Missouri is already referred to as the “puppy mill capital” of the country, and a new bill would make it harder for counties and cities to protect dogs from the cruelty of puppy mills. Amidst a wave of efforts to stop puppy mills nationwide, Missouri Republicans have decided they want to stand on the wrong side of history. We must not let them.
Sign now to tell the Missouri Senate: vote no on this awful bill!
The bill, filed by a Republican Representative, would ban cities and counties from enacting laws that prohibit pet shops. The bill is, unsurprisingly, backed by Petland and other corporations that profit off of animal mistreatment and abuse.
The Missouri House of Representatives has already passed this heinous bill, which means the Missouri Senate is the final shot for protecting potentially thousands of puppies from abuse in mills. Sign the petition now to tell the Missouri Senate: vote against this bill! No more puppy mills in the state!
Amber Barnes, a hunter from Montana, received a weak sentence after she shot, killed, and skinned a husky and posted photos praising the kill on social media.
Barnes, who allegedly believed the dog was a “wolf pup,” pleaded no-contest to animal cruelty, meaning that she accepts her conviction but does not admit guilt, according to news reports.
A judge from Flathead County District Court then gave Barnes a 6-month deferred sentence, which means she is not required to go to jail. The sentence only requires her to not hunt for a 6-month period and, during that time period, complete a hunting safety class.
The class will be conducted online and, as long as she completes these simple orders, her record will be wiped clean, according to news reports.
The husky’s life is worth more than a measly hunting class. While Barnes takes the class from the comfort of her home, the young dog is gone forever.
To add insult to injury, Barnes received her sentencing in February, but Montana’s hunting season starts in September. Her 6-month hunting ban is useless considering she likely wouldn’t have hunted during this time period regardless of her sentencing.
The outrage of the more than 42,000 people who signed our petition urging prosecutors to treat this case seriously demonstrates the public’s desire for animal laws to change. To those who signed our petition, we wholeheartedly thank you. We at Lady Freethinker will continue to urge law enforcement, prosecutors, and judges to hold animal abusers fully accountable.
A 6-month deferred sentence for the glorified killing of a dog is not nearly a strong enough sentence. We urge the judge to take future cases of animal cruelty more seriously.
On Tuesday afternoon, the Nevada Senate Committee on Natural Resources heard SB90, a bill to recognize the wild mustang as the official state horse. Like the original wild horse and burro movement in the 1960s, the effort was supported by Nevada’s schoolchildren with over 100 kids showing up to attend the hearing! The students eloquently expressed their support for the wild mustangs who call Nevada home and we are so grateful for their passion.
Unfortunately, the opposition also came out in full force. Nevada ranchers who graze their privately-owned cattle and sheep on public lands used their testimony time to blame horses for range degradation. Each rancher who spoke made the hearing about wild horse management and not about the naming of the state horse. The hearing ended with no vote, as committee members discuss next steps.
We need people from all over the country to speak up about the mustang’s historic importance and the tourism resource they are for the state. Smithsonian Magazine even named Nevada the number one place in North America to see wild horses!As a potential visitor to Nevada, your voice matters, but it will only be heard if you act now!
Call each of the five committee members and ask them to support SB90.
All you need to say is: “Hi, my name is [NAME] and as a tourist who visits Nevada for its wild mustangs, I am calling to ask that Senator [NAME] support SB90 to recognize the wild mustang as Nevada’s state horse. Thank you.
Linda Sue started this petition to Scott County Attorney Ron Hocevar and
(Links are live) Update 8/18/2022 It appears AHS Supervisor Keith Streff failed to honor his duties as a Humane Agent under Statute 343.12 DUTIES OF PEACE OFFICERS.
Agent Streff despicably and irresponsibly allowed 80-100 rabbits to remain at Peacebunny Cottage after 47 dead rabbits were found decaying among hundreds of live rabbits living in deplorable neglectful conditions, 2 more euthanized on site and 12 babies thereafter died in rescue attempts totaling 61 dead rabbits. Further, many bunnies recovered/moved from the Peacebunny Farm have since died or been euthanized and the count of those deaths is not made public. HOW INCREDIBLY APPALLING.
Liv Hagen, Humane Investigations Mgr. oversees cruelty and neglect cases and Humane Investigations agents; collaborates with law enforcement and legal teams and has allowed this injustice to happen under her watch as well as the President and CEO Janelle Dixon.
Update 8/2/2022 Fluff piece on Stephanie Hope Smith in the Startribune leaves major concerns animal cruelty charges are and will not be taken seriously. The authorities would like you to believe that Stephanie Hope Smith was “over her head” and became overwhelmed when in fact Mrs. Smith knowingly and irresponsibly left rabbits and baby bunnies to suffer and perish in neglect while traveling all over the states promoting their business for profits. 61 rabbits/bunnies have suffered and died from despicable neglect while uncontrolled breeding was allowed by Mrs. Smith. Animal cruelty charges should be honored to fullest extent of the law.
Update 7/29/2022 – CALL TO ACTION Authorities allow a person with multiple counts of animal cruelty including two felony charges to continue operating and owning rabbits. Stephanie Hope Smith is responsible for the suffering and death of 49 rabbits/babies. See Petition Update Here
Original Petition We the petitioners demand a fraud and misuse of nonprofit funds investigation along with prosecution to the fullest extent of the law, shut down and never allowed to reopen a rabbit business. If you were a donor please contact the County or City Attorney to file a fraud complaint and ask for an investigation.
Stephanie Hope Smith, 51, mother of teen entrepreneur and media celebrity sensation Caleb Smith, faces multiple counts of animal cruelty, torture and abandonment, among other charges. Caleb will be 18 on July 4th, charge him as an adult.
Rabbits were tunneling through deep feces and dozens found injured in need of vet care, including tiny baby bunnies. Two rabbits were euthanized – one with a broken back and another infested with maggots from fly strike.
Similar to Puppy mills, multiple rabbits are confined in small cages like a cramped prison where rabbits are unable to move freely without climbing over one another, walk or lay down and their feet get sores from the hard caging. Fighting results in life threatening injuries.
According PBC, Caleb was traveling in DC and prior to that in Kansas to promote his “bunny business” – all while approx 250 rabbits/babies lingered in filth suffering and dying.
According to news articles the self proclaimed rabbit expert/bunny guardian and his family despicably profited from the rabbit business. With various for profits and a nonprofits, they were able to acquire five Islands on the Mississippi River and a house boat.
Caleb Smith and his family were not rescuing rabbits or providing a sanctuary they were defrauding and duping the public. The rabbits were allowed to freely breed and Caleb bred show rabbits for 4H to win blue ribbons and to sell angora fur while the rest of the rabbits lived in squalor suffering.
4H projects do not include rescuing rabbits; their purpose is breeding, showing rabbits and raising them for meat. Sanctuaries do not show, exploit or breed animals and rescues do not breed animals. Lastly, domestic rabbits are not “endangered” and in need of breeding but the complete opposite as every rabbit rescue, shelter is busting at the seams trying to rescue thousands of unwanted and dumped pet rabbits many of whom are discarded in the wild to suffer and die. This is what defrauder Caleb and his family despicably contributed to and there was no honor to their fake mission or cause.
Scott County Attorney Ron Hocevar said his office will hold a press conference regarding the case on Tuesday. Stephanie Smith is scheduled to appear in court on Aug. 22.
What can you do? Animal cruelty laws are in place to protect animals as well as the Animal Welfare Act, both include rabbits. Voice your concerns with the authorities and file fraud complaints if you donated.
Respectfully ask the City, County and Police to prosecute all responsible parties of Peacebunny Cottage to the fullest extent of the law, shut them down and never allowed to reopen. Sign, share and educate the public with the petition.
Savage MN Scott County Attorney Ron Hocevar Email: rhocevar@co.scott.mn.us Phone: 952-496-8240 Website
City Attorney Dan Gregerson Email: dangregerson@grjn.com Phone: 612-436-7492 Website
A sweet cat died from blunt force trauma after being beaten up and drenched in bleach in Fairfield, Connecticut, reportedly by an official formerly convicted of animal cruelty twice.
Gem, an innocent cat, reportedly was intentionally harmed during a domestic dispute. Charges in her case are still pending.
Another cat named Pearl reportedly was burned with toxic chemicals “down to the muscle” – to the point that her tail had to be amputated— by the same man, also during a domestic dispute, according to an arrest warrant.
The man who allegedly committed these intentional acts of cruelty against cats was convicted of animal cruelty in 2018 — spending 41 days in jail and receiving two years probation for reportedly pouring scorching hot water on his then-fiancée’s 5-year-old dog named Thor and breaking the ribs of her dog named Charlie.
All of the victims were companion animals of women the man reportedly was dating at the time.
Authorities have charged Raymond Neuberger, who served as a member of Fairfield’s Representative Town Meeting from 2013 to 2017 and ran for state representative in 2016, with animal cruelty, according to news reports. Neuberger is out after posting bond while awaiting his court proceedings.
Whoever injured these innocent cats must be held accountable, and this case must be taken seriously. A growing number of studies have established that violence against animals is often used by domestic violence abusers to try to control their human partners.
Sign our petition urging prosecutors to treat this case with the severity it deserves, including pursuing domestic violence related charges if applicable and including any needed interventions, such as counseling or anger management, and a maximum ban on owning and being around animals in any setting.
Target: Kristen Donmoyer, Director of Pennsylvania Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement
Goal: Investigate licensing of shelter that allegedly neglects and mishandles animals under its care.
Protests mounted, drawing national attention, as the planned death date of a Pennsylvania shelter dog neared. Community members, current and former volunteers at the Humane Society of Harrisburg, and even lawmakers urged the society to reverse its decision to euthanize Pursuit, its longest-standing canine. As the hour drew closer, word emerged that a volunteer had removed Pursuit from the shelter. A theft complaint was reportedly filed by the humane society a short time later. In the end, this animal’s life was saved, but his plight highlights what employees apparently say are still-lingering problems within the shelter.
The society claims that the decision to euthanize Pursuit was made after a series of behavioral issues that supposedly made him un-adoptable. Volunteers acknowledge that this animal did need special care, but his issues were reportedly exacerbated by the lack of time he and other on-site animals were able to spend outdoors or going for walks. Some volunteers even claim that Pursuit was completely isolated and cut off from contact with them when his story was made public to the press. Moreover, overtures from entities interested in caring for Pursuit were seemingly ignored. And former employees have alleged a pattern of similar animal mishandling dating back years, leading to the resignation of these individuals.
Sign the petition below to compel an investigation into a charitable organization that may not be putting the welfare of its charges first.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear Director Donmoyer,
The planned euthanizing of a Humane Society of Harrisburg dog grabbed national attention and launched passionate protests. While Pursuit, the animal at the center of the debate, is still alive, his situation raises serious questions about his former habitat. The shelter contends that its decision was a last resort measure, but it reportedly rebuffed a recent attempt at adoption. Moreover, volunteers allege that this organization took retaliatory action against them and the dog after a story was published.
Perhaps most troubling are the accusations from present and former employees that a lack of critical stimulation for the animals in this shelter have contributed greatly to any behavioral issues. As caretakers of vulnerable living beings, shelters shoulder an important responsibility that cannot be dismissed. And as a license-granter and overseer of these shelters, the Pennsylvania Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement has a responsibility to ensure that the animals receive the best and most humane care.
Please undertake a strong evaluation of this shelter and take the necessary measures to rectify any violations of these critical responsibilities.
PETITION TARGET: Lodi Police Department and city of Lodi
Enzo, a 2-year-old husky beloved by his family, died after being tased twice and dragged by officers in Lodi, California, according to news reports.
Enzo reportedly escaped from his family’s home through an unlatched door and was on the loose when officers reportedly received a complaint about a reportedly “aggressive” dog.
Surrounded by police and animal control officers, Enzo first tried to escape. Surveillance video then shows the dog standing still as an officer approaches and tases the dog, who then collapses. Video then shows the officer tasing Enzo again and dragging the dog across the pavement to behind the animal control van, where the dog reportedly died, according to video footage and news reports.
Additional information about how exactly Enzo died has not been released.
Witnesses who lived nearby said that Enzo allegedly had been “wagging his tail” before being tased and that the tasing allegedly had been “unnecessary,” according to news reports.
Currently, Lodi’s animal control ordinances indicate that police may confine or seize a dog on the loose — but the ordinances say nothing specifically about repeatedly using force, including tasers, that could result in the animal’s death in order to do so.
The Lodi Police Department said they’ll carry out an internal investigation — and it’s critical that the investigation be comprehensive, thorough, and fair.
Sign our petition urging the Lodi Police Department and the city of Lodi to thoroughly investigate the use of force that led to Enzo’s death. We’re also asking the department and the city to provide additional training to all officers about other methods of humanely confining and restraining dogs that could have been used in this situation to prevent any additional, unnecessary dog deaths.
Wolves are being massacred in Idaho, Montana and Wyoming.
In the most recent hunting and trapping season alone, these three states slaughtered more than 700 wolves by brutal means like strangulation snares.
At least 25 of them were killed simply for stepping outside the borders of Yellowstone National Park, where they’re safe. Pups as young as eight months old were executed.
It’s taken decades for Yellowstone’s wolves to regain a foothold in the wildlands surrounding this cherished landscape. But a wave of cruel policies enacted by states in the northern Rockies have unleashed the worst massacre of the region’s wolves in 100 years.
The Center for Biological Diversity fought tooth and nail to restore protection to wolves across the lower 48 states, but that restored protection excluded wolves in the northern Rocky Mountains. So we’re doing all we can to save them, too.
Without federal protection, more wolf packs in the state will be decimated, more packs will be torn apart and more pups will be killed sleeping in their dens.
But there’s hope: The Biden administration can save the wolves who remain.
The Center filed an emergency petition to protect northern Rocky Mountains wolves under the Endangered Species Act, but the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service missed its deadline to respond. So now we’re in court to save these intelligent, social animals, who are crucial to helping their ecosystems thrive.
Entrusting wolf management to states has resulted in a bloody war on wolves.
Idaho and Montana both passed laws aimed at liquidating their wolf populations. In Idaho hunters, trappers, and private contractors can kill up to 90% of the state’s estimated 1,337 wolves, using cruel hunting methods that used to be illegal — and should be again — including chasing wolves down with hounds and snowmobiles.
In Montana new rules may open the door to killing about 85% of its 1,100 to 1,200 wolves.
We haven’t come all this way to save wolves just to see rogue states wipe them out.
The best way to save these wolves is to protect them under the Endangered Species Act and we are calling on Biden’s U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to make that happen.
Will you join us?
Tell the Service to immediately restore protection to wolves in Idaho, Montana and Wyoming.
Target: Kevin Shea, Administrator, U.S. Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)
Goal: Demand zoos use only rescued animals for human display.
Zoos can be a wonderful place to visit. They give us exposure to animals we may never see otherwise in real life. Through these experiences, people can learn more about all the creatures found on the planet and their habits and connections to one another. Zoos also offer opportunities for animals who are endangered or injured and will not survive in the wild. Not only does this give us a chance to fulfill curiosity about other creatures, it gives those animals a second chance at life.
Unfortunately, zoos do not operate so altruistically. Out of the estimated 800,000 animals in zoos, those that are bred in captivity also end up behind bars with generations after them never getting to run free. While it is understandable zoos have an invested interest in staying stocked with animals, they should not lose sight of their goal to operate in the best interest of wildlife under their supervision. Using all or mostly animals rescued from unsafe circumstances is the best way to improve zoo operations.
Rescued animals can include those that are injured or healthy animals close to extinction. Injured animals who may die in the wild can live safely in captivity given they have care sympathetic to the adjustment from their natural habitat. Those facing extinction can be protected, too, chiefly in the event any safely bred in zoos are correctly reintroduced to the wild. According to PETA, animals facing extinction only make up 18% of those in zoos, evidence there is much work to be done to make these establishments a place to sustain species the world may lose otherwise.
Sign the petition below to urge Administrator Shea towards an understanding for how important it is for zoos to be about animal conservation, not just human recreation.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear Administrator Shea,
Every year, animal welfare is more important to people than in previous generations. U.S. zoos have always operated on a platform revolving around conservation, though not much has been done to improve animal welfare efforts at a reasonable pace. Their cages are stocked with wildlife that may not need human help whether from injury or endangerment. Those who do face extinction are bred more for entertainment rather than their survival. This is where APHIS needs to step in.
Because zoos will always be popular for children and interested adults alike, they still can survive with a shift in business model. Plenty of animals with permanent injury can be sourced from the wild and nurtured in captivity given fair and understanding care. In addition, with more animals facing endangerment and extinction every day, zoos have a fabulous chance to not only facilitate the survival of these poor creatures, but maintain a population for people to enjoy and learn about. Remember, zoos are first and foremost for the animals.
We urge you to reevaluate the guidelines governing zoos and to enforce a more animal-centric approach to their operation.
Target: Tom Vilsack, Secretary of U.S. Department of Agriculture
Goal: Ban breeding and marketing practices that cause suffering and death of countless teacup pigs.
A pig who was once the pet of social media influencer Logan Paul was discovered in dire condition by a California animal rescue organization. The group posted that the pig, named Pearl, “came to us with tattered ears and a potentially life-threatening infection in her uterus that has since been healed. She’s clearly been through so much trauma that we can’t begin to imagine.” Another deceased pig was found alongside Pearl. Paul claims he had rehomed the animal before she was found abandoned, but the tragedy highlights an increasingly dangerous trend.
Pearl is a so-called teacup pig: a potbellied pig bred and marketed for her small size. Individuals who take in these animals are often falsely led to believe that they will maintain their tiny stature. Supposedly cute photos and videos feed this belief. When the pigs grow to their normal size, however, caretakers are overwhelmed, leading to the type of horrific incident that nearly cost Pearl her life. Worse yet, breeders routinely utilize inhumane practices like malnourishment and inbreeding to stunt the growth of these animals. As a result, the lifespan of teacup pigs on average is half the lifespan of a typical pig.
Sign the petition below to demand the Department of Agriculture crack down on these cruel and deadly breeding practices.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear Secretary Vilsack,
The discovery of a badly hurt and suffering teacup pig recently attracted national attention because of the pig’s association with a well-known social media personality. But Pearl’s plight is representative of an all-too-commonplace reality for these exploited animals. Tragically, many are never saved from their lifetime of misery and suffering.
The lives of teacup pigs often end at abandonment and death, but they begin with inhumane breeding and neglectful care. Behind the “cuteness” is a legacy of starvation, inbreeding, and social isolation for these highly social animals. Please be an advocate for these vulnerable living beings.
Work for a ban on the breeding and heinous marketing of this animal cruelty.
Target: Thomas J. Vilsack, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Secretary Goal: Punish zoo that failed to safely house rare white rhino, leading to its death in a hail of 15 bullets.
Fifteen gun shots rang out and a rare white rhino collapsed in a heap on the ground. The rhino’s crime was nothing more than seeking freedom. The zoo that had recently taken custody of the rhino had failed to provide a secure enclosure. As a result, on only the rhino’s second day at the zoo, he was able to break through multiple fences that separated him from the general public.
When the rhino reached the final fence separating the rhino from the public, the zoo was compelled to shoot the rhino to death, in order to protect the public. Of course, had the zoo provided a sufficiently robust security system, the rhino would never have made it so close to the general public.
Rather than taking responsibility for this tragic event, the zoo has blamed the government for failing to require the zoo to provide more robust security measures. The zoo defended itself by stating, “Wild Florida took all proper precautions to prepare for the rehoming of the deceased rhino. Despite these efforts, which included a full inspection and approval from the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), the enclosure constructed to house the rhino failed.”
When the USDA conducted an inspection of the zoo after this incident, it apparently found the zoo to have other problems, including “unprotected electrical cord,” “floor wire fencing exposed with sharp points protruding,” “several expired medications,” including some that had been expired for years. Additionally, there was found to be an “excessive accumulation of fecal material” in places.
And, of course, the biggest violation was permitting the rhino to be housed in an insufficiently secure enclosure, which lead to his death in a hail of fifteen bullets.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear Secretary Vilsack,
Fifteen gun shots rang out and a rare white rhino collapsed in a heap on the ground. The rhino’s crime was nothing more than seeking freedom. The zoo that had recently taken custody of the rhino had failed to provide a secure enclosure. As a result, on only the rhino’s second day at the zoo, he was able to break through multiple fences that separated it from the general public.
When the rhino reached the final fence separating the rhino from the public, the zoo was compelled to shoot the rhino to death, in order to protect the public. Of course, had the zoo provided a sufficiently robust security system, the rhino would never have made it so close to the general public.
When your agency conducted an inspection of the zoo after this incident, it apparently found the zoo to have other problems, including “unprotected electrical cord,” “floor wire fencing exposed with sharp points protruding,” “several expired medications,” including some that had been expired for years. Additionally, there was found to be an “excessive accumulation of fecal material” in places.
And, of course, the biggest violation was permitting the rhino to be housed in an insufficiently secure enclosure, which lead to his death in a hail of fifteen bullets.
Blaming the government is no excuse for allowing a white rhino to be homed in an insufficiently secure enclosure. Please seek the maximum penalty for any violations that may have occurred at Wild Florida.
Target: Ben Butler, Prosecuting Attorney for Cass County, MO
Goal: Advocate for rescue organizations to be granted legal custody of animals rescued from potential neglect and abuse.
The Super Bowl is perhaps most noted by animal lovers for the event that precedes it: the Puppy Bowl. This tongue-in-cheek televised event brings needed attention to the many young dogs in search of a forever home. But the work remains year-round, as highlighted by a recent case in Missouri.
The fate of several dogs was in the balance after they were rescued from a residence described as an unsafe and unhealthy environment. The state’s humane society removed the dogs from this alleged neglect and abuse and moved them to a recovery facility in St. Louis. But the society still had to fight for full custody of the dogs in court. If they were successful, the dogs could be restored to health and put up for adoption into forever homes. If not, the possibility existed that they would be returned to their accused abusers.
Fortunately, at least in this case, the odds seem in the rescue society’s favor. Sign the petition below to urge officials in the county where this incident took place to grant immediate custody of at-risk animals to capable and professional caregivers.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear Prosecutor Butler,
The recent rescue of several dogs from a Cass County property is another unfortunate reported example of the neglect and abuse taking too many animals. Care for these vulnerable living beings should be an immediate and first priority. Do not force rescue organizations into court to prove they are a better custodian than alleged abusers.
Give these caregivers priority and ensure that no animal is placed back into the custody of a potential danger to their health and well-being.
Target: Tom Vilsack, United States Secretary of Agriculture
Goal: Investigate Franklin County Animal Rescue for alleged mistreatment of shelter animals.
Franklin County Animal Rescue has come under fire from its own employees alleging gross mistreatment of dogs and cats in their care. In a recent incident, a 5-week-old kitten was found by a staff member—Brittany Kilbur—reportedly crying out as though in pain and distressed. Although Kilbur contacted the shelter manager, she states she didn’t hear back and proceeded to contact a local veterinary technician, who reportedly informed her the kitten was dying and that she should bring the kitten in to die more peacefully. Kilbur’s manager reportedly denied her permission to transport the kitten, and once the kitten died apparently instructed staff members to wrap her body up and stuff her in the freezer.
There have been multiple similar incidents, including an orange kitten infected with feline infectious peritonitis who was allegedly denied veterinary access, apparently leading to the kittens’ prolonged suffering and slow death. Several employees and volunteers have apparently described the shelters’ management as being stingy with money, reportedly putting the health of dogs and cats in jeopardy as a result. The shelter’s executive director has reportedly denied permission for animals to receive critical care in the name of saving money. According to staff members, animals have reportedly been left without water, fed expired food, and forced to use underfilled litter boxes.
While animal shelters across the country are struggling to make ends meet in the current economy, this is no excuse for them to mistreat animals entrusted in their care. Sign this petition to demand an investigation of Franklin County Animal Rescue and to help protect innocent dogs and cats.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear Secretary Vilsack,
Workers and volunteers of Franklin County Animal Rescue have come forth with severe allegations against the management at the shelter, citing multiple cases of ill-treatment towards animals. In a recent incident, shelter staff member Brittany Kilbur recounts her apparent experience trying to comfort an dying 5-week-old kitten. When she reportedly found the kitten in a distressed and suffering condition, she called her manager, but to no avail. A compassionate veterinary technician reportedly told Kilbur to take the kitten in, and that she would help the kitten die more peacefully. When she asked her manager for permission, she was reportedly denied and later told simply to stuff the kitten’s body in the shelter fridge.
Multiple similar incidents have allegedly gone down at Franklin County Animal Rescue, and employees and volunteers reportedly claim that management does everything in their power to reduce shelter costs–including denying veterinary access to sick and dying animals. Animals have apparently been forced to eat expired food, use underfilled litters, and go without water for indefinite periods of time.
We are asking you, Mr. Vilsack, to investigate these claims in the name of protecting dogs and cats at this shelter.
The cub-petting industry, which gained nationwide infamy with the sensational 2020 Netflix documentary, “Tiger King,” is now illegal in the United States.
President Biden on Tuesday signed the Big Cat Public Safety Act into law, which bans the private ownership of lions, tigers, leopards, cheetahs, jaguars, cougars, or any cross-species hybrids of those animals. It makes the practice of cub-petting illegal and prohibits the breeding of big cats for private possession. It also prohibits members of the public from having close contact with big cats, outlawing the practice of taking selfies next to cubs, for instance.
Federally licensed animal sanctuaries or zoos may still exhibit big cats. There is also a grandfather clause that permits individuals who currently possess a big cat to keep them as long as the animal is registered with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service within 180 days.
Violators could face a maximum $20,000 fine and/or up to five years in jail for each offense.
Carole Baskin, founder and chief executive officer of Big Cat Rescue, left, gestures while arriving for a meeting with Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., March 2, 2022. (Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
“Over four years of work have finally led to this moment. I am grateful to all those who have believed in the importance of this bill and who have been dedicated to seeing it become law,” said bill sponsor Rep. Mike Quigley, D-Ill. “This legislation will not only help end the cruel and inhumane cub petting industry, it will also make our communities safer.”
A press release from Quigley’s office credited “Tiger King” with raising public awareness of “the miserable conditions thousands of tigers, lions, leopards, and pumas are kept in by irresponsible owners,” which led to passage of his bill.
Former big cat zoo owner Joe Exotic and his nemesis big cat rescuer Carole Baskin. He is in prison for hiring a hit man to kill her.
Animal rights activists applauded the legislation, including Big Cat Rescue, the accredited non-profit animal sanctuary founded by “Tiger King” star Carole Baskin.
“This bill has been the number one goal of my 30 years of advocacy to stop the mistreatment of big cats. This has been particularly true in the last 20 years during which my husband Howard Baskin joined me and took over managing our legislative efforts,” Baskin said earlier this month after the bill unanimously passed the Senate.
“The passage of the bill is the successful culmination of many years of battling against narcissistic, abusive, dangerous men who dominated this cruel trade and did everything they could to stop its passage, including wanting to intimidate, discredit, and even kill me,” she added.
Goal: Ban reportedly unethical and unnecessary animal fur farms throughout Romania.
A recent undercover investigation of 11 chinchilla fur farms in Romania has revealed—once again—the disturbing nature of animal breeding and use by the fashion industry. The animal welfare group that conducted this series of investigations reports severe breaches of Romanian law by the facilities in question. Hundreds of chinchillas were allegedly kept in a dark basement in filthy, barbed wire cages stacked one on top of the other. Females were reportedly constantly bred—remaining in what was described as permanent pregnancy cycles—and forced into a stiff neck brace that would prevent them from escaping during mating. Newborns allegedly struggled to walk against the harsh barbed wire, while older chinchillas frantically chewed at the cages as if to try and escape.
Chinchillas were allegedly illegally killed, as operators were reported to viciously break the sensitive animals’ necks. One farmer even apparently showed investigators a gas chamber—which he constructed out of a pressure cooker—that spews poisonous gas, killing the animals slowly and painfully. These abuses are seemingly common to most every fur farm across every nation, and we must do better to protect those targeted by the apparently cruel methods employed on these farms.
Sign this petition to demand Romania ban fur farms once and for all. Animal fur is not ours to wear.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear Prime Minister Circa,
An undercover investigation of 11 fur farms across Romania has revealed the seemingly horrific circumstances in which chinchillas are forced to live and die. Chinchillas were reportedly kept in a dark, dingy basement, shoved into tiny barbed wire cages that were rarely, if ever, cleaned. Newborns apparently struggled to walk, while females were allegedly restrained with neck braces to prevent them from escaping during repeated mating affairs. Investigators report multiple breaches of Romanian law, including illegally killing chinchillas by breaking their necks.
We are asking you, Mr. Circa, to ban fur farms throughout Romania and stop torturing innocent animals in the name of fashion.
PETITION TARGET: Mobile County District Attorney, City Commissioner and Sheriff’s Department
Dogs were reportedly kept on short heavy chains, caged, bred for cruel dog fights and denied food, water and shelter at a home in Mobile, Alabama, according to news reports.
Concerned and disturbed neighbors alleged that they witnessed abuse for nearly two years before the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office conducted a major raid of the home, rescuing 11 dogs that showed signs of long-term neglect, according to a veterinarian.
Two dogs appeared to be very sick, and two others had healing scars,according to investigators. Seven dogs were transported to the county animal shelter, and four others were rushed to the vet.
Authorities also removed contraband typically used to train dogs to fight, including a treadmill, which welfare experts said are often used to cruelly force dogs to run while terrified animals dangle in front of them as “bait.”
Authorities have charged Paul Kyles, 47, with first degree animal abuse, NBC 15 News reported. Kyles also was charged with a separate dog cruelty offense back in August, according to jail records and news reports.
Sensitive and intelligent dogs should never have to endure such horrific abuse. It’s crucial that this case be taken seriously before any more dogs are harmed or killed.
Sign our petition urging prosecutors to treat this case of animal cruelty with the severity it deserves, including a lifelong ban on owning or possessing animals and ensuring the animal cruelty charge remains on the record for the individual(s) responsible. We’re also urging authorities in Mobile County to ban chaining and for the Mobile County Sheriff’s Department to swiftly take action in future cases involving cruelty to animals.
Target: Chuck Schumer, Majority Leader of the United States Senate
Goal: Stop the torturing animals for our entertainment and demand a ban on the use of exotic and wild animals in traveling circuses.
Don’t be fooled by the go-lucky attitude of circus entertainment. While it might look to be all fun and games—with animals jumping through hoops and standing on their heads—wild animals do not do these tricks of their own volition. They do them because they are afraid of what will happen if they don’t.
Elephants, bears, tigers, and other circus animals are subjected to extreme mental and physical duress throughout the training process. Animals are coerced into performing by being repeatedly beaten with whips, electric prods, and bullhooks—a stout pole with a sharp hook at one end. These wild animals are forced to travel, sometimes year round, with minimal access to veterinary care or other basic necessities. Elephants are shackled in chains, and big cats are shoved in cramped, filthy cages.
The Traveling Exotic Animal and Public Safety Protection Act has recently been reintroduced to Congress. If passed, this act will prohibit the use of exotic and wild animals in traveling circuses and save thousands of elephants, tigers, lions, and tigers from abuse. Demand an end to this routine cruelty and encourage legislators to support the Traveling Exotic Animal and Public Safety Protection Act.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear Senator Schumer,
Elephants, bears, tigers, and other animals used in circuses suffer severe physical and psychological abuse. These animals are beaten with electric prods and sharp hooks in order to force them to perform unnatural tricks for human entertainment. When not performing, these wild animals are shackled in chains and shoved in small, filthy cages where they eat, sleep, and defecate.
There is, however, hope for circus animals. Although there is currently little int the way of legal protections for these animals—the government currently doesn’t even monitor training sessions for abuse—the recent reintroduction of the traveling Exotic Animal and Public Safety Protection Act brings with it the promise of an end to the suffering. If passed, this act will prohibit the use of exotic and wild animals in traveling circuses, carnivals, or parades.
We are asking you, Senator Schumer, to support this legislation and help bring an end to this cruel and unusual practice.
PETITION TARGET: The U.S. House of Representatives Natural Resources Committee Chair Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva (D-AZ)
In overcrowded and disease-ridden fur farms, helpless newborn mink are jammed into tiny, metal cages and held there until they’re slaughtered at about six months old. Their lives are filled with fear, stress, parasites, and illness.
But now, a bill making its way through the U.S. House of Representatives would ban the cruel and inhumane treatment of minks in the United States, effectively abolishing mink farming and eliminating a potential source of new COVID-19 variants in these horrifying facilities.
If passed, the United States would join a growing list of nations that have already banned mink farming.
The market for mink and other furs has shrunk in recent years as major fashion companies — including luxury giant Neiman Marcus — are moving away from selling animal furs. Opposition to fur farming also has increased in recent years over growing concerns that COVID-19 spreading among mink and other farmed animals could lead to deadly mutations of the virus.
It’s time to end mink fur farming in the United States.
Sign this petition urging the U.S. House of Representatives Natural Resources Committee Chair Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva (D-AZ) to support this critical legislation that could save countless mink and human lives.
PETITION TARGETS: Rep. Donald Beyer, Health Subcommittee Chairperson Anna G. Eshoo, House Committee on Energy and Commerce Chairman Frank Pallone, Jr.
Intelligent donkeys are being crammed en masse into transport trucks, bludgeoned to death with hammers and axes, and then skinned so their stolen hides can be boiled to create a “hide glue” that can sell for as much as $400 a pound on the black market.
An estimated 4.8 million donkeys are dying each year to cater to increasing demand for Ejiao (pronounced eh-gee-ow) — the gelatin released from the donkeys’ boiled skins that is unnecessarily used for beauty products, snacks, and candy.
Donkeys are extremely intelligent, sentient beings who form lifelong bonds. But their journeys — and their deaths — for the cruel Ejiao trade are brutal.
Often sold for “quick cash” in impoverished countries, the donkeys are forced to march hundreds of miles without food, water, or rest, or are herded into transport trucks, where handlers often tie their legs together and pile them on top of eachother or even strap the living animals to the tops of the trucks, according to Science.
Donkeys often arrive at slaughterhouses with broken or severed limbs and serious injuries, only to be killed with hammers, axes, or knives before their skins are exported and their bloody corpses are cast aside as unusable, according to nonprofit The Donkey Sanctuary.
While the brutality toward these innocent donkeys takes part overseas, the United States has a significant role in their suffering as the third largest importer of products containing Ejiao.
Now, a bill could help end this vicious cycle of cruelty — but it’s running out of time in this year’s legislative session.
HR 5203, also known as The Ejiao Act, would prohibit the knowing sale or transport of Ejiao or products containing Ejiao in interstate or foreign commerce. But the bill has been stuck in the Energy and Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Health since September 2021.
It’s critical that legislators act quickly on this lifesaving legislation — or re-introduce the legislation for timely passage in the next one.
Sign our petition urging legislators to revive and quickly pass the Ejiao Act, which would help save the lives of countless donkeys by curbing demand for this product created from donkeys’ serious pain and suffering.
Tweet @GovMurphy + urge him to keep his commitment to end bear hunting in the state. Remind him that 76% of Americans disapprove of black bear trophy hunting + there are effective, non-lethal + humane solutions to mitigate negative human-bear interactions. pic.twitter.com/cTPEK8C9LE
SIGN: Shut Down Dog Gas Chamber in Wyoming Animal Shelter
Image via Adobe Stock.
Lady Freethinker
PETITION TARGET: Green River Mayor Pete Rust
UPDATE (9/27/2022): Shelter animals are still being gassed to death despite a local city’s announcement, in January, that they’d replace an inhumane gas chamber with a more humane injection option, according to Sweetwater Now news.
Members of Wyoming Against Gas Chambers demanded answers about the transition’s progress during a Green River City Council meeting and were informed by Police Chief Tom Jarvie that the city had consulted veterinary experts, received recommendations for alternatives, ordered equipment and an “injector,” and were upgrading a room in the shelter for injected euthanasia.
Meanwhile, the shelter is continuing to kill animals via gassing, according to the news reports. We will keep watching this case to make sure the changes are implemented.–Lady Freethinker Staff
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The horrors for an unsuspecting dog forced into a gas chamber start with the loud and frightening noise of deadly gas. Then come muscle spasms, as coordination fails. Convulsions are common during the excruciating and painfully prolonged process that follows — with studies recording heartbeats for up to 20 minutes after animals are exposed to carbon monoxide.
Death by gas chamber has been deemed so inhumane that the cruel practice is only legally allowed in animal shelters in four states — and most of those states have no existing chambers, although the laws are still in the books.
But Green River Animal Control, in Wyoming, is still operating a brutal carbon monoxide gas chamber — and it is high time they replace this cruel killing machine.
Carbon monoxide poisoning can cause significant distress to animals, cannot be relied on to deliver a rapid or even certain death, poses significant physical health risks for shelter staff, and is a more expensive method than euthanasia by injection (EBI).
Sign our petition urging Green River Mayor Pete Rust and the City Council to outlaw the use of any cruel gas chambers within his jurisdiction and to transition to humane methods for euthanizing animals.
Target: Michelle Cooley, Founder and President of Kaaawa K9 Rescue
Goal: Ensure health and safety of rescue animals at seemingly neglectful facility.
Five dogs allegedly had to be rescued from a rescue facility in Hawaii. The Hawaii Humane Society took custody of the dogs from Kaaawa K9 Rescue after abuse allegations were made online and to local authorities about the organization. The accusations stated that animals were in poor health and possibly being neglected.
The owner of the organization claims the issues are due to a landlord dispute and a recent alleged arson on the property. While the local humane society found no outright evidence of abuse, the fact that they felt compelled to remove nearly half a dozen animals from a property charged with the care of these animals is disturbing. Even the owner herself reportedly admits difficulty in keeping up with care of these animals.
Sign the petition below to urge closure of an aid facility that has seemingly become a danger itself.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear Ms. Cooley,
No matter the source of your recent troubles with Kaaawa K9 Rescue, you have reportedly admitted that these issues are impeding your ability to care for at-risk animals. The mission of a rescue organization should always put the vulnerable living beings under its care first. Please honor this mission.
Close Kaawa until this organization can live up to its billing.
UPDATE (8/9/2022): Great News! On July 29th, International Tiger Day, the House of Representatives passed the Big Cat Public Safety Act. Now, the bill is headed to the Senate. Add your signature now to urge them to pass this lifesaving legislation! — Lady Freethinker Staff
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Thousands of big cats are wasting away as “pets” in the United States. These majestic animals are torn from their mothers while only babies and may spend their lives pacing miserably in tiny, cramped cages with no hope of a natural life.
Not only do these animals suffer mentally and physically, but they are also a threat to people, with hundreds of dangerous incidents involving big cats and humans occurring over the last 30 years.
The Big Cat Public Safety Act (BCPSA) — introduced in the House as HR 263 and in the Senate as S1210 — seeks to ban private individuals from owning any big cat species and restrict direct contact between these animals and the general public.
Only licensed facilities would be allowed to house big cats, effectively removing these animals from roadside zoos.
The BCPSA needs your support!
Sign this petition urging Congress to pass this important bill for big cat protections and to save thousands of big cats from suffering.
Target: Deb Haaland, United States Secretary of the Interior
Goal: Demand all wolf hunting be banned to protect this important species.
A Montana woman, Amber Rose Barnes, reportedly bragged about killing what she “thought” to be a baby wolf. In a Facebook post, she apparently wrote how excited she was about the opportunity to “take another predator wolf pup,” seemingly expecting to be celebrated by the online community. However, in the extremely disturbing photos posted to accompany the text, one thing is made blatantly apparent—Barnes did not slaughter a wolf puppy, but instead, had seemingly hunted and skinned a domestic husky puppy.
Barnes is a part of a subculture of people who seemingly do not understand the ecological significance of these species—who apparently take pride in killing beautiful animals and are enabled to do so without any regard for the animals’ welfare by the law. While on February 10, 2022 several federal protections were reinstated for wolves in much of the contiguous United States, these protections were not restored in the Northern Rocky Mountain Region. This region, however, is the site where over 80% of wolf hunting occurs, with over 1,000 wolves being slaughtered here on a yearly basis.
Sign this petition to demand legislators restore vital protections for wolves in the Northern Rockies and prevent despicable people from partaking in their ruthless slaughter.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear Secretary Haaland,
A Montana woman by the name of Amber Rose Barnes reportedly killed and skinned a husky puppy by mistake when hunting for wolves. This incident comes after the decision earlier this year to restore federal protections for wolves in some—but not all—of the United States. These protections were not reinstated in the Northern Rocky Mountain Region, where over 80% of wolf hunting occurs and over 1,000 wolves are slaughtered each year. We should not be encouraging people to commit unnecessary acts of violence against wolves. Not only are they beautiful, highly social creatures, but they are extremely important to the ecosystems of which they are a part and have formidable impacts on entire geographical regions.
We are asking you, Ms. Haaland, to protect wolves in all regions throughout the U.S. and stop allowing this bloodshed.
Target: Joseph R. Biden, President of the United States
Goal: Ban the inhumane practice of gassing dogs and cats at kill shelters.
Dogs and cats in kill shelters are euthanized at alarming rates. While the number of animals euthanized has decreased significantly from previous years–it was in the millions just a few years ago–hundreds of thousands of dogs and cats still face this cruel fate each year in the United States.
Kill shelters usually give their pets a mere 72 hours and, if the pet doesn’t get adopted within this minimal time frame, they are euthanized in the name of population management. Sometimes, dogs or cats considered “desirable” will be given a little extra time, though it is only a matter of a day or two. Animals that are killed are usually perfectly healthy and often extremely sociable–they are by no means unadoptable, just victims of poor circumstance and timing.
Among the many methods of euthanization is gassing. Unfortunately, though outlawed in the majority of states, this practice is still legal in four states–namely Ohio, Wyoming, Missouri and Utah. Gas chambers are regarded as a particularly efficient method for euthanizing animals, as they allow workers to kill the most animals in the least amount of time. Gas chambers are metal boxes that emit either carbon monoxide (CO) or carbon dioxide (CO2) in high doses.
To save money spent on CO and CO2 gasses, tens of animals are usually cramped into the chamber at once. Animals are stressed and scared as they enter the unfamiliar environment that often reeks of the urine, blood, and feces of animals from prior executions. Dogs and cats cry out as they are being gassed and desperately try to escape, sometimes even breaking their own claws as they try to dig their way to freedom. Arguably the most disturbing part is that it might be upwards of forty minutes before an animal loses consciousness, so they are subjected to these agonizing conditions for a prolonged period of time.
Dogs and cats belong in homes to be loved and cared for, not thrown into metal gas chambers and discarded as if they are trash. Sign this petition to encourage that gas chambers be banned on a national level–there are more humane methods of euthanization, and it is our duty to ensure these methods are the ones implemented.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear President Biden,
The practice of euthanizing adoptable dogs and cats at overcrowded shelters is still very common throughout the United States. Among these methods of euthanization exists an unusually cruel method of torture–known as a gas chamber. Gas chambers, which are metal crates that emit copious amounts of poisonous gasses such as carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide, are outlawed in most states. However, this means of euthanization is still legal and routinely practiced in four American states: Ohio, Wyoming, Missouri and Utah.
Dogs and cats subjected to these conditions suffer agonizing deaths. Tens of animals are thrown into a chamber at once, oftentimes stressed and scared by the strange environment. According to eyewitness accounts of the gassing process, animals typically cry out and try–without success–to dig their way out of the chambers. When unloading and discarding the bodies, shelter workers often notice injuries–like broken bones and claws–sustained during the gassing. Worst of all, it could take up to forty minutes for animals to completely lose consciousness, meaning they suffer immensely throughout this wretched process.
If dogs and cats must be killed by these shelters, we at least owe them a more humane death. Euthanization, by definition, means a painless death, so how can we continue to allow this as a permissible euthenasisa form? We are asking you, President Biden, to reduce the suffering of dogs and cats at shelters and to enact a national law banning the use of gas chambers in all states.
Target: Joseph R. Biden, President of United States
Goal: Ban discriminatory laws targeting particular dog breeds.
Breed Specific Legislation (BSL) is the term applied to any law that places stricter restrictions on or even bans the ownership of certain dogs on the basis of their breed. Though thought of as a preventative measure to protect people from “dangerous” dog breeds, there is no clear evidence that BSL is even effective in reducing dog bite attacks. Dogs commonly included among these discriminatory laws are Pit Bull Terriers, German Shepherds, Rottweilers, English Bull Terriers, Doberman Pinschers, Staffordshire Bull Terriers, Chow Chows, Mastiffs, and may extend to other breeds that resemble these dogs.
While federal bills enacting BSL in the United States were phased out in 2006 and 2010, individual states and cities are now allowed to make their own regulations regarding which types of dogs are allowed where. Several states, like New York and Texas, have specific laws that regulate dangerous dogs individually, instead of enforcing discriminatory BSL policies against entire breeds of dogs. However, more than 700 U.S. cities in 36 states have enacted breed-specific laws. In these places it is illegal to own specific dogs due to their appearance, or dogs of certain breeds are highly regulated and aren’t afforded the same rights as non-targeted breeds. Dogs of certain breeds are even banned from national military bases, as instituted by policies regulated by the Residential Communities Initiative consortium.
In addition to the fact that BSL is not even effective in enhancing public safety, the enactment of these unfair laws also reinforces negative stereotypes for the dogs it targets, which has many devastating consequences. Pit Bulls, and other “bully” breeds, are among the first to be killed in shelters and Pit Bulls/ Pit Bull mixes are by far the most euthanized breed in American shelters.
Serious incidents relating to dog bites are more likely the cause of individual behavioral issues or irresponsible ownership than they are a result of a given dogs’ breed. All dogs have the ability to bite. Sign this petition to end unfair discriminatory legislation against specific dogs and to ban BSL at a federal level.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear President Biden,
The practice of discriminating against dogs on the basis of their breed– known as Breed Specific Legislation (BSL)– is still legal in many cities and states throughout the U.S. BSL targets a dozen or so dogs, including Pit Bulls, Rottweilers, and German Shepherds, in an unfounded attempt to reduce dog bite attacks and enhance public safety in the process. Laws often restrict where dogs of certain breeds can go, or prohibit ownership of these breeds altogether.
There has been no evidence that BSL has been effective in minimizing dog bite incidents. In fact, BSL has done more harm than good. Pit Bulls and other “bully” breeds suffer immensely from the harsh stereotypes forced upon them. These dogs are among the first to be euthanized by U.S. shelters and Pit Bulls remain the number one most euthanized breed of dog. BSL fully neglects the influence of other, more relevant factors contributing to dog bite incidents, including individual behavioral issues and poor ownership.
We are asking you, President Biden, to please support federal legislation to ban this unfair discrimination of dogs on the basis of their appearances. You will save millions of lives in the process.
Target: Craig Alexander Newmark, Founder of Craigslist
Goal: Demand Craigslist and other online domains be more vigilant about the sale of puppy mill dogs on their sites.
Puppy mills are particularly cruel operations. At these breeding facilities, dogs are kept in overcrowded, unsanitary conditions, forced to live in tiny cages that are rarely—if ever—cleaned. Due to the close confines and lack of veterinary care access, dogs at these mills often fall sick and premature death is relatively common. Puppies are removed from their mothers shortly after birth, so that their mothers can move onto producing yet another litter. These dogs are often not even let out of their cages to exercise or interact with humans, leaving them unsocialized and anxious. Puppy mills largely neglect the needs of mother dogs and puppies, as the sole goal of their operation is to produce as many dogs as possible to sell for as much money as possible.
While many states have begun banning the sale of dogs in pet stores—as most of these dogs are supplied by abusive puppy mill operations—puppy mill owners have found creative ways around in person sales. Owners have grown increasingly reliant on online forums, such as Craigslist and Ebay, where they deceive customers with pictures of happy and healthy puppies in fields with bows—shielding the public from the harsh reality of their business.
While Craigslist has formally banned the sale of live animals on its website, backyard breeders and mill operators are still easily able to sell their animals on the site under false pretenses. Sign this petition to demand Craigslist pay more close attention to the sale of live animals on its site and forbid any further posts advertising available puppies.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear Mr. Newmark,
While Craigslist formally prohibits the sale of live animals, many illegal or unethical breeders have found ways around this ban and continue to sell their animals on your online platform. Craigslist has become a hotspot for puppy mill operators to advertise their dogs under the guise of being a reputable breeder. Though they advertise healthy looking puppies in spacious fields with bows in their fur, these images couldn’t be farther from the truth. Dogs at puppy mills suffer extreme abuse, as they are viewed only as vessels to breed and sell for profit rather than as animals with individual needs.
We are asking you, Mr. Newmark, to be more vigilant about the sale of puppy mill dogs on your site and to prevent Craigslist from being involved in illegal and unethical puppy trafficking operations.
Target: Alan Wilson, Attorney General of South Carolina
Goal: Demand the alleged operators of the largest known dogfighting operation in South Carolina history be prosecuted and punished to the full extent of the law.
Recently, over 300 dogs were rescued from what officials consider the largest dogfighting ring in South Carolina history. Over 60 state and federal officers reportedly interrupted a scheduled dogfighting match in Richmond County, in addition to executing search warrants at nearby properties rumored to contain dogfighting associations. Officers were stunned by the cruelty they seemingly witnessed at these locations. Dogfighting paraphernalia was reportedly scattered about, and emaciated puppies with their rib cages showing were apparently found chained to trees and shoved in filthy cages.
So far, more than 20 individuals have been arrested for charges relating to animal cruelty. According to the Animal Welfare Act, individuals can face up to five years in prison for dogfighting charges. While the dogs are currently being taken care of by the Humane Society of the United States and Bark Nation, the sad reality is that many of these dogs will likely have to be euthanized, since their sole life purpose up until this point had seemingly been to fight and they are too aggressive to be placed into loving homes.
Sign this petition to demand all found guilty of involvement are punished at the fullest extent of the law. Dogfighting has no home here in the United States, or anywhere else.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear Attorney General Wilson,
It has been brought to public attention that over 300 dogs were reportedly rescued from an undercover dogfighting ring in South Carolina thought to have been the largest such operation in the states’ history. Officials on site at the 20+ search warrant properties were stunned by the apparent cruelty they witnessed, and images taken depict starved puppies with their rib cages showing chained to trees by heavy metal links, with others shoved in filthy, barren cages. Unfortunately, although the dogs are in the custody of the Humane Society of the United States and Bark Nation, most of these dogs–who reportedly spent their entire lives being trained to fight and kill–will most likely have to be euthanized.
Dogfighting is a terrible crime, and we are asking you, Mr. Wilson, that all individuals found guilty of involvement be punished at the fullest extent of the law.
Goal: Help victims of domestic violence by protecting their pets.
An estimated 71% of women at domestic violence shelters report that their abusers also targeted their pets, according to Representative Angela Romero of Salt Lake City. Abusers also often exploit their victims’ emotional attachment to pets as a tactic of manipulation, and about 25% of domestic violence survivors say they return to their abusers because they are worried about the safety of their pets.
A bill that would provide vital protections for pets against instances of domestic abuse has passed the Utah House. If this bill passes the Senate, Utah will follow thirty-five other states which already have similar protections in place. Not only would this bill save animals from suffering, it would also provide psychological support to survivors of domestic abuse and stalking.
Sign this petition to demand the state of Utah stand up for their survivors and pass this protective legislation.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear President Stuart Adams,
A bill has recently passed the Utah House which would instate vital protections for pets targeted by acts of domestic abuse. In addition to helping to reduce animal suffering, this bill would also help survivors of domestic violence feel like they can escape their situations. About a quarter of domestic violence survivors say they return to their abusers because they are worried about the safety of their pets. With this bill, survivors can be assured that their pets will be taken care of.
We are asking you, Mr. Adams, to join thirty-five other states in prioritizing the physical and psychological welfare of animals and victims over domestic abusers. Pass this bill in the Utah Senate.
There are two ways to be fooled. One is to believe what isn’t true; the other is to refuse to believe what is true. —Soren Kierkegaard. "...truth is true even if nobody believes it, and falsehood is false even if everybody believes it. That is why truth does not yield to opinion, fashion, numbers, office, or sincerity--it is simply true and that is the end of it" - Os Guinness, Time for Truth, pg.39. “He that takes truth for his guide, and duty for his end, may safely trust to God’s providence to lead him aright.” - Blaise Pascal. "There is but one straight course, and that is to seek truth and pursue it steadily" – George Washington letter to Edmund Randolph — 1795. We live in a “post-truth” world. According to the dictionary, “post-truth” means, “relating to or denoting circumstances in which objective facts are less influential in shaping public opinion than appeals to emotion and personal belief.” Simply put, we now live in a culture that seems to value experience and emotion more than truth. Truth will never go away no matter how hard one might wish. Going beyond the MSM idealogical opinion/bias and their low information tabloid reality show news with a distractional superficial focus on entertainment, sensationalism, emotionalism and activist reporting – this blogs goal is to, in some small way, put a plug in the broken dam of truth and save as many as possible from the consequences—temporal and eternal. "The further a society drifts from truth, the more it will hate those who speak it." – George Orwell “There are two ways to be fooled. One is to believe what isn’t true; the other is to refuse to believe what is true.” ― Soren Kierkegaard
Following in the spirit of Britain's Queen Boudica, Queen of the Iceni. A boudica.us site. I am an opinionator, do your own research, verification. Reposts, reblogs do not neccessarily reflect our views.
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