Mourning John Robbins & Mikayla Raines + Dairy cruelty, Pilot kindness, fireworks + more, June 30, ’25

We’ve suffered two heartbreaking losses over the last week – author John Robbins, and Fox rescuer Mikayla Raines, the latter under particularly distressing circumstances. I will share their obituaries below along with a stunning Dallas Morning News front-page story on egregious dairy farm cruelty, and newly released great news as SCOTUS turns down the opportunity to revisit California’s Prop 12, plus today’s joyous New York Post coverage of “Pilots to the Rescue.” And I will catch us up on other major media animal stories, including a strong and topical piece about fireworks, which I hope will inspire many letters.

First let me thank all in the Bay Area and elsewhere who responded to a local alert I sent in response to an article in the San Francisco Chronicle. The paper printed my letter last week with edits that changed its meaning, but thankfully addressed those edits in the online version which now reads:

“Regarding ‘San Francisco is euthanizing more stray dogs. Here’s why,’ It hurt to read about the ‘easy-going and friendly’ pit-mastiff mix, with no medical issues, ‘but after a short time in the facility, the dog became so anxious that he had to be put down.’

“At least the words ‘put down’ were a welcome reality check in what is too often a sea of euphemism. Every definition of ‘euthanize’ includes the intent to alleviate pain and suffering, yet we misuse the term to make ourselves feel better about killing healthy animals who want to live but for whom we have failed to find homes. Would we use it if we were killing humans under similar circumstances?

“Let’s abandon language designed to alleviate the shame of our sins and work on doing better by the animals over whom we have claimed dominion.”

I have that posted and easily shareable on the DawnWatch Facebook page.

You may notice that I used the article about all the killing as the basis for a letter about one of my “pet” peeves, which is what I always recommend. Any article on animal suffering can be used as a jump-off point for a letter on the issue closest to your heart. Letters editors look for letters that expand the discussion.

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Thanks also to those in Georgia who responded to the DawnWatch alert  regarding the Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s front page editorial celebration of the deal that saves the Okefenokee. Here’s a screenshot of that gorgeous front page.  The June 25 lead letter in that paper, by Daniel Kirk, was titled, “Thanks for saving spectacular swamp.”

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I have no doubt that numerous activists receiving this alert were brought into this movement by the work of John Robbins, whose obituary was printed in yesterday’s New York Times (page A21). If so, you may wish to respond in his honor.

The obituary opens:

“John Robbins, an heir to the Baskin-Robbins ice cream empire who rejected the family business to advocate plant-based nutrition, environmentalism and animal rights, died on June 11 at his home in Soquel, Calif., near Santa Cruz. He was 77.

“His son and collaborator, Ocean Robbins, said that the cause was complications of post-polio syndrome, which resulted in muscle weakness and other symptoms nearly seven decades after he contracted polio as a boy.

“Mr. Robbins was best known for his book “Diet for a New America,” published in 1987. The book, which is said to have sold more than a million copies, drew a link between the heavy consumption of animal-based products and the increased risk of chronic illnesses like heart disease and obesity; examined the environmental damage caused by factory farming; and raised ethical concerns about the treatment of animals in confined conditions.”

Here’s a gift link to the complete obit.

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The New York Times obituary for 29-year-old Mikayla Raines of Save a Fox rescue is online only for now, perhaps appropriate for an activist with 2.4 million YouTube followers. Here’s a gift link to that one (compliments of Teresa D’Amico) which includes lots of shots of the camera-friendly woman with her rescues. Or you may like to watch this Inside Edition story, which includes some of her YouTube clips. Prepare to be heartbroken as you watch it.

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Sunday’s Dallas Morning News, June 30, had “Fairlife accused again of cruelty” on the front page. That story opens with:

“On labels in grocery stores and recently deleted pledges on its website, Coca-Cola has advertised the milk it sells comes from humanely treated cows, a promise in the product’s very name — Fairlife.

“At Woodcrest Dairy in New Mexico, a member of the Dallas-based Select Milk Producers cooperative that supplies Fairlife, an undercover investigator filmed a different reality: workers kicking cows in the head and beating them with steel rods; breaking tails as discipline during milking; and attaching a chain to a fetus inside a cow in labor to force it out before the mother was ready.

“The alleged ‘near-constant torment and torture of cows as a daily practice,’ captured this year by investigative welfare organization Animal Recovery Mission, is cited in a new federal false advertising complaint against the corporate giants behind the Fairlife brand.

“In the class action lawsuit amended May 29, plaintiffs accuse Fairlife and its co-founders, Coca-Cola and Select Milk, of defrauding customers by building the $1 billion brand on claims of cow welfare while sourcing milk from dairies with ‘egregious animal cruelty.’”

Texan DawnWatchers have received an alert on that already, but I urge anybody who feels strongly about the issue to respond with a letter appreciative of the coverage, in order to lend animals your much-needed voice in mainstream media.

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On a far happier note, we have this just-released news from The Hill:

“The Supreme Court on Monday turned away a second bite at the apple to review California’s law requiring pork sold in the state to come from pigs raised with sufficient living space.”

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On another happy note we have today’s New York Post has beautiful coverage of Michael Schneider and “Pilots to the Rescue.” Check out the story and fun photos, leave a comment, and, especially if you are New York based (but not only if you are NY based) send a letter to letters@nypost.com celebrating the story. It’s so important that paper learn how much their readers love animals!

Always include your full name, address and phone number, for verification purposes, when sending a letter to the editor.

I send thanks to Teresa D’Amico for making sure we saw that one.

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The Los Angeles Times consistently does a great job of covering animal issues, with the last week being no exception. Angelenos were sent a DawnWatch alert about:

— A story on an Irvine dog trainer and his girlfriend who were arrested after police linked them to the deaths of at least ten dogs, nine of whom allegedly died on a single day.

— A case of animal abuse covered under “Two donkeys shot by arrows spotted in Moreno Valley”

And

–A hopeful update titled “Fish saved from Palisades fire return to Malibu,” which quotes a conservation biologist celebrating the chance to restore gobies to their natural habitat despite global chaos.

Meanwhile, yesterday’s, Sunday June 29 edition, page B4, brought us the joyful headline, “World’s largest wildlife crossing enters final stage.” That story has been shared on the Save LA Cougars site here. I trust some of you will be delighted enough to respond.

As always, I send thanks to activist Elaine Livesey-Fassel for her stellar monitoring of that paper for us.

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In other major mainstream media animal news, which I have posted to the DawnWatch X Feed and/or DawnWatch Facebook page over the last week:

• In light of “simultaneous announcements by the NIH and FDA,” Newsweekbrought us, “How Animal Testing in the US could be transformed under Trump.”

• We learned from Wales Online of the death of Harry’s Girl just seconds into the Royal Ascot horse race.

• Fox 23 brought us the great news that the city of Glenpool , Oklahoma, cancelled plans for elephant rides!  Now wouldn’t we love to see an investigation of a supposed animal sanctuary that was planning to profit from elephant rides in a parade with fireworks?

• The New York Times wrote up the wedding of activists Rachel Atcheson and Sean McElwee. Here’s a gift link.

• KWTX did a great job covering the rescue of a dog from a hot car, and the disgraceful reaction of local police.

•  National Geographic brought us the story, “Why Rome’s Dolphins are Fighting each Other” which includes: “Now, a recent study shows that the dolphins are not only sick, but they’re fighting over food—and it’s due to human activity… 70 percent of the residents studied showed signs of malnutrition, such as visible ribs.” Let’s hope that encourages some people to leave fish off their plates and in the oceans.

• This week’s New York Times Magazine, released yesterday, includes a sweet story on pigeons, encouraging us to “look at them more kindly.” Here’s a gift link.

Finally, with July 4^th almost upon us, I want to close with two articles I shared on social media, in the hope that they will inspire you to send a note off to your local paper advising folks to ditch the fireworks and campaign for celebrations without them in your city next year:

• The Washington Post ran the story “Why some destinations are ditching fireworks for July Fourth:Drone shows and lasers provide a quieter alternative for pet owners, veterans and neurodivergent people.”
• And PETA’s Scott Miller wrote an op-ed that has appeared in numerous papers titled, “Not all Americans Enjoy Fireworks.” It tells us:

“Fireworks frighten animals into fleeing for their lives—often straight into danger. There are countless instances of dogs and cats bolting in panic, sometimes breaking through fences or windows, running into traffic, getting lost or never making it home. Shelters report spikes in missing animals every July 4, and many arrive injured, with bloody paws or broken bones…

“In one instance, more than 5,000 dead or dying red-winged blackbirds fell from the sky during a fireworks display in Arkansas.”

That’s depressing stuff, but one sure cure for depression is action, so please jot off a very quick note to your local paper. If you don’t think you are much of a writer, open up chatgpt.com, put in your unvarnished thoughts, and let the program do its magic. I used to offer my editing services, but while I would take an hour, Chat GPT will take seconds to turn your blotch of a paragraph into a masterpiece. And you can ask her/him/them/it for the email address for your newspaper’s letters editor too!

Animals need our voices – especially this week. Let’s give generously.

Yours and all animals’,
Karen Dawn of DawnWatch