Four Paws International Inc

OUR VISION IS A WORLD WHERE HUMANS TREAT ANIMALS WITH RESPECT, EMPATHY AND UNDERSTANDING. FOUR PAWS MISSION IS TO BE THE STRONG, GLOBAL AND INDEPENDENT VOICE FOR ANIMALS.

FOUR PAWS EDUCATION AND ADVOCACY WORK ON BEHALF OF ANIMALS:FOUR PAWS IS WORKING TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC AND TO MOBILIZE THEM TO TAKE SPECIFIC ACTIONS THAT PROVIDE SUPPORT, POSITIVE CHANGES, AND PROTECTIONS FOR ANIMALS. FOUR PAWS IS DOING THIS IN SEVERAL WAYS:ANIMAL-FRIENDLY FASHION. FOUR PAWS IS WORKING GLOBALLY TO EDUCATE CONSUMERS ON THE USE OF ANIMALS IN FASHION (SUCH AS FUR, DOWN FEATHERS, WOOL, AND EXOTIC ANIMAL LEATHER) AND AIMS TO BUILD A COMPASSIONATE FASHION MOVEMENT.ANIMAL-FRIENDLY FASHION. FOUR PAWS IS WORKING GLOBALLY TO EDUCATE CONSUMERS ON THE USE OF ANIMALS IN FASHION (SUCH AS FUR, DOWN FEATHERS, WOOL, AND EXOTIC ANIMAL LEATHER) AND AIMS TO BUILD A COMPASSIONATE FASHION MOVEMENT. AS PART OF OUR WEAR IT KIND PROGRAM, IN ADDITION TO CONSUMER EDUCATION WE ENGAGE WITH FASHION BRANDS TO IMPROVE THEIR ANIMAL WELFARE POLICIES AND REDUCE THEIR USE OF ANIMAL-DERIVED MATERIALS, INCLUDING ELIMINATING CRUEL ANIMAL TEXTILES SUCH AS FUR AND EXOTIC SKINS, AND TO INCREASE POLICY TRANSPARENCY FOR THEIR CONSUMERS AND WITHIN THEIR SUPPLY CHAINS. OVERALL, WE WANT TO RAISE CONSUMER AND BRAND AWARENESS OF ANIMAL CRUELTY WITHIN THE FASHION INDUSTRY, MOVE PEOPLE TO MAKE ANIMAL-FRIENDLY FASHION CHOICES, ENSURE THE WELL-BEING OF ANIMALS IS RECOGNIZED AND INCLUDED WITHIN THE "ETHICAL FASHION" MOVEMENT, AND ULTIMATELY IMPROVE STANDARDS OF ANIMAL WELFARE AROUND THE WORLD. ENDING THE COMMERCIAL TRADING AND BREEDING OF BIG CATS. FOUR PAWS IS WORKING TO END THE ONGOING EXPLOITATION OF BIG CATS, PARTICULARLY IN SOUTH AFRICA. IN ADDITION TO AFRICAN LIONS, WHO ARE OFTEN USED IN TOURIST ATTRACTIONS AND THE BRUTAL CANNED AND TROPHY HUNTING INDUSTRIES, OTHER BIG CATS LIKE TIGERS, LEOPARDS, AND JAGUARS ARE ALSO INTENSIVELY BRED AND COMMERCIALLY TRADED FOR THEIR BODY PARTS TO BE USED AS LUXURY ITEMS OR FOR TRADITIONAL MEDICINES IN ASIA. THROUGH THESE EFFORTS, WE AIM TO END THE FARMING AND INTERNATIONAL TRADE OF BIG CATS FROM SOUTH AFRICA, ALONG WITH PRESSURING THE U.S. GOVERNMENT TO BAN ALL IMPORTS OF BIG CAT TROPHIES INTO THE U.S. FOUR PAWS USA HAS SUBMITTED SEVERAL PUBLIC COMMENTS TO THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, AND THE U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE CONCERNING TROPHY HUNTING AND THE NEEDED REVERSAL OF HARMFUL CHANGES MADE TO THE ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT UNDER THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION.ENDING THE TIGER TRADE. FOUR PAWS IS WORKING TO BAN THE CRUEL TIGER TRADE IN THE EUROPEAN UNION. THROUGH OUR RESEARCH AND UNDERCOVER INVESTIGATIONS, FOUR PAWS HAS DISCOVERED THAT TIGER TRADERS OPERATING IN EUROPE ARE ABLE TO SELL AND FACILITATE THE TRANSFER OF TIGERS TO ASIAN COUNTRIES, WHERE DEMAND FOR THEIR PARTS FOR USE IN TRADITIONAL MEDICINE IS CAUSING MASS CRUELTY AND A DECLINE OF THE SPECIES. THE KILLING OF CAPTIVE-BRED LIONS AND TIGERS IN SOUTH AFRICA ALSO CONTRIBUTES TO THIS ISSUE, AS THE LION BONE TRADE IS USED AS A COVER TO SWAP ONE BIG CAT SPECIES OF BONES FOR ANOTHER'S, WHICH PLAYS INTO KEEPING CONSUMER DEMAND HIGH FOR BOTH BIG CAT SPECIES. FOUR PAWS USA ALSO WORKS TO END THE EXPLOITATION OF BIG CATS IN THE U.S. AND SUPPORTS PASSAGE OF THE BIG CAT PUBLIC SAFETY ACT, WHICH WOULD END THE EXCESSIVE BREEDING AND ABUSE OF THOUSANDS OF TIGERS, LIONS, AND OTHER BIG CATS USED FOR ENTERTAINMENT AND KEPT IN TERRIBLE CONDITIONS AS EXOTIC PETS.WILD ANIMALS IN CIRCUSES. MANY WILD ANIMALS ARE STILL SUFFERING IN CIRCUSES AROUND THE WORLD. TRAVELING CIRCUSES ARE SIMPLY NOT ABLE TO TAKE THE NEEDS OF THEIR PERFORMING ANIMALS INTO CONSIDERATION OR MAKE IT A PRIORITY. THE BUSINESS CONSTANTLY MOVES FROM LOCATION TO LOCATION AND IS UNABLE TO PROVIDE ANY SPECIES-APPROPRIATE LIVING CONDITIONS FOR THE ANIMALS OR ROOM FOR THE ANIMALS TO EXHIBIT THEIR NATURAL BEHAVIORS. FOUR PAWS HAS CONTINUED ITS ADVOCACY WORK TO END THE USE OF WILD ANIMALS IN CIRCUSES, WHICH HAS LED TO SOME LEGAL BANS IN EUROPE PLUS STATE AND CITY BANS IN THE U.S. THROUGH OUR PARTNERSHIPS AND COALITIONS, FOUR PAWS USA ADVOCATES FOR STATE AND FEDERAL LEGISLATION TO BAN THE USE OF EXOTIC ANIMALS IN CIRCUSES, WHILE ALSO EDUCATING THE PUBLIC ABOUT WHAT LIFE IS REALLY LIKE FOR ANIMALS USED FOR ENTERTAINMENT AND TOURISM. ENDING THE DOG AND CAT MEAT TRADE IN SOUTHEAST ASIA. AN ESTIMATED 10 MILLION DOGS AND SEVERAL MILLION CATS ARE KILLED FOR THE MEAT TRADE EVERY YEAR IN SOUTHEAST ASIA, MAKING IT ARGUABLY ONE OF THE MOST SEVERE COMPANION ANIMAL WELFARE ISSUES IN THE REGION, IF NOT IN THE WORLD. FOUR PAWS IS FOCUSING ON THE DOG AND CAT MEAT TRADE IN THREE COUNTRIES - CAMBODIA, VIETNAM, AND INDONESIA. FOUR PAWS HAS ESTABLISHED PARTNERSHIP PROGRAMS WITH LOCAL CHARITIES IN EACH COUNTRY, ALONG WITH WORKING WITH GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AND OTHER GROUPS CONNECTED TO THE TRADE IN ORDER TO PROVIDE COMMUNITY EDUCATION, RESCUES, VETERINARY SERVICES, SPAY/NEUTER PROGRAMS, AND OTHER IMPORTANT SERVICES. FOUR PAWS AIMS TO END THE DOG AND CAT MEAT TRADE IN SOUTHEAST ASIA BY REDUCING THE THEFT OF DOGS AND CATS, DECREASING THE DEMAND FOR DOG AND CAT MEAT, AND INTRODUCING APPROPRIATE LEGISLATION AND ENFORCEMENT TO END THE TRADE.SINCE 2019, FOUR PAWS HAS CLOSED THREE DOG SLAUGHTERHOUSES IN CAMBODIA AND ONE CAT MEAT RESTAURANT AND SLAUGHTERHOUSE IN VIETNAM, RESCUING OVER 135 DOGS AND CATS AND TAKING THEM INTO OUR CARE. WE HAVE SUCCESSFULLY TRANSPORTED OVER FORTY RESCUED DOGS AND EIGHT CATS TO THE UNITED STATES, WHERE THEY WERE TAKEN TO LOCAL SHELTER PARTNERS AND ADOPTED INTO LOVING, FOREVER HOMES. WITH ALL OF THESE CLOSURES, FOUR PAWS HAS ASSISTED THE OWNERS WITH LIVELIHOOD CONVERSIONS TO OPERATE NEW BUSINESSES THAT DO NOT HARM ANIMALS. SAVING THE SADDEST BEARS. FOR MANY YEARS, FOUR PAWS HAS BEEN ON THE FOREFRONT IN IMPROVING THE WAY WILD ANIMALS IN EUROPE ARE KEPT. EXPANDING BEYOND EUROPE, SAVE THE SADDEST BEARS IS THE UMBRELLA TERM FOR OUR GLOBAL EFFORT TO FIND SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS FOR BEARS SUFFERING IN SUBSTANDARD CONDITIONS IN CAPTIVITY AROUND THE WORLD. THIS MEANS ADVOCATING FOR BEARS ON A LEGISLATIVE LEVEL HELPING TO MAKE PRIVATE OWNERSHIP AND BEAR BAITING ILLEGAL IN MANY COUNTRIES, WHILE ALSO RUNNING SEVEN BEAR SANCTUARIES, WITH SIX ACROSS EUROPE AND ONE IN ASIA. AN IMPORTANT PART OF THIS GOAL IS THE LEGAL BAN OF PRIVATE OWNERSHIP OF BEARS, WHICH NOW HAS BEEN IMPLEMENTED BY MANY COUNTRIES. FOUR PAWS USA ADVOCATES FOR SIMILAR LEGISLATIVE CHANGES TO PROTECT BOTH WILD AND CAPTIVE BEARS IN THE U.S. AS WELL.BILE BEARS IN ASIA. THE BEAR BILE INDUSTRY IS A GROWING BLACK MARKET WHERE ILLEGALLY CAPTURED BEARS IN ASIA ARE KEPT FOR BILE EXTRACTION, A TERRIFYING AND PAINFUL PROCESS THAT INCLUDES PIERCING A BEAR'S ABDOMINAL WALL AND GALLBLADDER. IT IS ESTIMATED THAT 317 BEARS ARE STILL LIVING IN APPALLINGLY CRUEL CONDITIONS ON 99 BILE FARMS IN VIETNAM. THROUGH FOUR PAWS'S PROGRAM AND CAMPAIGN WORK TO SAVE BILE BEARS IN VIETNAM, WE ARE PROVIDING ON-THE-GROUND SUPPORT FOR RESCUED BEARS AND DEVELOPING A COMPREHENSIVE STRATEGY TO RESCUE THE LAST OF THE VIETNAMESE BILE BEARS. TO AID THESE MISSIONS, FOUR PAWS PARTNERED WITH THE VIETNAMESE GOVERNMENT AND OPENED A BEAR SANCTUARY IN NINH BINH TO PROVIDE LIFE-LONG HOMES FOR FORMER BILE BEARS. THE SANCTUARY IS NOW HOME TO 48 FORMER BILE BEARS AND PLANS TO CONTINUE TO HOUSE MORE BEARS AS THE BILE BEAR TRADE IS CRACKED DOWN UPON BY THE VIETNAMESE GOVERNMENT.

PROVIDING DISASTER RELIEF IN EMERGENCY SITUATIONS:THE DISASTER RELIEF UNIT WORKS TO ASSIST COMMUNITIES WITH ANIMALS AFFECTED BY DISASTERS BY REACHING OUT TO LOCAL AUTHORITIES AND STRATEGIC PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS ON THE GROUND TO SUPPORT EFFORTS WITH ANIMAL RESCUE AND CARE, VETERINARY PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICES, AND THE PROTECTION OF LIVELIHOODS. OUR WORK AIMS TO BUILD RESILIENT COMMUNITIES THROUGH DISASTER RISK REDUCTION POLICIES THAT ARE INCLUSIVE OF ANIMALS.THE DISASTER RELIEF UNIT WORKS TO ASSIST COMMUNITIES WITH ANIMALS AFFECTED BY DISASTERS BY REACHING OUT TO LOCAL AUTHORITIES AND STRATEGIC PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS ON THE GROUND TO SUPPORT EFFORTS WITH ANIMAL RESCUE AND CARE, VETERINARY PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICES, AND THE PROTECTION OF LIVELIHOODS. OUR WORK AIMS TO BUILD RESILIENT COMMUNITIES THROUGH DISASTER RISK REDUCTION POLICIES THAT ARE INCLUSIVE OF ANIMALS.THE WORK OF THE UNIT OVERLAPS WITH ALL OF FOUR PAWS' MISSIONS, WHICH LEAD TO ITS VISION OF CREATING A WORLD WHERE HUMANS TREAT ANIMALS WITH RESPECT, EMPATHY, AND UNDERSTANDING. IN PLANNING FOR AND RESPONDING TO DISASTERS, OUR TEAM CAN OFFER ITS EXPERTISE TO ENSURE THAT ANIMALS ARE INCLUDED IN POLICIES, RELIEF EFFORTS AND RECOVERY ACTIVITIES, STRENGTHEN HUMAN AWARENESS OF ANIMAL WELFARE IN CATASTROPHIC AS WELL AS EVERYDAY SITUATIONS, AND TO CREATE SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS FOR THE FUTURE OF ANIMALS, PEOPLE, AND THE ENVIRONMENTS THEY SHARE.PROVIDING EMERGENCY RESPONSE EFFORTS IN CRITICAL SITUATIONS:THE EMERGENCY RESPONSE UNIT CONSISTS OF SPECIALLY TRAINED FOUR PAWS EMPLOYEES, LED BY A HEAD VETERINARIAN, THAT RESCUES AND PROVIDES MEDICAL CARE TO ANIMALS IN CRITICAL SITUATIONS. IN 2017, OUR EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM RESCUED 13 WILD ANIMALS FROM A WAR-TORN ZOO NEAR ALEPPO, SYRIA, AS WELL AS ANIMALS FROM A ZOO IN MOSUL, IRAQ. IN 2018, OUR TEAM RESCUED THREE LIONS, ONE BEAR, AND SEVERAL OTHER WILD ANIMALS FROM THE NOTORIOUS SAFARI PARK ZOO IN FIER, ALBANIA, OFTEN REFERRED TO AS "EUROPE'S WORST ZOO". IN 2019, OUR TEAM SUCCESSFULLY RESCUED 47 ABUSED ANIMALS FROM RAFAH ZOO, INCLUDING FIVE LIONS, AND TRANSFERRED THEM TO SPECIES APPROPRIATE SANCTUARIES SUCH AS OUR PARTNER, AL MA'WA FOR NATURE AND WILDLIFE IN JORDAN, AND TO OUR LIONSROCK BIG CAT SANCTUARY IN SOUTH AFRICA. IN 2020, OUR RESPONSE TEAM PROVIDED URGENT MEDICAL CARE AND FOOD FOR FOUR STARVING AFRICAN LIONS AT THE AL QURASHI FAMILY PARK ZOO IN SUDAN. OUR TEAM ALSO ASSISTED WITH THE URGENT RELOCATION OF 30 ANIMALS FROM THE MARGHAZAR ZOO IN ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN. THIS RESCUE MISSION INCLUDED THE RELOCATION OF TWO HIMALAYAN BROWN BEARS TO THE AL MA'WA SANCTUARY, AND THE RESCUE AND TRANSFER OF ASIAN ELEPHANT KAAVAN, KNOWN AS "THE WORLD'S LONELIEST ELEPHANT," FROM PAKISTAN TO A SANCTUARY IN CAMBODIA. TO ACCOMPLISH THESE RESCUE MISSIONS, THE TEAM: COLLABORATES WITH LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO ENSURE SAFE ENTRY AND EXIT OF THE TEAM AND THE ANIMALS IN ANY GIVEN REGION, UNDERGOES CAREFUL PREPARATION AND EXECUTION OF PLANS FOR VARIOUS MISSIONS, AND SAFELY DELIVERS ANIMALS TO EITHER FOUR PAWS SANCTUARIES OR OTHER HIGHLY VETTED FOUR PAWS APPROVED SANCTUARIES. THE EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM MONITORS SITUATIONS AROUND THE WORLD IN ORDER TO SAVE ANIMALS THAT ARE IN DESPERATE NEED OF RESCUING TO HELP ENSURE THEIR SURVIVAL, AS WELL AS PROVIDING THEM WITH A FUTURE FREE OF INHUMANE TREATMENT.

ESTABLISH AND SUPPORT SANCTUARIES FOR MISTREATED CAPTIVE WILD ANIMALS THAT CANNOT BE RELEASED INTO THE WILD:FOUR PAWS BEAR SANCTUARIES-WHILE ADVOCATING FOR THE WELFARE OF BEARS ON THE LEGISLATIVE LEVEL, OUR SANCTUARIES ENABLE US TO RESCUE CAPTIVE BEARS LIVING IN TERRIBLE SITUATIONS AND PROVIDE THEM WITH SPECIES-APPROPRIATE HOMES FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES. THROUGHOUT THE WORLD, BEARS ARE OFTEN KEPT IN SUBSTANDARD CONDITIONS, WHICH MAKE THE WORK OF FOUR PAWS' OWN BEAR SANCTUARIES IN AUSTRIA, BULGARIA, GERMANY, KOSOVO, UKRAINE, SWITZERLAND, AND VIETNAM EXTREMELY IMPORTANT. FOUR PAWS BIG CAT SANCTUARIES-THE FOUR PAWS LIONSROCK BIG CAT SANCTUARY IN SOUTH AFRICA PROVIDES A PERMANENT, SPECIES-APPROPRIATE HOME FOR OVER 100 RESCUED BIG CATS. ANIMALS RESCUED FROM CIRCUSES, PRIVATE KEEPING, AND WAR-TORN ZOOS IN GAZA, SYRIA, AND IRAQ NOW CALL THIS SANCTUARY HOME.OUR FELIDA BIG CAT SANCTUARY IN THE NETHERLANDS SPECIALIZES IN THE INTENSIVE CARE OF TRAUMATIZED BIG CATS. WHILE SOME BIG CATS WILL REMAIN AT FELIDA, OTHERS THAT ARE MENTALLY AND PHYSICALLY WELL ENOUGH ARE LATER TRANSFERRED TO LIONSROCK. OUR TIERART WILD ANIMAL SANCTUARY IN GERMANY CARES FOR RESCUED TIGERS ALONG WITH PROVIDING SANCTUARY AND REHABILITATION FOR NATIVE WILDLIFE SUCH AS FOXES, RABBITS, DEER AND MORE. THE GOAL IS TO RELEASE THE NATIVE WILDLIFE BACK IN TO THE WILD, WHILE PROVIDING A HOME FOR ANIMALS THAT CANNOT BE RELEASED DUE TO HEALTH OR OTHER ISSUES. BECAUSE OF FOUR PAWS' RESOURCES, EXPERTISE, AND SKILLS IN RELOCATING AND CARING FOR BIG CATS, WE ARE ABLE TO ASSIST WITH THE PROPER ENFORCEMENT OF ANIMAL PROTECTION LEGISLATION BY PROVIDING CONFISCATED AND RESCUED BIG CATS WITH A SAFE AND SPECIES-APPROPRIATE FOREVER HOME. FOUR PAWS ORANGUTAN FOREST SCHOOL-OUR ORANGUTAN FOREST SCHOOL IN BORNEO, INDONESIA IS A RESCUE AND REHABILITATION PROGRAM FOR ORPHANED ORANGUTANS. IT WAS CREATED IN RESPONSE TO THE DRAMATIC DECREASE IN WILD ORANGUTAN POPULATIONS AND THE INCREASE IN HUMAN CONFLICTS AND INCIDENCES. BORNEAN ORANGUTANS ARE LISTED AS CRITICALLY ENDANGERED ON THE IUCN RED LIST.THE FOREST SCHOOL IS 247 ACRES OF LARGE, FORESTED AREA BETWEEN THE CITIES OF BALIKPAPAN AND SAMARINDA IN EAST KALIMANTAN THAT PROVIDES NATURAL LIVING SPACE FOR YOUNG ORANGUTAN ORPHANS. HERE, THE ORPHANS ARE TAUGHT ESSENTIAL FOREST SURVIVAL SKILLS THROUGH INDIVIDUALISTIC THERAPEUTIC AND REHABILITATIVE METHODS.ON MAY 17, 2018, THE FOUR PAWS ORANGUTAN FOREST SCHOOL WAS OFFICIALLY OPENED IN COLLABORATION WITH ITS LOCAL PARTNER JEJAK PULANG AND THE INDONESIAN GOVERNMENT. EIGHT ORANGUTAN ORPHANS (FIVE MALE, THREE FEMALE) FROM THE AGES OF JUST A FEW MONTHS TO 9 YEARS MAKE UP THE FIRST COHORT OF PUPILS AT THE FOREST SCHOOL, LED BY DR. SIGNE PREUSCHOFT OF FOUR PAWS, A PRIMATOLOGIST WITH NEARLY 30 YEARS' EXPERIENCE IN GREAT APE REHABILITATION. EACH ORPHAN IS LIKELY TO HAVE WITNESSED THE BRUTAL KILLING OF THEIR MOTHERS, AND OFTEN SHOW REMNANTS OF THAT TRAUMA IN THEIR BEHAVIOR. THIS PROJECT CONCERNS ITSELF NOT ONLY WITH THE RESCUE OF INDIVIDUALS IN ONE SPECIES: IN THEIR NATURAL HABITAT, REINTRODUCED ORANGUTANS CAN ACT AS AN UMBRELLA SPECIES AND THROUGH THEIR PRESENCE, PROVIDE PROTECTION FOR OTHER ENDANGERED SPECIES SUCH AS RHINOS, SUN BEARS, PROBOSCIS MONKEYS, AND MANY MORE.

PROMOTE AND IMPLEMENT SPAY AND NEUTER PROGRAMS TO REDUCE PET OVERPOPULATION AND UNCONTROLLED BREEDING:WORLDWIDE STRAY ANIMAL CARE: THE FOUR PAWS STRAY ANIMAL CARE PROJECTS AND SPAY/NEUTER PROGRAMS CONTINUE TO MOVE AHEAD IN EASTERN EUROPE AND SOUTHEAST ASIA, IN COUNTRIES SUCH AS THAILAND, KOSOVO, BULGARIA, UKRAINE, ROMANIA, AND INDIA, RESULTING IN THOUSANDS OF DOGS AND CATS NOW HAVING A BETTER AND SAFER FUTURE. IN ROMANIA, OUR THERAPY PROJECT "DOGS FOR PEOPLE" TRAINS FORMER STRAY DOGS TO BECOME THERAPY DOGS, SUPPORTING CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES, STUDENTS IN UNIVERSITIES, AND ELDERLY PEOPLE IN RETIREMENT HOMES. AND DESPITE SEVERE CHALLENGES PRESENTED BY COVID-19, OUR DEDICATED STRAY ANIMAL CARE TEAMS CONTINUED TO WORK ACROSS THE GLOBE, PROVIDING FOOD AND MEDICAL CARE TO TENS OF THOUSANDS OF ANIMALS WHO ALSO SUFFERED DUE TO THE GLOBAL PANDEMIC.