NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS

1976 - TV show "30 Million Friends" the first TV program dedicated to pets animals was launched.

1978 - a magazine '30 Million Amis' was first published.

1982 - the founder of 30 Million Amis created 'Association de Défense des Animaux de Compagnie' defending pet animals.

1983 - The 'Association de Défense des Animaux de Compagnie' persuaded the French Minister of Defense not to auction off retired army dogs and to allow them to remain as pets with their last army instructor/carer.

A literary prize for a novel involving pet animals was launched - the prize money to go to the winner's chosen animal refuge.

1984 - 'Association de Défense des Animaux de Compagnie' actively fought against the trafficking of dogs in Dutch and Belgian markets - leading to the arrest of the main trafficker.

1985 - The "Ribbon of Honor" was created - a distinction awarded annually to local or regional projects which helped to integrate people and town/city animals for a better co-existence, benefiting both animals and people.

1986 - the first great campaign against the abandonment of animals was launched, leading to a reduction from 400,000 abandonments annually to 60,000 abandonments annually during the following 20 years..

The French Secretary of State for the Elderly was persuaded to change the law to allow the elderly going into retirement homes to take their pet animals with them.

1989 - a major victory banishing the automatic/systematic euthanasia of all lost or abandoned pet animals, allowing for a longer time in pounds for lost animals to be re-united with their owners - and the compulsory identification of pet animals was introduced.

1992 - 'Association de Défense des Animaux de Compagnie' was successful in its campaign for the humane treatment of research animals, leading to the French Minister of Research to introduce 10 proposals to improve the plight of laboratory animals.

Great year of petitions launched....

30.000 signatures collected against the martyrdom of an ass in Villanueva, Spain. Each year, during the "Pero Palo" festival of Mardi Gras, an ass would be ridden by the largest and heaviest people through the town and at the same time the ass would be physically attacked by the following crowds, until it falls. Firecrackers would then be let off and the ass would be bludgeoned to death. Thankfully saved by the petition.

30.000 signatures against the slaughter of dolphins by the use of drift nets.

10.000 signatures against the slaughter of seals for their fur by the Danes.

1993 - The petition against the inhumane transport of animals for slaughter collected more than 370,000 signatures. Since May 29, 1995, the transport of live animals is limited to 8 hours.

1995 - 30 Million Amis became a Foundation acknowledged by State Decree, and celebrated this by donating 1,000 euros to all animal refuges in need in France.

The Foundation created a 'visa' whereby all animals used in TV drama, films or advertising would be acknowledged as being treated humanely during production., preventing spectacular scenes at the expense of the animals.

1996 - The Foundation 30 Millions d'Amis became the first animal welfare organisation to have its own website, an effective way to educate all generations to respect animal life.

1998 - Under European pressure and 90,000 signatures collected in France by the 30 Million Friends Foundation, the European Parliament adopted a law prohibiting the European cosmetic product testing on animals where an alternative method exists.

When rabies appears in Gard, Southern France, the Foundation finances the vaccination and tattooing of all animals in refuges to avoid their euthanasia.

1999 - By launching the boat "The Jewel", the first emergency shelter for homeless people and their dogs, the Foundation intends to maintain and protect the bond between the poor and their pets when homeless.

The Foundation collected 1.3 million signatures against the creation of a dog farm in the Allier, central France, for animal testing. The project was abandoned.

2000 - The 30 Million Amis Foundation sent a communique to 151 member countries of 'CITES' (Washington Convention on Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) which denounced the resumption of legal trade in ivory trafficking.

2003 - In February 2003, Francis Duprat, appeared before the Criminal Court of Angouleme, for illegally importing thousands of puppies from Eastern Europe. He was sentenced to 6 months suspended sentence and fined € 13 500 for illegal importation of animals and illegal practice of veterinary medicine.

2004 - Following repeated requests, notably from the 30 Million Amis Foundation, the French Department of Justice began a consultation phase to give a legal status to animals.

2005 - The Foundation revealed the scandal of using stray dogs as live bait for shark fishing in the island of Reunion, a French colony . A petition collected 800,000 signatures calling for an end to this practise. On September 6, 2005, an order was issued which now prohibits the possession of any carnivorous domestic animal, living or dead, on board vessels registered in the island of Reunion.

2006 - After eight years of fighting, surveys and 1,500,000 petitions via the Foundation the importation and sale of fur from dogs and cats in France is prohibited by ministerial decree. .

An injunction issued by The Foundation against the French municipality of Dembeni in Africa cancelled a decree whereby all unidentified stray dogs found on the highway would be faced with immediate euthanasia.

2007 - 400,000 additional signatures were filed with the Vice-President of the European Parliament and the President of the European Commission, calling for the prohibition of dog and cat fur trading throughout the European Union. There was a majority decision in favour of the prohibition.

An undercover survey by the Foundation revealed cat fur production and trading in Switzerland. A petition collected 120,000 signatures and were delivered to the President of the Swiss Confederation in December 2007. Since then, a motion was filed in the Federal Council, requesting a revision of the law to ban the production, trade, export and import of pelts of dogs and cats.

2008 - Through the work of the Foundation, the owner of two dog breeding establishments was sentenced to 30 months in jail and a € 30,000 fine for cruelty to 230 dogs by the Tribunal de Grande Instance in Meaux, near Paris. Such a heavy sentence has not been imposed to date in a case of proven animal abuse. A landmark decision and a big step forward for animal welfare