Guangzhou bans eating snakes–– GUANGZHOU––Guangzhou bureau of forestry director Guo Qinghe suppressed human consumption of cat meat during the first weekend of November 2007 by announcing on local television his intent to enforce a four- year-old Guangzhou city ordinance against eat- ing snakes. “It is illegal for companies, restau- rants and individuals to sell live snakes, snake meat, and related foods,” Guo said, not men- tioning cats, but in case there was any doubt about what he meant, Zheng Caixiong of the official government newspaper China Daily Banglok taxi elephant, working late hours. (Antoni P. Uni) spelled it out. “The popular Cantonese dish longhu - d o u or ‘dragon duels with tiger’ has been Elephant polo debate overshadows banned,” wrote Zheng Caixiong. “The delica- cy derives its name from snake and cat meat. (Kim Bartlett) introduction of microchipping Apart from having their snakes and snake prod- “The Guangzhou city government ucts confiscated, those caught flouting the ban banned the sale of snake and snake-related BANGKOK, MUMBAI– – T h e Partly, this may be because of will be fined between 10,000 yuan ($1,300) and dishes in the wake of the Sudden Acute Tourism Authority of Thailand on Nov- astute public relations by elephant polo pro- 100,000 yuan ($13,000).” Respiratory Syndrome outbreak in 2003,” ember 19, 2007 named the King’s Cup moters. The King’s Cup is named in honor The minimum fine was set at approxi- Zheng Caixiong reminded, “following revela- Elephant Polo Tournament one of Thai- of King Bhumibol Adulyadej. mately 1,000 times the current restaurant price tions that the corona virus might have come land’s must-see “Seven Amazing Ceremonially reigning over of l o n g h u d o u , according to information e- from snakes, civet cats and other wild animals Wonders.” Thailand for 60 years, the 79-year-old king mailed to ANIMAL PEOPLE by Anhui used in Cantonese dishes. Many restaurants The announcement reignited a and his wife, Queen Sirikit, have long Medical University professor of epidemiology subsequently resumed serving longhudou when debate over elephant polo that has raged for been animal advocates. Protecting ele- and social medicine Zu Shuxian. (continued on page 7) more than two years through the Asian (continued on page 13) Animal Protection Network electronic forum. Opponents, chiefly in the northeast of India, where elephant polo has never been played, hold that the game is cruel exploitation. Others see it as a chance for the elephant participants to enjoy a day of ANIMAL PEOPLE light work on grass, as a pretext for afflu- ent humans to party. News For People Who Care About Animals The game itself consists of only two ten-minute chukkars, in contrast to the elephants’ usual daily labor of either haul- ing tourists or waiting for customers. November/December 2007 Heated in India, the AAPN dis- Volume XVII, #9 cussion of elephant polo appears to have attracted little interest from Thailand, nor much notice from other places where ele- + phants commonly work. + Prince Harry dodges the Big puppy mill bullet as suspect in har- LONDON––Prince Harry of Britain interviewed as an official suspect by police, raids “barked up and two companions on November 6, 2007 along with William van Cutsem, 28, a family escaped prosecution for allegedly killing two friend, and David Clarke, 58, a Sandringham hen harriers, but the shotgun blasts suspected gamekeeper. The investigation was launched the right tree” to have been fired by the royal hunting party after a warden at Dersingham Bog nature helped to blow the cover off the pretense by reserve, which is run by the conservation shooting estate operators that they practice agency Natural England on the edge of Trudy, rescued from Horton’s Pups by wildlife conservation. Sandringham estate, and two members of the for mass media the Montgomery County Humane Society. “Norfolk Crown Prosecution Service public, said they saw the hen harriers shot. (Kris Rogers/Pixel Perfect Photography) has advised Norfolk Police there is insufficient “Sandringham officials later admit- WASHINGTON D.C.––Raids on tion found that many breeders are violating evidence to prosecute anyone over the shoot- ted to the Guardian that the prince and his two alleged puppy mills in at least five states close- this law,” often by selling directly to the pub- ing of two hen harrier birds, a protected companions were the only people out shooting ly followed the November 1, 2007 launch of a lic through web sites. species, at Sandringham on October 24, on the 20,000-acre estate, hunting duck and Humane Society of the U.S. pre-holiday media An HSUS undercover team “docu- 2007,” a Crown Prosecution Service pigeon close to the Natural England wildlife blitz against lax regulation of dog breeders. mented puppy mills throughout the state,” spokesperson said in a prepared statement. reserve. But Marcus O’Lone, the Queen’s A five-month HSUS investigation Porter said, “including in Hillsville, Jewel “The bodies of the hen harriers have estate manager, claimed the failure to find the found more than 900 active dog breeders in Ridge, Atkins, Ferrum, Staunton, and not been found and there is no forensic or bal- birds’ bodies suggested they had never actually Virgina, of whom only 16 held USDA permits Lynchburg, and pet stores who buy those listic evidence. Witnesses also heard unex- been shot.” to breed dogs for sale across state lines, sum- dogs, including in Fredericksburg, Ashland, plained shooting in the area before the three Sandringham is actually much closer marized HSUS publicist Leslie Porter. Midlothian and Waynesboro. The HSUS suspects said they were present at the scene, to London than to Scotland, but The Guardian “To sell puppies to pet stores, found dogs being harmed and abused; laws so other people cannot be ruled out,” the CPS assigned Carrell to cover the case because of breeders with more than three breeding being ignored, and consumers being duped spokesperson added. “The three suspects, who his past experience in covering related topics. females are required by federal law to have a over and over again.” were interviewed by police, all denied that the “A conviction for killing a hen harri- license,” Porter said. “The HSUS investiga- U.S. humane societies have issued birds were killed by them.” er carries a six-month prison sentence or a pre-Christmas warnings against buying pup- Reported Jack Malvern of The Times £5,000 fine,” Carrell wrote. “There have been pies from puppy mills for at least 75 years, of London, “The Royal Society for the 35 confirmed persecution incidents against ANIMAL PEOPLE recently found through Protection of Birds,” whose royal patron is birds of prey in England this year, compared searching <www.NewspaperArchive.com> Prince Harry’s grandmother, Queen Elizabeth with 25 last year,” and 19 in 2005. and the back editions of the National Humane II, “said the shooting was reported by a con- Said Royal Society for the Protection Review for the origin of the term “puppy mill.” servation warden monitoring harriers. The of Birds representatives, “We regard the per- “Puppy mill” appears to have crossed from unnamed warden saw the birds being hit but secution of hen harriers as one of the most humane jargon into general usage in 1953. did not see the shooter, the society said.” serious wildlife crimes. There are 20 pairs in The latest HSUS findings were Elaborated Severin Carrell, Scotland England and it is one of the country’s rarest accordingly treated as old news and drew little correspondent for The Guardian, “The Crown birds of prey. We do obviously appreciate the attention from most mass media, until about Prosecution Service confirmed that Prince efforts Norfolk Constabulary has gone to in 24 hours after the release was e-mailed. Harry, third in line to the throne, had been (continued on page 18) Then, responding to a tip from Virginia Partnership for Animal Welfare and Support, of New River Valley, Carroll County animal control officers and a veterinar- ian visited Horton’s Pups, operated by Junior Horton of Hillsville. Licensed to keep as many as 500 dogs, Horton had about 1,100 dogs on the premises. “Apparently, HSUS was barking up the right tree,” acknowledged Donna Alvis- Red Sox, rescued from Horton’s Pups by Banks of the Roanoke Times. “Horton, who the Montgomery County Humane Society. advertises his small-breed puppies on the (Kris Rogers/Pixel Perfect Photography) (continued on page 10) 2 - ANIMAL PEOPLE, November/December 2007 + + Editorial feature ANIMAL PEOPLE, November/December 2007 - 3 Adding consideration to compassionate acts Expressing either compassion or moral consideration toward animals probably The cartoonist and film maker Walt Disney wrestled with the question of how started just as a matter of feeding and befriending a dog, and eventually bringing the dog humans should be kind to animals throughout his career. In Dumbo The Flying Elephant into the family. (1940), Disney powerfully and influentially depicted the abuse of circus elephants, but the The first Neanderthal who tossed scraps to a dog just beyond the circle of firelight, only alternative he offered was better treatment within the context of circus life. In Lady & 60,000 to 100,000 years ago, probably had no notion of extending a philosophical concept The Tramp (1955), Disney offered adoption into a human family as a positive alternative to of personhood to other dogs, other animals, the Cro Magnons who were just beginning to impoundment and execution for stray dogs, whom he frankly depicted as death row prison- push into Neanderthal territory, or even to rival Neanderthal bands. There was just this one ers.