2009 (January-May) Animals in the News (Archive)
Scientists Create First Genetically Modified Monkeys
SFGate, May 28, 2009
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/05/28/MNSL17S1VH.DTL&type=science
Japanese researchers have created the first genetically modified monkeys that can pass their genetic alterations on to their offspring. In particular, researchers from the Central Institute for Experimental Animals in Kawasaki, Japan modified a virus to carry a jellyfish gene for green fluorescent protein (GFP) into the genetic material of marmoset monkeys’ cells. The genetic modification caused the marmosets to glow green under a fluorescent light and to produce offspring that also glow green. This success marks the first time scientists have passed new genetically modified traits down through the generations. Animal activists condemn the latest development, alleging that it will lead to colonies of primates produced for the express purpose of suffering cruel illnesses and dangerous medical experiments.
ALDF Ranks Canadian Provinces for Best and Worst Animal Protection Laws
AHN, May 27, 2009
http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7015288268
The Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF) has published its annual ranking of Canadian provinces that have the best and worst animal protection laws. This year Ontario moved from its former position as worst animal protector to the top spot of best protector. Manitoba ranked second best, with Alberta and Prince Edward Island among the provinces that fell in the middle tier. Some of the worst animal protection laws in the country were found in the lowest tier were the Northwest Territories and Nunavut. ALDF bases their rankings on a comparative analysis of 12 categories of legal provisions for animal protection laws.
L.A. Couple Allowed to Keep at Least 10 Goats
USA Today, May 27, 2009
http://blogs.usatoday.com/ondeadline/2009/05/la-cracks-down-no-more-than-10-goats-allowed.html
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors has agreed to allow Robert Alguero and Iris Fiorito to keep at least 10 goats, two horses, a llama and an emu. Alguero and Fiorito originally asked the Regional Planning Commission for the right to keep 15 goats, however the commission limited the number to 10 after neighbors complained that the property was “noisy, smelly” and like a farm. Alguero and Fiorito live on three-quarters of an acre near Claremont, California.
More than 300 Dogs Seized from Wisconsin Shelter
Wisconsin State Journal, May 20, 2009
http://www.madison.com/wsj/topstories/451808
More than 300 dogs and about 20 other animals have been seized from a shelter in Richland County, Wisconsin. The shelter, Thyme and Sage Ranch, was operating as an animal sanctuary. However, when authorities raided the shelter they discovered malnourished, diseased animals living in squalid conditions. Thyme and Sage Ranch was the acting pound for Richland County. The seized animals are currently being treated and housed in tents behind the Dane County Humane Society.
Anchorage Man Charged with Illegally Feeding Game
Anchorage Daily News, May 20, 2009
http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/wildlife/bears/story/801034.html
Retired Anchorage school teacher Charles Vandergaw has been charged with 20 counts of illegally feeding game. The criminal misdemeanor charges cover bear feedings from May 10 to September 19, 2008 at “Bear Haven”, Vandergaw’s summer home. The charging documents note, however, that bear feeding has been going on at “Bear Haven” for the past 20 years. The documents claim that more than 10,000 pounds of dog food have been flown to “Bear Haven”, and two of Vandergaw’s friends have been cited for purchasing dog food. Vandergaw has been shown feeding dog food to bears in Animal Planet’s television show, “Stranger Among Bears.” Vandergaw has also met with reporters from ABC News and the Australian version of “60 Minutes”. The Alaska State Legislature recently passed a law that makes the intentional feeding of bears a Class A misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $10,000 and one year in jail.
Michael Vick Leaves Federal Prison
CNN, May 20, 2009
http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/05/20/michael.vick/index.html
Former Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick has left federal prison to serve the last two months of his 23-month sentence in home confinement in Virginia. Vick pleaded guilty to bankrolling a dogfighting operation in August 2007. According to Vick’s attorney, he will work at a construction firm and participate in making a documentary for $600,000 while waiting to return to professional football. If the NFL reinstates him, Vick may be allowed to return to football as early as September 2009. Vick also plans to work with the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) on anti-dogfighting campaigns, in particular on preventative and rehabilitative programs aimed at young people.
University of Cincinnati Ceases Purchase of Purpose-Bred Animals
The News Record, May 10, 2009
http://www.newsrecord.org/sections/news/purpose-bred-dealers-not-supported-1.1748021
The director of veterinary technology at Raymond Walters College, Jennifer Wells, has said that this academic year should be the last one in which the University of Cincinnati (UC) will purchase purpose-bred animals for educational use. For the last several years, the university has purchased dogs and cats from legal pet dealers, dealing primarily with Marshall Farms, Covance and Harlan Sprague Dawley. Recently, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has cited Marshall Farms for unsanitary conditions and inadequate healthcare for their animals. Covance also received USDA citations for leaving animals in temperatures exceeding 90 degrees. Now, after years of planning, UC’s veterinary technology program will take their animals from the local Clermont County Animal Shelter. The veterinary technology program at the University of Cincinnati is one of five schools that the American Veterinary Medical Association has accredited.
Numerous Animal Bills Headed to Texas Lawmakers
Star-Telegram, May 9, 2009
http://www.star-telegram.com/legislature/story/1367876.html
Many animal-related bills are on their way to the Texas state Capitol for lawmakers to review. The bills cover a wide variety of animal issues, from puppy mills and dogfighting to the helicopter hunting of feral hogs. Despite the challenge of promoting animal protection measures at the Texas Capitol, animal advocates remain hopeful. There are currently three weeks left in the Texas legislative session.
Vermont Supreme Court Says “No” to Non-Economic Damages for Pet Litigation
PR Newswire, May 8, 2009
http://sev.prnewswire.com/government/20090508/DC1414008052009-1.html
The Vermont Supreme Court has affirmed a lower court decision prohibiting the introduction of non-economic damages into pet litigation. In the high court’s ruling, it explained that non-economic damages, such as pain and suffering, are generally not available for the loss of many close relatives, and the court will not “provide recovery options for pets that are not available in many human-human relationships.” According to many animal organizations, the Vermont Supreme Court’s decision will protect animal health and welfare by containing pet care costs. Several animal use organizations, including the Animal Health Institute, submitted “friend of the court” briefs urging the high court to refrain from introducing non-economic damages into litigation involving pets. With this decision, Vermont joins the approximately thirty states that have reaffirmed the legal principle that emotional harm damages are not allowed in pet injury and death cases in the past few years.
(Revised) Maryland Massage Therapist May Soon Be Able to Practice on Horses
The Daily Record, May 5, 2009
http://www.mddailyrecord.com/article.cfm?id=11447&type=UTTM
Montgomery County, Maryland massage therapist Mercedes Clemens may soon be allowed to practice massage on horses. On May 5, 2009, Circuit Judge David A. Boynton urged the state Board of Chiropractic and Massage Therapy Examiners to rescind its cease-and-desist order which prohibits Clemens from practicing massage on animals. Clemens, who is trained in equine massage, had previously sued the state Board after receiving the order over one year ago. The board has agreed to consider whether to retain its policy prohibiting equine massage by the therapists it certifies, and therefore whether it will rescind the cease-and-desist order issued to Clemens, at its regularly scheduled meeting on May 14. In addition to the repeal of the cease-and-desist order, Clemens is also seeking a public statement from the Board clarifying its position.
Baxter International Shareholders Vote for Animal Testing
Chicago Tribune, May 5, 2009
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-biz-baxter-animal-testing-vote-may05,0,4487907.story
Medical products manufacturer Baxter International Inc. shareholders voted against a proposal that would have banned testing their medical products on animals. More than 95 percent of the shareholders voted against the proposal, which was introduced by the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine. According to Baxter, eliminating animal testing would threaten patient care since the testing is required to determine whether products are safe for human use. However, Baxter chief executive Bob Parkinson said the company is committed to testing products on animals only as required by regulators.
Trinidad Police Officers Accused of Stealing 1,000 Animals
The Associated Press, May 5, 2009
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iCHBGuVCTRl4sw0RM0_5qoDUEg_wD980EUQ01
Four Trinidad police officers allegedly intercepted a smuggling boat at gunpoint, and stole 1,000 endangered birds and monkeys, as well as 400 pounds of wild animal meat, last Saturday. According to officials, the boat sailed from Venezuela, carrying more than 500 bull finches, 300 picoplat songbirds, and various species of monkeys. The animals, estimated to be worth $500,000, were kept in tiny cages piled on top of one another in the vessel. After officers received a tip concerning Saturday’s alleged hijacking, investigators discovered some of the smuggled animals in people’s homes, pet shops and along the roads. Veterinarians at Trinidad’s main zoo are caring for the recovered animals. The four officers involved face several charges, including possession of protected animals without a permit.
South Korean Scientists Engineered Dogs that Glow
The Seattle Times, April 29, 2009
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2009141653_dogs29.html
South Korean scientists claim to have engineered four beagle puppies that glow red under ultraviolet light. The dogs, all named “Ruppy,” are the world’s first transgenic dogs carrying fluorescent genes. According to the scientists, this proves that it is possible to successfully insert genes with a specific trait, which leaves open the possibility of implanting other genes to help treat specific diseases. The scientists hope that by implanting human disease-related genes in dog clones, they will discover new treatments for genetic diseases. A South Korean scientist created glowing cats in 2007.
Congolese Officers Rescue Baby Gorilla from Suspected Traffickers
CNN, April 28, 2009
http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/africa/04/28/congo.gorilla.rescued/index.html?iref=newssearch
Congolese Wildlife Authority officers have rescued a baby gorilla from suspected animal traffickers. The gorilla, a two-year-old female, was hidden in the bottom of a bag and covered with clothes. She was overheated, dehydrated, malnourished and had a puncture wound on her right leg, but is currently responding well to treatment. According to the head of Virunga National Park, “a baby gorilla can fetch up to $20,000 on the black market…[and] for each trafficked baby gorilla, several gorillas have probably been killed in the wild." One person has been charged under a law forbidding the destruction of flora and fauna.
North Dakota Legislature Passes Horse Plant Study Bill
Daily News, April 17, 2009
http://www.wahpetondailynews.com/articles/2009/04/21/news/doc49e8e53529133484726807.txt
The North Dakota House of Representatives has voted to approve a bill that authorizes the Department of Commerce to conduct a feasibility study on the establishment of a horse slaughter plant. The bill, which was previously approved by the Senate, appropriates $50,000 to determine whether there is a market for horsemeat, the cost of the proposed facility’s construction, as well as available resources and the potential for grants or loans. The bill still awaits the approval of North Dakota Gov. John Hoeven.
Animal Activist on FBI’s ‘Most Wanted Terrorists’ List
Times Online, April 22, 2009
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/crime/article6143652.ece
Animal activist and vegan Daniel Andreas San Diego has become the first domestic terrorist to be listed on the FBI’s “Most Wanted Terrorists” list. Authorities accuse San Diego of bombing two U.S. companies affiliated with Huntingdon Life Sciences, a UK-based laboratory that uses animals in research. The FBI hope that the international publicity associated with the addition of San Diego’s name to the list will aid investigators in finding him. San Diego has been on the run for six years.
Veterinary Forensics to Fight Animal Abuse
Atlanta Journal Constitution, April 22, 2009
http://www.ajc.com/services/content/printedition/2009/04/22/currents0422.html
The University of Florida and the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) have together started what may be the first veterinary forensic sciences program at a major university in the United States. The program, which begins in spring 2010, will train crime scene investigators to help prosecute those charged with crimes against animals. The program will offer undergraduate and postgraduate courses, as well as continuing education for veterinarians, law enforcement officers and animal control officers, among others. Potential courses include forensic entomology, blood spatter pattern analysis, bite-mark analysis and animal crime scene processing. The training will teach students the intricacies of animal investigations.
Supreme Court to Rule on Animal Cruelty DVDs
Reuters, April 21, 2009
http://www.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idUSTRE53J48X20090421
The United States Supreme Court has agreed to issue a ruling on whether a federal law that makes it a crime to sell videos depicting animals being tortured or killed violates the constitutional right to freedom of speech. The case has reached the Supreme Court after a U.S. appellate court declared the 1999 animal cruelty law unconstitutional in a 10-3 vote. Their ruling overturned the only conviction under this law, that of Robert Stevens, who sold three videos portraying pit bulls fighting each other and attacking wild boars and hogs. The 1999 law was adopted to stop people from profiting from the interstate sale of depictions of illegal animal cruelty. The Justice Department attorneys argue that the right to free-speech should not apply to animal cruelty depictions, especially since portrayals of child pornography were designated an exception to free speech protections in 1982. That means that purveyors of child pornography can’t claim that the distribution of such pornography is protected by their First Amendment rights. However the appeal court, in its ruling, declined to extend that protection to videos showing animal abuse. The Supreme Court will hear arguments in the case in their upcoming term, which begins in October.
Rare Animal Parts Seized at UK Port
BBC, April 15, 2009
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/suffolk/7999885.stm
The UK Border Agency has seized a lion’s skull, ivory pieces and parts of a giant clam that were being brought into the UK through a Suffolk port. The items, which arrived in a shipment from South Africa, were confiscated because they are restricted from importation into the UK under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). Customs officials have decided that in lieu of destroying the items, which are in good condition, they will be saved for “educational purposes.”
Minnesota Pet Sitter Gets Probation for Pig Abuse
Kare11, April 14, 2009
http://www.kare11.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=615504
Pet sitter Mary Beesecker of Houston, Minnesota, entered an Alford plea to one count of animal cruelty after a pot bellied pig in her care tripled its weight. The Alford plea meant that the plaintiff admitted no wrongdoing but acknowledged she was likely to be convicted. The pig, Alaina Templeton, gained so much weight that the collar became embedded in its neck. Beesecker has received one year probation and must repay veterinary bills that could exceed $1000. Alaina Templeton died last November of unknown causes.
Obama Disappoints Animal Welfare Organizations with Dog
Examiner, April 14, 2009
In what has come as a letdown to animal rescue organizations all over the country, the Obama family has received a six-month-old Portuguese water dog now named “Bo” from a breeder. The purebred puppy came as a gift from Sen. Ted Kennedy, a gift whose arrival the animal welfare world hailed as a “major disappointment.” Though past presidents also kept purebred dogs in the White House, President Obama raised animal rescue expectations by claiming that he might get a “mutt like me.” The Obama family has since made a donation to a Washington area rescue organization.
New Mexico Law Shifts Animal Welfare Costs to Violators
Las Cruces Sun-News, April 6, 2009
http://www.lcsun-news.com/ci_12080375
New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson has signed a new state law that will force the person charged with a crime involving animals to pay for the confiscated animals’ care while a verdict is being reached, provided a judge gives permission. If the accused person fails to pay the money, the animals are considered abandoned property and turned over to officials. The new law has made officials in Dona Ana County, New Mexico, which spent around $600,000 on housing animals from unresolved cases in the last two years, hopeful that they will soon see a decrease in taxpayer costs stemming from animal cases. Currently, some law enforcement agencies refuse to prosecute animal cruelty and hoarding cases because they know they cannot afford to pay for the animals care. County officials and animal advocates alike hope that this law will alleviate that expense so that more animal cases can be prosecuted, while also encouraging owners to “think twice” before giving up their animals.
More Chimp Owners Looking to Give Up Pets
USA Today, April 6, 2008
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2009-04-05-chimp_N.htm
Following February’s chimpanzee attack, Primate Rescue Center director and founder April Truitt has reported a 50% increase in calls from chimpanzee owners who are looking to give up their pets. Unaware of how to properly care for and financially meet the demands of primate pet ownership, owners are now looking to surrender their pets. However, many non-profit sanctuaries face financial challenges, and therefore are unwilling to take in more animals unless the owner offers monetary assistance. Currently twenty-one states ban the possession of non-human primates, 12 regulate their possession, and 17 have no laws in place. A U.S. Senate Committee is now looking at the Captive Primate Safety Act, which would prohibit the possession of non-human primates.
Endangered Right Whales May Be on Rebound
CNN, April 3, 2009
http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/science/04/03/right.whale.rebound/index.html?iref=newssearch
North Atlantic right whales birthed a record number of 39 calves this year off the Atlantic coast of Florida and Georgia. The right whale is one of the most endangered large whale species in the world, with only about 400 right whales believed to exist. Since 2001 the number of right whale births per year has been increasing; however the species population remains extremely small and faces a number of threats from humans, including being hit by ships as well as entanglement in fishing rope. Though this year’s calving season set records, many scientists think it premature to predict whether or not the species is making a recovery.
Seven States Introduce Legislation to Ban Gas Euthanasia of Shelter Animals
USA Today, April 3, 2009
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2009-04-01-animalgaschamber_N.htm
Seven states have legislation pending that would ban the use of carbon monoxide gas chambers for euthanasia in animal shelters. Georgia, Michigan, Illinois, North Carolina, New York, West Virginia and Pennsylvania are considering the proposals in response to animal rights supporters who say that gas euthanasia is inhumane. According to the vice president of cruelty investigations for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), “death by CO poisoning can be slow and terrifying.” However, the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) guidelines list gas euthanasia as a “conditionally acceptable agent and method of euthanasia.” Twelve states have already banned the use of carbon monoxide gas chamber euthanasia.
Federal Court to Hear Texas Animal Sacrifice Case
Houston Chronicle, April 1, 2009
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/tx/6353122.html
A federal appeals court is to hear a Texas case involving animal sacrifice. Jose Merced, a Santeria priest, sued the Fort Worth, Texas, suburb of Euless for refusing to allow him to sacrifice a goat as part of a religious ceremony. Merced alleges that Euless has violated his right to constitutional freedom of religious exercise, whereas Euless counters that animal sacrifices pose a risk to public health and are in violation of its slaughterhouse and animal cruelty ordinances. Last year Merced’s claims were dismissed in a ruling by a U.S. district judge, and Merced has appealed the case to the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. A three-judge panel will hear the case in New Orleans.
Animal Activists Lobby Wisconsin Legislators
Chicago Tribune, March 31, 2009
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-ap-wi-animalactivists,0,6833216.story
In anticipation of the Humane Society’s lobbying day at the Wisconsin Capitol, farm groups have been urging legislators to scrutinize the animal activists’ agendas. While the Humane Society intends to talk to legislators about puppy mills and animal fighting, a coalition of 15 farm organizations have sent a letter to legislators in which they claim that catering to animal activist organizations will harm the farm industry. The Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation stated that they want to remind the legislators of the farm industry’s importance to Wisconsin’s economy and of the constituents who take good care of their animals.
University of Utah Settles Animal Activist Lawsuit
Deseret News, March 31, 2009
http://deseretnews.com/article/705294277/U-animal-rights-activist-settle-suit-for-500.html
The University of Utah has settled a lawsuit involving a university police officer and an animal activist. University police officer Mike Richards arrested Jeremy Beckham during an April 2008 protest against primate research. According to Beckham, Richards detained him and refused to release him, gave no reason for detaining him and cited no other protestors. A judge entered a $500 judgment in favor of Beckham.
Illinois’ Durbin Named “2008 Humane Senator of the Year”
The Washington Times, March 25, 2009
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/mar/25/durbin-humane-senator-year/
Senate Majority Whip Richard J. Durbin, Illinois Democrat, has been named the 2008 Humane Senator of the Year. This title honors Durbin’s efforts to crack down on puppy mills and to improve pet food safety. Durbin was also recognized for his work banning imported puppies from foreign mills and ending the slaughter of downed animals for human consumption. Rep. John Conyers Jr., of Michigan, chairman of the Judiciary Committee, was named “Humane Representative of the Year.” A total of 148 legislators will be honored by the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) as part of the organization’s annual Humane Legislator Awards.
Chicago South Side Puppy Mill Shut Down
Chicago Sun-Times, March 24, 2009
http://www.suntimes.com/news/24-7/1492739,w-puppy-mill-south-side-rescue-032409.article
Chicago police raided a West Englewood puppy mill last week, rescuing about 70 Chihuahuas, Malteses and Dachshunds. Many of the dogs were shoved inside of bird cages, where they stood in their own feces without food or water. After receiving a tip, the sheriff’s office, the Chicago Police and the United States Department of Agriculture sent in an undercover officer to investigate the situation. Demetria Newell, who has been charged with 67 counts of misdemeanor animal cruelty, was selling the purebred dogs for between $475 and $650. The dogs have been taken to Chicago Animal Care and Control where they are being examined.
Possible Amendment to Florida Animal Sterilization Bill
The Miami Herald, March 24, 2009
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/legislature/story/964530.html
The Florida House is considering a bill requiring the mandatory sterilization of most dogs and cats. The bill, which was proposed by Rep. Scott Randolph and is scheduled for a vote by the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee, first faces an amendment. Currently local animal control agencies are allowed to add a $5 surcharge to animal violations. However, the funds must be then be used to pay for employee education programs. This amendment would allow those funds to be used for sterilization services instead. Unfortunately, House Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Rep. Trudi Williams has told members that “noncritical measures will not be considered this term, including a plethora of ‘pet bills’ deemed nonessential to the state.”
Dogs Rescued from Arkansas Puppy Mill
4029tv.com, March 24, 2009
http://www.4029tv.com/news/18998802/detail.html
Officials have rescued hundreds of animals from one of the largest puppy mills in Arkansas history. More than 400 animals, 330 of which are dogs, were discovered in extremely poor health and deplorable living conditions. Officials believe that many of the animals have never stepped foot outside of their cages. The animals are currently being transported to shelters across the region where they will receive much needed medical attention. The names of the people running the puppy mill have not yet been released, and no arrests of charges have been filed.
Animal Activist Jailed for Contempt of Court
Deseret News, March 23, 2009
http://deseretnews.com/article/705292692/Animal-rights-activist-remains-in-Cache-jail.html
Animal activist Jordan Halliday has been jailed for contempt of court after refusing to testify before a grand jury. Halliday was subpoenaed last month in connection with an investigation into raids on mink farms across Utah. Two other animal activists have also been indicted, William James Viehl and Alex Jason Hall, on charges of damage and interference with animal enterprises. Supporters have created a legal-defense fund for the accused activists. The Animal Liberation Front has claimed responsibility for the attacks.
PETA Seeks Criminal Investigation into Sled Dog Deaths
The Associated Press, March 23, 2009
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hvXJF2Cm97fwkfDp-JxAGy2NMQPQD9742B682
Animal rights organization People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has requested that Alaska State Troopers open a criminal investigation into the deaths of five dogs in this year’s Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. In a letter to trooper Col. Audie Halloway, PETA urged the trooper to determine whether any of the dead dogs’ mushers should be charged under Alaska’s animal cruelty law. A spokesperson for the troopers has noted that the state law under which PETA is seeking the investigation is not usually applicable to accepted dog mushing contests.
Closing Arguments in Elephant Cruelty Case
CNN, March 18, 2009
http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/03/18/elephant.abuse.trial/index.html?iref=newssearch
Closing arguments have been heard in the case accusing Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus of mistreating the 54 Asian elephants in its care. This marks the end of a 9-year-old legal dispute in which the Animal Welfare Institute, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the Fund for Animals and Born Free USA charged the United States’ most famous circus with horrifically abusing its elephants. Included in the charges are the use of “bull hooks” and electrical prods called “hot shots” for training the elephants, as well as chaining the elephants for extended periods of time. Asian elephants are protected under the Endangered Species Act, which states that an endangered species cannot be “harmed, harassed, wounded, injured or killed.” An immediate ruling in the case is not expected.
AVMA Urges Mandatory National Animal Identification System before Congress
Reuters, March 11, 2009
http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS183563+11-Mar-2009+PRN20090311
The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) has testified before the United States Congress on the importance of a mandatory National Animal Identification System (NAIS). According to the AVMA, a mandatory nationwide program that tracks livestock is the most efficient way to minimize the effects of an animal disease outbreak. As AVMA CEO and executive vice-president Dr. W. Ron DeHaven explained, the NAIS “is a modern, streamlined information system under which food animals are tagged so that their movements can be tracked in the event of a disease outbreak.” Participation in NAIS is currently voluntary.
Animal Rights Organization Claims Responsibility for UCLA Firebombing
U.S. News & World Report, March 10, 2009
The North American Animal Liberation Front (ALF), an animal rights extremist organization, has claimed responsibility for the recent firebombing of a UCLA neuroscience researcher’s vehicle. The vehicle was outside of the researcher’s home, and no one was injured. ALF posted a message on its website that threatened to continue to harass the researcher until he stops his study. The police and FBI have put extra security at the researcher’s home, and are offering a $445,000 reward for information leading to the arrests of individuals responsible for the various and ongoing attacks against UCLA animal researchers.
Obama Administration Upholds Gray Wolf Delisting
MSNBC, March 6, 2009
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29550694/
The Obama administration has upheld the Bush administration’s decision to remove gray wolves in the Northern Rockies and western Great Lakes region from the list of endangered species. According to Obama Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, scientists support the conclusion that gray wolf populations have attained healthy numbers in these regions. Salazar stated that currently there are more than 5,500 wolves in the United States, a drastic improvement from the almost non-existent gray wolf population that existed when they were first listed as endangered in 1974. However, environmental groups have protested the delisting; arguing that without federal protection, nearly two-thirds of wolves in the Northern Rockies may be killed.
Alleged Mistreatment of Primates at New Iberia Research Center
CNN, March 5, 2009
http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/03/05/primate.treatment/index.html?iref=newssearch
The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) has accused the New Iberia Research Center, a federally funded primate center, of mistreating the chimpanzees and other primates in its care. The allegations follow a HSUS nine-month undercover investigation in which primates were discovered living in isolation, exhibiting self-mutilating behavior, psychosis, as well as emotional and physical problems at the Research Center. HSUS filed the violations in a 108-page complaint to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which is required by law to enforce the Animal Welfare Act. The New Iberia Research Center has received more than $37 million in grant money from the National Institute of Health (NIH). The Research Center denies HSUS’ allegations of mistreatment.
House Panel Looks At Wild Horse Protection Proposal
The Associated Press, March 3, 2009
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gtF6ZkxBMoQ0CqPg-x_MoBsVUddwD96MQV2O1
Madeline Pickens, the wife of oil tycoon T. Boone Pickens, presented her proposal for a wild horse sanctuary to a U.S. House subcommittee. According to Pickens, the proposed sanctuary would not only provide a home for some 30,000 wild horses, but would also create a kind of “living museum” of the American West, while preventing the slaughter of thousands of horses. However, a top federal official called Pickens’ plan “problematic,” in part due to its attempt to locate the sanctuary on both federal as well as private lands. Currently there are approximately 33,000 wild horses roaming in 10 Western states.
Man who Put Kitten in Bong Charged with Animal Cruelty
MSNBC, March 3, 2009
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29478173/
20-year-old Nebraskan Acea Schomaker has been charged with animal cruelty after putting his kitten in a bong “to keep it calm.” Sheriff deputies found the six-month-old kitten, Shadow, taped inside a Plexiglas bong as it was being smoked. Humane society officials performed tests and x-rays on Shadow to see if the kitten had suffered any long-term affects from the abuse. Police are working to obtain custody of Shadow so that the kitten can be put up for adoption. Schomaker faces drug and misdemeanor animal cruelty charges.
Obama Reviews Bush Administration Endangered Species Regulation
CNN, March 3, 2009
http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/03/03/endangered.species.act/index.html?iref=newssearch
President Obama has halted enforcement of a Bush administration regulation that made it easier for federal agencies to forgo consultations with government scientists on projects that could affect endangered wildlife. Under the Bush administration regulation, a federal agency did not have to consult with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service or the National Marine Fisheries Service if the federal agency determined that endangered species would suffer no harm as it carried out the project. This effectively allowed agency bureaucrats, not scientists, to determine what constituted “no harm”. President Obama has issued a memorandum that suspending the regulation and ordering a review to determine whether it supports the Endangered Species Act.
U.S. House Votes to Pass Captive Primate Safety Act
CNN, February 25, 2009
http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/02/24/primates.pets.bill/index.html
The United States House has voted in favor of passing the Captive Primate Safety Act, which prohibits the buying or transporting of primates across state lines to keep as pets. The bill passed the House by a vote of 323 to 95. According to both the bill’s sponsors and the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), the legislation will protect humans and animals from future primate attacks. The bill now heads to the Senate, where Democratic Sen. Barbara Boxer of California and Republican Sen. David Vitter of Louisiana will spearhead the effort to pass the legislation.
Arrests Made for UC Animal Researcher Harassment
The Los Angeles Times, February 21, 2009
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-animal-activists21-2009feb21,0,496856.story?track=rss
Four animal activists have been arrested for allegedly attacking and harassing animal researchers at the University of California, Berkeley and the University of California, Santa Cruz over the last 18 months. The arrests of Adriana Stumpo, Nathan Pope, Joseph Buddenberg and Maryam Khajavi mark a breakthrough in the FBI’s investigation of attacks against several University of California animal researchers. The four accused are being charged with various acts of animal terrorism, including forcing entry into a researcher’s home, publishing animal researchers’ names in a threatening bulletin, and harassing researchers at their homes. The federal Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act provides for up to five years in prison for interfering with an animal enterprise through harassment, vandalism, criminal trespass, threats or intimidation.
Judge Allows Slaughter of Non-Ambulatory Pigs for Human Consumption
The Fresno Bee, February 19, 2009
http://www.fresnobee.com/local/story/1211604.html
U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. O’Neill has ruled that non-ambulatory pigs, or pigs that cannot stand on their own, may still have their meat sold for human consumption. This ruling comes after California approved legislation making it illegal for anyone to butcher and sell animals that are unable to stand. However, the National Meat Association and the American Meat Institute challenged the California state law, saying that the 1907 Federal Meat Inspection Act (FMIA) preempts it. O’Neill agreed, and stopped California from enforcing the law against swine slaughterhouses. This ruling is only preliminary though, and the state of California may appeal.
Proposed Texas Legislation Allows Sportsmen to Hunt Pigs from Helicopters
USA Today, February 19, 2009
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2009-02-19-pig-hunting_N.htm?csp=34
Texas state representative Sid Miller has proposed legislation that would allow “ordinary Texans with rifles and shotguns” to shoot wild hogs from helicopters. According to agricultural experts, approximately 2 million wild hogs are causing $52 million a year of crop damage in Texas. In addition, Texas authorities are reporting an increase in the number of hog-car collisions as well as golf course and suburban destruction. Last year Texas issued about 1,100 permits to kill hogs from the air; under the new bill weekend hunters would be able to obtain permits too, although they would have to pay landowners in order to hunt on their property. If the legislation is approved, this would be the first hunting program of its kind in the United States.
Chimpanzee Attack Sparks Legislation to Ban Exotic Pets
MSNBC, February 18, 2009
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29263607/
In the wake of a chimpanzee attack that critically injured the victim, Connecticut lawmakers are looking to ban the private ownership of exotic and potentially dangerous pets. Current Connecticut law prohibits people from owning primates that weigh more than 50 pounds and requires exotic pet owners to apply for a permit. However, the law allows the commissioner of the state Department of Environmental Protection to determine and enforce the law on an “animal-by-animal” basis. Connecticut lawmakers argue that this fails to provide sufficient legal tools to really protect the public. At the national level, the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) wants to pass legislation, in the form of the Captive Primate Safety Act, which prohibits the interstate and foreign sale of primates as pets. The bill includes monkeys, great apes and lemurs in its definition of “prohibited wildlife species.” HSUS alleges that about 15,000 monkeys and other primates are privately owned in the United States.
Alleged Cat Piercer Charged with Animal Cruelty
The Times-Tribune, February 18, 2009
Pennsylvania pet groomer Holly Crawford has been accused of animal cruelty after docking the tails and piercing the ears and necks of black kittens in order to sell them as “gothic cats.” According to prosecutors, Crawford would tie rubber bands around the cats’ tails until they fell off, before piercing the remaining tail nub as well as necks and ears. The defense counters that the law does not state that piercing or docking cats is an act of animal cruelty. Crawford faces six counts of animal cruelty and three counts of conspiracy.
Los Angeles Sea Lion Shooting Investigation Continues
Los Angeles Times, February 18, 2009
http://www.latimes.com/business/careers/work/la-me-sealions18-2009feb18,0,3897803.story
Five sea lions with bullet wounds have been found on Los Angeles County beaches since December 2008. Marine animal rescue workers have asked for help in tracking down the shooters, and have offered a $5,000 reward for any information leading to a conviction. California sea lions are protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, which makes it illegal to use lethal force against them. Recently, however, the California sea lion population has grown to nearly 300,000, leading to increased competition between the sea lions and fishermen. Wildlife biologists and rescue workers agree that fishermen are probably to blame for the shootings, and hope that “the shootings will stop.”
North Carolina Animal Control Investigates Potential Puppy Mill
WRAL, February 17, 2009
http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/4556972/
North Carolina animal control officers are investigating claims of a potential puppy mill in Sampson County. The alleged puppy mill was operating out of Kay Thornton’s home, where officers saw approximately 120 dogs on February 12th. When animal control returned to the house the following week, there was a sign on the door stating that all the dogs had been given away and the business had closed. Earlier this month authorities seized nearly 300 dogs from Thornton’s mother-in-law. No charges have been filed in either case at this point.
Ohio Deer Poachers to Pay $13,000 Fine
NBC 4, February 11, 2009
http://www.nbc4i.com/cmh/news/local/article/deer_poachers_ordered_to_pay_13000/12725/
Two Ohio men have been ordered to pay $13,000 for illegally taking white-tailed deer from a park. This is the largest fine issued since a new law went into effect last year, which allows Ohio to seek higher penalties for illegally harvesting wildlife. The two men, Justin Angles and Daniel Mahoney, both students at the University of Toledo, pleaded no contest to charges of taking a deer by illegal means and the illegal possession of deer parts.
Killeen City Council Approves Dangerous Animal Ordinance
Killeen Daily Herald, February 11, 2009
http://www.kdhnews.com/news/story.aspx?s=31247
The city council of Killeen, Texas, has approved a new dangerous animal ordinance. The dangerous animal ordinance, which is not breed-specific, clarifies the definition of a dangerous animal and establishes clear guidelines for owners of dangerous animals. Specifically, the ordinance defines an animal as dangerous if it attacks a human or another animal without provocation or approaches a human in a threatening manner. In addition, the ordinance requires the owner of a dangerous animal to obtain liability insurance of at least $100,000, have the animal sterilized, register it once a year with animal control, and identify it with both external and internal tags.
Quiznos Adopts More Humane Animal Welfare Policy
Forbes, February 10, 2009
http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2009/02/10/ap6035280.html
The Quiznos sandwich chain has, with the assistance of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), adopted a new animal welfare policy for the eggs, pork and turkey it purchases. Under the new policy, Quiznos will buy 4 percent of its eggs this year from producers who do not utilize cramped cages for chickens, with a goal of raising that to 10 percent in five years. Quiznos has also removed eggs from three of its four cookies. In addition, Quiznos will obtain about 1 percent of its pork products this year from pigs raised in cage-free environments, with a goal of increasing that percentage to 15 percent by 2012. For turkey products, Quiznos plans to buy 5 percent of its turkeys by 2010 from suppliers who use “controlled atmosphere killing”, a more humane method than conventional slaughter. Quiznos has about 5,000 stores across the United States.
West Virginia Turkey Farm Workers Indicted for Animal Abuse
Daily Press, February 5, 2009
http://www.dailypress.com/news/local/virginia/dp-wv--turkeyfarmabuse0205feb05,0,923550.story
A grand jury has indicted three former employees of a West Virginia turkey farm on animal abuse charges. The charges come after People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) obtained video coverage of the three men stomping the birds’ heads and twisting their necks. Eleven of the 19 counts against the men are felonies, in what marks the first time U.S. factory farm workers have faced such high charges. Each felony is punishable by up to five years in jail and a fine of up to $5,000, while the misdemeanors carry sentences of up to six months in jail and fines of up to $2,000. The accused, Scott White, Edward Gwinn and Walter Hambrick, were all fired by Aviagen Turkey, Inc. in November 2008.
Iowa Dog Owner Cited After Attack
Chicago Tribune, February 4, 2009
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-ap-ia-dogattack,0,1487748.story
Courtney Mahler, of Council Bluffs, Iowa, will be ticketed for allowing her dog to run loose. Mahler’s dog was stabbed to death by a passerby as the dog attacked a 77-year old woman. Initially the chief animal control officer had stated that no charges would be filed since the dog was already dead. The decision to go ahead and ticket Mahler was made by the city’s health department and the city’s attorney’s office. Mahler will receive a city ticket that carries a $40 fine.
North Carolina County Strengthens Animal Control Ordinance
Times-News Online, February 4, 2009
http://www.blueridgenow.com/article/20090204/NEWS/902030176
Henderson County, North Carolina commissioners have voted to change the animal control ordinance so that it will include an aggressive dog provision and increase at-large penalties. Specifically, the updated ordinance will broaden the definition of an aggressive animal and forbid the tethering of any animal found running free twice within a six-month period. The sheriff’s office does not support the new animal control ordinance, claiming that the aggressive dog provision is too subjective. This strengthening of the animal control ordinance comes after a pit bull attacked and killed a neighbor’s dog, and then turned on officers when they came to investigate the situation.
Ringling Bros. Circus Charged with Elephant Abuse
Los Angeles Times, February 4, 2009
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-ringling4-2009feb04,0,3570172.story
Former employee of Ringling Bros., Tom Rider, claims that during his time with the circus, handlers of endangered Asian elephants regularly abused the animals in their care. According to Rider, handlers hit the elephants with long, sharp-hooked poles, leaving gashes the size of his finger. Although Ringling Bros. denies the allegations, today the legal case over the elephants’ treatment finally comes to trial in U.S. District Court. Rider and several animal welfare groups bring suit under the Endangered Species Act, claiming that Ringling Bros. abuses its elephants by using a bull hook and also by chaining the elephants together for 70 hours at a time. Ringling denies the allegations, saying it has never been cited for animal cruelty.
San Mateo County Court Sentences Animal Activist
The Mercury News, February 3, 2009
http://www.mercurynews.com/peninsula/ci_11623969
Justin Bhagat Thind has been sentenced in San Mateo County Superior Court to six months in the county jail as well as three years probation for threatening two animal researchers. Thind pleaded no contest to one felony count of threatening a public official and one misdemeanor count of making threatening phone calls. According to police, Thind called the animal researchers “day and night” between September 6, 2007 and September 10, 2007, telling them that “they would suffer the same way they made the animals suffer.” Thind was arrested in San Mateo County, California on July 6, 2008, after investigators linked his cell phone to the threatening phone calls.
German Town to Test Dogs’ DNA to Identify Poop
Mail Online, January 31, 2009
The mayor of the small town of Volkach in Bavaria, Germany, has announced plans to DNA test every dog in order to fine their owners if they fail to clean up after their dogs. To implement the plan, saliva or fur must be taken from each of the 420 registered dogs in Volkach. However, the DNA must be obtained voluntarily, since there is nothing in the constitution to make a dog DNA databank enforceable. In addition, the hefty price tag of £78,000 may make many residents opposed to the plan. The town council will meet to vote on the dog DNA databank plan in February. In Germany it is against the law for dogs to foul footpaths, play areas, nursery grounds, and railway and bus stations.
State Budget Cuts Hurt Bronx Zoo Animals
CNN, January 30, 2009
http://www.cnn.com/2009/LIVING/01/30/endangered.zoos/index.html?iref=newssearch
With the economy in recession, state budget cuts mean that many zoos, aquariums and botanical gardens will lose all of their state funding for exhibits. New York’s 76 zoos, aquariums and botanical gardens will lose $9.1 million in state funds next year. According to Steve Sanderson, the CEO of the Wildlife Conservation Society, which manages the Bronx Zoo and New York Aquarium, the organizations are “faced with this very difficult problem of firing the animals, as it were.” Zoo officials say that the recession will certainly affect the animals, with some being sent to other zoos and aquariums around the country, while others with “short life cycles” will simply not be replaced when they die.
South Dakota Committee Rejects Animal Research Protection Bill
Keloland.com, January 21, 2009
http://www.keloland.com/News/NewsDetail6375.cfm?Id=0,79386
A South Dakota House committee has rejected a bill that would have given animal researchers more protection from acts of terrorism. The Board of Regents proposed the bill in an effort to better protect researchers and university employees who use animals in research. However, the State Affairs Committee voted 11-2 to kill the bill, claiming that existing South Dakota law makes it a crime to hurt or harass someone.
UK Animal Activists Sentenced
BBC News, January 21, 2009
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/7837064.stm
Seven animal activists who blackmailed companies associated with Huntingdon Life Sciences (HLS), an animal testing laboratory in Cambridgeshire, England, have been sentenced to between four and eleven years in jail. The activists were found guilty of conspiracy to blackmail due to their use of pedophilia smears, criminal damage and bomb hoaxes against the companies connected to HLS. According to the court, the animal activists targeted about 40 companies, leading to a total cost of damage and increased security of around £12.6 million.
Arkansas Senate Committee Approves Animal Cruelty Bill
Associated Press, January 21, 2009
http://www.wreg.com/Global/story.asp?S=9708780
The Arkansas Senate Judiciary Committee has endorsed a proposed bill that would increase the penalties for animal cruelty. The proposal would make aggravated cruelty to cats, dogs and horses a felony for a first offense. Arkansas Attorney General Dustin McDaniel told the committee before the vote that he had spent the past year negotiating details of the bill with animal welfare organizations, farmers and hunters in an effort to strengthen animal cruelty laws. The bill now heads to the Arkansas Senate for a vote.
North Carolina Family Sued for Starving Horses
The News & Observer, January 13, 2009
http://www.newsobserver.com/news/wake/story/1364841.html
The Keating family of Wake County, North Carolina has been sued after one dead horse and half-a-dozen starving horses were discovered in mid-December. A neighbor noticed the severely malnourished horses and contacted the local veterinarian, who then contacted animal cruelty investigators. According to the lawsuit, the horses had not eaten adequately in months, had gnawed the grass down to the ground, and were attempting to eat tree bark. The Animal Legal Defense Fund, a North Carolina State University veterinary professor, and the U.S. Equine Rescue League are seeking permanent custody of the horses. No criminal charges have been filed in the case.
Animal Disease Research Lab to Be Built in Kansas
KTKA, January 12, 2009
http://www.ktka.com/news/2009/jan/12/homeland_security_manhattan_gets_nbaf_officially/
U.S. Senator Pat Roberts has announced that the Department of Homeland Security will build the National Bio and Agro-defense Facility (NBAF), the nation’s premier laboratory for plant and animal disease research, on the Kansas State University Campus. According to Senator Roberts, the laboratory will make Kansas “the nation's leader in plant and animal health research and the biosciences.” The NBAF will replace Plum Island, which is the federal government’s current location for animal disease research.
Big Cat Exhibitor Found Guilty of Animal Cruelty
PETA, January 12, 2009
http://www.peta.org/mc/NewsItem.asp?id=12466
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has revoked the exhibitor’s license of Texas big cat exhibitor, Marcus Cook. Cook was found guilty of violations of the Animal Welfare Act for cruelty to the tigers in his care. The abuse included Cook’s failure to provide veterinary care to sick tigers, the use of electric prods on the big cats, as well as the improper handling and feeding of the tigers. Though People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) filed multiple complaints with the USDA regarding Cook’s record of animal abuse, it was not until July 2007 when four 2-day-old tiger cubs that Cook was exhibiting died, that the organization met with any success.
Charges Added to Tiger Ranch Animal Cruelty Case
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, January 8, 2009
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09008/940314-54.stm
Linda Bruno, the owner of Tiger Ranch animal sanctuary in Frazer Township, Pennsylvania, was charged last March with 574 counts of animal cruelty after police discovered hundreds of sick, malnourished and dying animals on her property. Bruno will now stand trial on new charges of forgery and practicing as an unlicensed veterinary doctor. According to the district attorney’s office, Bruno forged rabies vaccination certificates and administered rabies shots to animals without being properly licensed. Bruno faces seven counts of tampering with public records or information, seven counts of forgery and three counts of unlicensed practice of veterinary medicine.
North Carolina Man Arrested for Mass Animal Butchering
ABC 13, January 7, 2009
http://www.wlos.com/template/inews_wire/wires.regional.nc/34631f10-www.wlos.com.shtml
Lawton McKenzie has been arrested on animal cruelty charges after authorities discovered dozens of dismembered animals at his eastern North Carolina home. Animal control officers found the remains of goats, dogs, snakes, a fox and a turtle at McKenzie’s house. McKenzie told authorities he is studying taxidermy and using the animal bones to make necklaces. He has been released on $3,000 bail.
Cockfighting Ring Operator Gets One Year in Jail
Los Angeles Times, January 7, 2009
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-cockfight8-2009jan08,0,518567.story
Israel Ramirez of South Los Angeles has been sentenced to 360 days in jail for running a cockfighting ring out of his home. Ramirez, who had previously been convicted of misdemeanor cockfighting, pleaded guilty to felony charges of animal cruelty and cockfighting. The Los Angeles County Superior Court judge also ordered that he attend one year of animal cruelty classes, with Ramirez facing an additional two years in prison if he violates the terms of his probation. Ramirez was arrested in June 2008 after police broke up a cockfight at his home. He told police that he held cockfights at his house about once a month and charged spectators $20 to attend.
Arkansas Lawmakers Seek Tougher Animal Cruelty Laws
MSNBC, January 6, 2009
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28514573/
Arkansas lawmakers are working on a bill that would make it a felony to seriously harm a dog, cat or horse. These animals were selected because they “…are the animals human beings are most likely to have a strong bond with. They are our pets. They live in our homes.” Lawmakers are currently polishing up the bill and adding sponsors, and it is expected to be filed next week. Arkansas is one of only five states in the nation without a felony provision for animal cruelty.