Voice for Animals Humane Society facts for kids
| Abbreviation | VAHS |
|---|---|
| Type | Animal welfare organizations in Canada |
| Legal status | active |
| Purpose | advocate and public voice, educator and network |
| Headquarters | Edmonton, Alberta |
|
Region served
|
Alberta and Canada |
|
Official language
|
English French |
The Voice for Animals Humane Society (V4A) is a group in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. It is a non-profit organization, which means it works for a good cause instead of making money. V4A is dedicated to protecting animals. They want to keep animals safe from neglect, abuse, and being used unfairly.
This group is run by volunteers who care deeply about animals. They help all kinds of animals in many ways. This includes rescuing animals and teaching people about animal welfare. They also speak up for animals by talking to politicians, organizing peaceful protests, writing letters, and creating petitions. Petitions are formal requests signed by many people. Tove Reece, the president, has worked to protect animal rights for over twenty years.
Campaigns
Lucy and Samantha
Lucy, an Asian elephant, and Samantha, an African elephant, used to live at the Edmonton Valley Zoo. Lucy has had health issues, including arthritis and ongoing foot infections. Samantha had an injury to her trunk, losing about 20 centimeters of it.
In 2006, a special place called The Elephant Sanctuary in Hohenwald, Tennessee, offered to take both elephants. Many people supported this idea. They started writing letters and signing petitions to help move Lucy and Samantha.
In 2007, Samantha was moved to a breeding program at the North Carolina Zoo in Asheboro.
The Edmonton Valley Zoo stated in 2023 that Lucy has a breathing problem. They said moving her to a new home would be too stressful and could put her life at risk. However, the zoo also mentioned that their long-term plan is not to have elephants. The Voice for Animals Humane Society (V4A) believes Lucy's health should be checked by an independent expert. They also say that even if Lucy cannot be moved, her daily life at the zoo can still be made better.
In June 2009, another group called Zoocheck Canada started a "Kids Save Lucy" campaign. This campaign also aimed to help Lucy and improve her living conditions.
