No big Olympic wins for animals –but some quiet gains

July 1, 2008 Dylan Forest Leave a comment

From ANIMAL PEOPLE, July/August 2008:

BEIJING–Political stress over Tibet and controversies
arising from the aftermath of the May 12, 2008 Sichuan earthquake
appear to have deferred expectations that China would introduce a
national humane law as a goodwill gesture just ahead of the 2008
Olympic Games in Beijing.
The anticipated introduction, all but promised by state
media for several years, did not happen. Instead, as the 2008
Olympics approached, speculation about the possible content of a
national humane law and reportage about controversial animal issues
nearly vanished from state media–except for warnings that Beijing
restaurants should not serve dog meat during August and September,
while visitors filled the city to attend the Olympics and the
Paralympics for handicapped athletes, to be held afterward.
But the Beijing Pet Dog Management Office. a branch of the
police department, in mid-July summoned Animal Rescue Beijing
founder Wu Tianyu and China Small Animal Protection Association
founder Lu Di “to discuss the situation of pet dog control in
Beijing,” Animal Rescue Beijing volunteer Irene Zhang told ANIMAL
PEOPLE.

Austrian activists on hunger strike after arrests

June 1, 2008 Dylan Forest Leave a comment

From ANIMAL PEOPLE, June 2008:
VIENNA–Association Against Animal Factories founder Martin
Balluch and 13 other Austrian activists associated with at least
seven organizations–and the Animal Conference 2006 held in
Vienna–were reportedly arrested without charges on May 21, 2008,
in dawn raids on as many as 24 homes and offices. The raids were
noteworthy for the lack of information disclosed by Austrian
authorities about the reasons for them and the findings of the police
investigators.
“Ten people are being held in pre-trial detention, which
could last for months, accused of ‘forming a criminal organization,'”
said the Farm Animal Reform Movement in a supporting statement.
“Seven, including President of the Austrian Association Against
Animal Factories Professor Martin Balluch, are on a hunger strike
and becoming very weak,” FARM added. Balluch, hunger striking
for 20 days as ANIMAL PEOPLE went to press, was said to have been
hospitalized.

Rodeo cowboys sued

June 1, 2008 Dylan Forest Leave a comment

From ANIMAL PEOPLE, June 2008:
CHICAGO–The Electronic Frontiers Foundation, founded in
1990 to protect freedom of speech and press in cyberspace, on June
14, 2008 sued the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association on behalf
of Showing Animals Respect & Kindness (SHARK), of Geneva, Illinois.
“SHARK videotapes and photographs rodeos to expose animal
abuse, injuries, and deaths,” EFF explained. “SHARK posted more
than two dozen videos to YouTube to publicize animal mistreatment.
But the PRCA filed takedown demands for 13 videos under the Digital
Millennium Copyright Act. YouTube removed the videos and canceled
SHARK’s YouTube account, even though the PRCA has no copyright claim
in live rodeo events.”
Said EFF Intellectual Property Fellow Emily Berger, “Those
bringing meritless copyright claims must be held accountable.”

Texas horse slaughter ban applies to hauling too, says A.G.

June 1, 2008 Dylan Forest Leave a comment

From ANIMAL PEOPLE, June 2008:
AUSTIN–Texas attorney general Greg Abbott during the first
week of May 2008 issued a legal opinion that the state law against
slaughtering horses for human consumption also prohibits transporting
horsemeat from Mexican slaughterhouses to Texas ports for foreign
consumers.
“State representive Warren Chisum (R-Pampa), who supports
horse slaughter, said he requested the attorney general’s opinion
after being approached last year by an attorney for a slaughterhouse
in Mexico,” reported Lisa Sandberg of the San Antonio Express-News.
“Mexico kills horses, whether we like it or not, and people
in France eat them. And sometimes the slaughterhouses like to ship
the meat out of Corpus Christi or Houston,” Chisum told Sandberg.

USDA to reinstate ban on slaughtering downed cattle for human consumption

June 1, 2008 Dylan Forest Leave a comment

From ANIMAL PEOPLE, June 2008:

WASHINGTON D.C.–U.S. Agri-culture
Secretary Ed Schafer on May 20, 2008 concluded a
60-day review of U.S. slaughtering procedures by
announcing a total ban on killing for human
consumption any cattle “who are too weak to rise
or walk.”
“The planned change would shut down an
exception that allows a small number of so-called
‘downer’ cattle into the food supply if they pass
veterinary inspection,” explained Associated
Press writer Erica Werner. “Downer cows pose
increased risk for mad cow disease, E. coli and
other infections, partly because they typically
wallow in feces. They are already mostly banned
from slaughter [for human consumption], but
under current rules can be allowed if they fall
down after passing an initial veterinary
inspection, and then are re-inspected and pass
that second inspection, too. ”

Order protecting duck said to be a legal first

May 1, 2008 Dylan Forest Leave a comment

From ANIMAL PEOPLE, May 2008:
MASTIC, N.Y.–A protective order issued on April 3, 2008
on behalf of a duck named Circles was believed to be a legal first.
Ylik Mathews, 21, a neighbor who allegedly shot Circles in the neck
with a pellet gun, received the order after pleading not guilty to
felony cruelty in Central Islip First District Court. Previously
convicted of first degree robbery, Mathews faces up to two years in
prison. He was held on bail of $5,000 cash or $10,000 bond.
“To my knowledge, it’s the first order of protection for a
pet in Suffolk County outside of domestic violence cases,”
prosecutor Michelle Auletta told Luis Perez of Newsday.

Starving a dog as “art” brings pressure on Nicaragua to adopt a humane law

May 1, 2008 Dylan Forest Leave a comment

From ANIMAL PEOPLE, May 2008:

TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras–Costa Rican shock
artist Guillermo “Habacuc” Vargas may become a
real-life Central American counterpart of the
Ancient Mariner, whose fictional excess and
punishment helped an entire society to consider
how to respond to cruelty toward animals.
More than two million people have signed
Internet petitions denouncing Vargas. Thousands
have pledged to ensure that he will not escape
his past.
“As part of an exposition in Managua,
Nicaragua, in August,” summarized Rod Hughes of
Costa Rica News on October 4, 2007, “Vargas
allegedly found a dog tied up on a street corner
in a poor Nicaragua barrio and brought the dog to
the showing. He tied the dog, according to
furious animal lovers, in a corner of the salon,
where the dog died after a day. The exhibition
included a legend spelled out in dog food reading
‘You are what you read,’ photos, and an incense
burner that burned an ounce of marijauna and 175
‘rocks’ of crack cocaine. In the background,
according to reports, the Sandista national
anthem was played backward.

“Bard of rescue” Jim Willis convicted of dog theft

May 1, 2008 Dylan Forest Leave a comment

From ANIMAL PEOPLE, May 2008:
WILMINGTON–Jim Willis, 52, author of several
much-circulated poems and short essays about animal abandonment and
rescue, was on March 20, 2008 convicted of felony dog larcency in
Pender County, North Carolina, and sentenced to do 75 hours of
community service, spend two years on probation, and keep no more
than one pet, reported WECT-TV6 of Wilmington.
The case was one of two filed in 2007 in which neighbors
accused Willis of stealing dogs whom he said he had rescued. One dog
was recovered at a Wilmington home where Willis temporarily resided.
The charges involving that dog were not prosecuted, North Carolina
Voters for Animal Welfare founder B.B. Knowles told ANIMAL PEOPLE.
The conviction, in a case involving an elderly dog who was
well-known and well-liked in her neighborhood, according to Pender
Post staff writer Jefferson Weaver, was Willis’ second within less
than a year, with a variety of other cases pending.

Virginia becomes first state to limit the number of dogs at breeding kennels

May 1, 2008 Dylan Forest Leave a comment

From ANIMAL PEOPLE, May 2008:
RICHMOND–Virginia dog breeders may not keep more than 50
dogs over the age of one year after January 1, 2009.
Virginia on April 23, 2008 became the first U.S. state to
limit the size of dog breeding kennels. At least 30 states
considered “puppy mill” bills of various sorts during 2008 spring
legislative sessions, with several others believed likely to pass as
the May 2008 edition of ANIMAL PEOPLE went to press.
Introduced by Spotsylvania state representative Bobby Orrock,
and amended by recommendation of Governor Tim Kaine, the Virginia
bill was pushed by the Humane Society of the U.S. and the Virginia
Animal Control Association.
The bill received a boost from a five-month HSUS
investigation that discovered more than 900 active dog breeders in
Virginia, only 16 of whom held USDA permits to sell dogs across
state lines. HSUS released the findings on November 1, 2007.
The next day, responding to a tip from Virginia Partnership
for Animal Welfare and Support, of New River Valley, Carroll County
animal control officers raided Horton’s Pups, of Hillsville.
Licensed to keep up to 500 dogs, proprietor Lanzie Carroll Horton
Jr. reportedly had more than 1,100, including about 300 puppies.
About 700 dogs were taken into custody. Horton was charged in
January 2008 with 14 counts of cruelty, 25 counts of neglect, and
one count of failing to update his license.

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