Russian President's Dogs Win It Big!!!

Two of President Dmitry Medvedev's dogs won top prizes in the Eurasia 2009 dog show! Hooray! I thought he would be too busy writing best selling novels, composing award winning operas or ruling Russia to enter his dogs in contests and stuff.

His third dog only got 2nd place, and will probably be assisting border guards near the Republic of Georgia or some other exciting place.

Quote of the Week

"Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened."

~ Anatole France

USHS Alleges Animal Abuse at the University of Louisiana New Iberia Research Laboratory

Actually, it's more then allegations. They have video.

The video footage shows monkeys biting themselves and slamming against the bars of small cages. Other scenes show a newborn chimpanzee being taken from its mother and an adult screaming as a lab worker aims a tranquilizer gun before the animal falls sedated from a shelf to the floor.

The Humane Society of the United States released the video scenes Wednesday, saying that’s only part of the documentation of what it claimed were 338 violations of federal law and policy at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette’s New Iberia Research Laboratory. It is the nation’s largest primate research lab that studies chimpanzees.

“This is a story of inhumane treatment and a story of psychological torment for these animals,” Wayne Pacelle, president and chief executive officer of the Washington-based animal rights group, said at a news conference Wednesday.

Here is a link to the Humane Society. I couldn't get the video to work for some reason.

Mmmm Cow Urine!

You'll have to go to India for this one.

A new soft drink made from cow's urine may be launched in India by a hard line Hindu group known for their opposition of Western food imports.

The manufacturers say small quantities of the liquid produced by Hinduism's revered holy cows is being mixed with products such as aloe vera and gooseberry to fight diseases.

Revered or not, that's pretty nasty.

World's Ugliest Cat?

Not even close. He's just got a nice mane.

Idiot Smokes Bong with Cat Inside

In the WTF department.

He wanted to mellow out his hyper cat Shadow.

Schomaker told deputies 6-month-old Shadow was hyper and he was trying to calm her down. The contraption she had been stuffed inside was 12 inches by 6 inches. Shadow was timid but in good condition Monday at the Capital Humane Society, executive director Bob Downey said....

Schomaker, who was released from jail after paying a $400 fine on the arrest warrant, faces drug and misdemeanor animal cruelty charges. He did not immediately respond to phone messages left Monday seeking comment.

This is pretty cruel, but apparently these MSNBC reporters thought it was pretty funny. What a bunch of....

Canadian Group Wants to Free Captive Porpoise

The Vancouver-based animal rights group Lifeforce wants the Vancouver Aquarium to free Daisy the porpoise.

Here is a video from the group.

Seal Import Ban Passes EU Committee

Good.

But the bill still needs the the approval of the entire EU assembly and EU governments in order to become law.

It will be tough.

Nordic EU countries such as Denmark, Sweden and Finland have opposed such a ban, and EU legal experts say it could violate world trade rules.

Canada and Greenland have warned the EU that they could challenge such a ban before the World Trade Organization.

Obama Overturns Last Minute EPA Rule Change Made By America's Worst President

President Obama overturned a last minute Bush regulation that would have allowed agencies to skip consulting with govt. scientists when reviewing EPA rules. Because science, like facts, have a liberal bias.

I am so glad this dim-witted moron is back in Texas. It will take a generation to clean up the damage he has done to this country.

No-Kill Conference Already Sold Out

The National No-Kill Conference scheduled for May 2-3 in Washington, DC is ALREADY sold out.

Amazing.

Zambian Police Officers Caught in Ivory Trafficking

ZAMBIA Wildlife Authority (Zawa) yesterday arrested four people, including two police officers, in Kafue for trafficking in ivory and rhino horns worth more than K1 billion.

Zawa director general, Lewis Saiwana said in Lusaka yesterday that the suspects were arrested for trafficking in 72 pieces of elephant ivory and five pieces of rhino horns.

...For such huge ivory, Dr Saiwana said the poachers killed 36 elephants but, however, said it was suspected that the animals were killed from neighbouring countries and not in Zambia.

36 elephants? That's a huge slaughter in my opinion.

Economic Conditions Make People Eat Less Steak

...but don't get excited. They're just eating chicken instead.

PAH!

EU Establishes Website To Track Alternative Testing Methods

The EU is so far ahead of the US when it comes to developing alternative testing methods, it's embarrassing. It has gone so far as to establish a website for tracking the development of methods to replace, reduce, and refine current animal testing in EU nations. It's called TSAR (Tracking System for Alternative test methods Review, Validation and Approval in the Context of EU Regulations on Chemicals).

I need to study the site myself. I'm no scientist, and it requires additional research, but I'm getting involved in these issues more. I'm frustrated and angry with the arrogant, holier-than-thou scientific community that claims "people come first" when it comes to animal testing, but "profit comes first" when it comes to actually caring for the public's health and providing them with affordable drugs.

They talk out of both sides of their you-know-what.

575 Project Sends a Difficult Message

Best Friends co-founder and artist Cyrus Mejia learned that 5 million animals are put to death each year in US animal shelters. He calculated that this equaled about 575 animals per HOUR (thanks to Andrew at Good Honest Dollar for the catch!)

He helped organize the 575 Project in which artists honor the animals who have died. Each piece is a memorial to that nameless animal.

A book is now available.

Heartbreaking.

Jackie and Dunlap on the Obama Dog Story