From ANIMAL PEOPLE,  April 2013:

Letters

Farm animal welfare in Vietnam

Several months ago I was asked by Humane Society International to help them to establish some collaborative relationships concerning farm animal welfare in Vietnam.  As mentioned in previous letters to ANIMAL PEOPLE,  I used to work at the U.S. Embassy in Hanoi,  and continue to work with a number of groups involved in animal protection and youth development,  so I jumped at the chance. We set up day-long workshops with the veterinary and animal science faculties at Hanoi Agricultural University and Ho Chi Minh City University of Agriculture & Forestry.  The principal aim of these workshops was to discuss the impacts of Vietnam’s industrial farm agriculture trends and to begin a conversation about what could be done to alter the trajectory of policies that not only greatly undermine non-human animal welfare, but will also lead to disastrous consequences for the environment and public health.  Read more

From ANIMAL PEOPLE,  March 2013:

Letters

Animal rights law pioneer Larry Weiss checks in

Here’s what’s happened since I retired in 2003,   after 18 years of practicing animal law in California.  I remain involved in mentoring young attorneys and giving occasional presentations at law schools and vegan gatherings. Read more

From ANIMAL PEOPLE,  January/February 2013:

Letters

Taiwan agriculture official believes omitting strays from mention will solve the problem

Amendments to the Taiwan Animal Protection Act to limit the capture of stray animals to those who pose a threat to human beings were to be introduced on December 26,  2012.  The current policy is to capture and kill all stray dogs.  Over the past 13 years, approximately 1.4 million stray dogs have been killed.  Since the government does not fully support neuter/return,  and hopes to make it illegal,  the stray population is destined to keep growing. Read more

From ANIMAL PEOPLE,  November/December 2012:

Letters

Where the Leaping Bunny is going

Thank you for your September 2012 article “Where is the Leaping Bunny going?”   The issue of using animals to test cosmetics, personal care,  and household products is far from resolved, especially given the new animal testing requirements instituted by the People’s Republic of China for companies registering products there.  As mentioned in the article,  the emerging market of China and the sheer population of the country make it an enticing place to set up shop.  However, until China adopts non-animal alternatives for safety testing,  untold numbers of animals per year will needlessly suffer and die. Read more

From ANIMAL PEOPLE,  October 2012: (Actually published on November 1,  2012.)

Pit bulls & politics

Thank you for your September 2012 editorial feature,  “Pit bulls & political recklessness.”  I am so tired of the killing.  To stop the killing we must have breeding bans.  The statistics tossed about that we have a kazillion adoptive homes,  and just need to work to get dogs into these homes are just that:  statistics.  Amost no one wants the three year old pittie mix with facial scars.  When I first started work in rescue/sheltering,  pits and pit mixes were not common.  Now,  if I walk into a shelter,  they sit row after row, waiting for death being the common denominator. –Phyllis Lissa Fischer New Albany,  Ohio