Wayne Pacelle: A Humane Nation

Research Proposal: Don't Buy Dogs, Cats from B Dealers

2009-11-20T17:24:05-05:00

The HSUS looks forward to the end of animal research and testing. One day, innovation and science will make the use of animals obsolete, and I trust that any decent person will welcome the arrival of that day.

In the interim, The HSUS works to curb some of the most excessive abuses of animals for research and testing, including the use of chimpanzees in invasive research. In addition, we’ve long campaigned for the end of some particularly bad enablers of animal research—specifically, Class B animal dealers. The name may sound familiar, as I’ve written before about these middlemen for animal experimentation.

iStockphoto

Class B dealers round up dogs and cats from “random sources,” including flea markets, animal shelters, and “bunchers” (who have been known to steal animals or respond fraudulently to free-to-good-home ads), then peddle the animals to research labs. This cottage industry has a record of more than 40 years of procuring dogs and cats from questionable sources and abusing them on their premises—all before these unfortunate animals go under the knife in research labs.

The system, however, is now on the brink of collapse. When demand for random source dogs and cats (a term for animals not specifically bred for research) was highest in the 1970s and ‘80s, there were approximately 200 Class B dealers. In the ‘90s, the number declined to approximately 100. Today, there are only nine in operation—with six of these under investigation for apparent violations of the federal Animal Welfare Act—plus one dealer sentenced to a 5-year license suspension. Whereas they once sold tens of thousands of dogs and cats to research each year, that number is down to fewer than 3,200.

The vast majority of research facilities now refuse to do business with these shady dealers, but propping up this dying industry are approximately 50 research institutions—mostly universities—that have been laggards in moving away from this disreputable class of animal dealers. This week, The HSUS called out every one of them. We identified them through painstaking analysis of transaction records in nearly a dozen states, coupled with surveys of the research facilities themselves. The HSUS is calling for them to stop patronizing Class B dealers.

If these universities won’t listen to us and our constituents, perhaps they’ll listen to the distinguished National Academy of Sciences, which earlier this year concluded that Class B dealers are unnecessary and that adequately regulating them is impossible. Even the American Physiological Society, which had historically been a prime defender of the Class B system, has now endorsed the Academy’s recommendations.

If the universities don’t do the right thing, we hope that Congress finally takes action, through passage of the Pet Safety and Protection Act (S. 1834/H.R. 3907). We applaud U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka (D-Hawaii) and Rep. Mike Doyle (D-Pa.) for again leading the effort to eliminate the abuses these people spawn.

Take a look at the full list of universities in question and then please ask them to stop buying from Class B dealers. We’ve made it easy for you to contact them all in one step.

Three Stops in Confronting Animal Cruelty

2009-11-19T17:27:51-05:00

Yesterday, I wrote about our rescue effort in French Canada that delivered nearly 100 dogs from truly miserable living conditions, just before the onset of winter and an even more dangerous time for these creatures. Today, I update you on some other actions we’ve undertaken just this week to turn around bad situations for animals.

In Florida, we responded to a former cat rescue operation gone bad. After receiving a continuous stream of complaints about a cat facility, we assisted local authorities with an investigation and the rescue of more than 600 cats from the property, many of whom were ill and neglected. It was a classic case of good intentions gone awry, where the property owners lost control of the situation and intervention was needed.

morgueFile

Meanwhile, in Kansas, we helped with a cockfighting raid that netted two individuals allegedly involved in the activity, and more than 150 roosters. It’s the first bust in Kansas since we elevated the penalty of cockfighting to a felony in that state—demonstrating yet again that with stronger laws comes enhanced enforcement.

And speaking of enforcement, this week we announced our partnership with the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office to launch a 24-hour dogfighting tip line. In the nation’s second largest city, where police battle a wide range of other criminal conduct, we unveiled this new tool and collaborative program to crack down on this vicious crime.

I remind people that there’s not a week that goes by without major new initiatives and outcomes here at The HSUS—work of remarkable diversity, work that prevents cruelty, work that saves lives, work that betters our communities.

It happens only because of our unyielding determination and the support of our members and partners.

Race for Survival: Rescue of 100 Sled Dogs

2009-11-18T18:30:00-05:00

The range of motion for The HSUS’s Emergency Services unit is wide—when you consider the many varieties of crises that animals face, the wild and domesticated animals of all kinds they assist, and the deployment locations. Yesterday, our Emergency Services team and our global arm, Humane Society International, partnered with the SPCA Laurentides-Labelle in the Upper Laurentians region of Quebec to rescue approximately 100 neglected sled dogs. The owner was unable to properly care for his dogs and released them to the SPCA LL. Rebecca Aldworth, our director of HSI/Canada, was part of the intervention and offers this dispatch from the field.

Over the years, I’ve witnessed a lot of animal suffering. But the images from our rescue yesterday of nearly 100 neglected sled dogs in rural Quebec will stay with me for a long time.

Karla Goodson/The HSUS

The local SPCA had received tips several weeks ago about a large group of huskies chained up in the woods, without adequate food and water. But it was only in recent days that the SPCA was able to pinpoint the location. They immediately called Humane Society International for help. Our Emergency Services team deployed to Quebec, complete with trained animal handlers and a specialized vehicle to remove the dogs.

As we walked onto the property, my heart broke. The huskies had been chained to metal poles and rotting plywood structures, over barren stretches of frozen mud. Hungry and dehydrated, they were unable to move beyond the two-meter radius their chains permitted.

The emaciated huskies began to wag their tails as we approached, barking in excitement. Amidst the noise, one dog sat quietly. I went to him and he too began to wag his tail. I winced as I felt his ribs, so prominent under his fur. Looking closer, I soon realized he was blind—untreated cataracts had taken his sight. Carefully, we walked him to freedom, and the promise of a better life.

We arrived just in time. Winter is coming and many of these dogs—including a number of puppies—may not have survived without our intervention.

Thankfully, our rescue operation was a complete success. One by one, we led or carried the dogs into our Emergency Services vehicle, and transported them to our emergency shelter an hour away—space generously donated by a local businessperson. There, dedicated volunteers from United Animal Nations are providing care, and SPCA Laurentides-Labelle veterinarians have treated and vaccinated the dogs. Once healthy, these deserving dogs will be adopted out to loving homes in Canada and the United States.

As we left the property, we pulled the heavy metal poles out of the ground, pushing over the filthy plywood dog houses. This property, home to misery for so long, will not house this kind of suffering again.

While these huskies are now safe, so many animals across Canada face neglect and abuse. HSI/Canada is advocating for stronger laws at the provincial and federal level, so we can stop this kind of suffering forever.

Talk Back: Ohio’s Issue 2, Opposition

2009-11-17T15:00:00-05:00

Today I share your comments on two posts from last week that take our opponents to task for their effort to retard reform.

Ohio has some of the weakest animal protection laws in the country, and that’s one reason why I traveled there recently to drum up support for new, improved policies. The prospect of a ballot initiative to phase out certain extreme confinement practices on factory farms generated anything but a sympathetic response from the Ohio Farm Bureau and many allies in the Legislature—instead, the group launched a pre-emptive measure designed to block our efforts. Voters there recently approved a measure, Issue 2, to create a powerful livestock board to dictate state agriculture policy. But it’s hardly the last word on the subject.

As an Ohioan, I was very disappointed that Issue 2 passed. I am on board with the HSUS in planning a different strategy. I will do what I can to help this process. —Loretta Sacher

Thanks for all you do for animals! I was at the town hall meeting in Cleveland last night—it was so wonderful to hear about the accomplishments of the HSUS and, like you said, it really does give a person hope for the future. I am looking forward to collecting signatures to get that amendment to Issue 2 on the ballot next year and hopefully enact some meaningful change for farm animals here in Ohio. —Maria Turchek

I want to thank Mr. Pacelle for coming to Cleveland and speaking to us last night. I believe that everybody in the room was quite deflated that Issue 2 had passed. He gave an inspiring talk that made me think about how I can further help the plight of suffering animals. It was comforting to know that the Humane Society is not giving up on Ohio and that the organization will help us work toward providing farm animals some basic life needs. I'm energized and ready to help. Thanks again. —Cynthia Wargo

I just wanted to thank you very much for coming to Cincinnati last night. As an animal advocate, shelter volunteer, and rescuer living in one of the states most backward when it comes to humane protections, it was heartening to hear your broad and expansive animal welfare address. Thank you for the ambitious objectives you are pursuing with the HSUS. I could not be more proud to be affiliated with an organization, aside from my work with our local animal loving community. PLEASE make Ohio a core HSUS focus for assisting our small but vigilant animal organizations here with bringing Ohio into the enlightened era, to legislate harsh punishments for abuse of domestic animals, as well as reforms to protect and better the lives of our food-producing animals. —Heather Harkins

Well, it looks like the Buckeye state has spoken. Animal activists need to remember that the farming community knows how to take care of their animals and the consumers showed you that they trust the farmers through their votes last night. This organization had no intentions of compromising with agriculture so we decided that this was the best course of action. I am sure that you will get the necessary signatures but you will not get the votes next November. Ohio has spoken and this organization should just see how the board is going to work before condemning it. —Theresa Howick

Money talks when it comes to Issue 2 in Ohio. Unfortunately, we are stuck by way of constitution with a committee appointed by the governor, etc., loaded with factory farmers, agriculture, etc. Nothing will change as far as confinement guidelines. We desperately need to pass legislation next year to stop this cruelty in Ohio. —Jeanie

We in Ohio were certainly bamboozled with Issue 2 and hardly had time to campaign against it. The ad for the issue looked SOOOOO inviting and like everyone should vote yes. We had no ad to state our case and therefore it looked like there was no opposition to it and it was okay to vote YES! We need to start now to try to fix what went terribly wrong on Nov. 3 in Ohio. Thanks. —Anita

And on my post about the Center for Consumer Freedom, a corporate front group that attacks individuals and organizations working for social good and seems to be a champion of animal cruelty:

GREAT BLOG! Oh, how I hope this charlatan group falls flat on its face and comes under the fire of one of the big news mouthpieces—60 Minutes, Dateline. They need to be exposed for what they really are and it causes me to choke to think that they actually receive support and funding from legitimate (though very ignorant!) businesses. Keep up the good work! —Susan T.

The extremes to which David Martosko, Rick Berman, and the rest of CCF are going are a sign that compassion and logic are winning. The sick minds who consider life a commodity, who value lives no more than any other balance sheet asset, are feeling threatened. The world is slowly evolving and leaving them behind. In the future, compassion, peace, health, and environmental stewardship will be secure foundations in every sentient beings’ life. We live that way now, and one day maybe even CCF members will join us. —KnowThankYou

So happy you responded directly to that joke of an organization. In time, the truth will show who they are and what they represent. Their presence is as limited as smoking in public places and trans fat in New York City. —CN

Have no fear of these bad individuals; you need not defend yourself against them as your work speaks volumes. Exploit them for what they really are—greedy trouble makers who enjoy causing aggravation for profit. Rise above these pathetic creatures and carry on your good work. Do not be distracted by their toxicity. —Louisa

Thanks for this post exposing the hideous nature of CCF. I discovered them only recently and posted about them on my blog also. I can barely fathom how these people can sleep at night knowing they are seriously misleading people through harmful and dishonest “information” and posing as a charity for the sake of money. What a disgrace. —Niki

I receive your blog and pass them on to my friends daily. This one (along with so many others) consumes my heart with sadness for these poor animals we as humans should feel privileged to have here on Earth with us. I decided to Google the Center for Consumer Freedom and found their website to be criticizing you. I became even more angry. I'm not sure if I made the right decision by even giving them any of my time, but I had to voice my disapproval. I just can't believe that compassion is so difficult for some. And even though Albert Einstein spoke about compassion and respect to all living creatures, as well as the benefits of a vegetarian diet for humans, there are so many that actually still disagree. And not only disagree, but are just plain cruel. I praise you for your work and your compassion–you are truly one of my heroes. God Bless you always, as well as all the animals. —Eileen Hillin

Thank you for calling out David Martosko, Rick Berman, and the CCF. Sadly, the voices against animal welfare are always motivated by greed. But we have "right" on our side, and we will never give up the fight for a better world for animals. —Erin Gaines

It takes a lot to get Wayne Pacelle ultra-angry. He's generally cordial even as he argues against all the atrocities hurled at animals. But the Center for Consumer Freedom has got him particularly fired up per his blog today. As a consumer, I stand in solidarity with Wayne as do other animal welfare supporters. There is NO decent human that will try to defend the wanton and rampant cruelty of animals, including farm animals. Many consumers will want to know, as I do, who is behind that group. —Michelle Ognjanovic

An Eagle Eye on Wildlife

2009-11-16T17:22:04-05:00

Last Friday, I paid a visit to our newest animal care center—the SPCA Wildlife Care Center in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. It’s one of five animal care centers we operate, with three specializing in rescuing and releasing wildlife. It handles nearly 14,000 animals a year, including raptors, raccoons, rabbits, and turtles.

The goal is to nurse animals back to health and then return them to the wild, and on the morning I was there, a Cooper’s hawk was ready for release. He had come in just a couple of days before, and had been knocked unconscious, perhaps having slammed into a window. But the fast-flying bird made a lightning quick recovery, and our team of wildlife veterinarians and release coordinator Greg Adler, pictured in the video, made the judgment that he was ready to be independent again.

Captive settings should be a temporary resting and healing place for animals, except if they have a permanent disability or behavioral condition that precludes their return. So for me, it was a thrill to see this hawk take to the air again (click here to see the video).

Even in crowded south Florida, there is an abundance of wildlife. Human-wildlife encounters are everywhere, and unfortunately some of them result in harm, usually to the animals. The SPCA Wildlife Care Center is there to give the animals a second chance, and to give people a primary education in preventing harmful encounters in the first place. Please do support the work of this center. You can make a dedicated donation by going to this page.

Buyer Beware: Cruel Isn't Cool

2009-11-13T16:45:47-05:00

Courtesy of Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images
The HSUS’ Sarika Reuben, Nigel Barker, and contest winner
Ingrid Bergstrom-Kendrick at the Cool vs. Cruel event.

On Wednesday night, I was at the Bowery Hotel in New York City, co-hosting the awards ceremony for our fur-free campaign's Cool vs. Cruel Competition—a joint project of The Humane Society of the United States and the Art Institutes that recognizes fashion design students who come up with creative alternatives to animal fur. We recognize the top students at the event, and each year, I am so impressed with their work, reminding us yet again that’s there’s just no reason to kill fur-bearing animals for our fashion tastes. And judging from the packed event, it seems there are many in the fashion world who are in agreement. Photographer Nigel Barker, designers Victoria Bartlett and Charlotte Ronson, and editors Mickey Boardman of Paper and Dana Wood of W were just some of the industry professionals in attendance.

In addition to exposing the cruelty associated with obtaining fur, we at The HSUS have also been sniffing out major consumer deception by the fur industry and the retail sector. Our staffers have been uncovering falsely advertised and mislabeled animal fur for a decade, and some of these retailers seem to be unwilling or unable to right the situation. Knowing our members and others don't want to be duped by unlabeled or mislabeled animal fur, we've mounted a determined campaign to fix the problem and promote transparency. We are working diligently to pass a bill in Congress that would require all animal fur be labeled; right now many trimmed items don't say anything about the fur. And our lawsuit against Neiman Marcus, Macy's/Bloomingdales, Lord & Taylor, and Saks Fifth Avenue has cleared its first legal hurdle.

Courtesy of Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images
Wayne Pacelle and Assemblymember Linda Rosenthal
at the Cool vs. Cruel event.

New York Assemblymember Linda Rosenthal was one of the guests at Cool vs. Cruel, and she actually went undercover with our staff earlier this year and found some big name retailers were not in compliance with the law she shepherded to passage in New York to require accurate labeling of all garments with fur. It continues to be a major problem, and the CBS affiliate in Los Angeles just worked with us on yet another major exposé of the problem. We recently found again that Neiman-Marcus continues to be a laggard and scofflaw on this issue, and sold animal fur that was described online as faux, deceiving consumers.

Unfortunately, it's still buyer beware out there, so use our guide to telling real from fake fur and our list of which stores and designers are fur-free when you do your shopping.

Have You Seen Our New Website?

2009-11-12T11:46:18-05:00

Our images of animals are powerful—some of our stories, videos and photos make you want to leap for joy, while others hit you so hard that you scream and redouble your efforts to assist us in putting an end to cruelty.

We all know that the very best spokesmen for the cause of animals are animals themselves. So this week, we’re giving animals a revamped and, we hope, a more appealing stage to showcase their beauty, their majesty and, yes, when warranted, their plight. Check it out—it’s our redesigned website.

Everything The HSUS does, everything we stand for, a full accounting of our actions, our beliefs and our hopes resides here at humanesociety.org. Please keep that in mind. Because as we gain ground on many fronts in the battles against cruelty, our foes are evermore desperate. Those people and corporations who are making profit by mistreating dogs in the puppy mill industry or who are confining farm animals in crates and cages on factory farms so they can barely move, they know the one organization standing in the way of their business as usual. That’s us—The HSUS and the many millions of you who grant us your support. The same for dogfighters and cockfighters, and the Canadian sealers with bloody batons in their hands, and all the rest of them who withhold mercy from those creatures they control. They know us, and they know something else. They know they cannot defend the suffering they inflict on animals. So they frantically try to change the subject.

You’ll probably hear these critics in the months and years ahead. Every time you hear them raise their voice against animals, you can take satisfaction in realizing that we’re doing the right things for animals. They’ll say just about anything to try and slow us down. They’ll hide in the shadows and hire PR hacks to spread lies like, “The HSUS doesn’t shelter animals.” The truth is we operate the largest system of animal care centers and mobile and emergency shelters and operations in the nation—and we’ve been working for 55 years to strengthen our nation’s system of shelters run by private organizations and local governments. But we do so much more than provide direct care for animals—we attack the root causes of problems by reforming public policies, corporate practices, and public attitudes.

So if you want to know what we do and believe in, visit our website.

For that matter, if you want to know what animal exploiters do and believe in, our website will show you that too. We’ll give you the stories and images so that you’ll know what their puppy mills really look like—where breeding dogs are kept confined in tiny cages for their entire lives. We’ll show you the inside of a slaughter plant where the owner and workers callously torment newborn calves. We’ll let you look in the eyes of a dog rescued from the fighting pits.

Our website is a daily diary of our work, your work—the joy of it and the aching sadness of which there is still far too much.

Please take a look, explore the site, pass it along to friends, and tell us what you think. If you share your feedback in our short survey, you’ll be entered to win a $250 gift certificate to our online store, Humane Domain.

USDA "Natural" Label a Misnomer

2009-11-11T16:28:56-05:00

Would you consider meat to be “natural” if it came from an animal who was raised in lifelong confinement on a factory farm? How about if the animal was fed manure and other animal waste? And what about if the animal was routinely dosed with antibiotics and other drugs for non-therapeutic reasons?

Producers and retailers can legally affix that label even if the production practices mentioned above are used.

East Bay Animal Advocates

For many years, transcending any single Administration, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has allowed companies to affix this label on animal products, as long as the meat, post-slaughter, is minimally processed and no artificial ingredients are added. Because of this, respected consumer organizations do not deem the “natural” label, as defined by USDA standards, to be meaningful or the least bit helpful as consumers sort out in the marketplace how the animals were raised prior to slaughter.

Opinion polls have shown that most consumers seek out foods labeled as “natural.” Some pay more for meats with this label. In fact, one recent survey found that consumers prefer the “natural” label over the “organic” label, not understanding that “USDA organic” at least has minimal welfare standards, while the term “natural” does not.

The HSUS is asking the USDA to make changes to its label regulations, since the term “natural” has been so corrupted. We’re calling for that label, as it is now defined, to be replaced by “minimally processed” and “no artificial ingredients added” labels, so consumers will better understand what they’re buying. And we’re arguing that any label on meat containing the word “natural” must ensure that the animal, from conception to slaughter, was cared for in a manner that consumers will reasonably understand is natural—meaning, among other things, no caging, crating, or extreme confinement; no waste products as feed; and no routine non-therapeutic use of drugs.

The Obama Administration has asserted to the American public that it intends to be fully transparent. Here is a good opportunity for the Administration to put that principle into practice by revamping this label—and moving from opaqueness to transparency. I hope you’ll take a few moments to contact the USDA by this Friday, the deadline for public comment.

A postscript: On this Veterans Day, as we honor those in the armed forces who have served our country, I draw your attention to a story about military working dogs in southern Afghanistan who face extreme working conditions. Responding to a request from an Army veterinary officer, The HSUS recently provided much-needed cooling vests and cooling pads to the unit's 100 dogs. It's an honor to be able to help, in some small way, those dogs who serve in war beside their human handlers.

Home Sweet Home for 50 Feral Cats

2009-11-10T17:30:00-05:00

The HSUS provides direct care for more animals than any other organization, in addition to improving the lives of countless animals through our macro-level work to shape public policy, corporate policy, and public attitudes.

Our hands-on care work takes so many varieties, including our Emergency Services response today to rescue 19 horses in Baltimore from a life of neglect and squalor.

Today I am also so pleased to report that 54 domesticated cats we rescued from San Nicolas Island in California are resting comfortably in their brand-new outdoor enclosure at The Fund for Animals Wildlife Center in San Diego County. Most of them are likely to be permanent residents of our animal care facility, which now includes an HSUS pet shelter.

Last week we dedicated a special outdoor habitat for these cats at our Ramona, Calif. facility. Working with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the U.S. Navy, and other government groups, we saved these cats from certain death—they would have been euthanized if The HSUS and the Fund for Animals didn’t step in to provide them with a permanent home.

The new habitat was constructed thanks to the financial support of DoGreatGood.com and the cats are thoroughly enjoying their new territory (I’ve included a few photos below as a testament). Some of the cats gave birth soon after capture so their kittens are being socialized early to ensure they’ll be adoptable—12 kittens housed in our indoor cattery are friendly, social, and ready for adoption.

While trap-neuter-return is still the most effective and humane option for feral cats, in some areas with threatened or endangered species, alternatives are needed. Removing the feral cats from San Nicolas Island will benefit several native species, including the unique San Nicolas Island fox and the federally threatened island night lizard—a topic I wrote about in August.

At The HSUS, we work to protect all animals and we believe in paving new ground to explore what’s possible. The success of working hand-in-hand with multiple state and federal agencies shows what can be achieved when we debunk the old methods of elimination and come together in the spirit of life-saving collaboration to protect all animals. As Betsy McFarland, our senior director of companion animals said, "This project is a testament to the commitment of multiple agencies to find common ground and develop solutions for feral cats in areas with threatened or endangered species."

'Eating Animals': A Book to Digest

2009-11-09T16:24:14-05:00

Jonathan Safran Foer has burst from his comfortable cocoon in the world of fiction writing and thrown four feet into the tussle over the food we eat in America through his first work of nonfiction, "Eating Animals." In just the past couple weeks, he’s had major pieces in The New York Times Magazine and Wall Street Journal, appeared on Ellen, and seen his new book reviewed in The New Yorker, the Los Angeles Times, and other major media outlets.

Though just 32 years old, he’s already established as an acclaimed novelist and short story writer in American culture, best known for "Everything Is Illuminated" and "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close." But he’s taken a three-year respite from writing fiction to probe the question of whether we should eat animals—with this research and writing task triggered by his meditation on what to feed his first child. In bringing us into the deliberation, he’s added a powerful new title to the growing body of work examining how we produce food in America and made some of the best arguments I’ve heard in quite a while.

His three-year quest took him across the country, visiting factory farms, talking with farmers and animal advocates alike, and learning more about the production of meat, eggs, and dairy. It’s all packaged together, in a refreshing and nonlinear manner, in "Eating Animals"—all of it reflecting the nuances that come from conflicting religious and cultural traditions, our personal struggles with ingrained habits, and economic factors. That said, he’s making an argument here, and he skillfully addresses the problems in current thinking that accept eating animals—including offering a tough critique of Michael Pollan ("The Omnivore’s Dilemma") and his decision to continue eating animals as long as certain animal care standards are observed.

Jonathan takes a harsh view of what’s happening to animals, and he does some great writing about the waste produced from factory farms, the public health threats of the system, and its other collateral impacts. He questions the contradictions associated with a nation that expresses a profound love of animals, yet does such terrible things to animals raised for food.

He also appropriately shines a spotlight on the fact that not all animal products are equal when it comes to animal welfare. While many people interested in eating ethically may switch from beef to chicken, for example, Jonathan points out why the poultry industry—especially the egg industry—is actually responsible for far more animal suffering than the beef industry.

Check out the book and see for yourself. It’s more than worth your time, and it already stands as one of the most important contributions to the literature on food and animals that’s come about in many years.