Facts
FACTS TO BUILD A CASE
- Find Clues In The News
Carefully read legitimate news to extract clues about whom has the power to sway outcome for animals. For example, extract the name of a District Attorney and/or county that presides where a crime occurred. If news coverage identifies a company that tests on animals, record names of CEOs, pertinent staff and spokespeople. For government agencies that abuse animals, copy the agency's name and any titled staff mentioned in the article. Save your clues list as a base to search for contact info. Google key words or names to find more credible news about the same case. Always record the link to each news story used! - Get Info From Animal Groups
A good overview may come from animal organizations that have investigated or extensively documented an issue. PETA's undercover probes inside research labs have exposed audio-visual evidence of animal cruelty law violations. Wild animal groups chronicle abuse such as the Canadian seal hunt, slaughter of northwestern gray wolves or Yellowstone buffalo, with timely data and ways to take action. But don't write a novel…- Record data applicable to the alert at hand.
- Verify decision-maker contact information!
- Record an animal group's name and URL.
- Record contact info for group reps.
- Call Sources To Get Facts
When digital searches fail to uncover solid contact info or verify claims, you may need to phone parties related to the action campaign.- Communicate politely and professionally. If contacts become agitated, you won't get solid facts from them.
- Do not mention Kinship Circle. Identify as a concerned citizen.
- View Abuse In Person
If animal cruelty occurs in your area, consider video and photos at/near the scene.- You agree to act in compliance with all local/federal laws.
- You agree to act on your own recognizance and that Kinship Circle is not responsible for injury, fines, or other legal consequences.
- You are responsible for any medical expenses.
KEY DECISION-MAKERS
Even if evidence reveals clear animal abuse, comments and demands must target the right people — or activists are just blowing off steam. A campaign also falls flat if it lists incorrect contact information for recipients.
Example: Find For Each Target
- First & Last Name: The Honorable Thomas Vilsack
- Title: U.S. Secretary Of Agriculture
- Company Or Agency: U.S. Department Of Agriculture
- Street Address: 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W.
City, State, Zip: Washington, DC 20250
Country: USA - Phone: 202-720-7100, 202-720-2791
- Digital Contacts:
https://twitter.com/secvilsack
https://nitter.net/SecVilsack
agsec@usda.gov
feedback@usda.gov
askusda@usda.gov
Jewel Bronaugh, Deputy Secretary, USDA:
https://twitter.com/depsecbronaugh?lang=en - File Animal Welfare Complaint
- Whistleblower Hotline
- USDA-APHIS Public Search Tool
- Source Of Information:
www.usda.gov
www.usa.gov/contact
www.usa.gov/federal-agencies/a
Search Tips
SEARCH TIPS FOR CONTACT INFORMATION
- Where Should I Start?
Review the methods under Background Facts to Build a Case. If you've followed these guidelines, you have a list of names and clues about who can influence outcomes for animals. Below are tactics for finding their contact information.- Find A Primary Website For The Contact Person. Google a name/title to find a person's main website affiliation. Get all contact info listed and record the site's URL. Look for key words: Contact, Feedback, Directory, Locations, Customer Service, etc. Record email addresses you may not use (press people, admin aides) — to see how emails are configured.
- Search Various Name/Title Configurations For The Same Person. For Example:
The Honorable Patricia Jessamy
Baltimore City State's Attorney Office
Office of State's Attorney in Baltimore @stattorney.org
- Email-Suffix Lookup
Valid email addresses are essential. Automated letters do not work without them. Most activists will never call or mail comments. But they will email their comments. If you find an email suffix related to a contact, Google that suffix to see if it leads you to the person you want (or other useful emails). For example:- Note the email suffix for Nepal's Ministry of Foreign Affairs ends in @mofa.gov.np
- Google @mofa.gov.np to try to locate more key officials in this ministry.
- Do not record email addresses that are over one year old! Check the publish date shown on most web pages. You may find more invalid emails than current addys that actually work. Nothing generates more complaints to us than bouncing emails.
- Email Address Reverse Lookup
Perhaps you've confirmed some emails, but still need a targeted contact's street address, phone, webmail or social media links.- Google a valid email address until you find timely sources for the rest of a person's contact information.
- New search results may uncover more pertinent decision-makers and their contact information.
- For example, Google a fur retailer's customer service email. Your search brings up investor relations emails for the same company. Follow those leads to dig for CEO or board member contact info.
- Phone Or Address Reverse Lookup. Same concept as email reverse lookup above. Google the phone/address info you have, to both confirm it and find more digital ways to contact a recipient.
- Find Contacts In Unexpected Places
You may stumble upon email, phone, social media… buried in docs linked to a contact's business or agency. Check out these type files:- Press releases.
- Board or meeting notes.
- Attendee rosters from conferences or other events.
- Other related docs (pamphlets, brochures) that may list contact info.
If you can't find the person you want, but notice a colleague's email — search that email suffix, such as: @gov.com. A document may show related staff emails (public information officer, top aide, vice president, deputy chief) that we can also use in action campaigns.
