CHICAGO (Feb. 8, 2023) — On Feb. 7, In Defense of Animals and the Chicago Alliance for Animals delivered chocolates and oversized Valentine’s cards from two lonely wild animals suffering in extreme solitary confinement in the Chicago area who are asking to be sent to sanctuaries. 

Video: https://youtube.com/shorts/H6KpB3jf1MI 

Lincolnwood Trustees received a Valentine penned by Spur, an African Sulcata tortoise in Lincolnwood. The president of the Cook County Board of Commissioners, Toni Preckwinkle, received a card from Rocky, a coyote in Northbrook. The giant cards were designed by artist Denise Katz Howick, who was inspired by the captive animals’ plight. Rocky and Spur’s cards contain a compelling plea for freedom to their captors and were co-signed by nearly 7,500 In Defense of Animals supporters. The message inside Rocky’s giant Valentine’s card was shared aloud by an advocate during public comment.

Spur is an African Sulcata tortoise who was trafficked from the wild more than 30 years ago and has been languishing in a tiny, tiled enclosure inside the window of The Animal Store in Lincolnwood ever since. Rocky is a coyote who was mistaken for a German shepherd puppy. Instead of being returned to the wild, he was confined at the River Trail Nature Center in Northbrook, where he has been kept alone in a small, shabby enclosure for nearly five years.

In September, In Defense of Animals and Chicago Alliance for Animals held multiple protests for Spur and Rocky. Spur advocates demonstrated in front of The Animal Store and outside of a Lincolnwood Village board meeting to urge officials to send Spur to sanctuary, and enforce their own law banning the sale of naturally wild animals. The Animal Store sells a number of species of wild animals, including opossums, squirrels, fennec foxes, sugar gliders, degus, and much more. Nearly 16,000 In Defense of Animals supporters have already written to decision-makers urging them to enforce their laws and free Spur.

Rocky’s advocates protested at the River Trail Nature Center, where the coyote is confined, and also in front of the Forest Preserves of Cook County headquarters. Demonstrators urged Cook County Commissioners to allow Rocky to go to a sanctuary that has offered him a place instead of using tax dollars to build a bigger cage. An In Defense of Animals action alert calling for Rocky’s relocation to the sanctuary has garnered nearly 24,000 supporters since June. After Cook County announced it would keep Rocky at the nature center, but enlarge his cage, over 14,000 In Defense of Animals supporters renewed their call to release Rocky. More than 100,000 people, including comedian Ricky Gervais, have spoken out on Rocky’s behalf.

The Valentine’s card designs were created by artist Denise Katz Howick, who was moved by Rocky and Spur’s plight. Illustrations: Denise Katz Howick

The Wild Animal Sanctuary in Colorado is ready to provide a forever home for Rocky. Desert Oasis Turtle & Tortoise Sanctuary in Arizona has offered to provide a forever home for Spur.

“We hope the Valentine’s cards from Rocky and Spur will unlock hearts and cages,” said Brittany Michelson, Captive Animals Campaigner for In Defense of Animals. “These animals display numerous signs of stress caused by confinement and boredom and they deserve to have their needs truly met in a sanctuary setting. We are calling on Cook County Commissioners and the Lincolnwood Trustees to have a heart and grant Rocky and Spur’s wish for freedom.” 

“Spur was stolen from her family and homeland of Africa, trafficked to Illinois and has suffered inside a tiny, incredibly unnatural display case for more than three decades,” said Jodie Wiederkehr, Founder of Chicago Alliance for Animals. “It’s beyond time for Lincolnwood's trustees to enforce their law that prohibits the keeping of naturally wild animals and urge The Animal Store to finally allow Spur to be the wild animal she is at Desert Oasis Turtle & Tortoise Sanctuary in Arizona.”

“River Trail Nature Center should follow in the footsteps of Glen Ellyn’s Willowbrook Wildlife Center, which is eliminating its animal ambassador program altogether,” said Irene Sewell of Chicago Alliance for Animals. “It is stressful on wild animals to be held captive and on display. And it is inhumane. We are calling for the immediate surrender of Rocky the Coyote to The Wild Animal Sanctuary in Keenesburg, Colorado where he will have the freedom to run, burrow in underground dens, and be with others of his own kind. It is simply the right thing to do.”

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Contacts: 

In Defense of Animals, Brittany Michelson, brittany@idausa.org, 928-420-0727

Chicago Alliance for Animals, Jodie Wiederkehr, chicagoallianceforanimals@gmail.com, 773-726-0589

Action Alerts:

Have a Heart: Sign Valentine’s Day Cards to Help Free Rocky the Coyote & Spur the Tortoise — 7,449 signatures Jan. 27, 2023

Tortoise Prisoner Suffering 30 Years in Jail So Far — 15,711 actions July 15, 2022

Confined, Suffering Coyote Needs Release to Wildlife Sanctuary! — 23,919 actions July 1, 2022

More Information:

MEDIA RELEASE: Cook County Fails Misguided Plan to Expand Coyote’s Cage, Prompts New Experts to Call for Sanctuary Dec. 14, 2022

MEDIA RELEASE: Activists Rally to Free Spur the Tortoise From Cruel and Illegal Pet Store Sept. 23, 2022

MEDIA RELEASE: Pressure Mounts To Free Rocky the Coyote Sept. 20, 2022

Chicago Area: Two Days of Action for Rocky the Coyote & Spur the Tortoise! Sept. 2, 2022 

MEDIA RELEASE: Ricky Gervais Calls for Release of Rocky the Confined Coyote to Wildlife Sanctuary Aug. 9, 2022

In Defense of Animals is an international animal protection organization based in Marin County, California, with over 250,000 supporters and a 40-year history of fighting for animals, people, and the environment through education and campaigns, as well as hands-on rescue facilities in India, South Korea, and rural Mississippi. www.idausa.org/wildanimals

Chicago Alliance for Animals (CAA) is a mostly volunteer, grassroots organization that banned horse carriages in Chicago in 2020, shut down Chicago’s puppy mill stores in 2021 and so much more. CAA started the Free Rocky and Free Spur campaigns. www.chicagoallianceforanimals.org

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