Feral cats not to blame in Southern California murine typhus scare
SANTA ANA, California––Fear of disease, easily cured by antibiotics, which is “Typhus moggie” appeared to be receding in entirely unrelated to typhoid fever, the once Orange County, California by June 1, 2012, common and often deadly disease of which just a few days after emerging, but anti- “Typhoid Mary” Mallon, 1869-1938, was the neuter/return bloggers had already amplified first known immune carrier. misleading claims far and wide about an Traps provided by Orange County alleged link of feral cats to murine typhus. Vector Control to catch feral cats on the In truth there was no cause to associ- grounds of the Frances E. Willard Intermediate ate either of two cases of murine typhus occur- School and El Sol Science & Arts Academy ring three months apart with feral cats. were removed three days after they were set, Murine typhus is a rare flea-borne Santa Ana city spokesman Jose Gonzalez told Denisse Salazar of the Orange County Register. “No cats were trapped, tested or euthanized,” Salazar reported. “The plan to corral feral cats living on the campuses was an effort to reduce the flea population and stave off the spread of typhus,” after a child who lives near the two Santa Ana schools developed murine typhus in April 2012. Santa Ana is the Orange Contrast the smooth but relaxed gait of the unshod walking horse in the photo, County seat. “An adult living in [the trained by Rebecca Gimenez, DVM, of Georgia, with the exaggerated high-stepping neighboring city of] Orange was gait shown in the “Tennessee Walker XING” sign sold by Amazon.com. diagnosed in January. Both have recovered,” Salazar continued. “We are changing our Pepsi drops the “Big Lick” focus and attacking the real problem, SHELBYVILLE, Tennessee–– equivalent of a goosestep, but Pepsi will no which are the fleas,” Gonzalez said. Walking horse trainers are still trying to force longer be paying the Walking Horse National Feral cats. (Marvin Sobel) (continued on page 8) horses into taking the “big lick,” the equine Celebration to associate the “big lick” with Pepsi beverages. A sponsor of the Walking Horse National Celebration since 2010, Pepsi had paid $25,000 per year for exclusive rights to sell an estimated $50,000 worth of soft drinks ANIMAL PEOPLE during the event. Pepsi dropped support of the prestigious “big lick” show on May 17, News For People Who Care About Animals 2012, less than 24 hours after the ABC News programs Night-line and Good Morning America aired videotape obtained by an undercover investigator for the Humane June 2012 Society of the U.S. showing extensive abuse of horses at Whittier Stables in Collierville. Volume 21, #5 The Whittier Stables owner is walking horse trainer Jackie McConnell. The 2012 Walking Horse National (continued on page 9) Sierra Club national board takes stand against body-grip trapping SAN FRANCISCO––The Sierra methods of mitigating human-wildlife conflicts Club national board of directors on May 19, and actively discourages the use of inhumane 2012 adopted a new “Policy on Trapping of and indiscriminate methods. The Sierra Club Wildlife” which may be the 110-year-old orga- recognizes the rights of indigenous peoples nization’s strongest statement yet against any under federal laws and treaties granting rights form of hunting. of self-determination and rights to pursue sub- States the policy, “Use of body-grip- sistence taking of wildlife.” ping devices––including leghold traps, snares, The policy statement stipulates that and Conibear traps––are indiscriminate to age, the phrase “body-gripping device includes, but sex and species and typically result in injury, is not limited to, any snare (neck, body, or pain, suffering, and/or death of target and leg), kill-type trap (such as the Conibear), non-target animals. The Sierra Club considers leghold trap (including steel-jaw, padded, off- body-gripping, restraining and killing traps set), and any other device designed to grip a and snares to be ecologically indiscriminate body or body part. This definition includes and unnecessarily inhumane and therefore any device that may result in injury or death opposes their use. The Sierra Club promotes because of the mechanism of entrapment. Live and supports humane, practical and effective cage and box traps, and common rat and mousetraps shall not be considered body-gripping devices.” . n
c Said Project Coyote o n i I d t founder Camilla Fox, “I served on i a , a the task force of experts appointed z i E P by the Sierra Club board to help n L e a
P develop this policy, as did Project g g a r O Coyote advisory board member t E O s Paul Paquet. For 18 months we P t o i worked on this––and our hard f P L o . work paid off. Hundreds of thou- Indian street dog and pups. (Kim Bartlett) A r S p . sands of coyotes, wolves, foxes M I n U and other wild animals are trapped N o New Indian data cuts worldwide
A in cruel and indiscriminate leghold N traps and snares each year.” Glue traps are not covered human rabies death toll by 40% by the new Sierra Club policy, DELHI, CHENNAI, VISAKHA- 2002 government estimate, and just a seventh D Fox told ANIMAL PEOPLE, E PATNAM––New Indian data on April 29, of the Indian toll from snakebites.
T because it applies only to trapping S
0 2012 cut the estimated worldwide human Snakebites killed 1,440 Indians in E 6 methods used against “free-rang- death toll from rabies by more than 40%, 2011, more than were killed by tigers, lions, 9 U ing wildlife,” not to “pest control 0 with global repercussions for street dog popu- leopards, elephants, bears, wolves, and all Q -
E devices” used indoors. 6 lation control, public health, and disease other wild mammals combined. R 3 Fox credited Pulitzer Prize- eradication funding priorities that are just India has long been thought to lead 2 E E
8 winning Sacramento Bee reporter L beginning to be felt as rabies control experts the world in human deaths from canine rabies, C 9 I P Tom Knudsen with helping to become aware of the finding. but now appears to have far fewer human V O
A raise Sierra Club board awareness R 0 Presenting the most recent Indian rabies deaths than Pakistan, believed to have E E 6
W of leghold trapping with a multi- P
S government statistics on mortality from all about 5,000 human deaths from rabies per 9
, part exposé of USDA Wildlife L
E causes to the Lok Sabha, the Indian parlia- year; China, with about 2,400; Indonesia, x n
A Serv-ices, published in the week G o
o ment, Indian health minister Gulam Nabi whose toll is variously reported at 900 to t N B M preceding the board vote. I Azad mentioned almost in passing, after dis- 5,000; Bangladesh, acknowledging about n A i l N
O “Because of this exposé,” Fox
H cussing heart disease, diabetes, and cancer, 2,000; and Nigeria, with about 1,000. C P A said, “members of Congress C that only 223 human rabies deaths were The drastic reduction in estimated (continued on page 15) recorded in India in 2011, barely 1% of the (continued on page 12) 2 - ANIMAL PEOPLE, June 2012 Editorial feature ANIMAL PEOPLE, June 2012 - 3 Seeking an end to animal sacrifice Among all the many uses and abuses of animals which persist for a cultural pretext, vegetarian third or more of society and practitioners of animal sacrifice has been more-or-less animal sacrifice is perhaps the most widely practiced, in a variety of different forms and con- continuous for more than 2,300 years. Article 51A of the Indian constitution asserts that, “It texts, and the most difficult to address in an effective manner, leading to fewer animals being shall be the duty of every citizen of India to have compassion for all living creatures,” which killed––or ideally, none. would appear to provide a constitutional basis for prohibiting animal sacrifice. Citing Article The difficulty of stopping animal sacrifice occurs in part because the perspective of 51A, seven Indian states––Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, people who practice animal sacrifice tends to be almost incomprehensible to those who oppose Rajasthan and Puducherry––have adopted laws against animal sacrifice. it. Opponents are sometimes many generations and often oceans away from any ancestors who However, these laws are lightly enforced, if enforced at all, because Article 51A is ever sacrificed animals. Killing animals to be eaten at traditional holidays remains as ubiqui- superseded by Article 25, which states that “Subject to public order, morality and health and tous as the slaughter of turkeys at the U.S. Thanksgiving. Yet, from the perspective of people to the other provisions of this Part, all persons are equally entitled to freedom of conscience who believe in a just and merciful god, which includes about 85% of humanity according to and the right freely to profess, practise and propagate religion.” recent global surveys of religious belief, the theology of practitioners of overt animal sacrifice A subordinate clause adds that “Nothing in this article shall…prevent the State from might seem to many to be blasphemous. making any law…regulating or restricting any economic, financial, political or other secular What sort of god would demand that animals be killed? Even the priests of the activity which may be associated with religious practice.” Spanish Inquisition, who accompanied the conquistadors to the New World and “converted” Thus animal sacrifice is regulated in parts of India, but may not be banned outright, Native Americans to Catholicism through genocidal use of sword and flame, theorized that in keeping with a tradition of religious tolerance introduced by King Ashoka (304-232 BCE). animal and human sacrifices were so self-evidently evil that the gods of the practitioners of Ashoka established the Mauryan Empire through mayhem deemed atrocious even by the stan- such sacrifices must be diabolical. dards of his own time, but after conquering almost the whole Indian subcontinent, he became From a secular perspective, animal sacrifice is relatively easily recognized as a set of a Buddhist vegetarian circa 269 BCE, and promoted peace by proclaiming “One must not rituals which permit the practitioners to kill and eat animals without guilt––whereas, in other exalt one’s creed, discrediting all others, nor must one degrade these others.” societies, killing and eating animals is rationalized by arguments which draw exaggerated dis- Similar views were expressed about 1,800 years later by the Mogul emperor Akbar tinctions between the sentience of animals and humans. the Great, who decreed, “No man should be interfered with on account of his religion, and Secular observers may notice that seasonal sacrificial occasions tend to coincide with everyone should be allowed to change his religion, if he likes...People should not be molested, the needs of herding cultures to cull surplus male animals after the spring birthing season and if they wish to build churches and prayer rooms, or idol temples, or fire temples.” to thin the numbers of animals they must feed through the winter. The efforts of priests to per- Both Ashoka and Akbar were also known for their love of animals and encourage- petuate animal sacrifice as a method of obtaining meat, or of controlling the distribution of ment of animal welfare, but found themselves constrained in confronting animal sacrifice for meat in some manner, is seemingly obvious. essentially the same reasons that confounded the U.S. Supreme Court in the 1993 landmark But from a perspective of belief, the economic aspects of animal sacrifice may be no decision Church of the Lukumi Babalu Aye, Inc. v. City of Hialeah. Testimony in this case more than fortuitous coincidence. The primary purpose of animal sacrifice, to believers, may revealed that practitioners of animal sacrifice kill as many as 18,000 animals per year in be an urgent need to appease a deity or demon who may be seen as even more real and threat- greater Miami alone. The Supreme Court verdict affirmed the right of Americans to practice ening than death and taxes. Indeed, the abstract realities of government, recognized by animal sacrifice, subject to the same sorts of zoning, environmental, and humane restrictions almost every educated person in modern society, may have little meaning to people who per- which would apply to killing animals legally for any other reason, but not to any law specifi- ceive taxes as tribute extracted by overlords, much as the deities ruling their daily lives are cally and distinctly targeting animal sacrifice. believed to require offerings of food or blood. The fundamental problem in attempting to stop animal sacrifice, whether by law or Worldwide, about 13% of humanity observe religions or variants of religions which social criticism, is that ritually killing animals is not only intrinsic to the self-identity of practi- practice animal sacrifice. Another 13%, mostly Hindus, practice non-animal sacrificing ver- tioners, but intrinsic to their relationship with a perceived higher power. This relationship, sions of religions that also include an animal-sacrificing variant. A further 21% practice Islam, practitioners of animal sacrifice believe, governs all of their success in life––and afterlife which features an annual mass slaughter of animals at the Eid (Feast of Atonement) that is ––and may have effects extending to all of their descendants. widely perceived and described even by some prominent Imams as a sacrificial duty. So long as the believer in animal sacrifice continues to believe that animal sacrifice is As in opposing sport hunting here in the U.S., where under 4% of the population demanded by a deity or demon, any attempt by anyone else to intervene to prevent animal sac- hunts, animal advocates who oppose animal sacrifice are challenging the participation of mil- rifice will be perceived as an attempt to prevent the practitioner from enjoying divine favor, lions of people in activities which for many participants are a matter of self-definition, prac- and/or escaping demonic torment. ticed by all their family and friends, and continued for millennia by their ancestors. Though sport hunters and practitioners of animal sacrifice may be small minorities, Sacrifice & self-interest they are numerous enough to form insular and self-reinforcing communities which resist exter- nal pressure to change, and politically dominate many rural areas. Like sport hunters, practi- This problem is compounded when, as is usually the case, the opponents of animal tioners of animal sacrifice are often neither well-educated nor affluent, though some are, but sacrifice are members of an economically and culturally privileged class. Americans, they tend to be well-connected. Often practitioners of animal sacrifice collectively hold the Europeans, and educated people in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and other parts of the balance of power in societies fractured between the traditional status quo and rapid progress, world where animal sacrifice persists tend to realize that our relative affluence and influence impeled by technological change. results from an understanding of science, economics, and advanced communications. Typically practitioners of animal sacrifice, again like sport hunters, are reliably To people of less education, however, much that we do may look quite a lot like allied with socially conservative power-holders. pursuing our own superstitious rituals to appease our own gods, or demons, or both. Further like sport hunters, practitioners of animal sacrifice have typically long ago Moreover, many of the major religions which do not actually incorporate animal sacrifice still extracted legal concessions which virtually exempt anything they do from prosecution as cruel- include elements that echo sacrificial ritual. Though Christianity has never included animal ty, and recognize what they do as a “right,” even in societies which recognize few if any sacrifice, central to Christian theology is the idea that Jesus offered himself in sacrifice on rights for women, economic underclasses, and ethnic and religious minorities. behalf of humanity, as a final sacrifice to end the sacrifice of animals in Judaism. Though This presents a particular paradox in India, where conflict between the traditionally Judaism abandoned animal sacrifice after the destruction of the Jerusalem temple just a few decades later, kosher slaughter is still overseen by a rabbi, and some Jewish sects would sup- SEARCHABLE ARCHIVES: www.animalpeoplenews.org port the resumption of animal sacrifice if the temple was to be rebuilt. http://www.facebook.com/animalpeoplenews.org The actual religious teaching behind the Eid slaughter practiced by Muslims is that the faithful who are affluent enough to slaughter an animal at the end of Ramadan should share meat with the poor. As the January/February 2008 ANIMAL PEOPLE editorial explored in ANIMAL PEOPLE depth, mainstream Islamic interpretation has agreed since the mid-20th century that slaughter News for People Who Care About Animals is not actually required: that any gift or deed of charity fulfills the obligation to perform the charitable act called Qurbani. Yet this view is not universally held, especially in the more Published by Animal People, Inc. conservative societies of the Middle East and Central Asia. The web page of the Islamic uni- President & Administrator: versity Darul-’Uloom, in Karachi, Pakistan, holds that Qurbani is “confined to the sacrifice Kim Bartlett – [email protected] of an animal slaughtered for the sake of Allah,” and must be performed regardless of those Facebook: Kim Rogers Bartlett who “make it out to be a wastage of money, resources, and livestock.” Editor: Merritt Clifton – [email protected] Reports from Saudi Arabia, where the Eid marks the end of the annual pilgrimage to Mecca, indicate that the numbers of animals killed at the Eid have trended slightly downward Web producer: Patrice Greanville for several decades as the notion of doing charitable deeds gains traction against the concept of Newswire monitor: Cathy Young Czapla mandatory sacrifice. But this trend is an economic threat to the herding societies of Central P.O. Box 960 Asia and North Africa, for whom Eid slaughter is a major source of income. To secular out- Clinton, WA 98236-0960 siders, the arguments of clerics from the herding cultures that animal slaughter is essential to Qurbani represent an example of theology following economic self-interest. From within ISSN 1071-0035. Federal I.D: 14-1752216 those cultures, however, the prevailing view may be simply that of course obeying the per- Telephone: 360-579-2505. Fax: 360-579-2575. ceived will of Allah brings economic benefit. Web: www.animalpeoplenews.org Most religions, including those featuring animal sacrifice, armor themselves against changes of practice through proscriptions against “apostacy,” meaning the possibility that a Copyright © 2012 for the authors, artists, and photographers. practitioner might adopt differing beliefs. Followers of religions who try to change traditional Reprint inquiries are welcome. religious practice are persecuted or shunned as heretics. ANIMAL PEOPLE: News for People Who Care About Animals is published But attempting to change from outside the theology that impels animal sacrifice typi- nine times annually by Animal People, Inc., a nonprofit, charitable corporation dedicated cally only reinforces the determination of the believers to continue in their ways. Even today, to exposing the existence of cruelty to animals and to informing and educating the public of in parts of India, Africa, and perhaps elsewhere, outsiders who challenge religious dogmas or the need to prevent and eliminate such cruelty. Donations to Animal People, Inc. are tax- intervene to stop sacrificial ceremonies may be puting themselves in serious danger. deductible. Financial information on Animal People, Inc. and other charities can be But this scarcely means that animal advocates can do nothing against animal sacri- accessed at
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(Donatations are tax-deductible) 10 - ANIMAL PEOPLE, June 2012 Exotic cat exhibitor Joe Schreibvogel responds to HSUS exposé with threat of “a small Waco” if cats are confiscated WYNNEWOOD, Oklahoma–– Department of Wildlife Conservation, alleging National television broadcasts on May 16, violations of state permit requirements. 2012 featured longtime traveling tiger The HSUS undercover video “shows exhibitor Joe Schreibvogel and his GW Exotic a tiger being hit on the nose and a tiger being Animal Park at Wynnewood in central dragged on gravel. In another incident on tape, Oklahoma, but the self-described “Joe Exotic” a boy was suddenly attacked while interacting probably did not enjoy the spotlight. with a young tiger, and began screaming,” “With Congress and the state of summarized CBS News chief investigative Ohio considering bills to restrict private own- correspondent Armen Keteyian. “CBS News ership of dangerous exotic animals, CBS This showed the undercover video to Schreibvogel, Morning broke news of another Humane who charged the incident with the boy was ‘set Society of the U.S. undercover investigation,” up.’” Keteyian asked Schreibvogel if he really blogged HSUS president Wayne Pacelle, believed that HSUS “would put a little boy in describing Schreibvogel as “perhaps the harm’s way?” largest private owner of tigers in the nation.” Replied Schreibvogel, “Oh, hell GW Exotic Animal Park “may have yeah, in a heartbeat. I am saying Wayne as many as 200 tigers,” Pacelle said. Pacelle would stoop low enough to put a little Schreibvogel has claimed to have more than kid at risk to get his agenda, so he could con- 1,000 animals in all. tinue to get money.” Pacelle called GW Exotic Animal Continued Keteyian, “Told that Park “a mix of a roadside menagerie and a pet- Pacelle had called GW Exotic ‘a ticking time ting zoo, masquerading as a rescue operation bomb,’ Schreibvogel responded, ‘It is a tick- and conservation center. While GW Exotics ing time bomb––if somebody thinks they’re bills itself as providing homes for ‘abandoned, going to walk in here and take my animals misplaced and abused animals,’” Pacelle said, away, it’s going to be a small Waco.’” “it is currently under investigation by the U.S. Schreibvogel referenced the 1993 Department of Agriculture for the deaths of 23 siege of the Branch Davidian cult compound tiger cubs in 2009-2010. Joe Schreibvogel, near Waco, which opened with the deaths of continues to breed tigers as well as controver- four U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, & sial hybrids,” Pacelle charged. “Staff reported Firearms agents and six Branch Davidians in that once tiger cubs outgrew their usefulness to the initial BATF attempt to serve a search war- the park, Schreibvogel ‘donated’ them to rant, and ended 50 days later with a fire that other facilities in exchange for donations to killed 75 compound residents, including sect GW Exotics.” leader David Koresh. Earlier media reports have said Pressed to elaborate, Schreibvogel Schreibvogel has acknowledged selling tigers said, “Nobody is sgoing to walk in here and to other exhibition facilities for as much as freely shut me down and take my rights away $5,000 apiece. from me as long as I am not breaking the law.” “During our investigation, five tigers died,” Pacelle said. Ohio updates law Elaborated HSUS spokesperson Raul The Ohio legislature just a week Arce-Contreras, “Two of the tigers had been later changed the state law governing posses- sick for months and may have been shot by sion of dangerous exotic animals. Ohio GW employees. A 6-year-old tiger named Governor John Kasich signed the new law on Hobbes died without receiving veterinary care. June 5, 2012. Introduced after Terry A 6-week-old cub being raised inside the GW Thompson of Zanesville, Ohio, freed 56 owner’s house somehow sustained head lions, tigers, bears, wolves, and chim- injuries and had to be euthanized. panzees on October 18, 2011, before shooting “The HSUS investigator witnessed himself, the Ohio bill passed despite or heard reports about numerous dangerous Schreibvogel’s efforts as president of the U.S. Ohio senate hearing on the bill, Schreibvogel hurt sales at Super Pet. Schreibvogel sold public interactions at GW,” Contreras added, Zoological Association. The USZA represents told a press conference that “he thinks Super Pet soon afterward, and in October “including at least six cases where visitors exotic animal keepers who do not qualify for Thompson was killed to push along legislation 1999 opened the GW Exotic Animal were bitten or scratched. In August 2011, membership in either the American Zoo banning private exotic animal ownership in Foundation in his brother’s memory. according to GW’s assistant park manager, Association or the Global Federation of Ohio,” reported Zanesville Times Recorder Schreibvogel won public acclaim in three people suffered tiger bites at a fair, Animal Sanctuaries. staff writer Hannah Sparling. August 2001, after taking in three severely including one child whose bite became infect- The Ohio bill “would immediately “I believe Terry Thompson was mur- emaciated bears who were seized by the U.S. ed. On September 3, 2011, a tiger reported- ban people from buying new dangerous exotic dered to further this agenda,” Schreibvogel Fish and Wildlife Service from Russian circus ly bit a young girl on her leg . On September animals, such as cheetahs and crocodiles,” said in a tape of the press conference that was trainer Alexander Shelovnikov. But 11, 2011, a tiger cub scratched a young child summarized Ann Sanner of Associated Press. posted to YouTube. “I think we are looking at Schreibvogel meanwhile ran into trouble with while the child was posing for a picture. On “Current owners could keep their creatures by a much larger conspiracy than we think we the Oklahoma Wildlife Department for September 17, 2011, a 20-week-old tiger obtaining a new state-issued permit by 2014. are,” Schreibvogel insisted. allegedly operating unsafe road shows. named Dre knocked down and bit a small They would have to pass a background check, Responded Muskingum County “We know we have some young kids child. The next day, the same tiger was used pay permit fees, obtain liability insurance, Sheriff Matt Lutz, who directed the law being put in enclosures with large animals,” for photo shoots at GW and photographers and show inspectors that they can properly enforcement response to the Zanesville inci- charged Oklahoma assistant attorney general posed a small child bottle-feeding the tiger.” contain the animal and adhere to other stan- dent, “I’m a little upset that someone would Elizabeth Sharrock in July 2002. Contreras said HSUS had filed com- dards. Within 60 days after the bill’s effective make a statement about something that obvi- “The park takes as many as 30 ani- plaints about GW with the U.S. Fish & date, owners would have to microchip their ously they don’t know anything about.” mals on the road. The animals are kept in Wildlife Service, alleging potential violations dangerous wildlife and register them. They Sheriff’s deputies eventually shot 51 cages and the park solicits donations at the of the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act, will have to tell the state where the animals of the freed animals, after unsuccessful efforts shows,” reported Bob Doucette of The Okla- Endangered Species Act, Lacey Act, and are, how many they have, what the creatures were made to contain some of them in cages homan, after Schreibvogel won an injunction Rhinoceros & Tiger Conservation Act; with look like, and who their veterinarian is, that had been cut open, as well as having that allowed the road shows to continue. the USDA, alleging violations of the Animal among other details.” doors that were left open. Using as many as 30 different busi- Welfare Act; and with the Oklahoma Two hours before an April 16, 2012 ness names over the years, Schreibvogel on Flamboyant claims April 29, 2010 withdrew the use of “GW USDA-APHIS to regulate online pet breeders ANIMAL PEOPLE first examined Exotics Foundation” as his legal name in Schreibvogel’s flamboyant claims and history Oklahoma, and began calling his operation RIVERDALE, Maryland––The to the same oversight faced by wholesale deal- in October 2002. “Big Cat Rescue Entertainment Group.” USDA Animal & Plant Health Inspection ers as part of the Animal Welfare Act. Schreibvogel operated an exotic pet That attracted the notice of Florida Service on May 16, 2012 proposed “to revise The proposed rule change was wel- store called Super Pet with his brother Garold sanctuarian Carole Baskin, founder of Big Cat the definition of retail pet store and related comed by both the Humane Society of the in Arlington, Texas, until Garold was killed Rescue and a longtime outspoken opponent of regulations to bring more pet animals sold at U.S. and the National Animal Interest in an October 1997 truck crash. private possession of exotic and dangerous retail under the protection of the Animal Alliance, founded in 1992 and headed ever Joe Schreibvogel was also identified wildlife. Her husband Howard Baskin pub- Welfare Act. Specifically,” USDA-APHIS since by Oregon dog breeder Patti Strand. by the Dallas Morning News as co-operator, lished an 8,200-word web exposé of stated in the Federal Register, “we would The proposed rule change was with a man named Jim Claytor, of a wildlife Schreibvogel’s activities, which have also narrow the definition of retail pet store so that announced after the Southern California cities rescue service called Nature’s Hope. been exposed by PETA and the television it means a place of business or residence that of Aliso Viejo, Laguna Beach, Irvine, In February 1999, police in Plano, magazine program Inside Edition. each buyer physically enters in order to per- Huntington Beach, and Dana Point adopted Texas, found 69 dead emus and about 160 Schreibvogel retaliated by picketing sonally observe the animals available for sale ordinances prohibiting the sale of dogs and others cannibalizing their remains on the prop- Big Cat Rescue, and by serving as primary prior to purchase and/or to take custody of the cats from commercial breeders. The San erty of housing developer and former emu source for an ill-informed September 28, 2011 animals after purchase, and where only cer- Clemente city council voted down a similar speculator Kuo-Wei Lee. Schreibvogel and “exposé” of Big Cat Rescue by Mike Deeson tain animals are sold or offered for sale, at proposed ordinance. Claytor took possession of the survivors and of WTSP-TV. retail, for use as pets. Retail pet stores are not The American SPCA on May 21, hauled most of them to a ranch about 50 miles Said Howard Baskin, “The WTSP required to be licensed and inspected under 2012 announced that more than 100,000 peo- away, to await relocation to permanent sanctu- story noted that Schreibvogel was fined the AWA.” Publication of the proposed ple had taken an online “No Pet Store ary. When they could not catch all of the $25,000 by USDA, but dispensed with this by change opened a 30-day comment period. Puppies” pledge. “The national campaign, emus, Schreibvogel and Claytor allegedly shot repeating Schreibvogel’s claim that it was “Dog breeders who skirt animal launched last July, raises awareness about the at least six of them. Then-SPCA of Texas ‘when he first started out.’ The fine was in welfare laws by selling puppies over the connection between pet stores and puppy mills chief cruelty investigator Bobby French video- 2006 for violations that took place continuous- Internet would face tighter scrutiny,” and aims to reduce the demand for puppy mill taped the shootings, but the Ellis County ly from 2000-2004.” explained Tracie Cone of Associated Press. puppies by urging consumers not to buy any grand jury refused to indict Schreibvogel and Added Carole Baskin, “Joe “The change would subject dog owners who items—including food, supplies or toys—if Claytor. Schreibvogel then filed a defamation Schreibvogel is one of the best examples in the breed more than four females and sell the pup- the store or website sells dogs,” said ASPCA suit against the SPCA of Texas, claiming that nation of why private ownership of big cats pies electronically, by mail or over the phone, spokesperson Anita Kelson Edson. their release of the video to news media had should be banned.” ––Merritt Clifton ANIMAL PEOPLE, June 2012 - 11 Please enter my subscription for: ____ One year (9 issues.) Enclosed is $24. YES! I’M AN ____ Two years (18 issues.) Enclosed is $38. ANIMAL PERSON! ____ Three years (27 issues.) Enclosed is $50. ____Please send additional subscriptions as gifts to the addresses I have listed below or on a separate sheet. Enclosed is $24 apiece. ____Please send the 2011 ANIMAL PEOPLE Watchdog Report on Animal Charities, which provides the background I need to make my donations more effective. Enclosed is $25. ____I want to help support your outreach with a tax-deductible contribution of: $25 ____ $50 ____ $100 ____ $250 ____ $500 ____ Other ____ Name: Name of gift recipient: Number and street: Number and street: City and state: City and state: ––Wolf Clifton ZIP code: ZIP code: Please make checks payable to: ANIMAL PEOPLE, P.O. Box 960, Clinton, WA 98236, or call 360-579-2505 to order by MasterCard or VISA. Trapper shoots horse as bait to trap last breeding wolf from Toklat pack DENALI NATIONAL PARK, raised pups last year,” reported Kim Murphy lation has declined since 2006 from 103 stream residents David and Susan Braun told Alaska––Hunting guide Coke Wallace, of of the Los Angeles Times. “The pack’s only wolves in 15 packs to 70 wolves in nine packs, the Alaska Department of Environmental Healy, has acknowledged walking an aged other known breeding female was found dead a 20-year low, Meier said. Conservation that the rotting horse carcass had horse to the Stampede Trail near the northern near the pack’s den, probably of natural caus- “The snares were within the former contaminated their drinking water. boundary of Denali National Park, shooting es. A third wolf, also snared near the horse protected Denali buffer, where trapping and Friends of Animals and Defenders of the horse, and setting snares around the car- carcass, was a male who may or may not have hunting of wolves was prohibited from 2002 to Wildlife amplified appeals for the Denali cass. The snares killed the last known breed- been part of the Grant Creek pack,” according 2010,” e-mailed Steiner. “Ignoring several buffer zone to be retored. ing female wolf from the Grant Creek to Denali National Park biologist Tom Meier. proposals to expand the no-take Denali wolf Amid the controversy, acting Alaska pack––the pack that roams the area made Wallace contended that the female buffer zone––including a proposal from Denali Division of Wildlife Conservation director famous by the 1996 book by Jon Krakauer and wolf he snared was emaciated. “Coke’s wolf National Park itself––the Alaska Board of Doug Vincent Lang on May 1, 2012 told Dan 2007 feature film Into the Wild, about the was in a trap for a week and was scavenged by Game instead eliminated the protective buffer Joling of Associated Press that the agency 1992 death nearby of 22-year-old would-be a wolverine before he ever even saw it,” and imposed a moratorium on future consider- would do a year of further study before imple- survivalist Christopher McCandless. Meier responded to Murphy. “These wolves ation of any Denali wolf protection buffer pro- menting a recommendation by the Alaska The Grant Creek pack, also called aren’t starving.” Meier pointed out that posals until 2016.” Board of Game that wolves, black bears, and the Toklat West pack, is among the three wolf wolves are normally lean in spring, after The Alaska State Troopers and grizzly bears should be culled on the Kenai packs most often viewed and photographed by enduring the harsh Alaskan winters. Alaska Department of Fish & Game said Peninsula to boost the numbers of moose Denali visitors. The pack has been continu- The Denali National Park wolf popu- Wallace had not broken any laws, but down- available to human hunters. ously studied since 1939, first by Adolf Murie until his death in 1974, then by Gordon Haber from 1966 until his death while spotting wolves from a light plane in 2009, and currently by Anchorage conservation biolo- gist and former University of Alaska professor Rick Steiner. “One of the dead wolves was equipped with a radio collar attached by scien- tists. She was the only female from the pack known to have More events
August 19: Walk to Save Lives, for Pasado’s Save Haven, Redmond, WA. Info:
New Indian data cuts global human rabies death toll by 40% (from page 1) human rabies deaths in India suggests that rabies is much less a more effective use of existing vaccines. public health scourge than is widely believed, and is accord- “Venomous snakes occur throughout many regions of High numbers ingly much more vulnerable to eradication with a concerted the world and are a threat to public health, especially in the “The World Health Organization has claimed that push to vaccinate street dogs. rural tropics where they are most abundant,” Pringle posted. there were about 20,000 human rabies deaths per year in India Worldwide, rabies was believed to be killing about “Out of more than 3,000 species of snakes in the world, some between 1992 and 2002,” e-mailed longtime Blue Cross of 55,000 people per year, with canine rabies most prevalent in 600 are venomous and over 200 are considered to be medically India chief executive and Animal Welfare Board of India mem- Southeast Asia and Africa, while bat rabies predominates in important. The risk of snakebite is a public health hazard that ber Chinny Krishna to ANIMAL PEOPLE, “but the figure South America. The new Indian data suggests that the actual many people in the rural tropics face on a daily basis. given by Gulam Nabi Azad is in the opinion of many of us human rabies toll is less than 35,000, and that infection from “Snake antivenom immunoglobulins––antiven- working on the ground much closer to reality.” Krishna’s e- dogs could be reduced to the point that globally, bats might oms––are the only specific treatment for envenoming by mail was included as a letter-to-the-editor in the May 2012 edi- soon be the primary vector for human cases. snakebites,” Pringle continued. “Antivenoms can prevent or tion of ANIMAL PEOPLE, inserted into the layout just reverse most snakebite effects,” but “The production of before the press deadline. Snakebite vs. rabies antivenins is hazardous and requires the use of living animals.” Introducing the use of street dog vaccination and ster- Forwarding information obtained by ANIMAL PEO- Because of “The complexity of the production of ilization to combat canine rabies in 1966, Krishna became PLE from a variety of Indian sources, the International Society antivenins, the decreasing number of producers, and the skeptical of the WHO and Indian government estimates of for Infectious Diseases broke the news of the reduction in esti- fragility of the production systems in developing countries,” human rabies fatalities by 1976. At that time the official human mated Indian rabies deaths on May 1, 2012 via the Program for Pringle noted, “the high mortality from snake bite in India is rabies death toll in India was 35,000 per year. Monitoring Emerging Diseases. Founded in 1994, the peer- understandable and excusable. The high mortality from rabies “For at least 25 years, I fought the claim of 35,000 reviewed ProMED-mail network now reaches more than 40,000 virus infection is less so. Potent and effective cell-produced rabies deaths in India yearly,” Krishna recalled in an e-mail to public health professionals in 185 nations. anti-rabies vaccine and immunoglobulin are available and com- members of the Federation of Indian Animal Protection ProMED-mail viral diseases moderator Craig Pringle, pletely protective if administered soon after exposure. Further, Organizations. “I spoke at the Association for Prevention and a Univeristy of Warwick professor emeritus, pointed out that the vectors of rabies virus are predominantly urban and feral Control of Rabies in India conference at Bhubaneshwar when while the Indian snakebite death toll may be difficult to reduce, dogs,” who can be vaccinated and sterilized to prevent the the decennial figures for 1992-2002 were released,” lowering human deaths from rabies could be eliminated entirely through existence of a population vulnerable to canine rabies. (continued on page 13) Vet killed while prepping elephant for retirement TUAKU, New Zealand––Helen Schofield, 42, finished and they felt she was comfortable enough to go.” owner, director, and veterinarian at the Franklin Zoo & “Helen Schofield’s dream,” Derby added to Chris Wildlife Sanctuary in Tuaku, New Zealand, was on April 25, Biele of KTXL-TV news in Sacramento, was that “she wanted 2012 fatally crushed by Mila, 39, an African elephant whom Mila to come here and be with other elephants.” Derby Schofield was preparing for eventual relocation to the pledged “to keep going forward with plans to get Mila to Performing Animal Welfare Society’s 2,3000-acre elephant California,” Biele reported. PAWS is seeking to raise sanctuary in northern California. $100,000 to fund the relocation, which would probably not be The New Zealand Herald reported conflicting ver- done until after PAWS receives three African elephants from sions of the fatal incident. the Toronto Zoo. That move, in planning since October 2011, “It’s understood Dr. Schofield had been in the enclo- is being funded by retired TV game show host Bob Barker. sure just before the incident and had been speaking to zoo-goers “Helen Schofield will be remembered with the high- about Mila,” wrote Andrew Koubaridis of the New Zealand est regard by elephant care-giver professionals around the Herald on April 27, 2012. “She left the enclosure, but went world,” Derby posted to the PAWS web site. But four ele- back inside with a bucket of fruit to try to calm Mila down after phant care professionals who knew Mila during her circus someone reported that the elephant suddenly jumped at least career alleged that Schofield made critical mistakes. one meter sideways,” after suffering an electric shock from Born in Kenya in 1973, Mila was at age nine months touching a perimeter fence. captured and acquired by the London Zoo. Mila was trans- “Mila put her head down and advanced, slowly at ferred to the Honolulu Zoo in Hawaii, then was sold in 1978 to first, but with increasing speed,” Koubaridis continued. “Dr. the Whirling Brothers Circus, founded in 1969 by brothers Schofield turned and ran––but tripped about a meter from the Tony and Robin Ratcliffe of New Zealand. enclosure’s exit. The Herald understands Mila used her trunk The Honolulu Zoo called the elephant Mele Kahea–– to pull Dr. Schofield back by the leg, wrapped her trunk around similar to Mila. The Ratcliffes called her Jumbo. Unclear is Veterinarian Heather Schofield and Mila, the vet’s midsection, and picked her up. Onlookers said Dr. whether Jumbo became her working name, or was just her per- the elephant who killed her. (Franklin Zoo photo) Schofield was able to speak and calmly called the command to forming name. Performing elephants typically are advertised that opportunity.” put her down. Mila eventually knelt and pushed her trunk and introduced to crowds under one name, to which they will “Many reasons can be found for accidents and ele- down on a bank in the enclosure, as Dr. Schofield asked to be not respond if the name is shouted by strangers, but are han- phant attacks,” Tony Ratcliffe continued. “I do not and will let go. When Mila finally released Dr. Schofield, she was still dled by a different name, less likely to be heard from a not subscribe to the theory that they don’t attack unless they talking and was seen to move. Mila backed away, but then stranger. Commands are also often given in a language that the have been mistreated.” Tony Ratcliffe cited a 1954 incident at moved toward her again and repeatedly brushed her trunk up elephant is unlikely to hear from strangers. The Auckland Zoo, the Auckland Zoo, in which an elephant named Jamuna killed against her––and she didn’t move again.” for instance, reportedly trains elephants to respond only to handler Frank Lane. “Allegations have been repeated through Michael Dickison, also of the New Zealand Herald, commands given in Hindi. the years––and recently on television––that Jumbo was mis- reported a different version the following day. “A witness to Dissolving the Whirling Brothers Circus in 2007, the treated while in the circus,” Tony Ratcliffe said. “I reject those the fatal accident says the elephant was triggered to kneel Ratcliffes sold Mila to the Weber Brothers Circus in 2007, allegations completely. I have handled and worked with over down, crushing her keeper, by what appeared to be a misinter- after a failed attempt to retire her to the Western Plains Zoo 40 elephants in both circuses and zoos, and the elephants I preted circus command,” Dickison wrote. “’Put me down, near Dubbo, New South Wales, Australia. Tony Ratcliffe have been involved with have all had very good handling right Mila,’ Dr. Helen Schofield was heard saying as she patted the continued as her trainer, handling her for 31 years altogether. from an early age.” elephant’s head. Mila obeyed by going down on her Mila toured with the Loritz Circus until 2009. Turned over to His brother, Robin Ratcliffe, founder of the Hamil- knees––crushing Dr Schofield.” The witness, whom Dickison the New Zealand SPCA in late 2009, Mila remained in SPCA ton engineering firm Modern Transport Engineers, suggested said declined to be named, said Mila did not attack Schofield, custody but was housed at the Franklin Zoo until she could be that Mila was most traumatized by prolonged separation from Mila had not touched an electric fence, and Schofield had moved to a sanctuary. Tony Ratcliffe, who had been prohibited from visiting her. backed away from her, not run. “Loritz Circus were meant to build a place for her and Shortly after Schofield’s death, Tony and Robin Schofield bought the Franklin Zoo, located about it didn’t eventuate,” Tony Ratcliffe told Radio New Zealand Ratcliffe were refused entry to the Franklin Zoo, the New halfway between Auckland and Hamilton, in 2005. Schofield after Scofield’s death. “They dumped her on the SPCA, who Zealand Herald reported. lived on the Franklin Zoo premises with her mother and sister. held her standing in her own faeces, urine and hay for three The Ratcliffes’ contentions were reinforced by former In 2006 Schofield bought and retired from performance the last days,” Ratcliffe alleged, “until they called me to help. I got Whirling Brothers Circus magician Evelyn Strugnell, of circus lions in New Zealand, two females named Ruby and that situation resurrected and took her to the (Franklin) zoo that Palmerston North. Strugnell “rode, performed with, and Jade. The zoo collection currently includes Ruby, Jade having didn’t want me. Then they rang and said we need your help to walked Mila,” wrote Jessica Sutton of the Manawatu Standard. died, plus monkeys, otters, zebras, emus, and a bobcat. get her out of the trailer.” Strugnell “did acts where the elephant would walk over her,” Schofield had announced plans for the zoo to expand There was a long history of friction between the cir- Sutton recalled. to add a veterinary clinic, wild bird rehabilitation center, and a cus handlers and Schofield, who reportedly told a group of “They should never have changed her name,” 70-acre “sustainable native bush corridor,” as a joint project about 50 visitors only two-and-a-half hours before her death Strugnell opined, though whether Mila’s working name was with the New Zealand Department of Conservation. But New that she first met Mila in 1990, and believed Mila had been actually changed is unclear. “It’s like a dog,” Strugnell said. Zealand SPCA executive director Bob Kerridge told the New traumatized by circus life. This had included the Ratcliffes’ use “if you change its name, when you call out the new name these Zealand Herald that Schofield’s death left the zoo in “turmoil” of the ankus, or “bullhook,” commonly used by circus ele- animals don’t know what you’re talking about.” and placed its future in doubt. phant trainers but prohibited at PAWS and the Elephant Former Franklin Zoo elephant handler Bruce Ireland Kerridge said Auckland Zoo personnel had taken over Sanctuary in Tennessee. told the New Zealand Herald that “Mila showed aggressive and the daily care of Mila. After Schofield’s death, “Tony Ratcliffe’s lawyer unsettled behavior,” in his experience with her. “Ireland Hans Kriek, executive director of Save Animals from Cheryl Simes said––via press release––that she had contacted worked at Auckland Zoo for 27 years, 18 of them with its ele- Exploitation, told The Dominion Post of Christchurch that he Helen Schofield on Ratcliffe’s behalf last week after Schofield phants, and said he was brought in because Dr. Schofield had had campaigned for more than 20 years to have Mila retired made ‘defamatory’ statements regarding the elephant’s care and no experience dealing with elephants,” the New Zealand Herald from performing. Kriek told The Dominion Post that only the condition before she arrived at Auckland’s Franklin Zoo,” said. According to the New Zealand Herald, Ireland “worked day before Mila killed Schofield, Schofield told him that Mila reported Louise Risk of the Dominion Post. with Dr. Schofield for about three months when Mila arrived at was ready to be transported to PAWS. “Helen had been crate- “I had hoped to be able to discuss this with Helen Franklin Zoo, but lost his job because the zoo could not afford training her,” Kriek explained, “teaching her to walk into a Schofield,” Tony Ratcliffe told Risk. “I know we had different to keep him on.” crate without fear so that she’d be comfortable traveling.” views about circus animals. I had hoped we could get the facts Said Ireland, “You never went in with her––because “We didn’t actually have a date” for Mila to be flown straight about Jumbo’s background, and then agree to disagree she was just too dangerous. It was a case of there was one guy, to PAWS, PAWS founder Pat Derby told Sue Manning of about wider issues, and maybe work together for what was best Tony Ratcliffe, who could handle her, and he was the only one Associated Press. “It was sort of whenever crate training was for Jumbo in her particular situation. Tragically we have lost who could handle her.” ANIMAL PEOPLE, June 2012 - 13
New Indian data cuts global human rabies death toll by 40% (from page 12) the estimated toll to 17,000 diagnosed human deaths and 3,000 Indian national Animal Birth Control program, Krishna e- gram in place at all. Shall we attribute the decline in rabies in deaths that went undiagnosed. “I was a lone voice disputing the mailed to ANIMAL PEOPLE and FIAPO. Kakinada to these killings? What are we to say here?” updated figures of 20,000-odd rabies deaths per year during this Countered Visakha SPCA and ABC India founder Such examples chiefly illustrate a continuing need for period,” Krishna wrote. Pradeep Kumar Nath, “Until and unless we have more than better public education about rabies––and, indeed, about the Krishna suspected that the high figures were pro- 70% coverage of the entire country under the [federally funded] transmission of infectious disease in general. duced by the combination of inadequate case tracking, faulty Animal Birth Control program, we cannot prove claims that Attempting to kill the vector is the oldest and most diagnostic work, and official projections based on obsolescent the drop in human rabies deaths was due to our work. Effective widely practiced response to rabies and other infectious disease. and inaccurate presumptions about how rabies spreads. ABC is not happening in 90% of India,” Nath charged. Killing an actual or suspected vector species often appears to be Eventually Krishna persuaded People for Animals Depending on how the new Indian rabies death toll is successful in controlling the spread of a disease for short peri- founder Maneka Gandhi, who for more than five years was the interpreted, it might either be seen as demonstrating the effica- ods of time, but the appearance of success is illusory. Indian federal minister for animal welfare, and was also for a cy of ABC and the need for expanded ABC programs, or as What actually happens is that when any very virulent time minister for statistics, but Mrs. Gandhi lost her cabinet showing that ABC has not been a factor in the improvement disease kills so many of the host animals that it can no longer position before she could organize an official reappraisal of the and need no longer be funded. spread rapidly from host to host, it either burns itself out or rabies numbers. Likewise convinced was Animal Welfare While Krishna was first to demonstrate the efficacy evolves into a less virulent form, which can be incubated and Board of India chair Rammehar Kharb, a retired military vet- of the ABC concept, eradicating rabies from Chennai and sur- spread for much longer before the onset of the fatal symptoms. erinarian who on appointment in May 2006 pledged to “eradi- rounding parts of Tamil Nadu state, Nath in Visakhapatnam When all dogs exhibiting active symptoms of canine cate rabies from India by mass vaccination of stray dogs.” achieved the most rapid sterilization and vaccination of 70% of rabies are killed, along with any other dogs who can be caught, WHO-South East Asia Regional Organization techni- a municipal dog population on record in India, eliminating the remaining dogs tend to be the most furtive and nocturnal cal officer for veterinary public health Gyanendra Gongal also rabies from Visakhapatnam and the surrounding suburbs called part of the population––the so-called pariah dogs of India, came to question the official numbers. the Visakhapatnam Circle. Pakistan, and Bangladesh, for example, who unlike street Journalist Hiranmay Karlekar in a 2008 book entitled Rabies returned to both the Chennai suburbs and the dogs who beg for handouts, live entirely by scavenging, Savage Humans & Stray Dogs attributed the inflated human Visakhapatnam Circle in 2010, however. In the Chennai area, avoiding human contact. rabies death estimates to the desire of makers of post-exposure public officials failed to report isolated cases promptly, so that Rabies may persist among these dogs for many vaccines to sell more of their product to dog bite victims and to the Blue Cross of India could intensively vaccinate dogs to pre- months in the latent “dumb” phase. When pariah dogs die, the their biggest customers, the government clinics that are man- vent the outbreaks from spreading. In Visakhapatnam, the deaths go unobserved. Eventually, months or years later, dated to treat dog bite victims free of charge. Visakha SPCA lost the municipal ABC contract after a change rabies returns from the pariah dog population to infect street ANIMAL PEOPLE pointed out repeatedly, begin- of government. The new service provider failed to promptly dogs, community dogs, and pet dogs. Often this is perceived ning in 1997, that several mosquito and tick-borne diseases, start a high-volume vaccination and sterilization program to as a new infection—but it is really just the same old outbreak, common to India but only recently medically identified, also replace the Visakha SPCA services. cycling back into the community from a seldom-seen and produce high fever and other rabies symptoms, and are like- Nath spent much of 2011 leading vaccination drives sometimes almost invisible reservoir. wise frequently fatal if left untreated. Undetected insect-carried against rabies outbreaks elsewhere in Andhra Pradesh, with When the street dogs, community dogs, and pet dogs febrile illnesses could easily have accounted for most of the material support from Krishna. are vaccinated, rabies is no longer able to re-enter the commu- unconfirmed “rabies” death toll. At issue between Nath and Krishna was not any sub- nity from the pariah dog population. After infected pariah dogs But before Indian health minister Gulam Nabi Azad’s stantive disagreement about the efficacy of mass dog vaccina- die, without having passed rabies to any others, the rabies April 29, 2012 statement to the Lok Sabha, there was little tion and sterilization, but rather to what extent the drop in the outbreak dies too. sign that the Indian health bureaucracy was taking notice. government estimate of human rabies deaths reflects program Krishna sought unsuccessfully on several occasions success, as opposed to better record-keeping and data analysis. Canine rabies in China to enlist FIAPO members to participate in an unfunded national Indeed, India as a whole is nowhere near achieving A similar dynamic is involved in the persistence of rabies data collection effort. At the June 2011 Asia for Animals the 70% vaccination level that would be needed to eradicate canine rabies in southern and central China, but with the differ- conference in Chengdu, China, Krishna assembled representa- rabies, nor the 70% dog sterilization rate that would be neces- ence that in China the most frequent intermediary vectors tives of the AWBI, ABC India, ANIMAL PEOPLE, and sary to prevent increases in the population of unvaccinated between rabid feral dogs and humans appear to be not street Humane Society International for an informal brainstorming street dogs. However, the examples of Chennai, Visakhapat- dogs, nor unvaccinated pets, but rather some of the estimated session which concluded that available information on clinical- nam, Jaipur, Kalimpong, and other Indian cities where 70% 10 million dogs per year who are raised, transported, and sold ly confirmed rabies cases suggested that the annual human vaccination and sterilization rates have been achieved show that for human consumption. rabies death toll in India could not be more than 2,000 to 3,000. rabies outbreaks can be kept from spreading, even where they The Chinese ministry of health in September 2009 Data from Andhra Pradesh and Goa states, released occur, if they encounter barrier populations of immunized produced the estimate that rabies had killed about 2,400 people after rabies outbreaks in 2011, later projected a range of 2,000 dogs. This does not prevent rabies from jumping beyond a per year in China during the preceding five years. to 3,150 human rabies deaths per year, if all states were afflict- vaccinated barrier population, if infected animals are transport- “Most rabies deaths occurred in the Guangxi Zhuang ed to the same extent. ed. But, since rabid animals seldom wander far beyond their Autonomous Region and the provinces of Guizhou, “I would not necessarily go so far as to say that the accustomed habitat, such jumps are relatively rare––especially Guangdong, Hunan, and Sichuan, accounting for 61% per- number of human rabies cases a year in India is around 2,000,” for dogs, who are much less likely than bats or even raccoons cent of the total, China Daily summarized. Humane Society International president Andrew Rowan said at to stow away in cargoes being hauled from city to city. Contiguous to each other, the Guangxi Zhuang the time, “but I certainly suspect it is well below 20,000.” As Nath argued, to eradicate rabies throughout the Autonomous Region and three of the four named provinces whole of India would require achieving 70% vaccination and together form the part of China which is most involved in the What fewer deaths mean sterilization rates throughout India. But to isolate and eradicate dog meat industry. Southern Sichuan borders on Guizhou and The reduction in the official Indian government esti- individual rabies outbreaks, it is only necessary to achieve 70% is also involved in exporting dogs for slaughter. mate of human rabies deaths from 20,000 to 223 “shows the vaccination in the areas surrounding those outbreaks. China Daily noted that rabies infections “mostly massive contribution made by nonprofit organizations and the Continued Nath, “In Kakinada, dogs were killed by occurred in rural areas among males,” who might be most like- Animal Welfare Board of India,” particularly through the the hundreds by political mafias, and there was no ABC pro- ly to work among unvaccinated “meat dogs,” children under the age of 15, who are most likely to play with dogs, and Chicago-area caretaker is first known mute swan attack death “people over the age of 50,” the age bracket most likely to con- sume dog meat. CHICAGO––Anthony Hens- Chicago Tribune. “The bird continued the Chicago Tribune that he was Dogs raised for meat in China are not vaccinated ley, 37, on April 14, 2012 drowned at to lunge at him aggressively as he strug- unaware of any previous fatal attacks. against rabies because the Chinese Veterinary Medicine the Bay Colony Drive condominium gled to make it to shore before disap- Exempted since 2004 from Administrative Regulations state that vaccinating animals complex in an unincorporated part of pearing under the water, authorities protection by the Migratory Bird Treaty intended for human consumption against rabies is illegal. Cook County, Illinois, near Des said.” An experienced kayaker and Act of 1918, mute swans are classified Transporting dogs who have not been vaccinated against rabies Plaines, west of Chicago. strong swimmer, Hensley was weighed as not native to North America despite from one province to another is also illegal. Employed for about 10 years down when his heavy clothing and boots considerable evidence to the contrary Thus leading Chinese animal advocacy attorneys Lu by Knox Swan & Dog LLC, a Great became waterlogged, his father assembled by Save The Mute Swans Xun, An Xiang, and Cai Chunhang contended at a June 2011 Barrington firm that deploys mute swans Raymond Hensley told CBS Chicago. founder Kathryn Stillwell Burton. press conference in Beijing that most of the Chinese dog meat and dogs to deter nonmigratory Canada State agencies engaged in Burton points in particular toward fossil trade is illegal, even in absence of any law specifically pro- geese, Hensley was rushed by a mute trumpeter swan restoration have for evidence that mute swans have lived in hibiting it. ––Merritt Clifton swan while making a routine check on more than 30 years advocated eradicat- North America for at least 9,500 years, the swans in his care. ing mute swans as an alleged “invasive and toward the appearance of a mute A formal review of the methodology of success- “Witnesses told police that species” that competes with trumpeter swan in a 1585 watercolor by John ful rabies eradication, worldwide, is accessible in “How Hensley, a Villa Park father with two swans for habitat. White, one of the first artists to illus- to eradicate canine rabies: a perspective of historical young daughters, drowned after he was Claims have been made for trate the wildlife of North America. The efforts,” by Merritt Clifton, Asian Biomedicine Vol. 5, No. attacked by a nesting swan, causing his about 25 years that mute swans might painting was mislabeled a trumpeter 4, August 2011; pp. 559-568, downloadable from kayak to topple,” reported Jennifer harm humans, but Field Museum senior swan until Burton pointed out that it
The Watchdog monitors fundraising, spending, and politi- cal activity in the name of animal and habitat protection—both pro The and con. His empty bowl stands for all the bowls left empty when some take more than they need. Royal SPCA of Britain,Watchdog world’s wealthiest humane society, will lay off staff LONDON––Struggling with a rev- caused by flat investment returns leaves the “after donations fell in the recession.” first tenure at the RSPCA for a 1989 ad “which enue decline of about £4 million per year since organisation facing tough choices.” The While “prioritizing” reportedly depicted a mountain of dead dogs,” published 2008, and an operating deficit of £7.3 million RSPCA statement also mentioned “ever-larger brought a 10% reduction in the number of ani- as part of “a campaign to introduce dog in 2011, the Royal SPCA of Britain––the numbers of animals” arriving as “victims of mals handled by the RSPCA, it also appears licences which got him thrown out of Crufts,” wealthiest humane society in the world––is the economic climate,” and “rising fuel costs to have brought a 10% reduction in adoptions, the most prestigious dog show in Britain, following three years of downsizing with a and veterinary bills.” from circa 70,000 in 2007 to 64,086 in 2011. “with the media looking on.” new round of budget cuts and staff reductions. The RSPCA claimed a 31% rise in “We have already saved millions of Grant then spent eight years with the RSPCA financial statements indicate calls about abandoned animals since 2007. pounds through a series of cost-cutting mea- Body Shop cosmetics and personal care prod- that a decline in legacy income is the biggest The previous downsizing centered sures,” RSPCA chief executive Gavin Grant ucts chain, including doing damage control factor in the economic crunch. Donations on an RSPCA policy decision to “prioritize” said, “but we’ve had to eat into our financial after two-time Emmy Award-winning ABC from individuals have increased since 2008, shelter admissions at the 17 RSPCA-operated reserves as the economic slump has been deep- and NBC television news producer Jon Entine albeit in response to greater investment in shelters to “RSPCA-generated” animals, er and longer than feared. Significant job loss- in 1994 exposed misleading Body Shop claims fundraising. arriving as result of rescues and investigations. es in administrative areas are sadly inevitable,” about being “against animal testing.” “The RSPCA has already introduced Pets surrendered by their keepers were to be Grant acknowledged, “but I will protect front- Wrote Entine in the journal Business a series of cost-cutting measures, and budget- directed elsewhere if the RSPCA shelters were line animal welfare services.” Ethics, “In an internal memo dated May 19, ed to spend almost £10 million less in 2011 full. The policy did not apply to the then-169 The RSPCA anticipates “restructur- 1992, the Body Shop’s purchasing manager than in 2009,” an RSPCA media statement RSPCA affiliate shelters, now reduced to 166. ing and a reduction of more than 130 posts, acknowledged that 46.5% of its ingredients acknowledged on March 30, 2011. BBC Channel 4 described the “prior- particularly in administration and support had been tested on animals, up from 34% the “However, the impact of inflation itizing” policy as “part of a £54 million sav- roles, although staff at all levels could be year before.” and a growing staff pension fund deficit ings scheme over three years,” instituted affected,” according to the media statement. Grant left the Body Shop several The RSPCA had 1,482 employees at the close years before founder Anita Roddick sold the People & positions of fiscal 2011, including 460 inspectors, ani- company to the French firm L’Oreal, a long- mal welfare officers, and animal collection time target of PETA boycotts, for $1.14 bil- The Center for Animals & Public Maryland. The first two years of the Fire officers, among a total of about 1,000 staff lion. Before rejoining the RSPCA, Grant was Policy on May 29, 2012 confirmed the Island project cut the deer population by 46%. classified as “frontline.” United Kingdom chair for the public relations appointment of former associate center direc- The Gaithersburg program achieved a reduc- Added RSPCA director of communi- firm Burson-Marsteller, where he founded a tor for education Allen T. Rutberg as perma- tion of about 8% per year over 10 years. cations David Bowles, “International work “corporate responsibility unit.” nent director, and named as assistant director The International Wolf Center, of will continue and will focus mainly on East Notorious for representing the now Emily McCobb, DVM. Rutberg had for Ely, Minnesota, on May 14, 2012 announced Asia and central Europe.” deposed dictatorships that formerly ruled three years been interim director of the center, that former St. Paul Police Foundation exec- The financial crunch is an early test Argentina, Chile, El Salvador, Indonesia, founded in 1983 within the Cummings School utive director Rob Schultz would succeed 25- of Grant’s leadership. Grant, 56, in January and Nigeria, Burson-Marsteller has also repre- of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University. year Wolf Center executive director Mary 2012 succeeded Mark Watts, who retired after sented the State of Alaska in defense of killing A zoologist, Rutberg is best known for over- Ortiz, who has retired. Schultz formerly held 32 years at the RSPCA, concluding with four wolves to make more moose and caribou avail- seeing deer contraceptive research funded by leadership positions at the YMCA camp at St. years at the top. Grant was RSPCA director of able to human hunters; Monsanto in defense the Humane Society of the U.S. at sites Croix and the Humanities Education campaigns and communication from 1988 to of bovine growth hormone; the pregnant including Fire Island, New York, and the Retreat Center near Lake Phelan, and is a 1991. “A staunch supporter of a fox-hunting mares’ urine industry; five of the eight top 578-acre National Institute of Standards & member of the Boy Scouts of America’s ban,” according to a 2005 profile by Richard corporate users of animals in product testing; Technology campus in Gaithersburg, President’s Cabinet. Cann of PR Week, Grant was noted during his and the Fur Information Council of America. The American SPCA grants $151,000 to help a poultry producer expand operations NEW YORK CITY—American SPCA farm animal the livestock industry.” Miller noted that Farm Forward has operation is not an alternative to factory farming, but an exten- welfare campaign director Suzanne McMillan on May 15, 2012 previously promoted a variety of federal and state legislation sion of it. In this instance, chickens and turkeys are being announced a $151,100 grant to the five-year-old nonprofit orga- that HFA regarded as more likely to entrench the status quo in mass-produced in mechanical hatchery incubators, raised nization Farm Forward, to be used “to promote humane poultry animal agriculture than to bring about meaningful change. motherless for human consumption by the thousands, and welfare at the Good Shepherd Poultry Ranch in Lindsborg, Recounted United Poultry Concerns founder Karen slaughtered, i.e., factory farmed. Kansas.” Davis, “On May 1, 2012 [ASPCA farm animal welfare cam- “In addition to cruelty and commodification of ani- The grant is more than twice the $71,333 total income paign director] Suzanne McMillan contacted me to discuss mals being falsely represented as ‘humane,’ ‘compassionate,’ shown on the most recent Farm Forward filing of IRS Form chickens and factory farming. We spoke at length on May 2 ‘anti-factory farming,’ etcetera,” Davis added, “is that these 990, for fiscal year 2010, and is three times the total Farm about chickens, turkeys, and the poultry industry. I recom- relatively smaller farms seek to grow and expand. Regardless Forward expenditure of $50,226. mended that she order the revised edition of my book Prisoned of what size they are, they do not reduce the amount of The Good Shepherd Poultry Ranch, said the ASPCA Chickens, Poisoned Eggs for detailed information, which she resources needed to raise and slaughter animals. media release, “is run by farmer Frank Reese,” who “raises did. Suzanne never mentioned that she and the ASPCA had “It is unethical for an ‘animal welfare’ organization,” pasture-based, vegetarian-fed heritage breed chickens and already arranged to help finance a poultry operation and pro- Davis concluded, “to suggest to the public that millions and turkeys free of unnecessary antibiotics in spacious, welfare- mote chicken and turkey consumption. She represented herself billions of people can continue to eat the same number of ani- friendly conditions.” as looking around for ideas to ‘help’ chickens and turkeys. mals, as long as these animals are raised ‘humanely’ on non- The ASPCA release did not mention that Reese is a Paragraph two of the ASPCA press release basically paraphras- factory farms. Humans will never set aside hundreds of mil- member of the Farm Forward board of directors. Other Farm es me, UPC, and Prisoned Chickens, Poisoned Eggs,” Davis lions or billions of acres of land to accommodate billions of Forward directors include Whole Foods Market board chair and charged. Davis called the Farm Forward grant something that animals living ‘free range,’ yet this is the false prospect being co-chief executive officer John Mackey, academics Ian “I and UPC would never support.” offered to a public that wants to believe that incompatible Duncan and Bernard Rollin, Eating Animals author Jonathan Opined Davis, “A commercial animal production desires and realities can be reconciled.” Safran Foer, Farm Sanctuary senior director for strategic initia- tives Bruce Friedrich, and rabbi Jonathan Crane. SCAD/Soi Dog Foundation merger falls through The Farm Forward board chair, Steven J. Gross, is father of University of San Diego theology professor Aaron BANGKOK–– –Soi Cat & care. We are making very good er is currently running mobile clinics Gross, who founded Farm Forward in 2007 and is chief execu- Dog Rescue, of Bangkok, and the Soi progress,” Booysen concluded. with private vets and Thai volunteers,” tive officer. For approximately 10 years, 1998-2007, Dog Foundation, of Phuket, will not Soi Dog Foundation director Dalley said. “Our aim is to have SDF Friedrich and Steven J. Gross represented PETA in a variety of merge after all, SCAD advisory commit- John Dalley told ANIMAL PEOPLE Bangkok as a very much Thai-managed- farm animal advocacy campaigns. tee chair Annelize Booysen announced that he and Booysen had drafted a mutu- and-run operation. We are currently Projecting “An immediate impact on at least 17,000 on May 19, 2012. The two leading ally accepted memorandum of under- advertising for two additional vets to be birds,” ASPCA spokesperson Bret Hopman called Good expatriate-founded humane societies in standing to govern the proposed merger, trained on Phuket and then transferred to Shepherd “currently the market leader in the sale of chicken Thailand had jointly announced a merger but the SCAD board scuttled it by trying Bangkok. This will make six vets in and turkey products that come from birds raised entirely outside on February 28, 2012. to retain control of funding and the donor total employed by the Soi Dog of the factory farm industry.” Contended Hopman, “Despite the announcement,” list, and by seeking to have the Soi Dog Foundation,” which “will focus entirely “Currently, the lack of heritage breed birds is a significant bar- Booysen said, “we have not been able to Foundation purchase used veterinary on sterilization and treatment,” Dalley rier to the development of high-welfare poultry rearing.” successfully conclude our merger. The equipment from SCAD which Dalley pledged. “No shelter will be built.” Hopman offered no theory to explain why high-welfare condi- Soi Dog Foundation will proceed with considered not worth buying. Dalley was optimistic that a tions might not be extended to any poultry. their expansion plans in Bangkok with- Instead, Dalley said, Soi Dog Prevent Unwanted Puppies program on “Presently,” Hopman continued, “Reese can pro- out SCAD and we wish them all the best. Foundation will take over the location Phuket, partially funded by the British duce 72,000 chicken eggs and 30,000 turkey eggs per season. This development has forced us to take a and equipment of Treat with charity Dogs Trust, will accomplish With the new barn converted to a hatchery, he will be able to very long and hard look at SCAD,” Responsibility and Empathy all Animals 20,000 sterilizations on Phuket over the increase this amount to 600,000 chicken eggs and 100,000 Booysen continued, describing SCAD as in Thailand, opened in 2011 by Soi Dog next two years. “This will, I believe, turkey eggs per season.” “an overstretched team with over- Foundation founder Margot Park, who see Phuket under control and enable us to Responded Humane Farming Association founder stretched finances.” left SDF in 2005. focus more on Bangkok where the prob- Brad Miller, “It is simply delusional to think that getting With no other prospect of a “Our Bangkok general manag- lem is massive,” Dalley said. humane organizations into the business of promoting meat from bailout in sight, “We had to make the heritage breed chickens will result in even the slightest reduc- extremely difficult but inevitable deci- tion of animal suffering. The ASPCA decision to fund the sion that the time has come for SCAD to The 2011 ANIMAL PEOPLE commercial production of chickens for meat raises a number of close,” Booysen said. “We will be Watchdog Report on 174 Animal Charities troubling issues,” Miller continued. “Beyond the obvious ethi- winding down our operations over the is still available: $25/copy, from cal issues from the animals’ standpoint, there is also the matter next two months. We plan to vacate our of using charitable dollars to further the commercial interests of center at Sukhumvit at the end of June, www.animalpeoplenews.org a privately owned, profit-driven poultry company. This is just and then wrap up at Bang Bo towards the or ANIMAL PEOPLE, POB 960, Clinton, WA 98236 the latest,” Miller charged, “in a growing trend on the part of end of July. Our first priority is to find or call 360-579-2505 to order by MasterCard or VISA . several major animal organizations to, in effect, merge with suitable homes for all the animals in our ANIMAL PEOPLE, June 2012 - 15 Animals’ Angels of Germany finds EU livestock haulers come up short FRANKFURT––“Despite increased cient, animals are unable to stand in a com- member states,” asserting that “...the ceiling Many of the vehicles that Animals’ enforcement efforts, livestock transporters and fortable and natural position for many hours height when transporting cattle…should be at Angels inspected were on hauls of unknown organizers still do not comply with the very and up to entire days. This means additional least 20 centimeters above the withers height duration. One had already been driving for 35 basic requirements of European Union legisla- stress during transport that rapidly leads to of the tallest animal,” as recommended in a hours, and another for 15 hours. tion on the protection of animals during trans- exhaustion. Lack of headroom causes injuries document entitled Scientific Opinion port,” charged the German charity Animals’ such as bruises and abrasions, and when the Concerning the Welfare of Animals during Border crossings Angels in a May 2012 document entitled internal height is insufficient the natural venti- Transport, adopted by the European Food In November 2011, five months Report on insufficient internal heights in long lation inside the animals’ compartments is hin- Safety Authority on December 2, 2010. after Animals’ Angels inspectors Silvia distance transports of cattle from Estonia, dered, which leads to respiratory disorders.” Animals’ Angels checked compli- Meriggi and Julia Havenstein followed a ran- Hungary and Slovakia to Turkey, observed ance with the EU Commission recommenda- domly selected truckload of newly impregnat- between 16th and 19th April, 2012. Inspecific regs tions by doing “random checks at the border ed heifers from Austria through Hungary, Animals’ Angels of Germany is no Continued Animals’ Angels, “The between Bulgaria and Turkey, at the Kapitan Romania, and Bulgaria to Turkey, Animals’ longer associated with the U.S. charity of the relevant EU legislation does not contain pre- Andreovo/Kapikule crossing, from the Angels called upon the European Parliament same name, based in Maryland, though the cise figures regarding the internal heights evening of April 16 until the early afternoon of and the European Council to “limit the trans- Maryland charity began as an affiliate. inside the animals’ compartments, but stipu- April 19, 2012,” the report states. “During port time for commercial transports of live ani- “Rules that aim to meet no more lates that sufficient internal height shall be pro- this period of almost three days, Animals’ mals to an absolute maximum of eight hours.” than the very minimum needs of the animals vided,” appropriate to the animals’ size and Angels checked eight transports in which the The truck driver knew Meriggi and during transport are regularly disregarded,” the length of the intended journey. The regu- internal height for the transported cattle was Havenstein were following him, and volun- Animals’ Angels of Germany continued, con- lation also “requires that sufficient space shall insufficient. The countries of departure of teered considerable information to them at var- cluding that “authorities in the European be provided inside the animals’ compartment these transports were Estonia, Hungary (five ious stops, but knowing he was under obser- Union member states do not have the means and at each level to ensure that there is ade- transports) and Slovakia (two transports). The vation made little difference in the quality of for enforcement able to guarantee compliance quate ventilation above the animals when they transporters involved were from Bulgaria, care that the heifers received in transit. with the animal protection rules.” are in a natural standing position.” Croatia, Hungary, Lithuania and Slovakia.” Wrote Meriggi and Havenstein, Founded in 1989, Animals’ Angels Scarce head room typically occurs, The animals had already been hauled “When we first observed the heifers, they had of Germany has focused on livestock transport, Animals’ Angels explained, because “animal for up to 35 hours before encountering the already been for at least 25 hours aboard the especially within the European Union, pro- transports are usually conducted as economi- Animals’ Angels inspectors. An EU veteri- truck, after having been reloaded following a ducing many previous critical reports, but cally as possible. Therefore, animals are narian responded to the lack of head room in rest at a private stable at Bujoreni in Report on insufficient internal heights in long loaded onto multi-deck vehicles to carry the only one of the eight cases. In that instance, Romania,” which was not actually an EU- distance transports of cattle is the first to focus highest number of animals possible.” Animals’ Angels reported, “The veterinarian approved livestock lairage, as resting facilities on this single aspect. Because the EU legislation did not at the border inspection post Kapitan are called in the transport regulations. “Insufficient internal height during stipulate how much head room each livestock Andreovo sent the truck back to the nearest Still five days from their destination, transport is a frequent major factor causing species might require, Animals’ Angels said, control post to rest and feed the animals ade- “The majority of the heifers were standing severe animal suffering,” the report opened, “in 2011 the EU Commission sent a clarifying quately and to transfer them onto two vehicles with their heads hanging down,” Meriggi and explaining that “When head room is insuffi- letter to the chief veterinary officers of the when they continued the journey.” (continued on page 16) Top non-breed-specific insurer pays record sum to settle dog bite claims in 2011 LOS ANGELES––State Farm Insurance, believed include Allstate, Liberty Mutual, Nationwide, Pemco, and senting the defendants. to be the largest U.S. home insurer that does not enforce breed- Safeco. Some will insure dogs of breeds in high actuarily risk Only three years ago the award to Bentley would specific restrictions on what dogs it will cover, in 2011 paid categories, but only under specific conditions. have been a record in a nonfatal dog attack in which an award 9% more dog bite claims than in 2010, and paid out 21% more “Owners of pit bulls, including Staffordshire terri- or settlement payout was reported, but Rottweiler attack plain- money to settle the claims, spokesperson Eddie Martinez told ers, Dobermans, Rottweilers, chows, Presa Canarios, Akitas, tiffs Evelyn and Larry Shickram in March 2010 accepted a $1.6 media on May 16, 2012. huskies and wolf hybrids cannot get homeowners, condo and million settlement offer from Boss Pet Products, after earlier State Farm in 2011 paid out $109 million to settle renters policies through Castle Key, the subsidiary of Allstate accepting $300,000 from the dog’s keeper, Pamela Leader. 3,800 dog bite claims nationwide, up from $90 million paid out that writes such policies in Florida,” Palm Beach Post staff This was reportedly the limit of Leader’s homeowners’ insur- in 2010 to settle about 3,500 dog bite claims, Martinez dis- writer Laura Green learned in 2010. “United Property & ance. The Shickrams sued Boss Pet Products, the distributor of closed. The Insurance Information Institute estimated that all Casualty Insurance excludes the same dogs as Castle Key, plus a tether which had failed to hold the Rottweiler; the seller U.S. home insurers combined paid out nearly $479 million to German shepherds, American Eskimos, or any mixed breed PetSmart; and the maker, Shanghai Kington Trading Co. settle dog bite claims in 2011, spokesperson Loretta Worters that is half or more of any of the banned breeds. State Farm,” Evelyn Schickram suffered permanent injuries to both told Sue Manning of Associated Press––a 16% increase from however, “ignores breed and focuses on a survey that dog own- arms, including chronic pain and loss of ability to lift heavy $413 million in 2010. ers must fill out before they are approved. The form asks objects, but was not facially disfigured. The highest previous “California, home to more dogs and people than any whether their dog has a history of bites, and if so what mea- known dog bite liability awards involved facial disfigurement. other state, led the way in 2011,” Manning wrote. State Farm sures the owner has taken, such as obedience classes or a The total award in the Schickram case was exceeded settled 527 dog attack claims from California in 2011. fence, to prevent the animal from attacking again.” in August 2011 when a jury in Pierce County, Washington, Calfiornia victims received $20.3 million, for an average pay- The 2011 State Farm update on dog bite payouts pre- awarded $2.2 million to pit bull terrier attack victim Sue out of $38,520––an increase of 31% from 2010. ceded by 10 days a $643,257 jury award to pit bull attack vic- Gorman, 63, of Gig Harbor. Holding pit bull keepers Shellie Wrote Manning, “State Farm is still working to tim Vicki Bentley, 55, of Santa Rosa County, Florida. Wilson and her son Zachary Martin to be 52% responsible for determine reasons for the spike, Martinez said.” On March 14, 2008,” recounted Lindsay Reubens of Gorman’s injuries and losses, the jury also directed Pierce State Farm 2010 data showed that the average payout the Pensacola News Journal, “Bentley was visiting a sister-in- County to pay damages of $924,000 for alleged negligence in for 369 claims in California and for 217 claims in Illinois was law who lived with an unrelated family in Milton. The only responding to 14 previous complaints about the two pit bulls. virtually identical, at $30,623 and $30,599, respectively, but way to enter the house was to go through the gate in the fence Late on the night of August 21, 2007 the two pit bulls burst in Ohio, where state law until May 22, 2012 defined pit bulls surrounding the front yard. Bentley knew there were dachs- through an open sliding glass door to maul Gorman’s service as “inherently vicious” and required pit bull keepers to take hunds at the house, but she wasn’t aware that a pit bull was a dog and kill a Jack Russell terrier whom Gorman was keeping special precautions to contain them, the average payout was new addition,” her attorney Timothy O’Brien said. for a friend. Gorman was injured when she tried to intervene. $26,511––14% lower. Continued Reubens, “The crux of the court case The highest known previous award for a nonfatal dog The Ohio law was repealed in February 2012, with a came down to whether there was a sign that warned people attack in Washington state was $157,000, to a man who was 90-day phase-in period, after a multi-year campaign by the about the dog when the attack happened, O’Brien said. The mauled by a Rottweiler while walking his poodle near their Toledo Blade and the Best Friends Animal Society. dog’s owner, Gregory Zane Gray, 30, and homeowner George home on the Kitsap Peninsula. Overall, the Insurance Information Institute reported Wetherbee Jr. said the sign had always been visible. But the The highest known jury award in a fatal dog attack in October 2011, dog attack payouts have trended upward for neighbor who helped Bentley escape from the dog said Gray case was $7 million against against Rick and Christi George of at least a decade. posted the sign after the dog attacked.” Leveritt’s Chapel in Rusk County, Texas, for allowing their Insurance companies with breed-specific restrictions The pit bull keepers later had the pit bull killed for two pit bulls to escape and kill skateboarder Justin Clinton, 10, injuring one of the dachshunds, on June 15, 2009. However, plaintiff’s attorney Cynthia Sierra Club vs. trapping (from page 1) O’Brien told Reubens. Stevens Kent wrote in a November 11, 2010 open letter to “We’re looking into our post-trial Texas legislators, “The owners had no home owner’s insurance including Representatives John Campbell Club in recent years has had an annual appeal options,” said Jacksonville and our client will likely never see a dime, even toward of California and Peter DeFazio of operating budget of $80 to $85 million. attorney Kristen Van der Linde, repre- Justin’s funeral expenses.” ––Merritt Clifton Oregon are calling for a federal investiga- The Sierra Club adopted the tion into the machinations of this federal new trapping policy about six months agency that kills more than five million after former board chair Carl Pope on animals each year, of whom about 85,000 November 11, 2011 retired to a role as are coyotes.” senior strategic advisor. A Sierra Club The new Sierra Club policy is employee for nearly 40 years, Pope as consistent with the views of Sierra Club executive director from 1992 to 2010 founder John Muir, who detested trap- courted alliances with hunters and trap- ping, and called sport hunting “the mur- pers. Pope was succeeded as executive der business,” but swallowed his opin- director in January 2010 by Michael ions in 1892 to court the political support Brune, who had headed the Rainforest of avid hunter Theodore Roosevelt. As Action Network since 2003. U.S. president 1901-1908, Roosevelt The May 2012 Sierra Club rewarded Muir by designating 150 national board meeting elected Allison National Forests, five National Parks, Chin of Virginia to head the board. and 18 National Monuments, together Formerly Sierra Club treasurer, Chin ear- protecting 230 million acres of wildlife lier was board president, 2008-2010. The habitat. Sierra Club relected board vice president The Sierra Club grew into the David Scott of Ohio, and secretary Lane largest nonprofit organization in the ani- Boldman of Kentucky. Treasurer Donna mals-and-habitat sector that still has a Buell of Iowa and fifth officer Jessica member-elected board. With 1.3 million Helm of New York complete the new members and a staff of 530, the Sierra Sierra Club executive committee. There is no better way to remember animals or animal people than with an ANIMAL PEOPLE memorial. Send donations (any amount), with address for acknowledgement, if desired, to P.O. Box 960, Clinton, WA 98236. 16 - ANIMAL PEOPLE, June 2012 EU livestock haulers come up short (from page 15) Fire kills 500,000 hens ROGGEN, Colorado––An April Havenstein observed. “Many had transparent statement, his employer did not agree to spend the situation has obviously not improved,” 30, 2012 fire at the Boulder Valley Poultry nasal discharge. They seemed to be exhausted. money for new bedding material.” Animals’ Angels remarked. egg farm razed three of the 10 barns at the Their coats were shaggy and dull, and due to Later, “With the help of a Turkish facility, killing nearly half a million of the the mud on the floor of the animals’ compart- interpreter, Animals’ Angels arranged for Road accidents one million resident hens. Fire crews from ments their bodies were covered with their someone to deliver food for the animals. University of Zaragoza Department Wiggins, Hudson, and Fort Lupton fought own excrement.” However, the driver rejected the offer, again of Animal Production and Food Science the blaze, which attracted a large crowd, The heifers’ plight worsened when claiming that his boss would not pay for the researchers Genaro Miranda de la Lama and including an unidentified lone demonstrator “The animal transport was detained for two food for the animals.” Gustavo Maria in a 2010 edition of Journal of who stood with a sign reading “Save the entire days, plus seven hours and 30 minutes, Applied Animal Welfare Science published Chickens,” reported Sharon Dunn of the at Ankara customs,” where border agents “Matter of urgency” findings that road accidents are a surprisingly Greeley Tribune. refused to process the animals during a week- “Already in 1996,” Animals’ Angels frequent cause of animal suffering in transport. end. “The animals were not unloaded and did reported, “the Parliamentary Assembly of the De la Lama and Maria identified 86 Australia, hurling some of the dead and not receive sufficient food and water,” Council of Europe expressed that it was ‘par- livestock trucking accidents occurring in Spain injured sheep from an overpass. At least four Meriggi and Havenstein saw. “The heifers lost ticularly worried about many reports on the ill between 2000 to 2009, five of them fatal to cars were wrecked when they hit sheep, or a lot of weight,” especially after the delay at treatment of animals during international trans- the drivers. Twenty of the accidents killed at when flying sheep hit them. Ankara caused the driver to run out of hay port and on suffering caused to animals due to least one person; 41 died in all. Fifty-seven with two days of driving left. “Their ribs unnecessary waiting times at border crossings.’ percent of the accidents involved pigs, who Canada became prominent and they had sunken flanks “The Assembly recommended had a 22% mortality rate. Seventy percent of Data collected by the Canadian Food when arriving at their destination,” Meriggi improvement ‘as a matter of urgency’ in the the accidents involving pigs left surviving ani- Inspection Agency, reviewed in 2010 by the and Havenstein continued. “We observed the conditions for the international transport of mals wandering in the road, De la Lama and World Society for the Protection of Animals, heifers searching for blades of hay in the pool livestock, in particular by reducing travel and Maria reported. Thirty percent of the accidents documented similar problems to those of excrement in which they stood.” waiting times, improving transport facilities involved cattle, whose mortality rate was observed in Europe. The CFIA found that The truck had an automatic watering and trucks, [providing for more reliable] 12%. Chickens were involved in 8% of the from two million to three million animals per system for the heifers. The driver often watering and feeding, and by training the per- accidents; 5% involved sheep. De la Lama year die in Canada during transport, while refilled it, but the heifers also became dehy- sonnel involved. The Assembly also suggest- and Maria found that the main cause of live- another 11 million reach their destination dis- drated, Meriggi and Havenstein said. ed as policy “to avoid, in general, any unnec- stock transportation accidents appeared to be eased or injured. The current Canadian live- “Even though at Bujoreni there was essary transport of live animals by, for exam- driver fatigue, resulting from long working stock transport regulations are now more than the possibility to clean the truck and to provide ple, slaughtering animals close to their breed- days, poorly planned routes, and high stress. 30 years old. In June 2011 the CFIA increased it with new bedding material, the driver did ing places.’ Even though improving the condi- Several of these factors may have to $10,000 the top fine for violations of the not take this opportunity,” Meriggi and tions for the international transport of animals been involved when a truck hauling 400 sheep Canadian Health of Animals Act. Previously Havenstein reported. “According to his own was considered ‘a matter of urgency’ in 1996, overturned on June 1, 2012 in Melbourne, the fine was $4,000. Carbofuran & Wildlife Poisoning: Global Perspectives and Forensic Approaches Edited by Ngaio Richards • John Wiley & Sons (111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030), 2011. 304 pages,hardcover. $49.95. Thirty-nine experts in various related Apparently Corky had eaten a bird or mouse commonly use carbofuran to kill birds for the market in many other disciplines contribute chapters to Carbofuran who had recently ingested the seed corn and human consumption. In Scotland, managers nations, it remains in com- & Wildlife Poisoning: Global Perspectives had perhaps been poisoned, enabling Corky to of captive bird-shooting estates lace carcasses mon use, often bootlegged and Forensic Approaches. The contributors make a quick kill. with carbofuran to kill hawks, owls, and from the nations than do might outnumber the readers who will ever Ironically, carbamate-coated seed eagles who might prey upon grouse and pheas- not restrict it. peruse this first book-length examination of corn was introduced because researchers had ant ahead of paying clients. Attempted prosecutions of carbofu- carbofuran and wildlife mortality from cover discovered that the combination of coating The most insidious effect of carbofu- ran users and sellers, Carbofuran & Wildlife to cover. corn kernels with pesticides and seed-drilling ran, however, may be corrosion of wildlife Poisoning documents, are often thwarted Published nearly 50 years after was much less environmentally dangerous than law enforcement. Making, selling, and using when laboratories claim that carcasses of ani- Rachel Carson in Silent Spring sparked endur- conventional ploughing, planting, and spray- carbofuran is big business. Restricting and mals submitted for testing are “too decom- ing concern about the effects of pesticides on ing to get a corn crop started. eventually prohibiting carbofuran use in the posed” to detect residues which can actually be wildlife, Carbofuran & Wildlife Poisoning Using coated seed corn prevented U.S. took 18 years, including a final push led found among skeletons. The real issue, sug- might also be read as an exposé, but almost soil erosion, increased crop yield without hav- by the American Bird Conservancy, the gest several Carbofuran & Wildlife Poisoning everyone who encounters it will already be ing to increase the land under the plough, Wallace Genetic Foundation, the Turner contributors, is simply that scientists prefer to aware that carbofuran kills wildlife in many avoided poisoning birds and deer who foraged Foundation, and the New York Community avoid becoming caught up in protracted court different ways––and probably kills more birds in corn fields planted by scatter-seeding, and Trust. proceedings, for which they usually will not and mammals than any other pesticide still in resulted in much less toxic runoff. Though carbofuran is officially off be paid. ––Merritt Clifton use. The primary purpose of Carbofuran & Compared to the generation of pesti- Wildlife Poisoning is simply to pull together cides that Rachel Carson addressed, including Death at SeaWorld by David Kirby within one set of covers all of the information earlier organophasphate chemicals, carba- St. Martin’s Press (c/o MacMillan (175 Fifth Ave., New York, that people encountering possible effects of mates in general and carbofuran in specific are carbofuran may need to know, whether to meek and mild––but in part because they are NY 10010), 2012. 480 pages, hard cover. $26.99. diagnose the problem or to organize a litigative more safely handled, they tend to be used Marine mammal trainer Dawn Orcas, Rose points or political response. more often, to do more jobs, in greater cumu- Brancheau, age 40, was on February 24, out, do not live alone in Carbofuran, also commonly called lative volume. 2010 killed at SeaWorld in Orlando, Florida, nature. They share family by the trade name Furadan, is a carbamate Recent misuses have included cases toward the end of a lunchtime show with bonds. Captivity disrupts their behavior in pesticide which from 1965 to 2010 was global- of indigenous herders poisoning hyenas in Tilikum, known to most of the world these practically every manner. Contrary to marine ly among the most widely used of all agricul- Uganda and lions in both Uganda and Kenya. days as an orca, but still called a “killer mammal exhibition industry claims, orca life- tural chemicals. Carbofuran use is now A Romanian animal control agency used car- whale” by SeaWorld. pans are significantly shortened in captivity. restricted or prohibited in many jurisdictions, bofuran to kill dogs. A Missouri man used Tilikum “had Dawn Brancheau in Rose concluded in a scientific paper, Small but continues unrestrained in others. carbofuran to kill eagles for their feathers. But his mouth,” writes Death at Seaworld author Whale Species: The Case Against Captivity, I became aware of carbofuran, then incidental collateral harm to wildlife, especial- David Kirby. “The orca would not release his that orcas are “more than 2.5 times as likely to considered to be among the safest of the carba- ly birds, is believed to be far more damaging trophy. Ten minutes later, workers pried the die in captivity as in the wild.” mate pesticide family, after my cat Corky than deliberate misuse. trainer’s lifeless body from the whale’s mouth. Tilikum first seized Brancheau by threw up a pink-coated seed corn kernel on Chapters of Carbofuran & Wildlife How could this happen despite corporate train- her ponytail as she lay on a submerged ledge Labor Day 1986. Corky had suffered partial Poisoning cover environmental health and reg- ing and safety measures?” facing him during a show. Tilikum pulled her paralysis that morning. She died 10 weeks ulatory issues in North and South America, A decade of controversy over keep- into the water, grabbed her waist in his later from the effects of dozens of extremely the United Kingdom, Ireland, Spain, Ireland, ing orcas in captivity, sparked by the 1993 hit mouth, and killed her much as he and two fast-growing gastrointestinal tumors. and Africa, especially Kenya, where poachers film Free Willy!, had subsided after Keiko, other orcas had killed trainer Keltie Byrne, the whale star, left human care in September 20, during a 1991 water show at the SeaLand Cats Behaving Badly by Celia Haddon 2002 and died 15 months later. “Dawn oceanarium in Victoria, British Columbia. Thomas Dunne Books (175 Fifth Ave., New York, NY 10010), Brancheau’s death changed everything,” Tilikum was sold to SeaWorld when SeaLand 2012. 239 pages, hardcover. $23.99. Kirby says. Media descended on Seaworld, folded in November 1992. seeking answers and reviving the questions “Tilikum was also involved in a Originally published in Britain in On many pages there are raised by the Free Willy! episode. Seeking to 1999 death,” reported Associated Press writer 2010, Cats Behaving Badly, by longtime small sections called “Cat satisfy an anxious public and to protect the Mike Schneider, “when the body of a man Daily Telegraph pets columnist Celia Haddon, tip,” including advice such image of an enterprise sold in 2009 for $2.7 who sneaked by Orlando SeaWorld security nails cat behavior better than any other book I as what to do if you find an billion, SeaWorld revamped training proce- was found draped over him. The man jumped, have reviewed for ANIMAL PEOPLE. injured cat on the road. dures for all employees. fell or was pulled into the frigid water and “A surprisingly high number of peo- No one really knows why cats like SeaWorld also announced “spending died of hypothermia, though he was also ple do not choose cats; cats choose them,” sitting in the sink, but Haddon provides the tens of millions of dollars on new safety bruised and scratched by Tilikum.” Haddon observes. Although six times more address of a web site devoted to that behavior, equipment, including rising pool floors that Repeatedly dunked and bodily shak- people adopt cats from shelters and/or rescues
“I always like it when the situation calls for a bit of Oliver told me. “I just think they should have included some- Maynard with leading him drama, of pizzazz––when I have to assume some kind of per- thing in it to recognize people like me.” from fashion photography sona, put on a bit of theatre,” writes Urban Safari Rescue But from the perspective of the major British into furnishing animals for founder Gary Oliver in possibly the most personally revealing Columbia humane organizations, people like Oliver are why screen use. Clearly Oliver passage of Cinemazoo: my urban safari. “Which is interest- the law exists. “Cinemazoo profits from renting captive ani- had relationships with indi- ing,” Oliver continues, “because when you meet me, I’m not mals out for advertising, television programs, and corporate vidual animals which were at at all theatrical. I wear a big black cowboy hat, but that’s entertainment. This is exploitation, not conservation,” wrote least as enduring as his many because I’m bald and I like cowboy hats.” Vancouver Humane Society spokesperson Peter Fricker to transient relationships with Oliver was wearing the cowboy hat, indoors, when I Surrey Now in September 2010. women, but Cinemazoo recently visited the former Rainforest Reptile Refuge in Surrey, The autobiographical book Cinemazoo: my urban does not display much deep British Columbia to see what had become of the defunct refuge safari originated as part of the publicity for a proposed televi- thought, concern, or even awareness about animal suffering and the many charismatic animals whom founders Clarence and sion series featuring Oliver and his animals that never was or the sentience of animals in general. Oliver mentions animal Christine Schramm housed in a dilapidated ex-grocery store. made. Instead, some of the material was incorporated into a rights activism only once, in passing, and mentions humane Among their collection of abandoned and surrendered web TV series called Saving Cinemazoo, about Oliver’s failed work only in recounting that the BC/SPCA investigated a film former exotic pets were several caimans who responded like effort to keep all of his animals. set he was working on when someone complained that the dogs to Christine’s voice commands, and one iguana with part Summarizes the back cover, “Many of the animals chimpanzees (not his, but under his supervision) were being of his jaw missing, who knew that his name was “Joe Clark,” you’ve seen in movies have been supplied by Gary Oliver. The walked barefoot on pavement. after the notoriously weak-chinned onetime Canadian prime animals come from Cinemazoo…On set, Gary is their wrangler So, in operating Urban Safari Rescue, is Oliver minister. Among a multitude of iguanas clustered beneath heat ––he makes them do what they’re supposed to do. But, he is another of the many exhibitors who have learned to run travel- lamps in a huge glass-fronted habitat, “Joe Clark” alone would also their protector. Virtually all of his animals have been res- ing animal shows and roadside zoos under the cover of helping rouse himself when Christine called his name. cued, and he has taken on a mission to help others, especially animals? Or has Oliver come late in life to an awakening simi- The Schramms split in 2000. Three years later, after young people, learn about responsible ownership and species lar to those that impelled former screen animal wranglers Pat 17 years of struggle, Christine Schramm left, turning the preservation.” The term “ownership” alone will jar the sensi- Derby and Ric O’Barry to change directions decades earlier? Rainforest Reptile Refuge over to volunteers, who struggled on bilities of many animal advocates. Neither is “species preserva- Unlike Derby, who founded the Performing Animal into 2007. In December 2008 the Revenue Canada Charities tion” always consonant with the humane mission of preventing Welfare Society in 1984, and O’Barry, who began campaign- Directorate revoked the Rainforest Reptile Refuge’s charitable cruelty. Also of note is that Cinemazoo, the business, origi- ing for dolphin liberation in 1970, Oliver is still wrangling ani- status due to failure to file a Charity Information Return. nated in 1988––nearly 20 years before Oliver incorporated mals. Fricker of the Vancouver Humane Society in March As many as 100 animals remained on site under vol- Urban Safari Animal Rescue, the parallel nonprofit whose 2012 appealed for a boycott of the Vancouver Pet Expo because unteer care. The building––just a mile north of the U.S. border work Cinemazoo funds. he claimed that appearances by Oliver and another reptile ––was reputedly used to grow marijuana. The address does not Earlier, as the book Cinemazoo recounts, Oliver exhibitor would encourage more people to acquire reptiles as appear on a Royal Canadian Mounted Police list of dope-grow- founded and operated one of Vancouver’s first doggy day-care pets. “During our educational programs, we tell kids these are ing sites raided in recent years, but several other addresses in centers to keep the Cinemazoo animal entertainment business not good pets,” countered Oliver to Frank Luba of the the neighborhood are listed, one of which was rigged with going. Oliver sold the doggy-day care business to his first Vancouver Province. explosive booby-traps. There was also a drug-related fatal employee after Cinemazoo became more successful, amid con- I visited Urban Safari Rescue, unannounced, soon shooting at a nearby intersection. cern about liability if any of the dogs in care attacked anyone. after that exchange––of which I was at the time unaware. I Gary Oliver relocated his Cinemazoo animal enter- Cinemazoo documents that Oliver has long had an asked about the caimans and the iguana Joe Clark. Oliver tainment business and Urban Safari Rescue operations to the intense interest in animals, beginning at age six, when he start- answered in a politely guarded manner. Then he recognized the building in August 2010. He inherited some of the former ed an insect collection that eventually included more than name ANIMAL PEOPLE. “You send it to us,” he said, “and Rainforest Reptile Refuge animals, but told me that neither 10,000 specimens from around the world. Oliver donated we read it.” Two recent editions were in a rack near his desk. caimans, nor iguanas, nor any other animals of significant some to the Royal Ontario Museum and gave others to friends, During the next half hour or thereabouts Oliver gave street value were among them. while trying to save a failed early marriage and avoid his even- me the grand tour of thepremises––now much more dilapidated Oliver did, however, arrive with two alligators and tual permanent loss of custody of two daughters. than in the Rainforest Reptile Refuge days, but almost a decade four caimans. The caimans died when the building furnace As a teen, Oliver and a daredevil friend slipped into of non-maintenance before Oliver’s arrival accounts for that. failed during an October 2010 cold snap. The British Columbia the Swift Premium Packing House feedlot near their homes in Oliver outlined dreams of bigger and better facilities. SPCA investigated Oliver for cruelty, partly because of the the Toronto suburbs to ride the penned steers. “Part of me felt He explained how becoming interested in animals, in part caiman deaths, partly because he kept the alligators’ mouths bad about tormenting these poor animals who were about to get through traveling exhibitors, encouraged him to study animals, taped shut for about a week after moving them, while working slaughtered,” Oliver recalls. “Then again, maybe it was the art, and science, instead of becoming involved in drugs, like to finish their enclosure. “I taped their mouths so I wouldn’t last bit of fun they had,” as they repeatedly threw him off and many others he knew in the Vancouver counterculture. He get my ass chomped,” Oliver told Ted Colley of Surrey Now. once threw him over a couple of fences. showed me a rather horrifying shelf of now contraband wildlife “Gators stop eating when they’re moved. It’s a thing with all Later Oliver and women he was involved with raised items collected from antique shops, used in his presentations. crocodilians. I’ve seen some go seven months without eating.” horses in Ontario and British Columbia. For a time Oliver was Separating the sincere and spontaneous from the Oliver was not prosecuted. He did, however, agree part of the Ontario Governor General’s Horse Guards, partici- well-rehearsed patter was no easy task. About all I could say to surrender about 25 animals, including snakes, geckos, and pating in the opening of Parliament and a ceremonial visit by for sure is that Oliver believes in what he is doing. Despite red-eared slider turtles, to the BC/SPCA. By order of the the Queen Mother. She spooked Oliver’s horse by kicking her occasionally wrangling animals for big cinematic hits, such as British Columbia Environment Ministry, enforcing a law landau’s door open, then complimented Oliver on his horse- the film Snakes On A Plane, Oliver has not made much money, against possession of dangerous exotic species which took manship when he kept his mount and calmed the horse. and has put most of what he has made into maintaining his ani- effect on April 1, 2010, Oliver sent the alligators and about 20 Ensuing ups and downs included making and losing a mals––not cute and cuddly species who readily attract dona- venomous snakes to a reptile museum near Drumheller, million dollars in the aluminum picture frame business, six tions, but animals who nonetheless need homes and feeding. Alberta. Oliver and other exotic animal keepers had for three months of homelessness, and then relative success brokering The Rainforest Reptile Refuge failed, Oliver believes, because years unsuccessfully fought, in opposition to the BC/SPCA and rentals of art studio space, selling art supplies, and doing fash- the founders refused to exhibit. To be exhibited, in what the Vancouver Humane Society, to have the law amended to ion photography, in a fur-trimmed leather jacket ––another jolt Oliver says he intends to be a respectful and considerate man- “grandfather” their right to keep the animals they already had. to animal advocates’ sensibilities. ner, is the price of survival for the cast-off reptiles, tarantulas, “In principle, I agree with the intent of the law,” Oliver credits an exceptionally gregarious cat named and other non-cute-and-cuddlies in his care. ––Merritt Clifton One Dog at a Time: Saving the Strays of Afghanistan by Pen Farthing Thomas Dunne Books (175 Fifth Ave., New York, NY 10010), 2012. 308 pages, paperback. $14.99.
British Army sergeant Pen Since the end of Taliban rule, how- arrival was named Nowzad. Tali from their base. With time, effort, Farthing Farthing, now retired, first deploy- ever, animal fighting may be more was named after the Taliban. Jena and lots of luck they found a local to since his retire- ed to Afghanistan in 2006. He had popular in Afghanistan than ever. gave birth to puppies. Farthing and drive the dogs to a mid-point where ment has devoted no idea what awaited him, beyond Cockfighting and songbird fighting other soldiers build a special area for volunteers from the shelter picked his life to the fighting the Taliban. He found the are again common; transporting the dogs, including a fighting dog them up for transport to their shelter. street dogs of Afghanistan, heading living conditions in Afghanistan birds for fighting has contributed to they bought from a local Afghan. Two of the dogs later flew to a charity called Nowzad dogs. shocking: “There was no electricity the spread of the H5N1 avian flu. For the first time the dogs ate regu- England with Farthing. ––Debra J. White and sanitation was non-existent.” Traditional non-lethal larly, slept on discarded bedding, Apart from the heat, Central Asian dogfighting, in which and were treated with kindness. Farthing decided on first impression herding dogs rush at each other until Unable to leave the dogs Hit them with that the worst aspect of Afghanistan one dog knocks the other one down, behind when his tour of duty ended, was the dust. This was notorious has largely been supplanted by west- Farthing enlisted his wife Lisa to a 2-by-4! even in 1897, when the dust on Dr. ern-style fights to the death between help rescue them. Lisa eventually Watson’s clothing caused Sherlock “bully kuttas,” the regional pit bull located a shelter in northern More than 30,000 Holmes to observe, as his first variant. Bred in Pakistan for more Afghanistan, more than 700 miles people who care about words in Arthur Conan Doyle’s first than 200 years for use in animals will read Sherlock Holmes story, “You have dogfighting and bear-bait- this 2-by-4" ad. been in Afghanistan, I perceive.” ing, bully kuttas are at least Farthing soon perceived partially descended from We'll let you have it the stray dogs of Now Zad, the town fighting dogs imported by for just $75––or $195 where he was stationed. They were British troops. for three issues–– “hard to miss,” he writes, “espe- But Farthing knew cially during the dark hours as they nothing of that. “I wasn’t or $515 for a year. roamed the town and perimeter of going to stand by and watch Then you can let the compound. There were dozens the dogs fight. No matter of them, all types of breed of dog. what someone else’s culture them have it. All had one thing in common: they allowed,” he recalls. It's the only 2-by-4 to use all looked bedraggled and unfed.” Though pushed, shoved, in the battle Soon afterward Farthing and threatened, Farthing for public opinion. saw Afghan soldiers among a crowd broke up the fight, and saw cheering on dogs as they tore each the dogs run away. other apart. The Taliban suppressed Eventually the ANIMAL PEOPLE all forms of animal fighting, which British compound became was forbidden by Mohammed. home to 14 dogs. The first 360-579-2505 18 - ANIMAL PEOPLE, June 2012 OBITUARIES Oliver, 55, chimp called “The Humanzee” “I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him. The evil that men do lives after them. Oliver, 55, a chimpanzee who was 1982, by which time I was with the Wild The good is oft interred with their bones.” ––William Shakespeare promoted in his youth as “The Humanzee,” Animal Training Center in Riverside, Gentle was found dead on June 2, 2012 in his sleep- Jungle moved again, to Lion Country Safari,. ing hammock at the Primarily Primates sanc- Gentle Jungle was then closed by a USDA Judy Dynnick, 61, of Rives other.” Wrote Aggie Monfette of Royal Oak, tuary near San Antonio, Texas, operated by investigation and an eventual lawsuit against Junction, Michigan, died on May 22, 2012 Michigan, “I was never fortunate enough to Friends of Animals. Oliver’s companion Helfer for Animal Welfare Act violations. after a struggle of more than a year and a half meet Judy face to face, but we became very Raisin was at his side. Oliver and a few other animals were trans- against liver cancer and other health problems. close friends through the phone and e-mail. Oliver differed from most chimps in ferred to Ken Decroo, owner of the Wild Long involved in animal, environmental, and The animals have lost one of their best cham- usually walking on his hind legs, having Animal Training Center. There Oliver was feminist advocacy, Dynnick in 2004 formed pions and I have lost a wonderful friend.” shorter hair on the top of his head, having a kept in a large cage and was regularly handled. Jackson County Volunteers Against Pound Ellen Witmer Truong, 64, of lighter build, having finer facial features, and “I left WATC in 1984,” Porec said. Seizure to continue a struggle against the sale Springfield, Virginia, died on May 1, 2012 having an easy-going nature, but genetic test- “In 1985, when I was working for the San of shelter animals for laboratory use that was after a two-year struggle with multiple myelo- ing showed that he was a chimp, not a mem- Diego Wild Animal Park, I heard that Decroo begun in 1960 by Jackson Animal Protective ma. A longtime employee of the Humane ber of an otherwise unknown species, former had sold Oliver to a wealthy man back east, Association founder Dorothy Reynolds. Society of the U.S., as was her husband Hop Primarily Primates president Wally Swett told and that is the last I heard of him,” until ANI- Reynolds died in 2001 at age 86. The major Truong, “Ellen was a principal assistant to Dr. ANIMAL PEOPLE. MAL PEOPLE reported in October 1995 that buyer of the shelter animals for resale to labs, Michael W. Fox,” an HSUS vice president “Oliver arrived at Primarily Primarily Primates was trying to obtain Oliver Fred Hodgins of Hodgins Kennels in Howell, from the mid-1970s to the mid-1990s, Primates 15 years ago,” recalled FoA presi- from the Buckshire Corporation, a supplier of Michigan, had won libel verdicts against two recalled HSUS senior policy advisor Bernard dent Priscilla Feral. “His years at the sanctu- animals to laboratories that was leaving the activists who attacked his business in letters to Unti. “Later she worked at the Center for the ary were the only ones where he wasn’t com- business. “During my time working with and newspapers, and won a reduction of a USDA Respect of Life and the Environment,” which mercially exploited. We refused offers to film around Oliver, or Ollie as we called him, I penalty of $13,500 for alleged violations of Fox founded, “for Humane Society Univers- him. Making money off him had to end.” never saw him abused or even handled rough- the federal Animal Welfare Act to just $325, ity, and in membership services,” Unti said. “I worked for two companies that ly,” Porec testified. “Oliver was always very plus reinbursement of attorneys’ fees of owned Oliver between 1977 and 1984,” wrote gentle and intelligent, although he did have a $155,385. But Dynnick persisted. On June George Sukol, a retired postal ANIMAL PEOPLE reader Ralph Porec, of habit of catching and killing any stray ducks 18, 2006 the Jackson County commissioners worker, died on December 21, 2011 in Midpines, California, in a December 1995 or chickens who got within his reach. He voted 10-1 to stop selling animals to Hodgins. Bellevue, Washington. Political activists in letter to the editor. “I first met Oliver at the wasn’t castrated, but even when housed with Dynnik credited her predecessors for their Berkeley, California during the 1960s and Enchanted Village theme park in Buena Park, a female chimp he never bred,” Porec added. groundwork, thanked attorney Allie Phillips early 1970s, Sukol and his wife Diane formed California. He belonged to Ralph Helfer, a “Ollie has trouble seeing,” Porec finished, and psychologist Bob Walsh for legal and sci- the Committee for the Protection of Domestic partner in the park. Oliver was on display in a “and because of his bad eyesight, does entific support, and moved on to her next Animals. In 1972, collaborating with Julie climate-controlled building, billed as a freak become frightened, especially at night.” campaign, the County Animal Shelter Wall Stitt and Martha Benedict of Friends of the of nature. It was rumored that Oliver had “I think he’s just a very nice old Fund. In November 2010 Dynnick thanked Berkeley Dogs, they won abolition of the use come from a circus sideshow, and as a young- chimp,” said Buckshire Corporation president “everyone who contributed to the fund to get of decompression to kill dogs and cats at the ster, his teeth were pulled. Enchanted Village Sharon Hirsch, who sent Oliver to Primarily our Jackson County animal shelter walls com- city pound. Berkeley was the first city to halt closed in 1977. Under the name Gentle Jungle Primates after the ANIMAL PEOPLE article pleted,” in place of the previous chain link decompression killing, but it was abolished Inc., Helfer relocated his animals to the Costa appeared. “He sleeps a lot, lying back with fencing. “Even the isolation area is now com- throughout the U.S. by 1985. Decompression Mesa Fairgrounds until spring 1978, when he his feet up. I had a cup of coffee in my hand pleted,” Dynnick wrote. “This will help to killing had been pushed for shelter use by the set up in Colton, at the old Gene Holter when Oliver first arrived here. He begged for keep employees safe and greatly reduce dis- American Humane Association since 1950. Movieland Animal Park,” Porec continued. the coffee, I gave it to him, he drank it, and ease transmission. It is also much quieter at Since 2010 AHA has promoted the use of “I worked with Gentle Jungle until 1980. In we were great friends ever since.” the shelter, because the dogs can’t see each decompression for killing poultry. Indian official lynched for stopping crocodile show called “sacrifice” MEMORIALS BANGALORE––Madan Naik, 54, ed the Deccan Herald. “The reptiles are find- named, added the human rights advocacy web assistant conservator of forests in Danduli, ing easy access to food and their population is site Wake India Now. For our precious Moee and Bubbie... Karnataka, India, was on May 6, 2012 increasing,” complained Laxman. “Police at Dandeli station could have We think of you both so much at this time allegedly dragged from his car and stoned by a “Though several complaints have saved Madan Naik,” charged M. Raghuram of of year. No matter how long you have been group of 16 drunken visitors to Crocodile been lodged against the owner of Crocodile the Daily News & Analysis. Instead, after gone, we miss you as if you had left Valley, a tourist attraction illegally operating Valley,” identified as farmer Shivaram Patil, Madan Naik came seeking help, “They made yesterday. Moee, our little tuxedo-girl with on the bank of the Kali River near the “the Dandeli wildlife sanctuary took no him wait for six hours. They shifted him to the the intense "lemur eyes" and fear of no Dandelappa temple, inside the Dandeli-Anshi action,” charged Deccan Herald reporter hospital only after he collapsed.” one....Bubbie, our huge gray tabby, with tiger reserve. Subhash Chandra. “There was none to hear our com- the sweetest spirit and passion for “kitty “We are shocked that the local “We complained to the Forest plaint at the police station,” Meghana Naik pranks”...we feel your absence every day. police have not taken timely action, nor even Department several times, to no avail,” told the Deccan Herald. “The police were The house will always be a little too quiet promptly booked a case against the crocodile Creative Nature Friends director Rohan Bhate conducting themselves as if they were under without you. We love and miss you always. show,” responded the Wildlife Conservation told Chandra. “The 15 or 20 reptiles are visi- severe pressure. The condition of my father ––Mom and Dad Society of Bangalore in a prepared statement, ble only from Patil’s farm. They breed there worsened as we spent hours together at the ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– warning that the police indifference might and he even sells baby crocodiles. We rescued police station.” Madan Naik was pronounced In memory of Jack: much love for 20 years. incite further misuse of wildlife reserves and one in 2009 and released it in Chandoli dead at the SDM Medical College Hospital in ––Judy and Pedro Hecht more violence against officials trying to pro- National Park,” Bhate testified. Dharwad. An autopsy found the cause of ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– tect the reserves. Continued Chandra, “When the death to be a blood clot in his brain. In memory of Elizabeth Kantanen, one of As WCS predicted, forest guard Deccan Herald contacted Patil, he denied the Members of the Association of the original founders of Tree House Humane Viresh Hiremath, 45, was fatally clubbed at charges, saying he had permission from for- Deputy Conservators of Forests, Forest Society in Chicago, and also a dedicated his post in the Vaderi forest on May 12, 2012. mer District Conservator of Forests B.B. Guards and Forest Watchers joined local resi- court advocate for animals. Alleged killer Manjunath Naik was promptly Mallesh and the Tourism Department to enter- dents in blocking the main road into Dandeli ––Barbara Hardin arrested. But that did not deter unidentified tain tourists. He also denied that he sold during a five-hour protest and vigil over ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– assailants who on May 15, 2012 dragged young crocodiles and their eggs.” Madan Naik’s remains. The protest ended In memory of Peggy Lieber. Karnataka administrative service officer S.P. Responded Mallesh, “We cannot after police superintendent K.T. Balakrishna ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Mahantesh, 48, from his car and beat him give permission to any private person for such promised in person to investigate the case. In memory of the cat Lennon, 2000-2012. with iron bars. Mahantesh, 48, had reported- activities. If what Patil says is true, let him However, “The cover-up by local ly been investigating corrupt land deals. He furnish the letter of permission. In fact, we police didn’t end,” alleged Wake India Now. died on May 20, 2012. booked a case against him in 2011 and he is Instead, the local police accepted a complaint Madan Naik “was allegedly assault- out on bail.” that Madan Naik had committed an “atrocity,” ed when he tried to prevent the group from Karnataka principal chief conserva- apparently by allegedly interrupting a religious throwing meat to the crocodiles, telling them tor of forests and chief wildlife warden Deepak sacrifice. The local police also “forcefully it was dangerous and might result in the rep- Sharma told the Deccan Herald that armed made Madan Naik’s family sign a document Engineering College, Madan Naik turned to tiles attacking them,” said the Press Trust of guards would be stationed where Madan Naik which said that the family has accepted the wildlife and forest conservation work later in India. “Naik had gone to the temple when he was killed, to prevent further incidents. apology from the culprits who ‘verbally life, earning several promotions. saw the unauthorised crocodile show being “The tourists had come to the park abused’ them. There was no mention of physi- “I am studying for a masters degree organized,” elaborated the Hindustan Times. accompanied by Dandeli municipal council cal assault,” Wake India Now reported. in science at M.S. Ramaiah College in “The forest department had earlier stopped the employee Aravind Chavan and his wife Karnataka Chief Minister D.V. Bangalore and my sister Grishma is pursuing a illegal crocodile show, but the owner of a Shailaja Chavan, a teacher in a government Sadananda Gowda announced on May 10, course in architecture. My brother has taken a local resort restarted it.” The India primary school in Dandeli,” along with 2012 that the investigation of Naik’s death university entrance exam. The earnings of our Broadcasting Network, the Indian CNN affili- Bagalkot sub -Inspector S.R. Naik and an would be taken over by the state Criminal father was the only source to fund our educa- ate, reported that the resort owner had twice assistant sub-inspector, said Bengaluru Today. Investigation Department. Six of the 16 tion,” Meghana Naik told the Deccan Herald. been charged with illegal hunting. “The goons not only thrashed and alleged assailants were subsequently arrested. Public officials promised that the family would “The illegal feeding of crocodiles in assaulted Madan Naik,” dragging him out of A former lecturer at the Haveri receive compensation for Madan Naik’s death. Kali River was raised in the Legislative his car, “but also abused and assaulted family Council by Congress member Ghotnekar members,” including his wife Sumathi, his CLASSIFIEDS––$1.00 a word! Shrikant Laxman in December 2011,” report- daughter Meghana, and a son, who was not • [email protected] POB 960, Clinton, WA 98236 • 360-579-2505 • fax 360-579-2575 WANTED: Animal advocate to Want Art that Reflects Your Values? Your love for animals manage and represent U.S. support organiza- WWW.LITTLEGIRLLOOKING.COM tion for People for Animals India. Contact sells unique Art for Animal/Environmental can go on forever. Mrs. Maneka Gandhi