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

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.

Why did the Central Bureau of Investigation raid the Animal Welfare Board of India?

October 1, 2007 Dylan Forest Leave a comment

From ANIMAL PEOPLE, October 2007:
CHENNAI, MUMBAI, MYSORE, DELHI, THIRUVANATHAPURAM–One of
the noisiest and farthest-reaching scandals in the often
controversial 47-year history of the Animal Welfare Board of India
may prove to be less about corruption and bribery, when the Central
Bureau of Investigation concludes months of digging, than about
pursuit of mostly symbolic tribute by some AWBI appointees, and
redress of injured pride by some who have been rebuked.
Disputes over the allocation of grant money, partisan
politics, and enforcement of laws governing livestock transportation
and slaughter have become involved.
Yet–from statements and copies of inside correspondence
obtained by ANIMAL PEOPLE–pursuit of public stature and vengeance
for past frustrations and humiliations appears to have most visibly
motivated the persons whose charges instigated CBI raids on several
animal welfare organizations, the homes of their officers, and the
Animal Welfare Board of India offices in Chennai.

Recall bid for funding shelter

October 1, 2007 Dylan Forest Leave a comment

From ANIMAL PEOPLE, October 2007:
Gwyn Foro, the only member of the Surprise City, Arizona
town council who did not face recall in 2005, is now facing possible
recall for making two allocations of $10,000 to Maricopa County
Animal Care & Control, which serves the community. Other
councillors have already abolished the discretionary fund from which
Foro made the allocations.
Foro is daughter of Lynda Foro, founder of an organization
called Doing Things For Animals, which presented the No Kill
Conference series 1995-2001, and published a directory of no-kill
shelters. Doing Things For Animals became a subsidiary of the North
Shore Animal League America in 2000, and was absorbed into the Pet
Savers Foundation after Lynda Foro left in 2002.

Christine Townend retires

October 1, 2007 Dylan Forest Leave a comment

From ANIMAL PEOPLE, October 2007:
“I have retired as a trustee of Help In Suffering after 17
years of almost full-time voluntary work,” Christine Townend
e-mailed to ANIMAL PEOPLE on October 22, 2007. “Jack Reece,” the
Help In Suffering senior veterinarian, “will take over as a trustee
in my place.” Townend and Animal Liberation author Peter Singer
cofounded the Australian animal rights group Animal Liberation, now
Animals Australia, in 1978. Townend in 1992 succeeded founder
Crystal Rogers as head trustee of the original Help In Suffering
hospital and shelter in Jaipur, India, and later expanded the
organization to run a second hospital in Darjeeling, in the
Himalayan foothills. She received a lifetime achievement medal from
the Winsome Constance Kindness Trust in 2006.

Why Best Friends bought Dogwood Kennels

October 1, 2007 Dylan Forest Leave a comment

From ANIMAL PEOPLE, October 2007:
BYRNES CHAPEL, Virginia– The Best Friends Animal Society
surprised dog breeder Ivan Schmucker Jr. and quite a few other people
on October 12, 2007 by using an undercover intermediary to buy
Schmucker’s Dogwood Kennels inventory of 178 dogs, including newborn
puppies.
Started without required county permits, Dogwood Kennels
became intensely controversial after a March 21, 2007 fire killed
167 dogs. Best Friends organized local opposition to Schmucker’s
attempts to get the necessary permits and rebuild the business with
about 100 dogs who survived the fire.

Horse defenders try to close borders

October 1, 2007 Dylan Forest Leave a comment

From ANIMAL PEOPLE, October 2007:
CHICAGO, SAN ANTONIO, WASHINGTON D.C.–A September 21,
2007 ruling by a three-judge panel of the U.S. Seventh Circuit Court
of Appeals appeared to end horse slaughter within the U.S., pending
further appeals by plaintiff Cavel International.
Immediate effects of the ruling, upholding a May 2007
Illinois law prohibiting the slaughter of horses for human
consumption, were to increase exports of horses to slaughter in
Mexico and Canada, and to redouble efforts by the Humane Society of
the U.S. to ban the exports.
“States have a legitimate interest in prolonging the lives of
animals that their population happens to like,” the three-judge
panel opined. “They can ban bullfights and cockfights and the abuse
and neglect of animals.”

Buffalo Field Campaign director enters 2007-2008 bison migration season on probation

October 1, 2007 Dylan Forest Leave a comment

From ANIMAL PEOPLE, October 2007:

BOZEMAN–Buffalo Field Campaign director Daniel Brister, 37,
was fined $585 and put on six months of probation on October 10,
2007, after a six-member jury convicted him of obstructing a peace
officer, in an incident which ended in Brister receiving three
staples at the Bozeman Deaconess Hospital to close a scalp wound.
Brister was arrested near West Yellowstone, Montana, on May
9, 2007, while videotaping law enforcement officers who were
hazing about 300 bison back into Yellowstone National Park.
A Buffalo Field Campaign press release issued soon afterward
said the incident began when volunteer Peter David Bogusko urged
Montana Highway Patrol officer Shane Cox to close Highway 191 before
the herd stampeded across it. Bogusko was apparently unaware that
the U.S. Forest Service had already closed the highway. Cox ordered
Bogusko to leave the area. When Bogusko allegedly tried to go a
different direction, Cox arrested him. Bogusko then allegedly
kicked out a side window of Cox’s patrol car, and was charged with
felony criminal mischief.

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