Three variants of U.K. tail-docking ban

May 1, 2007 Dylan Forest Leave a comment

From ANIMAL PEOPLE, May 2007:

A new Animal Welfare Act took effect in Britain on April 6,
with different versions applying in England, Wales, Scotland, and
Northern Ireland. The English version allows a veterinarian to dock
puppies’ tails within five days of their birth, if the person
requesting the docking documents the “type” of the mother and
produces evidence that the dog will be used for hunting or work.
Wales requires definition of “breed” rather than type. Scotland
prohibits docking altogether. The new law also requires that
sociable species, such as dogs and rabbits, must be given
appropriate companionship. A new definition of neglect allows
prosecution of pet keepers who either persistently overfeed or starve
animals.

Is Primarily Primates takeover drama near an end?

May 1, 2007 Dylan Forest Leave a comment

From ANIMAL PEOPLE, May 2007:

SAN ANTONIO–Almost a year of litigation over the future of
the 28-year-old Primarily Primates sanctuary may end at an April 27,
2007 hearing in San Antonio, at which the Texas Office of Attorney
General agreed two days earlier in a “Full and Final Settlement
Agreement” obtained by ANIMAL PEOPLE to “fully and completely
release, acquit, and forever discharge Primarily Primates,”
founder Wally Swett, other staff and board members, and Friends of
Animals, from “all claims” brought against them in connection with
the October 2006 seizure of the sanctuary by now retired Texas
assistant attorney general John Vinson.
Friends of Animals had agreed with the Primarily Primates
board to take over management of the sanctuary, following Swett’s
retirement.

Shelter news

May 1, 2007 Dylan Forest Leave a comment

From ANIMAL PEOPLE, May 2007:

The Pigs As Pets Association, of Fort Myers, Florida, and
The Pig Preserve, of Jamestown, Tennessee, on April 14, 2007
announced that they “have joined forces and will now be known as The
Pig Preserve Associa-tion,” headquartered in Fentress County,
Tennessee. PAPA, founded in 1998 by Lana Hollenbeck, has focused
on education, outreach, and placement of cast-off pigs at
sanctuaries. The Pig Preserve, of Jamestown, Tennessee, founded
by Richard and Laura Hoyle in 2006, “is a 100-acre natural preserve,
which will eventually provide a home for approximately 400 rescued
pigs of all breeds,” Richard Hoyle said, “including miniature pigs
and domestic farm pigs.”

Fires destroy three animal shelters in three weeks

May 1, 2007 Dylan Forest Leave a comment

From ANIMAL PEOPLE, May 2007:

Thirty-foot flames erupting at about 2:00 a.m. from a laundry
area razed the Jacksonville Humane Society on April 7, 2007,
killing 67 cats and 18 dogs, chief operating officer Danya
Parks-Freel told Matt Galnor of the Florida Times-Union.
Jacksonville Fire & Rescue spokesperson Tom Francis said a fire
captain suffered burns and other firefighters had to be pulled from
the wreckage after the roof collapsed as they tried to open cages and
carry animals to safety. Firefighters reportedly adopted many animals
on the spot. A separate veterinary clinic and runs for about 50
dogs were reportedly the only facilities that remained useable –but
executive director Leona Shed-dan had kept backup computer files off
site, enabling a rapid resumption of most activities. Owning 27
acres, the humane society hoped to rebuild and expand. The city of
Jacksonville has meanwhile planned to build a $9 million new animal
care and control center. Mayoral spokesperson Susie Wiles told
Galnor that the city would be interested in discussing a joint
project with the humane society, which has been no-kill since 2005.

Greenhouse gases are invisible– as is “green” recognition of meat as source

May 1, 2007 Dylan Forest Leave a comment

From ANIMAL PEOPLE, May 2007:
NORWALK, Connecticut– Posting “Ten easy
steps to cutting out the #1 contributor to global
warming: farmed animals!” on April 6, 2007,
the Earth Day Network could not have been more
explicit about the most helpful action that
average citizens can take to cut greenhouse gas
emissions and slow the pace of climate change.
But the Earth Day Network message barely reached
the celebrants.
Among more than 8.9 million web postings
worldwide about Earth Day 2007, 26% mentioned
food, mostly as a component of festivities.
Only 1% mentioned “livestock,” “cattle,”
“vegetarian,” or “vegan” in any way.
Yet “vegan” was mentioned in 88,300
postings. Greenhouse gases, so named because
they contribute to the earth-warming “greenhouse
effect,” were mentioned in only 83,700 postings,
and methane, the most damaging greenhouse gas,
emitted mainly by livestock, got just 71,800
mentions.
The “Green Tips for Earth Day” web site,
posted by Earth 911 with the support of the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency, omitted any
notice of animal production and meat-eating.
Noting that Earth Day is now more a
cultural celebration than a day of
awareness-raising and protest, Vermont
environmentalist author Bill McKibben and friends
organized “Step It Up 2007,” a “National Day of
Climate Action” held on April 13, a week ahead
of Earth Day, to try to increase attention to
global warming.
More than 1,400 organizations headquartered in
all 50 states and many nations abroad took part.
“What do you feel guilty about not
doing?” New York magazine writer Tim Murphy
asked New York City “Step It Up 2007” coordinator
Ben Jervey.

“Buddy” photo caption

May 1, 2007 Dylan Forest Leave a comment

From ANIMAL PEOPLE, May 2007:
Buddy, above, “was confiscated from a dogfight raided in
Boso-Boso, Antipolo City, on April 2, 2007, with the help of
volunteers from the Philippine Animal Welfare Society,” wrote PAWS
president Nita Hontiveros Lichauco. “Fourteen suspects were
arrested,” she continued, and “will face charges of violation of
the Animal Welfare Act or illegal gambling.” The Philippines has
been among the frequent destinations of U.S.-bred fighting dogs and
gamecocks, but the traffic will now be illegal. Philippine humane
law was strengthened in early February 2007 when Philippine President
Gloria Arroyo endorsed a new Rabies Act. The act increases the
penalties for selling dog meat, and introduced penalties for
electrocuting dogs as a method of animal control.
(PAWS/Sherwin Castillo)

Mother Nature fights the seal hunt

May 1, 2007 Dylan Forest Leave a comment

From ANIMAL PEOPLE, May 2007:
ST. JOHNS, Newfoundland– Climatic
conditions appeared likely to do the annual
Atlantic Canadian seal hunt more economic damage
in 2007 than all the protests and boycotts
worldwide combined.
As ANIMAL PEOPLE went to press on April
25, sealers were still assessing the combined
cost of a sealing season that was almost without
ice in much of the Gulf of St. Lawrence, while
drifting sheet ice trapped and badly damaged
sealing vessels along the Labrador Front,
northeast of Newfoundland. A dozen crews had
abandoned their boats after ice cracked the hulls.
“Two Canadian Coast Guard icebreakers,
the Ann Harvey and the Sir Wilfred Grenfell, are
trapped in the ice along with the sealing
vessels. Helicopters are flying food and fuel to
the stranded crews on the ice,” reported Paul
Watson of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society.
As many as 90 sealing boats were trapped
in ice, as of April 23, up from 60 ten days
earlier, according to the St. Johns Telegram.
The icebreakers had managed to free only about 10
boats in five days of effort, before becoming
stuck themelves.

How Chinese ingredients contaminated U.S. pet foods

May 1, 2007 Dylan Forest Leave a comment

From ANIMAL PEOPLE, May 2007:

BEIJING–How and why melamine came to contaminate wheat and corn
gluten and rice protein concentrate manufactured in China is still
unknown.
But, as a maker of wheat gluten, MGP Ingredients vice
president Steve Pickman has voiced an idea.
“It is my understanding, but certainly unheard of in our
experience,” Pickman told media, “that melamine could increase the
measurable nitrogen emitted from gluten, and then be mathematically
converted to protein. The effect could create the appearance or
illusion of raising the gluten’s protein level. Understandably, any
acts or practices such as this are barred in the U.S. How the U.S.
can or cannot monitor and prevent these types of situations from
occurring in other parts of the world,” Pickman concluded, “is the
overriding question.”

Liability cases loom over melamine-tainted pet food

May 1, 2007 Dylan Forest Leave a comment

From ANIMAL PEOPLE, May 2007:

EMPORIA, Kansas–“To the extent that we identify that the
cause of any expenses incurred [by pet keepers for veterinary care] are related to the food, Menu will take responsibility,” Menu Foods
chief executive Paul Henderson pledged, after ordering the first of
a flurry of pet food recalls.
But that was just before pet keepers and law firms coast to
coast began alleging in more than two dozen attempted class action
cases that Menu Foods responded too slowly to the crisis, caused by
melamine contamination of pet food ingredients. The contamination
kills dogs and cats–especially cats–by attacking their kidneys.

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