IDA has teamed up with national animal protection organization Showing Animals Respect and Kindness (SHARK) to target Starbucks Coffee for sponsoring rodeos. Sadly, many animals are injured and killed every year in these violent competitions, so it's no wonder that Starbucks Customer Relations Representatives at first told concerned consumers that the company did not place an ad in the 2005 Cheyenne Frontier Days Souvenir Program. Yet following their denials, SHARK later discovered that Starbucks has also sponsored the Miss Rodeo Washington, the Belton Rodeo in Texas and the American Royal Rodeo in Kansas City, Mo. Hundreds of coffee drinkers have contacted Starbucks to point out that sponsoring rodeos is the tantamount to endorsing animal abuse, yet the company refuses to stop subsidizing this "sport" that epitomizes human domination over animals. 

In the coming months, IDA and SHARK will be holding protests outside of Starbucks stores in different cities throughout the U.S., so please join us when we come to your area and help us educate coffee drinkers about the company's disregard for animal welfare. SHARK founder and President, Steve Hindi, has been exposing rodeo cruelty for years, and is one of the key national figures in the fight to end the use of animals for "sport" and entertainment. He will lead the demonstrations and bring his Tiger Truck, a customized multi-media vehicle with large-screen televisions in the windows that can be seen from a distance. SHARK will play footage of rodeo brutality for pedestrians and motorists to see as they pass by while activists hold signs and hand out leaflets to people on the sidewalk. 

What You Can Do:

• Participate in IDA/SHARK's demonstrations against Starbucks or organize one at a Starbucks near you. IDA will gladly provide posters and help you organize your event. Contact Program Coordinator Melissa Gonzalez at (415) 388-9641, ext.228 or Melissa@idausa.org for assistance.