A Project of Animal People, Inc., 1992-2013
From ANIMAL PEOPLE, October 2013: (Actually published on November 20, 2013.)
ATLANTA–– The Georgia Aquarium on September 30, 2013 appealed an August 6, 2013 ruling by the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration that it had not satisfied the requirements to import 18 beluga whales from Russia. Read more
From ANIMAL PEOPLE, October 2013: (Actually published on November 20, 2013.)
BOISE, Idaho––A new Boise Aquarium management team headed by former Boise Metro Chamber of Commerce president Nancy Vannorsdel has pledged to ensure that alleged mistreatment of animals at the aquarium will not be repeated. Vannorsdel told KTVB reporter Matt Standal that she wants to add “a couple of very, very strong marine biologists to sit on the board,” to ensure proper animal care. Read more
From ANIMAL PEOPLE, September 2013: (Actually published on October 8, 2013)
PORTSMOUTH––The Virginia Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services has fined the Portsmouth Humane Society $1,250 for releasing sterilized feral cats, who were recorded in the PHS shelter tracking records as having been adopted by executive director Jenn Austin and four other staff members. “I felt that these cats were not legitimately adopted and remained in the custody of the facility,” VDACS veterinarian Dan Kovich told Tim Eberly of the Virginian-Pilot. “State investigators, tipped off by a former employee, issued three violations last month to the Portsmouth shelter, which has the contract to serve as the city’s animal pound,” Eberly wrote. “Austin acknowledged that she and her staff have been personally adopting feral cats and releasing them for about a year and a half.” Read more
From ANIMAL PEOPLE, September 2013: (Actually published on October 8, 2013)
BOSTON––The Massachusetts SPCA, founded by humane education pioneer George Angell in 1868, is believed to have been the second SPCA in the U.S. to do humane law enforcement on a constabulary basis. Read more
From ANIMAL PEOPLE, September 2013: (Actually published on October 8, 2013)
NEW YORK CITY––The NBC Sports Network on October 30, 2013 cancelled Under Wild Skies, a hunting show sponsored by the National Rifle Association, hosted by longtime NRA lobbyist Tony Makris. Read more
From ANIMAL PEOPLE, September 2013: (Actually published on October 8, 2013)
CLAYTON, Georgia––A Rabun County grand jury on September 6, 2013 returned a 60-count felony indictment against Lowanda “Peanut” Kilby, former director of the Boggs Mountain Humane Shelter. Read more
From ANIMAL PEOPLE, September 2013: (Actually published on October 8, 2013)
NEW YORK CITY––One hundred forty-seven years after Henry Bergh incorporated the American spca to enforce the New York state anti-cruelty act of 1860, the ASPCA is transitioning out of the lead role in New York City humane law enforcement. Read more
From ANIMAL PEOPLE, September 2013: (Actually published on October 8, 2013)
SAN FRANCISCO––A three-judge panel of the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals on August 30, 2013 unanimously affirmed an earlier Los Angeles district court verdict that a statewide ban on the sale of foie gras may be enforced. Read more
From ANIMAL PEOPLE, September 2013: (Actually published on October 8, 2013)
CHARLOTTE, North Carolina––Eastern Band of Cherokee tribal elders Amy Walker and Peggy Hill on September 23, 2013 served notice of intent to sue the operators of the Cherokee Bear Park for violating the federal Endangered Species Act if the resident bears are not transferred to a suitable sanctuary within 60 days. “The Cherokee Bear Zoo is an open concrete grave for these intelligent animals. They must be moved from this despicable facility to a place where they’ll be cared for, not abused and neglected,” Walker told Mitch Weiss of Associated Press. Read more