News and Current Events
This section features articles from the press on a variety of legal issues relating to animals, including major legislative initiatives, court decisions and general items of interest from both national and international news sources. The articles are summarized and a link is provided to the source of the story for more complete information.
Please notify webmaster@animallaw.com about any problems with the links or any other problems with this new feature on the AnimalLaw.com website.
Last updated 02/2/12
EU - More protection for animals in welfare legislation
News on News, February 2, 2012
http://www.newsonnews.net/politics/13395-eu-more-protection-for-animals-in-welfare-legislation.html
New plan aims to address gaps in EU’s animal welfare legislation, providing better protection for animals and empowering consumers to shop wisely.
Drury University launches animal studies minor funded by Bob Barker
Business Wire, February 1, 2012
Students at Drury University in Springfield, Missouri, now have the opportunity to earn a minor in Animal Studies thanks to donations from Drury alumnus and former Price is Right host Bob Barker.
Pythons hunt Florida mammals to brink of extinction
New Scientist, January 31, 2012
Florida's ecologists can be forgiven one pet hate: Burmese pythons discarded by their owners have eaten many Everglades mammals practically to extinction.
Campaigners “dismayed” at new EU animal welfare plans
The Parliament, January 30 2012
The commission's long-awaited strategy released earlier this month does not address the key issues impacting the welfare of horses.
Can hunting endangered animals save the species?
CBS News, January 29, 2012
Some exotic animal species that are endangered in Africa are thriving on ranches in Texas, where a limited number are hunted for a high price.
California animal lovers protest Brown's proposal that would reimburse shelters only if strays were kept less than 72 hours
Times Herald, January 28, 2012
http://www.timesheraldonline.com/ci_19841732
Gov. Jerry Brown's effort to repeal a state law that lengthened the time shelters could hang onto stray dogs and cats has raised howls of protest among animal rights organizations.
Environmentalists sue to protect whales from Navy sonar
The Chicago Tribune, January 27, 2012
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/sns-rt-us-whales-lawsuittre80q06c-20120126,0,4768030.story
Environmentalists sued the U.S. government on Thursday over naval training exercises off the West Coast involving sonar that they say harms endangered marine animals in the Pacific Ocean including killer whales.
EU signs up for new animal welfare plan
Farming Life, January 26, 2012
http://www.farminglife.com/news/eu_signs_up_to_new_animal_welfare_plan_1_3454065
THE European Commission has adopted a new four year strategy (2012-2015) that aims to further improve the welfare of animals in the European Union.
Florida lawmakers kill "Ag-Gag" proposals
The Miami Herald, January 25, 2012
http://miamiherald.typepad.com/nakedpolitics/2012/01/lawmakers-kill-ag-gag-proposals.html
Animal rights activists who take secret pictures or videos to expose cruelty on farms will still legally be able to do so after lawmakers slashed “Ag-Gag” proposals in the House and Senate this week.
Livestock industry wins Supreme Court appeal
CNN, January 24, 2012
http://www.cnn.com/2012/01/23/us/scotus-livestock/index.html
A California state law mandating "humane treatment" of downed livestock headed for the slaughterhouse was unanimously overturned Monday by the Supreme Court.
Federal bill introduced to improve housing for egg-laying hens
PR News Wire, January 23, 2012
The Humane Society of the United States and the United Egg Producers announced that they will make passage of H.R. 3798, the Egg Products Inspection Act Amendments of 2012, a top legislative priority in Congress this year.
Plan to satellite tag at-risk whale species approved
CTV News, January 22, 2012
Approval has been given for a controversial plan to satellite tag an endangered species of killer whale that plies the waters off the Pacific Coast.
States look to establish online animal abuser registries
ABC News, January 21, 2012
A movement that started in Suffolk County, N.Y., is quickly spreading across the country. Its goal: to require animal abusers to sign up for online registries, much like those required for sex offenders.
Intolerable stench: Confronting the threat of industrial pig farms
Spiegel Online, January 20, 2012
http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,810139,00.html#ref=rss
Tourists are increasingly discovering the rural charms of northern Germany. But with industrial pig breeding operations moving in, that charm may soon be destroyed by the stench of swine slurry.
More than 1,500 dogs found stuffed in cages in China
The Telegraph, January 19, 2012
The disturbing images of the starving animals were taken by welfare volunteers in Chongqing, south-west China, as they rescued 1,500 dogs from the back of a truck destined for a slaughterhouse.
A new Animal Welfare Strategy Paper: European Commission seeks quality upgrade
Europa, January 19, 2012
The European Commission today adopted a new four-year strategy (2012-2015) that aims to further improve the welfare of animals in the European Union.
EU Must Learn from Cage Ban
ThePigSite.com, January 18, 2012
http://www.thepigsite.com/swinenews/28620/eu-must-learn-from-cage-ban-say-pig-producers
When the deadline on meeting EU specifications on laying hen cages came into force on 31 December 2011, a huge proportion of European egg units - accounting for 14 per cent of EU egg production - were in breach of the rules, despite having 12 years to prepare.
Animal testing in Harvard’s backyard offering 60% gain
Bloomberg Businessweek January 17, 2012
Selling lab rats may be the next best thing for buyout firms looking for a deal.
Advocacy group accuses Cal-Cruz hatcheries of animal cruelty
Digital Journal, January 16, 2012
http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/317958#ixzz1jjQZuxxz
Earlier this week an animal advocacy group filed charges against Cal-Cruz Hatcheries, Inc. after a graphic undercover video was taken at the Santa Cruz, California chicken hatchery.
For animal lovers and activists, a ban remains an elusive dream
The Hindu, January 15, 2012
http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/tamil-nadu/article2801746.ece
Animal lovers and activists in India have been at the forefront of the campaign against jallikattu, which, they argue, amounts to cruelty towards bulls. Their objections stem from practices that are aimed at making the bulls more ferocious during bull-taming events.
Animal advocates wary of euthanasia legislation
The Morning Call, January 14, 2012
http://www.mcall.com/news/local/mc-pennsylvania-euthanize-dogs-and-cats-20120114,0,7233094.story
It may be 2012, but it's still legal in Pennsylvania for a shelter operator to put a dog in a chamber, fill it with carbon monoxide and wait until the animal is asphyxiated.
Thirty UK farms defying battery cage ban
Farmers Guardian, January 13, 2012
Up to 300,000 hens are still being kept in battery cages in the UK, despite indications the industry would be fully compliant with the ban on this method of production from the start.
Opposition all but scuttles Australian whaling bill
ABC News, January 12, 2012
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-01-12/opposition-scuttles-greens-whaling-bill/3770124
The Greens have released legislation which states the Commonwealth must send any ship within its control to keep an eye on foreign whaling activities.
Animal rights group sues Live Oak poultry hatchery, alleging animal abuse
Mercury News, January 11, 2012
http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_19723656
A Washington, D.C.-based animal rights group has filed a lawsuit against a Live Oak hatchery alleging numerous examples of animal abuse.
EU urged to limit live animal journeys to eight hours
BBC News, January 10, 2012
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-16494893
More than one million people have signed an online petition to improve the welfare of animals transported to slaughter across Europe.
Tokyo “to return” Australian anti-whaling activists
AFP, January 9, 2012
http://news.yahoo.com/tokyo-return-australian-anti-whaling-activists-154844886.html
Tokyo plans to hand over to Australia three anti-whaling activists held aboard a ship escorting the Japanese harpoon fleet on an Antarctic hunt, Japan's Jiji Press news agency reported Monday.
Judge orders University of Florida to give animal rights activist records on primates
The Gainesville Sun, January 8, 2012
An Alachua County Circuit Court judge has ordered the University of Florida to provide an animal rights activist with records on primates involved in research.
Hawaii hit by number of endangered seal killings as feds boost efforts to protect species
The Washington Post, January 7, 2012
Two Hawaiian monk seals were found bludgeoned to death on a remote coast of Molokai — one was killed in mid-November and the other shortly before Christmas.
US Supreme Court to take on Florida sniffer dog case
BBC News, January 6, 2012
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-16451425
The US Supreme Court is to decide if the use of sniffer dogs outside public homes amounts to an illegal search.
Unchained: Indian elephant rehab center to be a model for rescued zoo animals
The Scientific American, January 5, 2012
Today we look at a positive project in India, one meant to rescue some captive Indian elephants from the unhealthy and often-abusive conditions that they currently endure.
Anti-whalers find Japanese harpoon ship
Radio Netherlands Worldwide, January 4, 2012
http://www.rnw.nl/english/bulletin/anti-whalers-find-japanese-harpoon-ship-1
Anti-whaling activists claimed a small victory in their Antarctic campaign Wednesday with the discovery of a Japanese harpoon ship, as one of their boats limped back to Australia badly damaged.
Mustang plan riles the west
The Wall Street Journal, January 3, 2012
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204368104577136831561594496.html
Federal wildlife managers are fighting in court to take the unprecedented step of castrating 200 wild stallions in Nevada, in an effort to control surging populations of wild horses across the West.
Gray wolf in the Golden State
LA Times, January 2, 2012
http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/opinionla/la-ed-wolf-20120102,0,2445601.story
It's time for California — one of the most environmentally progressive states in the nation — to think about how it will handle the return of a predator it hasn't seen in the wild for close to 80 years.
French farmers ignore battery hen ban
The Telegraph, January 1, 2012
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/earthnews/8986255/French-farmers-ignore-battery-hen-ban.html
The graphic images, shot in the last few weeks by animal rights activists in France, show hens crammed into tiny wire cages despite new rules ordering farmers to use larger, so-called “enriched” containers which give birds space to spread their wings.
Fears animal-born disease will spread as quarantine laws are relaxed to fit EU guidelines
The Daily Mail, December 31, 2011
Animal welfare groups fear rabies could return to Britain following moves to ease quarantine regulations starting January 1.
Ill. man gets 5 years, 9 months for animal cruelty
The Chicago Tribune, December 30, 2011
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-ap-il-animalcruelty-cha,0,1632878.story
A western Illinois man has been sentenced to five years and 9 months in prison for videotaping his dogs attacking different animals and posting the videos on YouTube, among other charges.
Butterball turkey raided amid animal abuse allegations
ABC News, December 29, 2011
Acting on allegations of "repeated violations" of animal cruelty, officials in North Carolina raided a Butterball turkey facility this morning. The raid was spurred by a confidential complaint filed with the Hoke County District Attorney earlier this month.
“Trust us” Legislation: When protest becomes an act of terror
The Atlantic, December 28, 2011
Distribute an animal cruelty video commercially and you're protected from prosecution by the First Amendment. Distribute an animal cruelty video idealistically, to protest practices by laboratories, agribusiness, or the fur industry, and you risk prosecution as a terrorist under the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act (AETA).
Japan extends detention of Dutch activist
Radio Netherlands Worldwide, December 28, 2011
http://www.rnw.nl/english/bulletin/japan-extends-detention-dutch-activist
The Japanese authorities on Tuesday extended the detention of Dutch anti-whaling activist Erwin Vermeulen by 10 days.
Japanese whalers ask US courts to stop activists
Seattle Post Examiner, December 27, 2011
http://www.seattlepi.com/news/article/Japanese-whalers-ask-US-courts-to-stop-activists-2427326.php
Japanese whalers have asked a U.S. federal court judge in Seattle to order the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society to stop disrupting its whaling activities in the Southern Ocean surrounding Antarctica.
Stepping in, saving lives
Winnipeg Free Press, December 27, 2011
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/columnists/stepping-in-saving-lives-136249808.html
Foster a pet, save a life. We hear this slogan often, but a new Winnipeg program now invites concerned citizens to adopt pets to help local humans in need.
Man tried to take 247 animals on plane
AFP, December 26, 2011
A Czech national was nabbed in Argentina for trying to board a transatlantic flight with 247 live animals including poisonous snakes and endangered reptiles packed in a bulging suitcase, reports said Monday.
Endangered male Malaysian rhino gets new mate in breeding program aimed at saving species
The Washington Post, December 25, 2011.
Malaysian wildlife authorities said they have captured a female Borneo Sumatran rhino who will be paired with a new mate in a breeding program meant to save their species from extinction.
Sea Shepherd says drones find, photograph Japan's whaling fleet
Reuters, December 24, 2011
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/12/25/australia-japan-whaling-idUSB69119620111225
Hard line whaling opponents attempting to stop Japan's annual whale hunt in the Antarctic said Sunday they had intercepted and photographed its whaling fleet using pilotless drone aircraft.
Gray wolves to be delisted, but will it stand?
Wisconsin Outdoor Fun, December 23, 2011
Farmers, hunters and rural landowners tired of growing gray wolf numbers got an early Christmas present when the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced this week it would remove wolves in the western Great Lakes from the federal endangered species list.
Dutch compromise over kosher slaughter ban
The Jewish Chronicle, December 22, 2011
http://www.thejc.com/news/world-news/60855/dutch-compromise-over-kosher-slaughter-ban
The Dutch government will not ban shechitah or halal slaughter outright, but said it would draw up new guidelines in an attempt to satisfy animal rights activists.
Great Lakes gray wolf to be removed from endangered species list
The Miami Herald, December 21, 2011
http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/12/21/2557170/great-lakes-gray-wolf-to-be-removed.html
If the delisting proceeds as announced Wednesday, it will be the third time that the federal government has removed the wolf's protected status. This time, most experts think it will stick.
Celebrities take McDonald's to task over U.S. egg practices
The Chicago Tribune, December 20, 2011
Nearly a month after fast food giant McDonald's dropped an egg supplier over reports of animal cruelty, a number of celebrities are pushing the company to adopt stricter animal welfare policies.
Should we limit medical testing on chimps?
Yahoo News, December 19, 2011
http://news.yahoo.com/limit-medical-testing-chimps-153800530.html
Chimpanzees, thanks to a genetic makeup that closely resembles a human's, have long served as test subjects in the field of medical research. But after nine months of heated deliberation, a new report from the Institute of Medicine finds that behavioral and medical testing on primates is largely "unnecessary".
Japan lacks fresh thinking
Independent Online, December 18, 2011
http://www.iol.co.za/business/opinion/columnists/japan-lacks-fresh-thinking-1.1200248
Want to know why Japan’s earthquake recovery efforts are moving in slow motion? Ask the whales. Tokyoites have grown accustomed to shocking news items since the earth shook and the oceans rose.
Pennsylvania legislators shoot down pigeons—again
Dissident Voice, December 17, 2011
http://dissidentvoice.org/2011/12/pennsylvania-legislators-shoot-down-pigeons-again/
If the first year gross anatomy class at the Penn State Hershey medical school needs spare body parts to study, they can visit the cloak room of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. That’s where most of the legislators left their spines.
UK Government urged to adopt animal welfare scheme
Farmers Weekly, December 16, 2011
http://www.fwi.co.uk/Articles/16/12/2011/130614/Government-urged-to-adopt-animal-welfare-scheme.htm
The Farm Animal Welfare Committee (FAWC) has urged the Government to introduce a Welfare Stewardship Scheme in which farmers would be financially rewarded for adopting high standards of animal welfare.
Animal rights activists sue to challenge constitutionality of Animal Enterprise Terrorist Act
The Washington Post, December 15, 2011
A group of animal rights activists has filed a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of a law they say treats them like terrorists if they demonstrate against businesses that use or sell animal products.
Vancouver Island men who hanged horse found guilty of cruelty
The Vancouver Sun, December 14, 2011
http://www.timescolonist.com/technology/Vancouver+Island+hanged+horse+found+guilty+cruelty/5861124/story.html#ixzz1gcLXMsqR
Two men were found guilty Tuesday in Victoria provincial court of animal cruelty for inadequately feeding a horse before putting it to death by hanging it by ropes from an excavator.
Dutch senate debates ritual slaughter ban
CBS News, December 13, 2011
Political support for a proposed ban on slaughtering animals without stunning them first appeared to crumble Tuesday as the Dutch senate debated legislation that Muslim and Jewish groups say violates their religious rights.
Horse slaughter makes quiet return
ESPN, December 12, 2011
http://espn.go.com/horse-racing/story/_/id/7345180/horse-slaughter-makes-quiet-return
Most animal-rights activists decried the little-noticed provision attached to a spending bill that effectively removed a ban on the slaughter of horses for food, which sailed through the otherwise gridlocked Congress last month and was signed into law by President Barack Obama.
Sea Shepherd vows to continue anti-whaling campaign
ABC International, December 11, 2011
http://abcasiapacificnews.com/stories/201112/3388614.htm
The Sea Shepherd conservation group has vowed to continue its battle against Japanese whalers, despite an upcoming court challenge.
Dissection ban in India will save 19 million animals every year
The Hindu, December 10, 2011
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article2704638.ece
A staggering 19 million insects and animals belonging to a variety of species will be saved every academic year when the ban on dissection in laboratories for undergraduate and postgraduate is fully implemented.
Administration moves to end state-by-state listing for endangered plants, animals
Yahoo News, December 09, 2011
The Obama administration proposed a new rule Friday that would end a practice in which some endangered species were classified differently in neighboring states.
Pregnant hogs to get breathing room at pork producer
MSNBC, December 08, 2011
Two years after shelving a pledge to phase out its practice of confining pregnant hogs in small, metal stalls, the world's largest pork producer on Thursday said it was ready to recommit.
Japanese whalers get $28m in earthquake cash
ABC News, December 07, 2011
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-12-07/japan-whaling-fleet-embarks/3716546
Japan's whaling fleet has left its home port for another turbulent season in the Southern Ocean, this year courtesy of extra money from the nation's earthquake recovery fund.
UK takes tough stance on farming standards with sale ban on battery eggs
ClickGreen.org, December 06, 2011
Tough action will be taken to improve welfare standards and living conditions for hens and prevent eggs produced in ‘battery cages’ being sold in the UK, the government has announced.
Ukraine accused of culling stray dogs ahead of Euro 2012
The Telegraph, December 05, 2011
The Ukrainian government has been accused of offering a bounty of the equivalent of £35 per dead dog as part of a cull of stray animals ahead of next year's UEFA European Football Championship.
Proposed ban on tethering dogs ignites debate in Hillsborough County, Florida
TampaBay.com, December 04, 2011
It soon may be illegal in Hillsborough County for most people to keep a dog tied up or chained outside unsupervised for any period of time.
Australia's ruling party shuns live export ban
AFP, December 03, 2011
Australia's ruling Labor party voted on Sunday against a phase-out of live animal exports following the temporary halting of cattle shipments to Indonesia earlier this year on cruelty concerns.
Whale activists sue to free Lolita from captivity
CBS, December 02, 2011
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-205_162-57336057/activists-sue-to-free-whale-from-captivity/
Supporters have offered $1 million for her release. Over the years, celebrities, schoolchildren and even a Washington state governor have campaigned to free Lolita, a killer whale captured from Puget Sound waters in 1970 and who has been performing at Miami Seaquarium for the past four decades.
Russian court postpones retrial of government official poachers
Russian Legal Information Agency, December 01, 2011
http://rapsinews.com/judicial_news/20111130/257701112.html
A district court put off until December 16 the retrial of high-ranking officials charged with hunting endangered animals during an ill-fated helicopter flight crash.
Australian Abattoir closed over animal cruelty concerns
ABC News, November 30, 2011
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-11-30/abattoir-closed-over-animal-cruelty-concerns/3703144
Government regulators have cancelled the license of a Victoria abattoir after inspectors reported "appalling" incidents of animal cruelty. Farmers have been sending their stock to the L.E. Giles abattoir, at Trafalgar, in Gippsland for 60 years.
Racing industry silent about slaughtered thoroughbreds
Forbes, November 29, 2011
How did a five-year-old racehorse named Princess Madeline end up in a feedlot on July 13, priced for slaughter?
Ringling Bros. owner to pay $270,000 in animal-welfare case
Bloomberg, November 28, 2011
The owner of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus paid a $270,000 civil penalty for alleged violations of the Animal Welfare Act, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said.
U.S. horse slaughter plants in the very early stages of planning, proponent says
The Oklahoman, November 27, 2011
Horse slaughter plants have become legal again, after Congress quietly unbridled restrictions on processing horsemeat. President Barack Obama signed the enabling bill on Nov. 18.
Minnesota researcher defends animal research
The Washington Examiner, November 26, 2011
http://washingtonexaminer.com/news/2011/11/minn-researcher-defends-animal-research
Dick Bianco has a panic button under his desk. As head of Experimental Surgical Services at the University of Minnesota, he's been the focus of animal rights activists' rage.
Sea Shepherd prepares to tackle Japanese whalers
World News Australia, November 25, 2011
http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/1607945/Sea-Shepherd-prepares-to-tackle-Japanese-whalers
Environmental activist group Sea Shepherd is preparing for a three month voyage to the Southern Ocean and is expecting one of its most intense campaigns yet against Japanese whalers.
Quebec kennel owners plead guilty to animal-cruelty charges
CNews, November 24, 2011
http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Crime/2011/11/24/19016641.html?cid=rssnewslast24hours
The owners of a Quebec kennel pleaded guilty to 17 animal cruelty charges Thursday, roughly two months after more than 500 neglected dogs and puppies were seized from a commercial breeder in the largest rescue in Canadian history.
Court intervention keeps Yellowstone grizzlies protected
Minneapolis Star Tribune, November 23, 2011
http://www.startribune.com/sports/outdoors/134427353.html
Conservationists claimed a major victory in their battle to protect Yellowstone grizzly bears when a federal appeals court ruled that wildlife managers erred when they removed Endangered Species Act protection from "one of the American West's most iconic wild animals."
Romanian parliament votes to euthanize stray dogs
Associated Press, November 22, 2011
http://news.yahoo.com/romanian-parliament-votes-euthanize-stray-dogs-133439958.html
Romanian lawmakers voted Tuesday to make it legal to euthanize the thousands of stray dogs that roam the country's streets, angering animal rights activists who have lobbied for months to stop the measure.
EU commission animal welfare proposals branded “inadequate”
The Parliament, November 21, 2011
World Horse Welfare says it is "dismayed" that the commission is not proposing any changes to legislation governing the long-distance transportation of horses to slaughter in Europe, despite recognizing that "severe animal welfare problems persist" and that scientific evidence supports the charity's call for change.
EU proposes ban on shark finning
Reuters, November 21, 2011
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/11/21/us-eu-sharks-ban-idUSTRE7AK1C320111121
The European Union's executive Monday proposed a blanket ban on shark finning, in which the fins are sliced off sharks, often while they are alive, and their carcasses dumped in the sea.
Ohio animal shelter in bad case, sickly animals kept in deplorable pens
The Columbus Dispatch, November 20, 2011
The rescue this year of nearly 400 dogs began with a surprise visit by Clark County authorities to what was billed as a nonprofit rescue shelter.
Video captures Miami-Dade man butchering pigs and bull before his arrest
The Miami Herald, November 19, 2011
http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/11/19/2510038/video-captures-miami-dade-man.html
A Miami-Dade man was arrested Saturday on animal cruelty charges after police raided a Hialeah slaughterhouse where blood and other fluids seeped into the ground, potentially endangering the city’s water, authorities said.
Animal rights group calls for probe into elephant death
NBC News, November 19, 2011
http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/134180013.html
After the death of an African elephant at the San Diego Zoo on Thursday, an animal's rights group is calling for an investigation into the incident as the debate over whether elephants should be kept at zoos grows.
McDonald's drops egg supplier over animal cruelty report
The Chicago Tribune, November 18, 2011
A three-month investigation conducted by ABC News and Mercy for Animals, a non-profit organization devoted to animal welfare, produced a video alleging abuses at farms run by McDonald's egg supplier Sparboe in Iowa, Minnesota and Colorado.
American horse slaughter ban left out of 2012 agriculture appropriations bill
Horse Channel.com, November 18, 2011
http://horsechannel.com/horse-news/2011/11/18/horse-slaughter.aspx
It’s not what the 2012 agriculture appropriations bill does say that has animal welfare advocates concerned. But what it doesn’t say is stirring controversy.
UK seeking agreements over battery egg import threat
Farmers Guardian, November 17, 2011
The UK Government is seeking agreements with other member states to protect UK producers from illegal egg imports, in the absence of credible EU-wide protection measures.
Alaska officials pan endangered species law
The Washington Examiner, November 16, 2011
http://washingtonexaminer.com/news/2011/11/state-officials-speak-species-forum
The endangered species law is being used to gain control over landscapes and seascapes rather than to protect species, according to the Alaska wildlife official who works on state responses to federal species listings.
Chimps’ days in labs may be dwindling
The New York Times, November 15, 2011
Chimps’ similarity to humans makes them valuable for research, and at the same time inspires intense sympathy. To research scientists, they may look like the best chance to cure terrible diseases. But to many other people, they look like relatives behind bars.
Leading U.S. primate lab accused of illegal chimp breeding
Wired, November 14, 2011
http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/11/chimpanzee-breeding/
The largest primate research facility in the United States has been accused of breeding chimpanzees in violation of government rules, and possibly the law.
Support bill to help animals suffering in circuses
OpEdNews.com, November 13, 2011
http://www.opednews.com/articles/Support-Bill-to-Help-Anima-by-William-McMullin-111112-353.html\
The U.S. House of Representatives just introduced a bill, HR 3359, to ban wild animals from performing in circuses.
On Wikipedia, the Western Black Rhino moves from ‘is’ to ‘was’
The New York Times, November 12, 2011
http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/11/12/extinct-western-black-rhinoceros/?partner=rss&emc=rss
In tracking the erosion of the world’s diverse array of living things, a new phenomenon is emerging: the spread of the past tense on wildlife entries in Wikipedia.
Animal testing under the microscope in Australia
ABC News, November 11, 2011
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-11-11/animal-testing-guidelines-review/3659688
The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) wants to make changes to the code of practice for the care and use of animals for scientific purposes.
Money guru sues animal rights extremists
Court House News, November 10, 2011
http://www.courthousenews.com/2011/11/10/41349.htm
Money-manager BlackRock claims that animal rights "extremists" have terrorized its employees because the global asset management firm has indirect links to Huntingdon Life Sciences, which tests pharmaceutical, agricultural and veterinary products on animals.
Canada bolsters protection of polar bears
AFG, November 10, 2011
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2059267/West-Hollywood-approves-fur-ban-U-S.html
Canada's environment minister on Thursday listed the polar bear as a species of "special concern," requiring a new strategy to protect the iconic animal to be unveiled within three years.
Justices Likely to Overturn California Law Against Slaughtering Downed Animals
The New York Times, November 9, 2011
California enacted a law in 2009 which prohibits the slaughter of non-ambulatory animals for food consumption. The Supreme Court may now overturn the law due to its purported conflict with federal law.
What will the A-listers think? West Hollywood approves first fur ban in U.S.
Daily Mail, November 9, 2011
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2059267/West-Hollywood-approves-fur-ban-U-S.html
Putting animal rights over fashion and its own vibrant shopping scene, West Hollywood's leaders gave final approval on Tuesday to a first-in-the-nation ban on the sale of fur clothing within city limits.
Advocates Seek to Stop Idaho, Montana Wolf Hunts
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-501369_162-57320280/idaho-and-montana-state-wolf-hunts-head-to-court/
CBS News, November 8, 2011
Wildlife advocates appeared in Federal Court in order to petition an end to the allowance of gray wolf hunts in Montana and Idaho.
Animal Activists Protest Elephant Rides at San Diego County Fair
Los Angeles Times, November 8, 2011
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals and Animal Defenders International want the San Diego County Fair to prohibit the company, Have Trunk Will Travel, from supplying elephants for children to ride at the fair.
Britain mulls slaughterhouse video to enforce cruelty laws
MSNBC, November 8, 2011
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/45213085/ns/world_news-europe/#.TrrdhXKJrl8
Food regulators in Britain are investigating whether to require video surveillance cameras in slaughterhouses in order to enforce animal cruelty laws.
The secret farm bill
The New York Times, November 8, 2011
Although the current one doesn’t expire until September, the next one may be all but wrapped up by your first bite of turkey, because the leaders of the House and Senate agriculture committees are working feverishly to draw up a proposal in time to submit it to the supercommittee before the Nov. 23 deadline.
Nevada wildlife officials meet with trappers, animal rights activists
Las Vegas Review-Journal, November 7, 2011.
Recent incidents of household pets getting caught in leg-hold traps intended to snare bobcats, coyotes and a variety of foxes and other fur-bearing animals have spurred heated debate in the Silver State.
Complaint filed against Toronto's shark fin ban
The Toronto Sun, November 5, 2011
http://www.torontosun.com/2011/11/04/complaint-filed-against-torontos-shark-fin-ban
A week after Toronto council voted to ban shark fin, the city has been bit with a human rights complaint.
The Toronto Sun has learned the Ontario Human Rights Tribunal received an application on Monday related to city council’s decision to ban shark fin in Toronto.
Louisiana judge pulls permit for truck stop tiger
The Seattle Post, November 4, 2011
Judge Mike Caldwell ruled Wednesday in favor of a motion by the Animal Legal Defense Fund to force the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries to revoke the permit that allows Tiger Truck Stop Inc. and its owner, Michael Sandlin, to keep the tiger at the business.
Ohioans share thoughts on TEAPA Act
Yahoo News, November 3, 2011
http://old.news.yahoo.com/s/ac/20111103/us_ac/10355047_ohioans_share_thoughts_on_teapa_act
The Traveling Exotic Animal Protection Act (TEAPA) was introduced to Congress yesterday in an effort to restrict the use of exotic and wild animals in traveling circuses. The bill sponsored by Virginia Democratic Congressman James Moran does not impact private ownership of exotic animals or permanent facilities such as zoos and aquariums.
Bob Barker touts bill to protect traveling circus animals
CNN, November 3, 2011
http://edition.cnn.com/2011/11/02/politics/barker-circus-animals-bill/index.html
Bob Barker, the former host of "The Price Is Right," made an impassioned plea Wednesday for an end to what he described as an ugly side of entertainment: the mistreatment of exotic and wild animals in traveling circuses.
Humane Society files complaint against Smithfield Foods for false claims
The Chicago Sun Times, November 2, 2011
The Humane Society of the U.S. filed a complaint with the SEC, disputing claims that Smithfield producers provide their hogs with "ideal" living conditions and that their animals’ “every need is met.”
British airline found guilty over dog's death
BBC News, November 1, 2011
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-sussex-15540188
The dog, Buster, owned by a member of the armed forces returning from duty in Cyprus, was found dead in a container on the Thomas Cook Airlines flight.
Wisconsin bill expands animal cruelty offenses
The Wisconsin State Assembly, October 31, 2011
http://legis.wisconsin.gov/assembly/wynn/pressreleases/Pages/Caseys%20Law.aspx
State Representative Evan Wynn (R – Whitewater) introduced “Casey’s Law,” a bill that would provide greater penalties for abusing animals. The bill is named after a Milton woman’s dog Casey, who suffered severe internal injuries after being shot by an arrow.
Q&A: A look at Ohio's executive order on exotic animals in wake of owner's release of wildlife
The Republic, October 30, 2011
http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/93da79d87eb645179f2fcf3c4698348b/OH--Exotic-Animals-Orders-QA/
Ohio Gov. John Kasich has put in place temporary measures to crack down on private ownership of dangerous wild animals while tougher laws are written this fall.
U.S. Supreme Court takes up treatment of pigs
The Los Angeles, October 29, 2011
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-court-pigs-20111030,0,4290983.story
The Supreme Court has decided plenty of cases concerning cruelty, inhumane treatment and executions, but until now, none was about pigs.
Appeals court upholds dismissal of elephant suit
The Associated Press, October 28, 2011
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_RINGLINGS_ELEPHANTS?SECTION=HOME&SITE=AP&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT
A federal appeals court on Friday upheld the dismissal of a lawsuit brought by animal rights activists that claims the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus abuses its elephants.
Federal agents say environmental laws hamper work
USA Today, October 27, 2011
http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/story/2011-10-27/border-patrol-environmental-laws/50952930/1
Federal agents trying to patrol the U.S.-Mexico border say they're hampered by laws that keep them from driving vehicles on huge swaths of land because it falls under U.S. environmental protection, leaving it to wildlife — and illegal immigrants and smugglers who can walk through the territory undisturbed.
SeaWorld accused in suit of enslaving captive orcas
Reuters, October 26, 2011
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/10/26/us-whales-seaworld-lawsuit-idUSTRE79P8J520111026
An animal rights group has sued SeaWorld accusing the chain of aquatic theme parks of violating the rights of captive killer whales under the 13th Amendment of the Constitution, which abolished slavery.
New rules cover sled dogs on Canadian land
The Vancouver Sun, October 25, 2011
http://www.vancouversun.com/news/rules+cover+sled+dogs+Crown+land/5601071/story.html
Sled dog companies operating on Crown land must have their dogs inspected annually either by a veterinarian or a constable from the B.C. Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, under new rules announced by the government on the weekend.
Ukraine accused of dog slaughter
San Francisco Chronicle, October 24, 2011
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2011/10/24/international/i005151D88.DTL
Animal welfare groups accuse Ukrainian authorities of using illegal and inhumane methods of killing stray dogs that cause long, agonizing deaths. They say dogs are often poisoned or injected with banned substances as officials rush to clear streets ahead of the Euro 2012 soccer championship next summer.
Australian government to target illegal puppy farms
The Age, October 23, 2011
Appalled at the images he has seen of abused and helpless puppies, Victorian Premier, Ted Baillieu, has vowed to put the bite on illegal puppy farms.
Woman guilty of cruelty to animals
The Washington Examiner, October 22, 2011
http://washingtonexaminer.com/news/2011/10/woman-guilty-cruelty-animals
A 52-year-old Washington woman has been found guilty of 11 counts of animal cruelty and ordered to pay $1,100 to the animal shelter where she tied 11 puppies to the fence after hours, under new rules for animal cruelty prosecutions passed earlier this year.
Ohio Governor signs order seeking to curb animal cruelty
The New York Times, October 21, 2011
Gov. John R. Kasich of Ohio signed an executive order on Friday that he said might have prevented the man accused of releasing dozens of tigers, lions and other animals this week from being allowed to keep the animals because of his history of animal cruelty and neglect.
Ohio animal tragedy calls attention to loopholes in U.S. captive wildlife laws
The Washington Post, October 20, 2011
This week’s release and death of more than 50 so-called “exotic” animals near Zanesville, Ohio, is a tragic reminder that the laws protecting wildlife in the U.S. are full of loopholes that endanger not only the animals themselves but also people.
U.S. hunter fined for duck abuse in Canada
The Toronto Sun, October 19, 2011
http://www.torontosun.com/2011/10/19/us-hunter-fined-for-duck-abuse
A "celebrity" U.S. fowl hunter who sells videos of his outdoor antics was fined Wednesday by an Edmonton judge for hunting illegally and being cruel to wounded birds.
Canadian med schools end use of live animals
The National Post, October 19, 2011
http://news.nationalpost.com/2011/10/19/canadian-med-schools-end-use-of-live-animals/
Another two Canadian universities have agreed to stop using live animals in trauma-medicine training courses, marking the end of the practice completely in this country, according to the doctor-led animal-rights group that has lobbied for the controversial change.
US medic training on live pigs faces opposition in Germany
The Local, October 18, 2011
http://www.thelocal.de/society/20111018-38195.html
Deployment Medicine International (DMI), which claims to be the biggest trainer of US military forces in operational medicine, is trying to introduce courses for US soldiers stationed in the eastern German state of Thuringia.
Australian cattle growers sweat on live-trade to Indonesia ruling
The Australian, October 18, 2011
After enduring five months of heartbreak since the Australian government first banned and then restricted live-cattle exports to Indonesia after a public outcry over slaughterhouse brutality, a Northern Territory outback woman is desperate to know what her family's future will be.
Dog slaughter continues in China
The People’s Daily Online, October 17, 2011
http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/102780/7618671.html
Animal rights activists have been arriving in Jinhua, Zhejiang Province in recent days after a "dog-eating festival," which was scheduled to open tomorrow in the city, was canceled amid online protests against the event.
Animal activists demand new law in India
The Asian Age, October 16, 2011
http://www.asianage.com/life-and-style/animal-activists-demand-new-law-965
The volunteers who came dressed in white clothes, wearing animal masks protested against the delay in passing of the new Animal Welfare Act 2011 and urged the Ministry of Environment and Forests to take a quick look into the matter.
In California, going all out to bid adieu to foie gras
The New York Times, October 15, 2011
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/16/us/in-california-going-all-out-to-bid-adieu-to-foie-gras.html
In eight months, the sale of foie gras will be banned in California. But for seven hours on Friday night, at a restaurant appropriately known as Animal, chefs presented an eight-course meal that was nothing short of a glorification of this soon-to-be outlawed delicacy.
A closer look at accused self-identified tiger poachers
The New York Times, October 14, 2011
The Wildlife Conservation Society has produced a short video about the remarkable case in which accused Thai tiger poachers were tracked down using cell-phone photos taken by one of the gang, and connected to a particular slain tiger by camera-trap photos taken by conservation biologists.
NY judge: Don't let child see dog euthanasia
The Wall Street Journal, October 13, 2011
http://online.wsj.com/article/APbc52596914cf4566a13b80e79280379e.html
A woman who let a 10-year-old girl witness a dog being euthanized was convicted Thursday of child endangerment but was exonerated of animal cruelty.
Russian animal rights activists protest planned “Dog Deportation”
Radio Free Europe, October 13, 2011
http://www.rferl.org/content/russian_animal_rights_activists_protest_dogs_deportation/24358672.html
The Moscow municipal council plans to move around 12,000 dogs from numerous animal shelters in Moscow to a single specially built shelter in Yaroslav Oblast, northeast of the city.
Army to phase out animal nerve-agent testing
The Washington Post, October 12, 2011
After sustained pressure from animal rights groups and a member of Congress, the Army has agreed to stop injecting monkeys with high doses of a nerve-blocking drug meant to simulate a nerve gas attack.
Animal abuse registry comes to a vote in Albany County, NY
wten.com, October 11, 2011
http://www.wten.com/story/15666559/animal-abuse-registry-comes-to-a-vote-in-albany-county
A public hearing and vote will be held Tuesday night on the legislation to create a registry of convicted animal abusers in Albany County.
Japanese animal protection law revision lures flood of opinions
Daily Yomiuri, October 10, 2011
http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/T111009002409.htm
The Environment Ministry has received more than 100,000 responses to its request for opinions regarding changes in the Animal Protection Law, according to government sources.
As trapping season looms, backers cite tradition, critics press to ban methods deemed cruel
The Washington Post, October 9, 2011
Barry Warner has loved wildlife since boyhood, and lived out his dream of becoming a conservation officer. He sees no contradiction in the fact that he’s also a lifelong trapper, skilled at capturing wild animals and, if appropriate, killing them as part of an avocation that many Americans view as barbarous.
Turkish animal activists call for stringent animal cruelty laws
Today’s Zaman, October 8, 2011
http://www.todayszaman.com/news-259287-animal-activists-call-for--stringent-animal-cruelty-laws.html
Animal rights activists have been urging the government to enact more stringent laws and penalties against those violent towards animals and to take measures to ensure that municipalities take action and establish more animal shelters.
Wildlife trusts could be new tool for saving wolves
Wired Magazine, October 7, 2011
The wolf — once quite literally a symbol of evil — was very nearly driven to extirpation in the United States before conservation measures began to offer protection to the iconic predators. That protection culminated in the Endangered Species Act of 1973, which made it a federal crime to kill any species listed as endangered.
Los Angeles Blue Whales in danger
ABC News, October 7, 2011
http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/technology/2011/10/los-angeles-blue-whales-in-danger/
They are the world’s biggest creatures and they are currently feeding in the path of some of the largest ships on the sea. Endangered blue whales are congregating near the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach to feast on an abundance of krill.
Calif. governor cites cruelty, ocean protection in banning trade in shark fins used in soup
The Washington Post, October 7, 2011
California’s governor announced Friday that he signed a bill banning the sale, trade and possession of shark fins to protect the world’s dwindling shark population.
Animal-rights group outraged at European Commission's scrambled stance on eggs
New Europe Online, October, 6, 2011
http://www.neurope.eu/article/animal-rights-group-outraged-over-scrambled-stance-eggs
Health and Consumer Policy Commissioner John Dalli has announced that he will not postpone the upcoming 2012 ban on the use of battery cages, used mainly to house egg-laying hens. But he said that he would look for a way for non-compliant producers to continue to sell their eggs in the industrial market even if they couldn’t tell to retailers.
Federal legislators seek to reduce threat of sea lions to fish
The Associated Press, October, 5, 2011
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_KILLING_SEA_LIONS?SECTION=HOME&SITE=AP&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT
Wildlife officials have tried shooting them with rubber bullets, chasing them with boats and scaring them with flares. Nothing has worked for long. Now federal legislators have endorsed a bill that would speed up the application process that states and Indian tribes undertake when obtaining a permit to kill sea lions.
Ottawa woman faces 10 months in jail for starving dog to death
The Vancouver Sun, October, 5, 2011
An Ottawa woman who let her dog starve to death has been sentenced to 10 months in jail, the first jail sentence under the newly strengthened Provincial Animal Welfare Act.
No surprise Japan's whaling fleet planning return to Antarctica
Japan Today, October, 4, 2011
The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) is disappointed but not surprised that Japan’s whaling fleet is reportedly planning a return to Antarctica later this year to kill more whales for its dying market.
Marshall Islands declares world’s largest shark sanctuary
National Geographic, October, 3, 2011
The Marshall Islands is now home to the world’s largest shark sanctuary, an area of the central Pacific Ocean four times the size of California, The Pew Environment Group confirmed in a news announcement today.
Kennel Club suspends testing dogs in U.K. for banned substances amid widespread 'cheating'
The Telegraph, October, 2, 2011
With sports governing bodies clamping down on cheats using performance-enhancing substances, this was the canine equivalent. But the Kennel Club ended the random testing amid protests from owners.
Bangladesh to vaccinate stray dogs to check spread of rabies
Business Week, September, 30, 2011
http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9Q28CI00.htm
Bangladesh plans to vaccinate stray dogs instead of culling them in a bid to prevent rabies that annually kills some 2,000 people in the country.
Howls over plans to round up stray dogs in Moscow
The New Zealand Herald, September, 29, 2011
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/environment/news/article.cfm?c_id=39&objectid=10755037
According to estimates by animal rights activists, there are about 25,000 dogs roaming the streets of Moscow, with about 12,000 more in 12 municipal shelters.
Animal rights groups ask top Canadian court to hear elephant case
CTV News, September, 29, 2011
The Supreme Court of Canada could be getting involved in the battle over the fate of an ailing elephant in an Edmonton zoo.
Homeowners say Wis. law favors big farms over them
The San Francisco Chronicle, September, 28, 2011
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2011/09/28/national/a000207D10.DTL
John Adams can't see the nearly 3,000 cows on the dairy farm two miles from his Wisconsin home, but when the wind blows he can smell them. State law prohibits communities from imposing higher environmental standards for factory farms than required by the state.
Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act sets an unusual standard for crime
The Wall Street Journal, September, 27, 2011
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424053111903791504576586790205241376.html
The law has emerged as a central example of how Congress has eroded the legal concept of mens rea, which is Latin for "guilty mind"—a long-held protection that says a defendant must know they've done something wrong to be found guilty of it.
Activists say they set fire at Idaho fur seller
Associated Press, September, 26, 2011
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_FUR_FIRE?SECTION=HOME&SITE=AP&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT
Animal rights activists said they pumped fuel into an Idaho fur and fireworks retailer before setting the place ablaze early Monday, and federal agents said they were taking the claim seriously.
Ban Fur? Then why not leather?
The New York Times, September, 25, 2011
The most-cited argument is that leather is less cruel, because it’s a byproduct of the meat industry. But this isn’t really true.
The Fur and the fury
The Independent, September, 24, 2011
http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/fashion/features/the-fur-and-the-fury-2359123.html
Not so long ago, supermodels refused to wear it. But gradually, fur has crept back on to the catwalk – and into celebrity wardrobes. Has public opinion really changed?
Mexico will ban shark fishing as global sanctuary movement grows
The New York Times, September, 23, 2011
Mexico announced plans yesterday to ban shark and stingray fishing starting next year, creating what would be the largest initiative by one nation to protect shark species.
Death of the bullfight: Last-ever spectacle in Barcelona as Catalonia bans the matadors
Daily Mail, September, 23, 2011
It is a sport that has come to symbolize Spain - but from this weekend it may come to represent political divisions in the country. This weekend Catalonia becomes the first region on the Spanish mainland to ban bullfighting.
West Hollywood sets a new trend: Banning fur sales
Time, September, 22, 2011
http://newsfeed.time.com/2011/09/21/west-hollywood-sets-a-new-trend-banning-fur-sales/#ixzz1ZATBTbTn
In what council members say they hope sets a national trend, West Hollywood passed an ordinance Tuesday that forbids the sale of fur exempting leather and fur used in furniture.
Texas cattle survey: Most ranchers culling herd
Yahoo News, September, 21, 2011
http://news.yahoo.com/texas-cattle-survey-most-ranchers-culling-herd-134054030.html
No Texas ranchers plan to leave the cattle business as the state's worst one-year drought on record persists, but 8 percent say they won't have any animals next year, according to a survey released Tuesday by Texas' largest livestock group.
India orders poultry culling after bird flu outbreak
CNN, September, 20, 2011
http://edition.cnn.com/2011/09/20/world/asia/india-bird-flu/index.html?hpt=ias_c2
Authorities ordered immediate culling of poultry in eastern India after samples tested positive for bird flu. The disease was reported in two villages in West Bengal state's Nadia district, the Indian agriculture ministry said Tuesday.
New Zealand issues new code of welfare for animal transport
Worldpoultry.net, September, 19, 2011
http://www.worldpoultry.net/news/nz-issues-new-code-of-welfare-for-animal-transport-9373.html
Minimum standards of animal welfare and recommended best practices for everyone involved in transporting animals in New Zealand have been outlined in a new code of welfare issued by Agriculture Minister David Carter.
Scientists wary of proposed animal welfare law in India
The Deccan Herald, September, 18, 2011
http://www.deccanherald.com/content/191913/scientists-wary-proposed-animal-law.html
A proposed Animal Welfare Bill with steep penal provisions has scared the scientific community in India, which feels biomedical studies will come to a halt if the bill becomes an Act.
Obama takes steps to stop Icelandic whaling. Could he do more?
Time, September, 17, 2011
Commercial whaling has been banned since 1986, but some still flout international standards by hunting the animals.
Big cat sanctuary in Tennessee sues neighbors over harassment
Fox News, September, 16, 2011
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/09/16/big-cat-sanctuary-in-tennessee-sues-neighbors-over-harassment/
A big cat sanctuary in Roane County, Tenn., is accusing neighbors of a campaign of harassment meant to drive the enterprise out of business.
Man banned from hunting worldwide
MSNBC, September, 15, 2011
A North Carolina man has been banned from hunting anywhere in the world for two years as part of a plea deal over charges that he illegally killed wildlife in Kentucky.
Livestock methods defended by Nebraska farm industry
The Omaha World Herald, September, 14, 2011
http://www.omaha.com/article/20110914/NEWS01/709149884
Several of Nebraska's major agriculture organizations have joined forces to combat what they call "extreme animal rights organizations" that they fear will start a campaign to outlaw certain livestock confinement practices in the state.
New York police probe Petco where animals drowned
Reuters, September, 13, 2011
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/09/13/us-pets-drowning-idUSTRE78C6RO20110913
Police on Tuesday were investigating whether animal cruelty laws were violated when 100 pets died inside a Petco store in upstate New York that was flooded by Tropical Storm Lee.
Sri Lanka Court bans grisly ritual
IOL News, September, 13, 2011
http://www.iol.co.za/news/world/court-bans-grisly-ritual-1.1136387
A Sri Lankan court has ordered an annual sacrifice ritual in which hundreds of goats are slaughtered to be halted after a petition by animal rights activists, police said on Tuesday.
Germany has healthy regard for animal rights
The Star Online, September, 12, 2011
http://thestar.com.my/lifestyle/story.asp?file=/2011/9/12/lifefocus/9446840&sec=lifefocus
In Germany, people and animals enjoy equal protection under the country’s constitution.
Maine's animals get a new “protector”
The Portland Press Herald, September, 11, 2011
http://www.pressherald.com/news/Maines-animals-get-a-new-protector_2011-09-11.html
The new man in charge of the state's Animal Welfare Program is a carnivore and says he doesn't have an opinion on whether animals have rights.
Petland chain praised for decision to halt sales of puppies and kittens in Canada
The Calgary Herald, September, 10, 2011
The decision by Petland to phase out the sale of puppies and kittens is the right move according to customers and an animal rights advocate.
Court asked to reverse Congress on wolves
The Associated Press, September, 9, 2011
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/M/MT_WOLF_LAWSUIT_WAOL-?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT
Wildlife advocates are urging a federal appeals panel to restore endangered species protections for wolves.
Gruesome footage opens animal cruelty trial for Deer Park, IL animal shelter
The Chicago Tribune, September, 8, 2011
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/ct-met-pet-rescue-openings-20110908,0,672693.story
Images of emaciated, decomposing dog carcasses, some in feces-covered cages, provided a gruesome start Wednesday to the trial of Diane Eldrup on animal cruelty and torture charges.
California adopts shark fin ban
The Washington Post, September, 7, 2011
The California Senate passed legislation Tuesday that would ban the trade, sale and possession of shark fins, rejecting arguments that the conservation measure discriminates against Asians who consume shark’s fin soup.
Memphis council member proposes zoning ordinance to crack down on animal fighting, cruelty
The Commercial Appeal, September, 6, 2011
http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2011/sep/06/memphis-council-member-proposes-zoning-ordinance-c/
A Memphis, Tenn., City Council member has proposed a zoning ordinance to crack down on animal fighting and cruelty to animals.
German farmer captures a famous runaway
The New York Times, September, 6, 2011
http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/09/02/german-farmer-captures-a-famous-runaway/
Yvonne, the bovine runaway that confounded German authorities and tickled the funny bone of the international press, was back on the farm on Friday after three months of evading capture in a Bavarian forest.
British animal activists outraged at plans for beagle “factory”
The New Zealand Herald, September, 5, 2011
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=10749633
Plans to build Britain's biggest beagle "factory" have prompted protests by animal rights organizations.
“Stem Cell Zoo” may aid endangered species
Yahoo News, September, 4, 2011
http://news.yahoo.com/stem-cell-zoo-may-aid-endangered-species-181204959.html
Stem cells are quickly becoming an important tool for human medical treatments, and researchers are betting they will also be a useful tool for zoo animals. They are working to create stem cell lines from zoo animals, for use in treating animal diabetes and other ailments as well as helping the animals reproduce.
Laboratory puppies and kittens may be clubbed to death instead of being “put to sleep” under new EU law
The Daley Mail, September, 3, 2011
Puppies and kittens could be clubbed to death under new European Union regulations on the welfare of laboratory animals.
Video shows ill ferrets at Pennsylvania farm
The Miami Herald, September, 2, 2011
http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/09/02/2387839/ap-exclusive-video-shows-ill-ferrets.html
An animal welfare group is calling for an investigation of a large northeastern Pennsylvania ferret breeding facility, saying an undercover worker found hundreds of ill, injured and neglected animals living in inhumane and unsanitary conditions.
To the rescue—finding a purpose for rejected shelter dogs
CNN, September, 1, 2011
http://edition.cnn.com/2011/US/09/01/cnnheroes.melville.search.dogs/index.html
It's a valuable asset that has already been utilized several times this year. Trained search dogs, along with their human handlers, have provided help in high-profile disasters such as the Japan earthquake in March and the Joplin, Missouri, tornado in May.
“Can't leave them”: Libya's zoo struggles to keep animals alive
MSNBC, September, 1, 2011
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/44361115/ns/world_news-mideast_n_africa/#.TmZwy2H0S60
The body of a gazelle lies near an empty feeding bin, flies swarming around the corpse. A male lion growls angrily, leaping toward the front of his cage when a rare visitor approaches the bars.
Satellite-tracked ospreys followed from Scotland - destination Africa
Earth Times, August, 31, 2011
http://www.earthtimes.org/nature/sat-nav-ospreys-tracked-scotland-destination-africa/1314/
Ospreys are rare in Britain. The bird was once widespread throughout the UK, but declined through persecution and by 1916 was extinct as a British nesting bird. Now they have been spotted in Britain, where satellite tracking devices have been attached to the birds.
Arthritic Labrador ‘up and running’ after stem-cell treatment
ABC News, August, 31, 2011
http://news.nationalpost.com/2011/08/31/arthritic-labrador-up-and-running-after-stem-cell-treatment/
Misty, an almost 12-year-old Labrador retriever suffering from arthritis, has gone from aging hound in pain to joyful puppy after stem cell treatments at the Essex Animal Hospital, just southeast of Windsor.
Pet owners panicked by new dog laws
World News Australia, August, 30, 2011
http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/1583170/Pet-owners-panicked-by-new-dog-laws
The RSPCA has received dozens of calls from frightened pet owners who fear their dogs will be mistakenly killed under the Victorian government's new law.
China consumerism latest threat to Africa's elephants: report
Reuters, August, 29, 2011
China's fast-growing consumerism and lax policing of ivory laws are the latest threats to wild elephant populations, said an author of a recent report on endangered species.
Animal rights activists who secretly filmed Finnish pig farms two years ago may now face prison
Helsingin Sanomat, August, 28, 2011
District Prosecutor calls for custodial sentences for activists Saila Kivelä and Karry Hedberg for defamation and disturbance of the peace.
Chinese doctors to call for “cruel” bear farms to be closed
The Telegraph, August, 28, 2011
China’s bear farms, where for decades bile has been extracted from the endangered animals in horrific conditions, have been condemned by eminent Chinese scientists.
Alaska joins appeal of ruling on polar bear “threatened” status
Anchorage Daley News, August 27, 2011
http://www.adn.com/2011/08/26/2033396/alaska-joins-appeal-of-polar-bear.html#ixzz1WX9K9xk0
The Parnell administration on Friday joined a parade of parties appealing the June decision by a federal judge in Washington, D.C., that the government correctly listed polar bears as a threatened species.
Court denies stay of wolf hunts in two states
Yahoo News, August, 26, 2011
http://old.news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20110826/us_nm/us_wolves_rockies
An appeals court has refused to block wolf hunts planned in Idaho and Montana while conservation groups press a legal case against an unprecedented act of Congress that lifted federal protection of the animals.
How animal welfare leads to better meat: a lesson from Spain
The Atlantic, August, 25, 2011
Spain's stress-free, acorn-eating Ibérico pigs produce healthier, tastier ham—and modern food science explains why.
Vet's report criticizes controversial cattle restraint boxes
ABC News, August, 24, 2011
http://www.abc.net.au/rural/news/content/201108/s3301453.htm
Australia's chief veterinary officer has found that the controversial Mark I restraint boxes, installed for in some live export markets, don't meet international animal welfare standards.
Wildlife group seeks legal advice on kangaroo cull
ABC News, August, 23, 2011
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-08-23/wildlife-group-seeks-roo-cull-legal-advice/2851172
A wildlife lobby group says it will seek legal advice about what action to take over the culling of kangaroos in central western New South Wales two years ago.
African Elephants to benefit from new $100 million fund
The Environmental News Services, August, 22, 2011
http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/aug2011/2011-08-22-01.html
Global conservation experts aim to raise US$100 million over the next three years to ensure the long-term survival of African elephants in the face of increased poaching and a thriving illegal trade in ivory.
Caribbean Airlines no longer carrying monkeys
The Jamaican Observer, August, 21, 2011
http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/Caribbean-Airlines-no-longer-shipping-monkeys
The British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection (BUAV) says that Caribbean Airlines has just been added to the growing list of airlines that refuse to ship primates for research.
UK seals deal over rhino horn trade
Express.co.uk, August 20, 2011
http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/266157/UK-seals-deal-over-rhino-horn-trade
Britain has secured international agreement to clamp down on the illegal trade of rhino horn, which has become so sought after it is now worth more than diamonds, gold, heroin and cocaine.
Australian vets warn against banning dangerous dogs
The Age, August, 19, 2011
Veterinarians say banning breeds of dangerous dogs would not stop attacks, despite a Victorian government vow to crack down on vicious pets.
Live animal export outrage: 'horrendous slaughter' of cattle
The Sydney Morning Herald, August, 18, 2011
The RSPCA and Animals Australia have released new footage they say shows the "horrendous slaughter" of cattle and sheep in Turkey.
NGOs barred from discussion on future of ivory trade
CommonDreams.org, August, 17, 2011
http://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2011/08/17-3
Civil society bodies have been barred from discussions on the future of the ivory trade, at today’s meeting at the 61st meeting of the CITES (Convention on Illegal Trade in Endangered Species) Standing Committee.
Illegal ivory openly on sale in Chinese cities
The Ecologist, August, 17, 2011
Elephants, while revered in some cultures as highly emotional and intelligent creatures, are prized elsewhere purely as a commodity.
Insurance company would “total out” dog hit by car
The Chicago Sun-Times, August, 16, 2011
http://www.suntimes.com/news/nation/7102484-418/insurance-company-would-toal-out-dog-hit-by-car.html
A Colorado, woman was devastated when her dog was hit by a minivan last week and the driver’s insurance company told her they’d pay for one or two trips to the vet and would then “total out” her dog.
China main destination for Canadian animal parts
The Toronto Star, August, 15, 2011
http://www.torontosun.com/2011/08/15/china-main-destination-for-bc-animal-parts
China has been singled out as the primary destination for illicit animal parts smuggled out of British Columbia, according to a provincial conservation officer.
Three men charged with illegally transporting 2,000 dogs to Vietnam
Bangkok Post, August 14, 2011
Police have filed six charges against three men accused of illegally transporting almost 2,000 dogs to Vietnam to be butchered for human consumption.
Bull to lure fugitive German cow "Yvonne"
The BBC, August, 13, 2011
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-14517566
Animal rights activists in Germany have brought in a bull to try to recapture a runaway cow facing a hunter's bullet.
Economy gets blame for some pets gone to shelters
The Washington Examiner, August, 12, 2011
http://washingtonexaminer.com/news/2011/08/economy-gets-blame-some-pets-gone-shelters#ixzz1UqViZHj6
With high unemployment, the stock market's dramatic swings and fear of another recession weighing heavily on people's minds, many might have forgotten about another, more helpless group suffering from the ailing economy: pets.
Australian cattle trade resumes and activists deny claim of cash for cruelty
The Brisbane Times, August, 11, 2011
The animal rights group that exposed the mistreatment of Australian cattle in an Indonesian abattoir has angrily rejected allegations by a Liberal senator that abattoir workers were paid to abuse animals for the cameras.
North Carolina’s Davidson County to continue using gas chamber despite public plea
The Dispatch, August, 10, 2011
http://www.the-dispatch.com/article/20110809/NEWS/308099966/1005/NEWS?p=1&tc=pg
Forty-five minutes of public comment from 14 concerned residents, backed by a raucous crowd of nearly 200, all speaking in opposition of Davidson County's use of the gas chamber as a method of euthanasia at the county's animal shelter wasn't enough to persuade county commissioners to change the policy.
Group works to make animal cruelty a felony in Idaho
LocalNews8.com, August, 9, 2011
http://www.localnews8.com/news/28805262/detail.html
Animal cruelty is a felony in 47 states, but not Idaho, South Dakota or North Dakota.
The group Idaho 1 of 3 wants to make animal cruelty a felony and put it on the ballot in 2012.
By helping a girl testify at a rape trial, a dog ignites a legal debate
The New York Times, August, 8, 2011
Rosie, the first judicially approved courtroom dog in New York, was in the witness box here nuzzling a 15-year-old girl who was testifying that her father had raped and impregnated her.
Shark fin soup: The taste of extinction
The Los Angeles Times, August, 7, 2011
http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-gold-shark-fin-20110807,0,1824749.story
A pending state bill would prohibit the sale of shark fin and help protect the threatened fish. The ban would affect Chinese Americans disproportionately, but Cantonese culinary culture would easily survive.
Should we forgive Michael Vick?
The Douglasville Patch, August, 6, 2011
http://douglasville.patch.com/articles/should-we-forgive-michael-vick
Many Douglasville residents were shocked when our NFL team's star quarterback was indicted and convicted on charges associated with dog fighting and animal cruelty. Three years later, is it time to forgive Vick?
Overrun with wild donkeys, Hawaii to ship 100 to animal sanctuaries
The Toronto Star, August, 5, 2011
In an effort to control the wild donkey population on Hawaii’s Big Island, about 100 of them are being taken to California.
"Very aggressive" monkey attacks Tennessee woman
Reuters, August 5, 2011
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/08/05/us-monkey-attack-idUSTRE7746DL20110805
A woman was attacked by an aggressive snow monkey kept as a pet; state law allows for possession of monkeys.
Pet Owners Win: Chinese City Relents On Dog Ban
NPR, August, 4, 2011
Dog lovers in China and elsewhere can sleep easier tonight, after officials in Jiangmen withdrew a proposed ban on dogs in the city.
78-year-old gets 5-year term over dog fighting
The Charlotte Observer, August, 4, 2011
http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2011/08/05/2504670/78-year-old-gets-5-year-term-over.html
A dog named Hurricane Hugo has lived a life as destructive as the storm with the same name. Restrained by a logging chain hooked to a car axle buried in the ground, the pit bull's only shelter from cold, heat and rain likely was a blue 50-gallon plastic barrel.
Animal rights groups welcome Indian bullfight ban
The Khalee Times, August 3, 2011
Animal rights campaigners have welcomed an Indian government ruling that has torpedoed efforts to revive traditional, local-style bullfights in the resort state of Goa. The country’s environment ministry has added bulls to a list of animals in the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1960, outlawing their use for entertainment.
Moscow Olympics bear now caged in parked bus in St Petersburg
The Guardian, August 2, 2011
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/aug/02/moscow-olympics-bear-caged-bus?
A 36-year-old bear which performed during the 1980 Moscow Olympics has been kept for the past two years in a rusty old bus on the outskirts of St Petersburg.
Spain declares bullfighting an artistic discipline
The Peninsula, August, 1, 2011
The debate over bullfighting has been reignited in Spain after the government recognized the spectacle as “an artistic discipline and cultural product,” delighting enthusiasts but outraging animal rights campaigners.
Injured war dog Hobo back on duty after Taliban attack
The BBC, July, 31, 2011
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-14358126?
Black Labrador Hobo was hit three times with shrapnel when the 2nd Battalion the Royal Gurkha Rifles came under fire in Nahr-e Saraj in Helmand province.
Revealed: shocking cruelty at massive abattoir... but those responsible WON'T be prosecuted
The Press and Journal, July, 31, 2011
Appalling cruelty, including cigarettes being stubbed out on the faces of pigs, has been revealed in secret filming inside a slaughterhouse. The footage of pigs being burned, punched and smacked across the head with sharp paddles was captured by animal welfare campaigners.
Owners abandoning ill and aging pets in hard times
The New York Times, July, 30, 2011
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/31/us/31bcshelter.html?_r=3&ref=us
A Pit Bull puppy with Parvovirus and a Shih Tzu that had been hit by a car are just two examples of pets that have been abandoned by their owners at East Bay animal shelters in recent months.
More states consider veterinary sterilization laws for dogs and cats
Veterinary News, July 29, 2011
http://veterinarynews.dvm360.com/dvm/article/articleDetail.jsp?id=733460
More states are passing or considering legislation to mandate pet sterilization by veterinarians.
By sterilizing stray cats, city hopes to cut shelter numbers
The New York Times, July, 28, 2011
New York City has reached an agreement with animal-advocacy groups under which it will avoid having to build full-time shelters in Queens and the Bronx, but will step up its efforts to sterilize feral cats and to require owners to spay or neuter free-roaming cats.
Philippine couple charged over animal torture videos
The Manila Times, July 27, 2011
http://www.manilatimes.net/index.php/news/top-stories/2933-pinoy-couple-charged-for-animal-torture?
A Philippine couple has been charged for making dozens of videos showing teenage girls torturing and killing animals, an animal rights group said Tuesday.
Art dealer arrested in ‘staggering’ African elephant ivory seizure
The Wall Street Journal, July 26, 2011
A Philadelphia African art store owner has been arrested in connection with one of the largest U.S. seizures of illegally imported African elephant ivory, federal prosecutors said Tuesday.
California mulls microchip law on pet shelter adoptions
The Associated Press, July 26, 2011
In addition to avoiding the heartbreak of lost pets, some lawmakers believe that microchips can save money by cutting costs at shelters where lost cats and dogs are cared for and sometimes euthanized.
Sea Shepherd could be forced to sell Steve Irwin in blue fin dispute
The Guardian, July 25, 2011
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2011/jul/25/sea-shepherd-sell-irwin-dispute
Animal rights and environmental activist Paul Watson faces the ignominy of having the flagship of his fleet, the Steve Irwin, sold by Scotland unless he raises nearly £1m in the next two weeks.
A young Qatari passionate about rehabilitating animals
Gulf Times, July 24, 2011
While animal welfare has often been criticized in Qatar, there is one young Qatari in particular who is passionate about improving the situation for many animals in his country, and educating his compatriots about the importance of caring for animals.
North Carolina Native American Tribe facing attack over bear zoos
USA Today, July 23, 2011
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2011-07-23-bear-zoo-peta_N.htm
An animal rights group is calling tribal bear zoos "prisons" on a billboard targeted at tourists showing a little girl crying with a bloodied bandage on her hand.
“Project Nim” fascinating, profound
Toronto Sun, July 22, 2011
http://www.torontosun.com/2011/07/21/project-nim-fascinating-profound
In Project Nim—both the documentary and the experiment it recounts—one poor chimpanzee discovers just how inhumane our species can be.
Animal testing “requires tighter regulation” in U.K.
BBC News, July 21, 2011
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-14232061
Better regulation is needed to govern rapidly expanding research in animals containing human tissue or genes, the Academy of Medical Sciences says.
Gauging moral progress by animal welfare
The Japan Times, July 20, 2011
http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/eo20110720a3.html?
Mahatma Gandhi acutely observed that "the greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated."
US mulls sanctions against Iceland over whale hunts
The Associated Press, July 20, 2011
Eagles quarterback Michael Vick endorses animal anti-cruelty legislation
ABC News, July 19, 2011
Vick’s “redemption tour”, begun in the wake of his 18 months in prison after pleading guilty on dog fighting charges in 2007. Now he is endorsing legislation that would make it a federal offense to be an observer or cause a child to be a spectator at a dog fight.
Del. SPCA marks 10,000th sterilization surgery
Washington Examiner, Monday, July 18, 2011
http://washingtonexaminer.com/news/2011/07/del-spca-marks-10000th-sterilization-surgery
Delaware's oldest animal rescue group is celebrating its 10,000th sterilization surgery at its Stanton shelter.
Welsh pet owner becomes first to be prosecuted for using electronic dog collar
The BBC, Monday, July 18, 2011
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-14181927
A dog owner has been fined £2,000 after becoming the first to be prosecuted in Britain for using an illegal electric shock collar.
Study shows steady decline in use of animals for lab testing in Israel
HAARETZ.com, July 17, 2011
Laboratory experiments were performed on 286,000 animals in 2010 - some 9 percent down on the 2009 figure, according to data released by the National Council for Experimentation on Animal Subjects.
Foreclosure? Many pets are losing their homes
The New York Times, Saturday, July 16, 2011
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/17/us/17cncpets.html?_r=1&ref=us
People are not the only victims of the dismal economy. Pets are also being forced to cope. Several Chicago-area animal shelters report a sharp uptick in the number of abandoned dogs and cats in the last four years.
Memphis animal shelter web cams may come down
Fox News, Friday, July 15, 2011
Are the eyes trained on the Memphis Animal Shelter about to be closed? The shelter's Advisory Board announced earlier this week that they will no longer have monthly public meetings.
Dogs who ate their (deceased) owners adopted
National Post, Friday, July 15, 2011
http://news.nationalpost.com/2011/07/15/dogs-who-ate-their-deceased-owners-adopted/
There’s a happy ending to the morbid story of seven cadaver-eating dogs rescued by the Saskatoon SPCA: all are now adopted, just four days after their story became public.
Whaling commission delays plans for Atlantic sanctuary after Japan walkout
Washington Post, July 14, 2011
Plans for a whaling sanctuary in the southern Atlantic were put off by a year Thursday after Japan and other pro-whaling nations stalled talks on the proposal at the International Whaling Commission.
Idaho Humane Society looks to strengthen animal cruelty laws
KPVI NBC News, July 14, 2011
As we move closer to the 2012 election, the Idaho Humane Society is hoping that Idaho voters will be able to take a tougher stance on animal cruelty.
Animal experimentation hits 25-year high
Express.co.uk , July 13, 2011
More than 3.6 million animals, including monkeys, rats and even household pets such as dogs have been subjected to scientific procedures according to the figures released today.
Sri Lanka to count its elephants for first time
The Associated Press, July 13, 2011
Sri Lanka is preparing for its first census of elephants in the island's forests to help protect the endangered species against the loss of their habitat.
Dogs who ate owners now in custody
The Montreal Gazette, July 12, 2011
http://www.montrealgazette.com/life/SPCA+seizes+dogs+owners/5092323/story.html
Seven dogs are in the custody of the Saskatoon SPCA after they ate the remains of their deceased owners, but officials say that calls for the animals to be euthanized are premature.
Japan whaling forum warned against sympathy vote
ABC News, July 11, 2011
The annual International Whaling Commission meeting gets underway in the Channel Islands off the coast of France today.
Three plead guilty to illegal wildlife trafficking
The Associated Press, July 10, 2011
Three Alaskans charged in federal court with illegal wildlife trafficking are planning to change their pleas to guilty.
Tuna species urgently need protection: IUCN
The Independent, July 9, 2011
http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/tuna-species-urgently-need-protection-iucn-2309678.html
Five of eight tuna species are now threatened or nearly threatened with extinction due to overfishing, according to the Red List of Threatened Species, compiled by the Swiss-based International Union for the Conservation of Nature.
Will Europe's last northern white rhino find love?
The Associated Press, July 8, 2011
http://news.yahoo.com/europes-last-northern-white-rhino-love-165638324.html
She's the last northern white rhinoceros on view anywhere in Europe — but zoo keepers are hoping lonely Nabire will find solace with a southern rhino 11 years her senior.
Humane Society and United Egg Producers hatch plan for egg standards
CNN, July 7, 2011
The Humane Society of the United States and the United Egg Producers announced in a joint statement that they will work together to urge U.S. lawmakers to craft legislation overseeing the living conditions of the 280 million hens involved in U.S. egg production. This would mark the first federal law regulating the treatment of animals on farms.
Australia lifts ban on cattle exports to Indonesia
BBC News, July 6, 2011
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-14044705
Australia has lifted its ban on live cattle exports to Indonesia after setting new conditions that address concerns about animal cruelty, Australia's Agriculture Minister Joe Ludwig said Wednesday.
CA company that provided elephant for film sued
Associated Press, July 6, 2011
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_ELEPHANT_LAWSUIT?SECTION=HOME&SITE=AP&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT
Animal rights activists have sued a Southern California company that provided an elephant used in the movie "Water for Elephants," charging that the company used electric shock devices on the elephant.
Banned from the barn
The New York Times, July 5, 2011
Iowa’s ag-gag law failed to pass before summer recess last week: a good thing. The ridiculous proposition, which died along with similar ones in Minnesota, Florida and New York, would have made it illegal to videotape or photograph in the agricultural facilities that house almost all of our chickens and pigs.
Bahamas bans commercial fishing of sharks amid pressure for more protection
The Washington Post, July 5, 2011
The Bahamas has banned commercial fishing of sharks, awarding protection to the more than 40 species circling the island chain that touts itself as the shark diving capital of the world.
Dogs die in car while woman shops
The Chicago Tribune, July 4, 2011
An Iowa woman faces animal cruelty charges after two pit bull dogs were found dead in her locked car while she was shopping in a Joliet furniture store, police said.
South Korea to slap tougher penalties on pet abusers
The Korea Herald, July 4, 2011
http://www.koreaherald.com/national/Detail.jsp?newsMLId=20110704000537
Korea will impose tougher penalties on pet abusers from next year in an effort to better protect animal rights, the government said Monday.
In South Korea, animal-rights activists win some, lose some
UPI.com, July 3, 2011
Organizers of a dog-meat festival at a suburban South Korean market near Seoul canceled the weekend event because of pressure from protesters who oppose the slaughter of dogs.
New Texas law to help pets caught in domestic abuse
The Washington Examiner, July 2, 2011
http://washingtonexaminer.com/news/2011/07/new-law-help-pets-caught-domestic-abuse#ixzz1RGF1i0Mh
Protective orders that prevent an abuser from hurting, threatening or harassing a person will soon be extended to pets thanks to a Texas law taking effect this summer.
Namibia Sets Seal Cull at 86,000 to Protect Fishing
News Week, July 1, 2011
http://www.businessweek.com/news/2011-07-01/namibia-sets-seal-cull-at-86-000-to-protect-fishing.html
Namibia plans to kill 86,000 seals this year, including 80,000 pups, for their fur pelts and to protect the southern African nation’s fishing industry, according to Bernand Esau, the minister of fisheries and marine resources.
Tracing unscooped dog waste to the culprit
The New York Times, July 1, 2011
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/02/us/02dogs.html?_r=1&ref=us
Sherlock Holmes had the case of the dog that didn’t bark, but it has taken two dozen apartment complexes and a testing company in Tennessee to bring the art of canine detection into the C.S.I. age.
2011 (January-June) Animals in the News
2010 (July-December) Animals in the News
2010 (January-June) Animals in the News
2009 (June-December) Animals in the News
2009 (January-May) Animals in the News
2008 (July-December) Animals in the News