A Project of Animal People, Inc., 1992-2013
From ANIMAL PEOPLE, October 2011:
WUXI, China–Tipped off at 10 p.m. on August 3, 2011 that truckers planned to illegally haul a load of cats to live markets in Guangzhou, Guangdong at dawn, disguised as a cargo of furniture, members of the Wuxi Animal Protection Association in Jiangsu province mobilized overnight to intercept the truck at a toll booth at about 5:00 a.m. on August 4. Read more
From ANIMAL PEOPLE, October 2011:
LUXEMBOURG–The European General Court on September 14, 2011 ruled that the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, representing Canadian indigenous sealers, lacks standing to challenge the 2010 European Union ban on imports of seal products. The Fur Institute of Canada is reportedly pursuing a similar case, targeting the seal import ban enforcement regulations, while the Canadian government is appealing the ban to the World Trade Organization. Read more
From ANIMAL PEOPLE, October 2011:
WASHINGTON D.C.–-A new USDA rule amending enforcement of the Commercial Transport of Equines to Slaughter Act to cover horses at every stage of transport to slaughter took effect on October 7, 2011. The old rule, in effect since 2001, prohibited hauling horses to slaughter on double-decked trailers, and required that horses going to slaughter must receive food, water, and six hours of rest before each travel segment, but horses “never move directly to slaughter,” USDA Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service farm animal welfare coordinator Gary Egrie told Heather Johnson of the North Platte Telegraph. “Buyers move them to feedlots or other assembly points until they have a full truck,” Egrie explained. The rule now covers collecting horses to be slaughtered, as well as the final haul.
GENEVA, Switzerland–A World Trade Organization panel on September 15, 2011 ruled that the qualifications required for “dolphin-safe” tuna certification, enforced by the U.S. Commerce Department, “are more trade-restrictive than necessary” to inform buyers as to whether dolphins were harmed in tuna fishing.
From ANIMAL PEOPLE, October 2011:
RICHMOND, Calif.–The Richmond, California city council on September 27, 2011, voted to end live bird sales at the city farmers’ market, effective November 1. “Two years ago, live birds were sold at four Bay Area farmers’ markets. Now, they are sold at none,” exulted Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, & Transsexual Compassion founder Andrew Zollman. “Further,” Zollman said, “the Richmond city attorney confirmed our position that a new state law taking effect on January 1, 2012 will ban live poultry sales at farmers’ markets operating on any street, highway, public right-of-way, or parking lot. We hope to use this to end live poultry sales at all other California farmers’ markets.”
From ANIMAL PEOPLE, September 2011:
JOHANNESBURG--A South African government commission appointed in February 2009 to consider introducing gambling on greyhound racing has reportedly concluded that, in the words of commission chair Astrid Ludin, “Given the limited demand and the problems associated with it, we did not think it should be legalized.”
The South African National SPCA noted that a similar commission reached comparable conclusions in the late 1940s, leading to the series of provincial bans on betting on greyhounds which have been in effect ever since. Two previous commissions affirmed the bans.
From ANIMAL PEOPLE, September 2011:
TACOMA, EUREKA, EVANSVILLE--Pierce County, Washington, on August 24, 2011 filed notice of intent to appeal an August 12 jury award of $2.2 million to pit bull terrier attack victim Sue Gorman, 63, of Gig Harbor.
The jury directed Pierce County to pay damages of $924,000 to Gorman for alleged negligence in responding to many previous complaints about the pit bulls who burst through an open sliding glass door late the night of August 21, 2007, mauling her service dog and killing a Jack Russell terrier whom Gorman was keeping for a friend. Awakened by the attack, Gorman was injured when she tried to intervene. Read more
From ANIMAL PEOPLE, September 2011:
CHICAGO–A federal jury on August 18, 2011 awarded $330,000 in damages to brothers Thomas and Darren Russell and their parents for the February 2009 police shooting of their 9-year-old black Labrador retriever during a drug raid that hit the wrong side of a duplex. Thomas Russell–who was earlier acquitted of obstructing police–had asked if he could lock up the dog before the police entered. Read more
From ANIMAL PEOPLE, July/August 2011:
SEOUL–The South Korean National Assembly on June 29, 2011 ratified into law the final draft of new national animal protection regulations proposed by the Ministry of Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, to take effect on January 1, 2012.
“Those who commit cruelty to animals may face a jail term of up to one year, or a maximum fine of 10 million won ($9,400),” reported Lee Sun-young of the Korea Herald. “Currently the heaviest penalty is a fine of five million won.” Read more