Chris DeRose
Encyclopedia
Chris DeRose is an animal rights
activist, recipient of the 1977 ‘Courage of Conscience’ International Peace Award and a former actor
. He appeared on General Hospital
, Cagney and Lacey, CHiPs
, The Rockford Files
and Baretta
. He was an on-camera reporter for the television shows Hard Copy
and Inside Edition
. Earlier, he worked as a police officer and as an investigator.
DeRose was born in Brooklyn, New York
. He is the founder and president of Last Chance for Animals and the author of the book In Your Face: From Actor to Animal Activist. DeRose has been arrested 11 times and jailed 4 times for opposing animal cruelty, including his participation in a break-in at the UCLA Brain Research Institute in 1988. DeRose was fired from General Hospital
when he had to go to jail.
DeRose appeared in the 2006 HBO Documentary "Dealing Dogs" along with an undercover animal rights activist known as "Pete" and other activists of Last Chance for Animals. Together, they uncovered mistreatment of animals on a large scale at the Martin Creek Kennel in Arkansas. They were successful in closing down the operation and subsequently found homes for the mistreated dogs that were being sold to labs for experimentation.
"Dealing Dogs" documents the project that was designed to expose Martin Creek Kennel's inhumane treatment of dogs and violations of the law. The investigation was initiated by Last Chance for Animals, a Los Angeles
-based animal-rights group. Chris DeRose, the founder and president of Last Chance for Animals, said he hoped "Dealing Dogs" would speed the passage of the Pet Safety and Protection Act, which amends the Animal Welfare Act to ensure that dogs and cats used by research facilities are obtained legally. "We want to put them out of business," Mr. DeRose said of the crooked Class B dealers.
One of DeRose's most controversial actions was arranging for two undercover operatives to pay Wisconsin
animal dealer Erving Stebane $50 to kill and butcher a dog while DeRose secretly videotaped the action. Felony charges were filed against the dealer, but in June 1993 Calumet County circuit judge Donald Poppy ruled that the case constituted illegal entrapment and ordered the return of 143 dogs which had been seized. In an interview with Kit Pavarenti, DeRose grimaces at the words. “I made a painful decision,” he admits, “and a dog died.” The memory of that night still carries more than its share of remorse. To fend it off, he reminds us and himself that the dog’s death was imminent, with or without the presence of a camera, and that the camera brought at least some degree of meaning to its sacrifice. Indeed, the public outrage precipitated by the case galvanized not only the community, but drew the attention of U.S. Representative Toy Roth (D-WI), who introduced the Stebane Bill,” legislation designed to strengthen penalties for violations of the Animal Welfare Act. Roth also wrote a letter to Mike Espy, Secretary of Agriculture, voicing his deep concerns with unlawful Class B vendor activities. His sentiments are echoed by U.S. Senator Fiengold (R-WI).
DeRose received the 1997 Courage of Conscience International Peace Award. In 2006, he became the Director of Animal Welfare (DAW) for West Hollywood, California.
On March 4, 2008, DeRose posted a video response to YouTube
calling out an American
Marine, David Mortari, who threw a puppy
off a cliff in Iraq
. DeRose called Mortari a coward and stated he was disturbed by the video.
Animal rights
Animal rights, also known as animal liberation, is the idea that the most basic interests of non-human animals should be afforded the same consideration as the similar interests of human beings...
activist, recipient of the 1977 ‘Courage of Conscience’ International Peace Award and a former actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
. He appeared on General Hospital
General Hospital
General Hospital is an American daytime television drama that is credited by the Guinness Book of World Records as the longest-running American soap opera currently in production and the third longest running drama in television in American history after Guiding Light and As the World Turns....
, Cagney and Lacey, CHiPs
CHiPs
CHiPs is an American television drama series produced by MGM Studios that originally aired on NBC from September 15, 1977, to July 17, 1983. CHiPs followed the lives of two motorcycle police officers of the California Highway Patrol...
, The Rockford Files
The Rockford Files
The Rockford Files is an American television drama series which aired on the NBC network between September 13, 1974 and January 10, 1980. It has remained in regular syndication to the present day. The show stars James Garner as Los Angeles-based private investigator Jim Rockford and features Noah...
and Baretta
Baretta
Baretta is an American detective television series which ran on ABC from 1975 to 1978. The show was a milder version of a successful 1973–74 ABC series, Toma, starring Tony Musante as chameleon-like, real-life New Jersey police officer David Toma...
. He was an on-camera reporter for the television shows Hard Copy
Hard Copy
Hard Copy is an American tabloid news television show that ran in syndication from 1989 to 1999. Hard Copy was aggressive in its use of questionable material on television, including gratuitous violence....
and Inside Edition
Inside Edition
Inside Edition is a thirty-minute American television syndicated news program, first aired on CBS on October 9, 1988. It was originally similar to the programs Hard Copy and A Current Affair, but now more closely resembles a condensed version of breakfast television, exclusively with pre-recorded...
. Earlier, he worked as a police officer and as an investigator.
DeRose was born in Brooklyn, New York
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
. He is the founder and president of Last Chance for Animals and the author of the book In Your Face: From Actor to Animal Activist. DeRose has been arrested 11 times and jailed 4 times for opposing animal cruelty, including his participation in a break-in at the UCLA Brain Research Institute in 1988. DeRose was fired from General Hospital
General Hospital
General Hospital is an American daytime television drama that is credited by the Guinness Book of World Records as the longest-running American soap opera currently in production and the third longest running drama in television in American history after Guiding Light and As the World Turns....
when he had to go to jail.
DeRose appeared in the 2006 HBO Documentary "Dealing Dogs" along with an undercover animal rights activist known as "Pete" and other activists of Last Chance for Animals. Together, they uncovered mistreatment of animals on a large scale at the Martin Creek Kennel in Arkansas. They were successful in closing down the operation and subsequently found homes for the mistreated dogs that were being sold to labs for experimentation.
"Dealing Dogs" documents the project that was designed to expose Martin Creek Kennel's inhumane treatment of dogs and violations of the law. The investigation was initiated by Last Chance for Animals, a Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
-based animal-rights group. Chris DeRose, the founder and president of Last Chance for Animals, said he hoped "Dealing Dogs" would speed the passage of the Pet Safety and Protection Act, which amends the Animal Welfare Act to ensure that dogs and cats used by research facilities are obtained legally. "We want to put them out of business," Mr. DeRose said of the crooked Class B dealers.
One of DeRose's most controversial actions was arranging for two undercover operatives to pay Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
animal dealer Erving Stebane $50 to kill and butcher a dog while DeRose secretly videotaped the action. Felony charges were filed against the dealer, but in June 1993 Calumet County circuit judge Donald Poppy ruled that the case constituted illegal entrapment and ordered the return of 143 dogs which had been seized. In an interview with Kit Pavarenti, DeRose grimaces at the words. “I made a painful decision,” he admits, “and a dog died.” The memory of that night still carries more than its share of remorse. To fend it off, he reminds us and himself that the dog’s death was imminent, with or without the presence of a camera, and that the camera brought at least some degree of meaning to its sacrifice. Indeed, the public outrage precipitated by the case galvanized not only the community, but drew the attention of U.S. Representative Toy Roth (D-WI), who introduced the Stebane Bill,” legislation designed to strengthen penalties for violations of the Animal Welfare Act. Roth also wrote a letter to Mike Espy, Secretary of Agriculture, voicing his deep concerns with unlawful Class B vendor activities. His sentiments are echoed by U.S. Senator Fiengold (R-WI).
DeRose received the 1997 Courage of Conscience International Peace Award. In 2006, he became the Director of Animal Welfare (DAW) for West Hollywood, California.
On March 4, 2008, DeRose posted a video response to YouTube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
calling out an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Marine, David Mortari, who threw a puppy
Puppy
A puppy is a juvenile dog. Some puppies may weigh , while larger ones can weigh up to . All healthy puppies grow quickly after birth. A puppy's coat color may change as the puppy grows older, as is commonly seen in breeds such as the Yorkshire Terrier...
off a cliff in Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
. DeRose called Mortari a coward and stated he was disturbed by the video.