Costco won't carry pork from farm that allegedly abuses pigs
The Chicago Tribune, June 30, 2011
Retail warehouse chain Costco released a statement this afternoon saying it will no longer carry pork products from Iowa Select Farms, whose alleged gruesome practices were captured on an undercover video.
The dog who took the witness stand
The Week, June 30, 2011
http://news.yahoo.com/dog-took-witness-stand-132700322.html
A golden retriever named Rose has gone where no dog in New York has gone before: The courthouse witness stand. Last week, the 11-year-old service pooch took to the stand to comfort a sexual abuse victim during her testimony.
High court to rule on meat law
Contra Costa Times, June 29, 2011
http://www.contracostatimes.com/california/ci_18381404
The U.S. Supreme Court in October will weigh in on the fight between the meat industry and farm animal advocates over a California law barring animals that are unable to walk from entering the meat supply.
South Dakota animal cruelty laws questioned
KDLT News, June 29, 2011
http://www.kdlt.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=10329&Itemid=57
After the Ludwig family’s dog, Shy, was beaten to death in Burbank, the family is left with questions of how to find justice. But the current animal cruelty laws in South Dakota only charge those found guilty of intentionally harming an animal with a misdemeanor.
Koster uses new Missouri animal cruelty law
LegalNewsLine.com, June 29, 2011
http://www.legalnewsline.com/news/233163-koster-uses-new-animal-cruelty-law
Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster obtained a temporary restraining order on Tuesday against a Monett, Mo.-based dog breeder for alleged violations of multiple animal rights acts.
Arkansas animal cruelty data base keeps track of convictions
KAIT 8 News, June 29, 2011
http://www.kait8.com/story/14998669/c
Since a tougher animal cruelty law was passed in 2009 there have been a lot of changes. One of the changes: if you're convicted of animal cruelty you will go into a database that will keep track of your convictions.
Dutch parliament votes to ban ritual slaughter of animals
The Telegraph, June 29, 2011
The Dutch parliament on Tuesday voted to ban ritual slaughter in landmark animal rights legislation that has been compared to Nazi persecution of the Jews by the country's Chief Rabbi.
Iowa pig farm filmed, accused of animal abuse
ABC News, June 29, 2011
http://abcnews.go.com/Business/iowa-pig-farm-filmed-accused-animal-abuse/story?id=13956009
Undercover video just released by the group Mercy for Animals provides a graphic look into one of the nation's largest pork producers.
In latest dog meat spat, activists win
The Wall Street Journal, June 28, 2011
The fact that some Koreans eat dog-meat soup is always likely to generate a story or two in the international press each year. And in recent days, a controversy over plans for a dog-meat festival provided grist for the latest such coverage.
Dutch bill on humane slaughter yields new front for Muslim tensions
The New York Post, June 27, 2011
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/27/world/europe/27amsterdam.html
It has not been a good year for Ahmet Kilic. Sales are down in the store where for the last two and a half years he has sold groceries and meat, slaughtered according to halal conditions.
San Francisco considers banning the sale of all pets
The Los Angeles Times, June 26, 2011
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-goldfish-20110627,0,6881137.story
The proposal started with dogs and cats, expanded to birds and hamsters, and now includes any animal that walks, flies, swims, crawls or slithers — unless you plan to eat it.
Meat industry knew of Indonesian cruelty last year
The Sydney Morning Herald, June 25, 2011
The Australian meat industry was warned of gross animal welfare abuses in Indonesian abattoirs long before shocking footage of the inhumane treatment of Australian cattle surfaced last month.
Honduras creates a shark sanctuary
The New York Times, June 24, 2011
http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/06/24/honduras-creates-a-shark-sanctuary/?partner=rss&emc=rss
In a sign that the global movement to protect sharks is picking up steam, Honduras is declaring its waters a “permanent sanctuary” for the fish.
FDA approval for first-of-its-kind, cell-based assay for BOTOX
Market Watch, June 24, 2011
Allergan, Inc. AGN +2.54% today announced the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a fully in vitro, cell-based assay for use in the stability and potency testing of BOTOX(R) (onabotulinumtoxinA) and BOTOX(R) Cosmetic. The company has long used mice for testing the potency of each batch of its formula.
English MPs call for ban on circus performing wild animals
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-13884165
BBC News, June 23, 2011
MPs are calling for a ban on wild animals performing in English circuses, arguing it is cruel and outdated.
Nigeria: Plans to protect Chimpanzees
All Africa, June 22, 2011
http://allafrica.com/stories/201106221310.html
The Minister of Forestry and Wildlife, Elvis Ngolle Ngolle has invited scores of NGOs involved in conservation, development partners, researchers and academics to play a major role in preserving the four species of 'robust' chimpanzees in Africa.
Animal rights group declares war on leading health charities
The Independent, June 21, 2011
Britain's leading health charities last night warned that vital medical research into cancer, heart disease and Alzheimer's could be set back by decades because of a high-profile boycott campaign being launched by animal rights campaigners.
Senate Bill Addresses Antibiotics in Animal Feed
Food Safety News, June 20, 2011
http://www.foodsafetynews.com/2011/06/bill-to-ban-antibiotics-in-feed-re-introduced-in-senate/
A bipartisan group of senators re-introduced a bill late last week aimed at preserving the effectiveness of medically important antibiotics by limiting their use in food animal feed.
Vick's autograph session pits fans against animal rights backers
NorthJersey.com, June 19, 2011
http://www.northjersey.com/news/vick.html
Controversy sells. It also brings out dozens of protestors if you happen to be a superstar athlete and admitted dog killer charging upward of $120 for autographs.
Federal judge rules in favor of hunting in National Wildlife Refuges
SouthCoastToday.com, June 19, 2011
http://www.southcoasttoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110619/SPORTS/106190356/-1/NEWSMAP
The lengthy battle over hunting access on dozens of units of the 100 million-acre National Wildlife Refuge system has ended and hunters can declare a victory, according this week's report for the U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance (USSA).
No more culling of cats in Chong Pang
The Straits Times, June 18, 2011
http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_681340.html
Chong Pang has become the first constituency where stray cats will not be culled, after MP for Nee Soon, Grc K. Shanmugam launched an animal welfare program there on Saturday. Instead of such culling, grassroots workers and volunteers from animal welfare organizations will work together to sterilize the cats.
Animal experiments legislation: another 'done deal' from the EU
The Telegraph, June 17, 2011
The legislative process moves slowly but steadily, especially where Europe is concerned. Last September, a new Directive on animal experiments was introduced by the European Parliament; the first revision of the rules in 24 years. Now member states must adopt the EU standards, but maybe not without debate.
900 pets still homeless after Joplin tornado
The Kentucky Post, June 17, 2011
http://www.kypost.com/dpps/news/national/900-pets-still-homeless-after-joplin-tornado_6454123
Hundreds of dogs and cats peer out from their cages at the Joplin Humane Society, some with cuts, infections and broken bones from the deadly tornado that turned their lives, like of those their owners, upside down.
Farming rats and bees could solve bushmeat crisis in Africa
Scientific American, June 16, 2011
http://www.scientificamerican.com/blog/post.cfm?id=farming-rats-and-bees-could-solve-b-2011-06-16
The rising and often illegal trade in bushmeat—wild-caught animals, often threatened species such as primates, birds and elephants—threatens African biodiversity and could drive numerous species into extinction. Finding replacements for that trade could solve the need for both income and subsistence in many African communities.
SF Animal Control Commission seeks ban on goldfish
San Francisco Chronicle, June 15, 2011
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/06/14/BA661JTO52.DTL#ixzz1PMM6F67P
San Francisco's ever-active Animal Control and Welfare Commission has renewed its push for a pet sale ban in the city - only this time it even covers goldfish.
A legal assault on animal-abuse whistle-blowers?
Time, June 14, 2011
http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,2077514,00.html#ixzz1PGUKbEQz
On June 2, 2011, the New York state senate agriculture committee approved a bill that "relates to unlawful tampering with farm animals." Included as "tampering" — alongside such provisions as injecting animals with unauthorized substances and feeding animals without authorization — is the "unauthorized video, audio recording or photography done without the farm owner's written consent."
Campus Connection: UW researchers may soon be exempt from animal cruelty statutes
The Capital, June 13, 2011
Should scientists at the University of Wisconsin-Madison be exempt from state statutes pertaining to crimes against animals as long as the investigators are "engaged in bona fide scientific research?"
Measurers to stop livestock taping stall in states
Forbes, June 13, 2011
http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2011/06/13/general-us-food-and-farm-undercover-videos_8513133.html
Efforts to outlaw the undercover recording of animal abuse in livestock operations appear to have stalled in Iowa and other states in the face of complaints that the proposals were intended primarily to protect the industry with little concern for animals' welfare.
Princeton University is cited by USDA for violations involving primates used in experiments
NJ.com, June 12, 2011
http://www.nj.com/mercer/index.ssf/2011/06/princeton_university_research.html
Princeton University continues to run afoul of federal regulations in its testing of primates, including depriving some of the animals of water for over 24 hours, according to a report obtained by The Times.
State law prevents woman from being buried with pets
The New York Post, June 11, 2011
http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/bronx/grave_snub_pet_peeve_UolV021dw0SdWKeH6MtocN#ixzz1PAzU6NeK
The final wishes of animal lovers, to spend eternity with their furry little pals in a pet cemetery, has been thwarted by state bureaucrats.
Nevada governor signs puppy mill, animal cruelty bills
The Republic, June 10, 2011
http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/835e6bc9a1834cc9be0fe13278623bfe/NV--Animal-Cruelty/
Commercial dog and cat breeders in Nevada will be required to obtain permits and adhere to animal care standards under a bill signed by Gov. Brian Sandoval.
Marine litter condemns endangered sea turtles to slow death
The Age, June 8, 2011
http://www.theage.com.au/national/marine-litter-condemns-endangered-sea-turtles-to-slow-death-20110607-1fr27.html#ixzz1ObhaRGPc
BALLOONS, plastic bags, nylon rope and even rubber thongs are providing a deadly diet for Australia's critically endangered sea turtles, a new study shows.
Rare Northern White Rhino dies of old age—and then there were 7...
Scientific American, June 7, 2011
http://www.scientificamerican.com/blog/post.cfm?id=rare-northern-white-rhino-dies-of-o-2011-06-07
There is sad news out of the Czech Republic. Nesari, a 39-year-old female who had been deemed too old and weak to return to Africa in 2009, has finally passed away of old age.
Shark guardians see momentum to save top predator
Yahoo News, June 6, 2011
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20110606/sc_afp/environmentfishspeciessharkstourismuschina
Shark defenders hope to capitalize on a series of victories in their fight against the lucrative fin trade, releasing a report Monday calling for sanctuaries to save the world's oldest predator.
More 'handbag' dogs being abandoned
The Belfast Telegraph, June 5, 2011
An animal welfare group has reported a huge rise in the number of miniature dogs being abandoned at its centers. Experts believe the assumption that toy breeds are less demanding than larger dogs has led to owners discarding their pets.
Animal welfare's a dog's breakfast
The Toronto Sun, June 4, 2011
http://www.torontosun.com/2011/06/03/animal-welfares-a-dogs-breakfast
An all-out ban on selling animals in pet stores fell just short of approval at Toronto City Hall this past week. Instead, Toronto will require the stores to sell only pets from certified breeders, the humane society or rescue organizations. The decision was put forward by the standards and licensing committee and will be voted on by council on June 14.
Fendi show goes on after it sheds some fur from catwalk
ABC News International, June 3, 2011
It was also notable for its use of fur, although less than what it had originally planned on. Some of the fur was stripped from the show at the insistence of the South Korean government when anti-fur activists had threatened to protest.
Australia considers livestock ban to Indonesia due to animal cruelty
The Christian Science Monitor, June 2, 2011
Footage of cattle being brutalized in Indonesian slaughterhouses has prompted calls here for a ban on Australian livestock exports and highlighted international gaps in animal welfare standards.
Animal Rights Groups Help High Schools Do Frog Dissections by Computer Program
ABC News, June 1, 2011
The Animal Welfare Institute offered free software to the first 25 schools that agree to end real animal dissections and as of the morning of June 1, four schools reportedly took the offer.
California Senate Passes Bill Making Laws for Animal Cruelty and Animal Neglect More Consistent
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/pets/detail?entry_id=90053
San Francisco Chronicle, May 31, 2011
The California Senate passed a bill increasing the penalties for animal neglect as well as banning the sale of animals on street corners.
Convicted Dogfighter Arrested Again
Chicago Tribune, May 31, 2011
Ten Pit Bulls were recovered from Larue Jackson’s home where they were found in unsanitary conditions without food or water. Jackson was charged in 2008 with twelve counts of neglect of owner’s duties and two counts of cruel treatment when more than 30 dogs were recovered from his home.
Injured Cheetah Found Roaming the Streets of Abu Dhabi
http://www.thenational.ae/news/uae-news/injured-cheetah-found-roaming-streets-of-abu-dhabi
The National, May 30, 2011
An eight-month-old cheetah with a broken paw and a metal chain around its neck was found roaming the streets of Abu Dhabi. Wildlife Officials believe the cheetah had been kept illegally in someone’s household before it escaped.
Vick’s Compound Bought by Animal Rights Group
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/28/sports/vicks-compound-bought-by-animal-rights-group.html
New York Times, May 27, 2011
An animal rights group, Dogs Deserve Better of Tipton, Pennsylvania, bought Michael Vick’s former dogfighting home and plans to turn it into a rehabilitation center for chained and penned dogs.
Texans Charged with Cruelty over Videotaped Cow Killings
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/7582963.html
Houston Chronicle, May 26, 2011
After videos from the West Texas Cattle Company were released of calves being killed, seven people face charges for the cruelty to livestock and animal cruelty.
Lawsuit Takes Aim at Antibiotic Use in Animal Feed
http://money.msn.com/business-news/article.aspx?feed=AP&Date=20110525&ID=13690992
Associated Press, May 25, 2011
The lawsuit wants the U.S. District Court in Manhattan to declare that the FDA has violated federal law by not withdrawing its approval for placing antibiotics in the food and water of healthy livestock such as pigs, cows, chickens, and turkeys. The low levels of antibiotics given to the animals enables bacteria to become stronger and more resistant.
Koala numbers drop 80%
The New Zealand Herald, May 26, 2011
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/environment/news/article.cfm?c_id=39&objectid=10728038
Australian scientists are calling for the koala to be declared an endangered species, warning that populations have already declined alarmingly and climate change will exacerbate the mammal's plight.
Texas Senate approves new rules for breeders
Forbes, May 25, 2011
http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2011/05/24/business-us-puppy-mills-texas_8482157.html
The Texas Senate on Monday night approved a measure that would impose new regulations, fees and licensing requirements on commercial dog and cat breeders.
Shark fin ban passes Assembly
The San Francisco Chronicle, May 24, 2011
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/05/23/BAS61JJSM7.DTL#ixzz1NEgm3Rza
The California Assembly overwhelmingly approved a ban on the sale and distribution of shark fins in California, moving the state one step closer to outlawing an ancient Chinese delicacy and keeping alive a debate that has split the ethnic community.
St. Louis updates chaining law to prevent animal abuse
CBS News, May 23, 2011
http://stlouis.cbslocal.com/2011/05/23/st-louis-updates-chaining-law-to-prevent-animal-abuse/
New guidelines have been issued by the St. Louis City Commissioner of Health which they say will put a stop to the abusive practice of using truck, tractor or hardware chains to restrain animals.
Thai police arrest suspected tiger trafficker
The Associated Press, May 22, 2011
Police have arrested a man suspected of being a key player in one of Thailand's largest tiger trafficking rings, police and a wildlife conservation group said Sunday.
Superstar who flies by plane to save his species
Stuff.co.nz, May 21, 2011
http://www.stuff.co.nz/science/5037113/Superstar-who-flies-by-plane-to-save-his-species
Sirocco the kakapo shot to fame in 2009 when he was filmed by comedian Stephen Fry engaging in mating behavior on the head of BBC presenter and environmentalist Mark Cawardine.
South Africa gets tough on Vietnamese rhino ‘hunters’ as poaching soars to record levels
Thanh Nien News, May 20, 2011.
http://www.thanhniennews.com/2010/Pages/20110522183428.aspx
Several Vietnamese nationals are awaiting trial in South Africa for illegal possession and transportation of rhino horns, an official from the Vietnamese Embassy in South Africa has confirmed.
Calif. man accused of killing puppy faces life in prison
The Vancouver Sun, May 19, 2011
http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Calif+accused+killing+puppy+faces+life+prison/4811811/story.html
A Gilroy, Calif., man accused of killing his wife's 6-week-old Chihuahua puppy by throwing the animal against the wall is being charged under California's three-strikes law and could spend the rest of his life behind bars if convicted of felony animal cruelty charges.
'Koala crisis' is prompting zoos to accelerate their breeding efforts
The Japan Times, May 19, 2011
http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20110521cc.html
In another 20 years, koalas may disappear from Japanese zoos. The population of one of the nation's most popular animals has dropped to half because of aging and other reasons.
After farm-photo bill dies in Florida, animal advocacy groups wary of Monsanto-backed version in Iowa
The Florida Independent, May 19, 2011
While Sen. Jim Norman's controversial farm-photo bill may have died in the Florida Legislature, animal rights advocates are cautiously acknowledging the victory is a temporary one whose significance may ultimately be thwarted by laws currently pending in Iowa and Minnesota.
Quebec 'best province to be an animal abuser': report
CTV News, May 18, 2011
http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/Canada/20110518/quebec-report-animal-abuse-110518/
Quebec has been placed squarely in the doghouse as a new report decries its track record on animal protection. The publication released Tuesday by the U.S.-based Animal Legal Defense Fund named Quebec as "the best province to be an animal abuser" with only Nunavut trumping its unenviable record.
Nepal sacrifices over 700 animals on Buddha birth anniversary
Deccan Herald, May 17, 2011
http://www.deccanherald.com/content/162084/nepal-sacrifices-over-700-animals.html
As Nepal's government awarded the first international award constituted to honour Gautam Buddha, the apostle of peace and non-violence, and peace rallies countrywide celebrated the icon's 2,555th birth anniversary, outraged animal rights activists said over 700 animals had been sacrificed Tuesday by clans flouting a tacit ban on animal killings on the day.
Asia fails to stop illegal bear bile trade
3News, May 16, 2011
Asian countries are failing to stem the illegal cross-border trade of bear bile amid growing demand for folk remedies harvested from the live animals.
Seoul forces Italian fashion house Fendi to remove fur from major Asia show
The Washington Post, May 15, 2011.
South Korea is forcing Italian fashion house Fendi to leave fur off the catwalk of its largest show in Asia due to protests. Fendi’s statement Sunday said the designer had difficulty understanding the decision and had spent months preparing.
Government accused of u-turn on ban on wild animals in circuses
The Telegraph, May 14, 2011
The Environment Department (Defra) said any circus in England that wished to use animals such as tigers, lions and elephants would have to meet tough standards before it would be granted a license.
Agency to allow killing of sea lions at dam
The Chicago Tribune, May 13, 2011
http://www.chicagotribune.com/sns-rt-usreport-us-sealiontre74c7ai-20110513,0,5378553.story
Washington and Oregon won authorization from a federal agency on Friday to kill sea lions eating endangered salmon at the Bonneville Dam, angering animal rights advocates.
B.C. introduces Canada's toughest animal cruelty law
CTV, May 12, 2011
http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/Canada/20110512/bc-animal-cruelty-law-110512/
The British Columbia government tabled changes to provincial animal cruelty legislation Wednesday, the same day investigators announced they have completed the grim task of digging up the bodies of dozens of sled dogs whose slaughter prompted the tougher laws.
Smuggled endangered primates put down
The Sidney Morning Herald Chronicle, May 12, 2011
Two endangered primates smuggled aboard a Brisbane-bound flight from Singapore had to be put down by quarantine officers.
NY's Suffolk County passes animal abuse bill
The Wall Street Journal, May 11, 2011
http://online.wsj.com/article/APa713e2a1a50b4692893226ca2bf6cd74.html
New York's Suffolk County is making it very tough for anyone to abuse animals. County legislators Tuesday passed legislation that bars pet stores, breeders and animal shelters from selling or giving animals to people listed on Suffolk's animal abuse registry.
Humans urged to stop the name-calling
The National Post, May 10, 2011
http://www.nationalpost.com/todays-paper/Humans+urged+stop+Name+calling/4754835/story.html
Animal ethicists are calling for a new vocabulary about animals, shunning such words as "pets," "wildlife" and "vermin" as derogatory and even suggesting "animal" is a "term of abuse."
Endangered Sumatran tigers frolic on forest video
CBS News, May 9, 2011
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/05/09/ap/asia/main20061316.shtml
Video cameras captured 12 critically endangered Sumatran tigers, including mothers with their cubs, in Indonesian forests slated to be cut down, wildlife activists said Monday.
Judge nixes dog groups' bid in Helmsley case
The Associated Press, May 8, 2011.
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_HELMSLEY_DOGS?SECTION=HOME&SITE=AP&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT
A New York judge has blocked animal-welfare groups from trying to influence how much of hotel queen Leona Helmsley's multibillion-dollar estate is spent on caring for dogs.
Grey wolves lose endangered status, for good?
NPR, May 7, 2011
http://www.npr.org/2011/05/07/136084855/grey-wolves-lose-endangered-status-for-good
Under pressure from hunters, ranchers and farmers, Congress removed the Rocky Mountain grey wolf from the endangered species list in Montana, Idaho and parts of Washington and Oregon this week, much to the consternation of environmentalists and animal-rights groups.
Extinction likely for world's rarest bear subspecies
Scientific American, May 6, 2011
http://www.scientificamerican.com/blog/post.cfm?id=extinction-likely-for-worlds-rarest-2011-05-06
The May 3 death of a Marsican brown bear (Ursus arctos marsicanus) has put the world's rarest bear subspecies one step closer to extinction.
Seal Team 6's secret weapon in Bin Laden hunt: a dog
The Guardian, May 5, 2011
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/may/05/seal-team-6-bin-laden-dog
There has already been a good deal of slightly fevered speculation about the training and tactics of the 79 elite US Navy Seals who raided Osama bin Laden's hideout. Now this has extended to the less-heralded final member of their team: a military dog.
Farmers' Market changes heart on live poultry sales
The San Francisco Chronicle, May 4, 2011
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/cityinsider/detail?entry_id=88294
A group of persistent animal rights activists who've been a thorn at the side of live poultry vendors at United Nations Plaza have gotten their way.
Hawaii lawmakers pass animal cruelty bills
KITV News, May 3, 2011
http://www.kitv.com/news/27769243/detail.html
State lawmakers have passed two bills to crack down on animal cruelty, including one proposal known as the “Peacock Bill,” in response to the beating death of a peacock in Makaha.
Industrial animal agriculture is not a pretty picture
The Miami Herald, May 3, 2011
http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/05/03/2198446/industrial-animal-agriculture.html#ixzz1LPS23yYe
A heated debate is under way in Minnesota over legislation that would criminalize the production or possession of videos of animal agricultural facilities.
Fishy foot spas investigated
The New Zealand Herald, May 2, 2011
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/health/news/article.cfm?c_id=204&objectid=10722765
One of the fastest-growing beauty treatments in Britain, fish pedicures - during which tiny toothless carp smooth down feet by eating dead skin - has come under scrutiny from health experts and animal rights campaigners.
Exhumation of mass grave of Whistler sled dogs begun
The Globe and Mail, May 1, 2011.
Forensic experts who have studied mass graves in countries such as Rwanda and Guatemala will this week begin to unearth the remains of up to 100 Whistler sled dogs allegedly killed in a mass slaughter last year.
First Dutch animal cops to start training
The Associated Press, April 30, 2011
Dial 112 if you're in trouble. Dial 144 if your dog is.
Containing the costs of pet care
The New York Times, April 29, 2011
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/30/health/30patient.html?ref=health
The American Pet Products Association estimates that Americans will spend $12.2 billion on veterinary care this year, up from $11 billion last year and $8.2 billion in 2006.
Hungary lobby wants end of ban on hunting protected animals
The New York Times, April 28, 2011
A Hungarian hunting club asked the government to lift a ban on hunting a range of protected animals. It has a powerful representative—a deputy prime minister.
Once nearly extinct, the California condor nears new milestones
CNN, April 27, 2011
http://www.cnn.com/2011/US/04/26/california.condor/index.html
Almost 25 years after the California condor went extinct in the wild and dwindled to just 27 birds in captivity, North America's largest flying bird is on the verge of a watershed moment: Its total population is projected to hit 400 this spring, including 200 birds thriving in the wild.
Who protects the animals?
The New York Times, April 26, 2011
http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/04/26/who-protects-the-animals/?ref=opinion
Getting caught is a drag. Just ask Kirt Espenson, whose employees at E6 Cattle Company in Southwest Texas were videotaped bashing cows’ heads in with pickaxes and hammers and performing other acts of unspeakably sickening cruelty.
Calgary vigil held for sled dogs slain in Whistler: photos
The Calgary Herald, April 25, 2011
A hundred animal rights supporters held a vigil for the 100 sled dogs that were killed in Whistler one year ago.
Some lab chimps left with poor health, shortened lives
The Miami Herald, April 24, 2011.
http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/04/24/2182830/some-lab-chimps-left-with-poor.html
They've been out of the lab for years, but for many chimpanzees at a federal primate facility in Alamogordo, New Mexico, the effects of long-ago medical experimentation can linger until they die.
Australian farmers howl over call for property rights for animals
The Sydney Morning Herald, April 23, 2011
A radical proposal to introduce property rights for animals has been slammed by farming associations across the country.
Brazilian court denies painting chimpanzee freedom from zoo
The Telegraph, April 22, 2011
A Brazilian court has rejected a bid by academics, animal rights campaigners and environmentalists to have a chimpanzee who paints every day released from a zoo.
US Judge denies BLM bid to dismiss wild horse suit
The Associated Press, April 21, 2011
Horse protection advocates have claimed a rare legal victory as part of a larger effort to end federal roundups of free-roaming mustangs on public lands in the western United States.
Video reveals abuse, possible animal cruelty at Texas cattle operation
Dallas News, April 20, 2011
Undercover footage that an animal advocacy group released reveals abuse, neglect and torture of calves at a E6 Cattle Co dairy operation in Hart, Texas.
KU law student organizes animal cruelty clinic
The Associated Press, April 19, 2011
http://www.kansas.com/2011/04/19/1813657/ku-law-student-organizes-animal.html
At the suggestion of a professor, Katie Barnett is organizing what her research suggests would be the first animal cruelty prosecution clinic at a U.S. law school.
Chinese rights activists save 520 dogs from butcher's scalpel
Peoples Daily Online, April 18, 2011
http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90776/90882/7352784.html
In a rare show of public activism in China, over 200 internet savvy animal rights activists waylaid a truck and rescued 520 dogs en route to a slaughter house.
Pennsylvania officials bust massive dogfighting ring
NPR, April 17, 2011.
http://www.npr.org/2011/04/17/135492633/pennsylvania-officials-bust-massive-dogfighting-ring
This week officers in Philadelphia and the Pennsylvania Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals dismantled the largest dogfighting ring the group has ever busted by arresting 19 people.
Wolves living close to Chicago... for now...
The Chicagoist, April 16, 2011
http://chicagoist.com/2011/04/16/plenty_of_wolves_close_to_chicagofo.php
Right now there are 4,000 wolves in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan but a proposed federal rule change might whack those numbers down quickly in the Great Lakes.
The EU vote on 'no-stun slaughter' meat
The Telegraph, April 15, 2011
http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/peterwedderburn/100083982/the-eu-vote-on-no-stun-slaughter-meat/
Should consumers know whether or not the animals that they’re eating were stunned before slaughter?
Congress sees bills to aid chimps
The Alamogordo News, April 14, 2011
http://www.alamogordonews.com/ci_17839793
The Great Ape Protection and Cost Savings Act was introduced Wednesday with bipartisan support in both the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives. Key provisions of the bill will phase out the use of chimpanzees in invasive research in both federally funded and private laboratories.
States look to ban efforts to reveal farm abuse
The New York Times, April 13, 2011
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/14/us/14video.html
Undercover videos showing grainy, sometimes shocking images of sick or injured livestock have become a favorite tool of animal rights organizations to expose what they consider illegal or inhumane treatment of animals.
Congress, in a first, removes an animal from the endangered species list
The New York Times, April 12, 2011
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/13/us/politics/13wolves.html?_r=1&=
Congress for the first time is directly intervening in the Endangered Species List and removing an animal from it, establishing a precedent for political influence over the list that has outraged environmental groups.
Animal cruelty vs. ag rights debated at Minnesota state capitol
Kare11.com, April 12, 2011
http://www.kare11.com/news/article/918886/391/Animal-cruelty-vs-ag-rights-debated-at-state-capitol
There is concern brewing over two bills being introduced in the Minnesota House and Senate. The measures would make it illegal to make audio or video recordings at any animal facility without permission.
Florida bill gives ‘dangerous’ dogs another chance
The Miami Herald, April 11, 2011
http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/04/11/2162432/bill-gives-dangerous-dogs-another.html
Lawmakers from Tampa and Miami made a public push for dogs seized in fighting-ring busts to get a better shot at being adopted.
Northern Rockies wolves are safe for now
Environmental News Network, April 10, 2011
A federal judge on Saturday rejected a plan negotiated between the government and wildlife advocates to remove most wolves in the Northern Rockies from the Endangered Species List.
'Naked' penguins baffle experts
Science Daily, April 9, 2011
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/04/110408140924.htm
The appearance of "naked" penguins—afflicted with what is known as feather-loss disorder—in penguin colonies on both sides of the South Atlantic in recent years has scientists puzzled as to what could be causing the condition.
Jewish, Muslim groups protest as Dutch debate banning ritual slaughter
The Washington Post, April 8, 2011
One of Europe’s first countries to allow Jews to practice their religion openly may soon pass a law banning centuries-old Jewish and Muslim traditions on the ritual slaughter of animals.
Nevada Senate Natural Resources Committee urged to end horse tripping
MSNBC, April 7, 2011
http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/42464291/ns/local_news-reno_nv/
Advocates on Wednesday told the Senate Natural Resources Committee that SB346 would spare horses traumatic injuries associated with events that cause them lose their balance.
B.C. to toughen animal cruelty penalties
National Post, April 6, 2011
http://www.nationalpost.com/todays-paper/toughen+animal+cruelty+penalties/4567219/story.html
British Columbia got a "terrible black eye" around the world after a mass slaughter of sled dogs near Whistler, but is now planning to implement the highest animal protection standards in Canada, Premier Christy Clark said Tuesday.
Animal cruelty: New Mississippi bill falls short
The Clarion Ledger, April 5, 2011
Mississippi lawmakers have approved a strengthened animal abuse law, but it still falls short of penalties needed to curb and punish acts of extreme cruelty.
Hundreds of whales face slaughter as Norway's killing season resumes
Environmental News Network, April 4, 2011
Today is the official start of the whaling season in Norway. Norway is one of just three countries defying the 1986 international ban on commercial whaling.
Winnipeg ponders feral cat problem
UPI.com, April 3, 2011
A Winnipeg, Canada, animal rights advocate says the city's bylaws are too outdated to deal with the tens of thousands of feral cats overrunning the city.
Dog rescued in Japan; others reunite with owners
The Washington Post, April 2, 2011
After the earthquake and tsunami of March 11, many people were forced to leave their pets behind. One dog was rescued after what is believed to be three weeks at sea.
Flying squirrel returns to endangered species list
Courthouse News Service, April 1, 2011
http://www.courthousenews.com/2011/04/01/35461.htm
The West Virginia northern flying squirrel should not have been removed from the endangered species list, ruled a federal judge in Washington, D.C.
Rescue Groups take dogs from Memphis Animal Shelter
The Commercial Appeal, March 30, 2011
http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2011/mar/30/rescue-groups-take-dogs-from-shelter/
Several rescue groups came to the Memphis Animal Shelter Tuesday, taking away as many as 14 dogs to save them from being euthanized as part of the continued efforts to stem an outbreak of distemper.
Human Virus Linked to Deaths of Endangered Mountain Gorillas; Finding Confirms That Serious Diseases Can Pass to Gorillas from People
Science Daily, March 29, 2011
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/03/110328151738.htm
For the first time, a virus that causes respiratory disease in humans has been linked to the deaths of wild mountain gorillas, reports a team of researchers in the United States and Africa.
Indiana high court hears Evansville dog bite suit
Chicago Tribune, March 30, 2011
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-ap-in-dangerousdog,0,315307.story
The Indiana Supreme Court will decide whether southern Indiana officials should be held liable for a dog that bit a 6-year-old Evansville boy.
Mexico makes major raid on exotic animal traffickers
Reuters, March 29, 2011
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/03/29/us-mexico-trafficking-idUSTRE72S2ZZ20110329
Hundreds of police raided illicit markets to crack down on the lucrative trade in wild animals and rare flowers, arresting 15 traffickers across Mexico this weekend in one of the biggest swoops of its kind.
New Zealand Dolphin makes animal hero list
The Sydney Morning Herald, March 31, 2011
Moko, the New Zealand bottlenose dolphin, has been named on Time magazine's website as one of history's most heroic animals.
From Dolphins to Pets, Animal rescue efforts in Japan intensify
The Wall Street Journal, March 28, 2011
http://blogs.wsj.com/japanrealtime/2011/03/28/from-porpoise-to-pets-animal-rescue-efforts-intensify/
In the wake of the earthquakes and tsunami in Japan, National and International animal organizations are joining forces to rescue strained animals and create animal shelters.
“Elephant in the Living Room” warns about exotic pets
ABC News, March 25, 2011
The film is a cautionary tale about the millions of exotic animals—lions, tigers, bears, primates and reptiles—that are raised as household pets across the United States.
Australian animals face extinction
Shang Hai Daily, March 24, 2011
http://www.shanghaidaily.com/article/?id=467043&type=World
Dozens of rare species of wallaby, bandicoot and other Australian animals could become extinct within 20 years unless urgent action is taken, scientists have warned.
Grounded ship leaking oil & potentially rats threatens endangered penguins
Discover Magazine, March 23, 2011
After running aground last week on a remote island off the coast of South Africa, a freighter has leaked over 800 tons of fuel oil, coating an estimated 20,000 already-endangered penguins.
Animals’ DNA helps catch their abusers
The New York Times, March 22, 2011.
http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/03/22/animals-dna-helps-catch-their-abusers/
This month, the two cats won a sort of high-tech posthumous justice, when their abusers were convicted in animal-cruelty cases built on a foundation of evidence from the victims themselves.
Alberta Bill 11, no matter the issue, a bad omen
The Edmonton Journal, March 21, 2011
http://www.edmontonjournal.com/opinion/Bill+matter+issue+omen/4481625/story.html?cid=megadrop_story
Even if you have never heard of Bill 11 - the Livestock Industry Diversification Amendment Act - it should be giving you a sense of deja vu. The bill would legalize the hunting of domesticated deer and elk on fenced-in farms, otherwise known as “Shooting Bambi in a Barrel.”
The short, sad life of Knut, the star of the Berlin Zoo
The Brisbane Times, March 20, 2011
Germany was in stunned mourning on Sunday after the sudden and premature death of Knut, Berlin's world-famous polar bear, at the end of what animal welfare groups said was an unhappy, short life.
Genesis Awards honor 'How to Train Your Dragon,' 'Oprah,' others for portrayal of animal rights issues
The Los Angeles Times, March 19, 2011
The Genesis Awards for the feature film that did the best job of highlighting animal rights issues last year was presented Saturday night to a movie that wasn't even about a real creature: DreamWorks Animation’s “How to Train Your Dragon.”
Wildlife advocates, government reach deal to lift Idaho, Montana wolf protections, allow hunting
The Washington Post, March 18, 2011
The U.S. government said on Friday it had struck a deal with wildlife advocates to remove some 1,200 wolves in Idaho and Montana from the endangered species list.
Iowa House approves secret farm video bill
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-ap-ia-undercovervideos,0,5047685.story
The Chicago Tribune, March 17, 2011
The Iowa House has approved a bill making it illegal for animal rights activists to produce and distribute secret videos of mistreatment of farm animals. The bill was approved by a 65-27 vote.
Group tries to stop import of seal goods to China
CTV News, March 16, 2011
The federal Fisheries Department is playing down a move by animal rights activists to derail Canada's plan to export edible seal products to China.
Florida bill would make it a felony to photograph farms
The Miami News, March 15, 2011.
http://blogs.miaminewtimes.com/riptide/2011/03/proposed_bill_would_make_it_a.php
State Sen. Jim Norman, a Republican from Tampa, is very concerned about a farm's right to privacy, while showing little regard for the First Amendment. He has filed a bill in the Florida Senate that would make it a first-degree felony to photograph or videotape farms without express written consent of the owner.
Nonhuman primates and humans have similar aging patterns, study shows
The Los Angles Times, March 14, 2011
When it comes to getting older, humans aren't so special after all. It turns out their pattern of aging isn't too different from most other primates, such as chimpanzees, monkeys and baboons, new research shows.
New Mexico bill to strengthen animal cruelty law
CBS Television Network, March 13, 2011
http://newmexico.onpolitix.com/news/39397/bill-to-strengthen-animal-cruelty-law
The bill calls for tougher punishment. In cases of aggravated cruelty where an owner’s negligence leads to great bodily harm or death, the person responsible would be charged with a fourth degree felony. Right now it’s only a misdemeanor charge.
Massachusetts bill would repeal leghold traps
The Boston Globe, March 12, 2011
The Legislature's Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture has scheduled a hearing for Monday on several bills dealing with trapping, including one that would repeal the ban on leghold and other body-gripping traps.
PETA wins right to show undercover video of 'mistreated' circus animals
Deutsche Welle, March 11, 2011
http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,14905685,00.html?maca=en-rss-en-ger-1023-rdf
Animal rights group PETA has won a case against Germany's biggest circus. Although a court upheld Circus Krone's claim that a PETA video violated the circus's property right, the video can continue to be shown.
Azerbaijan: Domestic animals must be protected
Trend News, March 10, 2011
http://en.trend.az/news/society/1843099.html
The new rules state that no individual has the right to mistreat a domestic animal, cause them pain or harm, or release them into the streets without informing the relevant authorities.
Foxhunting views placed on par with religion after landmark legal ruling
The Daily Mail, March 9, 2011.
A prominent animal rights campaigner yesterday won a landmark ruling that his beliefs regarding foxhunting should be protected from discrimination at work in the same way as religion.
Missouri lawmakers moving to alter puppy mill measure
News-Leader.com, March 8, 2011
http://www.news-leader.com/article/20110309/NEWS11/103090369/1002/SPORTS/?odyssey=nav|head
The state General Assembly is moving forward with proposals to change Proposition B, the ballot measure that voters approved last November that restricts dog breeders
Elephant IQ tests can leave humans smarting
MSNBC, March 7, 2011
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/41954679/ns/technology_and_science-science/
Elephants recently aced a test of their intelligence and ability to cooperate, with two of them even figuring out ways that the researchers hadn't previously considered to obtain food rewards.
Battle to save U.S. chimps from experiments
The Brisbane Times, March 6, 2011
A battle by animal rights activists to save 14 chimpanzees from science and medical testing may well sound the death knell for all US medical experiments on the primates.
Rescuers: 2 dogs shot in the head at U.S. landfill
USA Today, March 5, 2011
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2011-03-05-dogs-landfill_N.htm
Animal rescuers in South Carolina said Saturday that they have found two dogs believed to be from a local shelter shot in the head and buried at a landfill, and they suspect there may be more.
Kangaroos face cruel experiment
The Sydney Morning Herald, March 3, 2011
http://www.smh.com.au/national/kangaroos-face-cruel-experiment-20110303-1bgke.html
University of Wollongong will keep kangaroos in a cage one meter by 1.3 meters by 1.7 meters for nine months to measure the methane gas they expel.
Eastern cougar declared officially extinct
CBS News, March 3, 2011
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/03/03/scitech/main20038630.shtml
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on Wednesday declared the eastern cougar to be extinct, confirming a widely held belief among wildlife biologists that native populations of the big cat were wiped out by man a century ago.
African lions under threat from a growing predator: the American hunter
The Guardian, March 2, 2011
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2011/mar/01/african-lions-american-hunter-trophies
American hunters are emerging as a strong and growing threat to the survival of African lions, with demand for trophy rugs and necklaces driving the animals towards extinction
Animal cruelty includes wild animals
Wisconsin Law Journal, March 1, 2011
http://wislawjournal.com/blog/2011/03/01/animal-cruelty-includes-wild-animals/
Two men who ran over wild deer with snowmobiles can be prosecuted under the state’s animal cruelty statute. The Wisconsin Court of Appeals on Feb. 24 reversed the circuit court, which concluded that the statute does not apply to non-captive wild animals.
Moscow drops plans to ship 26,000 stray dogs out of town
The Globe and Mail, February 28, 2011
Moscow's thousands of stray dogs have something to wag their tails about — animal rights activists say the city has dropped a plan to round the dogs up and ship them to a camp far outside of town.
Bangladesh dog lovers protest brutal cull
The Gulf Today, February 27, 2011
http://gulftoday.ae/portal/4309f27d-797a-4555-a27b-dbd5df9a6d65.aspx
Scores of dog lovers shouting "Don't kill, sterilize" marched through Dhaka last week to protest Bangladesh's brutal canine culling, which involves breaking the animals necks.
Customs seize hammerhead shark fins
The Belfast Telegraph, February 26, 2011
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/world-news/customs-seize-hammerhead-shark-fins-15097027.html
Customs inspectors have found nearly a half ton of shark fins cut illegally from protected hammerhead sharks at Panama's international airport in a shipment labeled as dried fish.
Government to scale back roundups of wild horses
The Associated Press, February 25, 2011
The U.S. Bureau of Land Management will reduce the number of wild horses removed from the range by about one-quarter — to 7,600 per year.
Turkey prepares to pass stringent animal cruelty laws
Today’s Zaman, February 24, 2011
http://www.todayszaman.com/news-236458-turkey-prepares-to-pass-stringent-animal-cruelty-laws.html
A bill proposed by the Istanbul Bar Association’s Animal Rights Commission, also backed by a number of government deputies, seeks to place animal abuse, an offense treated as a misdemeanor in Turkey, under the Turkish Penal Code. The changes would make crimes against animals punishable with jail sentences of at least three years.
Guam Senators discuss animal cruelty, shark bills
Guampdn.com, February 23, 2011
http://www.guampdn.com/article/20110223/NEWS01/102230329
Animals were at the top of the agenda in the 31st Guam Legislature yesterday as senators discussed two bills aimed at animal welfare. Bill 9 changes language in existing law to stiffen the penalties for abusing animals and Bill 44 would prohibit the possession, selling, trading or distribution of shark fins and ray parts on Guam.
Are humans increasingly to blame for stranded whales?
Time, February 22, 2011
http://ecocentric.blogs.time.com/2011/02/22/are-humans-increasingly-to-blame-for-whales-strandings/
Over the weekend, more than 100 pilot whales were found on a remote beach on Stewart Island in New Zealand. By the time the Department of Conservation reached them, half the stranded whales were dead, and the remaining live animals had to be euthanized.
US researchers defend animal testing
The Sydney Morning Herald, February 21, 2011
http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-world/us-researchers-defend-animal-testing-20110221-1b1yf.html
US researchers defended animal testing, telling a small group at one of the biggest science conferences in the United States that not doing animal research would be unethical and cost human lives.
Battery farm protesters to remain chained overnight in New Zealand
The New Zealand Herald, February 20, 2011
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10707559
Animal rights protesters plan to spend the night chained to silos on a battery hen farm near Pukekohe, 50 km south of Auckland, in a bid to draw attention to the caged birds' living conditions.
Today’s lab rats of obesity: furry couch potatoes
The New York Times, February 19, 2011
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/20/health/20monkey.html?_r=1
Like many these days, Shiva sits around too much, eating rich, fatty foods and sipping sugary drinks. He has the pot belly to prove it, one that nearly touches the floor — when he’s on all fours, that is.
India: massive hike in animal cruelty fines proposed
The Hindu, February 18, 2011
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article1475211.ece
Animal welfare is set to get a boost with a new draft Act that includes much higher penalties than the outdated fines prescribed by the existing Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960. In a signal that the treatment of domestic animals is finally being taken seriously, the new draft Animal Welfare Act, 2011 proposes to multiply the old fines by a factor of 1,000.
The beginning of an end to whaling in Japan?
Time, February 17, 2011
The annual kerfuffle between Japanese whaling ships and the anti-whaling activists who chase them around Antarctic waters every winter is once again getting its seasonal share of ink and airtime. But this year the familiar scenes from the southerly tug-of-war might have a new victor – for now.
Bob Barker helps 25 Bolivian lions find a U.S. home
NPR, February 16, 2011
http://www.npr.org/2011/02/16/133816280/25-rescued-bolivian-lions-find-a-home-in-colorado
Twenty-five lions, most of them rescued from Bolivian circuses, were flown to Colorado to start their new lives at a wildlife sanctuary.
University of Washington denies ferret mistreatment
The Daily, February 15, 2011
http://dailyuw.com/2011/2/15/uw-denies-ferret-mistreatment-pediatric-resident-p/
The complaint, filed Feb. 10 by the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM), claims that pediatric residents practicing intubation skills on ferrets violates the federal Animal Welfare Act because the ferrets suffer and sometimes die from repeated procedures. The UW maintains that no animals have been harmed.
Amerijet says it will stop shipping monkeys
Broward Palm Beach New Times, February 14, 2011
http://blogs.browardpalmbeach.com/juice/2011/02/amerijet_will_stop_shipping_monkeys.php
Amerijet, the Fort Lauderdale-based cargo shipping company, will cease transporting primates, according to a letter printed on Amerijet letterhead, addressed to the president of the Animal Rights Foundation of Florida.
Over 100 dogs rescued from Cleveland-area house
MSNBC, February 13, 2011
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/41565940/ns/us_news/
A mother and daughter face animal cruelty charges stemming from their alleged abuse of more than 100 dogs. Alerted by complaints of foul odors and ceaseless barking, sheriff's deputies and humane officers on Friday raided the Cleveland-area house to find 108 dogs alive but malnourished, wallowing in knee-deep muck inside.
Shark fishing in Japan: A messy, blood-spattered business
The Mail & Guardian, February 12, 2011
http://www.mg.co.za/article/2011-02-12-shark-fishing-in-japan-a-messy-bloodspattered-business/
As daylight throws its first shadows onto the loading bay, fishery workers begin gutting the sharks before removing their fins with razor-sharp knives. It is a messy, blood-spattered business, and a study in industrial efficiency.
Cairo's cats forgotten as its humans rebel
Time, February 11, 2011
http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2048792,00.html
While the world has focused on the many troubles faced by humans during the 18-day uprising in Egypt, the four-legged residents of Cairo have been left to fend for themselves. Many Egyptians, expatriates and tourists have been forced by authorities to flee the country without their pets; zoos and pet shops were also abandoned.
Illegal 'zoo' in 3 suitcases gets man arrested
MSNBC, February 10, 2011
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/41512490/ns/world_news-world_environment/
The attempt to smuggle more than 200 live animals — snakes, tortoises, squirrels, spiders, lizards and even a parrot — inside three suitcases was bold, but also dumb.
Prosecutors discussing whether to retry dog-burning case
The Baltimore Sun, February 9, 2011
Baltimore prosecutors are holding a series of meetings to determine whether to retry the animal cruelty case against twin brothers Travers and Tremayne Johnson, which ended in mistrial Monday, and expect to announce a decision soon, Deputy State's Attorney Elizabeth Embry said Wednesday.
California man killed at cockfight by armed bird
CBS News, February 8, 2011
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504083_162-20031041-504083.html
A central California man previously convicted of illegal animal fighting was killed at a cockfight after being stabbed in the leg by a bird that had a knife attached to its limb, officials confirmed Monday.
New York animal lovers push for tougher laws
The Utica Observer Dispatch, February 7, 2011
Public outrage over the ill treatment of a dog named Apollo may be heard all the way to Albany. Local animal rights advocates are pushing for a change in the state’s animal cruelty laws after the 3-year-old pit bull was found tied to a table outside on a sub-zero night last month in Utica.
Report: killing predators considered to help owls
The Associated Press, February 6, 2011
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/O/OR_BARRED_OWLS_WAOL-?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT
Federal wildlife officials looking to protect the spotted owl will likely recommend shooting the endangered species' biggest threat - a larger, more aggressive type of owl. Along with habitat loss, barred owls are the biggest threat to spotted owls, which are federally protected.
Mississippi has no good reason to oppose animal bill
The Clarion Ledger, February 5, 2011
Forty-six states have laws making at least some type of animal cruelty a felony. Four don't. Mississippi counts itself among the four. With our poverty and health issues, it's hard enough to be a human here. If you're a dog or a cat, forget it.
Montana bison slaughter on hold as park reviews lawsuit
The Washington Post, February 4, 2011
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/04/AR2011020400571.html
Federal officials halted plans Friday to ship bison to slaughter from Yellowstone National Park after saying they first had to review a court challenge filed by wildlife advocates.
Foie gras bill on menu at Hawaiian legislature again
Hawaii Reporter, February 3, 2011
A bill that would outlaw foie gras in Hawaii has been re-submitted to the legislature after failing last year. The measure, HB77, would prohibit the possession, sale, trade or distribution of foie gras in the state starting in July 2012.
Unilever to stop testing Lipton tea on animals
The Brisbane Times, February 2, 2011
Animal rights group PETA claimed victory Tuesday after the owner of Lipton and PG Tips teas, the giant Unilever group, said it would stop testing its teas on animals.
Minneapolis woman charged in puppy-mailing attempt
The Associated Press, February 1, 2011
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_PUPPY_MAILED?SECTION=HOME&SITE=AP&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT
A Minneapolis woman has been charged with animal cruelty after postal workers say she tried to mail a puppy to Atlanta in a sealed box with no air holes.
Canada police investigate 100 husky deaths
The BBC, January 31, 2011
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-12331024
Canadian police are investigating the reported killing of 100 huskies who had been used to pull tourist sleds in the ski resort of Whistler.
Virginia nimal cruelty bill, now tabled, sparks controversy
Williamsburg Yorktown Daily, January 30, 2011
http://wydaily.com/local-news/5793-animal-cruelty-bill-now-tabled-sparks-controversy.html
A bill that would redefine animal cruelty standards and enforcement procedures has animal rights advocates up in arms. The controversy over House Bill 2482 got so heated that the sponsor, Delegate Lee Ware, R-Powhatan, agreed last week to hold off on the legislation for a year so people can study it.
Sedation is effective tactic in whale rescues
The Irish Independent, January 29, 2011
Researchers have a new tactic to save endangered whales tangled in fishing line - get them to calm down with sedatives shot from a dart gun so they can pull closer and cut the potentially fatal gear away.
BUAV: MP's show support for sales ban on cruel cosmetics
Politics.co.uk, January 28, 2011
Over 100 MPs have signed an Early Day Motion 1242 calling for an end to animal testing for toiletries and cosmetic products sold in the EU. The EDM, tabled by Caroline Lucas MP, calls on the UK Government to hold Brussels to account and uphold an EU-wide ban on the sale of animal tested cosmetics and toiletries in 2013.
Cruelty, greed and the scandal of pocket pooches
The Daily Express, January 27, 2011
http://www.dailyexpress.co.uk/posts/view/225450/Cruelty-greed-and-the-scandal-of-pocket-pooches/
Since Barack Obama installed a six-month-old Portuguese water dog called Bo in The White House two years ago, sales of the breed have shot up by 34 per cent, proving that celebrity sells. Pugs and Chihuahuas have also soared in popularity in the UK as celebrity ownership has caused a rise in over breeding of “specialty” dogs.
UN shark conservation plan has failed, says report
Agence France-Presse, January 26, 2011
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hDfsUNgdLqgvkYB4VgEcVjL73bnw?docId=CNG.a1ce4f042e7d9e4571eb59509568b4eb.1f1
Many countries whose fishing fleets catch large numbers of sharks have failed to meet a 10-year-old pledge on conserving the species. An estimated 100 million sharks are killed each year, nearly a third of species is at risk of extinction.
Wyoming Senate backs animal cruelty measure
The Wyoming Tribune, January 25, 2011
http://trib.com/news/state-and-local/article_96db2b26-e894-5aff-9db0-dd9102a65b5c.html
Hoarding animals and operating puppy mills would be classified as animal cruelty in Wyoming under a bill winning preliminary approval in the state Senate. The Senate approved the measure 16-10 Tuesday.
Puppy mill law is hotly contested at Missouri hearing
The Kansas City Star, January 25, 2011
http://www.kansascity.com/2011/01/25/2610445/puppy-mill-law-is-hotly-contested.html
Strict new restrictions on dog breeders approved by voters last year were met with hostility in a Missouri House committee hearing Tuesday. The House Agriculture Policy Committee is considering three bills that repeal or change the Puppy Mill Cruelty Prevention Act, which passed on the November ballot as Proposition B.
Air Canada obliged to accept lab monkeys as cargo
The Star, January 24, 2011
http://www.thestar.com/news/article/927429--air-canada-obliged-to-accept-lab-monkeys-as-cargo?bn=1
The arrival of 48 monkeys on a flight from China this weekend has brought Air Canada under fire for shipping primates destined for research laboratories, but the airline says it is obliged by federal law to accept monkeys as cargo.
Maryland animal cruelty trial to resume
The Washington Post, January 23, 2011
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/22/AR2011012203774.html
The prosecution of Travers and Tremayne Johnson, both charged with animal cruelty for allegedly dousing a pit bull puppy with gasoline and setting it on fire in 2009, is set to resume. The proceedings will move to a ceremonial courtroom so Judge Lawrence P. Fletcher-Hill can assemble a larger-than-average pool of potential jurors.
Horse roundup near Nevada sanctuary criticized
The Houston Chronicle, January 22, 2011
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/tx/7392932.html
Animal rights activists are lashing out at plans to remove approximately 2,000 wild horses from the range near two northeastern Nevada ranches that the wife of oil tycoon T. Boone Pickens purchased to serve as a mustang sanctuary.
Utah congressman threatened over feral animal bill
The Salt Lake Tribune, January 21, 2011
http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/home/51097157-76/oda-mails-animal-clearfield.html.csp
Rep. Curt Oda, R-Clearfield, has been inundated with hundreds of e-mails criticizing his bill that would allow for the killing of feral animals by shooting, clubbing or decapitating them. Two of the e-mails may be threatening enough to be criminal, Clearfield police say.
Scientific methods used to assess how Aussie farm animals “feel”
Vets Web, January 20, 2011
http://www.vetsweb.com/news/scientific-methods-to-assess-how-farm-animals-feel-1890.html
Australian research institute CSIRO is studying ways to improve the welfare of livestock by developing scientific methods for assessing how animals “feel” in response to common management practices. The aim is to reduce stress and pain in livestock and increase not only their wellbeing but also their productivity.
Trial set for twins accused of setting pit bull puppy on fire
The Baltimore Sun, January 19, 2011
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/bs-md-phoenix-trial-20110119,0,3923071.story
With nearly two dozen animal-welfare advocates looking on and more waiting in the hall Wednesday morning, Baltimore Circuit Judge Lynn K. Stewart set a trial date for teen-age twins Travers and Tremayne Johnson, who are accused of setting fire to a pit bull puppy in 2009, leading to the dog's death.
Pet insurance popular in Japan as medical costs rise
The Japan Times, January 18, 2011
http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20110118f3.html
Much like humans, pets are living longer these days thanks to advances in medical science, but as their medical bills rise, more owners are taking out pet insurance to mitigate the expense.
Sit. stay. parse. good girl!
The New York Times, January 17, 2011
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/18/science/18dog.html?partner=rss&emc=rss
Chaser, a border collie who lives in Spartanburg, South Carolina., has the largest vocabulary of any known dog. She knows 1,022 nouns, a record that displays unexpected depths of the canine mind and may help explain how children acquire language.
Joint replacements keep dogs in the running
The New York Times, January 16, 2011
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/17/sports/17dogs.html
Joint replacement has helped larger working dogs return to hunting, aiding the blind and assisting in search-and-rescue missions and other police activities, not to mention relieving the pain of beloved pets. Although hip-replacement surgery for bigger dogs has been performed since the mid-1970s, micro-hip replacement for cats and dogs weighing 6 to 30 pounds began in the last five years.
Chimps bite off Nebraska zoo keeper's fingers
MSNBC, January 15, 2011
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/41094084/ns/us_news-life/
Two chimpanzees at a Nebraska zoo attacked a keeper and bit off two of her fingers, police said on Saturday. The keeper at the Riverside Discovery Center in Scottsbluff, Neb., was petting a 40-year-old chimpanzee on Friday afternoon. However the chimpanzees apparently did not want to be touched, according to police report.
Mitzi the bionic dog is back on her feet with the world's first artificial paw
The Daily Mail, January 14, 2011
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1347142/Mitzi-bionic-dog-feet-worlds-artificial-paw.html
A German Shepherd called Mitzi has become the first dog in the world to be fitted with a pioneering prosthetic ankle. The three-year-old had her rear right foot amputated after she was trampled by a horse. But the lively dog is back to enjoying walks with her owner after being fitted with an artificial foot and ankle by pioneering vet Dr Noel Fitzpatrick.
South Korea tries to contain foot-and-mouth outbreak
CNN, January 13, 2011
http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/asiapcf/01/13/south.korea.outbreak/
South Korea confirmed two additional cases of foot-and-mouth disease Thursday, as it struggles to contain the disease that has already spread rapidly across the nation and cost the country millions of dollars in exports. The country has so far culled more than 1.3 million livestock, and plans to vaccinate more than a million, according to the Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.
China agrees to buy Canadian seal meat
Reuters, January 12, 2011
http://ca.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idCATRE70B75520110112
Canada's seal industry has found a new market in China for products that animal rights groups have succeeded in getting banned from much of Europe. China has agreed to allow its consumers to buy seal meat and oil from Canada, and the deal could pave the way for future purchases of products such as seal pelts, Canadian Fisheries Minister Gail Shea said.
Germany slaughters 140 contaminated pigs as dioxin scandal widens to pork from poultry
The Chicago Tribune, January 11, 2011
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/sns-ap-eu-germany-dioxin-scandal,0,1178992.story
The scandal broke last week when German investigators found excessive levels of the cancer-causing agent dioxin in eggs and chickens. Authorities then froze sales of poultry, eggs and, as a precaution, pork, from thousands of farms as some countries banned German farm products.
Ohio State studies symptoms of cat stress, disease
The Associated Press, January 10, 2011
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_PETS_CAT_STUDY?SECTION=HOME&SITE=AP&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT
It's not just people who get sick from stress. A recent Ohio State University study found that healthy cats show signs of illness when stressed. At the same time, cats diagnosed with feline interstitial cystitis (FIC) became healthier when stress levels were reduced, the study showed.
Matadors and fans outraged as Spanish state TV bans live bullfights
The Guardian, January 9, 2011
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/jan/09/spanish-state-tv-ban-live-bullfights
Spain's state broadcaster, TVE, has banned live bullfighting from its schedule, angering matadors and bullfighting fans who are already smarting over a ban in the eastern region of Catalonia. The broadcaster has decided bullfighting contravenes its code of conduct for programs before Spain's 10 pm watershed hour, after which children are no longer expected to be in front of the television.
Spy balloon launched in anti-whaling battle
The West Australian, January 8, 2011
http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-/national/8614527/spy-balloon-launched-in-anti-whaling-battle/
The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society has deployed the latest in its arsenal of surveillance devices with the launch of a spy balloon that will monitor the movement of Japanese whalers in the icy waters of the Southern Ocean. The giant balloon will keep an eye on the whaler's factory ship up to 275 km away by hovering 6000 meters above the ocean and using radar and cameras to relay the ship's position back to the conservationists.
Sharks find sanctuary in tiny nation of Palau
The Montreal Gazette, January 7, 2011
http://www.montrealgazette.com/technology/SHARK+SANCTUARY/4076513/story.html
The shark — feared as a bloodthirsty killer and hunted to the brink of extinction in many parts of the world — has found a passionate champion in the tiny Pacific nation of Palau. The country has embraced its defense of sharks since its shaky beginnings as the world's first shark sanctuary in September 2009, banning shark fishing in its exclusive economic zone, which covers almost 630,000 square kilometers of the northern Pacific. Palau's move to protect its sharks has prompted other nations, including the Maldives and Honduras, to establish similar sanctuaries.
Potty trained pig’s help keep Taiwanese rivers clean
Discover Magazine, January 6, 2011
Toddlers can learn, cats can be taught, so why not take the next step and potty-train our livestock? Taiwan’s Environmental Protection Administration is encouraging its pig farmers to do just that with the countries’ six million pigs. The move will clean up the farms and help prevent water pollution.
Will horse meat make it on U.S. menus?
CNN, January 5, 2011
http://eatocracy.cnn.com/2011/01/05/lunchtime-poll-making-a-meal-of-mustang/
A group of representatives from U.S. and Canadian animal science and humane livestock handling organizations, as well as federal and state livestock processing regulatory agencies, will convene at the South Point Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada for a discussion entitled "Setting the High Standard for Humane Processing of Horses."
Japan is on high alert as a virus infiltrates bird-heavy regions
The New York Times, January 4, 2011
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/04/health/04global.html?_r=1&ref=research
Japanese bird sanctuaries, poultry farms and zoos went on high alert last month after several species of migratory birds in different regions were found dead of what appeared to be H5N1 avian influenza.
A hooded crane was found dead of H5N1 on the Izumi Plain in Kagoshima Prefecture in southern Japan. The plain is Japan’s largest wild crane wintering site, and the region is the nation’s top poultry-raising area.
New El Paso city ordinances take effect
El Paso Times, January 3, 2011
http://www.elpasotimes.com/news/ci_16996283?source=most_viewed
Most provisions of a sweeping ordinance meant to reduce the number of pets killed at the Animal Services Shelter took effect Saturday. Among the most controversial requirements of the new law is that puppies and kittens younger than a year can't be sold for a profit. The requirement effectively prohibits pet stores from selling dogs and cats, which some animal-rights advocates say are bred under inhumane circumstances.
Suits filed over dog shootings highlight growing field of animal law
The Los Angeles Times, January 2, 2011
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-animal-law-20110102,0,4379481.story
Sheriff's deputies knocked on Roger and Sandra Jenkins' front door early one Saturday to serve a court paper to the couple's teenage son. Within minutes, a chaotic scene unfolded, and the family's chocolate Labrador retriever had been shot by one of the deputies and had collapsed bleeding in the snow.
Japanese whalers, activists clash off Antarctica
MSNBC, January 1, 2011
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/40867148/ns/world_news-asiapacific/
Japanese whalers shot water cannons at anti-whaling activists on Saturday, the conservationist group's founder claimed, hours after the activists tracked down the hunting fleet in the remote and icy seas off Antarctica in the hopes of interrupting Japan's annual whale hunt, which kills up to 1,000 whales a year.