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Who We Are                   How You Can Help    

The St. Louis Animal Rights Team (START) is a not-for-profit educational/activist group, formed in 1985, and incorporated as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization in 1988.  Our goals are to:

• Educate society regarding the rights of non-human animals to live freely and die naturally

• Expose the harm and suffering caused by the denial of animals’ natural rights

• Promote the adoption of lifestyles compatible with the animal rights philosophy

• Promote the reform of social institutions to be compatible with animal rights

As thinking beings it is our responsibility to defend the rights of all species here on earth.  START adheres to the universal Animal Rights philosophy that animals are not ours to eat, wear, experiment on, or use for entertainment.  Simply put, they are not ours.  While this concept seems foreign, even frivolous, to many people, we should remember how most of society responded to the suggestion of rights for some segments of the human population. 

START is an all-volunteer group of area residents dedicated to focusing public attention on animal rights issues.  We are involved in many such issues, including animals used for product testing, medical research, food, clothing, entertainment, or dissection, as well as companion animal overpopulation, trapping, sport hunting, and wildlife habitat.  We promote educational programs to encourage compassion for the fate of all animals, and to end discrimination against beings solely on the basis of their species.

Since 1985, START volunteers have spearheaded efforts to eliminate the exploitation of animals.  Our activities include phone and letter campaigns, information booths at local events, informational leafleting, demonstrations, educational programs in local schools, providing speakers for the community, and much more.

How You Can Help

There are many ways to help START and the animals.  Here are a few suggestions:

• Volunteer.  There are lots of opportunities for volunteering.  START participates in numerous community events, throughout the year, and we can always use volunteers to help staff our information tables.  Check out our Calendar page for scheduled events.  We also have demonstrations for a variety of issues, such as captive animals in the zoo and circus, the abuse of animals in laboratories, and the selling and wearing of fur.  If you enjoy writing and there is a particular issue you would like to spotlight, why not pen an article for our newsletter?  This page has even more ways you can join in.

• Donate.  We do as much as we can to publicize the plight of animals, which can mean purchasing billboards, newspaper ads, mass-transit ads, and so on.  In spring 2008, for example, START funded a series of anti-fur ads at MetroLink stations in the St. Louis area.  In the fall of each year, we try to sponsor at least one billboard, exposing the conditions for animals in the circus.  We use our website, e-mails, and literature to further educate the public.  You can always donate with confidence, because START is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, and your monetary donations are fully tax-deductible as allowed by law.  You can donate easily and securely using PayPal (see below), or you can mail a check. 

• Contribute Auction Items.  Every fall we have our biggest fundraiser, our Annual Evening for the Animals Silent Auction and Benefit Party.  We can use items for the auction, so if you have a business or you're especially good at networking, perhaps you can arrange for a contribution.

• Become a member.  START has several levels, and membership entitles you to vote for Board Members and to serve on the Board.  Payment is easy using PayPal, or you can mail it in using a check.

• Offer Ideas.  New ideas are always welcome (as long as you're willing to help implement them!).  If you have an idea for a demonstration or leafleting event, let us know and we will try to support you.  We will do our best to help get the word out and may be able to help with signs and/or literature.  If you know of specific alerts, news reports, demos, or other items you believe worthy of attention, alert us and we will try to include them in our next Weekly E-newsletter.

START

PO Box 440161

St. Louis, MO 63144

(314) 851-0928

start1@charter.net