My name is Bella, and I am a Biology student who happens to be blind.
O’Hara is a guide dog, who helps me navigate daily life. We have been a team since 2018, and O’Hara has spent my entire 4 year college career with me and has attended every class and lecture that I did. We both graduate in May, 2022.
My hope is for O’Hara to receive an honorary degree from our college. This would not only have meaning to me personally, but it would also have meaning to her social media supporters who have been following our college life and are wondering if she will also get a diploma. It will also mean a lot to her puppy raisers and Guiding Eyes for the Blind, where she was trained. This would be a lighthearted choice for the school to show support for how hard service dogs work and a cute way to acknowledge her attendance.
Please help O’Hara receive her own little diploma this upcoming May!
This morning, #RoxysLaw passed the Sen. Conservation Committee w/ a bipartisan 7-2 vote! Thank you to the Senators who voted 'yes' & to the exceptional testifiers who spoke for #SB32, from @TrapFreeNM partners to advocates, wildlife scientists, and hunters/ranchers. #nmlegpic.twitter.com/h3WqbBjqFY
Our 2020 Annual Report is here! See this year’s highlights in the fight for nonhuman rights and what we were able to achieve together this year.
While this year has undoubtedly been challenging for all, the NhRP pressed on and fought (virtually) in court and beyond for our clients, and together with you, our dedicated supporters, we made great progress in the fight for nonhuman rights.
There is still much work to be done in the legal fight for nonhuman rights, which comes up against thousands of years of nonhuman animals’ rightlessness. But the NhRP does not give up on our clients or our mission. We sincerely thank each and every one of you who stood by us particularly in this difficult year, knowing the NhRP will fight for as long as it takes because we know justice is on our and our clients’ side. Step by step, we will continue to break down the legal wall that unjustly separates human and nonhuman animals.
From all of us at the NhRP, have a safe and healthy New Year!
Kevin Schneider is the NhRP’s Executive Director. He heads up the NhRP’s internal and external operations, ensuring that all organizational efforts align with our values and are aimed to secure rights for nonhuman animals.
Our rescue, Husky Education And Rescue Team, Inc ((H-E-A-R-T)). was contacted two weeks ago by the staff of Dorchester Paws, an open intake shelter, asking for our assistance with Cloud. Cloud was a Siberian Husky who had been brought to the shelter by someone who found him roaming the streets and he began to deteriorate in the shelter environment. He struggled with allowing strangers to handle him but once you earned his trust there was no concern.
Dorchester Paws is a 501c3 organization who serves Dorchester County, SC. The important thing to note here is the shelter uses the NO KILL designation as stated right on their website. We received many videos and notes on Cloud over the next week.
H-E-A-R-T’s Director had a conversation earlier this week with the Shelter’s Behavior Manager who was very invested in Cloud’s best interest. She wanted Cloud to go to a breed specific rescue who understood the breed. She told us about some neck sensitivities and his low grumbling when he was uncertain. These are all things H-E-A-R-T is accustomed to handling and rehabilitating in our beloved breed.
We were concerned about how best to get Cloud to MD. If he was unsure of strangers, a volunteer transport with multiple legs was not going to be successful, however maybe we could meet someone from the shelter halfway. But the Shelter staff was able to arrange a flight in which Cloud could be loaded into a crate and then the crate into the plane and then reversed once safe in MD. This would allow Cloud to be handled safely getting in and out of the plane.
We were all set! H-E-A-R-T sent the necessary paperwork to facilitate the Rescue pull and PAID the rescue pull/transfer fee of $100. Cloud was ours and he was coming to MD! We even shared his photos with our followers on our Facebook page on Thursday.
THAT’S WHEN EVERYTHING WENT WRONG!!!
At 5 pm on Friday, we received a ‘refund’ of Cloud’s adoption fee. Our Director immediately called the Shelter’s Behavior Manager and when she answered the phone she was devastated and in tears. The medical staff came to issue Cloud his health certificate so he could travel across state lines and when they went to examine him he became defensive, jumped on the medical staff and gave her a ‘pressure’ bite. He did NOT break the skin.
Now Husky lovers….how many of you have male Sibes who need to be muzzled at the vet’s office? It’s actually VERY common. Huskies are generally known for misbehaving or becoming defensive during a medical exam. Heck….this information is even on our Education page on our website.
The Shelter’s Behavior Manager was called in to assist with Cloud at this time. She was able to safely muzzle him for the vet to finish her examination and Cloud was issued a Health Certificate. But then the Executive Director of Dorchester Paws, Kim Almstedt ordered the immediate euthanasia of Cloud. They did not call H-E-A-R-T. They did not consult us about OUR dog. This NO KILL shelter simply ended his life and refunded our pull fee. Kim stated she could not endanger anyone on the transport. Well, we had a well laid out plan so no one needed to handle Cloud on the short flight to MD and we had a plan b in which we would have transported Cloud by ground! Even if Cloud had really hurt someone, we had committed to him. It should have been our decision on Cloud’s fate. And we would have tried to save him! Cloud was confused and being defensive with medical staff. Normal breed stuff but sadly this person who runs the Dorchester Paws shelter clearly hasn’t educated herself on our breed!
We are beyond crushed over this news. The tears haven’t stopped flowing yet. We’ve never worked with a shelter staff so extensively to save a Husky to simply have their Executive Director overrule a breed specific rescue and their own Behavior Manager and euthanize a dog when they pride themselves on being NO KILL. We immediately called the Executive Director, Kim on her cell phone and have not received a call back. And while the Board of Directors do not have contact information on the Dorchester Paws website, one of our Directors messaged 6 of the 7 on Facebook. The President has responded that he will “do some investigation and connect back with us”. But honestly, what could he possibly say that would justify what they’ve done? NOTHING.
We cannot let this injustice go. We must get CLOSURE FOR CLOUD. We must demand Kim Almstedt be removed from her position. She certainly has no business working in Animal Welfare. Not when there are volunteer organizations like H-E-A-R-T who are fighting so hard to save these beings when Kim is using her paid position to kill them.
So H-E-A-R-T network, we call on YOU. Help us be the voice for Cloud – a voice that we will never get to hear. A Husky who we will never get to hug. We must stop Kim Almstedt from killing another innocent being. Please sign the petition to have her terminated as the Executive Director of Dorchester Paws.
You can also call the Dorchester Paws Shelter at 843-871-3820, ask to speak with or leave a message for a Board Member and demand Kim Almstedt be removed from her position for the death of Cloud.
For a long time, animal rights activists have been working hard for a federal animal cruelty law. Animal cruelty is only prosecuted on the state level in the United States. Animals should be protected from violence from humans, and defending animals from abuse also protects humans. There is a very strong and well known correlation between cruelty to animals and violence to humans. Studies have found that victims of domestic violence report that their abusers also harmed or threatened their pets. Other studies have also found that in homes where child abuse was found, there was also animal cruelty.
The state of Virginia was ahead of the curve seven months ago when they made animal cruelty a felony after the horrific tragic incident involving a dog named Tommie, who was cruelly burned alive. However, there was still no law on the federal level. But now there is hope. In the past, the U.S. House of Representatives has never voted to pass the Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture (PACT) Act, H.R. 724. That changed yesterday, on October 22nd when they did indeed finally vote to pass the Act!
Now that the bill has been passed by the House, it will go onto the Senate, where it is almost certain it will pass because it has in the past. Then it will go on to the President. Organizations like Animal Wellness Action believe it will be signed into law! As explained by Animal Wellness Action, the PACT Act would “make it a federal crime to torture an animal ‘in the special maritime time and territorial jurisdiction of the United States’ and in cases where acts of intentional cruelty affect interstate or foreign commerce.”
Representative Ted Deutch says: “This bill sends a clear message that our society does not accept cruelty against animals. We’ve received support from so many Americans from across the country and across the political spectrum. Animal rights activists have stood up for living things that do not have a voice. Law enforcement officers have sought a federal overlay to help them stop animal abusers who are likely to commit acts of violence against people. And animal lovers everywhere know this is simply the right thing to do. I’m deeply thankful for all of the advocates who helped us pass this bill, and I look forward to the Senate’s swift passage and the President’s signature.”
Another important aspect of animal cruelty covered by this bill is bestiality (sexual abuse of animals). This horrible act of cruelty was also punished on the state level, and in many states was not even illegal. But with the passage of this bill, those disgusting acts will not go unpunished.
To learn more animal cruelty, please see How to Identify Animal Abuse and Neglect and What to Do If You Suspect Cruelty and Should Animal Abuse be Considered a Violent Crime?
After a whistleblower told the U.S. government that the Explosive Detection Canines (EDCs) were being neglected, the inspector general’s (IG) office for the State Department began to investigate. What they discovered was horrifying.
At least ten bomb-sniffing dogs given to Jordan over the past 8 years have perished. Some of the dogs were young and healthy pups when they left but died shortly after they arrived in the Middle Eastern nation.
Zoe, for example, a 2-year-old female Belgian Malinois, died of heatstroke just 9 months after she arrived. Another dog, Mencey, a 3-year-old of the same bread, got so sick in Jordan from a tick-borne disease that she had to be returned to the United States for treatment. He died shortly afterward. Other dogs were found to be parasite ridden, emaciated, and lacking in proper medical attention. In light of their investigation, IG’s office determined that no more dogs should be sent to Amman. Yet, despite the initial complaint and the devastating findings of the IG’s report, dogs are still being sent.
These dogs are American heroes. They keep us and our allies safe by doing the jobs that are too dangerous for humans. The least we could do is make sure that they are well taken care of and have happy, healthy lives.
If Jordan or any other country that receives American EDCs cannot treat them humanely then they shouldn’t be allowed to have them. It’s just that simple.
Please sign the petition and demand that the U.S. State Department stop giving dogs to countries that can’t take care of them.
nypost.com
By Lorena Mongelli and Jackie Salo
May 15, 2019 | 12:56pm | Updated
Ellie Knoller and wife Jessica Kuncman were arraigned Wednesday in court. A Goldendoodle named Bella (left) was allegedly abused in their care.
Ellie Knoller and wife Jessica Kuncman were arraigned Wednesday in court. A Goldendoodle named Bella (left) was allegedly abused in their care. Victor Alcorn
A Long Island man and his wife brought three lovable puppies into their Mineola home, where the husband viciously beat the pooches while his spouse did nothing — leaving two dead and another fighting for her life, according to prosecutors.
Jessica Kuncman, 30, and Ellie Knoller, 29, were hit with charges stemming from the torture of their three dogs, one after the other, each beaten within days of being brought back to their Mineola home.
The couple — who has been married less than a year — pleaded not guilty Wednesday in Nassau County Court to the heinous crimes, which prosecutors describe as “serial” animal abuse.
“In my 28 years as a prosecutor, I have never seen a case where someone committed this kind of serial violence against different puppies,” said Nassau District Attorney Madeline Singas.
Prosecutors said the pair adopted the first pup, a male shepherd mix named Tucker, on Feb. 8 from North Shore Animal League — but nine days later the new pet was dead from a kidney rupture as a result of Knoller’s “blunt force trauma to the dog.” Tucker suffered from extensive internal bleeding and died.
The very next day, the couple purchased a Goldendoodle named Cooper from a Pennsylvania breeder. But the designer dog — which can fetch as much as $3,000 from a breeder — was dealt a similar fate.
Three days after his adoption, Cooper bled to death from internal injuries, which were the result of being pummeled by Knoller, according to prosecutors. He suffered cardiac and respiratory arrest from the disturbing abuse.
On Feb. 20, Knoller allegedly brought the puppy into Garden City Veterinary Care in cardiac and respiratory arrest.
By the time a veterinarian examined Cooper he had already died.
Knoller then returned to the same breeder days after Cooper’s death and complained he was sold a sick animal. He was given another Goldendoodle named Bella from the same litter.
The couple’s lone surviving dog was then allegedly choked, beaten and suffered several broken bones. The shaggy pooch was left with injuries that total more than $18,000 in medical bills — including broken ribs, a forearm fractured in two places and a pulmonary contusion, according to the Nassau County SPCA.
“I’ve never ever seen a case of serial animal abuse like this. Basically serial murder of an animal,” said Gary Rogers, the SPCA’s president, outside the court. “It’s just wrong.”
Both newlyweds were charged Wednesday with over-driving, torturing and injuring animals. Knoller also faces a felony charge of aggravated cruelty to animals.
Knoller and Kuncman face a max of two years and one year, respectively, if convicted on the top count.
“I don’t know why this happened and unfortunately the dogs can’t tell us,” Singas said. “Maybe there are anger issues. Maybe it’s some kind of sick sport.”
Judge Meryl Berkowitz ordered the couple Wednesday not to have any pets during the trial.
“The defendants are not allowed to have any kind of animals — not a dog, not a cat, not a bird, not a goldfish,” Berkowitz said.
The pair were released without bail but had their passports taken away. They drove off in a Range Rover without commenting.
In the early hours of the morning of May 10, a man shot and killed a two-year-old Dalmatian named Sir Edwin in the dog’s own home.
The suspect, Joshua Marcantonio, reportedly visited the residence in Glens Falls, New York, to catch up with friends. Jacqueline Gilligan, one of Sir Edwin’s guardians, told WNYT that Marcantonio had punched her father in his sleep before leaving the house, only to return with a shotgun.
He then fired the gun through the closed front door, narrowly missing a man on the other side but killing Sir Edwin almost instantly. Gilligan says she heard the blast of the gun followed by the yelp of her precious dog who died shortly after, terrified and confused.
Glens Falls Police arrested Marcantonio, who is now in the Warren County Jail. Police charged him with criminal possession of a weapon, reckless endangerment and misdemeanor criminal mischief.
Glens Falls Police Detective Lt. Peter Casertino said the department would also file animal cruelty charges, according to The Post-Star.
Sign this petition urging Warren County DA Jason Carusone to treat this case with the severity it deserves, and prosecute Marcantonio to the fullest extent of the law — ensuring he can’t hurt another animal or endanger human life again.
In a shocking act of cruelty, someone shot an arrow through a 10-month old kitten named Wolfie in Laconia, New Hampshire, in April.
The thick arrow pierced Wolfie’s back leg, shattering her tibia and fibula, and only narrowing missing her femur and femoral artery, according to an update on her guardian Liz Carmignani’s GoFundMe page.
Carmignani found the injured kitten outside her house, terrified and in pain. After the traumatized cat went into shock and lost consciousness, she rushed her to the vet to get the arrow removed.
Initially, vets thought they would need to amputate the mangled limb, but they were fortunately able to repair it using metal rods. However, Wolfie’s recovery will be lengthy, and she will need further surgery to remove the rods.
Laconia Police Chief Matt Canfield told the Laconia Daily Sun that the arrow was a Mossy Oak brand, commonly launched by compound bows and crossbows. Local police are still investigating this malicious attack.
We need to act now to bring Wolfie’s attacker to justice before they can hurt or even kill any more animals like her.
Sign the petition urging the Laconia Police Department to use all possible resources to find the person responsible for this horrific abuse.
Anyone with information about the attack should call the Laconia Police Department crime line on 524-1717.
PETITION TARGET: Clay County Sheriff Darryl Daniels
An off-duty deputy drew his gun and shot one-year-old puppy Parker dead as the friendly dog played in a local park in Clay County, Florida.
Parker was running around off leash when he spotted the deputy walking his dog. The excitable hound/boxer mix was running towards the pair to say hello when Lt. Mark Cowan pulled out his personal handgun and killed him.
According to the incident report, Cowan thought Parker was a 40-50 pound pitbull and shot him in self-defense.
Parker’s guardian, Miranda Abba, was out of town at the time, but she says Parker was a sweet, friendly dog who had never shown aggression towards anyone.
Although a report was made, the Clay County Sheriff’s Office says no charges will be filed, and the case is closed.
This is a shocking act of unnecessary force, used against a dog showing no signs of aggression. As a law enforcement officer, Lt. Cowan should have used non-lethal alternatives to deal with this situation.
Sign this petition urging the Clay County sheriff’s office to take cases of animal death seriously, and enact a mandatory training program for all officers so they can deal with animals properly and safely.
On Tuesday, the city of Cabot, Arkansas announced that it will change its rules on pit bull ownership.
Effective May 15, previously banned pit bull breeds will be allowed to live within city limits. Residents who adopt pit bulls will be required to register their dogs. In coming weeks, the city’s official website will provide updates on the implementation of the registration process.
Once the change goes into effect, the City of Cabot Animal Shelter will be able to adopt pit bulls out to city residents.
In the announcement, the city acknowledged a growing need for animal sheltering and services within Cabot, as well as a need to focus on progressive animal welfare by changing their way of thinking and ordinances.
The ban went into effect in 2007, when the city stopped allowing people to register several dog breeds that were considered pit bulls. Dogs who were registered prior to the implementation of the ban were allowed to remain in the city, but under very strict rules.
The Cabot City Council’s decision to lift the ban on pit bulls reflects a shift away from the aggressive stigma associated with the breed, as well as a willingness to place more responsibility on guardians of pit bulls for the dogs’ behavior.
Under the current ordinance, pit bulls are classified as ‘vicious.’ The new policy is not breed-specific and will apply the term to individual dogs who show aggression.
Cabot is one of several cities that have recently repealed pit bull bans. So far this year, pit bull bans have been voted down in Gardendale, Alabama; the Missouri cities of Eureka and Liberty; and Garfield Heights, Ohio.
Thirty-six innocent beagles are to be put to death in July, after a year of torturous testing by the Dow Chemical Company. Over 60,000 dogs are captured and forced into testing facilities every year, with many dying due to repeated exposure to toxic chemicals; it is a miracle these 36 survived at all, and they do not deserve to be disposed of like tools after all they suffered. Sign this petition to stop the pointless killing of these dogs.
Animal advocates are applauding the introduction of legislation in California that could make it the next state to end circus suffering by banning wild and exotic animal performances.
The Circus Cruelty Prevention Act (SB 313), which was just introduced by Senator Ben Hueso, would make it illegal to use wild and exotic animals in traveling shows, and would leave anyone found breaking the law facing fines of up to $25,000 for each violation.
Not only was this bill introduced over concerns about animal welfare, but also about the threat performing animals pose to public safety.
Even though wild animals have been used as performers in circuses for decades, we now know so much more about what they need to be physically and psychologically healthy and there’s no shortage of evidence showing that circuses can never come close to meeting those needs.
Both research and undercover investigations have exposed not only the problems inherent with keeping animals this way, denying them everything they need to thrive, but also the heartbreaking and violent abuses they’re exposed to behind the scenes that range from having food withheld to being beaten and blatantly mistreated.
While a number of cities in the state have already enacted bans or restrictions on the use of wild and exotic animals, a statewide ban would go much further to protect them from cruelty and exploitation, and it would send a strong message that using them as performers isn’t acceptable.
Please sign and share this petition urging lawmakers in California to take a compassionate and common sense stand for animals by passing the Circus Cruelty Prevention Act.
amanda Jones started this petition to RSPCA and 3 others
She must also be stopped selling kittens she has bred, and puppies she has bred. She sells them when they are so young they can’t fend for themselves and most of them are dying even after veterinary treatment. The ones in the picture are dead also. They were sold at 3 weeks old. She lied.
They are never inoculated, never wormed, never microchipped. She is an all-too-frequent dealer in an illegal, and fraudulent business of animal selling, also without a licence.
Lisa Downing is negligent. The majority of the animals in her care do not survive, because of neglect and cruelty – why is this allowed to continue?! The RSPCA, Walsall Housing LTD, Trading standards, and Willinghall Council are also all negligent for allowing this to continue! Each one of these places has been contacted many times, by many people with evidence, over a long period of time.
Lisa lives in social housing. She is committing multiple cases of benefit fraud, multiple trading standard issues, and shocking cruelty to animals. This is an illegal fraudulent business because she is not declaring her assets and income, as well as being on benefits.
This business has become exceptionally viable as, for example, the last lot of kittens cost her £30 each, and she is selling them for £180 each. These, however, are not the most expensive ones she has sold. We are not talking about small change! Lisa Downing is buying kittens every day. She is a prolific dealer!
Lisa Downing is also involved with serious incidents of threatening behaviour to anybody who disagrees with her ‘business’, and Facebook harassment to a large degree. In the buying and selling, she uses many, many different names including Lisa Dee.
Even in 2019 when the Lucy’s Law comes in, she will breed and breed from the many cats she has in her social housing home. And she will breed puppies from her Jack Russell bitch which has had 2 litters already and is under 2 years old (Jan 2019)
That will not change! None of this will change unless the authorities named above DO THEIR JOBS!
change.org
Petition · American Belgian Malinois Rescue: BRING K9 ENDY HOME · Change.org
Frank Rpk9f started this petition to American Belgian Malinois Rescue and 3 others
Earlier this month K9 Endy, a Retired U.S Customs and Border Patrol K9, escaped from his handler’s yard due to fireworks. Endy was found wondering the streets nearby and was given to Kingsville Animal Advocates who turned Endy over to the American Belgian Malinois Rescue.
K9 Endy is microchipped, which comes back to the US Border Patrol but American Belgian Malinois Rescue failed to make the right calls and is now refusing to give the K9 Endy back to his handler, Brian Buchanan, who has proof of ownership, vet records, dental records, pictures and videos of Endy at home with his family.
After many failed attempts to get Endy home, Brian Buchanan contacted us to see if we could help. Retired Police K9 Foundation has made a commitment to get Endy back home. Please contact the rescue and ask them to release K9 Endy back to his family! Retired Police K9 Foundation will make sure Endy has proper vet care needed now and for the rest of his life!
Please contact Marcia Tokson, National chairperson, and ask her to give K9 Endy back!
Lawsuit Argues Animals Have the Right to Sue Their Abusers in Court
A photo from March 2017 shows Justice, an American Quarter Horse, in Cornelius emaciated from months of little food or shelter. His owner was later convicted of animal neglect and now the horse is being represented in a lawsuit against the ex-guardian seeking damages for pain and suffering. (Animal Legal Defense Fund)
Hillsboro, Oregon – On January 22nd the Animal Legal Defense Fund, the nation’s preeminent legal advocacy organization for animals, appealed an Oregon state court’s dismissal of a lawsuit filed by a horse named Justice against his abuser. Justice’s lawsuit seeks to recover the costs of his ongoing medical care and his pain and suffering caused by the abuse.
Washington County Circuit Court Judge John Knowles dismissed the lawsuit in September 2018, holding that a non-human animal lacks legal standing to sue on his…
Less than one week after Wyoming was ranked the 47th worst state for animal protection laws in 2018 in the United States, a bill to increase the penalties for cruelty was unfathomably defeated in a Wyoming Senate vote last Tuesday.
A seemingly subtle bill that WAN believes should have been a no-brainer, as it only called for the maximum fines for those convicted of animal cruelty to be raised, leaving prison sentences to remain the same.
How on earth did such a minor detail for such an important piece of legislation not pass?
WAN talked with the sponsor of the Senate File 33, Senator Mike Gierau, to make sense of the senseless move by Wyoming, which should be working to enhance its animal protection laws, and in turn, its ranking on the latest report released by Animal Legal Defense Fund.
According to Gierau, certain parties, such as ranchers and outfitters, are concerned that any strengthening of animal welfare statues will spin out of control with the government then trying to ruin their businesses.
That is not the case, Gierau told WAN, explaining that he is “sympathetic to the ranchers and outfitters to a certain extent” and wants to work with them, not against them, to find viable solutions.
Gierau also made it abundantly clear that the constituents in his area believe there needs to be more stringent rules when it comes to animal welfare; and that he is going to continue fighting for them, and for the animals.
As explained by Gierau, Wyoming is a “citizen legislature”; a chamber that is made up primarily of people who have a full-time occupation besides being a legislator. In the case of the Wyoming senate, some of the members are ranchers and outfitters.
Compounding the problem, the Wyoming legislature meets a mere 60 days over a two-year span. This makes it more challenging to work bills through the system, oftentimes, as in this case, limiting the preparation time allowed to properly present the bill with supporting information, testimonies, and more.
Most recently, Gierau had one day’s notice after the bill made it out of committee to be addressed on the floor.
“Doing my best to introduce meaningful fines for animal cruelty,” Gierau noted in a post on his Facebook page last month.
While not officially in session, Gierau explained to WAN that committees can continue to have meetings during the off time.
“I am going to keep working on it,” Gierau told WAN, sharing that he plans to recommend the topic for discussion in committee during an interim session set to take place sometime this year.
Currently, as per KGAB, a misdemeanor conviction for animal cruelty under Wyoming Law carries a penalty of $750 and up to one year in prison, while aggravated animal cruelty, which is a felony in the state, could result in a fine of $5,000 or two years in prison.
While the amount of jail time would not be changed, the fines would have increased to a maximum of $2,500 for a misdemeanor, and $10,000 for a felony.
Ultimately, when the bill was reintroduced this month, it had been amended to raise the misdemeanor fine to $1,500, and the felony fine to $7,500.
As previously noted, the bill was originally introduced in February of last year, but did not acquire the votes needed for it to be assigned to a committee for discussion, prompting Gierau to lower the suggested fees.
Among those that opposed the bill was Senator Brian Boner, who unfathomably stated that “in his experience most animal cruelty cases stem from people not having the money to properly care for their animals, not malicious intent.”
Not Malicious Intent?
Has Senator Boner somehow missed all the news, research, and reports that make the correlation between people who commit animal cruelty who then move on to participate in more serious crimes such as, domestic violence against humans.
One year has not even passed since 17 people were killed at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland outside Miami, by a 19-year-old mass shooter with a history of abusing animals, including frogs and chickens.
WAN will continue to update the status of this important bill and supports its passage.
thepetitionsite.com
by: Care2 Team
recipient: Washington Officials
87,977 SUPPORTERS – 90,000 GOAL
Cinder was a 30 lb young black bear in Washington state. In 2014, she miraculously survived severe wildfire burns and won the heart of us humans. Tragically, she was shot and killed almost immediately upon being released back into the wild.
Sign the petition to demand justice for Cinder!
It’s illegal to kill a black bear in Washington state unless you have a license and it’s open season. Whoever killed her probably did not have that because they just left her body there. If a bear gets hurt or killed in self defense, the killer is supposed to notify the authorities. But Cinder’s body was just left to rot instead.
Scientists had hoped her collar had just stopped working because she was hibernating for the winter. That’s why they were so dismayed when they found her skeleton and realized it was because she and her collar had been shot.
Cinder lived through a horrible tragedy and healed, just to be shot by a selfish hunter and left to rot.
It’s heartbreaking that Cinder survived and then died so quickly after being able to return to her home. Please help us honor sweet Cinder by demanding that authorities find Cinder’s killer and hold them accountable!
sosvox.org
Prison for life, without bail or death penalty, against Gerardo Herrera alias Junior
Gerardo Herrera alias Junior lives in NAPOLEÓN GÓMEZ SADA, COLONIA SUTERM, is CFE worker José López Portillo. Hopefully some animalist association and animal advocates who want to mobilize to do justice and act legally . #Piedras Negras #Recompensa #Red
They offer $ 60,000 to find Gerardo Herrera, responsible for killing little dogs in the Suterm colony. It is said that he has escaped to North America, they are looking for him there, and we need him to bring him to be judged.
If the authorities do not act quickly against this person it will end in tragedy, as some people are offering a reward for torturing and killing the Junior. Neither the former Mayor Sonia Villarreal, nor her parents will be able to do anything to avoid any type of attempt against the life of an individual.
Let him go to jail, which is where he should be and where he should spend his whole life.
Tauri is frightened, it was a terrorist attack, Sota slept with me,wake up with me, she showed me more love than my own family. Sota was a lovely dog everybody loved.
Approximately 3k protest the unjust death of Sota who was killed by apolice officer in Barcelona. As they silently stoodby plaza sant Jaume the only sound that could be heard was that ofadog.
There are lots of people who love and treat their dogs like humans; feeding them, giving them a bath and even dressing them and looking after their health. Unfortunately, there are some cruel pet owners who don’t have the same compassion and love for dogs.
Some people don’t really care about their dogs and leave them outside despite the really cold weather. But thanks to the touching story of Libre, a survivor dog, pet owners who leave their dogs in the cold can now face felony charges.
Photo: dogs.lovetoknow.com
Libre, the Dying Puppy, Rescued in the Cold
One example of an unattended, abandoned dog in the cold is Libre. Libre is a Boston terrier and was only seven weeks old when found and rescued by a produce driver named Dextin.
Apparently, his owner left him in the cold too long that he developed a serious skin condition called demodectic mange which made him crusty and hairless. He had secondary infections and ulcers had also developed in his eyes.
The doctors who assessed his condition said there’s a very low chance of survival for Libre. Luckily, the helpless dog survived and is now adopted and taken care of by a loving pet owner, Janine Guido.
Janine said she fell in love with Libre at first sight, “I just really connected with him. I don’t know why, because I’ve rescued so many dogs. I get butterflies before I visit him. Something about Libre really captured my heart.”
House Bill 1238 Successfully Signed into Law
The story of Libre touched many people’s hearts and Pennsylvania lawmakers were no exception. Apart from Libre, there are many other dogs in the state that are abandoned in the cold by their owners. This alarming situation made them step in and develop a law in hopes of preventing animal abuse and punishing people who abandon their dogs, especially in extreme weather conditions.
This year, House Bill 1238, also known as Libre’s law was signed into law. Pennsylvania residents who will leave their dogs outside in the cold can now face felony, particularly animal cruelty charges.
“Don’t leave them outside,” says Paul Tobin, a Mercer County Humane Officer. “The new law is pretty clear. Anything under 32 degrees, anything over 90 degrees, your dogs are not allowed outside for more than 30 minutes.”
Pennsylvania Lawmakers Teach Neglectful Pet Owners a Lesson
Residents who will break this law will need to pay a $15,000 fine and can be jailed for up to seven years. Significantly, Pennsylvania lawmakers are creating tougher animal protection laws not only to save animals but to also send a message that animal cruelty should not be tolerated and whoever abuses and neglects their pets should be punished.
According to Jennifer Nields, a worker at the Lancaster County Animal Coalition, “this won’t stop animal abuse but it will emphasize the importance of justice for animal suffering.
Libre’s Law Makes Pennsylvania “Most Improved” for Animal Protection Laws
Though Libre’s law was signed into law just recently, Governor Tom Wolf has long been running his advocacy on animal protection. He signed the Libre’s law last June 2017 and it is one of the laws that made the Animal Legal Defense Fund and the Humane Society acknowledge Pennsylvania as the most improved for animal protection laws.
Since Governor Wolf signed the Libre’s law, residents and pet owners became more responsible and gave back their dogs to shelters if they thought they could not take care of them properly.
Last July 28, Governor Tom Wolf celebrated one year of animal protection with Libre himself with a doggy cake. Wolf wrote on his Twitter account, “I’m here with Libre to celebrate the first anniversary of #LibresLaw. Together we signed Pennsylvania’s animal welfare reforms into law one year ago today, making the commonwealth a safer place for PA pets.”
A lot of trending and inspiring stories have touched the hearts of many individuals but Libre’s story did not just make people cry but it also taught them an important lesson on animal protection. Most importantly, it made a big difference in the lives of many animals and the entire community of Pennsylvania.
If you think pets should be allowed to sleep inside the house especially during extreme weather — please share this post and spread this awareness!
By Lauren Lewis –
November 28, 2018
Photo from NYCLASS
Another horse became the latest victim of the cruelty endured by animals that are forced to work and pull carriages in NYC.
The heartbreaking incident took place yesterday when a distressed horse fell on a busy downtown street in New York City while pulling a carriage. This incident has animal advocates around the world outraged.
“We strongly urge the Health Department to investigate the condition of this horse, and make sure that he or she is not put back out on the streets,” Edita Birnkrant, executive director of NYCLASS, said in a statement, further explaining that a witness sent the nonprofit a video and photos of the horse while the driver and others were ‘pulling and dragging’ it for several minutes. “This latest incident highlights the desperate need for reform legislation to be passed as soon as possible by the City Council.”
As per the organization, the exploitation of these carriage horses includes being forced to work through brutal conditions during snowstorms, torrential downpour, and heatwaves.
Birnkrant also pointed to the death of two horses last month who died of colic in their tiny stables where they lacked any access to pasture or turnout areas as another indicator of the need to pass legislation to help other animals who are tragically kept in unacceptable conditions.
NYCLASS, which stands for New Yorkers for Clean, Livable, and Safe Streets, was founded a decade ago to save NYC carriage horses, enact animal rights legislation into law, and elect pro-animal candidates to office.
Currently, the nonprofit organization is working on a new bill that will keep carriage horses out of the chaotic Times Square, Rockefeller Center, and Lincoln Square. It will also guarantee them a safe retirement, increase stall sizes, and many other commonsense reforms that will drastically improve their conditions.
If you live in the five boroughs of NYC, please call your council member today and urge them to support the new NYCLASS bill. A list of relevant council members is available here…
By WAN –
November 14, 2018
Photos from IUCN
The Fin Whale and the Mountain Gorilla are among the species with improved status, according to today’s update of The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
The IUCN Red List now includes 96,951 species of which 26,840 are threatened by extinction.
The Fin Whale has gone from Endangered to Vulnerable following bans on whaling, while the Mountain Gorilla subspecies has moved from Critically Endangered to Endangered as a result of collaborative conservation efforts.
“Today’s update to The IUCN Red List illustrates the power of conservation action, with the recoveries we are seeing of the Fin Whale and the Mountain Gorilla,” Inger Andersen, IUCN Director General said in a statement. “These conservation successes are proof that the ambitious, collaborative efforts of governments, business and civil society could turn back the tide of species loss.”
“Unfortunately, the latest update also underlines how threats to biodiversity continue to undermine some of society’s most important goals, including food security,” continued Andersen. “We urgently need to see effective conservation action strengthened and sustained.”
Previously listed as Endangered, the Fin Whale is now listed as Vulnerable, as the global population of species has roughly doubled since the 1970s. The recovery follows international bans on commercial whaling in the North Pacific and in the Southern Hemisphere which has been in place since 1976, there has been a significant reduction in catches in the North Atlantic since 1990. The status of the western subpopulation of the Gray Whale has also improved, moving from Critically Endangered to Endangered. Both of these whale species were historically threatened by overexploitation for their blubber, oil and meat.
“Fin Whales and Western Gray Whales were severely depleted by hunting and it is a relief to finally see their populations on the rise. These whales are recovering largely thanks to bans on commercial hunting, international agreements, and various protection measures,” stated Randall Reeves, Chair of the IUCN SSC Cetacean Specialist Group. “Conservation efforts must continue until the populations are no longer threatened.”
The nearly complete protection of Fin Whales throughout their range, has allowed the global population to reach around 100,000 mature individuals.
This update of The IUCN Red List also brings hope for the Mountain Gorilla, which has improved in status from Critically Endangered to Endangered, thanks to collaborative conservation efforts across country boundaries and positive engagement from communities living around the Mountain Gorilla habitat. The Mountain Gorilla is one of two subspecies of the Eastern Gorilla; the Eastern Gorilla species remains Critically Endangered.
Intensive conservation action, including anti-poaching patrols and in-situ veterinary interventions, such as the removal of snares, has contributed to the growth of Mountain Gorilla populations since the previous IUCN Red List assessment, published in 2008.
The 2008 Mountain Gorilla population was estimated to be around 680 individuals, but 2018 estimates show that it has increased to over 1,000 individuals, the highest figure ever recorded for the subspecies. The population growth has been confirmed through coordinated and improved survey methods.
Mountain Gorilla habitat is restricted to protected areas in two locations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, and Uganda – The Virunga Massif and Bwindi-Sarambwe. Both locations are bordered by land intensively cultivated for agriculture by a growing human population. Threats to this subspecies remain high, including poaching, recurring civil unrest, and human-introduced diseases ranging from respiratory infections to Ebola.
“While it is fantastic news that Mountain Gorillas are increasing in numbers, this subspecies is still Endangered and therefore conservation action must continue,” said Dr. Liz Williamson of the IUCN SSC Primate Specialist Group. “Coordinated efforts through a regional action plan and fully implementing IUCN Best Practice guidelines for great ape tourism and disease prevention, which recommend limiting numbers of tourists and preventing any close contact with humans, are critical to ensuring a future for the Mountain Gorilla.”
Sadly, the largest North American tortoise species, the Bolson Tortoise, is one of the species that had its status change from Vulnerable to Critically Endangered on The IUCN Red List due to exploitation for subsistence consumption, as well as widespread habitat loss.
The population of the tortoise, found in isolated areas in the Bolsón de Mapimí basin in Mexico, has plummeted by over 64% in the past 30 years. The species is endangered under Mexican federal wildlife laws and captive breeding programs aiming to reintroduce the species to New Mexico and Texas in the United States.
The Seaside Aquarium in Seaside, Oregon, stands around 100 yards from the Pacific Ocean. The sounds of the waves echo against its facade and visitors come and go with sand on their feet. But that short 300-foot walk to the sea might as well be 1,000 miles for the 11 harbor seals the aquarium holds captive.
One of Seaside Aquariums biggest draws are these helpless seals that live in a small pool-like enclosure, perhaps 8X5 feet and no deeper than 2.5 feet. Customers can have the “pleasure” of seeing them in their miserable tank and for a small fee you can buy a tray of fish and feed them. The poor seals clap and howl competing for the few bits of fish between the 11 of them. According to one aquarium worker, during the summer this is their main source of food.
This is not the way it should be for these beautiful marine mammals or the several other animals that unfortunately call the aquarium home. Seals for one, are extremely intelligent social beings that need stimulation to live a healthy, normal life. In the wild, these animals have the whole of the ocean to call their home but at Seaside they barely have a pool, and a shallow one at that.
Seaside aquarium defends their facilities saying that they are governed by USDA standards. But these rules are clearly minimum standards, and even if they aren’t breaking our laws, they are breaking the rules of nature by forcing the seals to live in captivity for their entire lives.
It’s time Seaside recognized that it is not OK to imprison marine mammals and use them as tourist traps to line their pockets. Please sign the petition and ask Seaside Aquarium officials to give the seals to a sanctuary where they can live the rest of their life in peace.
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
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