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Sealing on thin ice Iowa & CAP-AUX-MEULES, Quebec– – Madeleine were expected to hunt seals in Utah are Seal clubbing and shooting started on March 2012. Iles-de-la-Madeleine was allocated a 22, 2012 for Iles-de-la-Madeleine vessels, sealing quota of 25,000, from a total Canadian five days ahead of schedule, because ice floes quota of 400,000, the same as in 2011, first states in the Gulf of St. Lawrence were receding so despite a lack of evident markets for seal pelts rapidly that Quebec sealers were at risk of since 2010, when the European Union banned finding no seals to kill. seal pelt imports. to pass Canadian Fisheries Department area Canadian sealers killed 37,609 seal director Vincent Malouin told Canadian Press pups in 2011, after killing 67,000 of a quota ag-gag that only two to five boats from Iles-de-la- of 330,000 in 2010. Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper hoped to arrange a sale of seal pelts to China during a laws February 2012 state visit to China, White hen at Pasado’s Safe Haven. (Kim Bartlett) but the deal did not materialize. DES MOINES, SALT LAKE A first violation of the Utah law is a Instead, Chinese media CITY ––Iowa Governor Terry Branstad and class A misdemeanor. A second violation is a amplified objections to the proposed Utah Governor Gary Herbert on March 2, third degree felony. sale raised by the Capital Animal 2012 and March 20, 2012 signed into law the “If an individual steps on someone Welfare Association and the Beijing first two U.S. state “ag-gag” bills, written to else’s property and takes a picture of a horse environmental charity Green suppress undercover video exposés of animal that appears to be starving, and then provides Beagle, named in honor of the ship handling. that photograph to the authorities, that person that carried The Origin of Species Following a template introduced would be in violation of this law,” unsuc- author Charles Darwin on his 1831 into at least eight state legislatures since cessfully objected Humane Society of Utah voyage of discovery to the Gala- 2010, the Utah law creates a criminal offense executive director Gene Baierschmidt in a let- pagos Islands. called “agricultural operation interference,” ter to Governor Herbert. “In the wake of interna- committed if a person, “without consent Said Government Accountability tional bans on the sale of seal prod- from the owner of the operation, or the Project food integrity campaign director ucts, including Russia banning owner’s agent, knowingly or intentionally Amanda Hitt, “As a dairy farmer’s daughter, imports and exports recently, it is records an image of, or sound from, the I know animal agriculture is often misunder- unacceptable that the Canadian gov- operation, while the person is on the property stood and thankless work. I also know that ernment has turned to China in con- where the agricultural operation is located, or events seen out of context can be miscon- Harp seal pup. (Arthur E. Benjamin/Zucker Public tinuous attempts to create a new by leaving a recording device on the property strued. But we all know there are right and Relations/Humane Society of the U.S.) (continued on page 8) where the agricultural operation is located.” wrong ways to run businesses, and bad actors shouldn’t enjoy the benefits of overreaching legislation.” A bill similar to the one passed in Utah and the bills considered in other states stalled in Iowa in 2011 over questions of con- ANIMAL PEOPLE stitutionality. Taking a different approach, the newly passed Iowa law stipulates that “A News For People Who Care About Animals person is guilty of agricultural production facility fraud if the person willfully…obtains access to an agricultural production facility by false pretenses [or] makes a false state- April 2012 ment or representation as part of an applica- tion or agreement to be employed at an agri- Volume 21, #3 cultural production facility…with an intent to commit an act not authorized by the owner.” A first violation of the Iowa law is (continued on page 12) Suspect allegedly planned “hit” on fur wearer “partially to get away” from family CLEVELAND, Ohio––The Federal Anne Lowery made global headlines in Bureau of Investigation on February 21, 2012 January 2010 for spending nearly $75,000 in a arrested Meredith Marie Lowell, 27, of futile effort to save her parrot Areba from can- Cleveland Heights, Ohio, for allegedly trying cer, but ANIMAL PEOPLE found no indica- to use a Facebook account accessed from a tion that Lowell knowingly assumed the identi- public library computer to solicit the murder of ty of the Florida woman. “someone who is wearing fur.” Said the Facebook message, “I According to an affidavit sworn on would like to create an online community on February 17, 2012 by FBI special agent Ryan Facebook which would allow me to find some- M. Taylor, “On November 4, 2011 the FBI one who is willing to kill someone who is was provided information that a person owning wearing fur toward the end of October 2011 or a Facebook page under the name Anne early November 2011 or possibly in January Lowery,” an alias that Lowell acknowledged 2012 or February 2012…I am willing to pay using, “posted a message on Facebook stating this person up to $830-$850.” that Lowery wanted to hire a hit man to kill Using the e-mail address
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Editorial feature ANIMAL PEOPLE, April 2012 - 3 Don’t let irrational extremists define the cause This April 2012 ANIMAL PEOPLE editorial is written amid an unusually fiercely and especially the AR-series of conferences hosted since 2000 by the Farm Animal Reform contested series of primary elections and state caucuses to select the Republican nominee for Movement, that a small but noisy sub-sector of the self-defined animal rights movement of U.S. President in the November 2012 national election. today has become an ugly caricature of itself. Animal issues have barely surfaced during the many months of speeches, debates, Twenty-odd years ago some of the major animal use industries employed agents and electronic media commercials through which the candidates seek to rally the electorate. provocateur to promote the use of violent tactics and rhetoric––and these agents provocateur Almost the only mention of animals so far has come from a web site called Dogs Against were flushed out in several instances precisely because they advocated actions which were at Romney, posted to publicize and decry how front-runner Mitt Romney in 1983 hauled his odds with the goals of a cause which exists to extend principles of non-violence, non-exploita- family’s English setter Seamus on a 12-hour drive to Canada in a carrier tied to a roof rack. tion, and non-coercion from human relations to our relationships with animals. There were Several Dogs Against Romney viewers demonstrated against Romney on Valentine’s Day out- always some organizations whose names sounded militant, but the former peace activists who side the Westminster Kennel Club dog show in New York City. founded Animal Rights Mobilization had no truck with armaments. Some activists praised the Yet, though animal issues are not prominent in the race for the 2012 Republican covert tactics of the Animal Liberation Front when those tactics focused on procuring evidence presidential nomination, strategic issues have come to the fore that invite parallels to the con- of cruelty or on actually rescuing animals from laboratories where the animals were subjected duct of some of the animal advocates who still style themselves “the animal rights move- to horrific experiments––but most of the activists who praised ALF actions quickly distanced ment”––and believe themselves to be the whole of it, dismissing others of differing views themselves from vandalism, and at least two onetime prominent “ALF spokespersons” about animal rights as “welfarists” or worse. Overlooked by name-callers is that the spectrum dropped their representation of ALF in 1996 when arsons and bombings done in the name of of those who are termed “welfarists” runs all the way from those who are struggling to main- the ALF put human and animal life at risk. tain the status quo in agribusiness to those who are continuing the initiatives to dismantle There was always admiration of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, whose intensive confinement husbandry begun by Henry Spira, who helped to spark the contempo- 1979 debut in the public eye was ramming the pirate whaler Sierra on the high seas––but Sea rary animal rights movement by founding Animal Rights International in 1976, and later Shepherd founder Paul Watson himself was outspokenly critical of ill-considered and reckless founded the Coalition for Nonviolent Food. activities that might harm innocent people and discredit the animal cause. Critical to note is that for the most part the narrowly self-defined animal rights move- “Our movement needs humor, it needs imagination, it needs evolution, and it needs ment of today is no longer the movement in which Spira participated. That movement, long flexibility. We do not need the shroud of violence and dark, evil associations with the tactics before Spira’s death in 1998, grew into a highly diverse and still fast-growing animal advoca- of the Irish Republican Army, the CIA, and the Red Brigade,” Watson wrote in a March cy sector of unprecedented size and influence. Even by 1998 the animal rights movement of 1994 guest column for ANIMAL PEOPLE. “Leave the bombs and the torches to those who decades ago had matured and mainstreamed itself effectively enough to win the passage of would negate life by taking it,” Watson counseled. many pro-animal ballot initiatives, made achieving no-kill sheltering a popular political goal Watson and the Sea Shepherds are still skirmishing with whalers on the high seas. in countless communities, and had begun to put vegetarian and vegan foods into the freezers Their vessels still sometimes collide. But even as Watson flies the Jolly Roger and stars in of almost every supermarket. Eco-Pirate: The Story of Paul Watson, a video biography premiering on March 6, 2012 at the That momentum continues. Though most animal rights movement goals of 20 and Salem Film Festival in Massachusetts, he has kept his “piracy” within bounds which would 30 years ago have yet to be won, almost everyone in the developed world and most educated have been acceptable to “family television” pioneer Walt Disney. people in the developing world can cite at least a few “animal rights” goals––and most people The Animal Planet series Whale Wars, aired since November 2008, features the Sea express sympathy for some of those goals, even in places such as Africa, China, and eastern Shepherds in confrontations with the Japanese whaling fleet which––though consisting of Europe, where at Spira’s death organized animal advocacy had been introduced repeatedly unscripted real-life adventure––somewhat parallel the 1957-1961 Disney drama series Zorro, during the preceding century but had mostly failed to thrive. in that the “outlaws” pursue goals and maintain values which are shared by most of the prime Part of the process of maturing and mainstreaming involves shedding the hard shell time cable audience. Ineffective “attacks” on the whalers with bottles of rancid butter are slap- of defiance and exclusivity through which activists resist social pressure to yield and conform, stick. The activities of the Sea Shepherds probably represent the most extreme and confronta- while growing into political and economic strength. A “movement” confronts the rest of soci- tional aspect of the mainstream animal rights movement, the part which has become an endur- ety, but a mature cause welcomes and encourages fellow travelers, whose transformation may ingly influential aspect of everyday lives. be less profound and complete than activists might like, yet are nonetheless moving in the right direction. Self-conscious movement identity drops away as demands for change are more Failed elements implode broadly accepted. Fewer sympathizers express their views on bumper stickers, but thousands more cast pro-animal votes and make pro-animal choices while shopping––and for many, this But, while much of the animal rights movement has become ubiquitous, elements is just a matter of reflexively reaching for the brand of milk or eggs with some sort of humane who have not managed to win mainstream support have imploded inward. Among them are certification on the label, instead of the cheaper brand without. Animal advocates would of vegans so extreme that they cannot endorse any reform in agricultural methods short of com- course wish that the reflexive reach was for non-animal products, but more people are reach- plete and immediate abolition of animal husbandry; “scientific” antivivisectionists who main- ing for non-animal products too: USDA data indicates that U.S. per capita meat and poultry tain that all animal experimentation is scientific fraud, regardless of the results; people whose consumption fell 12.2% between 2007 and 2012. Meanwhile, that humane certification even animal advocacy is inextricably intertwined with a variety of essentially unrelated cultural, exists is a quantum leap ahead in public awareness of farm animals from 15 years ago, when religious, economic, and political beliefs; and various others whose prescriptions for change such certification had yet to begin in the U.S. are so mixed up with pursuit of personal purity as to have little chance of appealing to anyone Animal rights activists of a generation ago may still think of themselves as partici- less obsessed. Most of these people are well-meaning but ineffectual. Mingling among them, pants in the “animal rights movement,” though remaining involved chiefly as donors. But however, are also passive/aggressive animal hoarders masquerading as operators of no-kill many of them, now newly retired and/or with children grown, are reconnecting with partici- shelters and sanctuaries, dogfighters pretending to be pit bull rescuers, scam fundraisers, patory advocacy, and more than just a few are shocked to discover through online forums, recruiters for miscellaneous cults, and a smattering of sociopaths, schizophrenics, and chron- ic depressives who seek a cause, any cause, within which to vent, rave, and commiserate SEARCHABLE ARCHIVES: www.animalpeoplenews.org with others whose approaches have no persuasive appeal. http://www.facebook.com/animalpeoplenews.org The net effect resembles the implosion of the “Republican base” much discussed of late by political commentators. Traditional presidential election strategy calls for successful candidates to moderate extreme positions to appeal to “swing voters,” who choose among ANIMAL PEOPLE individuals running for office, rather than voting along party lines. The primary election sys- News for People Who Care About Animals tem, however, in which only members of one party vote to choose the party presidential can- didate, encourages office-seekers to espouse the positions that they believe will most appeal to Published by Animal People, Inc. the members of their own party who are most likely to vote in a primary. The early primaries President & Administrator: are held in several states of low population, within which voting blocks of relatively little Kim Bartlett – [email protected] national significance may be disproportionately influential. Facebook: Kim Rogers Bartlett The outcome this year, in a closely fought race with multiple closely matched con- tenders, is that candidates have taken impractically extreme positions on so many issues, try- Editor: Merritt Clifton – [email protected] ing to win primary support, that the eventual nominee may struggle to repackage himself as Web producer: Patrice Greanville “mainstream” enough to get elected. Comparably, within the AR conference series and allied Newswire monitor: Cathy Young Czapla web sites and Facebook pages, would-be leaders compete for the support of the perceived base P.O. Box 960 by taking ever more “pure” positions to the point of practically excluding themselves from any Clinton, WA 98236-0960 hope of attracting reasonably mainstream people. So long as the larger animal cause continues to expand and advance, the implosion ISSN 1071-0035. Federal I.D: 14-1752216 of unpersuasive elements might be of little concern. To begrudge the excessively purist their Telephone: 360-579-2505. Fax: 360-579-2575. social events and a few online meetingplaces would seem mean-spirited. Dozens of other con- Web: www.animalpeoplenews.org ferences and electronic media are influentially reaching and involving tens of thousands more people, including the young people who are the future of the cause. Copyright © 2012 for the authors, artists, and photographers. Unfortunately, there is reason for concern that the actions of zealots on the fringe of Reprint inquiries are welcome. animal advocacy may damage the larger cause––with or without help from agents provocateur. ANIMAL PEOPLE: News for People Who Care About Animals is published On February 17, 2012––as detailed elsewhere in this edition of ANIMAL PEOPLE––the FBI nine times annually by Animal People, Inc., a nonprofit, charitable corporation dedicated arrested Meredith Marie Lowell, 27, of Cleveland Heights, Ohio, for seeking to hire “some- to exposing the existence of cruelty to animals and to informing and educating the public of one who is willing to kill someone who is wearing fur.” the need to prevent and eliminate such cruelty. Donations to Animal People, Inc. are tax- The case somewhat parallels the November 1988 arrest of fringe activist Fran Trutt deductible. Financial information on Animal People, Inc. and other charities can be for placing a bomb in the U.S. Surgical Corporation parking lot. Like Trutt, Lowell appears to accessed at
4 - ANIMAL PEOPLE, April 2012 Don’t let irrational extremists define the cause (from page 3) lasting negative effect on public opinion. on another occasion pointed a gun at founder Steve Hindi. be organized at the AR 2012 conference. Hershaft and other But small mobs of activists using Lowell-like rhetoric Once, about 15 years ago, SHARK participated in a AR 2012 conference attendees should take note, though, that are another matter. Hardly anyone likes masked nightriders, or demonstration outside the home of a protest target. Hindi con- intimidation does not win over the public. Rather, intimidation menacing anonymous callers, such as the six individuals asso- cluded that this was an inappropriate tactic. Hindi has since tactics tend to create sympathy for the targets, regardless of ciated with “direct action” animal advocacy and the organiza- then drawn a hard line against confronting anyone in protest whatever those people may have done behind closed doors. tion Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty who were convicted in who is not actively engaged in obvious violence against ani- Likewise, gratuitous vandalism done in the name of animal 2006 of conspiracy to commit animal enterprise terrorism and mals. The SHARK exposés of pigeon shooters and rodeo cow- advocacy, whether by the “ALF” or anyone else, tends to take interstate stalking against employees of Huntingdon Life boys succeed because they show the violence and often show public discussion away from what is being done to animals by Sciences and companies that did business with Huntingdon. the participants trying to avoid identification even as they com- the people whose property has been vandalized, and instead The SHAC web site offered personal information mit acts that most of the public will find offensive. spotlights what the activists have done to people engaged in about targeted individuals, including not only names, address- But while SHARK carefully positions itself on the “lawfully conducted enterprises.” es, and home telephone numbers, but also in some cases the side of public opinion, the AR conference series has in recent Nightrider tactics are often cited by animal use indus- schools that their children attended, the names of their teach- years developed an expanding reputation as an assembly point try fronts in their efforts to railroad ag-gag laws like the one ers, and their after-school activities. Several of the targets tes- for mobs whose tactics approach lynching and whose rhetoric recently passed in Iowa through state legislatures. (See page tified that “they were besieged by screaming protesters outside goes farther. o n e . ) Ag-gag legislation is directed at organizations such as their homes at all hours, deluged by threatening phone calls, AR conference series founder Alex Hershaft, also Mercy for Animals, whose undercover video exposés of facto- and were sent pornographic magazines they had not ordered,” founder of the Farm Animal Reform Movement, in 2000 invit- ry farming in countless venues is precisely the sort of activity summarized Wayne Parry of Associated Press. “One woman ed ANIMAL PEOPLE to participate in the first revival of the that the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was written said she received an e-mail threatening to cut her 7-year-old son series, which had been suspended for a decade, but ordained to protect: nonviolent documentation and exposure of abuses open and stuff him with poison. A man said he was showered that we would have to comply with a gag order to not say any- which without freedom of speech and press might never be with glass as people smashed all the windows of his home and thing critical of other animal advocacy organizations. A N I - brought to light and redressed. overturned his wife’s car.” The testimony was supported by MAL PEOPLE of course declined. Hershaft several times in The animal use industries could not win legislation videos of some of the home demonstrations. the next few years repeated the invitation, with the same gag breaching or circumventing the First Amendment by forthright- Animal advocacy leaders who are attentive to public order. The invitation was declined each time. ly acknowledging that they wish to suppress evidence of cruelty opinion had already distanced themselves from SHAC. Most of But eventually ANIMAL PEOPLE president Kim to animals. Instead, the promoters of ag-gag laws equate the animal advocacy cause, in the six years since those convic- Bartlett did attend an AR conferences in Los Angeles, and was undercover videography with “terrorism” that might somehow tions, has avoided tactics and rhetoric which might appear appalled to discover that while Hershaft muzzled criticism that threaten the U.S. food supply. For example, warned the threatening and invasive to average citizens, who tend to favor he felt might show portions of the animal rights movement in a Animal Agriculture Alliance, “At AR 2011 the recommended being kind to animals but not anti-social displays, regardless of poor light, he allowed militants to organize “home visits” simi- tactics discussed [included] use of violence, sabotage to farms, the pretexts of the sociopaths. lar to those for which the SHAC members were convicted. and other illegal actions.” Showing Animals Respect and Kindness (SHARK) Hershaft did not put a gag order on the organizers of Animal advocates should understand that giving a has tested the bounds of public perception of tactics by using mob action, even though it has such demonstrated potential to platform to people who advocate violence and tactics of terror- long-range cameras and sky-spy drone helicopters to identify harm the whole cause of animal advocacy that animal use ism entails bearing some responsibility for what happens when and expose pigeon shooters in Pennsylvania and North industries have paid millions of dollars to the several dozen impressionable and irrational people hear the message––and Carolina. But SHARK has videotaped and exposed only armed agents provocateur who have been unmasked in court, and may recognition that animals pay the biggest price when ill-consid- men, who four times have shot down the drone helicopters and have paid millions more to others who have evaded exposure. ered tactics backfire. Hearts are not won over by coercion or Instead, “home visits” have intimidation but by persuasion. become a regular if unoffi- In the words of Martin Luther King, “The ultimate LETTERS cial feature of the AR con- weakness of violence is that it is a descending spiral, begetting ference series, while the ros- the very thing it seeks to destroy. Instead of diminishing evil, “The Animal Rights Agenda 25 years later” ter of speakers has increas- it multiplies it. Through violence you may murder the liar, but Concerning the January/February named him, enjoyed the special meals we put ingly spotlighted people who you cannot murder the lie, nor establish the truth. Through 2012 ANIMAL PEOPLE editorial “The for him in the fuse box closet. But his blissful promote these tactics and violence you may murder the hater, but you do not murder ‘Animal Rights Agenda’ 25 years later,” how life ended tragically a few months later when others that tend to alienate hate. In fact, violence merely increases hate. So it goes. I wish I had read the original “Animal Rights he decided to approach me as I sat in the liv- most of the public. Returning violence for violence multiplies violence, adding Agenda” co-authored by Kim Bartlett, Marti ing room with our dog Spotty. Hershaft has thus far deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness Kheel, and Henry Spira way back in 1987; I ––Nita Hontiveros-Lichauco not answered A N I M A L cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot would not have had to muddle through in New Manila, Quezon City P E O P L E president Kim drive out hate: only love can do that. complete ignorance all these years! Every Philippines Bartlett’s February 2012 The truth has power. We should believe that our word you wrote I say “amen” to. inquiry as to whether he cause is just, and that justice will prevail over time, through I also liked Kim’s memorial to a Editor’s note: would allow “home visits” to exposure in the court of public opinion. poor injured rat in that issue. Oh, how sad! Nita Hontiveros-Lichauco was One consolation was that he experienced love among the youngest volunteers recruited by before he died. I love rats, too. My husband Muriel Jay, the British missionary teacher and I secretly nurtured one when we were who founded the Philippine Animal Welfare staying with my in-laws. Valentino, as we Society in 1954. PAWS lapsed into inactivity after Jay returned to Britain, but Hontiveros- Lichauco revived it in 1986 and led the cam - Wildlife Friends paign that won passage of the Philippine Re “Accused of involvement in ele- Animal Welfare Act in February 1998. phant poaching, Thai officials raid Wildlife Friends,” in the March 2012 edition of ANI- MAL PEOPLE, I am glad you are covering Dogfights in Pakistan this. Nearly all the primates were removed Dog fighting is legally banned in from Wildlife Friends, including 33 gibbons Pakistan. However, rich people do not care. and 47 macaques. Their current location is We of the Ravi Foundation have learned that unknown. I have visited Wildlife Friends. It this year’s All Pakistan Dogfighting Contest was irreproachable. Several gibbons lived on was held on February 26, 2012 in village islands. Babies born there had never had called Chak 310-JB, Thatha, near Gojra in human contact, yet were shot out of the trees the Toba Tek Singh district of Punab with tranquilizer darts. Someone caught a province, Pakistan. video of a darted youngster crashing to earth Our daring journalist friend Rana and not knowing what to do. Khalid Mehmood put his life at risk and went We are hoping that Wildlife Friends to cover the event to highlight the cruelty to founder Edwin Wiek and his wife Noi will be animals. He was stopped at gunpoint. present at the International Primate Protection However, he was able to get some images. League conference here in Summerville, April Dawn, Pakistan’s leading English newspaper, 13-15, 2012. covered the event, condemned it strongly, ––Shirley McGreal, OBE, Chairwoman and highlighted the negligence of law enforce- International Primate Protection League ment agencies. The police have reportedly P.O. Box 766 registered a case against the culprits, but have Summerville, SC 29484 not provided details. No arrest has been Phone: 843-871-2280 made. Rana Khalid Mehmood has informed Fax: 843-871-7988 us that scores of dogs were badly injured. One
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6 - ANIMAL PEOPLE, April 2012 Another Chicken Activist’s Perspective E nchanted Nights B&B on Federal Legal Protection for Hens 1890 Victorian by Paul Shapiro Kittery-Portsmouth Harbour Senior director of farm animal protection, Humane Society of the U.S. On Scenic Coastal Route 103 In 1999, United Poultry Concerns rightly lauded the Poultry Concerns also opposes the bill, despite Kittery Maine passage of the European Union’s law requiring a phase-in of the group’s support for the less comprehensive better treatment of egg-laying hens by 2012, including a switch EU law. Even many years after the EU law was * * Pets Stay Free !! from barren battery cages to enriched colony cages. enacted, UPC stated that the organization Whirlpools, Fireplaces, Free WIFI “Europe Bans Battery Hen Cages” was the UPC “applauded the banning of battery-hen cages in newsletter’s headline, with the article continuing that caging the European Union.” A wonderland of Fanciful French & Victorian systems will be improved by reducing stocking density, but The Humane Farming Association and that cage-free would have been better. “Historic Day for Friends of Animals are two other groups that Antiques & Elegant Vegetarian Breakfast Hens,” continued another UPC headline about the EU oppose the bill. HFA claims to be concerned in honor of our Non-Human Friends announcement. The article asserted, “It is time for the United about the fate of California’s Proposition Two States and Canada to climb aboard,” adding “The vote is a vic- ballot measure, approved by voters in 2008, $35 to $250 Daily * Weekly * Monthly tory for the birds and for our struggle on their behalf in a coun- because of HR 3798 would entail federal preemp- Apartment available try that, to date, accords to birds and to farmed animals no fed- tion, but HFA never supported Proposition Two. eral protection at all.” Friends of Animals actively opposed it. 207 439-1489 Fortunately, the United States is now closer to The animal protection organizations affording these long-suffering birds more federal protection most actively involved in legislative efforts on enchantednights.org than the European law that UPC lauded, but not if the beef and behalf of laying hens enthusiastically support HR Mention this ad, 50% donated to Animal People pork industries get their way and kill HR 3798, the Egg 3798, including all of the groups that funded the Products Inspection Act of 2012. Proposition Two campaign. Not only do we know that the big our country aren’t just a statistic. These are real animals who HR 3798 would help hens in a number of ways, egg production states like Iowa, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, endure real suffering, and we have a chance to help alleviate including: essentially doubling the amount of space each lay- Texas, Indiana and others don’t allow ballot measures––and some of their misery with this bill. Without it, they will be sig- ing hen has (with more space than the EU standard that UPC therefore don’t offer much of a pathway to gain legislative nificantly worse off. lauded); requiring that battery egg producers label their cartons improvements for these birds––but there is a serious legal dis- While UPC does not offer any potential legislative as “eggs from caged hens”; banning forced starvation molting, pute about how Proposition Two will be interpreted in pathways to help all hens in the egg industry, UPC founder which is still practiced by some egg producers; and requiring California with very unclear outcomes regarding how it will be Karen Davis’ March 2012 ANIMAL PEOPLE guest column perches and nesting areas so that birds can get off of wire floor- resolved. suggested that people should simply stop eating animal prod- ing and engage in more natural behavior. Many in the California egg industry have been argu- ucts. Of course you can do that and support this legislation; Groups like Compassion in World Farming that ing that they want the Proposition Two space standards to be being vegan does not preclude also reducing the suffering of the worked to enact the EU law in 1999––and are striving for cage- defined as only 93 un-enriched square inches per bird. That is billions of animals (over several years) who will be helped by free conditions––are also enthusiastic supporters of the pro- far less space (not to mention the lack of enrichments) than the this bill. As a vegan myself for the last 18 years, I am heart- posed U.S. hen law. CIWF notes that the bill is “historic” and a standards HR 3798 would set, which are 124 to 144 square ened to see the animal movement focusing more on ethical eat- “significant step in the right direction.” inches per bird, depending on the size of the bird breed. Some ing options. At the same time, I am heartened that our move- state agricultural officials and animal scientists are making the ment is making so many strides to gain farm animals more legal Addressing concerns same arguments, meaning there is a real question as to how protection from the worst cruelties, and I would value both The overwhelming opposition to HR 3798 comes Proposition Two will be defined if HR 3798 isn’t enacted. approaches if I were a battery hen. from the beef and pork industries, which are desperately trying Unlike Proposition Two, HR 3798 includes environ- to kill the bill because they see it as “unconscionable federal mental enrichment requirements, egg carton labeling require- The path forward overreach.” Their main opposition to the bill stems from their ments, air quality and molting requirements, and more. No Groups like the Humane Society of the United States, belief that the federal government should not be in the business matter who wins the legal disputes in California, none of these Farm Sanctuary, Mercy For Animals, the Animal Legal of passing laws to protect farm animals. They apparently don’t important provisions will take effect in California or anywhere Defense Fund, the American SPCA, and Compassion Over realize that train has left the station, and they conveniently else if HR 3798 fails. And importantly, given that there is little Killing have been waging legislative campaigns to help farm ignore current federal laws relating to transport and slaughter of pathway to securing positive change in the biggest egg produc- animals on a state by state basis. Now we are in our best posi- certain farm animals––though not chickens––including the 28- tion states, having the opportunity to affect the 280 million tion ever to gain federal protection for hundreds of millions of Hour Law of 1873 and the Humane Slaughter Act of 1958. hens in all 50 states is a unique opportunity. animals every year. This will significantly improve their lives It is not just the beef and pork industries that oppose compared to what they are today, and compared to what their H.R. 3798. The groups that signed on in opposition to H.R. What are the alternatives? prospects will be without HR 3798. 3798 comprise a veritable “who’s who” of industry groups that Those in the animal protection movement who In the words of those who lauded the 1999 EU cam- oppose farm animal protection, including the American Farm oppose HR 3798 don’t offer an alternative plan for the hun- paign, this is truly an historic effort, and one that animal advo- Bureau Federation, the National Turkey Federation, the dreds of millions of animals this would help. They are not sug- cates should not pass up. It will be very hard to defeat the National Pork Producers Council, the National Milk Producers gesting another legislative way forward for hens, or showing agribusiness interests lined up against this federal bill, but con- Federation, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and the how this bill is worse than having no law at all. sidering the stakes at hand, we must take on this fight and American Sheep Industry Association. Simply put, no realistic alternatives are offered mobilize our supporters to pass this critical legislation in ANIMAL PEOPLE readers know that United because none of us are aware of any. The 280 million hens in Congress. Did UPC support “enriched” cages in 1999? Praises coverage of rats, mice & hens Thank you for your March federal hen legislation, providing a fair Responding to my March 2012 A N I M A L Era of Humanity for Hens’”? The subtitle is a quote 2012 editorial, “Evolving an ethical opportunity for both proponents and P E O P L E guest column “A Chicken Activist’s from Compassion in World Farming, to which we response to mice & rats.” I can’t recall opponents of the bill to articulate their Perspective on the ‘New Deal,’” Humane Society of added a question mark signaling our “wait and see” how long it has been since this subject positions. Treating such a charged sub- the U.S. senior director of farm animal protection Paul attitude toward the EU ban on battery cages that was was comprehensively addressed. ject equitably is not without journalistic Shapiro writes that in 1999, United Poultry Concerns set to be implemented in 2012. Rodents do not fall into the “cute and challenges, and this synopsis was art- “lauded the passage of the European Union’s law There is nothing in our write-up about cuddly” category, and too often suffer fully done in every respect. requiring a phase-in of better treatment of egg-laying “enriched colony cages,” and no hint that that we in silence. ––Ed Duvin hens by 2012, including a switch from barren battery “lauded” a law that would allow “enriched colony I also thought you provided San Francisco, California cages to enriched colony cages.” cages” to replace barren cages for egg-laying hens. an outstanding overview of the pending
ANIMAL PEOPLE, April 2012 - 7
We invite readers to submit letters and Against HR 3798 Greyhound racing is cruelty original unpublished commentary Concerning HR 3798, also called Commenting on the January/ suring stick is given for these varied positions. ––please, nothing already posted to “The Rotten Egg Bill,” Ed Duvin spoke for February ANIMAL PEOPLE editorial “The Similarly, Davies offers a view of a web site––via e-mail to me in his “Broken Movement” essay, excerpt- Animal Rights Agenda 25 years later,” in dog racing that seems unanchored in fact or
April 13-15: Intl. Pri- mate Protection Lg. conf., Summerville, SC. Info: 843-871-2280;
8 - ANIMAL PEOPLE, April 2012
Judge limits Bonneville sea lion cull toll to 30 WASHINGTON D.C.––U.S. Dist- NMFS, and ordered that the sea lions may not Sealing on thin ice rict Judge James E. Boasberg on March 22, be shot. 2012 denied an injunction sought by the California sea lions eat under 4% of market,” Capital Animal Welfare Association “It should be noted that in some Humane Society of the U.S. against a National the Columbia River salmon runs, according to director Qin Xiaona told Wei Na of G l o b a l regions,” the authors wrote, “the magnitude Marine Fisheries Service decision to allow federal studies. But Oregon and Washington T i m e s . In absence of other buyers, New- of hunting mortality has been lower than the California sea lions to be culled at the Bonne- have for more than 15 years blamed sea lions foundland and Labrador fisheries minister level of natural mortality reported in poor ice ville Dam on the Columbia River to protect for declining catches. HSUS and other organi- Darin King hinted to John Furlong of CBC, years.” Concluded the study authors, “Harp endangered spring salmon runs––but Boasberg zations have repeatedly blocked or restricted the provincial and/or federal goverments may seals…are well suited to deal with natural restricted the proposed killing to 30 sea lions proposed sea lion culls by filing lawsuits buy and stockpile seal pelts. shifts in climate, including the effects on sea per year, rather than the 92 proposed by invoking the Marine Mammal Protection Act. Receding spring ice may doom the ice conditions. However, these animals may Atlantic Canada seal hunt more surely than not be well adapted to absorb the cumulative HFA & Farm Sanctuary dispute roles in law either economic conditions or protest, hinted effects of human influences, short-term cli- The March 2012 ANIMAL PEO- Thank you for your March 2012 arti- Duke University researchers David W. mate variability, and global warming. P L E article “U.S. Supreme Court overturns cles “Federal laying hen standards bill goes Johnston, Matthew T. Bowers, and Ari S. “Other ice-associated seals are also California law requiring downers to be eutha- before Congress” and “U.S. Supreme Court Friedlaender, and International Fund for likely to be vulnerable to these combined nized” stated that “Farm Sanctuary had in 1994 overturns California law requiring downers to Animal Welfare scientist David M. Lavigne in effects,” the authors warned. “In particular, won passage of a California law intended to be euthanized.” We really appreciate your fair- a January 2012 paper entitled “The Effects of hooded seals may be at risk. The Northeast prohibit abuse of downed livestock, but the ly and accurately representing our perspective Climate Change on Harp Seals,” published by Atlantic stock, which breeds off the east coast law had been successfully enforced only and for all the time and work you obviously the online science journal PLoS ONE. of Greenland, has declined by 85–90% over once.” Correction: the 1994 California down- put into your coverage. However, Farm Explained the paper, “We tested the the last 40–60 years, prompting a listing of er law (PC599f) was activated in CA at least Sanctuary had no role or participation whatso- effects of short-term climate variability on this species as Vulnerable on the International three times before it was amended, including ever in passing the 2008 downed animal law young-of-the-year harp seal mortality,” com- Union for the Conservation of Nature’s Red to prosecute the former Hallmark/Westland that former Humane Farming Association gen- paring “sea ice cover in the Gulf of St. List of Threatened Species.” slaughterhouse in Chino, California after the eral counsel and now California Assembly Lawrence against stranding rates of dead harp Humane Society of the U.S. exposed abuses member Paul Krekorian introduced on HFA’s seals in the region during 1992 to 2010.” Pol speaks out there in 2008. behalf. Farm Sanctuary had no role whatever This, the authors found, “revealed The Conservative government, the Farm Sanctuary supported passage in drafting the bill, nor did they participate in that changes in sea ice may have contributed Liberal opposition, and the leadership of the of the updated downed animal law later in one single hearing. They did not lobby for the to the depletion of seals on the east coast of second opposition party, the New Democrats, 2008. bill in any way, shape, or form while it was Canada during 1950 to 1972,” when the have remained adamantly supportive of the ––Gene Baur , President being considered in the legislature, and they Atlantic Canada seal hunt expanded with little seal hunt. Only one Canadian government has Farm Sanctuary did not conduct one single mailing in support protest, “and to their recovery during 1973 to ever been elected without majority support P.O. Box 150 of HFA’s bill. This is understandable. They 2000,” when the seal hunt became a globally from the four Atlantic Canadian provinces. Watkins Glen, NY 14891 couldn’t very well ask members to help outlaw prominent issue. That was the government headed by Brian Phone: 607-583-2225 the transport and marketing of downed animals “Sea ice cover in all harp seal breed- Mulroney, 1984-1993. Mulroney was a
ANIMAL PEOPLE, April 2012 - 9 Raids on wildlife rescue charities put Thai wildlife agency chief under the spotlight B A N G K O K ––Making a show of half of the young tuskers in Thailand have ble suspects, the Department of National Parks work and taken from the wild ae true. belatedly cracking down on wildlife traffick- been smuggled in alongside fake surrogate on March 8, 2012 raided a home in Sara Buri Damrong Phidet said it was clear that probably ing, especially commerce in elephants to work mothers who already have identity papers,” where 300 to 400 animals were said to have hundreds of elephants were obtained illegally at tourist camps, Thailand Department of Pollard wrote. “A loophole in the law, which been kept illegally. “Wildlife trader Thananu- around the country, and vowed to uphold the National Parks, Wildlife & Plant Conservation does not require babies to be registered until wat ‘Ord Bang Kluay’ Boonpherm, who was law to the maximum extent. He stated that chief Damrong Phidet entered April 2012 they are eight years old, has aided this trade.” arrested on February 4, pointed the authorities under his leadership the DNP would enforce “under attack from both the goodies and the Alleging wildlife permit violations, to the house, belonging to Si Sa Ketnative the law without exception, no matter who they baddies,” assessed The Nation sub-editor and Department of National Parks personnel in Yutthasak Sutthinon, 28,” reported T h e are or whom they know. Foreign Correspondents Club of Thailand eight separate raids seized 103 animals from Nation. “Located on an isolated plot 20 kilo- “So here we are,” Wiek summa- board member Jim Pollard. Wildlife Friends and seized more in four raids metres off the Mitraparp Highway, it was rized, “more than a month after the first raids “The owners of camps along the on the Elephant Nature Park. But if Damrong barbed-wired, guarded by dogs, and had 30 against the Elephant Nature Park Foundation Burma border and others in Surin, some of Phidet thought holding the animals for ransom security cameras, linked via Internet to be and Wildlife Friends. But Damrong Phidet them thought to be deeply involved in elephant would buy silence, he misjudged his critics. watched from Bangkok,” The Nation said. now refuses to further raid and inspect ele- smuggling, have talked about blocking high- “Wiek has fought intimidation Within the next week the phant camps country-wide, even though he ways and petitioning to try to get Damrong before, in a long-running battle with a large Department of National Parks seized two juve- knows that they house hundreds of illegally Phidet removed,” Pollard continued. Also tourist facility in Bangkok, found with dozens nile elephants in a series of raids on three ele- obtained elephants. As more insult to injury, seeking Damrong Phidet’s removal were more of smuggled orangutans, over 50 of whom phant tourism attractions in Phuket. Damrong he even refuses to confiscate almost 300 ille- than 58,250 petitioners declaring support for were eventually flown back to Borneo,” Phidet took the opportunity to recommend that gally imported and obtained wild animals from Wildlife Friends Foundation of Thailand Pollard recalled. elephant calves should be registered at three an illegal wildlife trader who has openly said founder Edwin Wiek and Elephant Nature Park Meanwhile, when the Department of months of age. he imports and exports wildlife for zoos.” founder Sangduan Lek Chailert, whose animal National Parks moved against the Elephant But Wiek was unimpressed. Of the The Department of National Parks charities were the targets of apparent retaliato- Nature Park, Pollard wrote, “local reporters Sara Buri raid, Wiek commented in T h e countered with a three-page recitation of the ry raids by wildlife officials in February 2012. and TV crews were on hand to challenge parks Nation, “A notorious wildlife trader was bust- alleged permit violations at the Elephant The raids began after Wiek in a officials. Why were they harassing one of the ed. The man had no zoo license and could not Nature Park Foundation and Wildlife Friends, January 2012 op-ed column for the B a n g k o k country’s most admired wildlife activists, who provide any legal documents for almost 300 distributed to Thai consulates around the world Post accused Damrong Phidet’s administration operates an acclaimed facility which is just a animals, including 13 white lions, five tigers, for use in responding to letters of protest. of trying to cover up the killing of six wild ele- sanctuary––a retirement home where elephants two baby orangutans, two red pandas, 30 Wiek posted both the letter of allegations and phants at the Kaeng Krachan and Kui Buri roam free?” marmoset monkeys, camels, and 30 more his own relatively brief rebuttal to the Wildlife national parks. Damrong Phidet alleged that Recounted Sangduan Lek Chailert, species of protected wildlife. Eight days after Friends web site. the six elephants might have been killed to “Initially, the DNP officials came to us the raid all of the animals are still there.” Because both the Elephant Nature obtain meat for wealthy visitors to Phuket expecting to find a camp with over 70 illegal Meanwhile, Wiek continued, Park and Wildlife Friends have always been resorts. “Looking at restaurants catering to elephants and a breeding facility which traf- “Raids on elephant tourist camps around the open to visitors, Wiek pointed out, and rich foreigners visiting Thailand might be ficked to China. Of course they found only 35 country made headline news. The DNP visited because they have posted the stories of most of looking away from the real problem: the elephants, mostly old or injured in some way. one elephant camp in Phuket and confiscated the animals in their care to their web sites and killing of elephants to take elephant babies Yet even then, on the second and third raids, two baby elephants. Two camps in Sai Yok, Facebook pages, soon after each animal’s from the forests to be trained for tourism,” they still wanted to confiscate our handicapped Kanchanaburi were raided and 19 elephants arrival, there is no mystery about either chari- Wiek responded. Sangduan Lek Chailert sup- elephants, and threatened to check our proper- were taken. From raiding just these few camps ty’s operations, nor about where the animals ported Wiek’s charges. ty and disturb our animals living here.” it was clear that claims that a huge number of came from. The same cannot be said of most “There have been claims that up to Pressured to act against more plausi- captive elephants are without proper paper- other holders of captive wildlife in Thailand. More events July 11-13: Arts & Sci. of Human/Animal Interaction conf., Cambridge, U.K. Info:
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10 - ANIMAL PEOPLE, April 2012 Cattle are landed in Africa after Red Sea stranding, but camels are stuck due to foot-and-mouth outbreak C A I R O ––Fear of foot-and-mouth ty,” said ProMed cofounder Jack Woodall. disease left thousands of camels stranded as of The shipload of camels was the sec- March 31, 2012 aboard a livestock transport ond large livestock cargo in less than a month ship in the Red Sea, the Egypt Independent to be stranded in the Red Sea after being and Al-Masry Al-Youm reported. refused permission to land the animals in Thousands more camels were “stuck Egypt. Animals Australia on March 1, 2012 in a Suez quarry,” the Egypt Independent and received an anonymous tip that the Gracia Del Al-Masry Al-Youm said. In addition, the Mar, originally carrying 5,600 cattle, had lost Egyptian agriculture ministry prevented the 2,750 en route from Brazil, and was not import of more than 10,000 camels from allowed to land the survivors. Sudan on March 27, 2012, the E g y p t Built in 1981, recently converted to Independent and Al-Masry Al-Youm added. carry livestock, after reported sale to “Syrian A new strain of foot-and-mouth dis- interests,” the Gracia Del Mar is registered to ease called SAT-2, against which most exist- Bay Route Shipping, of Panama. Reports ing vaccine stocks were ineffective, had from various maritime and Egyptian sources already hit more than 60,000 animals in agreed that the Gracia Del Mar e x p e r i e n c e d Egypt, killing 10,000, said the news portal ventilation failure. Instead of stopping for Green Prophet. The United Nations Food and repairs at Gibralter, which would have pro- Agriculture Association warned that 6.3 mil- longed the animals’ time on board, the Gracia lion buffalo and cattle and 7.5 million sheep Del Mar pushed on, according to this version. and goats might be at risk of infection. “In Compassion in World Farming on 2012, the Eid will be celebrated at the end of March 18, 2011 thanked “supporters who sent August,” observed the FAO, “which implies 40,000 emails in 40 hours to the Brazilian and an increased risk of virus dispersal across the Egyptian authorities and the World Animal region via increased movements ofanimals, Health Organization,” resulting in the surviv- particularly lambs, during the months of May ing cattle eventually being offloaded into through July.” A variety of human service small boats and distributed along the coast of charities and the Egyptian Society of Animal Africa, ANIMAL PEOPLE was told in an Friends reportedly tried to vaccinate livestock unconfirmed report. “We are told that the ahead of the fast-moving outbreak, but most Gracia Del Mar was hit by a freezing snow- used the ineffective older vaccines. storm off the coast of Algeria and thousands “An [earlier] outbreak of SAT-2 in of the animals succumbed to the cold,” CIWF Libya caused 11% mortality there,” summa- said. Skeptical of that, livestock shipping rized ProMed, the online information experts at the Animal Transport Association exchange operated by the International conference in Vancouver told A N I M A L Society for Infectious Diseases. SAT-2 is PEOPLE that cattle deaths from exposure on believed to have reached Egypt with cattle shipboard are practically unheard of. smuggled from Libya. “The Egyptian authori- This was the sixth largest known ties are trying to obtain appropriate vaccines loss of livestock in shipment to the Middle abroad and claim that tighter measures are East. About 5,500 sheep died aboard the being undertaken to prevent the spread of the Cormo Express in 2003, after Kuwait and disease,” ProMed said. “Steps are also being Saudi Arabia refused to allow the ship to undertaken to produce the relevant vaccines.” unload, on the claim that the sheep were dis- The Egypt Independent on March 7, eased. The surviving 44,000 sheep were even- 2011 published a photo of dead calves tually donated to Eritrea. The Danny F II sank “thrown in front of the headquarters of off Lebanon in 2009 with 18,000 cattle and Gharbiya governorate, during a villagers’ 10,000 sheep aboard. The UNICEB, carrying protest.” A similar photo appeared a week 67,000 sheep, burned and sank in 1996, as later in Al Wafd. “Throwing FMD-infected did the Farid Fares in 1980 with 40,605 sheep animals in front of government buildings aboard. Also in 1980, the Shaddia sank in the demonstrates a deplorable level of biosecuri- Red Sea with 12,000 sheep aboard. HBO drama series Luck runs out but racing injuries go on (from page 1) Milch and Mann “refused to tell us anything ness checks by licensed veterinarians.” The week at racetracks across America,” the N e w the track had 11.9 horse injuries per 1,000 about the first two horses, so with the help of AHA on-set representatives “made sure horses York Times team discovered. “Many are inex- starts in 2010. caring whistleblowers, we unearthed the dis- were adequately rested between all running pensive horses racing with little regulatory The T i m e s team noted that “New turbing evidence ourselves. Both were retired sequences,” Rosa told ANIMAL PEOPLE. protection. The Times found that horses in Mexico recently became the first state to tem- racehorses who wouldn’t understand that when The first accident, Rosa said, claiming races,” the lowest level of racing, porarily ban all horses from racing on clen- they went through the starting gate on a race- “occurred following the last shot of the last “have a 22% greater chance of breaking down buterol, a drug that aids respiration, but has track, it was just for a TV show and not a real day. At this time, there was no indication as or showing signs of injury than horses in high- been widely abused because it can build mus- race. Outlaw Yodeler was a 5-year-old who to whether the show would go beyond a pilot. er grade races. cle.” But the T i m e s writers also pointed out hadn’t raced in months and was apparently so Due to the second death the following year, “In 2008,” the New York Times that the New Mexico racing commission has sore that he was given a potent cocktail of while filming the seventh episode, we insisted team recalled, “after a Kentucky Derby horse, “had its embarrassments. One former investi- muscle relaxant and anti-inflammatory and that filming cease until enhanced protocols Eight Belles, broke two ankles on national gator faces trial on charges of stealing horses painkilling drugs, including Butorphanol, a were in place, including radiographing the television and was euthanized, Congress while working at the commission. A trainer’s painkiller so strong that it’s often used as an horses’ legs. Some horses were pulled and not extracted promises from the racing industry to doping violation was dismissed because the analgesic for horses undergoing some kinds of allowed to do running scenes. Those horses make the sport safer. But a computer analysis assistant attorney general handling the case surgery. The other horse, whose name we were then only used as background. For the of data from more than 150,000 races, along neglected to show up in court. And the com- believe is Marc’s Shadow, was 8 years old and past year there were no further incidents.” with injury reports, drug test results and inter- mission had to drop charges against Ramon O. arthritic and had not raced in nearly four years. The third horse who died on-set, views, shows an industry still mired in a cul- Gonzalez Sr. for drugging 10 horses because it Both horses were ‘raced’ twice in one day, Rosa said, “had just finished a soundness ture of drugs and lax regulation and a fatal forgot to file the proper paperwork, according something even fit thoroughbreds would never check and was passed by the veterinarian. The breakdown rate that remains far worse than in to the state attorney general’s office.” In a be subjected to,” PETA alleged. “Both horses horse was feeling good and in walking back to most of the world.” separate case, Gonzalez, his son, and his broke down after the second run.” the barn, reared up––not uncommon for hors- According to the New York Times nephew were in January 2010 indicted by an Responded American Humane es to do––but lost his footing, flipped, and team, “Trainers at U.S. tracks have been Albuquerque federal grand jury after Ramon Association senior vice president Karen Rosa, landed on his crown. The attending veterinari- caught illegally drugging horses 3,800 times,” O. Gonzalez Sr. “was arrested while pulling a who heads the AHA film and television unit, an assessed that the head trauma was too since the Eight Belles fatality, “a figure that horse trailer that the authorities said was carry- “Although retired, some as recently as 2011,” severe to be treated and made the difficult but vastly understates the problem because only a ing 26 kilograms of cocaine and 500 pounds of the horses used in L u c k “were all soundness humane decision to euthanize the horse. We small percentage of horses are actually tested. marijuana,” the Times team noted. checked to run. Also, running for filming was immediately insisted that filming with horses During the same time frame, “6,600 horses The New York Times report came not as fast as in a real race, nor as long. cease until a full and comprehensive investiga- broke down or showed signs of injury. Since four months after Vancouver Sun r e p o r t e r Horses ran from three-eighths to a quarter mile tion was completed. This is standard proce- 2009, the incident rate has not only failed to go Larry Pynn investigated the deaths of 20 hors- at low speeds, never ran more than twice per dure when an animal dies on the set. down, it has risen slightly,” the T i m e s t e a m es in 20 months at Hastings Race course in day, and ran only after passing daily sound- “Although the three deaths were charged. U.S. race tracks from 2009 through Vancouver. “Thirteen horses were euthanized unprecedented for a television series,” Rosa 2011 averaged 5.2 horse injuries per 1,000 after leg, shoulder or pelvis fractures,” Pynn noted, “in the sport of horseracing, including starts, the New York Times analysis learned. learned. “Other deaths were related to medical steeplechase, far more horses are injured and “By contrast,” the Times team wrote, “Wood- problems such as pulmonary edema and hem- killed during a year of activity than all species bine Racetrack in Toronto, which year after orrhage, perforated intestinal ulcers, foot of animals combined in the film industry in a year has one of the lowest breakdown rates in infections, and brain disease. One horse no similar period.” North America, had an incident rate of only longer used for racing had a colon tear,” Indeed, seven of the eight horses 1.4” per 1,000 starts. found necropsies done by the British Columbia who started the eighth race at Hollywood The T i m e s reporters linked the high Animal Health Centre in Abbotsford. Casino at Charles Town, West Virginia fell on U.S. race horse breakdown rate to the intro- Thoroughbreds race only about once February 29, 2012. “The next and final race duction of casino gambling at race tracks, a month, Great Canadian Gaming Corporation was canceled, not just because it took so long “resulting in higher purses but also providing vice-president Howard Blank told Pynn. But, to clear the track, but also because too few an incentive for trainers to race unfit horses.” Blank said, the upper body weight of a thor- jockeys were available or willing to ride,” The T i m e s team found that five of oughbred race horse is “so massive compared recounted New York Times horse racing writer the six tracks with the highest incident rates in with the little sticks it runs on,” that “It’s like Joe Drape and investigative writers Walt 2011 were “racinos,” as race tracks with casi- putting a Corvette engine in a Volkswagen. It Bogdanich, Dara L. Miles, and Griffin no operations are called. The two worst were has amazing speed and power, but if we kept Palmer in a March 24, 2012 report that put the Ruidoso, 14.1 horse injuries per 1,000 starts, doing it without maintaining meticulous care, Luck calamities into perspective. and Zia Park, 13.3––the latter after manage- the Volkswagen would disintegrate as it was “On average, 24 horses die each ment spent $80,000 to resurface the track after running.” ––Merritt Clifton April 2012 4/3/12 12:05 PM Page 11
ANIMAL PEOPLE, April 2012 - 11 Rhino horn trafficking bust nets pro rodeo champion Wade Steffen LONG BEACH, Calif.––R h i n o reported Kenneth R. Weiss of the Los Angeles accounts in China.” rhino horn trafficking. At least 43 rhinos were horn trafficking and rodeo intersected in Times. Photos retrieved from a camera carried The suspects were rounded up dur- poached in Kruger National Park, among 110 February 2012 with the arrest of 2010 All- by Merrily Steffen included images of “$100 ing the last weekend in February 2012 in raids rhinos were poached throughout South Africa, American ProRodeo Finals steer wrestling co- bills bound with rubber bands” and “rhino by more than 150 federal agents and local law during the first 90 days of 2012. A record 448 champion Wade Steffen, 32, in Hico, Texas, horns being weighed on scales,” according to enforcement on homes and businesses in a rhinos poached in South Africa during 2011, along with alleged California co-conspirators the arrest warrant for Wade Steffen. Molly dozen states. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service up from 333 in 2010, 122 in 2009, 83 in Jimmy Kha, 49, Mai Nguyen, 41, Kha’s son and Merrily Steffen were not arrested. spokesperson Ed Grace indicated that addition- 2008, and just 13 in 2007. Felix, 26, and Jin Zhao Feng, a Chinese citi- “During their probe,” Weiss wrote, al arrests would follow. Grace said the raids “The number of rhinoceros killed in zen who allegedly arranged the transport of the “wildlife officials intercepted at least 18 ship- seized 37 rhino horns, more than $1 million in Zimbabwe parks decreased to 23 in 2011, horns to China. ments of rhino horns from the Steffen family cash, and about $1 million in valuables. from 30 in 2010,” reported Peter Matam- Steffen, the Khas, and Nguyen and the owner of a Missouri auction house that “Steffen is accused of buying old banadzo of the Harare H e r a l d––but perhaps were charged with rhino horn trafficking in trades in live and stuffed exotic animals, court rhino horns around the country and selling less because of improved anti-poaching law violation of the Endangered Species Act and records show. The items were repackaged and them to Kha since January 2010,” summarized enforcement than because of a dwindling the Lacey Act. The Lacey Act prohibits inter- sent along to Jimmy Kha’s export business or Barry Schlachter of the Fort Worth Star Zimbabean rhino population. state traffic in protected species. Nguyen’s nail shop, then presumably smug- Telegram. “The alleged transactions apparent- China, though the primary destina- Steffen, his wife Molly, and his gled out of the country, according to law ly occurred between rodeos, which had earned tion of trafficked rhino horn worldwide, mother Merrily Steffen “were stopped by enforcement sources and court records. him $247,000 over a career dating to 2006.” banned the import and medicinal use of rhino Transportation Security Administration offi- Investigators tracked the movements of hun- Steffen also trained camels to be rid- horns in 1993, in compliance with the cials at Long Beach Airport on February 9, dreds of thousands of dollars though bank wire den. Steffen in March 2011 “was attacked and Convention on International Trade in 2012 with $337,000 in their carry-on luggage,” transfers,” Weiss summarized, “including to badly bitten by a camel,” Schlachter wrote.” Endangered Species, which has forbidden The camel “broke two bones in his trade in rhino horns since 1976. Ivory sales boost elephant poaching––as predicted left arm, tore two arteries,” and damaged Nonetheless, a Chinese firm called GENEVA, JOHANNESBURG– – African Republic.” nerves in Steffen’s hand and fingers,” Molly Long Hui Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. “has Convention on International Trade in Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force Steffen reportedly posted to Facebook.” imported rhinos from South Africa to farms in Endangered Species secretary-general John chair Johnny Rodrigues hinted in a March 14, “He has not competed in a rodeo Hainan and Yunnan provinces, with the goal Scanlon on February 29, 2012 reportedly 2012 bulletin that the next elephant massacre since then, and may not for a while, as the of building a ‘rhino industrial base,’” but has expressed “grave concern” that as many as 450 might occur in the Chiredzi River Conserv- legal process runs its course,” offered Bruce not yet started to sell the horns, reported Erin elephants were poached in Bouba Ndjida ancy. “Despite numerous reports and photos Gietzen of KXXV-TV News in Waco. Conway-Smith of the Global Post on February National Park, northern Cameroon, during the supplied to the authorities, destruction of the Separate but simultaneous alleged 29, 2012. According to Peninsula Metropolis first 60 days of 2012. Earlier, the Washington conservancy by illegal settlers continues rhino horn trafficking cases brought the arrests Daily, published in Qingdao, China, “Rhinos D.C.-based Environmental Investigation unabated,” Rodrigues wrote. “It is now of antique dealer David Hausman in New York have fallen ill from poor living conditions, the Agency reported the poaching of as many as alleged that the settlers are putting together a City and alleged rhino horn buyer Amir Even animals won’t breed, and when student 50 elephants a month in the Selous Game petition to present to Parliament requesting Ezra in New Jersey. activists got wind of Long Hui’s secretive Reserve in Tanzania. that all the elephants be shot as they are South African National Parks chief scheme recently, they wrote about it on Elephant poaching appears to have destroying their crops. This is a very strange executive David Mabunda on March 1, 2012 Weibo, a Twitter-like microblogging site. The accelerated following a record number of request in view of the fact that crops can’t be acknowledged the arrests of four Kruger post was quickly shared thousands of times by seizures of illegally trafficked elephant tusks, grown in this arid, unarable area.” National Park staff for alleged involvement in outraged animal lovers,” Smith recounted. worldwide, in 2011, including 13 seizures of more than a met- ric ton of ivory, up from six in 2010. The tusks confiscated in 2011 came from at least 2,500 elephants. “Some of the seized tusks came from old stockpiles, the elephants having been killed years ago,” reported Michelle Faul of Associated Press. But the leakage from presumably closely guarded ivory stockpiles indicated high-level corruption in the nations of origin. Ivory poaching exploded across Africa after CITES in July 2008 authorized Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe to sell a combined total of 119 metric tons of elephant ivory to China. “Allowing new ivory to be imported into China will stimulate demand and create loopholes for illegal ivory to be laundered into the legal mar- ket,” predicted International Fund for Animal Welfare pro- gram director Peter Pueschel, citing experience with previous one-time sales of stockpiled ivory in the years since CITES suspended international sales of elephant ivory in 1989. Kenya-based ivory trade investigators Esmond Martin and Lucy Vigne found in mid-2011 that ivory sales in China had soared, as predicted. “Not only is the demand soar- ing, but 63% of the ivory is ille- gal and law enforcement is minimal,” summarized Mary Powys, spokesperson for the Elephant Family, of London. “In the past seven years the number of ivory carv- ing factories [in China] has increased from 9 to 36, and ivory product sales offices have grown from 31 to 137,” report- ed People’s Daily on December 14, 2011. “A complete ban [on ivory sales] is the only way to stop the killing of innocent wildlife and end the deadly ivory trade for good,” People’s D a i l y concluded, citing “many officials and animal activists.” IFAW European Union director Lesley O’Don- nell attributed the Cameroon poaching to “incursions by armed gangs from Sudan, to raise money for arms purchases for use in regional conflicts–– particularly ongoing unrest in Sudan and in the Central April 2012 4/3/12 12:05 PM Page 12
12 - ANIMAL PEOPLE, April 2012
Iowa & Utah pass ag-gag laws (from page 1) ANIMAL PEOPLE “a serious misdemeanor.” A “second or subsequent conviction for 13 “serious” and “significant” violations of sanitation is “an aggravated misdemeanor.” requirements at five different sites, disclosed ABC News thanks you for your generous support The Utah and Iowa bills both seek to circumvent mul- reporters Cynthia Galli, Angela Hill, and Rym Momtaz. Honoring the parable of the widow's mite––in which tiple precedents established between 1992 and 2002 in cases “The intent of the Iowa bill is simple: shield animal a poor woman gives but one coin to charity, yet that involving use of undercover exposés by the ABC television agribusiness from public scrutiny by punishing whistleblowers is all she possesses ––we do not list our donors by how magazine show Prime Time Live. and protecting animal abusers,” wrote Humane Society of the much they give, but we greatly appreciate large gifts U.S. president Wayne Pacelle to Iowa governor Branstad. that help us do more for animals. Food Lion precedent Elaborated former HSUS investigator Carlson, in a The first and most prominent of the cases against guest blog for The Atlantic, “The law lets factory farms and ABC was brought by the Food Lion supermarket chain. Prime slaughterhouses screen out potential whistleblowers simply by Heather Abraham, Action Volunteers for Animals, Time Live reported, summarized Freedom Forum First asking on job applications, ‘Are you affiliated with a news Animal Lovers Society, Doris Austin, Laura Black, Amendment Center executive director Kenneth A. Poulson, organization, labor union, or animal protection group?’ Two John & June Caspersen, Gale Cohen-Demarco, after the 1999 final appellate ruling in the case, “that some years ago, I had to answer a similar question. If the ag gag law Robert Costello & Mark Rovai, Susana & Dave Crow, Food Lion stores engaged in highly questionable food handling, had been in effect then, I might be writing this article from a Anne Galloway Curtis, Jennifer Dudley, Marlene Elkins, including the repackaging and sale of spoiled meat. cell. Ag gag laws pretend to be about preventing ‘fraud,’” Stephanie Ferneyhough, Fundacion Federico, Documentation for the report was obtained by two ABC Carlston continued, “but they protect guys like Billy Jo Gregg, Paul Gallaher, Debra Giambattista, John Giles, reporters who applied for jobs with Food Lion and taped com- a dairy worker who was convicted of six counts of animal cru- Brenda Gonzalez, Ronald Graham, John Green, Odette Grosz, Judy & Pedro Hecht, D. Herbert Henrico, pany employees with hidden video cameras. Food Lion chose elty in 2010 after being caught punching, kicking, and stab- William Holliday, Janet Ikola, Kathleen Jennings, not to challenge the truthfulness of the reporting. Instead, bing restrained cows and calves at an Ohio farm. They protect John Joseph/Students for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, Food Lion attacked the gathering of the news, charging that by the North Carolina Department of Agriculture official who Jerome Kahn, Elizabeth Kirkpatrick, Heather & Lawrence lying on their applications and providing fake references, the recently pled guilty to obstruction of justice after tipping a Kren, Linda Kuttner, Christina & John Leverenzzi, ABC reporters engaged in fraud and trespass.” Butterball turkey plant off to a police investigation. The investi- Mark Lieberman, Alysoun Mahoney & Greg Reiter, Food Lion won a jury award of $5.5 million in 1997. gation, based on Mercy for Animals’ undercover footage, Binella Martino, Patricia McGuire, Judy & Henry Meincke, The Fourth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in 1999 ruled that the resulted in seven arrests for felony and misdemeanor animal Melissa's Rescue/Mimi Wriedt, Lola Merritt, Marilee Meyer, ABC reporters “were indeed guilty of trespass and of violating cruelty. Ag gag laws also protect the slaughterhouses that regu- Gil Michaels/Animal Guardians, Mr. & Mrs. Richard Miller, a breach of loyalty as Food Lion employees,” explained larly send sick and dying animals into our food supply. But Melani Nardone, Steven Pagani, Frank Perrino, Susan Recht, Poulson, but reduced the award to $2.00. they don’t protect the USDA inspector who had his job threat- Yvonne Rosenblatt, Ronald Rosenkranz, Bill & Jill Sedam, The court wrote that the use of “run-of-the-mill torts” ened after reporting violations. That inspector had to tip off an Stephen Serota, Jacqueline Seuss, Lucy & John Shelton, to attempt “an end-run around First Amendment strictures is HSUS investigator, and only then was the plant closed.” Kathleen Shopa, Magda Simopoulos, Lindy & Marvin Sobel, foreclosed.” Ag-gag legislation of any sort “has only one purpose: Charlotte Sparks, Amy Steinmueller, Carolyn Stephens, Prime Time Live also won cases brought against to hide factory-farming conditions from a public that is begin- Gretchen Tatsch, Dee Tharpe, Marilyn Weaver reporters who used a hidden camera and false identities in a ning to think seriously about animal rights and the way food is 1994 undercover investigation of a medical laboratory, and produced,” editorialized The New York Times in 2011. ities in Iowa than in any other state, with more than 25 offices,” against use of a hidden camera in an exposé of racial profiling “These bills share common features,” the Times con- explained Food & Environment Reporting Network founder by three New Jersey police officers. tinued. “Their definition of agriculture is overly broad; they Tom Laskawy in a column for Grist. The Iowa law would pro- The Utah law is essentially intended as a preventive include puppy mills, for instance. They treat undercover inves- tect Monsanto’s seed houses, pesticide manufacturing plants, measure, as few undercover video exposés of factory farming tigators and whistle-blowers as if they were agro-terrorists, and research facilities,” Laskawy wrote. “That’s a bit ironic, have been produced in Utah. But the Iowa law was passed after determined to harm livestock or damage facilities. They would given that Monsanto investigators are notorious for trespassing multiple exposés of Iowa agribusiness won national notice. criminalize reporting on crop production as well. And they are on farmers’ property and going to extreme measures to produce In May and June 2009, for instance, Mercy for supported by the big guns of industrial agriculture: Monsanto, evidence of seed patent infringement.” Animals videotaped how unwanted male chicks were culled the Farm Bureau, the associations that represent pork produc- and killed at a hatchery in Spencer, Iowa. Hy-Line North ers, dairy farmers and cattlemen, as well as poultry, soybean, Something to gag about America admitted to “animal welfare policy violations” at the and corn growers.” That wasn’t the only irony. On March 28, 2012 the hatchery three months later, after undergoing an independent “I think this is incredibly bad public policy for a Des Moines Register revealed that “West Des Moines police audit. In February and March 2010, then-Humane Society of nonexistent problem that is being worked across the country by are investigating whether criminal charges are warranted in the the U.S. investigator Cody Carlson worked for 15 days at Rose big ag that doesn’t want to play by the rules and has had it their case of a Farm Bureau employee behaving badly. A Farm Acre Farms egg-laying hen hatcheries in Winterset, Stuart, way for a long time,” Iowa state senator Matt McCoy of Des Bureau vice president told authorities that one of the agency’s and Guthrie Center, Iowa, and for 10 days at a Rembrandt Moines told Jason Clayworth of the Des Moines Register. employees had been caught on video urinating on the office Enterprises egg farm in Thompson, Iowa. At each facility Agreed state senator Herman Quirmbach, of Ames, chairs of four female co-workers. The suspect, a 59-year-old Carlson documented rough treatment, hens entangled in cage “Passing this bill will put a big red question mark on every pork man from Des Moines, was fired. The man had worked in the wire so that they could not reach food and water, hens with chop, chicken wing, steak and egg produced in this state, information technology department and had access to all com- untreated injuries, and hens who had been dead for many days because it will raise the question of what do you have to hide?” puters and the employee database, Farm Bureau officials told but remained in cages among live birds. In June 2011, Mercy the police. Police documents said the man would look up for Animals released undercover video of sows in gestation Following the money employee photos in the database. He ‘would pick out the stalls, piglets enduring castration and tail-clipping without The Iowa law was pushed through by state senator attractive females and then on off-hours, he would come into anesthesia at an Iowa Select Farms piggery in Kamrar, Joe Seng of Davenport. “The National Institute on Money in work, go to their desk and urinate on their chairs.’ Employees Iowa––and showed workers tossing piglets on several occa- State Politics has found that almost 10% of the $8.9 million that first started complaining about stains on their chairs in October sions. The Safeway and Kroger grocery chains suspended pur- Governor Branstad raised in his most recent campaign came 2011. Surveillance cameras were installed in February,” just chasing pork products from Iowa Select Farms, pending inter- from the agriculture industry,” noted Clayworth. “Almost as the bill meant to thwart hidden video operations began to nal invetigation. $8,000––more than one-fourth of all the campaign money move through the Iowa legislature. Then, between May 23 and August 1, 2011, Mercy raised in 2010 by Seng came from the ag sector, according to “Mercy for Animals will explore all legal avenues to for Animals investigators at Sparboe Farms laying hen facilities the nonprofit, nonpartisan watchdog group.” challenge and overturn this unconstitutional law, which is in Iowa, Minnesota, and Colorado collected video of compara- State representative Annette Sweeney of Alden, patently un-American and a clear violation of freedom of bly shocking conditions plus unwanted male chicks being “who was one of the main backers of the bill last year, received speech,” pledged MfA founder Nathan Runkle. culled by live maceration. Aired on November 18, 2011 by about $8,300 from agricultural interests,” Clayworth contin- Suggested Farm Sanctuary senior director for strate- the ABC television programs Good Morning America, ABC ued. Lee Hein of Monticello, vice chair of the Iowa House gic initiatives Bruce Friedrich, “Responsible industries would World News Tonight, and 20/20, the Mercy for Animals video Agriculture Committee, “received more than $12,500, and meet this stream of horrid undercover investigations” by mak- reportedly cost Sparboe Farms customers including Iowa Senate Democratic Leader Michael Gronstal of Council ing “a serious commitment to change their behavior. They McDonald’s Restaurants, Target, Wal-Mart, Cargill Kitchen Bluffs received more than $20,500, records show,” wrote would promulgate strong regulations to protect animals and Solutions, and SuprValu Inc. Clayworth. Contributing $152,000 to Branstad’s campaign implement ‘no tolerance’ policies for at least the sadistic abuse. The Mercy for Animals video was broadcast two days were Eldon and Regina Roth, founders of Iowa Beef Products And they would, as [livestock handling systems designer] after Sparboe was cited by the Food and Drug Administration in Sioux City. The Iowa Farm Bureau donated $53,787, Iowa Temple Grandin has suggested,” initially in an article for the Select Farms cofounder Debra livestock industry magazine Meat & Poultry in 2008, “put Hansen of West Des Moines video cameras into their factory farms and into their slaughter- donated $50,000, Terra Indust- houses to monitor animal treatment. They would hire indepen- ries chief executive Michael dent inspectors to review the video and make sure that there Bennett, of Sioux City, donat- was no gratuitous abuse.” ed $40,000, Gerald Weiner of The American SPCA on February 17, 2012 released International Cattle Sales of poll data from Lake Research Partners showing that 71% of South Dakota sent $40,000, Americans support undercover efforts to expose animal abuse and the Iowa Corn Growers on factory farms, and that 64% oppose ag-gag legislation. Association chipped in $15,000. Among 27 organizations charging in a joint statement Seng received $2,500 that ag-gag laws threaten workers’ rights, public health and from John Deere & Co., $2,500 safety, and journalistic freedom were the Center for from the Iowa Corn Growers Constitutional Rights, Center for Science in the Public Interest, Association, $1,000 from the Government Accountability Project, National Freedom of Iowa Veterinary Medical Information Coalition, National Press Photographers Association, $750 from Kraft Association, Natural Resources Defense Council, Organic Foods, and $500 from the Iowa Consumers Association, United Food & Commercial Workers Grocery Industry Association, International Union, and the Whistleblower Support Fund. Clayworth reported. Nebraska, Minnesota, Missouri, Illinois, and New The agrochemical cor- York had ag-gag bills pending in their respective legislatures as porate giant Monsanto also the April 2012 edition of ANIMAL PEOPLE went to press. reportedly backed the ag-gag An ag-gag bill proposed in Indiana had died in committee. Piglets at Farm Sanctuary, Watkins Glen, New York. (Kim Bartlett) bill. “Monsanto has more facil- ––Merritt Clifton April 2012 4/3/12 12:05 PM Page 13
ANIMAL PEOPLE, April 2012 - 13 Suspect allegedly planned “hit” on fur wearer “partially to get away” from family (from page 1)
the affidavit. “I think the time for you to do the job would defi- done, I will not be able to get away from my nitely be in January or February on a Tuesday sometime house. So now you know part of the reason why I between 6:20 at night and 7:00 at night,” the affidavit quotes am going to stay at the location of the hit after the Lowell. “I cannot have you do it earlier in the day,” Lowell hit is done at the library—partially to get away allegedly told the FBI online covert employee. from my house. I cannot stand living in a house The timing appears to have coincided with Lowell’s were there are fur products that my family refuses usual library visiting time. to get rid of.” “I assume you know why I am willing to pay some- Several paragraphs later, according to one like you to kill a person who is wearing fur,” the affidavit the affidavit transcript, Lowell asked, “If I do continues quoting Lowell. “Here is the description of what the end up going to jail or prison, do you have some person should be who is wearing fur who should be killed…any advice for me?” ethnicity and any race…age preferably 14 years old, but should Still later in the same e-mail, according be at least 12 years old, hopefully a teenager or older, should to the FBI affidavit, Lowell mentioned that, “I not be a child…boy, girl, woman, or man…height at least 4 especially want for the Cleveland Clinic’s Lerner feet…weight––any. Should not be anyone I currently know Research Institute animals to be liberated and put and definitely should not be anyone my family knows. somewhere where they are not tortured.” “I will pay you after you kill the person who is wear- FBI searches of trash from the Lowell ing fur at the above mentioned time and time of the year,” home found that between November 2, 2011 and Lowell allegedly added. “The amount of money I will pay will February 13, 2012 Meredith Lowell received be $730,” less than the Facebook offer. “You need to bring a apparent introductory appeals from animal chari- gun that has a silencer on it and that can be easily concealed in ties including RedRover (formerly called United your pants pocket or coat. Do not wear anything that even Animal Nations), Pasado’s Safe Haven, the Sea looks even remotely like fur. If you do not want to risk the pos- Shepherd Conservation Society, the Best Friends Animal admitted to ANIMAL PEOPLE on February 25, 2012. “I sibility of getting caught with a gun before the job, bring a Society, and the Physicians Committee for Responsible just read them one by one,” Halevy said, after A N I M A L sharp knife that is at least four inches long…I want the person Medicine. The trash searches also discovered gun magazines P E O P L E alerted her that Lowell had been arrested, “and I to be dead in less than 2 minutes.” sent to the home in the name of Whitney Lowell, 29, the elder feel very ashamed, very bad and very frustrated. I am sure I On December 29, 2011, Lowell allegedly reiterated of Meredith Marie Lowell’s two brothers. The FBI affidavit could have convinced her to drop her terrible ideas. The worst to the FBI online covert employee, “I am serious about paying noted that Whitney Lowell holds a permit to carry a concealed worst worst of all,” Halevy said, “is that I found a key e-mail you to kill someone who is wearing fur at the location men- weapon. of hers that I had never seen before, telling me all her crazy tioned in an earlier e-mail to you and will pay you after you kill Meredith Lowell, Whitney Lowell, and younger ideas. I am sure she expected an answer from me and maybe the person who is wearing fur…I am paying you to kill one per- brother Emerson Lowell apparently all still lived at home with since I didn’t answer, she might have misinterpreted my son wearing fur who is 12 or older.” parents Jeffrey and Madlen Lowell, in a Coventry Road neigh- silence. She wrote this key e-mail as a reply to an e-mail I sent E-mails attributed to Lowell repeatedly expressed borhood near the library which decades ago was considered a to many activists about the launching of new anti-fur stickers,” anxiety about coming up with the money she initially offered, hub of the Cleveland counterculture. None of the family appear to which Halevy received many automatically generated and suggested substituting gold jewelry instead. to have been well-known either in the community or online. acknowledgements of receipts. Lowell’s e-mail was lost among Lowell allegedly stipulated that she wanted the killing Meredith Lowell was listed among the 2003 graduates of the them. “I run many sites,” said Halevy, whose Facebook pages to be done at the Cleveland Heights library building, “near the Greater Cleveland Christian School in Middleburg Heights, a have more than 5,000 friends, “and get many e-mails, playground,” adding “I am planning on getting caught.” Cleveland suburb, which operated from 1996 to 2004. requests, questions…I really can’t read them all.” Elaborated a January 10, 2012 e-mail allegedly sent from ANIMAL PEOPLE found no mention of pets in Halevy answered Lowell, to the brief extent that she Lowell to the FBI online covert operative, “I plan on staying Meredith Lowell’s electronic communications, shared by vari- did, Halevy said, “because “I could understand she was frus- after the hit for reasons of benefit to the movement. And I ous correspondents, and none in communications appearing to trated, disappointed, and I didn’t want to be like the others,” think being caught would actually benefit me personally.” be from her brothers. A female Whitney Lowell in about the whom Lowell complained had not responded to her. From the November 1, 2011 first outline of the same age range as Meredith Lowell and her brothers, who is a Lowell on August 12, 2011 asked Halevy “what alleged plot on Facebook, Lowell appeared to obsess about reptile breeder and operates two pit bull advocacy web sites in exactly the Animal Enterprises Terrorism Act means.” Lowell what to do with “fur advertisements collected since the begin- another part of the U.S., told ANIMAL PEOPLE that she had said she was “thinking about organizing some protests…as well ning of [her] investigation into the fur industry,” asking on her no awareness of the family. as at least one animal liberation event to liberate animals from Facebook wall, “Do you think the police will find the adver- at least one medical experimentation laboratory,” and was tisements if I leave them at home during the hit event/protest?” Activist contacts “hoping to do some economic sabotage.” Another Facebook posting, also on November 1, Although Lowell mentioned in several e-mails that Halevy explained that as an Israeli, she knew little of 2011, stated that Lowell would “probably have to hold off on she had been collecting information about the fur trade since U.S. law, and referred Lowell’s question to U.S. activist Rosa the hit job until next week or even January or February 2012. I 2008, ANIMAL PEOPLE found no communication from Close. Close did not respond to an inquiry from A N I M A L have been throwing away some unneeded papers,” the posting Lowell to other animal advocates predating an e-mail of P E O P L E . Lowell did not mention Close in her subsequent explained, “and by this morning I realized that I just was not November 2, 2010 sent to Los Angeles activist attorney and correspondence. ready. I still need to throw more papers away…so that the video producer Shannon Keith, using Keith’s Uncaged Films paper load is lighter and less weight to carry around during the e-mail address. The unread e-mail event. Most of the current papers are about the fur industry that Keith has represented militant animal advocacy orga- Lowell transmitted the e-mail that Halevy mistook for I have been printing out since 2008 at the library.” nizations including Showing Animals Respect & Kindness, the an automated response to her mailing about anti-fur stickers on “Due to some unfortunate schedule changes,” Lowell Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, and Stop Huntingdon October 19, 2011, eleven days before Lowell’s Facebook post- allegedly e-mailed on January 10, 2012, “I realize the hit will Animal Cruelty USA. Her organization Animal Rescue, ing soliciting a contract killer came to the notice of the FBI. have to be held off until October.” On January 18, 2012, Media, & Education (ARME) led a campaign which on Wrote Lowell, “I hope to hire a hit man or hit woman Lowell allegedly added, “If you are unable to do this hit in November 22, 2011 won passage of an ordinance against sell- next week, the week after, or some time in January or October…then I will have to at least try to hire someone ing fur in West Hollywood, California. February to kill someone who is wearing fur…I hope the hit- else…maybe even a library employee.” Lowell praised a Keith production called Skin Trade, man or hitwoman will kill the person wearing fur through one reciting complaints against the fur industry and fur-wearers. or several of the following methods––shooting (if they have Online friend was FBI “Looks like I never responded to her,” Keith told A N I M A L their own gun and the bullets do not go through walls and the Early in the investigation, said the FBI affidavit, the PEOPLE. Lowell wrote to Keith again on May 17, 2011, but gun must be concealable and be able to put it into a pants hol- FBI introduced Lowell to a second online covert employee, Keith did not respond to that e-mail, either. ster or into a purse), strangulation using a rope, or stabbing who posed as “a female animal rights activist who served as a Lowell on January 25, 2011 wrote to PETA president using a sharp knife. I do not want the person to be burnt or for neutral sounding board for Lowell.” The second persona “did Ingrid Newkirk, in response to an online appeal. PETA there to be arson or poisoning…I actually incourage [sic] the not encourage or discourage Lowell’s beliefs. Rather, she just Foundation correspondence assistant Karen Dickerson respond- person I hire to leave evidence at the place where the person is let Lowell discuss her ideas…and has not engaged her in con- ed by sending Lowell several suggestions for engaging in legal killed and hope the person I hire loves animals as much as I do. versation about the hit man.” Messages from Lowell to the sec- anti-fur activism. They should know how to use the above weapons in order to ond covert persona, included in the affidavit, offered clues to “I would like to e-mail Oprah Winfrey and President accurately kill the person who is wearing fur or at least leave Lowell’s circumstances and state of mind. Obama but not sure if they check their e-mail or even what their the person who is wearing fur close to death.” On January 18, 2012, Lowell told the second covert e-mail addresses are,” Lowell responded to Dickerson. “I Lowell wrote to Halevy once more, on November 4, persona, “I am for animal liberation, animal rights move- would like to e-mail some police departments and the FBI 2011, before focusing her correspondence on the FBI online ments, and animal welfare. I certainly see nothing wrong with about the [fur] issue but not sure which ones or even if e-mail- covert employees. “I am prepared to take more risky actions liberating animals from laboratories and fur factory farms…I ing the FBI or police departments is such a good idea.” with more possibly illegal actions,” Lowell wrote, this time am for taking legal risks if it means helping animals even when Dickerson replied again to Lowell, briefly, on offering no explicit details. it means risking my own personal freedom and going to jail January 31, 2011. Lowell wrote back to Dickerson at length But Lowell described her sense of isolation, as a and/or prison…Animal rights attourney [sic], activist, on February 11, 2011, sending a lengthy draft anti-fur law she would-be activist whose activism was for unexplained reasons rescue[r], and vegan says it is okay to risk legal trouble to help had prepared. Lowell later complained to other correspondents limited to two nights a week at the library computer. animals and I believe this 100%.” that PETA was unresponsive to her. “I do not have access to a computer at home nor do I But the longest and most revealing communication According to the FBI affidavit, Lowell e-mailed to have access to the internet at home,” Lowell wrote, “but some- from Lowell contained in the FBI affidavit was sent to the first the Cleveland Heights Police Department on April 5, 2011, how I do get youtube at home on the blueray dvd player which online covert employee on February 15, 2012. arguing that the fur trade is illegal and should become the sub- allows for me to get more information about all things animal “I had to go to Texas for longer than a week because ject of a police investigation. rights and animal rights issues including advice from fellow my uncle who lived there died and he had no one down there Lowell may next have approached the Humane animal rights activists.” who could deal with his legal stuff,” Lowell offered. Society of the U.S. She later complained that HSUS also “I feel I missed an opportunity to help someone in Later in the e-mail, Lowell wrote, “Something ignored her. But HSUS senior director of communications need, an opportunity to save someone from very wrong which especially makes me upset is how the city of Cleveland Rachel Querry told ANIMAL PEOPLE that “We have no thoughts and horrific ideas,” Halevy told ANIMAL PEO- just opened up an aquarium.” record of her being a supporter. Our Ohio state director, Karen PLE. “If only I had seen her hit plan....I really thank god and After discussion of her opposition to the aquarium, Minton, did not know Lowell and could not recall having any the universe that nobody got hurt.” ––Merritt Clifton according to the affidavit, Lowell added, “I hope for the best direct contact with her.” outcome for the hit and at least expect for the police to under- Lowell initiated her longest known corre- stand why I came to the realization why it is necessary…I am spondence with other animal advocates on June 1, The 2011 ANIMAL PEOPLE frustrated with living at my current home for several reasons,” 2011, e-mailing to International Anti-Fur Coalition Watchdog Report on 174 Animal Charities the affidavit transcript of the e-mail continued. “I live with founder Jane Halevy, of Israel. The FBI affidavit took is still available: $25/copy, from people in my home who enjoy eating meat…my mother refuses note of that exchange, but Halevy, coordinating activ- to get rid of fur items…My mother still buys eggs and leather ities among dozens of organizations in dozens of www.animalpeoplenews.org and wool products…and I have a brother who refuses to stop nations around the world, replied only briefly to or ANIMAL PEOPLE, POB 960, Clinton, WA 98236 wearing wool. Both of my brothers don’t see what is wrong Lowell’s many long e-mails to her. or call 360-579-2505 to order by MasterCard or VISA . with wearing leather…Until the hit on someone wearing fur is “I didn’t read all of her e-mails,” Halevy April 2012 4/3/12 12:05 PM Page 14
14 - ANIMAL PEOPLE, April 2012
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The Watchdog monitors fundraising, spending, and politi - The cal activity in the name of animal and habitat protection—both pro and con. His empty bowl stands for all the bowls left empty when Watchdog some take more than they need. FoA wins 15-year-old Thai charities Soi Cat & Dog Rescue and Soi Dog Foundation merge wrongful dismissal case BANGKOK, PHUKET––Soi Cat more recently coordinating the rescue and tem- general manager for the Bangkok operations. & Dog Rescue, of Bangkok, and the Soi Dog porary care of hundreds of animals stranded by “Khun Kharn has volunteered full-time WASHINGTON D.C.––T h e Foundation, of Phuket, on February 28, 2012 floods,” which paralyzed much of Bangkok for throughout the floods, assisting me both in District of Columbia Commission on announced a merger. Often confused with each months. “During this time it became very Bangkok and in Nakom Phanom, where the Human Rights on March 20, 2012 ruled other, SCAD and the Soi Dog Foundation clear,” Dalley said, “that not only were the dog meat trade dogs are taken,” Dalley said. that former Friends of Animals special have parallel programs, emphasizing dog and problems in Bangkok massive, but also a lot of “This will not impact on our work in investigator Carroll Cox “failed to estab- cat sterilization, and have parallel histories. local people are trying to help the animals, Phuket,” Dalley pledged, “where we have just lish Respondent (FoA) terminated him British expatriate Sheridan Conisbee founded something we rarely see in Phuket. We feel it employed an additional dog retrieval team and based on his race or retaliated against him SCAD, then called Soi Dog Rescue, in 2002. is very important that the many Thai people are currently sourcing and training additional in the exercise of rights protected under the Early mobile sterilization campaigns were helping animals in Bangkok have resources to vets. We plan to double the number of steril- D.C. Human Rights Act.” assisted by Danish veterinarian Mogens help them.” Dalley announced along with the izations on Phuket,” Dalley said. The Soi Dog The ruling appears to end nearly Hansen. Dutch expatriate Margot Park formed merger of the Soi organizations the appoint- Foundation has completed about 5,000 dog and 15 years of litigation resulting from about the Soi Dog Foundation in September 2003, ment of Khun Phimpakarn Petpichetchien as cat surgeries per year, on average, since 2005. 140 days of employment. FoA hired Cox, assisted by then newly arrived British expatri- a former special investigator for the U.S. ates John and Gillian Dalley. Bob Barker funds elephant move & new PETA HQ Fish & Wildlife Service and, earlier, for The Soi Dog Foundation won global- the California Department of Fish & LOS ANGELES––The Performing am very sorry that The Price is Right produc- recognition for leading the animal relief efforts Game, on a consulting basis on March 31, Animal Welfare Society on March 23, 2012 ers have chosen to align themselves with an in Thailand after the December 2004 Indian 1997. FoA relocated Cox from Hawaii and disclosed that former television game show activity that is cruel and violent,” Barker Ocean tsunami. Gillian Dalley actively assist- put him on salary on July 7, 1997. FoA host Bob Barker has donated $870,000 to fund responded in a statement released by Showing ed despite losing both legs to septacemia con- terminated Cox on August 20, 1997. the relocation of three African elephants from Animals Respect & Kindness. “Rodeo does tracted during a dog rescue two months earlier. Cox was then pursuing an ulti- the Toronto Zoo to the PAWS Ark 2000 sanc- not honor western heritage in the U.S., Park left the Soi Dog Foundation, mately unsuccessful wrongful dismissal tuary in San Andreas, California. Barker Canada or anywhere else. Rodeos torment, and left Thailand for a time, in 2005-2006, but case against the USFWS. FoA dismissed agreed to fund the transfer in December 2011, injure and kill animals,” Barker continued. “I returned to Thailand to help lead SCAD after Cox on the same day that then-FoA general after the Toronto City Council voted to close hope The Price is Right decision makers will Conisbee left Thailand. counsel Herman Kaufman announced that the zoo’s elephant exhibit. immediately reassess their very bad decision.” The Soi Dog Foundation became FoA had settled unrelated litigation against “Since 1984, seven elephants have Barker in January 2010 donated $1 actively involved in Bangkok, Dalley told sup- the USFWS. Suspecting linkage between died at the zoo, four within the past four million to SHARK in support of the ongoing porters, in mid-2011, “firstly working with the settlement and his dismissal, Cox sued years. The oldest was 41,” reported Linda SHARK campaign against pigeon shoots in local people to fight the illegal dog meat trade FoA in hopes of obtaining evidence that Diebel of the Toronto Star. Pennsylvania and North Carolina. The fund- and to introduce animal welfare laws, and would help his case against the U.S. Fish & The impending transfer is bitterly ing enabled SHARK to initiate surveillance of Wildlife Service. The DCCHR ruling opposed by members of the Toronto Zoo staff. pigeon shoots using drone helicopter camera noted that no such evidence emerged. Genesis Awards 2012 People for the Ethical Treatment of platforms. Also in January 2010, Barker However, Cox learned in 2002 LOS ANGELES––The feature film Animals on March 8, 2012 staged a “red car- donated $5 million to the Sea Shepherd that Kaufman had never been admitted to Rise of the Planet of the Apes, comedy TV pro- pet, all-vegan, dog-friendly grand opening” of Conservation Society, used to purchase the the bar in Connecticut, where FoA is gram The Colbert Report, IMAX docementary a new West Coast headquarters named after Sea Shepherd vessel now named The Bob headquartered. FoA replaced Kaufman Born to be Wild, news programs ABC 20/20 Barker on Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles, B a r k e r , and a shipboard helicopter named and Cox vs. FoA proceeded to trial before and NBC Nightly News, and magazine Vanity Associated Press reported. Barker, donated The Nancy Burnett. Barker has previously DCCHR Judge Cornelius R. Alexander Jr. Fair were among the big winners at the 26th $2.5 million toward renovating the building. funded animal studies and animal rights law in September 2005. Before issuing a ver- annual Genesis Awards ceremony, held on Barker, 88, retired in 2007 after 50 programs with $1 million donations to the dict, Alexander on November 29, 2007 March 24, 2012 in Beverly Hills. Sponsored years of hosting game shows including T h e University of Virginia, Harvard, Columbia, died of prostate cancer. by the Humane Society of the U.S., the awards Price Is Right. The Price is Right prize lineup Northwestern, Duke, Stanford, Georgetown, Cox has since 1997 headed the honor mass media for raising public awareness on February 1, 2012 included an expense- UCLA, and his alma mater, Drury University Hawaii-based organization Envirowatch. of animal issues. paid trip to the Calgary Stampede Rodeo. “I in Springfield Missouri. Chicago mayor Emanuel replaces pit bull-friendly animal control director Cherie Travis C H I C A G O – – C h i c a g o target of an August 2010 exposé by several of the participant organiza- 3, 2012 mauling of jogger Joseph revocation hearings–– and no licens- mayor Rahm Emanuel on March 21, Marcella Raymond of WGN-TV for tions were attacked at length in an Finley, 62, by two pit bulls who es were actually revoked. 2012 abruptly appointed two-time allegedly allowing kennels to anonymous but footnoted and docu- had escaped from their home and Chicago Animal Care & Control act- become overcrowded and filthy. mented March 2012 Blogspot report were shot by police at the scene. ing director Sandra Alfred to replace Part of the issue involved Travis’ on “Pit Bull Attacks and Finley survived in critical condition. incumbent executive director Cherie efforts to admit volunteers to work Dogfighting in Illinois” as a purport- Travis, formerly associate Travis, effective immediately. within the Chicago Animal Care & ed way for Chicago to “transfer its director of the DePaul University Travis, appointed by pre- Control shelter without infringing on problem with rampant dogfighting Center for Animal Law, was among vious mayor Richard Daley, had the duties of unionized city staff. and predatory pit bulls to communi- several attorneys who in 2001 sued headed Chicago Animal Care & Nationally known as an ties all across the country.” McDonald’s Corporation for adver- Control since November 2009. advocate for pit bulls, Travis came Also in March 2012, tising that its French fries were Alfred had been deputy director of under criticism from fellow Chicago Mick Swasko of the online periodi- cooked in “100% vegetable oil,” Chicago Animal Care & Control pit bull advocate Steve Dale, a cal Redeye Chicago published city when the oil actually included beef since 2001, after spending 12 years WGN-TV program host and blogger, dog bite data showing that pit bulls tallow. Travis was among the with the Chicago Department of and American Humane Association now account for nearly 40% of all coplaintiffs who challenged the 2003 Health. Emanuel, formerly chief of board member. “This change will reported bites. “According to the settlement of the case for $10 mil- staff for U.S. President Barack save animal lives,” Dale posted. most recent data from the Chicago lion, distributed among charities Obama, praised Alfred as “a cham- “I am devastated by the City Clerk’s office, pit bulls or benefiting vegetarians, Hindus, pion for animal rights and advocate news,” Travis told Facebook friends mixes account for about 4.5 percent Sikhs, and children’s health, and/or for animal care,” who “knows every on March 24, 2012. “I gave my of the 37,546 dogs registered dogs in promoting Jewish dietary law. facet of the department and is a nat- heart and soul to transforming the the city,” Swasko wrote. In 2006 Travis obtained ural choice to lead the department’s department. In the past two years,” Earlier, Travis caught public records from the preceding efforts.” Emanuel did not explain Travis said, “we’ve set records for online flak for allegedly favoring pit five years which revealed that of why the change was made. “We reducing euthanasia and increasing bulls over people put at risk by their 3,282 complaints made to the simply decided to go in another transfers. More than 7,000 animals behavior after the January 19, 2010 Illinois Department of Agriculture direction with the leadership,” were transferred last year––36% of fatal mauling of Johnny Wilson, 56, Bureau of Animal Welfare, which mayor’s office spokesperson Sarah intake.” Travis said the animals by one or more of his daughter’s oversees shelters, animal control Hamilton told media. went to “200-plus transfer organiza- four adult pit bulls, one of whom agencies, pet stores, and kennels, Travis’ administration was tions.” But the transfer program and had puppies, and after the January only three cases resulted in license April 2012 4/3/12 12:05 PM Page 15
ANIMAL PEOPLE, April 2012 - 15
Proposal for an Accord between Animal Advocates and the Biomedical Research Community Animal advocates hopeful of reaching an accord with discussion, the ‘species-wise’ approach ignores the more basic the biomedical research community recognize that some bio- and important questions that are at the heart of the issue (the INSTITUTIONAL ANIMAL CARE medical research, testing, training and education using animals ethical dimension) and that this deserves a much more thor - AND USE COMMITTEES will continue in the foreseeable future. The biomedical research ough and broader public discussion based upon empirical data All facilities which use animals for research, testing, community has already agreed in principle that scientific use of and facts”; and or education in the U.S. are currently required to establish animals should be subject to rigorous scientific review includ- “There is no reason to think that changes in the tech - Institutional Animal Care and Use Committees ing serious consideration of non-animal alternatives and, if nology, questions, and need for certain projects that con - (IACUCs)––called ethics committees in some countries–– approved and funded, conducted in a manner which ensures tributed to a reduction in the requirement for chimpanzees in which are comprised of representatives from inside and outside that the smallest possible number of animals are involved, of research might not also apply to other types of animals...”; and the biomedical research community. In addition to the current species with the lowest potential for pain and suffering, and that “We believe that conducting a broader review of ani - requirement for one public member of the IACUC who is such animals should be provided with optimum housing, han- mal research could significantly advance public understanding “intended to provide representation for general community dling, and care. However, we have identified areas in which of the role that it plays in medical and scientific progress. In interests in the proper care and treatment of animals” [Improved both animal welfare and science might be improved in the prac- many ways, such an exercise is long overdue. The report’s con - Standards for Laboratory Animals amendment to the Animal tices of scientific institutions, in the regulation of animal use by clusions clearly show the value of a rigorous, thoughtful, and Welfare Act of 1985], there must be added a second public public agencies, and in the federal Animal Welfare Act’s defin- public review of even the most controversial type of research. member who is professionally trained in bioethics. If a bioethi- ition of “animal.” But public interest in animal studies extends far beyond chim - cist is not available, a professional ethicist should be sought. If If the practices and regulations outlined below were panzee research” ... no professional ethicists are available to serve on IACUCs, per- changed or amended so that scientific use of animals were to be Reaching an accord with animal advocates will sons may be chosen who have some degree of professional conducted in an improved and strict manner regarding the wel- require the biomedical research community to agree to the fol- training in ethics (e.g., members of the clergy, jurists, or acade- fare of animals, we believe that animal advocates would agree lowing principles for humane research and to take actions nec- mic philosophers). In addition to considering ways in which not to interfere with such research or specifically object to it essary to assure compliance with these principles, including proposed uses of animals may be refined, reduced, or replaced through targeted campaigns. Such agreement would be made in commitments to support changes in the federal Animal Welfare with alternatives, IACUCs must consider the ethics of proposed full recognition of the ethical dilemma presented by the use of Act and its regulations, as well as changes in policies and uses of animals, including a harm versus benefit analysis of the animals in experimentation, testing, training, and education and guidelines of research funding agencies including but not limit- proposed work, so that the use of animals is approved only without relinquishing animal advocates’ philosophical concerns ed to the Public Health Service: when any harm done to the animals is greatly outweighed by regarding scientific use of animals or their right to protest the anticipated benefits of their use. against or expose the existence of scientific use of animals that REFINEMENT, REDUCTION, An internal mechanism to address grievances brought does not meet agreed upon standards of animal welfare. AND REPLACEMENT by dissenting members of the committee must be required. In December of 2010, the Institute of Medicine was All research institutions must have a person designat- commissioned by the National Institutes of Health to assess If alternative yet equally effective methods of experi- ed as a public liaison official whose role it is to provide a whether chimpanzees are or will be necessary for biomedical mentation or testing are available, they must be employed in greater degree of transparency regarding use of animals, and to and behavioral research. The IoM report was released on preference to any experiment conducted with an animal. whom concerns and complaints about IACUC decisions or pro- December 17, 2011. We agree with the following five points Procedures that are likely to cause pain, fear, or dis- cedures as well as concerns regarding the conduct of research made by David Jentsch in his analysis posted on tress to animals must not be allowed if (a) there exist other or the housing, handling, and care of animals may be < h t t p : / / s p e a k i n g o f r e s e a r c h . c o m / 2 0 1 1 / 1 2 / 1 7 / a f t e r t h o u g h t s - o n - research methods or models through which the knowledge addressed by members of the public, including animal welfare i o m - r e p o r t - o n - t h e - u s e - o f - c h i m p s - i n - s c i e n t i f i c - r e s e a r c h / > sought might reasonably be obtained, and (b) the research can- organizations. “Afterthoughts on IoM report on the use of chimps in scientific not be performed on consenting human subjects. Systems of 24-hour video surveillance should be research”: Animals with the lowest potential for pain and suffer- designed and installed within research facilities to record and “We believe discussions on the science and ethics of ing should be used in preference to animals with greater poten- archive all activities involving care and use of animals, includ- animal research are inextricably linked and both should be part tial to experience pain and suffering, based on objective criteria ing all experimental and veterinary procedures. These video of any public discussion on animal research. An honest, open (e.g., the possession of a central nervous system, nociceptors, recordings must be routinely monitored by a person who reports and civil discussion on both the science and ethics of animal opioid receptors, etc.). to the IACUC and audited at regular intervals for compliance research that includes animal advocates, animal welfare orga - All institutions that conduct research and testing with with all applicable laws and regulations by a qualified indepen- nizations, scientists, patients and their families, patient advoca - animals should consider it an ethical obligation to refine dent agency (such as USDA APHIS) which is legally empow- cy groups, public health officials and the medical leadership of research methodologies and reduce and seek to ultimately ered to report non-compliance with applicable laws and regula- the country” is needed, and to which list of interested parties replace animals whenever possible. These efforts should be tions to regulatory and government agencies via reports that we would add professional ethicists and bioethicists trained in supported and funded by both the research-funding agencies will be available publicly through Freedom of Information Act animal ethics; and and the research institution’s administration. filings. “The IoM panel clearly demonstrated the power of a The committee must carefully consider whether comprehensive and critical analysis that accounts for progress CLINICAL RESEARCH ON ANIMALS research involving animals addresses questions of importance in research, changes in technologies, models, and questions. As one alternative to research on laboratory animals, that cannot be answered using methods that do not require ani- However, proceeding in critical analysis on a species-by- we encourage the biomedical research community to engage in mals, as well as the 3Rs of reduction, refinement, and replace- species basis is problematic for a number of reasons. We argue clinical research on animals afflicted with naturally-occurring ment. The consideration of ethics must be central to discus- that a more general appraisal of the ethics and science of ani - diseases and disorders in need of treatment, in partnership with sions about the use of animals in research protocols. The wel- mal research is warranted”; and veterinarians, especially board-certified veterinarians and vet- fare of the animals or, conversely, the toll taken on the welfare ‘’As illustrated by the IoM report and surrounding erinary specialty clinics. of the animals, should be the focus of the ethical considerations involved in designing and approving scientific research with Minister boasts of tough law while “Lizard King” walks animals. PAIN SCALE PUTRAJAYA, Malaysia– – Christy in his 2008 exposé book T h e to serve 71 months in prison. There is a need for development and compulsory Wildlife trafficking prosecutions have Lizard King as “the most important per- “Despite assurances that fur- adherence to a pain scale classifying the severity of pain inflict- dropped by more than 80% since the son in the international reptile business.” ther investigations were underway,” Malaysian Wildlife Conservation Act Convicted on September 6, Idris added, “no business contacts or ed on animals (from little or none up to severe), the prohibition 2010 came into force, boasted Natural 2010 of illegally exporting snakes, one associates of Anson Wong were ever of experiments that would cause high degrees of unrelievable Resources & Environment minister Seri month to the day after his travel bag identified or charged. A police report pain, and the requirement that IACUCs consider the expected degrees of pain in evaluating protocols and stipulate appropriate Douglas Uggah Embas to Joseph spilled 95 boa constrictors at the Kuala lodged by a lady who was arrested at levels of analgesia and/or anesthesia at specific levels of antici- Sipalan of the Malaysia Star on March Lumpur International Airport, Wong Kuala Lumpur International Airport for pated pain. Compulsory guidelines would specify the types of 15, 2012. was initially sentenced to six months in smuggling of tortoises from her country experiments and levels of pain that would not be permissible “I’m very happy to note that jail. After the prosecution appealed, the to Malaysia revealed that Wong’s tenta- the Act has had an effect. We’ve learned High Court on November 6, 2010 cles had spread as far as Madagascar, regardless of potential benefit in scientific knowledge that from the previous Act that one main increased Wong’s jail term to five years. even while he was serving his jail sen- might be obtained through the conduct of such an experiment or ingredient is deterrent penalties,” “According to media reports tence. The early release of this notorious procedure. We agree with Dr. John S. Church, in his article “Understanding Pain and its Relevance to Animals,” Embas said, noting that only 464 the Court of Appeal reduced the sen- smuggler reminds us that traffickers still
16 - ANIMAL PEOPLE, April 2012 On the Origins of New Forms of Life: A New Theory by Eugene McCarthy Free download from: http://www.macroevolution.net The March 2012 ANIMAL PEO- can think of the things I have to say about evo- Like Gould and Eldridge, and many book, submitted to Oxford University Press in P L E cover article “Why an ancient armored lution as a fossil trace of a former me…. I other paleontologists over the past 200 years, 2007. “After peer review,” McCarthy mammal needs better defenses” transiently wrote virtually all of my book on evolutionary McCarthy observed that practically every form recounts, “it was accepted for publication and mentioned the argument of evolutionary theory,” On the Origins of New Forms of Life, of fossilized life ever discovered appears to we signed a contract,” but the unconventional geneticist Gene McCarthy that pangolins and “twenty years ago or more.” have changed little, if at all, from the most and controversial aspects of stabilization theo- armadillos might be living descendants of This appears to explain why On the ancient occurrence of the life form to the most ry eventually caused Oxford University Press stegosaurs and ankylosaurs, two related Origins of New Forms of Life incorporates lit- recent. Clear examples of gradual evolution- to back away from the project. dinosaur families whom McCarthy contends tle or nothing of the findings of recent decades ary change are few––and many of the exam- McCarthy instead published On the were synapsid proto-mammals, not reptiles. about how viruses and other parasites routinely ples once thought to exist have been discov- Origins of New Forms of Life on his McCarthy also contends that ptero- transfer genetic material among animal ered to involve misreadings of the evidence. Macroevolution.net web site. dactyls and pterosaurs were ancestrally related species, much as the wind, bees, bats, and Also perplexing McCarthy was the lack of a Though On the Origins of New to bats. McCarthy believes that placental birds transfer pollen among plant species. source for “the extreme variation that natural Forms of Life makes scant if any reference to mammals emerged much earlier than paleon- A further explanation, A N I M A L selection would require for the rapid produc- any issues that are controversial outside of tologists commonly suppose. P E O P L E learned through e-mail correspon- tion of new types of organisms, which is mys- academia, McCarthy’s arguments tend to par- In correspondence with A N I M A L dence, is that McCarthy long ago dismissed terious when one thinks only in terms of nor- allel and reinforce ANIMAL PEOPLE c r i t i- P E O P L E , McCarthy has hypothesized that the possibilities of genetic transfer through malizing selection for adaptive traits.” cisms of public policies that destroy functional triceratops and the other ceratopsian horned viruses and other parasites because such trans- McCarthy further could find no ecosystems and thriving biodiversity in futile dinosaurs might have been giant chameleons–– fers typically involve just a few bits of DNA, explanation in Darwinism for “The origin of efforts to restore the imagined pristine condi- which, while a heretical notion, might be pos- in contrast to the high-volume transfers complex traits that seemingly have no function tions of the distant past. sible within the full context of McCarthy’s achieved by sexual contact. But McCarthy in an imperfect state,” before becoming fully “Many biologists do not think hybrid ideas about how genetic traits evolve. apparently formed his perspective before virol- evolved. McCarthy was perhaps most per- animal populations should be treated as named These ideas and many others about ogists learned that some scraps of DNA can turbed that “Neo-Darwinian theory fails to taxa,” McCarthy objects. “They don’t think the relationships among ancient and contempo- activate long chains of recessive traits, to pro- adequately account for the existence of altru- that organisms of hybrid origin are real rary animals form the entertaining surface of duce significant genetic changes even without ism, since everything is there explained by the ‘species,’ even though the word species lacks what McCarthy calls “stabilization theory.” significant genetic transfer. selfish needs of the individual…An identical a clear definition. For this reason, such popu- Stabilization theory, which destabi- Though McCarthy told A N I M A L difficulty,” McCarthy writes, “pertains to the lations are often stripped of their scientific lizes what McCarthy terms “neo-Darwinism,” P E O P L E that “The whole project has lost existence of social insects with distinct neuter names as soon as their hybrid origin becomes is the somewhat misleading name of a revised interest for me, and I’ve moved on to other forms,” such as worker bees. “How do such known.” Yet, “Thousands of natural hybrid theory of evolution which builds on the “punc- things,” and was adamant that “I don’t think it forms arise gradually under the influence of populations have been documented in the ani- tuated equilibrium” theory presented by Niles would be a worthwhile investment of my time selection,” McCarthy asks, “if they do not mal kingdom,” McCarthy observes, citing a Eldridge and the late Stephen Jay Gould in to change a single word,” On the Origins of produce offspring?” wealth of examples. 1972. By “neo-Darwinism,” McCarthy means New Forms of Life has only just begun reach- “That the introduction of genes from a dogmatic belief that evolutionary change ing readers, and presents ideas relevant to cur- Hybrid vigor another species can serve as the raw material occurs primarily and perhaps exclusively rent concerns about endangered and alleged McCarthy found answers to his for an adaptive evolutionary advance has never through gradual adaptation to facilitate “sur- invasive species which could only be strength- questions in the genetic mechanics of gained wide acceptance among biologists,” vival of the fittest.” ened by bringing the presentation up to date. hybridization. “According to stabilization the- McCarthy suggests, “because it conflicts with McCarthy, a former faculty member “During my years at the genetics ory,” McCarthy explains, “the typical form a core tenet of neo-Darwinism: the consensus at the University of Georgia in Athens, is department,” McCarthy explains in the pref- treated as a species already has all of its char- belief that forms treated as species typically author of the Oxford University P r e s s ace, “I became increasingly dissatisfied with acteristic traits at the time it first arises,” as a arise as gradual change occurs in groups of Handbook of Avian Hybrids of the World, the standard explanation of evolution. The hybrid of two or more previously existing interbreeding individuals reproductively isolat- published in 2006. more I read about fossils, the more convinced species. “Individual competition is not an ed from other such groups…Neo-Darwinian “Currently, I’m working on a simi- I became that Charles Darwin’s account of the important factor in stabilization theory,” theory says macroevolutionary change occurs lar book on hybridization among mammals,” evolutionary process was fundamentally McCarthy continues. Therefore, new species through selection of traits existing within each McCarthy says in his online biography––but flawed. Moreover, in my study of hybrids I “can be successful and yet be composed of isolated population.” he told ANIMAL PEOPLE that “My current became aware that an alternative explanation individuals who cooperate and make sacrifices This is demonstrably false. “There project is a novel, a satire of academic life. could do a much better job of explaining the for each other.” are about 130 types of waterfowl treated as That’s what I work on eight hours a day. You available data.” McCarthy developed his ideas into a (continued on page 17) Proposal for an Accord between Animal Advocates & the Biomedical Research Community (from page 15) ANESTHESIA, EUTHANASIA, action must not delay the provision of relief for the animal. and regulations. Treatment of animals by staff must be moni- Nursing care must be provided to all animals following surgery tored by the research facility and audited for compliance with AND PAIN MANAGEMENT or other injurious interventions and to animals with chronic all applicable laws and regulations by an appropriate agency. Animals’ pain, physical discomfort, maladaptive pathological conditions. Failure to follow all regulations and guidelines and/or failure to behaviors, fear and anxiety must be prevented and/or mini- Euthanasia of irremediably suffering animals should treat animals with care and respect must result in disciplinary mized by considerate and scientifically sound experimental be considered a major obligation, and delays must not be per- actions including immediate suspension and/or dismissal as design and appropriate use of anesthetic, analgesic, and/or tran- mitted in implementing decisions to euthanize. well as any available legal remedies. quilizing drugs. The decision to euthanize a moribund animal must be It is recognized, however, that animal care techni- Any experiment or test that inflicts trauma should be made by the attending veterinarian and not the scientist(s) con- cians often seek to improve the handling, housing, and care of conducted with a fully anesthetized animal. If the procedure is ducting the experiment or study; the attending veterinarian must animals in laboratories and their opinions and ideas should be designed to cause irrecoverable traumatic injury, the animal be empowered to euthanize without seeking approval from the given careful consideration. Whenever possible, animals should should be euthanized following the procedure and before principal investigator. Staff carrying out euthanasia must be be humanely trained through positive reinforcement to cooper- regaining consciousness. well trained to perform the procedure. The venue for conduct- ate with handlers instead of being forced into procedures such If an animal is subjected to surgery from which he or ing the euthanasia should be selected so as not to increase anxi- as blood draws. she is expected to survive, a pre-planned pain evaluation and ety and fear. The method of euthanasia that is selected should Ongoing training regarding best practices must be pain management schedule must be developed that contains ensure the quickest death possible, in accordance with guide- provided. The staff must be trained to recognize signs of dis- specific signs, behaviors, or physical parameters to be measured lines published by the American Veterinary Medical comfort and distress in animals and be empowered to make in the animal. This schedule must account for overnight and Association. Animals should not be discarded without being their observations known to the attending veterinarian. For weekend hours. Staff must ensure adequate and timely admin- monitored long enough after death to ascertain clear signs of example, if staff identifies a moribund animal or an animal who istration of pain relieving medications until the animal has cessation of life, such as rigor mortis. is suffering irremediably, that animal should be euthanized recovered and the experience of pain is no longer a realistic DEFINITION OF ANIMAL without delay. An animal whose suffering is remediable should possibility. be provided with analgesia and/or sedation and given support- The definition of “animal” in the federal Animal Professional staff must be available at all times to ive care such as fluids, soft food, or custom bedding. care for the animals. The staff must make rounds for the pur- Welfare Act must be amended to include all vertebrate animals, pose of ascertaining the state of each animal’s health and well- and research funding agencies must establish guidelines and HOUSING being. Animal care staff must be trained and authorized to dis- regulations to provide for the welfare of invertebrates. Animals used for scientific purposes should be main- pense pain relieving or tranquilizing drugs as may be necessary. tained in ethologically appropriate physical and social environ- ACQUISITION ments. Housing should provide sufficient space and materials to While it may be a standard operating procedure to phone the Animals used in experimentation and testing should permit the expression of basic species-specific behaviors, investigator or director regarding the need for such care, this be acquired from professional breeding facilities whose stan- including species-typical movement, for examples: foraging, dards of housing and care are equal to those described herein hiding or retreating to a safe/sheltered place, burrowing, and Zimbabwe blames dogs for anthrax for research laboratories. The use of dogs and cats from Class B gnawing if the animals are rodents; climbing, perching, and dealers must be prohibited. The use of animals sold by mem- MASVINGO, Zimbabwe––Masavingo police and swinging if the animals are primates; perching, scratching, and bers of the public should be prohibited, as this is detrimental to security guards shot at least 20 dogs a day from mid-February stretching if the animals are birds, and flight space for flying the ethic promoted by community animal shelters that compan- to mid-March 2012 in a purported attempt to control anthrax, birds; and rooting and wallowing if the animals are pigs. Social ion animals should be considered members of the household the newspaper New Zimbabwe reported. animals must be housed with one or several compatible con- and not disposable commodities. “John Chikomo, the Zimbabwe National SPCA specifics (though in some cases, animals of other species are We encourage veterinary schools to use dogs and cats regional manager for Masvingo, said they were against sufficient) to address their biological need for companionship. ‘indiscriminate shooting of stray dogs,’ but said they were from animal pounds and shelters to train veterinary students in powerless to stop the exercise,” New Zimbabwe added. surgical sterilization with such animals returned to bona fide RETIREMENT OF ANIMALS “Masvingo is a chronically anthrax affected animal shelters after the period of recovery for the purpose of Whenever feasible, animals should be permitted to province, but stray dog control has no part in anthrax con- adoption to the public. Dogs and cats from animal pounds and retire to species-appropriate facilities provided by reputable trol,” responded Martin Hugh Jones, resident anthrax expert shelters may be used for procedures performed for the benefit institutions or organizations after termination of their assign- for the International Society for Infectious Diseases’ ProMed of these animals, in the judgment of community animal control ment(s) to research, testing and education or, in the case of online information service. Jones has long urged Zimbabwe officials, but any such release of impounded animals must be companion animals, they might be adopted into homes. to escalate vaccinating livestock against anthrax. subject to all applicable laws and regulations and information The funding agency and research institution should “If the area is littered with dead livestock and there about such transactions must be available to the public. Release earmark funds for the lifelong retirement of animals used for are problems with their proper disposal, I can see an argu- of dogs and cats from animal pounds and shelters for any pur- scientific purposes. ment for stopping dogs from scavenging the carcasses,” pose other than adoption into homes is detrimental to the Jones added, “but vultures will be doing that anyway.” increasing professionalization and growing public confidence in This document was produced by a drafting committee Zimbabwean officials in January 2012 blamed community animal control agencies. Laboratory use of consisting of Kim Bartlett, president of Animal People, Inc.; anthrax for killing 88 hippos, 45 buffalo, 30 elephants, and impounded dogs and cats also presents public relations prob- Robert C. Jones, Assistant Professor of Philosophy, Director of two kudus in Mana Pools National Park. Asked Jones, “How lems for scientific institutions. the Center for Applied and Professional Ethics, California many of the deaths have followed poachers poisoning the ANIMAL CARE State University, Chico; Gil Michaels, executive director of Animal Guardians; and one person who wishes to remain waters?” Earlier Jones noted that vultures, who do not con- Animal care staff must be trained to treat animals anonymous. tract anthrax, were found dead among the elephants. with care, respect, and in accordance with all applicable laws April 2012 4/3/12 12:05 PM Page 17
ANIMAL PEOPLE, April 2012 - 17 On the Origins of New Forms of Life: A New Theory by Eugene McCarthy (from page 16) The Hunter species,” McCarthy notes. “But there are “Under stabilization theory, inter- Starring Willem Dafoe, about 500 different known types of waterfowl mediate organisms are expected,” McCarthy hybrids. About 18,000 orchids are treated as explains. “But under neo-Darwinian theory Frances O’Connor, & Sam Neill species. More than 35,000 types of orchid they constitute a problem.” hybrids are on record, and the number is ever Life forms “alleged to be of gradual Directed by Daniel Nettheim increasing.” These successful hybrids account origin, never seem to be of known origin,” Adapted from novel for most and perhaps all waterfowl and orchid McCarthy continues. “Since even bacteria are The Hunter by Julia Leigh. biodiversity. Nor are these unique cases. known to engage in a form of hybridization, There is genetic evidence that hybridization we may reasonably suppose new forms of life Porchlight Films, 2011 (Australia). created the overwhelming majority of fish were arising by stabilization processes, even U.S. release on April 6, 2012. species throughout the world. in times as old as the earliest strata in the fossil “When zoology was emerging as a record. There therefore seems to be no need to The Tasmanian tiger, more properly called the thylacine, was a large carnivorous science in the eighteenth century,” McCarthy posit gradual divergence in isolation, even at Thylacines at Beaumaris Zoo, 1931. recounts, “practitioners arranged their tax- the very earliest stage of evolution.” marsupial with tiger-like stripes and a dog-like onomies in accordance with an age-old order- Accurately understanding evolution build. Thylacines dwelt in the forests of The action is somewhat slow-paced, ing principle handed down from medieval as the growth of an ever-expanding hybrid Tasmania until hunted to apparent extinction, but emotional depth and beautiful atmospheric times, the scala naturae. This system had web, McCarthy contends, should mean “an chiefly by sheep herders who feared preda- cinematography make The Hunter e n g r o s s i n g religious roots and pictured beings rising in a end to interminable disputes over whether this tion—although the historical evidence is that all the same. The acting by Willem Dafoe, linear order of perfection, starting with inani- group or that one is truly a ‘species.’” thylacines were only an incidental sheep Frances O’Connor, Sam Neill and others is mate minerals and rising through fossils to By implication, this would also predator. The last thylacine killed in the wild superb throughout. plants, animals, humans, celestial beings, mean an end to schemes such as shooting was shot in 1930. The last known thylacine, From an animal welfare perspective, and, ultimately, God. “In Darwin’s day many ruddy ducks and barred owls, lest they captured in 1933, was accidentally locked out h o w e v e r , The Hunter is troubled at best. people considered rapid change unnatural,” hybridize with “endangered” whiteheaded of his night quarters at the Beaumaris Zoo in Numerous wallabies, brush possums, and at McCarthy continues. “Many, especially those ducks and spotted owls, who are among their Hobart, Australia, and died of exposure on least one chicken are killed, both as bait for of the conservative upper crust to which next of kin. Coming to appreciate hybridiza- September 7, 1936. the thylacine and for human consumption, Darwin belonged, felt any abrupt alteration tion would end much, if not all, of the current Founded in 1895, the Beaumaris without any sense of regret on the part of the was a threat to the social order.” angst over “invasive” species and an alleged Zoo had kept thylacines since 1909, and was characters or filmmakers. The thylacine “extinction crisis” which results in large part the only zoo that had them. Without living receives more sympathy, as from O’Connor’s No family trees from species hybridizing successfully to thylacines to exhibit, the zoo collapsed finan- character when she laments that, “It’s better Even as Darwin and other early evo- expand biodiversity. cially and was permanently closed in 1937. off extinct. While it’s alive, people will lutionists challenged the perceived immutabili- Occasional thylacine sightings are still report- always want to find it, to hunt it down.” ty of the scala naturae, they preserved it in Future perspectives ed. To confirm the existence of a surviving The ultimate fate of the thylacine is the form of the family tree, the imagined “I can foresee that our children will thylacine is among the Holy Grail quests of treated in tragic terms, with lavish mourning, structural model for evolution. look back on our discussions of such issues cryptozoologists. The Julia Leigh novel T h e but I felt that the tears shed were meant more “When different traits are used to and fail to understand our concerns,” writes H u n t e r , and the film adaptation by Daniel for the thylacine as a symbol of the people construct phylogenetic trees for the same set of McCarthy in his concluding chapter. “They Nettheim, build on the idea that a remnant who died in his pursuit than as an animal with organisms,” McCarthy observes, “different will accept that geographically and morpho- thylacine population persists. intrinsic value of his own, and who is sacri- trees are implied. Some traits may suggest the logically intermediate hybrid populations con- The Hunter film weaves a captivat- ficed to prevent further shedding of human relationships of the organisms should be nect many distinct types of organisms. They ing psychological drama around the hunt for blood. There is a strong environmental theme, described by one tree, while other traits may will think, too, that our nomenclatural delin- the last thylacine, targeted by a biotech com- revolving mainly around Tasmanian forest suggest the nature of their relationships are eations of such populations, if they under- pany for the toxin that thylacines are said to logging, but although environmentalism and quite different. Under such circumstances, the stand them at all, were largely arbitrary. For use to paralyze prey. In actuality, thylacines animal rights sometimes overlap, in this case tree that ‘best’ fits the data is selected. But they will see that such distinctions have been were not venomous. they do not coincide. ––Wolf Clifton this procedure presupposes that some ‘real’ ruled not only by differences in form, but also tree of descent actually exists. If the produc- to a great extent by the personal prejudices of Falling for Eli: tion of new forms of life via stabilization those who devised the nomenclature and by processes is common over evolutionary time, traditions that ensconced such prejudices on How I lost heart, then gained hope then there will be no real tree, let alone a best the throne of accepted usage. through the love of a singular horse one. The reason: such processes so often “On the basis of stabilization theo- involve hybridization that they would give rise ry,” McCarthy suggests, “we may conclude by Nancy Shulins to a weblike network of descent, not a tree.” that evolutionarily successful forms will DaCapo Lifelong Books (11 Cambridge Center, Cambridge, Of note is that in recent decades the spawn many offspring forms, heirs to their MA 02142), 2012. 272 pages, paperback. $15.99. traditional “food chain” of species that eat genes, when they themselves cease to exist. each other, stretching from bacteria to apex Such forms have a birth and death, just as an Former Associated Press correspon- About a predators and back through the process of individual does. But they are more stable than dent Nancy Shulins shares an uplifting memoir year later Shulins met another horse, Eli, who decomposition, has given way in science edu- an individual because they do not undergo in Falling for Eli: How I lost heart, then picked up her spirits. cation to the more accurate “food web,” gradual change in the time between inception gained hope through the love of a singular “And now, here he is, with his big which better describes the complexities of diet. and demise. Under this view, elimination of h o r s e . Married to a great guy named Mark, sweaty head on my shoulder, looking to me to “Naturalists have long believed that certain types of individuals does not result in Shulins wanted to start a family, but despite a make it all better. What could be better than a supposedly treelike pattern of evolutionary progress toward perfection. It merely reduces long series of expensive fertility treatments, that?” she asks. history was reflected in the treelike configura- the scope of diversity. Indeed, severe selec- medical issues prevented her from becoming But Shulins is not living happily tion of their chosen system of classification. tion against all types deviating from a single pregnant. Seeing friends and family doting on ever after. As Shulins learned about horses But this notion may be entirely illusory,” ideal would eventually reduce a form to a their children saddened her. Shulins even and their care, she discovered the nagging McCarthy continues. “For example, among clone-like uniformity in which no change, pro- stopped walking her dog Jack in the park to horse overpopulation problem. mammals, flying lemurs are often placed in a gressive or otherwise, would be possible.” avoid the “fertile Myrtles” women who had Upward of 170,000 horses lose their separate order of their own, but various McCarthy imagines “a world in recently given birth. Then Mark introduced homes each year, many of them sold to authors have also classified them on various which individual competition and selfishness her to friends nearby who kept horses. slaughter. Although the toll is just a fraction occasions as bats, primates, and insectivores. cease to be biological givens...There is hope in Invited to help wth barn chores, of the millions of dogs and cats who end up in The raccoon dog is placed in the same family this view of life,” he suggests, “in which Shulins quickly bonded with a horse named shelters, Shulins is crushed by horse neglect, as dogs, but is obviously similar to raccoons, nature is no longer ‘red in tooth and claw’… Frank. She brushed him, rode him, and fed abuse, and abandonment. The treatment of which belong to a different family. Scientists Relieved of the grim duty of destroying our him carrots. But after several month Frank horses as commodities is at odds with her have long argued over whether tree shrews are imagined competitors for the sake of mere sur- developed laminitis, a disease with many sus- understanding of horses as companions. primates or insectivores. Classified as a cat, vival, “ McCarthy suggests, “we can rise to a pected causes that affects the coffin bone in Concludes Shulins, “I’ve already the jaguarundi resembles a weasel or otter, higher moral plane where we, as individuals the horse’s feet. While most laminitis can be cobbled together a list of the worldly posses- while the fossa seems to connect the cat family and as societies, can build ourselves environ- treated, the mortality rate for some variant sions I’d sell before parting with Eli, right up with the civets and genets. Classified as a car- ments filled with ‘sounds and sweet airs, that forms runs as high as 50%. Frank died, to and including my house.” nivore, the kinkajou is similar to a primate. give delight and hurt not.’” ––Merritt Clifton returning Shulins to despair. ––Debra J. White Of Moose & Men: A Veterinarian’s Pursuit Hit them with of the World’s Largest Deer by Jerry Haigh a 2-by-4! ECW Press (2120 Queen Street East, Suite 200, More than 30,000 Toronto, Ontario, M4E 1E2, Canada), 2012. 272 pages, hardcover. $22.95. people who care about Wildlife veterinarian Jerry Haigh moved from mother Petruska has ever known,” says Haigh. animals will read Scotland to Kenya, where he authored Wrestling With Chapters that cover antlers and moose behav- this 2-by-4" ad. Rhinos (2002) and The Trouble With Lions (2007). Of iors capture the reader’s interest. Growing up in New Moose and Men: A Veterinarian’s Pursuit of the York City, my moose experience was limited to We'll let you have it World’s Largest Deer has emerged from his subsequent Bullwinkle cartoons. But I have never hunted and never for just $75––or $195 experience at the Western College of Veterinary will, and struggle with Haigh’s enthusiasm for moose for three issues–– Medicine in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. hunting. Indeed, the Cree and other native peoples hunt- Haigh’s patients include many large animals, ed moose for millennia to obtain the necessities of life, or $515 for a year. but moose are of most interest to him. He spends consid- but the times have changed, and of note is that the rea- Then you can let erable time describing moose, including the various sub- son I never saw moose within a day’s drive of New York species of moose, their taxonomy, history, and rela- City is that hunters extirpated them from most of the them have it. tionships with indigenous peoples such as the Cree. northeast in the 19th century. It's the only 2-by-4 to use Haigh discusses moose ticks, also known as After more than a century of recovery efforts, in the battle winter ticks, and the problems they cause such as hair there are now about 700 moose in Massachusetts, 100 in for public opinion. loss and skin irritation. Extensive hair loss leaves moose Connecticut, and some in the forest preserves surround- exposed to the cold. Moose often die as a result. ing the reservoirs serving New York City. Yet moose Moose mostly avoid humans, but Haigh intro- remain so scarce and so secretive in their habits that most ANIMAL PEOPLE duces a woman named Beryl and her moose companion, of us, no matter where we live, will never see one with- Petruska, who was found as a calf. “Beryl is the only out making a multi-day special effort. ––Debra J. White 360-579-2505 April 2012 4/3/12 12:05 PM Page 18
18 - ANIMAL PEOPLE, April 2012 OBITUARIES Goodbye, Friend by Gary Kowalski New World Library (14 Pameron Way, Novato, CA 94949), “I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him. The evil that men do lives after them. 2012. 176 pages, paperback. $14.00. The good is oft interred with their bones.” ––William Shakespeare Goodbye, Friend enters a crowded Kowalksi does Lawrence Anthony, 61, died on first collaboration, Babylon’s Ark: The market of books written to guide human sur- not cover pet loss and March 2, 2012 in Johannesburg, South Incredible Wartime Rescue of the Baghdad vivors through grief after the loss of a beloved grief at animal shelters, Africa. Following his father into the insurance Z o o (2007). Meanwhile, in the Democratic pet. Unitarian Universalist minister Gary but almost no one does. industry, Anthony later turned to real estate Republic of Congo, the Lord’s Resistance Kowalski came to write about pet loss after Euthanasia, always a development. In the mid-1990s Anthony Army invaded Garamba National Park. “The receiving a note from a congregant asking him sensitive subject, has bought the 5,000-acre Thula Thula private LRA is notorious for use of child soldiers and to announce another congregant’s dog’s become much more so amid wildlife reserve in Zululand, founded in 1911. has been accused of rapes, mutilations and death. Kowalksi hesitated, wondering how rising public enthusiasm for no-kill sheltering; Anthony “added luxury accommodations and mass murder of civilians,” reported London the congregation would accept the news. But but even shelters that save every healthy ani- fine dining to attract tourists eager to see G u a r d i a n environment correspondent David the entire congregation appreciated the mal nonetheless have frequent need to eutha- wildlife close up,” recalled Douglas Martin of Adam. “Cons-ervation seemed far from its woman’s loss and provided comfort to her. nize animals who are suffering and beyond The New York Times. Anthony also added priorities, particularly after members shot Kowalksi recognizes that some effective treatment, or are too dangerous to vegetarian cooking classes to the Thula Thula dead 12 game rangers and eight Guatemalan bereaved pet keepers may cry over a dog or allow around other animals and humans. program of entertainment and education, and UN soldiers sent to the region to keep order.” cat’s death and demonstrates acceptance of Shelter workers experience grief, made Thula Thula the headquarters for his However, Anthony told Adam, “The political their hurt, angry, or confused feelings. He anguish, frustration, rage and depression own conservation charity, Earth Organization. wing of the LRA and the Ugandan government discusses Elisabeth Kubler-Ross’s five stages from destroying tail-wagging dogs and In 1999 Anthony took in nine elephants who were having peace talks in Sudan. During a of death and dying as related to pet loss. He purring cats. Pet keepers may grieve with were slated for culling. This episode informed break in the talks, I simply walked up to associates pet loss with various religious cere- friends, family and even support groups, but The Elephant Whisperer: My Life With the Martin Ojul, the LRA chair for the talks, monies. Kowalski explains that the loss of a shelter workers often receive little emotional Herd in the African Wild (2009), co-authored introduced myself, and explained the reason pet may be a child’s first experience with help, even from each other, since the culture with his brother-in-law Graham Spence. for my visit. His initial response was distrust, death, and should be handled with sensitivity of shelter work emphasizes maintaining an Anthony in 2005 and 2008 helped lead opposi- covert hostility and no interest,” but the next and concern. He suggests coping procedures, aura of serene and self-assured competence, tion to elephant culling in Kruger National day Anthony was invited to talk to the rebels including honoring the deceased pet with a to avoid disturbing animals and shaking pub- Park. But Anthony was best known for mak- about the rhinos in their own encampment. memorial, or writing about the pet. lic trust. ––Debra J. White ing his way to Baghdad after the U.S. invasion “When I explained there were only four rhinos of Iraq in May 2003, to help the starving ani- left in the wild they were genuinely shocked,” Grace Tam, 11, killed on July 31, Andrew Wordes, 53, of Roswell, mals of the Baghdad Zoo. Helped by sympa- Anthony recalled. Concluded Adam, “When 2010 by falling ice at the Big Four Ice Caves Georgia, on March 26, 2012 “told a local thetic soldiers, Anthony improvised a water- the LRA officials signed a ceasefire with the near Granite Falls, Washington, was on reporter to warn the marshals who were trying ing system for the animals to replace a system DRC, it included pledges to protect the rhinos March 1, 2012 memorialized by publication of to evict him to back off,” reported Greg Blue- damaged by fighting and dismantled by loot- and to allow the park rangers to resume their her journal of visits to Hawaii, Japan, and stein of Associated Press. He then apparently ers. He drove looters out of the zoo, expanded work unmolested.” Anthony and Spence com- Hong Kong, as well as other writings, for sale poured gasoline inside his house and ignited it. the depleted menagerie by taking in the rem- pleted a memoir of that adventure, The Last to benefit animal shelters. Her parents, John “Wordes started raising poultry in 2005,” nants of the private animal collection of Rhinos, shortly before Anthony’s death. Tam and Tamami Okauchi, told E v e r e t t Bluestein recalled. “At first he had only a few deposed dictator Saddam Hussein’s son Udai, Herald writer Eric Stevick that Grace Tam had chickens. Most neighbors didn't seem to mind. and added more animals by closing a notori- Cole Warminsky, 28, of Palmyra, hoped to found an animal shelter. But complaints poured in after he got dozens ously substandard private zoo on the far side of Pennsylvania, died of cycstic fibrosis on more chickens, roosters who crowed day and Baghdad. Anthony also helped volunteer zoo March 18, 2012 in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Joe Ramonetha, 63, employed by night, and then pigs, goats and dogs,” plus veterinarian Farah Murrani to found the Iraq “He met his wife Jillian when they were both the Johannesburg Zoo for nearly 40 years, was attracting coyotes who preyed on the other ani- Animal Welfare Society, which for nearly two members of the Kutztown University equestri- on February 13, 2012 killed by an 11-year-old mals. Wordes “alienated neighbors,” Blue- years operated from the zoo premises–– an team. She is expecting their first child next lioness named Nyanga at the zoo’s Rietkuil stein continued, “but earned the support of the although Murrani herself was forced to flee month,” reported PhillyCom blogger Amy conservation farm in Parys, Free State, South city's mayor and others who read about him death threats in late 2004. In addition, Worden. Former Pennsylvania Bureau of Dog Africa. The attack was reportedly the first online. He even convinced former Georgia Anthony led efforts to recover Saddam Law Enforcement deputy secretary Jessie fatality at a Johannesburg Zoo facility in 50 governor Roy Barnes to represent him in court. Hussein’s private horse collection. In mid- Smith hired Warminsky in 2007 as one of a years. Opened in 1904, the Johannesburg Zoo The chickens were long gone, but he was still 2005 the horses were returned to the govern- five-member dog breeding kennel inspection was one of the few South African public insti- fighting eviction,” after failing to make mort- ment of Iraq as a national treasure. Anthony team. Warminsky remained on the job as long tutions that was never segregated during the gage payments while jailed for violating pro- and Spence recounted those adventures in their as possible despite his illness. apartheid era, 1948-1994. bation on an illegal grading conviction. Animal Place & Harvest Home rescue 4,460 hens MEMORIALS TURLOCK, California––“There are still 2,750 in Stockton in January 2012. This apparently left A&L Poultry hens at our Rescue Ranch facility in Vacaville and 200 hens at without an accessible paying market for the hens. our Grass Valley sanctuary. 587 hens have been placed into Stanislaus Animal Services executive director loving homes,” Animal Place founder Kim Sturla posted on Annette Patton told the Modesto Bee that her agency would March 28, 2012, a month after volunteers coordinated by seek prosecution of Andy Keung Cheung. At the end of Animal Place and the Harvest Home Animal Sanctuary, in March, however, he had apparently not yet been charged. Stockton, completed the largest hen rescue on record. Alerted to the crisis by news reports, “Harvest Home “About a third of the estimated 50,000 hens at A&L Animal Sanctuary and Animal Place were the first on the scene Poultry, west of Turlock, died after about two weeks without and the last to leave,” said Neighbors Against Backyard feed,” John Holland of the Modesto Bee reported on February Slaughter cofounder Ian Elwood. “Animal Place showed up 22, 2012, a day after the dead and starving hens were discov- with almost the entire staff, and devoted its entire facility to ered. “Company owner Andy Keung Cheung declined to com- helping the hens. After a rescue window of only two days, the ment when reached by phone. His attorney, Martha Carlton- remainder of the hens were killed by state authorities using car- Magaña, issued a statement on his behalf,” Holland continued. bon dioxide gas chambers.” According to the statement, “A&L Poultry has been Posted Animal Place volunteer Roni Seabury, in the process of arranging the shutdown of its egg production “17,000 hens were already dead when authorities arrived. We operations utilizing the industry’s business practices and stan- were only granted the hens who looked like they were going to dards. An attempt to arrange for delivery of the chickens to a make it. We had to work as fast as we could. We would box (Ruby, hoto Courtesy of Janet Beller Photography) third party in order to avoid the usual business practice of euth- up the hens, sprinkle food in their boxes, and stack them in a anizing the chickens resulted in an unacceptable situation A&L waiting zone until they could be loaded on a trailer.” In memory of Ruby, our rescued greyhound, who had an Poultry did not intend, and profoundly regrets.” Seabury said she worked two 22 hour-long days to innate sense of fairness and patience with the world, despite So-called “spent hens” were until recently sold at live help evacuate as many hens as possible. “I couldn’t believe the her rough beginning. You'll always be in our hearts. markets in San Francisco, Richmond, and Stockton. But cam- strength I had with only a few hours of sleep and little to no ––R, M, O and A Nardone paigns led by Lesbian-Gay-Bisexual-Transgender Compassion food,” she said. “After getting the hens to the sanctuaries, we –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– founder Andrew Zollman ended live poultry sales in San had to take them out of their crates. They were so weak they In memory of the elephant and other animals Francisco in May 2011, in Richmond in September 2011, and couldn’t lift their heads.” Some were saved by administration killed by the Trump brothers in Africa. of intervenous fluids. “Sadly, a few just couldn’t hold on any ––Stephanie Ferneyhough There is no better way to remember animals or longer,” Seabury recounted. –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– In memory of all those mice, rats, and birds, animal people than with an ANIMAL PEOPLE Altogether, the rescuers removed 4,460 hens, said Harvest Home board member Anne Martin. Four hundred to whom my heart belongs. memorial. Send donations (any amount), with were sent on to Farm Sanctuary in Orlands, California, several ––Action Volunteers for Animals address for acknowledgement, if desired, to hours’ drive to the north. –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– P.O. Box 960, Clinton, WA 98236-0960 That left “3,315 hens alive and recovering at our In memory of Wendy Thomas. sanctuaries,” Sturla said on February 28. “As you can imag- -––Marilyn Weaver ine,” she said, “it has been a –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– CLASSIFIEDS––$1.00 a word! • [email protected] heart-wrenching and uplifting In memory of Blackie. ––Paul Gallaher POB 960, Clinton, WA 98236 • 360-579-2505 • fax 360-579-2575 five days.”
W A N T E D : Animal advocate to www.youtube.com/watch?v=-0JXcPxkSGE manage and represent U.S. support organiza- Based on Hindu mythology, this is Your love for animals tion for People for Animals India. Contact the story of Yudisthira, a pious king whose Mrs. Maneka Gandhi
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