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Fall 1986

SERO Fall 1986

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THE HUMANE SOCIETY OF THE UNITED STATES • FALL 1986 POUND SEIZURE: NEEDLESS INSIDE • Demonstrators Attack SUFFERING WE MUST STOP · Norwegian Whaling • 1986 HSUS Thousands of former pets are sent from is morally bound to provide the animal Annual Conference animal shelters every year to research with a painless death by humane facilities. This practice, lmown as "pound euthanasia. · seizure," is widespread throughout the Pound seizure is not an acceptable southeast and is of major concern alternative to euthanasia. It does not to The Humane Society of the United prevent suffering and death. Too often, Legislative Update States (HSUS). it simply assures that the pet will suffer The Animal Protection Act of G€orgia Animal shelters that release dogs before it is ultimately killed. will regulate and license pet dealers and cats for research fail to fulfill their Ethically, using former pets for ex­ and operators of kennels, stables, and most important objective. They are perimentation is a sad betrayal of the animal shelters. Each licensee shall be charged, first and foremost, with the special relationship existing between responsible for providing humane care obligation to provide a humane sanc­ humans and pets. Dogs and cats, hav­ and treatment for all animals in his/her tuary for lost, stray or owner-relin­ ing shared our homes and affections, possession. Other requirements included quished pets. They have the responsibil­ are neither physically nor emotionally are sanitary conditions, adequate ven­ ity to prevent or abate animal suffering. conditioned to the pain and trauma of tilation, and proper nutrition. If an animal shelter is unable to return lab research. They are our companions, A new Florida law now gives all or adopt a lost pet, then the shelter helpers, and protectors-not research counties the authority to enact animal tools. cruelty/animal-control ordinances and The scientific community itself ques­ issue citations for violations. tions the suitability of pound animals Another new law elevates the penal­ for research. The National Institutes of ty for killing or aggravated abuse of Health, the largest single funding agency registered horses and cattle to a sec­ in the world for medical experimenta­ ond-degree felony. tion, prohibits the use of pound or The Animal Fighting Act of Florida "random-source" animals for its own was amended to ban cockfighting and in-house research projects. Many pro­ coursing (the practice of training grey­ minent scientists have publicly stated hounds with live animals). After work­ that experimentation on pound animals ing for ten years to stop these brutal can produce unreliable or invalid re­ practices, humanitarians are delighted sults-data which fails to advance the to see both made felonies. goal of protecting human health and South Carolina has become the fif­ draws erroneous conclusions that may tieth state to specifically prohibit dog­ endanger our well-being. fighting. While the recently passed fel­ Good scientific methods require the ony law was originally drafted to strict control of variables. The use of prohibit all types of animal fighting, shelter animals with unlmown genetic, legislators loaded the bill with several ~ environmental or medical histories is exemptions. Cockfighting will still be ~ as inappropriate for accurate evalua­ considered a lesser crime, resulting in ~ tions as using rats from the town dump mere $100 fines. Bear baiting, a partic­ 1 for cancer studies. ularly loathsome "sport," may still be This unidentified dog was lucky erwugh to Why, then, are pound animals used legal as the new law exempts "bear end up in loving, caring hands. Many in research? The answer is simple. baying." Several legislators were ada­ untagged pets suffer the cruel fate of being Strays and former pets are cheap and mant that their fellow South Carolini­ picked up by animal control and later abundant. During 1985, the University ans be allowed to continue this and released to a research lahoratory. (continued on page 2} other odious hunting games. POUND SEIZURE (continued frcrm front page) Director's Comment BY MARC PAULHUS of Florida acquired nearly 2,000 dogs Dog, which provides students with in­ and cats from nearby shelters in Jack­ stant evaluation of their technique. Be­ Demonstrators Flo, the inflatable whale, looms large against the sonville and Clay County. The animals cause it is reusable, it can replace S.S. Norway in Charles­ were used for a variety of medical and hundreds of living animals. But despite Attack ton whaling protest. Flo psychological experiments and for stu­ its clear advantages and modest cost, was used in demonstra­ dent teaching. The university's veteri­ the veterinary school did not acquire tions nationwide, nary school, for example, supplied stu­ Resusci-Dog until one was presented Norwegian drawing widespread dents with live dogs on which to practice as a gift from the Florida Federation of attention to Norway's life-saving cardiopulmonary resuscita­ Humane Societies. Whaling refusal to stop whaling. tion (CPR) techniques. After each dog We are not willing to wait until re­ was used, it was killed for post-mor­ searchers voluntarily abandon the prac­ tem examination to determine if the tice of conducting experiments on form­ procedure was done correctly. er pets. The HSUS Southeast Regional Sadly, this use of live dogs was com­ Office (SERO) is active in all local and The International Whaling Commis­ pletely unnecessary. A much better statewide campaigns to ban pound sei­ sion voted in 1982 to impose a mora­ alternative for CPR training is a compu­ zure and we will keep on fighting as long torium on all commercial whaling, ef­ terized mannequin dog, called Resusci- as this despicable practice continues. In 1975, while working as a cruelty in­ fective in 1986. Norway is the only vestigator for a local animal shelter, I country that has flatly refused to encountered my first case of cockfight­ abide by this decision even though the The HSUS Is Working to Achieve the Solution ing in Florida. I was shocked, almost whale population around Norway is beyond belief, to learn that this mali­ severely depleted and in need of im­ cious blood sport was not specifically il­ mediate protection. When our office opened in Tallahassee turn out hundreds of local voters at legal. In fact, cockfighting pits in some On May 19, 1986, the southeastern in January 1983, there were six ani­ successive City Council hearings. The counties were issued occupational li­ offices of The Humane Society of the mal-control facilities in Florida send­ HSUS testified on behalf of its mem­ censes to operate openly and legally. United States and Greenpeace spon­ ing animals to research laboratories. bership and in support of Balance at They even collected state sales taxes. sored a joint demonstration in Char­ Nearly 10,000 former pets were an­ these hearings. On June 10, 1986, an The following year, I investigated leston, South Carolina, against Nor­ nually shipped to several universities ordinance to permanently ban pound and attempted to prosecute a grey· wegian whaling. We chose this oppor­ for experimentation and practice sur­ seizure passed overwhelmingly. hound trainer for using live jackrabbits tunity because the Norwegian luxury gery. Today, there is only one county Similar strategies were employed in in a bloody training exercise called cruise ship, S.S. Norway, arrived in animal shelter, Hillsborough, which other communities. Local coalitions in coursing. The racing dogs were turned Charleston harbor during the special continues to do so. That is the sole re­ Escambia and Marion Counties, Flori­ loose in a large fenced enclosure to week-long cruise that included live maining target in our goal to abolish da, and Gwinnett County, Georgia, chase, kill and dismember the rabbits. broadcasts of NBC's Today Show. pound seizure in Florida. won hard-fought victories to ban This case, too, never went to trial, We distributed thousands of pam­ There are no laws in the southeast pound seizure. SERO was active in partly as a result of previously unsuc­ phlets calling on Norway to abide by HSUS and Greenpeace workers demonstrate in Charleston, S.C., against Norwegian that require shelters to surrender ani­ these and other campaigns but it must cessful attempts at criminal prosecu­ the IWC moratorium. Many of the whaling. Norway continues to flaunt its contempt for the IWC moratorium and the mals to researchers. It is simply a mat­ be noted that without strong local coor­ tion. One judge in another county had ship's passengers and local townspeo­ whale population continues to deplete. ter of local option. Therefore, pound dination, our efforts alone would not ruled that greyhound coursing did not ple pledged to support our efforts and seizure must first be viewed as a com­ have prevailed. violate the state's anti-cruelty law promised to contact the Norwegian munity problem, and successful opposi­ The HSUS can lend a persuasive because, in his opinion, the jackrabbits ambassador to the U.S. to express tion is largely dependent upon local ac­ voice against the cruelties of pound sei­ were not animals; they were rodents. their concern. tivism. Our task is to heighten public zure and offer unique technical exper­ Even though I left Florida to join During the early morning hours of awareness among the citizenry and to tise, national prestige, and scientific The HSUS headquarters staff in 1977, May 20, Greenpeace and HSUS rep­ properly focus growing concern. credibility. No politician, however, can I remained interested in getting strong resentatives circled the S.S. Norway Take, for example, the case in Jack­ ignore the plea of a constituent who anti-cockfighting and anti-coursing laws in a small boat towing a forty-foot in­ sonville, Florida. Several months ago says, "Look upon the face of a poten­ passed in the state. Many attempts were flatable whale, affectionately known SERO was contacted by Marjorie An­ tial laboratory animal; look into the made involving the efforts of thousands as Flo. A large banner pinned to Flo's gelo who had only recently learned that eyes of your own family pet." of people and dozens of groups, but it side proclaimed our message, "Stop her local animal-control department Over the coming months we will re­ always seemed the massive greyhound Norwegian Whaling.'' sent unclaimed dogs and cats to the double our efforts in Hillsborough Coun­ lobby and pro-cockfighting politicians Leslie Scheele of Greenpeace and laboratories of the University of Flo­ ty, Florida, where the local animal­ found ways to defeat the legislation. HSUS whale expert Campbell Plow­ rida. Angelo wanted to unite all inter­ control facility is the last in the state to Since my return to the glorious den conducted numerous interviews ested people and groups in an effort to surrender pets for research. The Hu­ south, I have worked to get coursing with local media. pressure the City Council to ban pound mane Society of Tampa Bay has joined and cockfighting outlawed with an in­ Until such time as Norway ceases seizure. She formed a grassroots orga­ with us in a project to end pound sei­ tensity which some of my friends aptly to kill whales, we urge all HSUS nization called Balance, Inc. The HSUS zure once and for all. Elsewhere in our describe as an obsession. So be it. ThiE members and friends to boycott Nor­ provided assistance in the form of in­ region, we are selecting targets for year we finally accomplished our goal. wegian fish products. Norway's ex­ formational resources, professional guid­ future action in South Carolina, Geor­ Not only will cockfighting and coursing ports of $143 million worth of fish ance, and membership development. gia and Alabama. Please contact our become illegal in Florida, effective Oc­ products to the U.S. are far more Balance gained strength and political office if you would like to help. tober 1, but the crimes are classified as profitable to their economy than the sophistication and was soon able to third degree felonies, punishable by $2 million they net from commercial Passengers on S.S. Norway crowd on deck to see Flo and demonstrators against five years in jail and $5,000 fines. whaling. Norway's refusal to stop whaling. Many passengers pledged to write letters of protest. ~------. Around the Region Reflect I I Ill ALABAMA-The Birmingham Hu­ II GEORGIA-The Atlanta regional for a moment.... HOW CAN I HELP ANIMALS EVEN WHEN I mane Society and the Alabama Fede­ office of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Ser­ I NO LONGER SHARE THEIR WORLD? 1 ration for Animal Welfare hosted a vice (FWS) received input from nearly By your bequest for animal protec- 1 day-long cruelty investigations work­ 20 animal-protection organizations op­ tion to The Humane Society of the I shop on May 31, 1986. SERO director posed to hunting and trapping on Na­ United States. I tional Wildlife Refuges. Alerted to the Marc Paulhus was the program in­ Your will can provide for animals .1 structor. Participants learned how to public hearing by Lorraine Moore of after you're gone. .1 professionally investigate, document, SERO, each group's spokesperson ex­ Naming The HSUS demonstrates I and prepare an animal abuse case for pressed a strong desire to see the ref­ your lasting commitment to animal I court. Also, since Alabama has only uge system restored to its original pur­ welfare and strengthens the Society I recently been included in the geograph­ pose of providing "inviolate sanctuary" for this task. We will be happy to ical area serviced by SERO, the meet­ for wildlife. We believe the opening of send information ab<:mt our a1:·nmal I ing gave Paulhus the opportunity to refuges to sport hunting in recent programs and matenal that will as- 1 become acquainted with animal-wel­ years is inconsistent with Congress' sist in planning a will. fare leaders from across the state. goal of preserving the diversity of Please send will information to wildlife species for future generations. II FLORIDA-In April, SERO attend­ Animal-protection groups, the only Name ______ed a seminar entitled "Survival of the true conservationists speaking at the Florida Panther-A Conference on the hearing,'made such a formidable show­ I Address ------Issues." After two days of sessions, it 1 ing that a pro-hunting lobbyist later I City State__ _ was obvious that a great many obsta­ complained they were "massacred." I cles face the twenty or so endangered The Fish and Wildlife Service should I ZIP code, ______panthers existing in the wild. Chief recognize the fact that more than 90% I Mail in confidence to Murdaugh S. Madden, Vice among these are habitat encroachment, of Americans don't hunt. It is time that I President/General Counsel, The Humane Society I of the United States, 2100 L Street, N.W., Wash- vehicular kills, inbreeding, disease, and government policy is changed to reflect starvation. Some experts contend that majority interests. L~~~~~~~------~ the panthers on public lands are se­ verely malnourished due to excessive Ill SOUTH CAROLINA-In a state The Regional Report is a publication of long held to have some of the most ar­ deer hunting. Since deer are the pre­ The Humane Society of the United Statt ferred prey species for panther, an ob­ chaic attitudes toward living creatures, Southeast Regional Office vious solution would be to restrict deer bear-baiting, coon-on-a-log contests, 325 John Knox Road hunting in areas of the Fakahatchee and other vicious activities in which Bldg. E, Suite 203 Strand and Big Cypress Preserve. Pow­ wildlife is tormented for amusement Tallahassee, FL 32303 erful pro-hunting groups, such as the are still taking place. Long prohibited (904) 386-3435 Florida Wildlife Federation, oppose such in virtually all other states, these blood Marc Paulhus, Director restrictions, making state and federal sports regularly take place in back­ The Humane Society of the United States wildlife agencies reluctant to impose woods locations. SERO pledges to pro­ is a charitable, tax-exempt, national ani­ stricter limits on deer kills. secute these crimes under existing mal-welfare organization with headquar­ laws, if possible, and to work statewide ters in Washington, D.C., regional field with animal-protection leaders to en­ offices, and an education center in Con­ act new and tougher laws during the necticut. upcoming legislative session. ©1986 by The HSUS. All rights reserved. 8/86 The Humane Society of NON-PROFIT ORG. the United States U.S. Postage Southeast Regional Office PAID 325 John Knox Road Tallahassee, FL Bldg. E, Suite 203 Permit #297 Tallahassee, FL 32303

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