November 2014 – #MojaveDolphins

November 23, 2014
MojaveDolphins
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Protesting Dirk Arthur @ Riviera

Tags : dirk arthur events leopards ligers lions riviera hotel and casino tweet sheets wild illusions

Have you heard of the magician Dirk Arthur? It seems that many people haven’t, but that didn’t stop the Riviera Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas from hiring him on as their new act. Has the city already forgotten the horrible accident last decade with Roy Horn and his beloved Mantecore? Dirk is one of only a few performers left around the globe that continue to use exotic animals in their act. He was recently dropped from Caeser’s Entertainment Corporation, ending his shows at the Harrah’s casinos in both Laughlin and Reno, Nevada. Together, we can push the Riviera to drop his act from their bill.

Dirk Arthur says he is for conservation, but he has recently been cited by federal agencies for serious violations of the Animal Welfare Act, including forcing tigers and a lion to undergo a painful declawing surgery. This procedure amputates the last joint on each toe, and is highly frowned upon. He has also kept his large cats in metal cages with no protection from the harsh elements in temperatures over 100 degrees.

Activists gathered on Wednesday November 19th outside of the casino on the Las Vegas strip to protest Riviera’s involvement with Dirk Arthur. His show officially starts on December 1st, so local activists have come together to plan a 3 day long public awareness event taking place just feet from the open casino floor. Get together with your family and friends to show your support for the animals who are forced to perform 6 days a week. We will be meeting Saturday Nov 29th: 3:00-5:00pm. Sunday November 30th: 3:00pm-5:00pm. Monday December 1st 5:00-7:00pm. Posters will be provided, but in limited supply. Feel free to create your own. You can also help us raise awareness by dressing in animal costume/face paint. We welcome all forms of your creativity.

Please leave comments on the social media pages belonging to the Riviera Hotel and Casino–

Email the Riviera’s president, Robert Kunkle, and tell him you’ll be going elsewhere until the show is axed. [email protected]

Call the Riviera box office at 702-794-9433, press 2. Urge the ticket agent to forward your comments to management.

Join local activists thanksgiving wknd protesting #DirkArthur #WildIllusions @RivieraLasVegas Cruelty is no illusion pic.twitter.com/1RLJnlU6i3 (Tweet This)

Email @RivieraLasVegas Robert Kunkle and tell him you will boycott until #DirkArthur #WildIllusions is off the bill! pic.twitter.com/0Gy0pRI6Nf (Tweet This)

Call @RivieraLasVegas box office 702-794-9433 press 2. urge them to pass your comments to management #dirkarthur pic.twitter.com/4kzBM4PX48 (Tweet This)

There is no excuse for using big cats for entertainment @RivieraLasVegas It’s a recipe for suffering #DirkArthur pic.twitter.com/k2RmdLrTzd (Tweet This)

Caesar’s severed ties with #DirkArthur.. @RivieraLasVegas we ask you to do the same. 2015 is no time for animal acts pic.twitter.com/s9llPlKvyv (Tweet This)

#dirkarthur’s use of exotic animals is out of style. @RivieraLasVegas we will not support you while you support him! pic.twitter.com/EIPQ9WHMnF (Tweet This)

Roy Horn was mauled on stage @TheMirageLV a decade ago & now @RivieraLasVegas brings #dirkarthur #CaptivityKills pic.twitter.com/yxI7LdPoPK (Tweet This)

Hey @RivieraLasVegas Animal abuse is not entertainment. Drop the curtain on #dirkarthur #wildillusions! pic.twitter.com/4EP4ZxxUl9 (Tweet This)

#DirkArthur has left big cats in metal cages in temps over 100F! @RivieraLasVegas don’t be part of animal cruelty! pic.twitter.com/2NwYVLln4H (Tweet This)

#DirkArthur mutilates his big cats with declawing which violates #AnimalWelfareAct @RivieraLasVegas cancel the show! pic.twitter.com/J1T70RTdUt (Tweet This)

November 14, 2014
MojaveDolphins
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Pablo’s Protest

Tags : events

Category : protests & events

On November 8th, activists from the Las Vegas area gathered in front of the Mirage hotel to give a voice to the dolphins that have died within this facility over the last 24 years.

Over 20 people held signs and passed out educational information about the habitat within the casino in the desert. One activist came as a mermaid, and small children gathered around her to listen to the stories of the dolphins.

We were able to reach a lot of the vehicle traffic on the strip due to a group of motorcycle stunt riders who got stopped by police, causing a traffic jam for almost the entire protest. Our website logged over 200 hits that day.

While some may look at this protest and compare it to last months which had an attendance of over 100 and think we are failing, but that is not the case. The protest in October was a special event with Ric O’Barry where many people traveled from across the country to join in. With every protest, we see return faces, and many new ones. Our local group continues to grow, while online support has gone up by the thousands since May.

Our group collected over $80 in donations that will go towards printing up brand new brochures. Our next protest is on December 6th, and our focus is the dolphin “Rascal” aka “Wizard”. He was born at the habitat and died in 2004 after 3.5 years of life. His cause of death has never been released after a decade. We want answers.

November 10, 2014
MojaveDolphins
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Bad News for Big Cats in Vegas

Tags : dirk arthur riviera hotel and casino wild illusions

Category : big cats call to action protests & events

Dirk Arthur is a magician who uses large exotic cats in his act, even though he claims to be for conservation. His menagerie includes ligers, African and snow leopards, white, orange and snow tigers, and a bobcat. He has been cited by the US Department of Agriculture for violating several conditions of the Animal Welfare Act. The cruelties from the last 12 months include:

Declawing lions and tigers (Dec 2013)
Failing to protect a snow leopard from harm by confining the animal to a rusty and unsound enclosure (Dec 2013)
Confining a bobcat with a dangling chain that became caught in the fencing of the enclosure, presenting “a clear hazard” to the animal (Dec 2013)
Cages were far too small for the animals, and were denied access to exercise areas (Dec 2013)

In January, the USDA issued a formal warning about the way the animals were living.

Dirk is one of only a few entertainers anywhere in the world who still choose to use exotic animals in their act. Insurance costs are astronomical, and safety regulations have become extremely tight since Roy Horn was attacked by Montecore on stage during a performance at the Mirage, just 1.2 miles from Dirk’s new stage home.

Dirk has performed in the past at Ballys, the Silverton, the Plaza, The Tropicana, and Osheas here in Las Vegas. Earlier this year, he was performing in both Reno and Laughlin. His return to the strip was tainted when proof of his animal abuse came to light. Caesar’s told him to take a hike, so Dirk traveled up the strip 1.4 miles to the Riviera who hired him.

His shows start in just a few weeks, and he even plans to formalize a program to take to Clark County School District (and others when he travels) to use his animals to teach school children about endangered species. That may sound good on the outside, but it only further perpeutates the idea that we need to use these animals in entertainment acts to teach our children to care about them and respect them. Contradictory.

PETA has organized a peaceful demonstration on Wednesday November 19th from 12-1pm outside of the Riviera near the intersection of the Strip & Riviera blvd. Posters and leaflets will be provided.

It is important that we continue to stop the exploitation of all animals for entertainment purposes here in Las Vegas.

November 6, 2014
MojaveDolphins
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BenDeLaCreme from RuPaul’s Drag Race visits Death Pool

Tags : BenDeLaCreme call to action celebrities tweet sheets

Category : call to action celebrities

Not even an hour ago, BenDeLaCreme uploaded this photo to her instagram account captioning it “I refuse to provide any context for this image, #justwait“.

Update: As of 1:17PM Pacific, BenDeLaCreme has deleted all online references to her visit to the Mirage dolphin habitat.

Who is BenDeLaCreme? She is a drag performer from Seattle known for coming in 5th place and winning Miss Congeniality on the 6th season of RuPaul’s Drag Race.

It breaks our heart every time we see a celebrity visit this hotel and give publicity to the habitat through their social media accounts. The dolphins don’t have any shade to protect them from the heat in the summer, they display multiple forms of stereotypical behaviors, not to mention they suffer from the pox virus. 2 of these dolphins (Duchess, Lightning) were taken from their families in the wild. 3 of the dolphins (Sophie, Beetle, Osbourne) were sent from Seaworld on a breeding loan. It was after the first arrival of Seaworld dolphins in 2010 that the pox virus showed up.

We would like to take this time to reach out to BenDeLaCreme on her social media accounts.It is extremely important that when we attempt to educate people on the choices they have made involving dolphin captivity to stay polite. It is possible that Dela (or someone else) has no knowledge of dolphins and their natural needs. People are more receptive to what you have to say when you are not screaming at them. I have witnessed people leaving nasty comments, and it does not show the cause in a good light. Treat people with respect, the same way you would like the dolphins to be treated. We have provided a simple tweet list below, but may also copy the messages to her other accounts.

How to Contact BenDeLaCreme-

Tweetsheet for BenDeLaCreme-

.@BenDeLaCreme take the pledge at #MojaveDolphins.com Dolphins are sentient beings & #CaptivityKills pic.twitter.com/M76Emm5Bqi  (Tweet This!)

.@BenDeLaCreme join @VegasDolphins for a protest Saturday 3-5pm outside @TheMirageLV & learn about #MojaveDolphins pic.twitter.com/0fWaX7mD21 (Tweet This!)

.@BenDeLaCreme Did U notice Maverick covered in #PoxVirus? #MojaveDolphins suffering for 4 years w/ #DolphinPox pic.twitter.com/rgSZamakPd (Tweet This!)

.@BenDeLaCreme watch this video about #MojaveDolphins they are being driven insane, displaying stereotypical behaviors. http://vimeo.com/98403444 (Tweet This!)

.@BenDeLaCreme #MojaveDolphins on the news recently. The dolphins deserve more. Check it out http://bit.ly/WdFZIx pic.twitter.com/ybcLosTTkQ (Tweet This!)

.@BenDeLaCreme look into the eye of Maverick. He has #dolphinpox. #MojaveDolphins.Com has more info! Plz help us. pic.twitter.com/x14CKuWFWR (Tweet This!)

.@BenDeLaCreme listen to @RichardOBarry talk about #MojaveDolphins on Vegas news. Plz become an advocate for dolphins. http://bit.ly/1vQhhbz (Tweet This!)

.@BenDeLaCreme Were working hard 2 educate public about horrors of dolphin captivity, will you join us? #MojaveDolphins http://bit.ly/1qs82g9 (Tweet This!)

.@BenDeLaCreme #MojaveDolphins live barren & unnatural lives in captivity. Dolphins smile = natures great deception. http://bit.ly/13O0T55 (Tweet This!)

.@BenDeLaCreme can U spare 90 seconds to learn about #MojaveDolphins since U visited 11/6/14? http://bit.ly/1p638mA (Tweet This!)

.@BenDeLaCreme despite whatever @TheMirageLV told U- this is not conservation, its exploitation #MojaveDolphins http://bit.ly/1vQiM9T (Tweet This!)

.@BenDeLaCreme a day in the life of #MojaveDolphins Maverick who is covered in #DolphinPox #PoxVirus http://bit.ly/1E90kxN (Tweet This!)

.@BenDeLaCreme if U are still in town Sat, Join @VegasDolphins for a protest & learn more about #MojaveDolphins pic.twitter.com/K3S1YcjLLJ (Tweet This!)

.@BenDeLaCreme Mavericks #dolphinpox #poxvirus is only getting worse. Its from stress #MojaveDolphins need help! http://bit.ly/VL13G7  (Tweet This!)

.@BenDeLaCreme don’t become captivated by captivity. No beauty in stolen freedom. #MojaveDolphins pic.twitter.com/SMFsUjCIrR (Tweet This!)

.@BenDeLaCreme #EnoughIsEnough! visit #MojaveDolphins.com & see how U can help 10 dolphins in DESERT! pic.twitter.com/VsQSFhlNCQ (Tweet This!)

.@BenDeLaCreme 10 dolphins in the MOJAVE desert. 2 from OCEAN, 3 from SEAWORLD! R u saying u support that? http://bit.ly/1xdKstl  (Tweet This!)

#MojaveDolphins

Month: November 2014

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