This change is going to adversely affect cat/kitten rescues, people who foster cats and kittens and the thousands of wonderful people who feed community cats, as well as many cat owners.
The image of a windswept young woman holding tight to the leads of nine dogs under an ominously dark sky spread far and wide at the time of the Battle of Kyiv.
The apparent bravery of the woman, who was attempting an audacious evacuation across a broken bridge targeted by Russian fire, and the vulnerability of the animals, some of whom were strapped into dog wheelchairs, epitomised to many the cruelty of the war being waged by Vladimir Putin and the dignity of the Ukrainian response.
The full story of the trials of Anastasiya Tykha, 20, a veterinary student in the final year of her degree, and her husband Arthur Lee, 26, is perhaps even more striking than the photograph, which the couple discovered had gone viral when Tykha saw herself on the television news and listened to the presenter report that she was dead.
Anastasiya Tykha and some of her dogs attempting to travel from Irpin to Kyiv under Russian fire in March. Photograph: Handout
Speaking in Irpin, the town 13 miles north of Kyiv from where the couple had fled on 9 March, Tykha said they ended up making seven crossings of the bridge in total, each one under fire.
âWe had too much to do to be worried or scaredâ, said Tykha, who has run an animal shelter in Irpin for four years, and who on that first journey was seeking to escape with 19 dogs, five cats, a turtle, a chameleon, two Triton lizards, an axolotl and a hamster.
It was Snizhana Bugryk, 35, a friend who was involved in finding abandoned and disabled animals for Tykha and Leeâs shelter, who persuaded the couple that they had no choice but to leave.
âSnizhana said we had to go or we would be killed, that this was our last chance for us and the animals to survive,â said Tykha. âAnd she was rightâ, added Lee. âOur house was later in the heart of the heavy fighting.â
It was a two-mile walk to the bridge where Ukrainian soldiers were helping people across.
An aerial view of the town of Irpin, 13 miles north of Kyiv, which has suffered heavy Russian bombardment. Photograph: Google Earth
Two of the dogs â Strong and Baileys, mongrel border collies with broken spines â were in wheelchairs, while Life, a four-year-old with amputated legs, had refused to be strapped in and was dragging herself on her stumps. âI did think at one point that we would not make it,â said Lee, âbut Snizhana called and said there would be a minibus on the other side to helpâ.
It took three hours to get to the bridge. One dog, Pandora, a one-and-a-half-year-old mongrel Belgian shepherd, was so terrified that he bit off part of his tongue, while four of the others, including the coupleâs own dog, Zeus, a beagle, became so worked up by the sounds of war they chewed through their leads and ran away.
Arriving exhausted at the Ukrainian checkpoint by the bridge, the couple and their animals drew the attention of press photographers, who crowded around them.
âThat was when that photo was taken â I just wanted them to let us get through to the bridge,â said Tykha. âI was worried because there were burned out cars and lots of smashed glass and metal, and I didnât want the animals to be cut up.â
A group of Ukrainian soldiers came to their aid, ushering the photographers away. âThere were explosions and shooting but after two weeks of Russian occupation, we were used to it,â Lee said.
The couple found the minivan and it took them to a south-western district of Kyiv, where a sauna on the side of a house had been made available to them and their animals to stay in.
It was the next day that the couple discovered that their adventures were being talked about across Ukraine, and that Tykha was presumed dead.
They were determined to go back to find Zeus and the other dogs who had fled in fear.
âWe were in the sauna for five days, but every one of those days Anastasiya went to the Ukrainian military checkpoint and demanded that she be allowed through to get the escaped dogs,â said Lee. Every day the commander at the checkpoint refused, and every day she came back. He was finally browbeaten into submission.
Anastasiya and Arthur have returned to Irpin, where they now care for 30 dogs and 10 cats. Photograph: Ed Ram/The Guardian
After crossing the bridge, again under fire, they faced a three-mile walk to a an abandoned animal shelter, where they knew there were hungry dogs who needed help.
âIt was a hard walk because we had all this heavy food,â said Lee. They returned to their own home, where they found Zeus, and picked up some neighboursâ dogs, including a German shepherd, bringing their party of animals for the return to five.
They would make two further trips, and all the dogs that fled on the first escape were accounted for.
Lee said their final trip back to Irpin, on 29 March, was the scariest. âThe council had said that the Russians had gone the previous day and that it was safe â but it wasnât,â Lee said. âThe bombs were landing just 2 metres from us. We hid between the minivan and a fence, but it was close.â
Now they are back in Irpin in a new, rented house. Because so many former residents have left, their collection of sheltered animals has grown to 30 dogs and 10 cats. They are, the couple say, just happy to be living the life they love.
You’ve read 9 articles in the last year
Russiaâs invasion of Ukraine has abruptly transformed the world. Millions of people have already fled. A new Iron Curtain is grinding into place. An economic war deepens, as the military conflict escalates, civilian casualties rise and evidence of horrific war crimes mounts.
Itâs our job at the Guardian to decipher a rapidly changing landscape, particularly when it involves a mounting refugee crisis and the risk of unthinkable escalation. Our correspondents are on the ground in Ukraine and throughout the globe delivering round-the-clock reporting and analysis during this perilous situation.
We know there is no substitute for being there â and weâll stay on the ground, as we did during the 1917 Russian Revolution, the Ukrainian famine of the 1930s, the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 and the first Russo-Ukrainian conflict in 2014. We have an illustrious, 200-year history of reporting throughout Europe in times of upheaval, peace and everything in between. We wonât let up now.
Tens of millions have placed their trust in the Guardianâs fearless journalism since we started publishing 200 years ago, turning to us in moments of crisis, uncertainty, solidarity and hope. Weâd like to invite you to join more than 1.5 million supporters from 180 countries who now power us financially â keeping us open to all, and fiercely independent.
Unlike many others, the Guardian has no shareholders and no billionaire owner. Just the determination and passion to deliver high-impact global reporting, always free from commercial or political influence. Reporting like this is vital to establish the facts: who is lying and who is telling the truth.
And we provide all this for free, for everyone to read. We do this because we believe in information equality. Greater numbers of people can keep track of the global events shaping our world, understand their impact on people and communities, and become inspired to take meaningful action. Millions can benefit from open access to quality, truthful news, regardless of their ability to pay for it.
We dropped our dogs off for a long weekend boarding stay on Thursday, 5/5/22. We messaged the pet sitter thru the Rover app on Monday, 5/9/22 to let him know that we would be arriving at 11am to pick up our boys. No response. We arrived at 10:58am. No response upon arrival. He then came around the corner with one of our dogs on a leash, but not our lilâ guy Zukie/Mr. Magoo.
The pet sitter then claimed that our fur baby had gotten out 30 minutes earlier. He claims his father-in-law did not shut the gate. Our sweet boy had clearly been left outside unattended for him to access the gate.
The pet sitter searched for about an hour with us. Then stopped.
My husband and I continued searching into the night. Putting up flyers with a Reward. Going door to door. Posting all over social media. No luck. We resumed the search first thing the following morning.
We then received the call that all pet parents dread, someone had seen him dead on the side of the road. I drove to the scene and collapsed by his side . His vest/ harness ripped, his tags removed. I held his little lifeless body and wept. I wrapped him in a blanket and drove to the nearest vet where we were told that severe head trauma caused his death. We said our final goodbye.
He died alone.
Terrified.
The pet sitter did not contact Rover.com to advise of his disappearance.
The pet sitter did not notify us when our fur baby went missing.
The pet sitter did not respond to my husband when he messaged him asking for the video footage from the cameras on the house.
The pet sitter showed no remorse.
Now, Rover.comâŠwho claims that âpet safety is our priorityâ , âbacked by the security of a nationwide companyâ , and âpremium insurance helps create a fun, carefree stayâ⊠had the audacity to call and inform us that they would be willing to âreimburse us for the boarding stayâ and would cover the cost of our sweet boyâs cremation/remains, and provided âcondolences â while then strategically stating that the pet sitter is an independent contractor.
Help us get #JusticeForZukie âŠ
1) Demand that Rover.com release the number of wrongful pet deaths that occur due to pet sitter negligence. 2)Demand that Rover.com PERMANENTLY remove the pet sitter whose neglect and incompetence killed our fur baby. 3) Demand that Rover.com be held accountable for negligent and intentional misrepresentation of services.
What is happening there at this very moment is inconceivable , all domestic animals in Shanghai (cats, dogs, etc.) are taken from their owners by the Chinese army andkilled in cold blood , witnesses have filmed the facts.
Being very sensitive, sensible and committed, I can’t endorse this and I know I’m not alone! So no, I won’t just fall asleep with these horrible images in my head and you shouldn’t knowingly do the same.
Dogs killed, cats locked on top of each other in bags, it’s a sight from hell! And I weigh my words
, so yes, I am mobilizing with the little that I have, help me in this enterprise, perhaps we can prevent this massacre from continuing, think of these people who see their beloved animals being kidnapped and sentenced to death sure , it’s INHUMAN! I refuse to let this pass, join me, let ‘stry on our scale to move and change things , you who are undoubtedly committed to the cause and animal protection.
If you are looking to hit the open roads this summer with your cuddly companion, finding the ter-rufff-ic spot might be hard.
To celebrate National Pet Day on Monday, BestPlaces, an online resource for finding the best place to live, and Motel 6 have done some leg work for you. They chose 10 of the best cities by analyzing the availability of local dog parks, greenspaces, hiking and walking trails, pet stores, veterinarians and dog-friendly dining options.
“Local climate was also considered, because itâs a challenge to go exploring when the temperature is over a hundred or there are drifts of snow,” BestPlaces president Bert Sperling said.
They also determined the ideal place to stop for some rest, adventure or exploration.
“Each of these places are interesting enough that you may even want to make these your ultimate destination for sightseeing and relaxing,” Sperling said.
#10. Charlottesville, Virginia
Coming in No. 10 on the list is Charlottesville, Virginia, located 30 minutes from the northern end of the Blue Ridge Parkway, which stretches to the south along the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Temperatures on National Pet Day at the home of the University of Virginia and Thomas Jefferson’s famed estate, Monticello, will be sunny with a high near 70 degrees.
#9. Asheville, North Carolina
According to BestPlaces, Asheville, North Carolina, loves its dogs and has everything youâll need on your road trip â which is why the town’s hip and laid-back, yet cosmopolitan vibe, comes in at No. 9.
Mostly sunny skies with a high near 73 degrees is expected Monday which will satisfy your pup on the hundreds of spots to walk or hike through the woods along the Blue Ridge Parkway.
#8. Bend, Oregon
Located in the drier high desert region of Oregon, east of the soggy Willamette Valley, the outdoor recreation hotspot of Bend, Oregon, has a strong dog-friendly culture, BestPlaces reports. There are ample opportunities for your dog to be part of your adventures like mountain biking, kayaking, hiking, skiing and climbing.
However, you might look to take a play date inside Monday because there is a chance of snow under partly sunny skies with a high near 45 degrees.
#7. Richmond, Kentucky
Don’t let the 20% chance of showers Monday stop you from exploring Richmond, Kentucky. A high near 72 degrees will greet you on your road trip through the South.
This best place for your pet hits at No. 7 and located near St. Louis and just south of Lexington, is ideal when the weather up north turns cold and icy.
#6. Gloucester, Massachusetts
Near the middle of the pack is the fishing town of Gloucester, Massachusetts located about an hour north of Boston. The No. 6 stop is steeped in New England history and scored the highest in BestPlaces’ list for the number of nearby hiking and walking resources, and there are plenty of pet amenities available.
Sunny skies, a high near 54 degrees and northwest winds at 10 to 16 mph are in the forecast Monday.
#5. Newport, Rhode Island
Fido will surely enjoy the brisk sea air and pleasant summer climate in Newport, Rhode Island, which has been a popular tourist destination along the Atlantic seaboard. Youâll find plenty of dog parks, greenspaces and parks to stretch your legs, BestPlaces reports.
Sunny skies, a high near 56 degrees is expected on National Pet Day.
#4. Mount Pleasant, South Carolina
Just north of Charleston, South Carolina, is the city of Mount Pleasant comes in at No. 4 on the list. Nestled along Highway 17 along the Atlantic coast, this city’s mild winter climate is a warm and welcoming change to the chilly Northeast winter. Monday will be sunny, with a high near 73 degrees.
#3. Santa Fe, New Mexico
Like BestPlaces’ other top picks, Santa Fe, New Mexico, has plenty of per-friendly amenities like pet stores, vets and a dog-friendly policy which allows them in outdoor dining venues. The city’s “dramatic high-desert setting has its own special beauty that you wonât forget,” BestPlaces reports.
Mostly sunny, with a high near 65 degrees, on Monday will be ideal for a lunch date with your dog.
#2. Rockville, Maryland
If you are looking to explore the Washington DC area with your pet, Rockville, Maryland has everything your they from dog parks, greenspaces, nearby state and national parks and local veterinarians.
Mostly sunny, with a high near 62 degrees, will make for a ter-rufff-ic beginning to the workweek.
#1. Santa Monica, California
And drumroll, please âŠ
When you and your pet are on the road, BestPlaces said there is no better place to hang out than Santa Monica, California. Located on the Pacific Ocean, the city offers hundreds of hiking and walking trails in near-perfect climate.
You might think about sharing a meal with your fur-buddy by dining at any one of their popular open-air patios. While some there is patchy fog expected Monday, otherwise enjoy the sun and high near 64 degrees Monday.
The Miami-Dade County Animal Services has issued a warning for dog owners and urged them to avoid taking their pets to public places due to a contagious disease spreading throughout South Florida.
According to the Veterinary nurseâs website, CIRDC is a highly contagious disease transmissible via the oronasal route, inhalation, and direct contact.
âA disease that is caused by multiple viruses and bacteria that pretty much infect the respiratory tract of dogs and can cause pretty severe infection including pneumonia,â said Miami-Dade County Animal Services Chief Veterinarian Dr. Maria Serrano.
Recently there have been many cases of CIRDC reported throughout South FL. We urge dog owners to help protect their pets from the spread of the virus by visiting their veterinarian, keeping their dogs current on routine vaccines, & avoiding settings with multiple dogs. pic.twitter.com/7tTUlaxTwn
â Miami-Dade County Animal Services (@AdoptMiamiPets) March 22, 2022
A recent increase in the number of Canine Infectious Respiratory Disease Complex cases across South Florida has one county warning dog owners to be on the lookout.
Miami-Dade Animal Services is urging owners to help protect their pets from the spread of the virus by keeping dogs on current vaccine routines, avoiding dog parks or other areas with multiple dogs, and with visits to their veterinarian.
MDAS is also suspending spay and neuter surgeries along with vaccinations and microchipping at its Wellness Clinic, owner surrender and offsite pet adoption events.
CIRDC is highly contagious and can pose a serious health risk to dogs. The disease can spread rapidly among dogs that are housed together or those in close proximity to each other such as in kennels, dog parks or grooming facilities.
CIRDC is spread by direct contact with an infected dog and by contact with people who have been exposed to the virus. The virus can be carried on peopleâs clothing, hands, and on items such as food and water bowls, collars, leashes, toys, and bedding.
Coughing dogs produce virus-containing mists that can travel 20 feet or more. Symptoms include coughing, sneezing, and discharge from the nose and/or eyes.
If you think your dog is showing signs of CIRDC, contact your vet immediately. The virus is easily killed by most disinfectants, handwashing with soap, washing clothes and bedding, along with washing food bowls and toys.
TheIditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, more commonly known asThe Iditarod, is an annual long-distancesled dograce run in early March. It travels fromAnchoragetoNome, entirely within the US state ofAlaska.Mushersand a team of 14 dogs,of which at least 5must be on the towline at the finish line, cover the distance in 8â15 days or more.The Iditarod began in 1973 as an event to test the best sled dog mushers and teams but evolved into todayâs highly competitive race.
Teams generally race throughblizzardscausingwhiteoutconditions, sub-zero temperatures and gale-force winds which can causeâŠ
Animalcouriers is offering free road transport for Ukrainian family pets from Poland to the UK (or to other selected locations on the route, such as Frankfurt, Brussels and Paris).
Our idea is to transport pets for owners whoâve had to leave Ukraine and are making their own way to the UK (or to other destinations on the route).
For all pets, we need to know what veterinary records are available. For dogs, cats and ferrets, we need to know if they have microchips and current rabies vaccinations.
UK entry requirements
To enter the UK, dogs, cats and ferrets will need microchips, current rabies vaccinations and EU pet passports. We can help organise all these steps. Once an EU pet passport is issued, the pet has to wait three weeks before it can enter the UK. We can organise boarding at Calais for those pets, and collect them once their passports become valid for UK entry.
Eurostar doesnât take pets
Pet owners should be aware that pets arenât allowed on Eurostar trains. For Ukrainian owners planning to use Eurostar to travel to London, we can offer collection of their pets at continental European locations for onward travel by road to the UK.
Make an enquiry
To enquire about this service, please email courier@animalcouriers.com and put âUkrainian pet travel from Polandâ in the subject line of your email.
Information for people leaving Ukraine with their pets
The situation for people leaving Ukraine with their pets is evolving. Poland, for example, is allowing all pets into the country, whether or not they have microchips, rabies vaccinations or any form of pet passport.
Other EU countries are accepting pets at border crossings and many are taking the same approach as Poland. Theyâre making exceptions to their usual rules about dogs, cats and ferrets needing microchips, rabies vaccinations and pet passports. In some cases, the arrival country is microchipping and vaccinating such pets on arrival.
IFAW, the International Fund for Animal Welfare, is responding to the situation in Ukraine by providing emergency animal aid to the country. Itâs also gathering and verifying resources for pet owners fleeing Ukraine.
Check back regularly as the situation is dynamic and resources may be changed or added.
UK entry requirements
Owners of dogs, cats and ferrets travelling from Ukraine should bear in mind that, to enter the UK, their pets will need microchips, current rabies vaccinations, successful rabies titre tests, and EU pet passports.
Eurostar doesnât take pets
Pet owners travelling from Ukraine should be aware that Eurostar trains donât allow any animals on board.
Ask if we can help
Animalcouriers is here to help. Families leaving Ukraine (or their representatives) can contact us for advice about their individual situation and to see whether our road transport services within the EU might be appropriate for their pets.
Ask Congress to Support 2022’s Horse Protection Platform!
This year in Congress, your legislators have many important opportunities to stand up for America’s horses. And the situation could not be more urgent â especially for wild horses and burros as brutal Bureau of Land Management (BLM), helicopter roundups are underway to capture and remove an astounding 19,000 of these iconic animals this year.
Polls taken this month show that 88% of Americans want wild horses protected and 83% oppose slaughtering horses for human consumption. Contact your two U.S. Senators and your U.S. representative in Congress to ask them to honor the will of the American public by supporting what we’re calling the 2022 Horse Protection Platform:
My sweet Londynâ€ïž you were born with difficulties, you flunked puppy school twice, flunked doggy daycare, been kicked out of 3 different groomers and got us banned from Dominoâs delivery but I luv u with all my â€ïž and more #NationalLoveYourPetDaypic.twitter.com/ktbW7J8xBk
She tried to. I told them to leave the order on the porch but the driver started knocking and Londyn went crazy trying to get at him. He told on us and we got an email from Dominoâs đ
BLM to Decimate More Wyoming Wild Horse Herds: Act Now
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) recently released a plan for a mass roundup/removal in the North Lander Complex in Wyoming and we need you to act.
The North Lander Complex is comprised of four Herd Management Areas (Conant Creek, Disphan Butte, Muskrat Basin and Rock Creek Mountain) spanning 375,000 acres of public land where the BLM intends to:
Drastically reduce the wild horse poupopulation from approximately 2,000 to just 320 wild horses;
Castrate 95% or more of the stallions that will be captured and returned to the range;
Insert unproven Intrauterine Devices (IUDs) in a portion of mares to be returned to the range and administer the experimental fertility control vaccine GonaCon to all mares to be released (including those who receive the IUDs);
Skew the sex ratio to 60/40 in favor of stallions.
The plan threatens the wild, free-roaming nature and long-term sustainability of this iconic Wyoming wild mustang herd. Please take one moment to add your name to AWHC’s comments on the Environmental Assessment that analyzes the impacts of the plan.
LETTER
I strongly oppose the Bureau of Land Management’s plan to decimate the wild horse populations in the North Lander Complex in Wyoming, which is comprised of the Conant Creek, Dishpan Butte, Muskrat Basin and Rock Creek Mountain Herd Management Areas (HMAs.
The Environmental Assessment is inadequate because:
The allocation of resources within this complex is inequitable, favoring livestock. At the low end of the BLM’s wild horse population limit, the agency allocates 13 times more forage to privately-owned livestock instead of federally-protected wild horses. The impacts of this preferential treatment of livestock on wild horses and on American Taxpayers have not been analyzed in the EA.
The impacts of cattle grazing on the environment within the Complex have not been evaluated, particularly with regard to spring grazing. The presence of livestock during this senstive new growth season on the land and the wild horse population must be fully analyzed. The EA must include actual range data distinguishing the impacts of wild horses from those of cattle in this analysis.
The following recommendations of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS), which conducted a 1.5-year long review of the BLM Wild Horse and Burro Program regarding castration and IUD’s have not been considered:
â[S]ome or total loss of sex drive would be likely in castrated stallions, and this is counter to the often-stated public interest in maintaining natural behaviors in free-ranging horses [..]â
A potential disadvantage of both surgical and chemical castration is loss of testosterone and consequent reduction in or complete loss of male-type behaviors necessary for maintenance of social organization, band integrity, and expression of a natural behavior repertoire.â
âIUDs may provoke undue uterine inflammation warrants caution and would require further testing before application in the field could be considered. In addition, evidence concerning loss rates of IUDs, especially during copulation, would be needed.â
It does not acknowledge or analyze outstanding questions about the reversibility, impacts and efficacy of using GonaCon due to lack of research and limited use in wild horses. More research on the effects of GonaCon on wild horses is necessary before use of this vaccine as routine management tool.
The BLM must revise the North Lander Compelx plan to:
Adjust livestock use in the Complex in order to give wild horses an equitable share of resources and allow for a larger, genetically healthy and sustainable wild horse population.
Abandon plans to implement surgical sterilization of stallions returned to the range. The impacts of gelding on stallions can be affect their physiology and behavior and affect both herd dynamics and the habitat. Further, it is not an effective population management tool, as a small number of intact stallions can impregnate a large number of mares.
Eliminate the use of IUDs as more research on the safety of this method for wild and free-roaming mares and their welfare is necessary before this option would be appropriate for broad use as a management tool.
Eliminate the use of GonCon for wild mares as use of this vaccine in wild horses is limited, as is research into its impacts and long-term effects. More research on IUD’s in wild horses is necessary before this vaccine would be appropriate for broad use as a management tool.
Incorporate use of the PZP fertility control vaccine, which was recommended for use by the National Academy of Sciences, where necessary within the Complex to stabilize wild herds at sustainable levels.
Abandon plans to skew the sex ratios this method is not scientifically supported and not effective in reducing population growth rates in wild horse populations. The BLM has rejected this alternative in herd management plans for other areas, and should do the same in the North Land Complex.
As an American taxpayer and citizen who expects the federal government to protect and humanely manage America’s iconic wild horses and burros, I urge you to seriously consider these comments.
Target: Newton County, Missouri Prosecutor Will Lynch
Goal: Provide justice for animals that were allegedly found living in filthy conditions without food or water.
Fifty-seven dogs and several cats were rescued after many of them were allegedly found in poor health without access to adequate food and water. It is important that the person allegedly responsible for these crimes receive a harsh sentence and no longer be allowed to have pets to prevent similar future tragedies.
While police have not released the name of the suspect, they did state that some deceased animals were found on the manâs property. Witnesses said that his other dogs had been running around the area, which reportedly led to one of them being hit by a car. According to officers, two of the dogs died shortly after being discovered, even after being provided with proper food and water. Reports state that some of the dogs were living in crates that were filled with waste. A Dachshund and cat were further allegedly crammed inside a crate together without food or water.
Authorities claim that the property was not habitable because of a prior fire and that the dwelling had no power or water access. The man further allegedly threatened to blow up the local police station if any of his animals were taken from his property. The suspected individual is currently being evaluated by mental health officials. Sign this petition to demand justice for these innocent animals if it is found they were harmed, neglected or killed by this person.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear Prosecutor Lynch,
A man is currently being observed during a 96-hour hospital watch after many dogs and cats were allegedly found dead or living in poor conditions without food or water on his property. It is important that justice is served for these animals if they were mistreated so that more creatures will be less likely to be harmed.
Deceased animals were reportedly found at the residence. It is also claimed that one dog was run over by a car while running around loose. Authorities claimed that two dogs were so sick that they died shortly after they were rescued and that some of the animals were living in feces filled crates. They also stated a dog and cat were being held in a small crate together and that they had no room to move around, or any way to gain access to water or food.
According to reports, the property had no power or water access because it had previously been destroyed by a fire. The man also allegedly threatened to blow up the police department if authorities seized his animals. For these reasons, I demand you suggest the accused party no longer be allowed to be around animals and that he receive an appropriate sentence as well as professional counseling if he is found guilty of such blatant animal cruelty.
Walmart has started selling service dog jackets and ID registration cards.
This is affecting every disabled person with a legitimate task trained service dog. It puts our lives more at risk.
ADA Federal Law, Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990 specifically says that some organizations sell fraudulent registration cards and that they are scams because they hold no legal authority and donot make a dog a service dog.
Extensive training makes a dog a service dog. The fake service dog trend is getting out of control. And Walmart is promoting this for money.
Why do the 500,000 disabled people in the US who own service animals have to worry more about going to Walmart and having our $20,000 dogsattacked by pets in the store. Thatâs 500,000 service dogs lives and safety on the line.
Task trained service dogs save our lives. Mine is for cardiac alert. We encounter pets in Walmart all the time. And Walmart never wants to help.Even when dogs are actively barking and lunging trying to attack.
Instead of making things better and properly educating employees, they are creating a bigger problem by selling these products.
Walmart is not the only one adding to the problem. Thereâs many online stores and websites that also promote this.
Our biggest problem is the uneducated general public. But Walmart is by far the worst place to go with a Service Dog. I shouldnât have to accept the fact that my Medical Alert Service Dog WILL be attacked at some point.
The Fake service dog trend is so out of control that it will happen. And it wonât be just me and my dog. Many service animals have already been attacked. And itâs only going to get worse unless we make a change now.
Target: Mehmet Falakali, former head of the tourism ministryâs Selcuk office
Goal: Stop the festival of camel wrestling occurring in Turkey.
The 40th year of the Camel Wrestling Festival has taken place in Turkey last week. This event takes place annually and thousands of people attend. This year, 152 camels wore saddles and cloths on their humps. The camels wear muzzles to prevent them from using their teeth on each other but nonetheless they fight in sandy areas for everyone to watch. There are referees present as well. The audience sets up tables to barbecue and celebrate the event on the sidelines. This event draws criticism nearly every year from animal rights groups since the camels endure abuse and many injuries during the event. The festival is even being called a criminal act.
The camels are also paraded through the streets for a âpageantâ before the festival. They are not only being abused by wrestling but also exploited for the entertainment of humans. Allegedly, the camels are separated if things get too intense. It is said the camels cannot actually injure each other but, why in the world are camels wrestling? It should not happen at all. The festival organizers excuse the acts by saying it is a tradition and because the event has successfully gone on for years, it should not be stopped. This is not an excuse to put the camels through such abuse for the 40th year in a row.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear Mehmet Falakali,
Your support of this inhumane camel wrestling festival is unacceptable. An animal rights activist group has clearly expressed their concerns and yet, no one has spoken to them about the festival. It is wrong and the camels are in extreme danger due to the actions of the people participating in this event. You have the responsibility to listen to the opposition and ultimately keep your animals safe, and we demand you try to understand the perspective of those who oppose the event. Although it is a tradition, that does not mean it is right. Camels are being exploited and used for entertainment and that is unfair, unsafe, and inhumane. You must listen to the people who disagree and see the wrongdoings of the event. Think about the camels and how they do not deserve this abuse year after year.
Goal: Seek maximum penalty for kennel owner who reportedly abused and neglected dogs.
Dozens of dogs were reportedly confined to small cages and left outside in the snow by kennel owner John Jones. The weather in Michigan dropped to below zero resulting in the water supply freezing, thus apparently leaving the dogs with no drinking water. The dogs reportedly exhibited extreme distress due to lack of exercise. One dog was apparently found dead with straw in his mouth. Jones allegedly did not know the dog had died. Forty dogs were removed from the kennel and Jones is charged with four counts of felony cruelty abuse to animals and three counts misdemeanor.
Multiple complaints were filed regarding the property for months. Several protests were held outside of the sheriffâs office. PETA also accused the property of being a puppy mill. They demanded an investigation against the property and Jones. The department had an open investigation since December. All the living dogs were thankfully rescued and are now safe. They are getting the warmth, care, and safety that they deserved all along.
Jones being charged for alleged abuse is a step in the right direction, but he must suffer consequences if found guilty. Animal abuse is a huge issue that occurs all over the world with many getting away with it. If Jones is convicted and harshly punished, others can see that animal abuse is a real crime that will come with legal consequences.
Sign below and demand that Jones is held legally responsible if he is convicted.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear David Den Houten,
We must make sure John Jones is held accountable for the extreme animal abuse he allegedly caused. Although it is a step in the right direction that he was charged, he must also be made to face real consequences if he is found guilty. Leaving dogs out in the freezing cold with no water supply is illegal and cruel. His apparent abuse resulted in the death of dog.
No animal should be subjected to such cruelty. Please make sure John Jones is harshly punished if convicted of these heinous crimes.
Eleanor Jones 16 January, 2022 20:06 3 – 4 minutes
A 10-year ban has been announced on the donkey skin trade in Tanzania, after fears were raised about the âalarmingâ decline in the countryâs donkey population.
The news has been welcomed as a âstrong step in the right directionâ by those who have been campaigning against the trade.
H&H has reported on declining donkey populations in a number of countries owing to the demand for eijao, a substance found in the skin that is used in Chinese health and beauty products. Equine charity Brooke is among those calling for a worldwide ban on the trade of donkey skins, and a crackdown on smuggling of the animals across borders.
âThis announcement is a fantastic step in the right direction for donkeys and their owners in east Africa,â a Brooke spokesman told H&H.
âWe understand that Tanzania has initiated the ban because they are concerned about donkey numbers, which have been rapidly decreasing. Whilst we would like a more permanent ban based on the welfare of donkeys as well as population, we are still very pleased to have this ban in place. We will continue to work with the government to strengthen bans in Tanzania and other countries in Africa.â
There were an estimated 300,000 donkeys in Tanzania, but the number has been dropping rapidly. The country banned donkey slaughter in 2017 but this was overturned in February 2018, allowing slaughterhouses to reopen.
Hundreds of thousands of donkeys are being slaughtered for their skins and exported every year. In many cases, they are stolen from families who depend on them for their livelihood, driven long distances without food or water and killed in âhorrificâ circumstances.
Dear all, This is regarding Rakesh the elephant who is kept in pathetic conditions in a zoo in Orissa. I was informed that that elephant has been rescued, but that is false. After speaking with Maneka Gandhi, I have come to know that the elephant is kept in a Kraal or trench and canât even turn. She has managed to get the chains removed and his wounds have healed kind of, but he is still imprisoned and is in a bad state. The animal needs to be rescued and freed. We need minimum 2,000 emails written to the Chief Secretary of Odisha. Please write, âFree Rakesh, his shackles have been removed. He is living in a trench and has suffered enough. We need to get him out of there. Once again, the shackles have been removed but his living conditions are pathetic. He needs to be freed.â I am attaching the email. Please, please write an email asking him to free Rakesh the elephant so he can enjoy the rest of his years. Please, please donât ignore this message and please share widely. The email id is asittripathy@gmail.com, Csori@ori.nic.in Regards, Cookkie Khanna
Xylitol is a popular artificial sweetener that can be deadly to your dog.
According to the Food and Drug Administration, the accidental consumption of xylitol by a dog can cause a sudden and life-threatening drop in blood sugar, seizures, liver failure and⊠death
To help warn dog owners, the FDA has created the following video:
What Products Contain Xylitol?
Food products that may contain xylitol include certain brands of peanut butter⊠which can sometimes be used as a tasty âstuffingâ for KongsÂź and other chewable dog toys.
Other products that may contain xylitol include:
Chewing gum
Peanut butter
Breath mints
Mouthwash
Candies
Toothpaste
Baked goods
Tooth whiteners
Chewable vitamins
Sugar-free desserts (like âskinnyâ ice cream)
Brands with a Prior History of Xylitol Content
The following brands have previously been known to contain xylitol. Some of these products may no longer contain the toxic sweetener. So, be sure to check the ingredients of each item listed.
recipient:Â American Vogue and 26 International Editions
Recently, Elle Magazine decided they wanted to be on the right side of history. The company announced that from here on out, all of their magazines â including 45 global editions — would be “fur free!” Halting the promotion and glamorization of fur is just as critical as stopping murderous fur production itself. This is a crucial step towards increasing awareness of animal welfare issues and rejecting the fur industry’s abusive and horrific practices. But other fashion magazines have been hesitant to take the same stance, leaving fur on their covers, editorials, and advertisements â and blood on their hands.
Sign now to demand that Vogue Magazine stop promoting fur in their magazines!Â
Animals raised and killed for their skin and fur live torturous lives for “fashion.” Bred and born mainly on fur farms, creatures such as mink, foxes, chinchillas, and many many more species wallow in misery. They are packed into tight, restrictive, filthy cages. They are deprived of proper care and behavioral outlets â so long as their fur remains in good condition, there is no incentive for farmers to keep them healthy and happy when they are just going to be killed anyway. And the ways in which they are killed are horrific â in order to maintain their coats in the process, they are gassed or even electrocuted with implements placed in their mouths or anuses.Â
Elle’s amazing new animal rights-driven charter eliminated all future content that promotes animal fur — including in print, on its websites, and on social media. This change will reach millions of readers. But Vogue has millions of total web visits, too, along with many print subscribers. So, why won’t the world-renowned fashion magazine stand up for what is right, and what a growing number of young, fashion-interested people want?
There is a strong precedent for Vogue speaking out against injustice and taking a stand to uplift the voices of the marginalized and disenfranchised. Teen Vogue has been a key voice of progessive politics in the past few years, promoting amazing educational content for young people and resisting the unjust politics of Donald Trump’s presidency. Now, Vogue must continue on with the trend — both within their own company and in the industry more broadly — and ban the promotion of fur in all of their magazines.Â
The future of fashion is fur-free. Sign now to demand that Vogue stand with animals around the world and ban fur from their publications!
This jolly pup has cerebellar hypoplasia – where they lose their coordination and balance.. but can live very long, happy, pain-free lives with this condition.đŸđâ
âPuppy farmsâ are industrial breeding mills that often see dogs kept in appalling conditions in order to produce as many as possible. Dogs in these mills are kept in confinement for the majority, and sometimes entirety, of their lifespan. They often suffer from untreated health conditions such as infections, tumours, and dysplasia. Dogs that are kept for breeding purposes are repeatedly impregnated until they are no longer useful, and then often are terminated. Too often dogs who are kept on puppy farms end up suffering from psychological damage and need to receive rehabilitation before they are able to be rehomed.
Puppy farming is not entirely unregulated in South Australia, with the state government introducing a Code of Practice in 2017; however, this code allows abusive behaviours such as keeping the dogs confined for 23 hours and 30 minutes a day. Additionally, it allows the farmers to kill the dogs however they wish to (with the exception of drowning) so long as it âcauses death or unconsciousness as rapidly as possibleâ.
Locally in South Australia there has been multiple proposals to erect new puppy farms. These industrial grade dog-breeding complexes â if approved â would seek to house hundreds of dogs in less than half as many kennels (one example is in Two Wells If approved, 300 dogs would be housed in 114 kennels). The RSPCA Chief Executive Officer Paul Stevenson spoke about the Two Wells proposition, claiming that the mill would have to operate âseven days a week 24 hours a dayâ in order to properly care for the animals, and stated that he was âhorrifiedâ with the proposal.
Australia has a dog overpopulation problem with tens of thousands of dogs being destroyed every year due to shelter overcrowding. This tragedy can be accredited to the fact that we breed thousands of dogs for profit, despite the ongoing epidemic of dog homelessness. The sinister nature of puppy farms is multi-faceted as not only do they seek to keep dogs in sub-par living conditions in order to exploit them for profit, but these farmâs existence adds to the problem of overcrowding in shelters and the needless execution of innocent and unloved dogs and puppies.
The âadopt donât shopâ initiative has done a brilliant job in promoting the grassroots movement of adopting dogs in need rather than contribute to the dog production industry; however, as a community we must put our foot down when we see exploitation at our doorstep.
The Animal Justice Party SA seeks to ban all puppy farms in South Australia in order to expel the exploitation from our state and reduce the needless death toll.
I support the Animal Justice Party SA in seeking to ban all puppy farms in South Australia in order to expel the exploitation from our state and reduce the needless death toll.
Last spring, just as COVID-19 hit our shores, a White Coat Waste Project investigation revealed that taxpayer funding from the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) was secretively funneled to the notorious Wuhan Institute of Virology for wasteful and dangerous experiments on coronavirus-infected bats and other animals⊠including experiments that the State Department warned posed a pandemic risk.
But now, despite being actively investigated for its role in the origins of COVID-19, the NIH says the Wuhan Institute of Virology, and 26 other labs in China, are still eligible to spend U.S. taxpayer money for wasteful, cruel, and hazardous animal experiments until 2024!
We need your help telling the U.S. government to permanently end taxpayer funding for the Wuhan Animal Lab and all other animal testing in China and other foreign countries!Want to know how else your money has been squandered?
Let’s just say the NIH is addicted to spending tens of millions of your tax money at foreign labs where animals are made to get hooked on drugs.
In recent years, Uncle Sam sent $11.6 million of your money to the U.K. to addict “junkie monkeys” to cocaine, morphine, and heroin, over $700,000 to hook zebrafish on nicotine, and $4.9 million to force pregnant mice to consume alcohol to cause birth defects.
It’s time to just say no to this cruel and wasteful spending. Please join me and White Coat Waste Project in urging the U.S. government to cut funding for ALL animal experiments in foreign labs.
The head of an investment firm planning to build a mega slaughterhouse in Wisconsin (worth an estimated 74M) has informed us that they have changed their strategy and are no longer building it, there or anywhere else for that matter. This news comes 15 days after our protest at the home of a key decision maker of the company and 10 days after a productive discussion with the same person.
But our efforts to defeat the mega slaughterhouse have been playing out for over a year and itâs been a roller coaster ride of twists and turns for the many people and groups working on this, including Slaughter Free Milwaukee, Franklin Community Advocates, Slaughter Free Dallas, and Texas Animal Freedom Fighters. We are deeply grateful and inspired for this coordinated effort and all who collaborated with us to play key roles to get where we are today.
Hereâs a timeline of major milestones in this campaign:
September 10, 2020: Strauss announces plans to build new mega slaughterhouse in Milwaukeeâs Century Center.
October 10, 2020: Milwaukee Common Council votes to suspend vote on Strauss mega slaughterhouse, responding to intense media attention and pressure from community activists.
October 21, 2020: Strauss announces it is no longer pursuing Milwaukee as a location for its new mega slaughterhouse due to pressure from community activists.
December 1, 2020: Franklin Community Advocates (and other plaintiffs) file lawsuit against Strauss and City of Franklin over mega slaughterhouse plans.
February 19, 2020: Strauss announces plans to build an even more expansive mega slaughterhouse in its hometown of Franklin, just outside of Milwaukee.
October 13, 2020 to October 20, 2021: Slaughter Free Cities launches pressure campaigns targeting the investment firm that has become the majority owner of Strauss Brands.
October 17, 2021: Slaughter Free Cities organizes protest at the home of one of the founders of this investment firm.
November 1, 2021: We are informed by the head of the firm that plans have changed and the mega slaughterhouse plans are off the table.
To get involved with Slaughter Free Chicago and stay up to date, please sign up for our mailing list.
Robert Grillo is an activist, author and speaker for all species. He is also the founder and director of Free from Harm, a non profit dedicated to helping end animal exploitation.
As a communications professional for over 20 years, Grillo once worked on large food industry accounts where he acquired a behind-the-scenes perspective on food branding and marketing. His book, Farm to Fable: The Fictions of Our Animal-Consuming Culture explores the powerful narratives driving our culture of mass animal consumption.
A high schooler from Minnesota is on a mission of providing mobility to animals with mobility challenges.
During her free time, Shaine Kilyun is building wheelchairs for animals in need. With no one to teach her, the 16-year-old relies on YouTube tutorials to perfect her technique. Her process and finished products become more refined as she makes more of these devices.
Each wheelchair is customized based on the animalsâ specific needs. So far, Shaine has created customized mobility devices for dogs, cats, and, soon, a duck.
As she is self-taught, Shaine works on a trial-and-error basis. She has made wheelchairs for animals of all shapes and sizesâfrom a tiny Chihuahua to a huge Great Dane. She has also come up with a unique locomotion aid for a hedgehog!
As young as she is, Shaine is already doing fantastic work for these animals. The impact of her mission canât be underestimated, especially because mobility can save animals from being euthanized. This young woman is literally saving lives, and sheâs just getting started.
âI just love animals, and I wanted to make a difference somehow,â she told Fox 9. âIâve saved a few lives, and I really hope to save more.â
Shaine has also launched Wheelies Dog and Cat Wheelchairs on Instagram to let the public know about her handmade and low-cost wheelchairs. Her main goal is to make these devices accessible, not to make a profit.
The teen charges only for the total cost of her materials, so her products are way more affordable than any of the mainstream wheelchairs youâd find on the market. On average, her wheelchairs cost only $300, while bigger companies offer similar devices for as high as $1,000.
Shaine hopes that the affordability of her creations will help pet owners provide their animals with a better quality of life. The teen has also been reaching out to shelters to see how she can help the animals there.
Before starting the build, Shaine needs to understand what the animal needs. Depending on their requirements, she provides front-support, full-support, and back-support models.
One of the recent recipients of Shaineâs custom wheelchairs was Scooter, a paraplegic dog who came here from Saudi Arabia via the Home For Life Sanctuary. The pup canât use his legs, so he just drags his body forward, causing him to develop sores and lesions where his legs scrape the ground. This also puts him at risk of infection. Luckily, Shaine made him a special wheelchair.
Shaine shared photos of Scooter using his customized wheelchair on Instagram, and the pup was clearly loving it!
âThis is absolutely INCREDIBLE!! I gave Scooter, who arrived from Saudi Arabia a special custom Wheelies wheelchair! It means the world to me,â she wrote.
Many people who have heard about Shaineâs mission for the animals are pitching in and helping raise funds for the teen so that she can continue her good work.
Lisa LaVerdiere, the founder and director of operations for Home for Life Sanctuary, said that the financial hardships caused by the pandemic have made it more difficult to raise money.
âItâs very hard to raise money in these times. So for her to make not one cart but two carts for us probably saved us close to $1,000,â LaVerdiere said.
Sheâs grateful to Shaine for the time and effort she has devoted into making these animalsâ lives easier.
âA lot of people have reached out and donated, which is just incredible,â Shaine said.
If you want to help animals with special needs gain mobility, you can donate via Zelle to Wheeliesdogwheelchairs@gmail.com. Visit the Instagram page.
Thank you, Shaine, for this wonderful initiative! You can learn more about her project in the video below.
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Last year, DxE activists gave the worldâs largest pig killing company a taste of its own medicine. They went to the home of then Smithfield CEO Ken Sullivan and sprayed pig feces collected from a manure lagoon at a Smithfield factory farm. They drew attention to the companyâs cruel confinement of pigs and the disturbing practice of spraying out farm waste onto neighboring communities. Apparently, Smithfield didnât like it when it was done back to them and they had one activist, Raven Deerbrook, criminally charged.
But recently, Ravenâs lawyer decided to subpoena former CEO Sullivan to make him take the stand in court. Soon after, the prosecution backed off. Once again, an animal abusing company has refused to defend its actions in court when DxE activists call on them to testify.
Yesterday, Ravenâs charges were dropped and weâre celebrating this small victory in the long fight to revolutionize our legal and legislative systems for animals.
With your support, we will continue to confront the worldâs worst animal abusers with the power of nonviolent direct action, seeking to bring them to the side of justice.
Cassie Direct Action Everywhere PO Box 4782, Berkeley, CA 94704
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