HSUS Drive to Stop Cruelty in Alaska Seal Harvest Continues

JULY-AUGUST, 1969 VOL. 14, NO. 5 Bill Aimed at Cruel HSUS Drive to Stop Cruelty in Soring Practices Is Alaska Seal Harvest Continues; Now Before Congress Progress Made in Several Areas Senator Joseph Tydings of Mary land has again introduced legislation The HSUS is continuing its campaign to stop cruelty in the seal to stop the soring of Tennessee walking harvest held annually in the Pribilof Islands, off Alaska. The harvest, horses. The bill, S. 254.3, is co-sponsored in which an estimated 60,000 seals are killed, is conducted by the U.S. by 12 Senators and has been referred to the Senate Commerce Committee. A Department of the Interior. similar measure, H.R. 12438, was in Principal target of the HSUS campaign is clubbing, the method by troduced in the House by Representa which the animals are bludgeoned to death. Investigations have disclosed tive G. William Whitehurst of Virginia. that a significant percentage of the The legislation would prohibit the seals killed require multiple blows, roads, built others, and thereby short shipping in interstate commerce of any a sure sign that cruelty and suffer ened distances. He also reported that sored horse for the purpose of exhibi ing is involved. The HSUS has been more new roads and road extensions tion. It would also ban the showing of urging for some time that a humane are planned as part of this project. such horses and, by careful definition, method of dispatching 'the seals be In the same area of eliminating stress would declare that soring is a cruel and found if, as is claimed by the Depart to the seals as they are rounded up, inhumane practice. ment of the Interior, the harvest itself drive paths had been improved by filling The HSUS, the American Horse Pro must go on. in depressions and removing rocks and tection Association, and other animal The campaign seems to be bear other large obstacles. welfare groups have been working to ing fruit, at last. This year, for This year, an assistant foreman to stop soring, but without significant suc the second, successive time, Field help supervise the hunt and thus im cess. The practice is common among Service Director Frank McMahon prove the handling of the seals was unscrupulous owners and trainers who went to the Pribilof Islands to rep hired and two relief clubbers (who ac make the horse's front feet sore by burn resent The HSUS on a task force tually do the killing) were trained. The ing them in the area of the pastern, appointed by the Government to in effect of this additional help was to pre by injecting irritants into the sole area, vestigate ways of reducing suffering vent harassment of the animals and re by driving in nails and by other pain in the harvest. McMahon found duce the risk of multiple blows in dis ful means. The. soreness causes the that recommendations made by patching them. horse to lift its front feet quickly and The HSUS and others during the Other recommendations made by the take a long striding step forward. This 1968 harvest had been adopted. is the desired "gait" that wins ribbons. McMahon reported that, in response task force in 1968 were being imple The Tydings legislation, if enacted, to a recommendation the distances be mented and plans had been made for would go far toward solving the problem shortened over which seals are driven those that were not. HSUS's McMahon and humanitarians are encouraged to to the killing grounds, the Department reported, in fact, there "could be no support it. of the Interior had extended several (Continued on page 5) l(indness Club Founder Presents to key persons and individuals who said. "The $2 dues could be a big have actively promoted the program obstacle in such cases and, yet, it HSUS Demands USDA Take Action United States Charter to NHEC; under Mrs. Flemming. The kit con is often this kind of child who tains a lesson manual, work book, and wants most to participate in a Kind· Against Two Lab Animal Dealers ness Club. We have therefore es membership pin and card. In the wake of an HSUS raid on an animals for use in research facilities be Drive for New Members Launched tablished a Kindness Club Scholar The HSUS, on behalf of The NHEC, Ohio pound selling clogs illegally to a given humane care and treatment; it ship Fund to which contributions At a special in New York on July 17, Mrs. Aida Flemming is also distributing with this issue of laboratory animal supplier, the Society was not intended to provide a steady ~eeting are invited. The proceeds will be the News a leaflet that describes the has demanded that the U.S. Department flow of animals to research institutions. of New Brunswick, Canada, internationally noted founder and president used to finance membership in the Kindness Club and its objectives. It is of Agriculture take action against Mike Lone Trail Kennels is one of the of the Kindness Club, presented to The National Humane Education Club for children who might not hoped that the distribution will produce Kredovski of Lone Trail Kennels, nation's largest suppliers of animals to Center a charter for administration and operation of the proo-ram in the many humane societies and individuals otherwise be able to participate." United States. a Friedensburg, Pa., and Paul Anthony, research facilities. Dealer Paul Anthony who want to participate in the program Other plans for expansion of Club St. Paris, Ohio, both of whom are is believed to operate a holding station and are willing the promote it in their The charter was accepted by HSUS President Mel L. Morse who s membership are being developed by a licensed laboratory animal suppliers. for animals destined for Lone Trail 1 own communities. special committee of The HSUS Board Chairman of the Board of The Na- The Ohio case, reported in the May Kennels and also act as a major dealer An important aspect was stressed of Directors. It is expected that tele tional Humane Education Center. June, 1969 issue of the HSUS News, in his own right. by NHEC Board Chairman Mel L. vision and radio spot announcements Morse also presented a Certificate of resulted in charges of cruelty to animals In making the presentation, Mrs. Morse in describing plans for further will be produced and distributed and Appreciation to Mrs. Flemming for all being made against Andy Ball, Jr., ing the program. He said that individ a commercial national television net Flemming praised NHEC for its ef of her work with animals and children. driver of a truck owned by Paul An Growing Support for fective administration of the program ual Kindness Club membership had work approached about the possibility of The official presentation of the charter thony, who was picking up clogs from in a pilot 5-state area. She expressed been established at $2 per child and a reoular children's series based upon touched off a nationwide drive for new b the Fairfield County pound in Ohio. Lab Bill in Congress confidence that the result would be per that, hopefully, this money would be the Kindness Club concept. members. The HSUS has mailed press The clogs, in transit under conditions petuation of Kindness Clubs with their earned by the children by performing The identical Rogers and J avits bills, releases to 300 newspapers and pet that obviously violated applicable regu H.R. 12286 and S. 2446, continue to enormously beneficial effect of fostering tasks for parents or neighbors. columnists. Distribution of a compli lations of Public Law 89-544, had fed gain support in both houses of Congress. attitudes of kindness in children. She "There is still, however, the prob mentary Kindness Club kit has begun eral tags issued to Lone Trail Kennels. The bills are supported by The HSUS, said that NBEC had already demon lem of the needy child," Morse Non-Profit Spay Clinic Ball was convicted of cruelty to animals the American Humane Association, Hu strated the ability and enthusiasm to and his appeal is now pending. mane Information Services of St. Pe spread the program among young people Should Help Reduce The obvious violation of existing leg throughout the entire country. tersburg, Fla., and many other societies. N.Y.'s Big Cat Surplus islation prompted The HSUS to insist The proposed law would regulate uses Mrs. Flemming also stated that chil USDA take prompt action to revoke or of animals in biomedical and pharma In publicizing the tragic cruelty of dren's natural desire to work and play suspend the licenses of the dealers in ceutical activities and force such facil surplus animal breeding, The HSUS with animals was the basis of the pro volved. An affidavit by Field Service ities to comply with federal standards has often pointed to the City of New gram's startling success. Director Frank McMahon, who con to eliminate, or enormously reduce, York and its millions of homeless an "The children themselves want ducted the raid and placed the charges painful uses of animals. imals as a prime example. Now, some this kind of activity," Mrs. Flem against Ball, was filed wih USDA. It Since their introduction, the bills have real relief seems to be in sight for ming stressed, "and The National documented the violations with sworn won support among a large number of animals in that community. Humane Education Center will be testimony and photographic proof. Also, Representatives and Senators who did W orcl has been received that Mercy able to provide the necessary ma it was accompanied by letters from not initially understand the purpose and terials on a scale that a less efficient Animal Hospital, 134 East 82ncl Street, HSUS counsel and HSUS Board Chair intent of the law.

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