward increasing public awareness of animal welfare issues.

Dale is a certified dog and cat behavior consultant, national radio host, and for a decade, host of Pet Central at legendary WGN, Chicago. He writes a twice-weekly syndicated newspaper column for Tribune Media Services and he is a contributing editor at USA Weekend as well as a special correspondent for Cat Fancy. Through his various media efforts, Steve reaches more pet owners than any other pet journalist in America.

Dale is very well-known in the animal welfare field, and has been recognized by numerous organizations for his dedication to animals and the human-animal bond and for using his voice in media to affect positive change for animals.  “We are proud to recognize Steve on his outstanding commitment to pets and their families,” said Marie Belew Wheatley, AHA's Director. “His expertise is invaluable to American Humane and communities across the nation, so the 2007 Media Award is a perfect way to recognize his contributions.”

The American Humane Association is the only national organization dedicated to protecting both children and animals. Founded in 1877, American Humane is celebrating its 130th anniversary this year. Through a network of child and animal protection agencies and individuals, American Humane develops policies, legislation, curricula and training programs to protect children and animals from abuse, neglect and exploitation.

AHA's regional office in Los Angeles is the authority behind the “No Animals Were Harmed”® end credit disclaimer on film and TV productions, and American Humane’s office in Washington is an advocate for child and animal protection at the federal and state levels. American Humane has received a 3-star rating from Charity Navigator. Visit www.americanhumane.org to learn more about AHA.

And last but certainly not least, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) continues to do a remarkable job of alerting pet owners to the hazards posed by some of the goodies we have around the house during the holidays, though their poison control center located right here in Illinois. The ASPCA, founded in 1866, is the nation's oldest organization devoted to protecting animals. You can contact the ASPCA at: www.aspca.org.  They get a four star rating from Charity Navigators.

The ASPCA hosts the premier animal poison control center in North America, the APCC.  The Animal Poison Control Center was formerly run by the University of Illinois's College of Veterinary Medicine and is still centered there.  APCC toxicologists also hold teaching positions at the vet school, making the University of Illinois one of the leading centers in research on poisons that affect animals.  We think that the Animal Poison Control Center is your best resource for any animal poison-related emergency, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. If you think that your pet may have ingested a potentially poisonous substance, make the call that can make all the difference: (888) 426-4435. A $55 consultation fee may be applied to your credit card.