Animal Spectacles

September 1, 1993 Dylan Forest Leave a comment

From ANIMAL PEOPLE, September 1993:

The Trump Taj Mahal casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey, pledged to end mule-diving exhibitions

on its famed Steel Pier on August 15. Models in bathing suits rode full-sized horses through 40-foot jumps into a tank of sea water at the Steel Pier from 1929 until 1978, when the pier was closed. Reopened this year, the Steel Pier featured Tim Rivers’ World’s Only Diving Mules, a riderless touring act from Citra, Florida, but met heavy protest when Rivers’ mule, two miniature horses, and a dog all appeared reluctant to jump from a 30-foot height.

Marine Mammals

July 1, 1993 Dylan Forest Leave a comment

From ANIMAL PEOPLE, July/August 1993:

The U.S. Navy on May 27 flew five dolphins

from a base on San Diego Bay to the Disney World Epcot

Center “Living Seas” pavillion in Orlando, Florida––with-

out getting prior permission from the National Marine

Fisheries Service, and in apparent contravention of lan-

guage in the current appropriation for the Navy dolphin pro-

gram, which provides “no less than $500,000 only to devel-

op training procedures which will allow mammals which are

no longer required for this project to be released back into

their natural habitat. The confreres prohibit the release of

these mammals to any alternative captive environment.”

The dolphins were moved from San Diego––on a five-year-

loan to Disney/Epcot––to make room for between 40 and 55

dolphins who are being relocated from a base in Hawaii.

Disney/Epcot plans to use the dolphins for captive breeding.

COURT CALENDAR

July 1, 1993 Dylan Forest Leave a comment

From ANIMAL PEOPLE, July/August 1993:

Undercover probe nabs Wisconsin dog dealer; local judge lets him go

Circuit judge Donald Poppy, of

Calumet County, Wisconsin, on June 14

dismissed a felony cruelty charge against

USDA-licensed Class B animal dealer

Ervin Stebane, 72, for tying, shooting,

and disemboweling a dog he sold as meat.

Poppy claimed Wisconsin law allows peo-

ple to kill their own dogs in a humane man-

ner, called the slaughter humane, and

added, “If the legislature intended for peo-

ple not to kill dogs as food, the legislature

should pass such a law.”

Horse Tips

July 1, 1993 Dylan Forest Leave a comment

From ANIMAL PEOPLE, July/August 1993:

Prairie Bayou, the pre-race favorite in the

June 5 Belmont Stakes, suffered a shattered foreleg

while running 11th in the backstretch among a field of

13––an indication of exhaustion or injury––and was eutha-

nized half an hour later. Prairie Bayou placed second in

the Kentucky Derby five weeks earlier, and won the

Preakness Stakes two weeks earlier as another top-ranked

horse, Union City, collapsed and was destroyed due to

similar fractures. The loss of the horses drew attention to

the theories of several experts about horse racing injuries.

Veterinarian James Rooney of the Maxwell H. Gluck

Equine Center in Lexington, Kentucky, argued that the

back-to-back collapses of Prairie Bayou and Union City

were, “Pure bloody coincidence,” claiming that only 2%

of North American races result in fatal breakdowns––but

that would still mean the deaths of 1,600 horses a year.

Cats & Dogs

July 1, 1993 Dylan Forest Leave a comment

From ANIMAL PEOPLE, July/August 1993:

The older men who get the most emotional benefit

from keeping pets are those who have the least free time, the most

difficulties in personal relationships, and the most financial trouble,

according to a newly published study by Ohio State University psy-

chology professor Sara Staats––whereas the women who derive the

most satisfaction from pets are those with the most free time and

the most satisfactory relationships with other people. Staats’ data

came from a survey of 250 people over age 50. The findings appar-

ently reflect the role of pet as family member for women, contrast-

ed with the role of pet as surrogate for family among many men.

Performing Animals

July 1, 1993 Dylan Forest Leave a comment

From ANIMAL PEOPLE, July/August 1993:

Anti-cruelty laws in most states do apply to ani-

mals at state and county fairs, carnivals, and circus,

reminds Vermont Volunteer Services for Animals humane

officer Sue Skaskiw. If you see cruelty, including live ani-

mals being offered as prizes, report it.

Christopher Ponte, 22, of Wappingers Falls,

New York, climbed a four-foot-high plastic fence at the

Fishkill Mall in nearby Fishkill on June 6 to get into an

enclosure with 10 elephants belonging to the Clyde Beatty-

Cole Brothers Circus. He was crushed to death when one of

the elephants turned, pinning him against a truck.

At least two pig-racing concessions are on the

county fair circuit this summer––Triple W Racing Pigs, run

by Wanda, Rachel, and Gene Webber of Shelby, North

Carolina, and Bob Hale Pig Racing Stables of Sikeston,

Missouri.

Hunting & Fishing

June 1, 1993 Dylan Forest Leave a comment

From ANIMAL PEOPLE, June 1993:

Fed up with poachers, the Plaquemines Parish,

Lousiana district attorney’s office two years ago began

offering people convicted of hunting and fishing offenses

the option of contributing to an equipment fund to help

game wardens in lieu of paying higher fines. The 1991

receipts bought walkie-talkies and a video camera.

Receipts rose to $5,125 in 1992, and were mostly spent on

a $4,000 night vision scope, to detect jacklighters.

The Lousiana House of Representatives on

May 14 killed a bill to require hunters under 16 to pass a

gun safety class.

Allen Sarratt, of Camden, Tennessee, killed

his son Brent, 12, and daughter Kelly, 15, with a single

shot on May 17 when he slung his loaded deer rifle over his

shoulder as he started down the steps of their home and it

discharged.

Greyhound racers, cultists on the run in Brazil

June 1, 1993 Dylan Forest Leave a comment

From ANIMAL PEOPLE, June 1993:

SÅO PAULO, Brazil––As of January, the Brazilian

humane group Uniao em defesa das baleias/Uniao em defsa da

natureza had no files on greyhound racing. Then, president Ana

Maria Pinheiro told ANIMAL PEOPLE, “Dino Miraglia imported

30 greyhounds from New England.”

Quick to investigate, Pineiro obtained thick dossiers on

greyhound racing and training as practiced in the U.S. from the

World Society for the Protection of Animals, translated the materi-

als into Portugese, “invited the press, and had a meeting with the

attorney general,” who is empowered to enforce the Brazilian

humane laws.

Tough sledding

June 1, 1993 Dylan Forest Leave a comment

From ANIMAL PEOPLE, June 1993:

The United Coalition of

Iditarod Animal Rights Volunteers is

asking that letters be sent to sponsors of

the 1,100-mile Anchorage-to-Nome dog

sled race, asking them to either withdraw

or back rules that would require teams to

be rested at all checkpoints; disqualify

mushers who have a dog die during the

race; bar competitors from holding orga-

nizing or officiating posts; and require

independent drug testing of dogs. The

major sponsors include Chrysler Corp.,

12000 Chrysler Drive, Highland Park, MI

48288-0857; IAMS, 7250 Poe Ave.,

Dayton, OH 45414-5801; Timberland,

P.O. Box 5050, Hampton, NH 03842-

5050; and ABC Wide World of Sports,

47 West 66th St., New York, NY 10023.

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