Chicago, New Jersey, Macon: Model animal control programs meet fiscal reality; SHORT-TERM SAVINGS MAY MEAN LONG-TERM TROUBLE

June 1, 1993 Dylan Forest Leave a comment

From ANIMAL PEOPLE, June 1993:

CHICAGO, Ill., SPRINGFIELD, N.J., and MACON, Ga.–– The financial pres-

sures of the 1990s threaten to undo the model animal population control programs envisioned in

the late 1980s, just as their benefits are beginning to be realized.

The budgetary ax fell first and hardest in Los Angeles, California, where on July 1,

1992, the city closed the public low-cost neutering clinics that helped cut animal control pickups

from 144,000 in 1970 to 87,000 in 1991, even as the estimated city pet population rose by 21%.

Euthanasia rates were cut proportionately. Animal control officials estimated that for every dollar

If they only knew

June 1, 1993 Dylan Forest Leave a comment

From ANIMAL PEOPLE, June 1993:

A recent survey commissioned by the

Connecticut Attorney General found that of 805

randomly selected state residents, 55% said they

would support a charity only if administrative and

fundraising costs were kept below 20% of the

charity’s total budget––a standard most charities

would fail but for accounting rules that allow many

to write off fundraising expenses as “public educa-

tion.” A ceiling of 30% would be more realistic,

and the National Charities Information Bureau sets

the ceiling for accreditation at 40%.

CHILDREN AND ANIMALS

May 1, 1993 Dylan Forest Leave a comment

From ANIMAL PEOPLE, May 1993:

The National Institutes of Health is now distrib-

uting seven sets of Let’s Visit a Research Laboratory Lesson

Plans free to public schools and to anyone else on request.

“Even though the Michigan Humane Society agrees with

legitimate uses of animals in biomedical research,” MHS

lobbyist Eileen Liska told U.S. Senator Carl Levin in a

recent letter of protest, “these are clearly an example of bla-

tantly one-sided pro-animal research propaganda, and as

such are an inappropriate use of tax dollars. The brochures

do not portray the scientific and ethical complexities of ani-

mal research. I have found a disturbing number of factual

errors in the texts. And also please notice how the refer-

ences at the end of each lesson plan are equally one-

sided––especially the frequency with which the National

Association for Biomedical Research and Foundation for

Biomedical Research are referenced. These are special

interest organizations with sizeable budgets for promoting

their viewpoint. There is no justication for allowing the NIH

to use limited federal funds,” supposed to be spent on pro-

moting public health, “to help such special interests.” The

lesson plans are available from Public Inquiries, National

Institute of Mental Health, NIH, Room 15C-05, 5600

Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20857.

The dream that haunts Vic Koppelberger by Donna Robb

May 1, 1993 Dylan Forest Leave a comment

From ANIMAL PEOPLE, May 1993:

The dream that haunts Vic Koppelberger came to

him 30 years ago, and changed his life.

“I stood in a room before all the animals I ever

shot,” Koppelberger remembers. “They were lined up and

staring at me. It was my judgement day.”

Koppelberger, now 75, never hunted again.

He had the dream shortly after a disturbing hunt-

ing experience. Using a stuffed owl as a decoy,

Koppelberger and his game warden hunting companion hid

in the woods at the edge of a clearing. The owl, perched on

a stump, attracted crows who dive-bombed the stuffed

enemy. The crows made easy targets.

HUNTING

May 1, 1993 Dylan Forest Leave a comment

From ANIMAL PEOPLE, May 1993:

The Wildlife Legislative Fund of

America, a hunting and trapping lobby,

recently sneaked an amendment to the 1994-

1995 Ohio Department of Natural Resources

budget through the state House of

Representatives that would raise $450,000 a

year for a subsidiary, the Wildlife Conserv-

ation Fund of America, through a 25¢ sur-

charge on the sale of hunting, fishing, and

trapping licenses. The amendment was intro-

duced by representative Ronald Amstutz, at

request of WLF director Tom Addis. After the

proposed diversion of public money to a spe-

cial interest lobby became known, Amstutz

claimed it was all a mistake. “I was misin-

formed,” he told Michael Sangiacomo of the

Cleveland Plain Dealer. “I thought it was a

small raise for the people who write the licens-

es. I made certain assumptions, and apparent-

ly I was wrong. I never looked at the lan-

guage.” ODNR legislative liasion Scott Zody

said his agency “did not ask for” the amend-

ment, “and does not support it.”

COURT CALENDAR

May 1, 1993 Dylan Forest Leave a comment

From ANIMAL PEOPLE, May 1993:

Animal Trafficking

Worldwide Primates propri-

etor Matthew Block, 31, of Miami,

drew 13 months in federal prison on April

17 for his part in arranging for six infant

orangutans to be smuggled from Indonesia

to the Soviet Union––the 1990 Bangkok

Six case. Hoping to win a plea bargain,

Block testified against three accomplices

and helped set up the January 26 arrest of

a Mexican zoo director for allegedly trying

to smuggle a gorilla. However, assistant

U.S. attorney Guy Lewis told U.S. district

judge James Kehoe that Block had never

fully cooperated with either investigation,

had lied about his degree of involvement

in the orangutan deal, and was still in

touch with smuggling associates. Block

now faces USDA action for allegedly

feeding primates at his facility spoiled

food, failing to provide water, and keep-

ing them in vermin-infested cages.

Oceans

May 1, 1993 Dylan Forest Leave a comment

From ANIMAL PEOPLE, May 1993:

The International Whaling Commission commenced

its annual meeting in Kyoto, Japan, on April 19 as a throng of

1,000 demonstrators marched outside to demand an end to the cur-

rent global whaling ban, in effect since 1986. The IWC scientific

committee met during the last week of April to review current data

on whale populations, while the general commission meeting is

set for May 10-14. Japanese whalers, who already kill 300 minke

whales a year under the auspices of a government research pro-

gram, want to resume whaling on a commercial scale. Iceland has

already resumed commercial whaling, after qutting the IWC.

Zoos & Aquariums

May 1, 1993 Dylan Forest Leave a comment

From ANIMAL PEOPLE, May 1993:

Soon after Hurricane Andrew, the Miami Metro Zoo

mailed nearly a million appeals for emergency aid to members of ani-

mal protection groups and to subscribers to magazines about animals.

Zoological Society of Florida deputy director Cynthia Zeigler told

The Chronicle of Philanthropy recently that 27,675 people responded

within the first six months, donating $484,000––results so impres-

sive that TCPgave the story a full-page spread.

Organizing to obstruct attempts by the Shedd Aquarium

in Chicago to capture three Pacific white-sided dolphins off Santa

Catalina Island, California, the Whale Rescue Team claims to have

commitments for participation from the owners of 40 boats and two

aircraft. “The flotilla will use all nonviolent means necessary to pre-

vent the capture,” says Whale Rescue Team founder Peter

Wallerstein.

Wildlife

May 1, 1993 Dylan Forest Leave a comment

From ANIMAL PEOPLE, May 1993:

Interior Secretary Bruce Babbit announced April

15 that Georgia Pacific, the largest U.S. forest products com-

pany, has agreed to leave at least 10 acres of woods standing

around each colony of endangered red-cockaded woodpeckers

found on company land in Arkansas, the Carolinas, Louisiana,

and Mississippi. The deal protects 50,000 acres while allowing

Georgia Pacific to log the remainder of its 4.2 million acres of

southern timber.

The World Wildlife Fund has agreed to hire mem-

bers of the impoverished Hoopa tribe in northern California to

restore logged-out forests and eroded stream beds. The Pacific

Gas & Electric Co. has already provided 30,000 trees to the pro-

ject, which is expected to benefit bald eagles, peregrine fal-

cons, and northern spotted owls.

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