Osman Shrine Circus Still Stuck in the Past

The St. Paul Osman Shrine Circus continues to promote animal shows that include elephants, camels, bison, and ponies. Animals used in circuses for human entertainment are deprived of anything that might satisfy their complex physical, behavioral, and emotional needs. Circus animals travel at least 9 months of the year in cramped quarters and in all kinds of weather. When they are not performing, they spend their time chained or in cages. They suffer like this just to provide us with “entertainment.” Many of the tricks the animals perform are unnatural, physically uncomfortable, and can cause serious injuries. Please choose circuses that do not use animals, like The Pickle Family Circus and Le Cirque de Soleil, or visit vegan sanctuaries.
Join us at any of the following times to stand in solidarity against animal exploitation and cruelty:
Thursday, March 21st, 6:00-7:30 PM
Friday, March 22nd, 1:30-3:00 PM
Friday, March 22nd, 6:30-8:00 PM
Saturday, March 23rd, 9:00-10:30 AM
Saturday, March 23rd, 1:30-3:00 PM
Saturday, March 23rd, 6:30-7:30 PM
Sunday, March 24th, 2:00-3:30 PM
We’re also asking you to complete one or more challenges from the Call-to-Action options:

                     Eagan, MN 55121

                     darrin@osmancircus.com

                     info@osmancircus.com

                     St. Paul Osman Shrine Circus (osmancircus.com)

                     (651) 452-5660

  • Pick up stickers at Ethique Nouveau on February 1, 8th, and/or 10th from 12:00-5:00 pm to share the message and help promote animal-free circuses.

Mpls Marriott Northwest – Killing is NOT Conservation

The MN Safari Club International (SCI) World Hunting Expo will be at the Minneapolis Marriott Northwest on Saturday, January 24th, to auction off trips to slaughter animals across the world. SCI claims “to make a positive contribution to wildlife and ecosystems” while referring to hunted animals as “trophies.” Killing is not conservation. This event is a sick excuse to allow people to kill wildlife so they can snap a photo, hang the animal’s head on their wall, or use their skin as a rug. Read more about trophy hunting here: https://www.bornfreeusa.org/…/wildli…/trophy-hunting/…
We’re asking you to do at least TWO challenges from the Call-to-Action options below:
  • Post on social media (X-Twitter, Meta, Instagram, TikTok) about the SCI World Hunting Expo protest and tag the Animal Rights Coalition and the venues.
  • Create posters and join us at the protest (we do have posters available too). Slogan ideas for trophy hunting signs: Not Your Trophy, End Trophy Hunting, Hunting is Not Conservation, and Honk Against Trophy Hunting
  • Tell your local newspaper, TV news station, and radio station about the protest.
  • Leave a Google Review for the businesses and the venues hosting the events:
    • Search for the business you want to review on Google.
    • Scroll down to the bottom of the business’s profile page.
    • Click on the “Write a review” button.
    • Select a star rating and write your review.
    • Click on the “Post” button to publish your review.
  • Reach out to the Minneapolis Marriott Northwest and share your concerns that a respected establishment would host an event that promotes violence towards animals. Remind them that trophy hunting is a cruel “sport” that needs to stop.

Action for Animals at Cinch World’s “Toughest” Rodeo

Cinch World’s Toughest Rodeo is coming back to Minneapolis on February 2nd and 3rd to exploit animals for “entertainment.” Join us in standing up against cruelty to animals by peacefully protesting outside the Xcel Energy Center in February on Friday the 2nd and Saturday the 3rd, from 6:30-8:00 PM.

This rodeo includes bareback riding, saddle bronc riding, bull riding, and barrel racing. The horses, bulls, and steer, often suffer broken ribs, backs, and legs, torn tails, punctured lungs, internal organ damage, ripped tendons, torn ligaments, snapped necks, and agonizing deaths. More information on why rodeos are cruel can be found here.

These animals did not sign up for this, and they deserve better.

We ask you to meet at least TWO challenges from the Call-to-Action options below:

  • Sign ARC’s petition to Stop the Exploitation of Animals at Cinch World’s Toughest Rodeo.
  • Post on social media (X-Twitter, Meta, Instagram, TikTok) about the Cinch World’s Toughest Rodeo protests. Tag the Animal Rights Coalition and Xcel Energy Center.
  • Create posters and join us at the protests. Slogan ideas for rodeo signs: “Only Bullies Ride Bulls”, “Stop Bull Riding”, “Bull Riding is Cruel”, or “Rodeo Animals are Electrocuted, Tormented, and Terrified.”
  • Tell your local newspaper, TV news station, and radio station about the protests.
  • Contact Xcel Energy Center and encourage them to only host cruelty free events at their venue. Let them know that animals are forced to participate in the rodeo, putting unnecessary stress and harm on the animals. Xcel doesn’t need to benefit financially from cruelty to animals. Rodeos are a cruel “sport” that needs to stop, and their business can refuse to host them.
  • Leave a Google Review for the Xcel Energy Center:
    • Go to the Google Maps website or mobile app.
    • Search for the business you want to review.
    • Scroll down to the bottom of the business’s profile page.
    • Click on the “Write a review” button.
    • Select a star rating and write your review.
    • Click on the “Post” button to publish your review.
  • Pass out ten copies of the Rodeo B.S. Fact Sheet

Retiring Staff Member – Heidi Greger

Please join us in a huge THANK YOU to Heidi Greger as she retires from her Program Manager position with the Animal Rights Coalition. Heidi plans to continue her involvement with ARC as a volunteer, but this is a great time to look back on her many accomplishments (so far!):

  • Served as the Animal Rights Coalition board vice-president to president Mary Britton Clouse for three years and helped to significantly increase ARC’s annual budget.
  • Played a role in ending dog labs at the University of Minnesota while vice-president of ARC.  (These were labs for first-year medical students where students were given dogs to cut open and perform procedures on, and the dogs were then killed at the end of the experiment.)
  • Worked on the successful campaigns against illegal actions of several University of Minnesota USDA Class B dealers who sold dogs to the U of M; these campaigns provided information to a local TV channel for an in-depth expose on B dealers. After the expose and one of the U’s dog dealers losing his USDA license, the U of M finally discontinued the dog labs.
  • Helped end the Rent-A-Rabbit program at the Animal Humane Society in Golden Valley.  (AHS would actually purchase rabbits to be rented out for a fee to the public.)
  • Was part of ARC’s University Records Project and successful lawsuit against the U of MN to open research records to the public.
  • Participated in the campaign for Make-A-Wish chapters to stop granting wishes involving hunting, shooting, or sport-shooting equipment, including archery gear. Because of pressure from ARC and other organizations, the Make-A-Wish board of directors ultimately reversed their policy and prohibited its chapters from granting these types of wishes.
  • Helped in the creation of ARC’s vegan store Ethique Nouveau. Early on, the store supported new vegan businesses and had the first vegan pop-ups in the metro for many now successful vegan businesses.
  • Took the ARC State Fair campaign from an idea to a reality by researching and creating a very effective strategy and website for the campaign.
  • Surprised the audience with her gorgeous voice and singing with her late husband’s band at the Cabooze in Minneapolis at one of the ARC “Unleashed” fundraising concerts in the 90s.

Thank you for your endless compassion and commitment to advocating for the animals, Heidi! ARC is grateful you’ll be sticking around to volunteer!

Humane Blaine Pet Store Ordinance

In 2022, Queschen M. and her daughter Bella purchased their puppy Lulu, from Four Paws and A Tail, a pet store located in the city of Blaine. Lulu was sick a few days after purchase and had to be euthanized a month later; she was diagnosed with hypoglycemia (common with toy breeds sold through pet stores) and encephalitis (inflammation of the brain; an inheritable disease, often due to unhealthy breeding dogs or poor conditions). Lulu was bred by a dog breeder in Wisconsin: Miller Kennel, USDA license # 35-A-0376. This situation is not an isolated case.

ARC’s Go Humane Blaine coalition has been working behind the scenes, gathering information, requesting state records, talking to folks who have purchased sick puppies, and attending city council meetings to raise awareness about puppy mill puppies being sold in Blaine. ARC and Lulu’s family would love your support on this petition, so this injustice doesn’t happen to other families and dogs. If you’d like to get involved in this campaign, send us an email at gohumaneblaine@gmail.com.

Sign the petition: http://www.gohumaneblaine.com/take-action-sign-petition.html

Follow Minnesotan’s Exposing the Pet Trade on Facebook for news and updates: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100057607301282

Advocating for Animals Since 1980

Support the cause of compassion! Join us in making a difference for our animal friends by contributing to the Animal Rights Coalition through GiveMN this November. Your donation empowers us to advocate for and protect the rights of animals across Minnesota. Together let’s create a more humane world.

Your donation today will be matched by an anonymous patron up to $10,000!

Did you know you can TRIPLE your impact? Many employers offer matching gift programs that can double your donation to ARC. Matching gifts allow generous donations to go twice as far for our goal of ending the suffering, abuse, and exploitation of non-human animals through information, education, and advocacy. And it’s easy to request a match?. Check with your HR department to see if your employer participates.

Donate now at GiveMN: https://www.givemn.org/organization/Animal-Rights-Coalition

ARC’s 28th Annual Friendsgiving Potluck

Join ARC for the 28th Annual Turkey-Free Friendsgiving Potluck on Sunday, November 12th, from 4:00-6:00 pm! This is a wonderful event to bring your friends and family to and show them how delicious vegan holiday eating can be. You do not have to be vegan or vegetarian to attend, but please bring a vegan dish to share! Beverages will be provided, along with a variety of vegan cheeses and vegan turkey roasts to sample.

We are looking forward to sharing a special meal with all of our friends, longtime and brand new! Location is Living Spirit United Methodist Church, 4501 Bloomington Ave. in Minneapolis. Please RSVP so we know how many people to expect: https://fb.me/e/1y3wvLDh0

If you’re interested in volunteering, help is needed to set up before, staff the plant-based cheese table and kids table, greet people as they enter, take photos, help the dishwasher, and clean up at the end.

Sign up to volunteer here: https://forms.gle/MutbwtcSJ8F89V667

Join ARC on Slack!

All members of the Animal Rights Coalition are encouraged to join Slack, a simple and incredibly useful instant messaging app. Slack has transformed the way organizations communicate. We’re offering Slack as the simplest and most effective way for volunteers to connect and build an online community of animal activists in Minnesota!

Using Slack, you can get automatic updates on upcoming events, receive calls to action right from your phone, ask advice, and start conversations about your volunteer experiences with ARC and other volunteers just like you – instantly!

Curious if an event is canceled due to the weather? Looking for someone to carpool with to a protest? Not sure where to find our group for your volunteer shift? Just head over to Slack and ask your network instantly! By abandoning long email chains and opening up the conversation, we can bring more people to the table and get quicker and more efficient results.

Join in the conversation now by signing up as a volunteer with ARC!