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Bob Barker

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Bob Barker guest hosting WWE Raw on September 7, 2009 at Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Illinois

Born Robert William Barker

December 12, 1923 (age 89)

Darrington, Washington, U.S.

Occupation Game show host

Years active 1950–2007

Spouse(s) Dorothy Jo Gideon

(m.1945-1981; her death)

Robert William "Bob" Barker (born December 12, 1923) is a former American television game show host. He is best known for hosting CBS's The Price Is Right from 1972 to 2007, making it the longest-running daytime game show in North American television history, and for hosting Truth or Consequences from 1956 to 1975.[1]

Born in Washington state to modest circumstances, Barker enlisted in the United States Navy on the outbreak of World War II. Barker worked part-time in radio while he attended college. In 1950, Barker moved to California in order to pursue a career in broadcasting. He was given his own radio show, The Bob Barker Show, which ran for the next six years out of Burbank.[2] Barker began his game show career in 1956, hosting Truth or Consequences. From there, he hosted various game shows as well as the Miss Universe pageants. Eventually, he hosted The Price Is Right, beginning in 1972. When his wife Dorothy Jo died, Barker became an advocate for animal rights. Since then, Barker has been a long-time supporter of animal rights, and of animal-rights activism, including groups such as the United Activists for Animal Rights and the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society. In 2007, Barker retired from hosting The Price Is Right after celebrating his 50-year career on television.

Born as Robert Barker in the Indian Census Roll, 1930

Barker was born in Darrington, Washington, and spent most of his youth on the Rosebud Indian Reservation in South Dakota. The U.S. Indian Census Rolls, 1885–1940, list Barker as an official member of the Sioux tribe.[3][4][5] His mother, Matilda ("Tillie") Valandra (née Matilda Kent Tarleton), was a school teacher; his father, Byron John Barker, was the foreman on the electrical high line through the state of Washington. Barker is 1/8 Sioux.[6] While in Washington, his father fell from a tower and sustained an injury which resulted in his death in 1929. Barker has a half-brother, Kent Valandra, from Matilda's subsequent re-marriage. In 1931, the family moved to Springfield, Missouri, where Barker graduated from Central High School in 1941.

Barker attended Drury College (now Drury University) in Springfield, on a basketball scholarship. He was a member of the Epsilon Beta Chapter of Sigma Nu fraternity at Drury. On the outbreak of World War II, Barker served in the United States Navy as a fighter pilot. However, the war ended before he was assigned to a seagoing squadron. After the war, he returned to Drury to finish his education, graduating summa cum laude with a degree in economics.

Broadcasting Career

While attending college in Drury, Barker worked his first "media job", at KTTS-FM Radio, in Springfield. He left Springfield and worked at a radio station in Florida.[where?] In 1950, Barker moved to California in order to pursue a career in broadcasting. He was given his own radio show, The Bob Barker Show, which ran for the next six years out of Burbank.[2] He was hosting an audience-participation radio show on KNX (AM) in Los Angeles when game show producer Ralph Edwards happened to be listening and liked Barker's voice and style.

Game show career

Truth or Consequences (1956–1975)

Bob Barker in Truth or Consequences, circa 1958

Barker started hosting Truth or Consequences on December 31, 1956 and would continue with the program until 1975. The idea was to mix the original quiz element of game shows with wacky stunts. On the show, people had to answer a trivia question correctly (usually an off-the-wall question that no one would be able to answer correctly) before "Beulah the Buzzer" was sounded. If the contestant could not complete the "Truth" portion, there would be "Consequences", usually a zany and embarrassing stunt. If the contestant could answer the question, invariably, the question had a second part. In addition, during Barker's run as host, "Barker's Box" was played. Barker's Box was a box with four drawers in it. If a contestant was able to pick all three drawers with money inside before picking the empty drawer, he or she won a bonus prize.

In various broadcasts, the stunts on the program included a popular, but emotional, heart-rending surprise for a contestant, that being the reunion with a long-lost relative or with an enlisted son or daughter returning from military duty overseas, particularly Vietnam.

It was on Truth or Consequences that the salute became his trademark sign-off; he ended each episode with "Bob Barker saying goodbye, and hoping all your consequences are happy ones!"

End of the Rainbow (1957–1958)

On December 4, 1957, Barker began hosting a new Ralph Edwards creation, the short-lived End of the Rainbow for NBC. On this show (similar to Barker's Truth or Consequences and Edwards' This Is Your Life), he and co-host Art Baker went out to various places in America and surprised the less-fortunate who helped others when they could barely help themselves.

For example, the first episode featured a Minneapolis grocer who, in return for his community service, was given a complete makeover to his store plus new furniture and appliances for his home. In addition, his landlord (who was in on the surprise) announced that the current month's rent was free and that the grocer's rent would never increase.

The Family Game (1967)

In 1967, Barker hosted the short-lived game show The Family Game for Chuck Barris, where he would ask children contestants questions about their families' lives, and the parents had to guess how they answered, similar in fashion to The Newlywed Game.

Simon Says (1971)

In 1971, Barker was tapped to host a pilot for NBC entitled Simon Says, which required him to interact with a giant computer called "Simon" in Let's Make A Deal-style "trades". The pilot was produced by Wesley J. Cox of DUNDAS Productions, and its theme was "The Savers" (the theme used on The Joker's Wild, which has led some to believe that Cox or DUNDAS was an alias for Jack Barry or Dan Enright, since Joker used the theme in its original 1968 pilot). There is at least one (somewhat low-quality) clip of the pilot on the video sharing website YouTube.[7]

That's My Line (1980–1981)

In 1980, Barker hosted a series called That's My Line for Goodson-Todman. The series was not a game show, but rather a program along the lines of Real People and That's Incredible! The show's second season in 1981 focused more on unusual stunts, and was cancelled in September.

The Price Is Right (1972–2007)

Bob Barker in 1975

On September 4, 1972, Barker began hosting the CBS revival of The Price Is Right. In the 35 years of the CBS version, he has become far more associated with the series than first host Bill Cullen was with the 1956–1965 original. In September 1977, he hosted the last three seasons of the syndicated nighttime version, originally hosted by Dennis James.

On October 15, 1987, Barker did what other MCs almost never did: renounced hair dye and allowed his hair to turn gray. Fellow hosts Monty Hall, Alex Trebek, and Richard Dawson would do the same in the late 1980s.

Barker took over the role of executive producer for the show in 1988, following the death of the original executive producer, Frank Wayne. In this capacity, Barker created several pricing games, instituted a prohibition on foreign cars and animal-based products (see "Animal rights" below), and launched a prime-time series of specials known as The Price Is Right $1,000,000 Spectacular.

In 2006, The Price Is Right marked its 35th consecutive year on the air. It is the longest-running game show of all time in North America, and at the time was the last surviving show in the daytime game show genre, having survived (at the time) twelve years after its last competitor had been canceled. (CBS would later revive daytime game shows in 2009). Overall, in daytime programming (excluding Saturday and Sunday), The Price Is Right is ranked sixth among the longest-continuing daytime television programs (NBC's Today ranks the longest, followed by four daytime soap operas: Guiding Light, As the World Turns, General Hospital, and Days of our Lives), and moved into fifth in September 2009 after Guiding Light aired its final episode on CBS. It has won its time slot (11:00 a.m. Eastern) for the past 25 years with its closest competitor (currently ABC's The View) normally getting about half of TPIR's ratings.

Wikinews has related news: Bob Barker to retire as host of U.S. gameshow The Price Is Right

On October 31, 2006, Barker made his announcement that he would retire from The Price Is Right in June 2007.[8] However, Barker has revealed that FremantleMedia, the company that owns the show, had been looking for a successor in the last two to three years, and also that he had considered retirement for a while, but he had so much fun that he continued to do the show. He taped his final episode on June 6, 2007, with the show airing twice on June 15. The first airing was in the show's normal daytime slot and the second airing was in primetime as the lead-in to the Daytime Emmy Awards. Repeat episodes from Barker's final season continued to air until October 12, 2007, ending with a repeat of his final episode. On July 23 it was announced that comedian Drew Carey would take Barker's place as the new host for the show beginning on October 15, 2007.

During Barker's tenure as host, three pricing games were introduced that used his name: Barker's Bargain Bar, Barker's Markers and Trader Bob. Of the three, none are actively played on the show – Trader Bob was retired from the show in 1985, Barker's Marker$ was renamed Make Your Mark following Barker's retirement, and subsequently retired, and Barker's Bargain Bar has been retooled as the Bargain Game after a four-year hiatus between 2008 and 2012.

Barker made a guest appearance on the show for an episode that aired on April 16, 2009 to promote his new autobiography, Priceless Memories. He appeared in the Showcase round at the end of the show.[9]

Personal life

Barker married his high-school sweetheart Dorothy Jo Gideon on January 12, 1945. They remained married for 36 years until her death on October 19, 1981 of lung cancer. They had no children, and Barker has not remarried. However, he was involved in a relationship with Price model Dian Parkinson from 1989 to 1991, which ended in legal action.

Animal rights

Barker became a vegetarian in 1979. That same year, he began promoting animal rights. He was named national spokesman for "Be Kind to Animals Week" in May 1985. On A&E's Biography program, he credited his wife, Dorothy Jo, with causing him to become more aware of animal rights and becoming a vegetarian, because she had done so. Bob remarked that Dorothy Jo was way ahead of her time as far as animal rights were concerned and that shortly after her death in October, 1981, he took up animal rights in order to keep doing something that she had done.

Barker began ending some episodes (later every episode) of The Price Is Right with the phrase: "Help control the pet population. Have your pets spayed or neutered." After he retired, Drew Carey continued his signature sign-off advocating neutering. Fellow game show hosts Jack Barry and Bert Convy eventually followed Barker's lead in promoting animal rights on the air.[10]

Barker hosted the Miss USA/Universe Pageants from 1967 to 1987. In 1987, he requested the removal of fur prizes and stepped down as host when those in charge of the pageant refused.[10]

Bob Barker's DJ&T Foundation, founded in 1994 and named after his wife and mother, has contributed millions of dollars for animal neutering programs[11] and to fund animal rescue and park facilities all over the United States. He worked closely with Betty White as an advocate for animal rights.[10][12] However in 2009, reports indicated that Barker threatened to not attend the 2009 Game Show Awards (but was seen in the audience), where he was to receive a lifetime achievement award, because White would be attending. The reason for the conflict, according to the report, was over the proper treatment of an elephant at the Los Angeles Zoo. White instead did not attend and pre-recorded her comments that she was scheduled to make about Mark Goodson.[13]

In 2004, Barker donated $1 million to Columbia University School of Law to support the study of animal rights.[14] The gift has funded an adjunct professorship in animal rights law at Columbia and helped fund a student clinic in environmental law.

Barker also supported United Activists for Animal Rights, and together with the group, publicly accused several media projects and the American Humane Association of animal mistreatment or the condoning of animal mistreatment, a tactic which resulted in a major lawsuit against him and the group, accusing him of spurious allegations.[15]

In June 2009, Barker wrote Chief Michell Hicks of the Cherokee asking that their reservation's bear exhibit be closed.[16] On July 28, 2009, he visited the reservation and saw one of the three zoos, calling the bears' living situation "inhumane". PETA set up the visit after Barker heard from Florida congressman Bill Young, whose wife had been "appalled" by what she saw. Annette Tarnowski, the tribe's attorney general, said a federal inspector had found nothing wrong in May 2009 at two of the zoos, and that the tribe had dealt with the few violations at the third. Hicks made no promises and threatened to ban PETA if they made more trouble.[17]

In January 2010, Sea Shepherd Conservation Society announced that it had secretly purchased and outfitted a ship to interdict Japanese whaling operations in the Southern Ocean using $5,000,000 provided by Barker. The ship was then named the MY Bob Barker, and its existence was first revealed when it helped discover the location of the Japanese whaling fleet.[18] In 2010, Barker began funding the cost of a helicopter, named the Nancy Burnet (after the president of United Activists for Animal Rights); the helicopter accompanies the society's fleet.[19]

In March 2010, PETA announced that it received a $2.5 million donation from Barker to help establish a new office in Los Angeles.[20] PETA officially opened the Bob Barker Building on Sunset Boulevard in 2012.[21]

TV longevity records

Barker set a longevity record as holding a weekday TV job continuously for 51 years, which included his years on Truth or Consequences. Only sportscaster Vin Scully, who is four years younger than Barker, and farm broadcaster Orion Samuelson, who is ten years younger, have held a job longer than Barker in the American entertainment industry.

Barker has also had the second-longest run as the host of a single entertainment broadcast show (sports excluded), a few months short of Don McNeill, who spent 35½ years as host of Don McNeill's Breakfast Club.

Barker, who was 83½ years old at the time of his retirement, holds the record of being the oldest man ever to host a regularly scheduled television game show and the oldest man ever to host a weekday television program since the inception of American network television. Barker also hosted or appeared on a five-day-a-week television program longer than anyone else in the history of television.

Film and other TV appearances

In 1996, Barker played himself in the Adam Sandler comedy Happy Gilmore. In one scene, Barker beats up Gilmore after an altercation arising from their teaming up in a Pro-Am Golf Tournament. Barker reportedly took the role after learning that he would win the fight.[22] In 2007, during a CBS prime-time special commemorating Barker's career, the entire, unedited fight scene from Happy Gilmore was played during the show, and afterward, Adam Sandler made a surprise appearance to thank Barker and read a poem in his honor.

In the late 1990s, Barker played the father of Mel Harris' character on a few episodes of the NBC sitcom Something So Right. He appeared in two animated television series as himself: in the Futurama episode "The Lesser of Two Evils" in 2000, followed by the Family Guy episodes "Screwed the Pooch" in 2001, "The Fat Guy Strangler" in 2005, and "Tales of a Third Grade Nothing" in 2008.

Barker was a semi-regular panelist on the game shows Tattletales (with wife Dorothy Jo) and Match Game. Barker sat in Richard Dawson's former place during the first week of Dawson's permanent absence from Match Game.[23] Barker also played on The Price Is Right team against The Young and the Restless on Family Feud in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

Barker co-hosted CBS' coverage of the Rose Parade from Pasadena, California for several years during the 1970s and 1980s.[23]

He created and hosted The Bob Barker Fun and Games Show from 1978–1986 which was a combination of stunt participation in the style of Truth or Consequences and pricing games such as The Price Is Right in which he traveled throughout the United States and Canada in various arenas and venues.

In the 1970s, he was the host of the annual/biennial Pillsbury Bake-Off (the bake-off occurred every two years starting in 1976). In 1978, he was the first host to have a male category champ.[23]

He was a guest host on The Tonight Show in 1966, when he was a regular on NBC hosting Truth or Consequences.

He appeared on Bonanza, playing a character named Mort in the 1960 episode "Denver McKee".[23]

He has appeared on various talk shows such as: Dinah!, Larry King Live, The Arsenio Hall Show, Crook & Chase, Donny & Marie, The Rosie O'Donnell Show, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, The Wayne Brady Show, the Late Show with David Letterman, and The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson.[23]

Barker also made cameo appearances on The Nanny, The Bold and the Beautiful in 2002,[23] Yes, Dear, and How I Met Your Mother with announcer Rich Fields in 2007.

About one year after retirement, Barker appeared in a public service announcement promoting the transition to Digital Television in the United States. The advertisement was produced under the first proposed date of February 16, 2009 for the transition.[24][25]

On September 7, 2009, Barker was a special guest host for WWE Raw (called "The Price is Raw") in Rosemont, Illinois.[26]

Barker has reportedly agreed to a semi-regular position as a rotating guest co-host on The Huckabee Show, a daily TV talk show hosted by Mike Huckabee. Barker first appeared on the show July 29, 2010.[27]

Barker appeared in a commercial for State Farm Insurance's "Magic Jingle" campaign, where he made "a new car" appear for a woman whose previous car was totaled by a giant concrete cylinder.[28]

Awards and recognition

Barker has won 19 Emmy Awards in total. Fourteen were for Outstanding Game Show Host, more than any other performer. He has also won four for Executive Producer of The Price Is Right and received the Lifetime Achievement Award for Daytime Television in 1999.[29]

On April 9, 1998, on the occasion of the ceremonial five thousandth episode of The Price Is Right,[30] CBS dedicated the sound stage where the show has been produced since 1972 in honor of Barker.[31]

In 2004, Barker was inducted into the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Hall of Fame.[32]

In 2007, Barker was inducted into the Hall of Famous Missourians, and a bronze bust depicting him is on permanent display in the rotunda of the Missouri State Capitol.

On April 14, 2008, Barker was inducted to the NAB Broadcasting Hall of Fame.[33][34]

On June 6, 2009, during GSN's 2009 Game Show Awards, Barker was presented the Lifetime Achievement Award by Tom Bergeron. However, prior to the taping of the awards, Barker and Betty White were involved in a feud between the two of them over a plan to relocate an elephant to a sanctuary in San Andreas. In response, Barker threatened that he would not show up at the ceremony if White was there.[35] White did not appear at the ceremony, however taped a dedication to Mark Goodson.

On December 14, 2009, Barker won the 2009 WWE Slammy Award for Best Raw Guest Host.

February 28, 2013, LOS ANGELES, CA – Animal Defenders International (ADI) has launched the first nationwide initiative in the United States about the use of elephants giving rides or making appearances at public events.  At the heart of the campaign is a new DVD narrated by Emmy award winning TV host Bob Barker entitled ‘No Fun For Elephants,’ featuring harrowing undercover footage from inside elephant training facilities in California, as well as abuse of an elephant on tour by a Texas-owned company.

Bob Barker introduces the video, “To many, it looks like harmless fun, but elephants pay a heavy price for the few minutes of entertainment they provide when performing in circus shows, giving rides, or making appearances at parades, weddings or other events.  Most of us marvel at the majesty of wild animals and I can understand why people want to see animals like elephants up close.  But isn’t it especially tragic when animals are suffering and being abused simply to entertain us?”

The video includes ADI undercover footage showing elephants supplied for rides, appearances and other events by Have Trunk Will Travel of Perris, CA and Trunks & Humps of Conroe, TX, being beaten and electric shocked during training and handling, behind the scenes.  The same trainers are then shown controlling the elephants as they give rides and make appearances at parades.

The ‘No Fun For Elephants’ DVD is being mailed to event organizers across the U.S., including board members of county fairs, renaissance fairs and organizers of town parades, urging them to adopt a humane ‘no elephant rides or performances’ policy, in view of the suffering these animals endure.  ADI also highlights the risks to public safety by the way that just lightweight rope, tape or fencing is used to contain these large and stressed animals, while they are in public. The video is also available online  http://www.ad-international.org/animals_in_entertainment/go.php?id=3034&ssi=11.

Elephant rides have recently been abandoned by several events, after viewing ADI evidence, including Orange County and Los Angeles County Fairs, the city of Fountain Valley, CA, and Santa Ana Zoo. ADI is confident that if event organizers are given the facts and understand the cost to the animals, they will say “no” to the suffering.

Jan Creamer, ADI President: “We believe that once people see how these animals suffer behind the scenes, they will not endorse such cruelty.  We realize an elephant walking around a small enclosure giving rides looks like a bit of harmless fun, but it takes a vicious training regime to get these wild animals to be so quiet and compliant in public.  We know that event organizers will be shocked and will agree that these rides and appearances bring shame on their event.”

As Bob Barker concludes: “It really isn’t harmless fun, and it’s time it stopped.”

###

Animal Defenders International http://www.ad-international.org
ADI is leading the campaign to end the suffering of animals in entertainment and currently has major campaigns running in the USA, Europe, and South America.  Using first-hand undercover evidence captured on video, ADI has secured legislation to prohibit the use of wild animals in traveling circuses all over the world.  ADI also exposed the training of elephants for the movies ‘Water for Elephants’ and ‘Zookeeper,’ showing the animals electric shocked and beaten.
See: http://www.ad-international.org/animals_in_entertainment/go.php?id=2119&ssi=7

U.S. County Fairs, Parades and other events:
The boards of county fairs and other events being written to by ADI include:
California: California Exposition and State Fair, Sacramento; San Diego Fair; Kern County Fair, Bakersfield; Northern California Renaissance Fair, Hollister; Renaissance Pleasure Faire, Irwindale.
Texas: State Fair of Texas, Dallas; Star of Texas Fair, Austin; Harris County Fair, Houston; The Scarborough Faire Texas, Waxahachie; Texas Renaissance Faire, Todd Mission.
Others: The Annual Arizona Renaissance Festival, Apache Junction, Arizona; Renaissance Festival Colorado, Larkspur, Colorado; Central States Fair, Rapid City, South Dakota.

Additional Contacts
Have Trunk Will Travel, Inc., Perris, CA http://www.havetrunkwilltravel.com
Trunks and Humps, Cut and Shoot, TX (409) 264-1170

About ADI
With offices in Los Angeles, London and Bogota, ADI campaigns across the globe to protect animals, providing technical advice to governments, securing progressive animal protection legislation, drafting regulations and rescuing animals in distress. ADI has a worldwide reputation for providing video and photographic evidence exposing behind-the-scenes suffering in the industry and supporting this evidence with scientific research on captive wildlife and transport. ADI rescues animals all over the world and educates the public on animals and environmental issues.

(Feb. 27, 2013)—The Humane Society of the United States has chosen Uggie, the world famous, scene-stealing Jack Russell terrier from last year’s Academy Award-winning film “The Artist,” to be the spokesdog for its Pets of Valor Award.

The award celebrates the human-animal bond by honoring rescued or adopted dogs and cats who have exhibited an extraordinary sense of courage or resolve by heroically helping a person in need. Acclaimed for his portrayal of a loyal dog who courageously rescues his owner from a fire in “The Artist,” Uggie is uniquely qualified for his spokesdog duties and he will help announce the winner on June 2.

“Uggie’s honored to have been chosen by The Humane Society of the United States to be spokesdog for The Pets of Valor Award, although he did hesitate at first when he heard that cats were to be included, but now he likes the idea of having an excuse to bark for them, instead of at them,” says Omar Von Muller, Uggie’s owner and trainer.

Uggie has a best-selling autobiography (“Uggie – My Story”) to his credit, as well as the distinction of being the first dog to have his pawprints memorialized outside Grauman’s Chinese Theatre in Hollywood. But now the mega star pooch, who was adopted by Von Muller after his first family rejected him for being “too wild,” is using his fame to shine the light on his unsung fellow companion animal heroes and to encourage pet adoption.

“It’s always gratifying when a star of Uggie’s magnitude takes time out of his busy schedule to give back. As spokesdog for The Humane Society of the United States’ Pets of Valor Award, Uggie proves he’s a hero both on and off screen by advocating for the adoption of his fellow companion animals,” says Beverly Kaskey, senior director of HSUS’ Hollywood Outreach.

Uggie is calling on all humans to nominate dogs and cats who have committed heroic acts between Jan. 1, 2012 and March 31, 2013 to submit details of their actions to humanesociety.org/petsofvalor. Drawing on Uggie’s insider knowledge, HSUS’ companion animal experts will select five finalists, based on the significance and impact of the dog or cat’s valor, and the winner will be chosen by a public online vote that runs May 24-31, 2013.

Follow The HSUS on Twitter. See our work for animals on your Apple or Android device by searching for our "HumaneTV" app.

The Humane Society of the United States is the nation’s largest animal protection organization, rated the most effective by its peers. Since 1954, The HSUS has been fighting for the protection of all animals through advocacy, education and hands-on programs. We rescue and care for tens of thousands of animals each year, but our primary mission is to prevent cruelty before it occurs. We're there for all animals, across America and around the world. Celebrating animals and confronting cruelty -- on the Web at humanesociety.org.

SMITHTOWN, NEW YORK – (February 27, 2013) – A list of celebrities is teaming up with Guardians of Rescue in order to help raise funds to support that group's animal rescue work. The celebrities, including Russell Simmons, Lana Fuchs, Steve Lobel, Christian McBride, Victor Ortiz and Coldplay, have all donated prizes that will go to the highest bidder through eBay auctions. The funds raised will all go to support the work that the group does, all year long, to help animals.

“We are thrilled that these celebrities have been so generous in helping us with our cause,” explains Robert Misseri, president of Guardians of Rescue. “We love helping animals, but we couldn’t do it without support. We are very thankful that they are all helping to contribute to our fundraising auction.”

The eBay charity-fundraising auction will be held February 27, 2013 thru March 9, 2013. Guardians of Rescue will auction off a variety of prizes from a star-studded list, including:

• Russell Simmons – The entertainment mogul who is a long-time vegan and yogi has generously donated a yoga session with him personally which will be held in a yoga studio class in NYC. The bid for this auction will start at $800, with the highest bidder donning yoga gear to meet up with Simmons.

• Lana Fuchs – Her pet monkey will be giving away a “Spend the day with my mom” package that includes the winner flying out to Las Vegas and being “Lana-ized” with a complete makeover that includes a once in a lifetime shopping spree, styling session, and a private secrets to success lesson, and more.

• Steve Lobel – The well-known celebrity music manager, who has worked with Run DMC, Eazy E, Bone Thugs ‘N Harmony, Common, and Outlawz, will be giving away a pair of drumsticks that are signed by the original drummer of Guns N’ Roses, Steven Adler.

• Christian McBride – The three-time Grammy-award winning bassist will be giving away a prize that includes spending the day with him at the studio when he records his next album, which will be in September. The recording will take place at either the Manhattan Center Studios or the Jazz at Lincoln Center Studies (both in NYC). He will be recording a piece with his 17-piece big band gospel choir called “The Movement, Revisited,” which is a musical portrait of the civil rights movement.

• Coldplay – The popular band, which has sold over 60 million albums worldwide, will be giving away an autographed photo of the band that has been signed by each member, as well as their new 2012 tour DVD.

• Victor Ortiz – The professional boxer and former WBC Welterweight Champion will be donating an autographed poster, and an autographed full set of VO by FaceLube Classic Edition, from his skin care line, as well as an autographed full size bottle of his cologne, VO by Victor Ortiz.

“We have some amazing prizes that these celebrities have donated,” added Misseri. “We look forward to auctioning these items off so that we can use the funds to support all the work we do in the community to help animals.”

“I am happy to help with this charity auction,” says Russell Simmons. “I know the Guardians of Rescue will do a lot of good things to help the animals with the funds they raise.”

“We all need to help the animals but sometimes we don’t know what to do to make that happen,” added Lana Fuchs. “Taking part in this charity fundraiser is a good step in the right direction. It gives something to the fans, and it helps the animals. It’s a win-win situation.”

The charity auction can be found here:

http://givingworks.ebay.com/charity-auctions/charity/guardians-of-rescue/76791/

Guardians of Rescue provides assistance to animals out on the streets, helping to rescue them, provide medical care, food and shelter, and find foster-home placements. Many families are still struggling, such as from Hurricane Sandy, making it difficult for them to care for their pet, either financially or while living in temporary housing. They are also instrumental in helping military members with their pets, and to provide therapy dogs to veterans suffering from post traumatic stress disorder. To learn more, get involved, or to make a donation to support the Guardians of Rescue, log onto www.guardiansofrescue.org.

About Guardians of Rescue

Based in New York, Guardians of Rescue is an organization whose mission is to protect the well being of all animals. They provide aid to animals in distress, including facilitating foster programs, rehabilitation, assisting other rescue groups, and providing support to families, both military and not, who need assistance due to economic factors. To learn more about Guardians of Rescue, visit the site at www.guardiansofrescue.org

# # #

Renowned animal cruelty investigators share insight and tools
to help law enforcement combat dog fighting, cockfighting

St. Louis, Mo.—The ASPCA^® (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) has partnered with the St. Louis Police Academy to host a free training workshop on how to investigate the increasingly prevalent crime of organized animal fighting. The workshop will be led by the ASPCA’s Blood Sports director Terry Mills and Kyle Held, Midwest regional director of the ASPCA’s Field Investigations and Response team, both of whom played major roles in the largest dog fighting seizure in U.S. history. The workshop is open to law enforcement agents, animal control officers, criminal justice and animal welfare professionals.

WHO/WHAT: ASPCA experts will provide techniques for law enforcement officials to investigate blood sports such as dog fighting and cockfighting. They will also present background, planning and execution of several landmark cases, including the largest dog fighting seizure in U.S. history in 2009, a 2011 raid in Halifax, Va. and a recent raid in Bronx, N.Y. Attendees will learn of valuable available resources, such as the nation’s first criminal dog fighting DNA database, known as the Canine CODIS (Combined DNA Index System) and the DOJ (Department of Justice) Dog Fighting Toolkit.

Both Mills and Held played critical roles in the largest U.S. dog fighting raid, which covered eight states and resulted in 26 arrests and the seizure of more than 400 dogs. Prior to the raid, Mills spent 18 months as an undercover officer for the Missouri State Highway Patrol, gaining access to the underground world of organized dog fighting and collecting extensive evidence. Held has successfully led numerous large-scale animal cruelty investigations throughout his career, and he has earned national recognition for his work as an investigator for the Humane Society of Missouri. As a result of their invaluable contributions, each was nationally recognized with the ASPCA’s “Law Enforcement Officer” of the Year award, presented at the ASPCA’s Humane Awards Luncheon in October 2009.

WHY: According to the ASPCA:
• Dog fighting is often linked to other crimes involving drugs, weapons and parole violations.
• Estimates suggest that the number of people involved in dog fighting in the U.S. is in the tens of thousands.
• According to an ASPCA poll, one in every 10 Americans suspects that someone they know is involved in organized animal fighting, a notable statistic considering that animal fighting is an underground, illegal activity.

WHERE: St. Louis Police Academy
315 S. Tucker Blvd.
Saint Louis, MO 63102

WHEN: February 26, 2013
9 a.m. - 4 p.m.

About the ASPCA^®
Founded in 1866, the ASPCA^® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals^®) is the first humane organization established in the Americas and serves as the nation’s leading voice for animal welfare. One million supporters strong, the ASPCA’s mission is to provide effective means for the prevention of cruelty to animals throughout the United States. As a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation, the ASPCA is a national leader in the areas of anti-cruelty, community outreach and animal health services. The ASPCA, which is headquartered in New York City, offers a wide range of programs, including a mobile clinic outreach initiative, its own humane law enforcement team, and a groundbreaking veterinary forensics team and mobile animal CSI unit. For more information, please visit www.aspca.org. To become a fan of the ASPCA on Facebook, go to http://www.facebook.com/aspca. To follow the ASPCA on Twitter, go to http://www.twitter.com/aspca.

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AKC Canine Health Foundation-funded research offers interesting insight into the health implications of early spay and neuter in dogs.

RALEIGH, N.C. (February 25, 2013) – Recent results from research funded by the AKC Canine Health Foundation have the potential to significantly impact recommendations for spaying and neutering dogs in the United States. Most dogs in the United States are spayed or neutered, and for years the procedures have been completed prior to maturity. The study, published in the prominent, open access journal PLOS One, suggests that veterinarians should be more cautious about the age at which they spay and neuter in order to protect the overall health of dogs.

A team of researchers led by Dr. Benjamin L. Hart at the University of California, Davis has completed the most detailed study performed to date that evaluates incidence of cancer diagnoses and joint problems in one breed -- Golden Retrievers -- by neuter status: early (before 12 months old), late (12 months or older), and intact. Consistent with previous studies on the topic, the results showed increased likelihood of hemangiosarcoma, lymphoma, mast cell tumors, and canine cruciate ligament (CCL) rupture in neutered dogs.

The most profound observations were in hip dysplasia in male dogs when comparing early and late-neutering. The risk of development of hip dysplasia doubles, and disease occurs at a younger age in the early-neuter group compared to both the intact and late-neuter group. No occurrence of CCL disease was observed in intact male or intact female dogs, or in late-neutered females. In early-neutered dogs, the incidence of CCL was 5.1 percent in males and 7.7 percent in females, suggesting that neutering prior to sexual maturity significantly increases a dog’s risk of developing CCL disease. With respect to cancer, cases of lymphoma were 3-fold greater in the early-neutered males. Interestingly, incidence of mast cell tumors (male and female dogs) and hemangiosarcoma (female dogs only) were highest in the late-neuter group.

“Dr. Hart’s landmark study is the first to provide evidence for when to spay or neuter dogs. For years the veterinary community has been aware that early-spay and neuter may impact orthopedic health in dogs. Through a very detailed analysis and inclusion of body condition score as a risk factor, Dr. Hart was able to show that timing of spay and neuter does indeed have health implications,” said Dr. Shila Nordone, Chief Scientific Officer for the AKC Canine Health Foundation.

“CCL disease is painful, debilitating, and costs dog owners $1 billion annually to treat. The AKC Canine Health Foundation is committed to funding research, like Dr. Hart’s study, that can lead to evidence-based health recommendations. Armed with prudent guidelines for when to spay and neuter dogs we will have a significant impact on the quality of life for dogs,” continued Dr. Nordone.

Importantly, the task at hand is now to determine if the observations in this study are indeed true across all breeds and mixed breeds of dogs. Dr. Hart is interested in continuing his work by studying Labrador Retrievers, German Shepherd Dogs, and Dachshunds. Additionally, gaps in knowledge continue to exist concerning the complex relationship between sex hormones and cancer.

Last summer the AKC Canine Health Foundation released a podcast interview with Dr. Hart on his early-spay and neuter research as part of a series dedicated to the health of the canine athlete. To listen to the podcast visit www.akcchf.org/canineathlete

The publication “Neutering Dogs: Effects on Joint Disorders and Cancers in Golden Retrievers” is available online through the open access journal PLOS One. The work was funded by the AKC Canine Health Foundation with sponsorship from the Golden Retriever Foundation, Schooley's Mountain Kennel Club, the Siberian Husky Club of America, and the Vizsla Club of America Welfare Foundation.

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About CHF
The AKC Canine Health Foundation (CHF) is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping dogs live longer, healthier lives by funding research that helps prevent, treat and cure canine disease. Established in 1995, CHF’s mission is to advance the health of all dogs and their owners by funding sound, scientific research and supporting the dissemination of canine health information. Through the generous support of the American Kennel Club, Nestlé Purina PetCare, Zoetis, dog clubs and dog owners worldwide, CHF has dedicated more than $35 million to canine health research projects and education programs. Visit CHF online at www.akcchf.org for more information.

Born Free USA: “Will world leaders push iconic species to brink of extinction or hand them a lifeline at UN wildlife convention?”

Washington, DC, February 25, 2013 – Adam Roberts, Executive Vice President of Born Free USA, a leader in wildlife conservation and animal welfare, and a board member of Species Survival Network (SSN), warned today, “We are presiding over a slide towards extinction for many of the world's most iconic species.” Roberts, along with members of the Born Free international team and SSN, will attend the 16^th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) March 3 to 14 in Bangkok, Thailand.

Born Free is calling on the 177 Member countries that are signatories to CITES (www.bornfreeeusa.org/cites) to urgently put in place effective measures to prevent the further loss of several key-stone species. Born Free also urges the international community to dig deep and find the essential resources necessary to shatter the organized crime syndicates that are behind today's poaching epidemic and equip the men and women who regularly lose their lives on the conservation frontline.

According to Roberts, "This is a tragic state of affairs. We are witnessing the decimation of some of the world’s most beautiful creatures and it must stop. The public is led to believe that the natural world is holding its own, and that is far from the truth. For some species, the question is not whether they will go extinct in the wild in my daughter’s lifetime, but in mine.”

Will Travers OBE, the CEO of Born Free and President of SNN adds, "The situation is now so bad, the poaching and slaughter of wildlife now so inextricably linked to international organized crime syndicates, that without a dramatic step-change in our efforts and without the resources for effective species conservation, we shall, in my view, end up with a handful of 'wildlife fortresses' - heavily guarded National Reserves and Parks, protected by garrisons of armed rangers and wardens - and that's it."

Recent announcements by former US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton, echoed by the UK Environment Minister Richard Benyon, on his recent trip to Kenya, indicate that criminal operations coordinated by terrorist organizations such as al-Shabab, Boko Haram, and the Lord's Resistance Army, are intimately connected with wildlife crime, the proceeds of which fuels their efforts to plunder and terrorize.

"The resources and the forces we have at our disposal to resist the tide of poaching are simply not enough,” said Travers. "Until the international community recognizes the need to meet this threat head-on, then endangered wild animals will lose their lives, people will be murdered, local communities will be destabilized, and environments will be destroyed."

Key Statistics:

• African elephants down by 30% in 20 years - there were 1.3 million in 1979, now there may be less than 400,000. Some countries could lose their elephants entirely within five years.
• 668 rhino of South Africa's 20,000 rhino poached in 2012 alone - up from just 13 in 2007.
• African lion numbers collapse by 50% to below 35,000 since 1980 and the trade in lion body parts grows in leaps and bounds.
• 3,500 wild tigers cling to survival, down from 100,000 just over a century ago, driven by poaching for their body parts.
• At least 38,000,000 sharks unsustainably caught for their fins, primarily for soup.
• Thousands of Manta Rays caught and traded for their gills which are used for medicinal purposes in the Far East.
• Approximately 600 Polar bears killed each year, of which 64% are commercially traded as skins.
• South Africa lost 668 rhino to poachers in 2012. So far in 2013 it has lost more than 100 - at a rate of two rhino per day. Kenya lost seven rhino to poachers in January.
• The CITES Secretariat estimate that 25,000 elephant were poached in 2012. Others, including Born Free, suggest the total may be more than 30,000 in the last 12 months.
• Duke University estimates African lions to number 35,000 or less. Born Free estimates the figure may be nearer 25,000 while some lion scientists believe the number to be as low as 15,000.
• The Shark Trust reports that between 26,000,000 and 73,000,000 million sharks are traded for fins each year (based on 2006 figures).
• According to the IUCN (International Union for the Conservation of Nature) two thirds of Polar bear populations (estimated to be 20,000-25,000) could disappear by 2050.
• Traders report a steep rise in the Manta Ray gills trade which are now reportedly worth $680 a kilo.
• Of the nine recognized tiger subspecies, three are now extinct and some countries, notably Loas and Vietnam, may have less than 20 tigers surviving in the wild. China refuses to close down its notorious 'tiger farms.'

Born Free USA is a nationally recognized leader in animal welfare and wildlife conservation. Through litigation, legislation, and public education, Born Free USA leads vital campaigns against animals in entertainment, exotic “pets,” trapping and fur, and the destructive international wildlife trade. Born Free USA brings to America the message of “compassionate conservation” -- the vision of the U.K.-based Born Free Foundation, established in 1984 by Bill Travers and Virginia McKenna, stars of the iconic film Born Free, along with their son Will Travers, now CEO of both organizations. Born Free’s mission is to end suffering of wild animals in captivity, conserve threatened and endangered species, and encourage compassionate conservation globally.

More at: bornfreeusa.org/cites and bloodyivory.org. On Twitter twitter.com/bornfreeusa; On Facebook facebook.com/BornFreeUSA.

Talkin Pets News
Saturday, Feb. 23, the 54th day of 2013.
There are 311 days left in the year.

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News and Entertainment Media in 15 Categories Receive the Nod for Positive Animal Welfare Messaging

(Feb. 22, 2013) – The Humane Society of the United States has named Universal Picture’s “Big Miracle,” Imax/Warner Bros.’ “To the Arctic” and Sony Pictures’ “Darling Companion” among the diverse selection of nominees in contention for its 2013 Genesis Awards, which honor the news and entertainment media for their role in raising awareness of animal issues. Comedy Central’s “The Colbert Report” and “Futurama,” and NBC’s “The New Normal” are in the running for the Genesis Sid Caesar Comedy Award, while ABC’s “Grey’s Anatomy,” NBC’s “Harry’s Law and FX’s “Sons of Anarchy” are up for the dramatic series award.

Winners in select categories will be presented at The HSUS’ Genesis Awards Benefit Gala, hosted by “Dancing with the Stars” Carrie Ann Inaba, on Saturday, March 23, at The Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills.

In broadcast news, NBC’s “Rock Center with Brian Williams” and “Nightly News,” ABC’s “20/20,” “Nightline” and “World News Tonight with Diane Sawyer,” and CBS’ “60 Minutes,” “CBS Evening News with Scott Pelley,” and “CBS This Morning” are all in line for the hotly contested Genesis newsmagazine, national news and morning show awards.

On the cable television front, HBO’s “One Nation Under Dog” takes on Discovery’s “Ivory Wars” and Animal Planet’s “Street Dog of South Central” for the Genesis TV Documentary award. And in reality programming, Nat Geo’s “Wild Justice” and “Philly Undercover” are nominated alongside Animal Planet’s “My Cat From Hell,” and MSNBC’s “Caught on Tape.”

“For 27 years, the Genesis Awards have celebrated the power of the media to shed light on animal protection issues,” said Beverly Kaskey, senior director of HSUS’ Hollywood Outreach and executive producer of The Genesis Awards Benefit Gala. “This year one nominee, ‘Big Miracle,’ reflects the Genesis credo with its true account of how one TV reporter’s story triggers a worldwide effort to save a family of imperiled whales, proving that the media can and does make a difference.”

2013 Genesis Awards Nominations

FEATURE FILM

BIG MIRACLE Universal Pictures
DARLING COMPANION Kasdan Films / Sony
DELHI SAFARI Fantastic Films International, LLC
TO THE ARCTIC Imax /Warner Bros.

DRAMATIC SERIES

GREY’S ANATOMY “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” ABC

HARRY’S LAW “Gorilla My Dreams” NBC

SONS OF ANARCHY “J'ai Obtenu Cette" FX

SID CAESAR COMEDY AWARD

THE COLBERT REPORT Representative Steve King on dogfighting Comedy Central

FUTURAMA “31^st Century Fox” Comedy Central

THE NEW NORMAL “Pardon Me” NBC

TV DOCUMENTARY

IVORY WARS Discovery Channel

ONE NATION UNDER DOG: Stories of Fear, Loss and Betrayal HBO

STREET DOGS OF SOUTH CENTRAL Animal Planet

REALITY

CAUGHT ON CAMERA “Hoarding” MSNBC

MY CAT FROM HELL Animal Planet

PHILLY UNDERCOVER “The Raid” Nat Geo WILD

WILD JUSTICE Nat Geo Channel

TV NEWSMAGAZINE

20/20 “Deadly Pets” ABC

60 MINUTES “The Race to Save The Tortoise” CBS

INSIDE EDITION “Cockfighting Investigation” Syndicated

NIGHTLINE “The Ugly Truth Behind High Stepping Horses” ABC

ROCK CENTER WITH BRIAN WILLIAMS “At What Cost?”, “Ken and Rosie, “Last Stand” NBC

NATIONAL NEWS

ABC WORLD NEWS WITH DIANE SAWYER downer cow video

CBS EVENING NEWS WITH SCOTT PELLEY “Ivory Poaching”

NBC NIGHTLY NEWS “Hurricane Sandy: Protecting Our Pets”

MORNING SHOW

CBS THIS MORNING “Shark Tagging”

CNN SATURDAY MORNING “Little Boy Blue”

LOCAL TV NEWS

KDVR-TV DENVER FOX 31 NEWS AT NINE "Saving the Discarded Dogs"

KNBC 4 NEWS "Bunny Trafficking"

WOIO TV 19 ACTION NEWS "Busted in Oklahoma" and "An Exotic Homecoming"

CHILDREN’S PROGRAMMING

NICK NEWS WITH LINDA ELLERBEE “Animals? Show Me the Money!” Nickelodeon

BRIGITTE BARDOT INTERNATIONAL TV

60 MINUTES “Jungle Warfare” Nine Network Australia

CARTE BLANCHE “Damien’s Rhino War,” “Elephant Birth Control,” “Mauritius Cattle Ship” M-Net South Africa

THE HANOI CONNECTION Spiegel TV (Germany)

PRINT

MAGAZINE

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC “Cheetahs on the Edge” by Roff Smith, “Ivory Worship” by Bryan Christy,“Rhino Wars” by Peter Gwin

TIME “Beasts of Burden” by Bryan Walsh

COLUMNIST

THE NEW YORK TIMES Nicholas D. Kristof “Is an Egg for Breakfast Worth This?”

THE CHATTANOOGAN.COM Roy Exum multiple part series on Tennessee Walking Horse soring

NEWSPAPER SERIES

THE SACRAMENTO BEE three-part series on Wildlife Services by Tom Knudson

BRIGITTE BARDOT INTERNATIONAL

SOUTH ASIA MAGAZINE (Pakistan) “Animal Welfare in Islam” by Aiman Reyaz and

“Law of the Land” by Anees Jillani with commentary by Syed Rizvi

THE STAR (South Africa) “Silencing the Seals” and “Slaughter on the Sand” by Kristen van Schie

The HSUS’ 2013 Genesis Awards Benefit Gala is sponsored in part by Misix, One Car One Difference, Market Development Group, Prai Beauty Group, Tenet, and Havas Edge.

Photo credit: Big Miracle: Darren Michaels/Universal Pictures

Follow The HSUS on Twitter. Follow The Genesis Awards on Twitter. See our work for animals on your Apple or Android device by searching for our "HumaneTV" app.

The Humane Society of the United States is the nation’s largest animal protection organization, rated the most effective by its peers. Since 1954, The HSUS has been fighting for the protection of all animals through advocacy, education and hands-on programs. We rescue and care for tens of thousands of animals each year, but our primary mission is to prevent cruelty before it occurs. We're there for all animals, across America and around the world. Celebrating animals and confronting cruelty -- on the Web at humanesociety.org.