Killing predators barely noticed in U.S

November 1, 2007 Dylan Forest Leave a comment

From ANIMAL PEOPLE, November/December 2007:
LOS ANGELES–Killing protected predators makes headlines in
much of the world, but in the U.S. often barely rates a published
mention, perhaps because the offense is frequent and not all that
different from the routine practices of many public agencies.
USDA Wildlife Services, the Alaska Department of Fish &
Game, and many other state wildlife departments routinely target
predators including coyotes, wolves, bears, feral cats, and
cormorants. Some of these species are protected in some habitats but
not others.
Private citizens accused of killing predators, usually as a crime of
opportunity while hunting other species, often win lenient
sentencing by pleading confusion–such as mistaking a wolf for a
coyote, or a grizzly bear for a black bear.

Dog killings in Bolivia

November 1, 2007 Dylan Forest Leave a comment

From ANIMAL PEOPLE, November/December 2007:
ACHACACHI, Bolivia–“Aymara peasants loyal to President Evo
Morales, calling themselves the Red Ponchoes, yesterday beheaded
two dogs as a gruesome signal to those ‘who don’t want change’ in the
country,” a representative of the Asociacion para la Defense de los
Derechos de los Animales de Bolivia e-mailed to humane media on
November 23, 2007. “Red Ponchos secretary general Ruperto Quispe
confirmed that other peasant groups from the La Paz area
participated,” the report added.
Video of the killings reportedly hinted that Morales
himself encouraged the action.
Identified by New York Times correspondent Simon Romero as a
former organizer for the coca growers’ union, Morales in June 2007
attended a llama sacrifice.

SPCA International debut raises questions

November 1, 2007 Dylan Forest Leave a comment

From ANIMAL PEOPLE, November/December 2007:

MONTREAL–Complaints about SPCA International promotional
tactics began to reach ANIMAL PEOPLE almost as soon as the SPCA
International web site went up on January 5, 2007.
Proclaimed a media release from Bold New World, the
self-described “Los Angeles-based interactive agency” that produced
the web site, “The mission of SPCA International is to raise the
awareness of the abuse of animals to a global level, and to mount
efforts to enhance animal welfare throughout the world. SPCA
International accomplishes this mission by working both independently
and as an umbrella organization for local SPCA organizations in all
countries.”
More than 11,000 animal charities working in more than 140
nations might have thought they had already raised “awareness of the
abuse of animals to a global level,” but no one objected to further
“efforts to enhance animal welfare throughout the world.”

Activists & Organizations

Cat-killing bill may be stalled

November 1, 2007 Dylan Forest Leave a comment

From ANIMAL PEOPLE, November/December 2007:
WASHINGTON D.C.–HR 767, a bill that if passed would allow
the National Wildlife Refuge system to authorize hunters to shoot
feral cats, unanimously cleared the U.S. House of Representatives on
an October 23, 2007 voice vote, and entered the Senate without
organized opposition.
Then, after page one exposure in the October 2007 edition of
ANIMAL PEOPLE, HR 767 ran into Lee “The LocoMotive” Zucker, owner
of The LocoMotive vegetarian restaurant in Eugene, Oregon. Zucker
called many of the national animal advocacy groups and regional
humane societies whose first word was that HR 767 could not be
stopped.

Who was really behind “Your Mommy Kills Animals”

November 1, 2007 Dylan Forest Leave a comment

From ANIMAL PEOPLE, November/December 2007:

LOS ANGELES–Producing a video about the
animal rights movement in 2005-2006 called Your
Mommy Kills Animals, Minneapolis documentarian
Curt Johnson, 39, spent much of 2007 and may
spend much of 2008 fighting lawsuits for
allegedly misrepresenting the project to both
anti-animal rights investors and animal rights
advocates Shane and Sia Barbi, who are credited
in the video as associate producers.
Johnson lost the first round to Center
for Consumer Freedom founder Richard Berman and
Speakeasy Video company owner Maura Flynn, wife
of former Center for Consumer Freedom employee
Michael Flynn.
Alleging copyright infringement on
January 12, 2007, Berman and Flynn contended
that Johnson violated their intent to produce a
documentary attacking the People for the Ethical
Treatment of Animals.

Proposed “norms and standards” for elephant captivity outrage South African activists

November 1, 2007 Dylan Forest Leave a comment

From ANIMAL PEOPLE, November/December 2007:

PRETORIA–Efforts by South African minister for environmental
affairs and tourism Martinus Van Schalkwyk to produce “norms and
standards” governing the capture and use of elephants appear to have
infuriated both animal advocates and the captive elephant industry.
Almost a year into the consultation process, Van Schalkwyk
apparently pleased no one with draft “Norms and Standards” presented
on November 12.
The first conflict was over allowing elephant captures.
“The decision by the department to allow the capture of
elephants from wild herds on private and communal land for training
and use in the safari industry, including elephant- back safaris,
is inexplicable and inexcusable,” alleged Jason Bell-Leask of the
International Fund for Animal Welfare.

One small dog & friends visit Houston

November 1, 2007 Dylan Forest Leave a comment

From ANIMAL PEOPLE, November/December 2007:
[Photo caption]

Maria (center) inspired the August 2007 #1 independent label
pop rock hit “One Small Dog,” by British singer Maria Daines.
Thrown into a deep pit to die, Maria, Hailie, Hana, and Tommy
were rescued by the Homeless Animals Protection Society of Ethiopia,
as recounted in the July/August 2007 edition of ANIMAL PEOPLE.
Amsale Gessesse Memorial Foundation founder Anteneh Roba, M.D., who
funded the dogs’ rescue, flew them to Houston on October 28, 2007
to find homes and become ambassadors for HAPS. The two HAPS staff
positions are sponsored by ANIMAL PEOPLE.

Companion Animals

“Operation Foxote” brings chase pen busts in three states

November 1, 2007 Dylan Forest Leave a comment

From ANIMAL PEOPLE, November/December 2007:
BIRMINGHAM, INDIANAPOLIS, NORFOLK, WASHINGTON D.C.–An
two-year investigation of “chase pen” hunting businesses called
“Operation Foxote” culminated on November 11, 2007 with arrests in
three states.
The Alabama’ Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division,
which initiated Operation Foxote, arrested 18 people and seized 55
foxes, 25 coyotes, two bobcats, and 33 cardinals who were
apparently used as bait to catch foxes and coyotes. The
investigators also found and seized a moonshine still.
All of the confiscated animals were killed “because they
posed a health risk for native species and their survival chances
were slim,” Alabama Department of Conservation & Natural Resources
chief of enforcement Allan Andress told Birmingham News staff writer
Mike Bolton.

Reintroducing red kites despite hunter opposition

November 1, 2007 Dylan Forest Leave a comment

From ANIMAL PEOPLE, November/December 2007:
DUBLIN, ULSTER– The Golden Eagle Trust, Welsh Kite Trust,
and Irish National Parks & Wildlife Service in July 2007 released 15
pairs of red kites in the Wicklow mountains, in an attempt to
rebuild the long extinct native kite population–but someone shot one
of the kites just six weeks later, during National Heritage Week.
The shooting followed a series of killings of birds of prey
in County Down, Northern Ireland, including a peregrine falcon who
was hatched in County Antrim in early 2006 and found dead near
Sprucefield in October, and a buzzard who was found poisoned in the
Drumbanagher area, near Newry.
“There was a case of alleged persecution of peregrines in the
Mourne Mountains earlier,” recalled Royal Society for the Protection
of Birds conservation officer Claire Ferry.

« 1 … 112 113 114 115 116 … 648 »