Here's what you made happen last month!

Dear friends,

Have you ever wondered what causes Care2 members like you or me to start or sign a petition?

Well, it often has to do with the story.

We all have a story about why we care about a given cause. Maybe we are personally facing an injustice, or maybe someone we know has. And a great way to rectify that injustice is by starting a petition and recounting your personal experiences to encourage other Care2 members to stand with you.

Storytelling touches our hearts, and that helps connect us with causes. It's a powerful technique that documentarians, journalists, and yes, even activists, use to draw us in and show why we should care. So think about the last petition you signed and shared: Was it full of pie charts, or did it make you feel something?

Whether you want to help animals who are abused, make design schools more friendly to plus-size individuals, or fight sexist local policies, you can do that by telling a story in a Care2 petition. So start your petition today!

California Bans the Use of Cruel Bullhooks on Elephants

For decades, many circuses and zoos have trained elephants to perform unnatural and uncomfortable tricks using "bullhooks," which are sharp tools that inflict pain in these animals' sensitive areas. So when Chris Wolverton learned the state of California was considering banning bullhooks, she started a Care2 petition to promote this new bill and make sure it became law. 107,706 people signed her petition, showing California lawmakers that there was widespread support for this ban. And then, in August, Care2 members celebrated a major victory after Governor Jerry Brown signed the bill into law! If you want your local government to protect performing animals, start a Care2 petition today!

Design Students Can Now Train Using Plus-Sized Mannequins

Parsons New School for Design is a prestigious institution in New York that trains students to become the new generation of visionary designers. But there's a problem: even though the average woman in the United States wears a size 14, the school only offers one plus-sized mannequin for its 1,000 students to use. When Nayyara Chue, a student at Parsons, realized this, she started a petition urging her school to install more plus-sized mannequins in its classrooms. More than 8,000 Care2 activists supported her cause, and that got the institution's attention. Because of her petition, the school has agreed to offer more plus-sized mannequins! Read more about her campaign here.

Dozens of Bomb-Sniffing Dogs Will Be Rescued

Last month, we shared a gruesome story with you: in June, 24 hard-working and lovable bomb-sniffing dogs were methodically murdered by their employers at Eastern Securities in Kuwait. Amy Swope, a former employee of this US-run company, was horrified when she heard the news. After she learned that another 60 to 90 dogs still remained in Eastern Securities' kennels, she started a Care2 petition urging the US Embassy to rescue them. Her petition gathered 275,000 signatures, which caught the eye of the embassy. Now, the dogs will be rescued!Do you know an animal who needs a champion? Be their voice by starting a Care2 petition!

Youth Activists Freed from Illegal Imprisonment in the Congo

Since 2015, Fred Bauma and Yves Makwambala have been illegally imprisoned in the the Democratic Republic of Congo. Their crime? Encouraging Congolese youth to participate in the democratic process. When international peace organization Pragmora heard about their plight, it started a Care2 petition as part of a global campaign to free these activists. Pragmora used the petition, which more than 66,000 Care2 members signed, to put pressure on government officials in the Congo – and it worked! On August 19, the Congolese Minister of Justice pardoned Makwambala and Bauma, and ten days later, they were released from jail. Read more about Pragmora's campaign to free these activists.

7-Year-Old Maddison Is Reunited With Her Best Friend

Seven-year-old Maddison loves her dog Darla. They've been best friends for years, and Darla has even helped the little girl with her autism and ADHD. But in July, British police seized Darla because they suspected she was a pitbull, and they considered these dogs dangerous to children. When Care2 activist Emily Logan heard about this cruel situation, she started a petition demanding police return Darla to her family. Emily's petition garnered more than 74,000 signatures and, after 19 days of separation, best friends Maddison and Darla were reunited! If you want to fight discriminatory "breed-specific" legislation that wrenches dogs away from their families, start your own Care2 petition!

France's Highest Court Suspends Burkini Ban

Over the past month, at least 15 cities in France have banned the full-bodied "burkini" swimsuits that many Muslim women wear. These bans, clearly motivated by Islamophobia, unfairly target women and impede freedom of religion. After Ann W started a Care2 petition demanding France reverse discriminatory burkini bans, more than 57,700 people signed it. Now, France's highest court has suspended these bans. This is great news, but several mayors are pledging to continue burkini discrimination. Sign Ann's petition to support women's rights to choose their own attire.