BARC Events
1. Next BARC Meeting
What? Official BARC Meeting
When? Monday, February 19th
5:00 pm
Where? Gazebo between the Washington Center and Phillips Hall
Since last meeting got cut a little short… we’ll be picking back up where we left off and finalizing our upcoming campaigns against the Marketplace, the Shriner’s circus, and Meat Out! Also setting concrete dates for our events like Dinner and a Movie, and the Vegan Breakfasts at the Honors College.
Also, a BIG thank you to everyone who helped make and pass out the Valentine’s Day goodie bags on Wednesday! We gave out almost 400 valentines, and it went very well! 
That’s nearly 400 new people who received literature about factory farming from us on campus. Let’s keep it going!
NOTE: At this meeting, Jodi will be collecting donations for Seminole Animal Services who was hit by the recent tornadoes. They need standard supplies like blankets; dog, cat, bird, and rabbit food; litter boxes; and crates. If you didn’t bring any last week, you can still contribute.
2. Vegetarians of Central Florida Meetup at Global Chocolates
What? Chocolate Extravaganza
When? Saturday, February 24th
7:00 pm
Where? Global Chocolates
955 Fairbanks Ave
Winter Park, FL 32789
407-681-3500
Who doesn’t love Chocolate? We now have our very own chocolate shop in Orlando that sells VEGAN chocolates! They also have organic, Fair Trade coffee & espresso drinks as well as an array of yummy pastries. Please join us for veggie sandwiches & all you can eat chocolate. Rumor has it that there will be chocolate fondue!
They are located between 17-92 and Park Ave, Between the Wine Warehouse & Austin’s Coffee & Film. Parking is in the rear.
**If anyone wants to form a carpool from UCF, please contact barcucf@gmail.com to let us know you’re coming.
3. Urgent Action: Speak Out Against the Hiring of Dr. Ridgway for Orlando’s Homeless Animals!
Among other responsibilities, Animal Services operates a shelter that impounded 20,000 dogs and cats in 2005. Unfortunately, over 11,000 of these animals were euthanized. We can do better. Animal Services needs strong leadership to improve adoptions and to promote spay & neuter.
Among dozens of applications for the Manager position, the county is choosing to hire Robert Ridgway, DVM. Since March 2006, Dr. Ridgway has been employed by the county as a shelter veterinarian. But prior to arriving in Florida, Dr. Ridgway had a sordid past…
For 10 years, Dr. Ridgway was Director of Laboratory Animal Medicine at Covance, one of the world’s largest animal testing companies. Covance is hired by pharmaceutical and chemical companies to test products on animals. Every day in Covance labs, thousands of animals suffer and die in painful tests. (Visit www.CovanceCruelty.com to learn more about this company with a long record of animal cruelty and abuse.)
In his application for the Manager position, Dr. Ridgway boasted that at Covance one of his responsibilities was, “procurement of over 29,000 animals annually and coordination of animal use.” Currently, pound seizure (selling shelter animals to laboratories for experimentation such as Dr. Ridgway has done) is not illegal in Florida, and we fear he will try to bring the same thing to Orlando.
An individual who can send thousands of animals to their deaths in cruel tests is the wrong person to manage Orange County’s Animal Services. There are other highly-qualified applicants for this position, such as David Flagler. Mr. Flagler has hands on experience in law enforcement and all aspects of managing a shelter, and is in support of the New Humane Movement, No More Homeless Pets.
Please contact the Orange County Commission and urge them to reconsider selecting Dr. Robert Ridgway as Orange County’s new Manager of Animal Services. They need to hear from us before February 20th!
We need to flood their email and phones with our voices!! Here are some talking points: please state you are concerned and disappointed in the selection of Dr. Robert Ridgway as Orange County’s new Director of Animal Services. His past employment proves he does not have the experience necessary to run a progressive, humane shelter. In addition, he is 68 years old and we want someone who will be here for the long haul with a better vision for Orange County’s animals. David Flagler, another candidate has more successful sheltering experience.
Below is the contact information for the Orange County Commission:
County Mayor Richard Crotty
Email: mayor@ocfl.net
Telephone: (407) 836-7370
Fax: (407) 836-7360
County Administrator
Ajit Lalchandani
Telephone: (407) 836-7370
Same email as Mayor Crotty. Just put “Forward to
County Administrator” in your subject line.
Melvin Pittman – Director of Community and
Environmental Services
Email: melvin.pittman@ocfl.net
Telephone: (407) 836-5511
District 1 - Commissioner Teresa Jacobs
Email: district1@ocfl.net
Telephone: (407) 836-7350
Fax: (407) 836-5879
District 2 - Commissioner Fred Brummer
Email: district2@ocfl.net
Telephone: (407) 836-7350
Fax: (407) 836-5879
District 3 - Commissioner Mildred Fernandez
Email: district3@ocfl.net
Telephone: (407) 836-5309
Fax: (407) 836-7387
District 4 - Commissioner Linda Stewart
Email: district4@ocfl.net
Telephone: (407) 836-7350
Fax: (407) 836-5935
District 5 - Commissioner Bill Segal
Email: district5@ocfl.net
Telephone (407) 836-7350
Fax (407) 836-5879
District 6 - Commissioner Tiffany Moore
Email: district6@ocfl.net
Telephone: (407) 836-7350
Fax: (407) 836-5879
If you have a question about anything, email copresidents@barcdontbite.org, and you will get a prompt response.