What will be the future of cow shelters in computer-age India?

March 1, 2007 Dylan Forest Leave a comment

From ANIMAL PEOPLE, March 2007:
What is to become of Indian cow shelters?
Enduring frequent spasms of reform and reinvention ever since
automobiles began to replace ox carts, cow shelters are among the
most distinctive Indian traditions, and are the oldest form of
organized humane work.
Perhaps more ubiquitous in India than either schools or
firehouses, often endowed with substantial inherited assets, cow
shelters appear certain to survive in some form, but their future
role and relevance is a matter of intensifying debate.
Among the issues are whether cow shelters should be religious
or secular institutions, whether they should be supported by
taxation or strictly by charity and the sale of milk and byproducts,
and whether they should lead cultural reform, becoming actively
involved in politics, as many do, or merely endure as quaint
cultural symbols.

Editorial feature: Indian diets & the future of animal welfare

March 1, 2007 Dylan Forest Leave a comment

From ANIMAL PEOPLE, March 2007:

Old news and ancient history have rarely been more relevant
to the future of animal protection than in Chennai, India, in early
January 2007.
Approximately 350 delegates attended the fourth Asia for
Animals conference. Representing more than 20 nations, many
delegates had never before been to India. Yet the journey was a
philosophical pilgrimage, the conference itself a homecoming.
India is where pro-animal religious and philosophical
teachings apparently began, where animal shelters and hospitals were
invented.
India is also the second most populous nation in the world,
with the fastest-expanding economy, greatest rate of growth in
material acquisition, and second-greatest rate of growth in meat
consumption, behind only China.
India and China, having between them more than 40% of the
global human population, are where the future of animal welfare will
be decided.

Fire aboard Japanese whaling ship Nisshin Maru ends Antarctic killing early

March 1, 2007 Dylan Forest Leave a comment

From ANIMAL PEOPLE, March 2007:
Japanese Institute of Cetacean Research whaling within
Antarctic waters ended for the winter on February 24, 2007–far
short of meeting a self-assigned quota of 935 minke whales, 50
humpback whales, and 50 fin whales. The latter are both
internationally designated endangered species.
“At around 17:30 today,” posted the crew of the Greenpeace
vessel Esperanza, “the expedition leader of the Japanese
government’s whaling fleet radioed, informing us that the Nisshin
Maru–disabled nine days ago by fire–plans to sail in three hours.
“This is a relief,” the posting continued. “After nine long
days, the whaling fleet is finally leaving the Ross Sea, and the
unsullied environment of the Southern Ocean.”
The Nisshin Maru on February 15 caught fire in a below-deck
processing area. Most of the 148-member crew were evacuated,
leaving 26 to fight the blaze. One crewman, Kazutaka Makita, 27,
was killed by the fire.

Chinese activists rescue more than 400 cats from Tianjin butchers

March 1, 2007 Dylan Forest Leave a comment

From ANIMAL PEOPLE, March 2007:
TIANJIN, BEIJING– As many as 100 volunteers rallied by the
I Love Cats Home in Tianjin stormed a cat meat market on February
10, 2007 to rescue 444 cats, of whom 415 were taken in by the China
Small Animal Protection Association, of Beijing.
“It was a true battle,” China Small Animal Protection
Association volunteer Dan Zhang told ANIMAL PEOPLE. “The Tianjing
volunteers bravely fought for the lives of the cats with the butchers
and police for more than 10 hours. Some volunteers were injured and
sent to the hospital,” one of whom was still hospitalized two days
later, rescue organization Wang Yue of the I Love Cats Home told Ng
Tze Wei of the South China Morning Post.

KFC owner tries to buy PETA warehouse

March 1, 2007 Dylan Forest Leave a comment

From ANIMAL PEOPLE, March 2007:
NORFOLK, Va.–Yum Brands, the owner of the Kentucky Fried
Chicken restaurant chain, recently offered $1 million to buy a
warehouse in Norfolk, Virginia, Andrew Martin reported in the
January 17, 2007 edition of New York Times.
Unknown to Yum, the warehouse belongs to PETA.
“‘PETA would be willing to give Yum this warehouse, free and
clear,” PETA responded, “if KFC requires its chicken suppliers to
adopt the recommendations made by members of its own Animal Welfare
Advisory Council on March 11, 2005. A copy of these recommendations
is enclosed for your reference.”

Livestock gift charities do not help poor nations, say global critics

January 1, 2007 Dylan Forest Leave a comment

From ANIMAL PEOPLE, January/February 2007:
LONDON–Sixty years after Heifer
International founder Dan West pioneered the idea
of soliciting donations to give livestock to poor
families in disadvantaged parts of the world,
criticism of the practice at last cracked major
mainstream news media during the pre-Christmas
2006 peak giving season.
At least three major British newspapers
and news syndicates amplified critiques of
livestock donation programs, quoting most
extensively from a prepared statement
distribu-ted by Animal Aid director Andrew Tyler.
“This year about a dozen agencies are
using your money to punt goats, chickens,
sheep, camels, donkeys, pigs and cows to the
world’s starving,” Tyler warned donors. “Prices
vary: £70 will get you a cow from Help The Aged.
Send A Cow demands £750 per animal. Farm Friends
wants £30 for a goat, whereas World Vision will
settle for £91 for a whole herd.

Justice for Animals ires South African National SPCA over Zulu bullfight

January 1, 2007 Dylan Forest Leave a comment

From ANIMAL PEOPLE, January/February 2007:
KLOOF, KwaZulu-Natal–Justice for Animals founder Steve
Smiths sought to support the National SPCA of South Africa in a
December 4, 2006 e-mail to news media, protesting against the
annual mob killing of a bull at the First Fruits Festival, a
traditional Zulu celebration.
National SPCA executive director Marcelle Meredith’s December
5 response took Smits and much of his lengthy cc. list much by
surprise.

Bonney Brown to head Nevada Humane

January 1, 2007 Dylan Forest Leave a comment

From ANIMAL PEOPLE, January/February 2007:

RENO–The Nevada Humane Society on December 15, 2006
introduced as executive director Bonney Brown, 48, who directed
Alley Cat Allies’ relief efforts after Hurricane Katrina.
Brown founded the no-kill Neponset Valley Humane Society in
Massachusetts in 1992, co-organized the annual No-Kill Conferences
1996-1999, was outreach director for the Best Friends Animal Society
1998-2005, coordinated the No More Homeless Pets conference series
1999-2005, and was with Alley Cat Allies for about 18 months.
Michelle Williams, DVM, who preceded Brown at Nevada
Humane, was hired in September 2005 but resigned in May 2006 amid a
dispute that originated when she had a Rottweiler euthanized as
potentially dangerous, unaware that an employee had shown the dog to
members of a rescue group who wanted to take him.
“The groups want seven days notice to rescue an animal. I
wish people surrendering the animals would do the same for us,”
Williams told Frank X. Mullen of the Reno Gazette-Journal. “We have
space one day and 20 animals come in and then we’re full. Logistics
make giving a week’s notice impossible, but [rescuers] don’t want to
listen.”
After Williams’ departure the Nevada Humane board introduced
new policies to improve relations with rescue groups.

Twin Cities societies merge

January 1, 2007 Dylan Forest Leave a comment

From ANIMAL PEOPLE, January/February 2007:
ST. PAUL–The three largest humane societies serving the
Minneapolis-St. Paul area merged, effective on January 1, 2007,
becoming a single entity with five shelters, more than 200 workers,
a combined annual budget of about $8.5 million, net assets of $23.1
million, and as yet no unified name. Former Animal Humane Society
of Golden Valley president Martha McPhee heads the new organization.
Former Humane Society for Companion Animals director Janelle Dixon
will direct operations. The third partner in the merger is the
Greater West Humane Society.
“We all worked together after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita,”
said McPhee. “We realized that with collaboration we could do much
more. This merger is driven by our mission.”

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