Here is a story about an animal abuse case in Russia. Only about 80 people a year get charged with animal cruelty.
That pretty much says it all as far as their attitudes about animals.
Wednesday, August 8, 2007
Namibia To Use Farmers To Help Wildlife
This is an interesting plan.
Five species of game, namely, zebra, springbok, oryx, ostrich and eland will be translocated to the farms.
The ministry advertised for people to participate in the scheme in October last year, saying it recognised there were emerging commercial, resettled and communal farmers within the freehold land tenure system who were interested in developing a wildlife-based land use but did not have the capital to restock.
Five species of game, namely, zebra, springbok, oryx, ostrich and eland will be translocated to the farms.
The ministry advertised for people to participate in the scheme in October last year, saying it recognised there were emerging commercial, resettled and communal farmers within the freehold land tenure system who were interested in developing a wildlife-based land use but did not have the capital to restock.
Obit: Lynn Tooker, President of People United for Animals Dies
Lynn Tooker died at the age of 57 died of insulin shock in her driveway while walking one of her dogs. Although this is what the article says, her daughter comments:
Thank you all for your thoughts. This was a misquote in the article. My mother did not pass of diabetic shock or coma. We believe she died of a heart attack. My mom always made taking care of her diabetes a priority in her life. Thank you for your kind words! We are devastated and will miss her more than any words could say...Her daughter Missy.
Here is Madeleine J. "Lynne" Tooker.
From the article:
Local animal advocate Lynn Tooker dedicated her life to saving animals as founder, president and organizer of the nonprofit People United for Animals.
"I would hope her legacy would be as great to this area as Bob Barker’s was to the nation," said Jarrett Richardson, treasurer of PUFA.
Tooker was found dead Wednesday in the driveway of her Bristol Virginia home.
She was 57.
Tooker helped raise more than $80,000 toward pet spay and neuters since PUFA’s founding in January 2001, saving thousands of unwanted animals from being born.
"She did a lot unselfishly for the community," said Shawna Cook, a PUFA volunteer and close friend of Tooker’s. "When we lost her, Bristol lost one of its true animal advocates."
Thank you all for your thoughts. This was a misquote in the article. My mother did not pass of diabetic shock or coma. We believe she died of a heart attack. My mom always made taking care of her diabetes a priority in her life. Thank you for your kind words! We are devastated and will miss her more than any words could say...Her daughter Missy.
Here is Madeleine J. "Lynne" Tooker.
From the article:
Local animal advocate Lynn Tooker dedicated her life to saving animals as founder, president and organizer of the nonprofit People United for Animals.
"I would hope her legacy would be as great to this area as Bob Barker’s was to the nation," said Jarrett Richardson, treasurer of PUFA.
Tooker was found dead Wednesday in the driveway of her Bristol Virginia home.
She was 57.
Tooker helped raise more than $80,000 toward pet spay and neuters since PUFA’s founding in January 2001, saving thousands of unwanted animals from being born.
"She did a lot unselfishly for the community," said Shawna Cook, a PUFA volunteer and close friend of Tooker’s. "When we lost her, Bristol lost one of its true animal advocates."
Man Held On 100K for Burning Dog to Death
This guy, if found guilty, will see some prison time.
The judge in this case deserves some kudos:
A judge doubled the bail Tuesday for a Long Island man accused of burning his pit bull alive after a grand jury returned an indictment charging the suspect with two felony counts of animal cruelty and other offenses.
Derick Phanord's attorney claimed after the arraignment in Suffolk County Court in Riverhead that his client's family has been receiving anonymous threatening telephone calls and messages at his Brentwood home since his arrest last month.
Phanord, 22, was ordered held on $100,000 cash bail after he pleaded not guilty to two felony counts of aggravated cruelty to animals, two misdemeanor counts of cruelty to animals, as well as weapons possession and traffic charges. If convicted, he could face two years in prison, prosecutors said.
Says his defense attorney (oh boo hoo):
"The young man must have been in tremendous shock in order to conduct himself that way," said Sabeti, who said his client was a special education student who never graduated high school. "Maybe the anger of Derick arose from the attack the pit bull made on his puppy?"
Sabeti, who said Phanord's family has been receiving threats ever since his arrest, said his client is "extremely, extremely remorseful. He doesn't know what he can do to correct the past."
The judge in this case deserves some kudos:
A judge doubled the bail Tuesday for a Long Island man accused of burning his pit bull alive after a grand jury returned an indictment charging the suspect with two felony counts of animal cruelty and other offenses.
Derick Phanord's attorney claimed after the arraignment in Suffolk County Court in Riverhead that his client's family has been receiving anonymous threatening telephone calls and messages at his Brentwood home since his arrest last month.
Phanord, 22, was ordered held on $100,000 cash bail after he pleaded not guilty to two felony counts of aggravated cruelty to animals, two misdemeanor counts of cruelty to animals, as well as weapons possession and traffic charges. If convicted, he could face two years in prison, prosecutors said.
Says his defense attorney (oh boo hoo):
"The young man must have been in tremendous shock in order to conduct himself that way," said Sabeti, who said his client was a special education student who never graduated high school. "Maybe the anger of Derick arose from the attack the pit bull made on his puppy?"
Sabeti, who said Phanord's family has been receiving threats ever since his arrest, said his client is "extremely, extremely remorseful. He doesn't know what he can do to correct the past."
Tuesday, August 7, 2007
Animal Hoarding
I don't usually post about animal hoarding. It's just so damn depressing, and unfortunately, so common in our society today. Here is a story about a man in Texas who led police on a high speed chase because he was "taking a sick kitten to the vet".
Foot and Mouth Disease
As you may have read, there is an outbreak of foot and mouth disease in the UK. The last time this happpened, as many as 10 million animals were slaughtered. Foot and Mouth Disease is not always fatal.
But, it can lead to debilitation, loss of milk, followed by the dreaded....import bans. That in turn, leads to the mass killing of livestock to excise this pox upon livestock economics. For those of you not familiar with the disease, (which included me), here is part of the USDA APHIS fact sheet on foot and mouth disease:
Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is a severe, highly communicable viral disease of cattle and swine. It also affects sheep, goats, deer, and other cloven-hooved ruminants. FMD is not recognized as a zoonotic disease.
This country has been free of FMD since 1929, when the last of nine U.S. outbreaks was eradicated.
The disease is characterized by fever and blister-like lesions followed by erosions on the tongue and lips, in the mouth, on the teats, and between the hooves. Many affected animals recover, but the disease leaves them debilitated. It causes severe losses in the production of meat and milk.
Because it spreads widely and rapidly and because it has grave economic as well as clinical consequences, FMD is one of the animal diseases that livestock owners dread most.
What Causes It
The disease is caused by a virus. The virus survives in lymph nodes and bone marrow at neutral pH, but destroyed in muscle when in pH<6.0 i.e. after rigor mortis. The virus can persist in contaminated fodder and the environment for up to 1 month, depending on the temperature and pH conditions.
There are at least seven separate types and many subtypes of the FMD virus. Immunity to one type does not protect an animal against other types.
How It Spreads
FMD viruses can be spread by animals, people, or materials that bring the virus into physical contact with susceptible animals. An outbreak can occur when:
* People wearing contaminated clothes or footwear or using contaminated equipment pass the virus to susceptible animals.
* Animals carrying the virus are introduced into susceptible herds
* Contaminated facilities are used to hold susceptible animals.
* Contaminated vehicles are used to move susceptible animals.
* Raw or improperly cooked garbage containing infected meat or animal products is fed to susceptible animals.
* Susceptible animals are exposed to materials such as hay, feedstuffs, hides, or biologics contaminated with the virus.
* Susceptible animals drink common source contaminated water.
* A susceptible cow is inseminated by semen from an infected bull.
But, it can lead to debilitation, loss of milk, followed by the dreaded....import bans. That in turn, leads to the mass killing of livestock to excise this pox upon livestock economics. For those of you not familiar with the disease, (which included me), here is part of the USDA APHIS fact sheet on foot and mouth disease:
Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is a severe, highly communicable viral disease of cattle and swine. It also affects sheep, goats, deer, and other cloven-hooved ruminants. FMD is not recognized as a zoonotic disease.
This country has been free of FMD since 1929, when the last of nine U.S. outbreaks was eradicated.
The disease is characterized by fever and blister-like lesions followed by erosions on the tongue and lips, in the mouth, on the teats, and between the hooves. Many affected animals recover, but the disease leaves them debilitated. It causes severe losses in the production of meat and milk.
Because it spreads widely and rapidly and because it has grave economic as well as clinical consequences, FMD is one of the animal diseases that livestock owners dread most.
What Causes It
The disease is caused by a virus. The virus survives in lymph nodes and bone marrow at neutral pH, but destroyed in muscle when in pH<6.0 i.e. after rigor mortis. The virus can persist in contaminated fodder and the environment for up to 1 month, depending on the temperature and pH conditions.
There are at least seven separate types and many subtypes of the FMD virus. Immunity to one type does not protect an animal against other types.
How It Spreads
FMD viruses can be spread by animals, people, or materials that bring the virus into physical contact with susceptible animals. An outbreak can occur when:
* People wearing contaminated clothes or footwear or using contaminated equipment pass the virus to susceptible animals.
* Animals carrying the virus are introduced into susceptible herds
* Contaminated facilities are used to hold susceptible animals.
* Contaminated vehicles are used to move susceptible animals.
* Raw or improperly cooked garbage containing infected meat or animal products is fed to susceptible animals.
* Susceptible animals are exposed to materials such as hay, feedstuffs, hides, or biologics contaminated with the virus.
* Susceptible animals drink common source contaminated water.
* A susceptible cow is inseminated by semen from an infected bull.
Honoring a Fallen Officer
There is a mystery in Bellmead TX about who killed Animal Control Officer Bob Mead, He was found in the animal shelter with multiple gunshot wounds to the back.
Bellmead police believe the person who killed the city's only animal control officer most likely knew him.
Chief Bob Harold said it's possible the murderer had been verbally critical of Bobby Evans before shooting him in the back and leaving him for dead last month.
Evans' family made an emotional plea Wednesday to bring that killer to justice. The big question they have is: Why would someone want to kill their loved one, and who would shoot a man multiple times in the back?
Police found Evans shot three times in the back June 18th, lying in the doorway of the animal shelter.
Nearly a month later, with few leads and no arrests, police and the Evans family held a news conference to plead for help.
It's impossible to tell for certain whether this was a personal, random or work-related attack. However, he was found in his work place and he was the only animal control officer in the town. A variety of animal groups are jointly offering a reward for information.
The National Animal Control Association has a page in his honor.
Bellmead police believe the person who killed the city's only animal control officer most likely knew him.
Chief Bob Harold said it's possible the murderer had been verbally critical of Bobby Evans before shooting him in the back and leaving him for dead last month.
Evans' family made an emotional plea Wednesday to bring that killer to justice. The big question they have is: Why would someone want to kill their loved one, and who would shoot a man multiple times in the back?
Police found Evans shot three times in the back June 18th, lying in the doorway of the animal shelter.
Nearly a month later, with few leads and no arrests, police and the Evans family held a news conference to plead for help.
It's impossible to tell for certain whether this was a personal, random or work-related attack. However, he was found in his work place and he was the only animal control officer in the town. A variety of animal groups are jointly offering a reward for information.
The National Animal Control Association has a page in his honor.
Watch Out, This is How it Started With The Gang of Four
Xinhua has come out with a story about the rising problem with dogs in Beijing.
More than 100,000 dogs have been newly registered this year, bringing the Chinese capital's dog population to 703,879 and prompting a "string of social problems," the official Xinhua News Agency said.
Complaints about barking and dogs fouling public spaces are on the rise, while numbers of strays abandoned by their masters are growing, it said.
I wonder if this is the prelude to "cleaning" up the streets for the Olympics. It will be interesting to watch in the months ahead.
Here is a link to China Daily about the "rise in animal attacks".
They are saying that Beijing, a city of about 12.5 million, had about 140,000 people seek medical treatment last year. The US, by way of comparison, had about 800,000 for a population of 301 million. So, for the US, that is about 0.27 percent of the population. For Beijing, they are saying 1.12 percent of the population seek medical attention for this. I'm not saying it isn't true, but it's good to at least look at the numbers for yourself.
More than 100,000 dogs have been newly registered this year, bringing the Chinese capital's dog population to 703,879 and prompting a "string of social problems," the official Xinhua News Agency said.
Complaints about barking and dogs fouling public spaces are on the rise, while numbers of strays abandoned by their masters are growing, it said.
I wonder if this is the prelude to "cleaning" up the streets for the Olympics. It will be interesting to watch in the months ahead.
Here is a link to China Daily about the "rise in animal attacks".
They are saying that Beijing, a city of about 12.5 million, had about 140,000 people seek medical treatment last year. The US, by way of comparison, had about 800,000 for a population of 301 million. So, for the US, that is about 0.27 percent of the population. For Beijing, they are saying 1.12 percent of the population seek medical attention for this. I'm not saying it isn't true, but it's good to at least look at the numbers for yourself.
India Backtracks on Plans For New Elephant Reserves
Conservationists allege that they caved in to mining interests.
Last year, the government approved two new reserves in the mineral-rich areas of Orissa state aimed at strengthening the conservation of elephants and other wildlife such as tigers, leopards, deer and hundreds of species of rare reptiles.
But conservationists claim the plans have been dropped to ease the way for big steel investors like Vedanta Resources Plc, JSW Steel and Arcelor Mittal to mine for iron ore, manganese and bauxite.
"Multi-nationals can now carry out mining easily and get all the environmental clearance without any impact study on wildlife at all," said Biswajit Mohanty of the Wildlife Society of Orissa.
Government officials denied the charge.
"The area for the two proposed elephant reserves was too big and that was why we withdrew the proposals," said P.N. Padhi, a senior official in Orissa's forest and environment department.
Last year, the government approved two new reserves in the mineral-rich areas of Orissa state aimed at strengthening the conservation of elephants and other wildlife such as tigers, leopards, deer and hundreds of species of rare reptiles.
But conservationists claim the plans have been dropped to ease the way for big steel investors like Vedanta Resources Plc, JSW Steel and Arcelor Mittal to mine for iron ore, manganese and bauxite.
"Multi-nationals can now carry out mining easily and get all the environmental clearance without any impact study on wildlife at all," said Biswajit Mohanty of the Wildlife Society of Orissa.
Government officials denied the charge.
"The area for the two proposed elephant reserves was too big and that was why we withdrew the proposals," said P.N. Padhi, a senior official in Orissa's forest and environment department.
Monday, August 6, 2007
Primarily Primates Files Suit to Get Apes Back
This is going to get NASTY. Primarily Primates is filing suit to get 7 apes that were taken away after it was found that their alleged alcoholic president, Wallace Swett, kept them in squalid conditions..
Here are some testimonials about what conditions were like before the place was temporarily closed.
Now Friends of Animals (which merged with Primarily Primates) is alleging that the 7 apes might be subject to animal experiments at Chimp Haven if they remain there. Here is their press release.
Frankly, I find the experimentation angle a bit far fetched. Here is a link to Chimp Haven.
It's a pity that Primarily Primates and Friends of Animals don't spend their time and money on animals rather than this stupid "turf" war.
Here are some testimonials about what conditions were like before the place was temporarily closed.
Now Friends of Animals (which merged with Primarily Primates) is alleging that the 7 apes might be subject to animal experiments at Chimp Haven if they remain there. Here is their press release.
Frankly, I find the experimentation angle a bit far fetched. Here is a link to Chimp Haven.
It's a pity that Primarily Primates and Friends of Animals don't spend their time and money on animals rather than this stupid "turf" war.
Sunday, August 5, 2007
Prairie Dogs Need Protecting Too!
Forest Guardians is asking the Bush Administration to reconsider their decision not to list the black tailed prairie dog under the Endangered Species Act. I wouldn't hold my breath on that. Dick Cheney would probably shoot them himself and serve them in his underground bunker if he had a chance. Fortunately he only shoots other hunters and pen- raised animals.
Here is Forest Guardians Web site.
From their web site:
Founded in 1989, Forest Guardians has emerged as a results-driven group with a proven record of defending and preserving threatened southwestern wildlife and ecosystems. Our approach to conservation features a potent combination of scientific analysis, strategic litigation to enforce existing environmental laws, and efforts to reform misguided public polices.
Our Mission
Forest Guardians seeks to protect and restore the native wildlands and wildlife of the American Southwest through fundamental reform of public policies and practices.
Our goals are to protect and restore the native biological diversity and watersheds of the American Southwest; educate and enlist citizens to support protection of the forests, rivers, deserts and grasslands of this arid region; advocate for the principles of conservation biology in plans to restore degraded ecosystems and watersheds; enforce and strengthen environmental laws; support communities in efforts to protect their land and to practice and promote sustainable use of natural resources.
Here is Forest Guardians Web site.
From their web site:
Founded in 1989, Forest Guardians has emerged as a results-driven group with a proven record of defending and preserving threatened southwestern wildlife and ecosystems. Our approach to conservation features a potent combination of scientific analysis, strategic litigation to enforce existing environmental laws, and efforts to reform misguided public polices.
Our Mission
Forest Guardians seeks to protect and restore the native wildlands and wildlife of the American Southwest through fundamental reform of public policies and practices.
Our goals are to protect and restore the native biological diversity and watersheds of the American Southwest; educate and enlist citizens to support protection of the forests, rivers, deserts and grasslands of this arid region; advocate for the principles of conservation biology in plans to restore degraded ecosystems and watersheds; enforce and strengthen environmental laws; support communities in efforts to protect their land and to practice and promote sustainable use of natural resources.
Nascar Driver Ryan Newman a Big Supporter of Animal Welfare Issues
Like Greg Biffle, Nascar driver Ryan Newman has his own foundation dedicated to animal welfare.
From the site:
The Ryan Newman Foundation gives special consideration to nonprofit animal welfare organizations that reach out to rural communities in their region or state that do not have no-kill animal shelters or spay/neuter clinics. The foundation encourages progressive, established animal welfare organizations and spay/neuter clinics to go outside of their own community to serve rural, inner city or otherwise financially challenged communities that lack the resources to provide their own no-kill animal shelters or spay/neuter clinics.
Every year in the United States an estimated 5 million animals lose their lives in shelters because they are homeless. That is one pet life lost every 6.5 seconds. The pet overpopulation epidemic is so staggering that for every animal born in the United States to have a home each and every humane being would have to own 6 dogs and 9 cats. So, in actuality a family of four…2 parents and 2 small children would have to own 24 dogs and 36 cats. I t costs U.S. taxpayers and estimated 2 billion each year to round up, house, kill and dispose of homeless animals.
He also has a book called Pit Road Pets, about Nascar drivers and their pets.
From the site:
The Ryan Newman Foundation gives special consideration to nonprofit animal welfare organizations that reach out to rural communities in their region or state that do not have no-kill animal shelters or spay/neuter clinics. The foundation encourages progressive, established animal welfare organizations and spay/neuter clinics to go outside of their own community to serve rural, inner city or otherwise financially challenged communities that lack the resources to provide their own no-kill animal shelters or spay/neuter clinics.
Every year in the United States an estimated 5 million animals lose their lives in shelters because they are homeless. That is one pet life lost every 6.5 seconds. The pet overpopulation epidemic is so staggering that for every animal born in the United States to have a home each and every humane being would have to own 6 dogs and 9 cats. So, in actuality a family of four…2 parents and 2 small children would have to own 24 dogs and 36 cats. I t costs U.S. taxpayers and estimated 2 billion each year to round up, house, kill and dispose of homeless animals.
He also has a book called Pit Road Pets, about Nascar drivers and their pets.
CSI for Animals
This is cool. In Malaysia they are setting up a lab to help solve poaching crimes.
Work is now under way to set up the wildlife equivalent of a CSI-styled laboratory at the Wildlife and National Parks headquarters in Cheras here.
A new wildlife forensic unit is also taking shape and in five years, it may be using the same principles of human forensic science to nab wildlife criminals.
The department’s officers are now collecting blood, tissue, hair and other biological materials from wildlife across the country for its Wildlife Genetic Resource Bank.
Work is now under way to set up the wildlife equivalent of a CSI-styled laboratory at the Wildlife and National Parks headquarters in Cheras here.
A new wildlife forensic unit is also taking shape and in five years, it may be using the same principles of human forensic science to nab wildlife criminals.
The department’s officers are now collecting blood, tissue, hair and other biological materials from wildlife across the country for its Wildlife Genetic Resource Bank.
Saturday, August 4, 2007
The Vick Case and Racial Tensions
The Vick case has certainly helped fan the flames of racial tensions.
Animal welfare supporters, who are overwhelmingly white, wonder how Vick's predominantly black supporters can possible be in favor of this guy. Vick supporters, on the other hand, probably wonder about screaming white protesters with signs calling him an "overpaid criminal" before he's had a trial.
There they go again, turning this into a racial issue. There they go again, screaming for the blood of a successful black man before he's even had an arraignment. And so it goes.
Animal welfare supporters, who are overwhelmingly white, wonder how Vick's predominantly black supporters can possible be in favor of this guy. Vick supporters, on the other hand, probably wonder about screaming white protesters with signs calling him an "overpaid criminal" before he's had a trial.
There they go again, turning this into a racial issue. There they go again, screaming for the blood of a successful black man before he's even had an arraignment. And so it goes.
Ving Rhames' Dogs Kill Caretaker
The dogs killed the 40 year old caretaker, who had lived there for about 2 years.
Three of the dogs are bull mastiffs, and one was an english bulldog. It looks like two of the dogs were responsible for his death.
It will be interesting to hear more about this case, as it raises the issue of whether some dog breeds are inherently more dangerous than others.
Some are reporting that he died of a heart attack.
Three of the dogs are bull mastiffs, and one was an english bulldog. It looks like two of the dogs were responsible for his death.
It will be interesting to hear more about this case, as it raises the issue of whether some dog breeds are inherently more dangerous than others.
Some are reporting that he died of a heart attack.
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