VFTA Blog

Do You Know The Facts?

A New Way to See Elephants. A Better Way to Treat Them.

October 16, 2026

By Melya Kaplan, Founder & Executive Director, Voice For The Animals Foundation

NBC4 Los Angeles has featured our vision for a new kind of elephant experience at the LA Zoo—not once, but twice!

Imagine an exhibit where visitors can experience the extraordinary lives of elephants in the wild, without confining a single elephant.

That is the idea behind Walk With the Herd, a proposed immersive, glasses-free 3D experience that could transform how we educate and inspire the next generation.

Watch the NBC4 Report

NBC4 — October 14, 2026 | Extended Report

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The Four-Legged Fund: Interest-Free Loans to Help You Care for the Pets Who Care for You

August 08, 2025

At Voice For The Animals, we know firsthand how deeply people love and care for their animal companions—and how heartbreaking it can be when financial stress gets in the way of lifesaving care.

That’s why we’re excited to share an incredible resource: The Four-Legged Fund, a special loan program from Jewish Free Loan Association (JFLA) offering up to $5,000 in zero-interest, zero-fee loans to help you afford essential veterinary care.
Helping You Care for the Pets You Love Pets are more than companions, they’re family. At JFLA, we understand how important it is to keep your four-legged loved ones healthy and happy, which is why we created the Four-Legged Fund. This zero-interest, zero-fee loan program offers up to $5,000 (with one guarantor) to help cover the cost of:
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🎪 Animal-Based Circuses Are Teaching Dangerous Lessons

July 18, 2025

Animal suffering should never be passed off as entertainment!

Behind the colorful lights and dramatic music of many traditional circuses lies a disturbing truth: elephants, tigers, and other animals are forced to perform through fear, intimidation, food deprivation, and intense pain.

In addition, there is a hidden message that is sent to everyone who sees these shows.

“The circus teaches people that domination is entertainment, and cruelty is normal; that’s a dangerous message.”
— Melya Kaplan, VFTA Founder

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Urgent: Judge Denies Motion - Billy and Tina could be Shipped Off At ANY Moment!

May 17, 2025

The Court Just Stepped Aside. Now It’s Up to Us.

Yesterday, a Los Angeles County judge denied an emergency motion to stop the transfer of Billy and Tina, the last two elephants at the L.A. Zoo, to another zoo in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The lawsuit—filed by an L.A. resident—called for the elephants to be sent to a sanctuary instead, where they can roam freely and live in peace.

The judge’s ruling? That the City Council and Mayor’s Office — not the courts — should decide the elephants’ future.

So now, it's up to us.

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Lawsuit Filed to Free Billy and Tina: A Fight for Their Lives Begins

May 12, 2025

This week, a powerful lawsuit was filed that could change the fate of two elephants—Billy and Tina—who have been suffering in captivity at the Los Angeles Zoo for far too long.

Filed on behalf of John Kelly by Melissa Lerner of Lavely & Singer, the lawsuit demands that Billy and Tina be released to a legitimate elephant sanctuary—one with open space, natural terrain, and, most importantly, other elephants, AND NOT TO ANOTHER ZOO.

Why This Lawsuit Matters

  • Billy has been at the LA Zoo for over 30 years.
    He exhibits repetitive head-bobbing—a recognized indicator of zoochosis, or psychological trauma in captive animals.

  • Tina is kept alone, in direct contradiction to what scientists and veterinarians know about elephant social needs.

  • Both elephants are aging, and their health is deteriorating.
    Without intervention, they face the very real risk of dying in the zoo’s confined and unnatural conditions.

Tina manacles

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