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“Doggie in the win- dow” singer hopes to sing the
WASHINGTON D.C.– – “At the time,” in 1952, “‘Doggie in the Window’ seemed like a sweet and harmless message,” recalls singer Patti Page. Selling more than a million (Kim Bartlett) BLM mustangs at Pyramid Lake, Nevada. (Kim Bartlett) copies in five months, the song became Window” for a children’s album, early in Page’s fourth recording to top the charts in the “Baby Boom” that doubled the U.S. five years––and became the unofficial human population and brought a trebling of anthem of the pet industry. Pickens bids to save wild the pet population within a generation of Opening with the question “How R E N O ––Just as the Bureau of Land Boone Pickens, made known her intentions to the end of World War II. By the time the much is that doggie in the window? I do Management seemed poised to kill 2,000 adopt not just the doomed wild horses but most “Baby Boom” children began raising fami- hope that doggie is for sale,” the song healthy mustangs, due to lack of adoptive or all of the 30,000 horses and burros kept in lies and acquiring pets of their own, the helped to popularize the concept of pur- homes, Madeleine Pickens “arrived on a white federal holding pens,” reported Layton. U.S. street dog population had been eradi- chasing commercially bred puppies from horse,” as Washington Post staff writer “Lifelong animal lovers, the Pickenses just a cated by the combination of improved sani- pet stores, at a time when the overwhelm- Lyndsey Layton put it. few years ago led the fight to close the last tation, more vehicular traffic, and more ing majority of pet dogs in the U.S. were Pickens on November 17, 2008 horse slaughterhouse in the United States.” aggressive animal control. Nearly half the mongrels and about 30% of the U.S. dog turned a public hearing in Reno from a perfunc- Posted Pickens afterward to her per- dogs in the U.S. were now purebreds, and population were street dogs, as in much of tory condemnation ritual to a celebration. sonal web site, “Wild horses on federal land U.S. animal shelters were killing seven the developing world today. “Pickens, wife of billionaire T. (continued on page 8) times as many dogs as in 1952. Page recorded “Doggie in the Page, now 81, had no intention of helping to build the puppy mill industry, a happenstance that she has now regretted in public statements and endorsements of animal shelters for more than half of her ANIMAL PEOPLE life. In 1952 Page had never heard of puppy mills. The term “puppy mill” News For People Who Care About Animals appears to have first been used in a main- stream U.S. newspaper in December 1953. The older term “doggy mill” had in half a century never crossed from humane society November/December 2008 newsletters into common mainstream use. In support of the Humane Society Volume XVIII, #9 of the U.S. anti-puppy mill campaign, Page recently recorded a new version of “Doggie in the Window” called “Do you (continued on page 16) Pending White House dog adoption upstages Obama cabinet picks WASHINGTON D.C.––G o o g l e 533,000 discussing his cabinet picks. searches on December 7, 2008 turned up Obama himself addressed selecting 703,000 web pages discussing U.S. President- the future White House dog first, in his initial elect Barack Obama’s campaign pledge to post-election press conference. adopt a dog for his daughters, compared with “With respect to the dog,” Obama said, “this is a major issue. I think it has gen- erated more interest on our Web site than just about anything. We have two criteria to be reconciled. One is that Malia,” the elder Obama daughter, age 10, “is allergic, so it has to be hypoallergenic. There are a number of breeds that are hypoallergenic. On the other hand, our preference would be to get a shelter dog, but obviously a lot of shelter dogs are mutts like me. So whether we’re going to be able to balance those two things I think is a pressing issue on the Obama household.” “I have never seen this many blog Scene at Pigs Peace sanctuary in Washington state. (Kristen Stilt) notes about shelter dogs, certainly not in political blogs,” Petfinder.com cofounder Betsy Saul told MSNBC commentator Helen A.S. Popkin. Petfinder, as Popkin pointed California Proposition Two out, hosts adoption web pages for 12,187 ani- mal rescue groups, displaying more than 300,000 adoptable pets at any given time. passage rattles agribiz cages “If we have dogs good enough for LENEXA, Kansas– – C a l i f o r n i a strict standards. And publicize the expulsion.” the president, then our dogs are good enough Proposition Two, overwhelmingly approved “Let me quote a most disturbing The New Yorker magazine depicted President- for you,” American SPCA vice president by voters on November 4, requires only that story from Meatingplace.com,” Jolley elabo- elect Obama interviewing dogs as if they were Steve Zawistowski told Popkin, while trying “calves raised for veal, egg-laying hens, and rated. “People for the Ethical Treatment of candidates for cabinet positions. (continued on page 6) pregnant pigs be confined only in ways that Animals released a video showing workers at allow these animals to lie down, stand up, an Aviagen turkey-breeding operation abusing ANIMAL PEOPLE fully extend their limbs and turn around live birds. PETA sent an individual to work Nonprofit Organization freely,” by 2015. undercover at several Aviagen operations in PO Box 960 “The new law is simple and hardly West Virginia between September and Clinton, WA 98236-0960 U.S. Postage Paid earth-shaking,” observed G r i s t c o l u m n i s t November of this year, according to the video ANIMAL PEOPLE, Inc. Tom Philpott in a post-election wrap-up. “Yet that was posted on the organization’s web site. industrial-farming interests are squawking like The video depicts Aviagen employees break- hens about to lay a huge egg. That the indus- ing turkeys’ necks and stomping on their try finds such a commonsense requirement heads while they are still alive. PETA also intolerable reveals just how dependent it is on alleges that a supervisor saw workers kill 450 imposing cramped conditions. The backlash turkeys with two-by-fours.” against Proposition Two also betrays a very Jolley denounced similar abuse encouraging fear that California’s code will go videotaped by PETA at MowMar Farms in nationwide.” Bayard, Minnesota, exposed in mid- Chuck Jolley of the Cattle Network September 2008. acknowledged as much on November 19, Greene County, Minnesota sheriff 2008. Animal agriculture trade organizations, Tom Heater on October 22, 2008 served said Jolley, “should conduct unannounced arrest warrants against six of 18 MowMar member audits and be ready to immediately employees whom PETA accused of “hitting dismiss any company caught violating the (continued on page 10) November/December 2008 3/22/13 9:17 PM Page 2
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Editorial feature ANIMAL PEOPLE, November/December 2008 - 3 How hard times affect animal rescue The October 2008 ANIMAL PEOPLE editorial, “The humane community can han- released, but the aftermath of 2001 shows what might happen. dle hard times,” focused on the institutional side of coping with the global economic crisis. When collapsing high-tech stock prices preceded the terrorist attacks of September How animals themselves are affected also warrants discussion. 11, 2001, one visible outcome was that foundations gave less to dog and cat sterilization. “Foreclosure pets” and “abandoned horses” have been the topics of at least one Humane societies restricted eligibility for participation in discount sterilization programs, or major daily newspaper feature apiece per week, by actual count, since late 2007. suspended them altogether. Within two fiscal years, U.S. shelter killing of dogs and cats rose There is not much of a “foreclosure pets” crisis in affluent suburbs where the few from 4.2 million to 4.9 million, erasing five years’ worth of progress. foreclosures tend to be on townhouses in developments that did not allow pets to begin with. Since then, the U.S. humane community has ramped up sterilization outreach, and Across town though, handling animals surrendered by distraught people who have abruptly has pushed the dog and cat toll in shelters back down to 4.2 million––but holding that level, become homeless is an increasingly urgent issue. Typically, a young family of insecure and making further improvement, requires keeping low-cost and free sterilization programs income reached for the house-yard-dog dream by taking out a sub-prime mortgage. Then operating at full speed. someone lost a job, often just because the economy skidded. Many and perhaps most shelter surrenders of “foreclosure pets” could be prevented More surrenders & neglect cases through “bridge fostering.” Bridge fostering volunteers temporarily house animals for people who need time to recover from a crisis. Of the approximately eight million dogs and cats coming to U.S. shelters in 2008, as This is hardly a new idea. Mary Tealby founded the Temporary Home for Lost & many as half will have been surrendered by their caretakers, either as surplus births, for Starving Dogs near the Holloway Debtors Prison in London in 1860 to care for the animals of behavioral reasons, or for economic reasons. Inability to find appropriate rental housing may the inmates. Relocated six years after her death, Tealby’s Temporary Home became the fall into at least the latter two and sometimes all three of these categories. Battersea Dogs & Cats Home, one of the wealthiest and largest animal charities in the More than two million animals brought to U.S. shelters in 2008 will have been feral world––but the idea that started it remains neglected. cats, most of whom could have been accommodated by more effective neuter/return pro- In the U.S., the notion has prevailed that people who for any reason surrender their grams, managed to minimize conflict with neighbors and other users of multi-purpose public animals are inherently “irresponsible,” and should not get the animals back, even if the alter- space. More than one million will have been dogs found running at large. native is that the animals are killed due to lack of adoptive homes. Bridge fostering only Publicity and public sympathy raised by cruelty and neglect cases tends to be the appears to have gained acceptance in U.S. within the past 20 years, to care for the pets of vic- major fundraising magnet for humane work, but fewer than 20,000 dogs and cats per year tims of domestic violence and military personnel who are deployed abroad, and has rarely arrive at U.S. shelters as result of criminal cruelty and neglect. Going into the 2008 holiday been extended further. Yet bridge fostering is an appropriate approach to assisting families season, just over 300 dogs and 150 cats have been rescued this year as victims of reported who after losing a home are temporarily obliged to share housing with relatives, rent smaller criminal violence, exclusive of dogfighting. Among the 300-plus abused dogs, nearly 20% accommodations in buildings that do not allow pets, and/or must relocate long distances on were pit bull terriers, who make up about 5% of the U.S. dog population. short notice. As of Thanksgiving 2008, 854 alleged fighting pit bull terriers had been impounded Some people who have lost homes to foreclosure have been “irresponsible,” but during the year, very close to the totals for seven of the past 10 years, which have ranged most have just had bad luck. Helping them to keep their animals is often what will be best for from 791 to 916. Contrary to common belief, dogfighting arrests and fighting dog impound- them and the animals––and fostering animals is a way to involve more volunteers in humane ments have not increased since the Michael Vick dogfighting case broke in April 2007. work. Many donors who cannot give as much money now as in the past can afford to feed However, strengthened state and federal anti-dogfighting legislation inspired by the Vick case another pet or two. Senior citizens who are reluctant to acquire a pet who may outlive them may be helping to bring more convictions with meaningful penalties. often find fostering more appropriate to their situation. The numbers of dogs and cats impounded in neglect cases rose faster in the first 11 Donor studies show time and again that people who volunteer for a charity or have months of 2008 than in any year since 1982. been helped by a charity are most likely to become significant donors later, or to leave a At Thanksgiving 2008, 3,911 dogs, including at least 758 pit bulls (19%), had been bequest, even if they have never donated money in life. This helps to make bridge fostering a impounded from hoarders, along with 3,787 cats––but this was about the same as in other win/win approach for everyone, the animals most of all. recent years. The purported “abandoned horses” crisis is unequivocally bogus. Yes, some people 3,323 dogs and cats were impounded from failed animal rescue charities in the first are abandoning horses, as always. Yes, proponents of reinstituting legal horse slaughter for 11 months of 2007, and 3,410 in the first 11 months of 2008. human consumption in the U.S. are banging the drums long and loud about every horse aban- But seizures of dogs from breeders exploded from 2,798 in the first 11 months of donment case as an alleged result of the 2007 closure of the last three U.S. horse slaughter- 2007 to 7,834 in the first 11 months of 2008––with cases involving more than 4,000 dogs houses. Yes, some horse rescuers are taking advantage of the publicity to appeal for funds in seized in past years still before the courts, and many of those dogs still in mandatory shelter the name of addressing this alleged crisis. And yes, horse sanctuaries, like every other type custody pending the conclusion of their cases, unavailable for adoption. of shelter and sanctuary, are perennially full, trying to cope with greater need than anyone has Stronger legislation in several states and increased public concern drummed up by the means to fully address. humane societies were probably involved in the 2008 surge in seizures, yet it is difficult to But no, real numbers do not support any claim that horse abandonment has argue that stronger legislation and increased concern had an effect against puppy mills without increased. ANIMAL PEOPLE has tracked horse impoundments due to neglect and abuse for having a comparable effect against dogfighting. decades. The trend has been steadily downward. In 2005, for example, when the horse slaughterhouses were open all year, 1,890 horses were impounded in U.S. neglect cases. The Puppy mills & backyard breeders 2008 total, at Thanksgiving, was 1,343, including 100 removed from “rescuers” who took in Taking a closer look at prosecutions of breeders suggests that the deteriorating U.S. more horses than they could feed. The latter is actually a low figure, as in past years some economy has hit the most marginal operators hardest. Many of the breeders running into trou- individual “rescuers” have neglected that many and more. ble have been breeding for years, but few if any have consistently reinvested profits in Hard data showing the full effect of the present global cash flow crunch on shelters improved dog housing, food, and care. Neglecting the health and socialization of their dogs will not become available until 2010, after all current fiscal years end and the numbers are has cut into their ability to compete with other breeders, and with the expanding adoption out- SEARCHABLE ARCHIVES: www.animalpeoplenews.org reach of the humane community. Backyard breeders tend to be part-timers, who try to pose as breed fanciers, in order to claim the highest possible price for a dog, yet survive by underselling pet stores who get ANIMAL PEOPLE puppies from high-volume commercial breeders. Backyard breeders gain a competitive edge News for People Who Care About Animals by not investing a fraction as much in facilities and advertising, and often by avoiding paying sales tax. High-volume commercial breeders cut costs by raising dogs much as factory farms Published by Animal People, Inc. raise pigs and chickens, hiring minimum wage workers to provide minimal care. Backyard President & Administrator: breeders typically have no paid help. Either modus operandi easily slips into neglect. Kim Bartlett – [email protected] The major market for yard-bred dogs may now be much the same as it was for sub- prime mortgages, among people just struggling into the middle income brackets. We are Editor: Merritt Clifton – [email protected] unaware of any recent studies that have investigated who buys yard-bred dogs, but there is Web producer: Patrice Greanville market research suggesting that recent increases in adoption market share have come mostly Newswire monitor: Cathy Young Czapla among middle and upper income families, and that the higher adoption fees charged in recent P.O. Box 960 years tend to discourage lower income people from seeking a shelter pet. Clinton, WA 98236-0960 There is also considerable belief among the humane community that the major source of pit bull proliferation is speculative backyard breeding among lower income people ISSN 1071-0035. Federal I.D: 14-1752216 who sell dogs chiefly by word of mouth. Telephone: 360-579-2505. Fax: 360-579-2575. Pit bulls already made up close to 25% of the U.S. shelter dog population and close Web: www.animalpeoplenews.org to half of the dogs killed in shelters before the economy went bad, according to three ANI- MAL PEOPLE surveys of shelters nationwide done during the past five years. Now shelters Copyright © 2008 for the authors, artists, and photographers. that formerly made every effort to save pit bulls are concluding that they no longer can. Even Reprint inquiries are welcome. if there were no behavioral issues and no insurance issues involved in adopting out pit bulls, ANIMAL PEOPLE: News for People Who Care About Animals is published rehoming so many dogs of any one breed would be difficult. nine times annually by Animal People, Inc., a nonprofit, charitable corporation dedicated Already hugely over-represented in neglect and abuse cases, and the only breed used to exposing the existence of cruelty to animals and to informing and educating the public of much in dogfighting, more than a million pit bulls are likely to be killed in U.S. shelters in the need to prevent and eliminate such cruelty. Donations to Animal People, Inc. are tax- 2008, up from about 900,000 in 2007. deductible. Financial information on Animal People, Inc. and other charities can be Pit bull sterilization programs may be subsidized and promoted more vigorously, or accessed at
4 - ANIMAL PEOPLE, November/December 2008 Collaborating to save “garbage dogs” in Turkey As “the” international print and at first, but later was renamed Jonah. international calls will impress upon him that Turkish republic that newspaper columnists online animal news periodical, I think Unfortunately, he died on December 1, 2008 people care how his community treats dogs, have attributed difficult economic times in ANIMAL PEOPLE should inform its tens of from consequences of the spinal cord injury and that this influences the worldwide reputa- Turkey to the curse of Turks having done it. thousands of international readers about how that had caused his paralysis. tion of Turks. I believe that lingering memories of collaboration can bring about major changes I was meanwhile contacted by anoth- 2) Form a partnership with Turkish the Oxia abandonment are among the main around the globe without people even leaving er Turkish group who is even more involved rescue groups so they can call upon the inter- reasons why Turkey banned killing homeless their seat. with these dogs. This group asked to remain national community, if in the future Turkish dogs. The Oxia action may also be seen as a I recently received an e-mail about a anonymous, but told me that this incident communities violate federal laws against prelude to the Armenian genocide, or forced Turkish dog with paralyzed legs who accord- received major media coverage all over killing stray Turkish dogs. This has happened exile of Armenians, as mainstream Turkish ing to a Facebook posting was allegedly Turkey. Dozens of Turkish people offered to many times when local governments thought historians prefer to characterize it (when they crushed in a garbage truck. Although I am adopt Jonah. Soon Turkish animal organiza- no one was watching. There are many good mention it at all). Armenian, I was born and spent the first 10 tions started fighting each other over the future Turkish rescue groups who feel isolated in a As soon as my organization became years of my life in Turkey. I contacted a of Jonah. The people of Van demanded that nation where not all speech is free. We can able to help Turkish animal groups, in the Turkish group to whom our organization has Jonah remain in Van because they too care assist our Turkish colleagues and their animals early 1990s, we began, many years before sent medicine, supplies and money. They had about him. in a way that they cannot do for themselves. starting to help animal groups in Armenia. already been in touch with the mayor of the Some Turkish animal advocacy It is said that as Turkey goes, so Unfortunately, Turkish federal Turkish city of Van, where the incident groups reported that they recruited many new goes the Islamic world. Therefore, Turkey is authorities often permit local authorities to bla- occurred. The garbage men did not crush the members, never previously involved with ani- a key venue to effect changes in the treatment tantly violate federal laws, including the 2004 dog in the garbage truck. They merely used mal causes, because of the concern of Turkish of animals throughout the Islamic world. law which mandates the use of neuter/return to the truck to transport the dog to the town’s people about Jonah. Turkey has a very strong animal pro- control homeless dog populations. garbage dump, where they left him, thinking The second dog has had multiple tection movement. It is already a leader in the Many Turkish municipalities are he could at least find food there. surgeries. The vet at the university hospital in Muslim world as regards animal welfare, and now contracting with “pest” extermination Then a Facebook video posting came Van is reportedly willing to adopt the second is among the few nations which have national- companies to kill dogs. Instead of following to light which showed the men picking up the dog. Some of the equipment needed for the ly banned killing homeless dogs. the U.S. model of partnerships between gov- dog, putting him on the back of the garbage second dog’s surgery were not available in Turkish history has been marred by ernment agencies and privately funded humane truck, and pulling away without operating the Van, but the Turkish and international outrage the pogroms against Armenians in 1895 and societies, these Turkish cities have totally shut crusher. This video was not available at the caused the municipality of Van to transport the 1915, and by two incidents of dumping thou- out the animal groups, and have squandered time the story first was posted. Unfortunately necessary equipment from Ankara the very sands of dogs on offshore islands to starve. the head start they received in the years just there have been previous cases in which next day. This equipment had long been The first dog-dumping occurred at preceding passage of the 2004 law, when Turkish garbage trucks have crushed dogs, sought by the hospital, but had previously some point prior to 1869, when Mark Twain British philanthropist Robert Smith poured reported by the Turkish paper Hurriyet, which been refused. The hospital will now have the described it in The Innocents Abroad, along over a million dollars into creating no-kill is very animal friendly. capabilities to treat other dogs in the future. with “the howl of horror” from the human pop- shelters and a free spay neuter program under The mayor of Van, B u r h a n The following would be very helpful ulation of Istabul that stopped the practice. municipal contracts. Yenigun, ordered the Van sanitation depart- to sustain a positive spiral from the suffering The second occurred in 1910, when thousands ––Garo Alexanian ment to go find the dog. They did, and they of these two dogs. of dogs were dumped on Oxia Island, who all Companion Animal Network found another injured dog as well. The local 1 ) Call Turkish embassies and starved and killed each other. It is said that P.O. Box 656712 governor, Ozdemir Cakacak, began an investi- consulates all over the world, whose contact people on the neighboring island of Kinali, Fresh Meadows, NY 11365 gation into this case. information is available at
ANIMAL PEOPLE, November/December 2008 - 5 Response to “Is non-surgical sterilization the best use of $75 million?” female animal’s body into rejecting the male and twelve-month implants available. If we were able to save $25 per procedure... animal’s sperm and destroying it just as the Finally, you wrote that “advances in Thanks for your three articles on the port, logo, and contact person to share news immune system destroys viruses and bacteria.” surgical sterilization technique have enabled Found Animals Foundation’s Michelson Prize through. Details are on our web site. This is how the anti-sperm immunocontracep- the most skilled dog and cat sterilization spe- and grants announcement. You did a terrific Thanks again for your global reach tion works, but over the years there have been cialists to castrate male animals in as little as job on your coverage, and as usual shared an with this story. Hopefully the word will many approaches to immunocontraception, four minutes, and spay females in as little as i n t e r e s t i n g range of perspectives on world- spread to those who can make a difference. using anti-hormone vaccines, anti-receptor six minutes. At that rate of speed, the differ- wide possibilities and backstory about the We’ve already had several scientists reach out vaccines and many others. The most common ence in veterinary time expended between topic. Thanks for pulling so many sources of wanting more information and background. and widely used immunocontraception is surgery and injection is slight, and surgery information together into this article and giv- We’ll include your stories on our website to porcine zona pellucida vaccine (PZP). This has advantages in altering the behavior and ing it the focus you did. help provide that. works by injecting the protein coating of the improving the longevity of animals that One of your headlines asked, I s ––Joyce Briggs animal’s egg (the zona pellucida), which injectible methods so far have not conveyed.” non-surgical sterilization the best use of $75 President serves to create an immune response to the While sterilization surgery may take million? I appreciate you taking this head on, Alliance for Contraception eggs and effectively contracepts the animal. only a few minutes, administering the anes- as I think many may wonder about it. When in Cats and Dogs This approach has been shown to work in thesia, preparing the surgical site, and moni- we studied that question, we concluded that if NW Belle Court some species, but not in dogs or cats. toring recovery from anesthesia adds to the we were able to save even $25 per sterilization Portland, OR 97229 You mentioned that “A second time needed to complete the operation. procedure provided by non-profits or at low Phone: 503-358-1438 immunocontraceptive approach, using anti- Therefore, there is still a huge need for a truly cost, we would save approximately $53 mil-
Editor’s note: Ruth Steinberger literally wrote the book on community organizing to promote dog and cat sterilization. It may be downloaded, at no charge, from––
6 - ANIMAL PEOPLE, November/December 2008 Pending Obama dog adoption upstages cabinet picks (from page 1) to dispel the myth that any particular breeds nently backed Obama, warned that the Hog Farmer North American Preview, tion of polar bear trophies.” are “hypoallergenic.” Which dogs anyone is changes could put “entire species and ecosys- “California voters approved by over 60% the But hunter support helped incumbent allergic to depends upon individual sensitivi- tems at risk for complete destruction.” referendum [Proposition Two] that would ban Georgia Senator Saxby Chambliss, a Repub- ties, and which dogs shed the most hair and Explained Joaquin Sapien of modern confinement housing for egg-laying lican, to win a runoff that denied the Demo- dander is governed more by climate, health, P r o P u b l i c a , “One revision Brown is con- hens, pregnant sows and veal calves by 2015. crats a 60-vote filibuster-proof Senate majori- and diet than by breed. cerned about would remove a requirement that This vote will have a major influence on ani- ty. “Chambliss is an important ally for sports- Breeders anxious for the Obama scientists at the Fish & Wildlife Service or the mal welfare issues in the 111th Congress.” men, animal owners, and animal agriculture,” family to pick a purebred aggressively lobbied National Marine Fisheries Service must evalu- Agreed Troy Marshall of B e e f , exulted Sportsmen & Animal Owners Voting in favor of almost every kind of dog except a ate how federally approved mining, logging “Agriculture spent a lot of money, and 30 of Alliance director Susan Wolf. “As [then] chair shelter mutt. More than 20,000 people urged and power plant projects might impact endan- the state’s largest newspapers came out in of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, the Obamas to either adopt or buy a pit bull gered species before the projects can begin.” opposition to Proposition Two. Yet it passed Nutrition, and Forestry, Chambliss ended” a terrier, but some pit bull rescuers suggested “This rule change will remove thou- overwhelmingly. Whether it be on trade, bill that would have extended the Animal that this might stimulate pit bull breeding, sands of projects from scientific review,” taxes, the environment, animal welfare, Welfare Act to protect all dogs bred for sale. adding to the surplus already glutting shelters. warned Center for Biological Diversity biodi- industry regulation, bio-fuels or simply rural “Chambliss has also been an astute opponent Interest in the Obama family’s dog versity program director Noah Greenwald. America’s political clout, the winds are not of horse slaughter bans,” Wolf added. selection was global. In Peru, for example, Continued Sapiens, “The Bush blowing in our favor.” Obama has said little Among the recipients of presidential said Associated Press, the Friends of the administration also wants to insert language about farm animal welfare, but favors stricter pardons granted by George W. Bush before Peruvian Hairless Dog Association offered the into the law that would keep the effect of regulation of air and water pollution produced leaving office were Milton Kirk Cordes of Obama family a pup named Machu Picchu. greenhouse gases on threatened wildlife from by feedlots, called CAFO, short for “confined Rapid City, South Dakota, and Leslie Owen But the dog question was upstaged being factored into the Endangered Species animal feeding operations,” by the industry. Collier of Charleston, Missouri. in Kenya when the Kenyan government began Act. Environmentalists have used that concept Hunters are also worried. Pointed “Cordes,” recalled Markarian, “was promoting an “Obama circuit” to attract as a leveraging tool to try to force the adminis- out Humane Society Legislative Fund presi- convicted of violating the Lacey Act in 1998, tourists to Kogelo, the western Kenya town tration to act on global warming.” dent Mike Markarian, “The National Rifle for his part in a private big-game hunting oper- where Obama’s father lived. Touting “tradi- Among Obama’s first cabinet picks Association not only failed to elect John ation which illegally obtained mule deer tional” fights between bulls as the climax of was former U.S. deputy attorney general Eric McCain and Sarah Palin to the White House, licenses for out-of-state trophy hunters.” “Obama circuit” tourism, promoter Hillary Holder, named to become Attorney General. but also failed to defend many of its leading Collier in 1995 pleaded guilty to poi- Wendo of Target Africa obtained eight bulls Briefly acting attorney general during the first advocates in Congress. In the 39 Congress- soning three federally protected bald eagles, a and announced that the first bullfights would days of the George W. Bush presidency, ional races where the NRA and Humane red-tailed hawk, a great horned owl, an opos- be held on December 13, 2008 at Moi Holder was in July 2007 hired to represent the Society Legislative Fund endorsed opposing sum, a raccoon, and seven coyotes, while try- International Sports Centre in Kasarani, a sub- National Football League in disciplining for- candidates, HSLF won 76% of the time.” ing to encourage the recovery of a huntable urb of Nairobi, the Kenyan capital. mer Atlanta Falcons quarterback and now con- An early outcome of that balance tilt wild turkey population on his farm. Africa Network for Animal Welfare victed dogfighter Michael Vick. Already was that on November 20, 2008, Henry A. Seen by many Republicans as poten- founder Josphat Ngonyo pointed out that the barred from the Falcons’ training camp, Vick Waxman of California ousted John D. Dingell tially their next presidential candidate, losing bullfights would violate at least three provi- was later indefinitely suspended. He may seek of Michigan as chair of the House Committee vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin in her sions of the Kenyan Prevention of Cruelty to reinstatement after finishing a three-year feder- on Energy and Commerce, 137-122. Dingell capacity as governor of Alaska on November Animals Act. Ngonyo at the ANIMAL PEO- al prison term on July 20, 2009. Surry County had been the ranking Democrat on the commit- 21, 2008 usurped a ceremonial role usually P L E deadline had applied for a court injunc- Circuit Court Judge Samuel Campbell on tee since 1980. The committee hears most reserved to presidents by “pardoning” a turkey tion that would prohibit the bullfights. November 26, 2008 handed Vick a three-year items of environmental legislation before they at the Triple D Farm & Hatchery outside suspended sentence on related Virginia state pass to the full House. Wasilla, Alaska––her home town. Video by Ag, Interior still open charges. Vick pleaded guilty to one count of Mourned the U.S. Sportsmens Marc Lester of the Anchorage Daily News The most important Obama cabinet dogfighting, but not guilty to cruelty to ani- Alliance, “Representive Dingell has been a showed Palin reading a proclamation pro- pick relative to animal welfare will be his mals. The cruelty charge was then dropped. tireless champion of sportsmen issues for claiming herself a “friend to all creatures great choice as Secretary of Agriculture. As well as Obama named New Mexico gover- decades, while Representive Waxman has a and small,” elbowing the farmer standing presiding over U.S. policy toward farm ani- nor Bill Richardson to become Secretary of long history of supporting the causes of beside her as if to share a joke. mals, the Secretary of Agriculture supervises Commerce. The Secretary of Commerce has extremist animal rights and anti-firearm After the “pardon,” the Lester video the administration of the Animal & Plant authority over several international treaties groups. Among Waxman’s anti-hunting votes showed, Palin held a press conference while Health Inspection Service, the branch of the involving animals, including some of the are: against allowing hunting, fishing, and turkey slaughtering went on in the background. U.S. Department of Agriculture that enforces enforcement provisions of the Marine trapping in the East Mojave Scenic Area; “She does have this very special the federal Animal Welfare Act. As A N I - Mammal Protection Act. against the National Wildlife Refuge relationship with animals,” commented Ana MAL PEOPLE went to press, Obama had yet Widely considered the most influen- Improvement Act of 1996 that enshrined hunt- Marie Cox of Time on the MSNBC program to nominate a Secretary of Agriculture, but tial U.S. politician of Hispanic ancestry, ing, fishing, and trapping as a priority use of Countdown, hosted by Keith Olbermann. “It former Iowa governor Tom Vilsack, the lead- Richardson in March 2007 signed into law a wildlife refuges; and for banning the importa- involves blood usually.” ing choice of animal advocates among cockfighting ban, pushed for 18 years by state rumored nominees, on November 23 told the senator Mary Jane Garcia. Both Richardson Des Moines Register that he had withdrawn and Garcia rejected cockfighters’ claim that from candidacy. “In an e-mail,” reported the cockfighting is an integral part of Latino her- R e g i s t e r , “Vilsack said he had never been itage. But Richardson had pledged while run- contacted by aides to President-elect Obama ning for governor in 2002 that he would not about that position or any other.” ban cockfighting. Said Vilsack, “I would have to spec- In January 2006 Richardson became ulate that I was in fact in the running and fur- a target of SHARK video truck protests for ther speculate as to why I was no longer. I do offering incentives worth $750,000 to try to not think it prudent or appropriate to speculate lure the Professional Rodeo Cowboys about either.” Association headquarters from Colorado to Obama also had yet to name a New Mexico; pledging $12 million in state Secretary of the Interior, who will be respon- funding for a top-level rodeo arena; and sible for administering U.S. public lands poli- pledging $3 million more to help renovate cy, including the Bureau of Land Manage- local rodeo arenas. After Richardson signed ment wild horse program, and the U.S. Fish & the cockfighting ban, he boasted in July 2007 Wildlife Service, responsible for enforcing the of shooting an oryx at media magnate Ted federal Endangered Species Act. Among the Turner’s New Mexico ranch. first problems the new Secretary of the Interior Richardson was also “a prominent will have to address––apart from the wild steer roping supporter with arena banners and horse issue (see page 1) will be last-minute a full page advertisement of himself in the changes made by the George W. Bush regime rodeo program” at the 2007 National Finals to the ESA enforcement procedure. Steer Roping event in Hobbs, New Mexico California attorney general and for- during the first weekend of November, report- mer governor Jerry Brown on November 10, ed SHARK founder Steve Hindi. 2008 reinforced the appeals of conservation groups for the Obama administration to Use groups lose clout rescind the rules changes. This can only be Animal use industries expect major done by Congressional action or through a political realignment with Obama in the White rule-making process requiring months of hear- House and a Democratic-controlled Senate and ings. Brown, a Democrat who twice pursued House of Representatives. the U.S. Presidential nomination and promi- Wrote P. Scott Shearer for National Ex-NIMH head Goodwin is back in the news Frederick K. Goodwin, host of “The GlaxoSmithKline paid Goodwin $2,500 to Infinite Mind” program on National Public give a promotional lecture for its mood stabi- Radio since 1998, “earned at least $1.3 mil- lizer drug Lamictal. GlaxoSmithKline paid lion from 2000 to 2007 giving marketing lec- him more than $329,000 that year for promot- tures for drugmakers, income not mentioned ing Lamictal, records given to Congressional on the program,” reported Gardiner Harris of investigators show.” The New York Times on November 21, 2008, As director of the National Institutes citing findings by Senator Charles E. Grassley of Mental Health during the Ronald Reagan (R-Iowa). and George H. Bush presidencies, and earlier “In a program broadcast on Sept- as director of the Alcohol, Drug Abuse, & ember 20, 2005,” Harris wrote, Goodwin Mental Health Administration, Goodwin was “warned that children with bipolar disorder a frequent flamboyant critic of animal advoca- who were left untreated could suffer brain cy. He was transferred from the NIMH to damage, a controversial view. ‘But as we’ll another position within the Department of be hearing today,’ Dr. Goodwin told his audi- Health & Human Services after a February ence, “modern treatments––mood stabilizers in 1992 speech in which he reportedly likened particular––have been proven both safe and U.S. inner cities to jungles and inner city youth effective in bipolar children.’ That same day, to violent and hypersexual monkeys. November/December 2008 3/22/13 9:17 PM Page 7
ANIMAL PEOPLE, November/December 2008 - 7 Ivory auctions net much less than African nations expected Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe, The Zim Daily web site soon disap- this year and those remaining are skittish. We then auctioned to buyers in Bertoua by the and South Africa between October 31 and peared, as often occurs to news media critical can guarantee that if they are subjected to hairs Provincial Delegation of Forestry and November 7, 2008 collected $15.4 million of Mugabe, but Maina offered further detail. being pulled out of their tails, fireworks and Wildlife,” Tumasang wrote. from the sale of 108 tons of stockpiled ele- “In the run-up to the ivory auction,” beer cans being thrown at them, cigarettes Elephant poaching and ivory traf- phant tusks to Chinese and Japanese traders, Maina wrote, “substantial quantities of high being stubbed out on them, headlights being ficking also surged in India during the two in the first ivory sales approved by the caliber weapons disappeared from the armory flashed in their eyes, and cars being rammed years preceding the CITES-approved sale. The Convention on International Trade in of Zimbabwe’s department of parks and into their legs as Tusker was, they will do H i n d u in October and November 2008 pub- Endangered Species since 1999. wildlife near State House, Harare,” according more than just turn over a few cars.” lished reports of ivory seizures and investiga- But the sellers were reportedly dis- to Zim Daily. “During the same period, 200 Ten days after the last of the legal tions of elephants found dead without their appointed in their take. elephants were reported to have been killed in ivory auctions, the United Nations-sponsored tusks in Utterkhand and Karnataka states. The average price paid for ivory was the Zambezi Valley bordering Zambia. The international police agency Interpol coordinat- Kairali TV news broadcast an exposé of a $152 U.S. per kilogram, less than a fifth the Zimbabwe government blamed this on animal ed Operation Baba, a one-day sweep targeting racket in which a retired forestry officer and price that some conservationists have claimed rights groups which ‘want to thwart Mugabe’s more than 50 local ivory markets, airports, his son allegedly kill captive elephants to col- is paid for poached ivory. bid to have CITES relax its trade rules.’” border crossings, and suspected smuggling lect the insurance on them, and sell the tucks. “If ever there was a demonstration Recalled Maina, “In July 2000 a points in Congo-Brazzaville, Ghana, Kenya, One major ivory trafficking case that crime doesn’t pay, this is it,” CITES rep- German wildlife conservation organization, Uganda, and Zambia, involving “more than broke in the U.S. A Houston federal magis- resentative John Sellar told Agence France- EcoTerra,” with an office in Nairobi, Kenya, 300 law enforcement officers from police, trate on December 5, 2008 ordered alleged Press. “The poachers and the dealers in Africa “revealed that Mugabe had sold eight tons of customs, wildlife and national intelligence ivory trafficker Mamadi Doumbouya, 39, to have taken people in Asia for mugs, and they ivory to China in exchange for firearms.” agencies,” an Interpol press release said. be kept in custody and moved to Brooklyn, appear to have gotten away with it for several Zimbabwean officials appeared to be Directed at ivory trafficking, “The New York, to stand trial, reported Mary years. If next week you’re a dealer in illegal seeking pretexts to shoot elephants since 2006, crackdown also seized cheetah, leopard, ser- Flood of the Houston Chronicle. Doumbouya ivory,” Sellars said, “and you try to get 4, 5, when the Mugabe regime reinvigorated efforts val cat and python skins, as well as hippo and five alleged co-conspirators, arrested in 6, 7, 800 dollars a kilo for ivory, you’ll be to seek CITES permission to sell “culled” teeth,” reported Agence France-Presse. other states, are accused of bringing elephant laughed out of the room.” ivory. Reports reached ANIMAL PEOPLE “The operation was called Operation tusks from the Ivory Coast, Cameroon and Zimbabwe sold just under four tons that elephants were even shot to feed ranched Baba,” e-mailed Bill Clark, formerly African Uganda into the U.S., disguised by clay coat- of ivory for $450,000. “We expected more crocodiles––and in at least one instance, programs coordinator for Friends of Animals, ings as sculptures and musical instruments. than this,” a Zimbabwean official who was because an elephant with a friendly reputation “to honor the memory of Gilbert Baba, a Doumbouya’s brother Drissa Diane not named told Agence France-Presse. “This was provoked until he became briefly violent. Ghanian wildlife ranger who was killed by reportedly told an undercover agent, “Our is the problem when you just have two buyers “2008 is now drawing to a close and traffickers about 10 years ago. He was one of business is like a Mafia business. You know who behave like a cartel,” the official said. one cannot help but bitterly remember the trag- my students, and learned how to fly the first my daddy used to be a dealer, so I learned a The unexpectedly low take was a ic shooting of Tusker, also known as Dustbin, ultralight” donated by FoA in 1992 to help in lot and I know a lot of people.” Drissa Diane political blow to the Robert Mugabe govern- after the 2007 New Year’s Party in Charara, anti-poaching work. was also arrested. ment. The opposition Zim Daily reported that Kariba,” e-mailed Zimbabwe Conservation “The traffickers learned he was after Born in Ivory Coast, Mamadi “Mugabe’s government––cash strapped and Task Force chair Johnny Rodrigues. “He was them and somehow put poison into his food. Doumbouya is a legal resident of the U.S., hungry for foreign exchange to pay for teased and tormented mercilessly by drunken Gilbert walked about 15 kilometres after hav- and had a citizenship application pending. He imports––was planning to have the Chinese youths and when he retaliated by turning a ing been poisoned, and got back to base in was fined in 2003 for his part in importing 22 government pay for the ivory with guns couple of cars over, he signed his own death Mole National Park, but died some hours ivory carvings, and was questioned in 2006 Mugabe’s people ordered just before this warrant. We found out later that fruit had been afterward. I keep a photo of him above my about importing wildlfe contraband including a year’s Zimbabwean presidential run-off,” thrown under the cars ‘to see what the elephant desk,” Clark said. baboon skull, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service wrote Samuel Maina of Wildlife Direct. would do.’” Tusker was shot, despite good Despite the low bids on ivory at the special agent Philip Alegranti testified. “Facing an imminent end to his behavior afterward, on January 6, 2008–– auctions and the success of Operation Baba, Ivory trafficking within the U.S. may three-decade grip on power, Mugabe decided almost a week after the incident. the poached ivory traffic remained vigorous. become more difficult in 2009, as eBay Inc. to buy guns to wage war against the opposi- Rodrigues tried unsuccessfully to Two mid-November raids by Cameroonian announced in late October that effective on tion, should he lose the elections,” Maina stop further New Year’s Eve partying at rangers netted a combined total of 1,576 con- January 1, 2009 it will prohibit the sale via summarized. “The best place to buy the guns Charara. “There are still some elephants in the traband wildlife items, including at least 30 eBay of all ivory items except for objects such was from China, since they are not participat- Charara area,” Rodrigues warned. “These ele- “elephant pieces,” reported Robert Tumasang, as pianos made before 1900, in which the ing in the arms embargo of Zimbabwe by phants are not as good-natured as Tusker was. Bertoua correspondent for the Buea Post. The ivory keys are believed to be incidental to the western nations.” Several elephants have been shot in the area traffickers escaped, and the contraband “was value of the item as a whole. November/December 2008 3/22/13 9:17 PM Page 8
8 - ANIMAL PEOPLE, November/December 2008 Pickens bids to save BLM wild are living symbols of the history of the burro who is more than 10 years of age, or have banned horse slaughter and American West and must be protected. My who has been offered for adoption three times shuttered the remaining U.S.-based view is for a wild horse sanctuary that will be without a taker. plants, American horses are still a tourist destination where Americans and “Other options could be explored, being exported to Canada and tourists from around the world can observe this the report said, including relocating infertile Mexico to be butchered,” explained great part of American history.” herds to areas outside original boundaries set Humane Society Legislative Fund Elaborated Pickens to Guy Adams of by the 1971 Wild Horse and Burro Act, or giv- director Mike Markarian in July The Independent, “We will take all the excess ing tax breaks to large land owners willing to 2008. horses, and put them somewhere where fami- care for large numbers of animals,” summa- Markarian predicted that lies can see them and live among them, and rized Associated Press writer Sandra Chereb. “The horse slaughter industry will camp out in teepees and have bonfires and “This is a situation where we have to try to make the tired argument that look up at the stars and get to know this have a conversation about what the law there are too many unwanted horses incredible aspect of our heritage.” requires,” Bisson told Layton. “We’re hear- and nowhere for them to go. There “The response has been simply over- ing from members of Congress that they don’t is a network of horse sanctuaries and whelming,” Pickens updated in her next web think euthanasia is an appropriate solution, rescuers who stand ready to help,” (Kim Bartlett) posting. “Be assured I am moving forward as but the law says, ‘You shall.’ If people don’t Markarian rebutted. “We have heard time and Buffalo Horse Coalition in 1994, with six fil- quickly as possible.” like what the law says, they need to address it. time again from these dedicated folks who try lies and two stallions whom he believed to be “Pickens, the child of British father We hope we will find homes for all of these to rescue horses or purchase them at auctions, of direct descent from some of the Spanish and Lebanese mother who grew up in the animals before the year is out, and Congress only to be outbid by the ‘killer buyers.’” horses who escaped to become the ancestors of Middle East and went to school in England will decide what it wants to do about the law.” Markarian posted affirmations from most North American mustangs. and France, said she always had a love for the 18 horse rescuers in 10 states. “The state Department of Livestock West and wild horses,” elaborated Associated Meanwhile at the The strengthened anti-horse slaugh- and the Glacier Sheriff’s Office began investi- Press writer Jamie Stengle. “She said she has ter legislation that the Humane Society gating the Blackfeet Buffalo Horse Coalition proposed purchasing around a million acres to BLM Legislative Fund wants did not reach the floor last spring,” reported Great Falls Tribune be a refuge for the horses now in holding facil- Bisson added that the BLM will of either the U.S. Senate or House of staff writer Kim Skornogoski, “when con- ities, and that the BLM has agreed to give her round up about 5,000 more horses in 2009. Representatives in 2008, but it did clear the cerned neighbors and animal activists notified the horses once she has the land. BLM “The word ‘euthanasia’ suggests that House Judiciary Committee in September. It them that many of the 120 to 130 horses on the spokesperson Tom Gorey said the agency wel- the BLM will be putting these horses out of may stand an excellent chance of passage by ranch were starving or dead.” comes the offer.” their misery. But they are not in misery in the the next Congress. Bedard, also known as Bob Black BLM deputy director Henri Bisson first place. It’s the most cynical thing I’ve ever About 79,000 U.S. horses were sold Bull, is not an enrolled member of any Native told Layton that the BLM will seek $20 mil- heard,” responded Deanne Stillman, author of to slaughter in Canada and Mexico in 2008, American tribe, but was not charged earlier, lion from Congress to hold the horses now in Mustang: The Saga of the Wild Horse, to more than before horse slaughter stopped in Glacier County prosecutor Larry Epstein told captivity for another year while Pickens devel- Adams of The Independent. the U.S., but probably fewer than at the peak Susan Gallagher of Associated Press, because ops her project. “In Nevada alone, added Jerry of the slaughter export traffic more than 20 he was believed to have been subject to tribal “As backup to Pickens’ offer,” Reynoldson of the Wild Horse Adoption years ago, when as many as 61,000 U.S. hors- rather than local jurisdiction. Now living with wrote Layton, “two animal rescue organiza- Association, “the BLM controls 47 million es were slaughtered in Quebec alone. his mother in Cumberland, Rhode Island, tions have expressed a similar interest in adop- acres,” or 47 times more land than Pickens Proponents of horse slaughter may Bedard told Gallagher that horse care on the tion.” hopes to buy. believe that adding the 30,000 captive wild ranch slipped after he was nearly killed a year “WildEarth Guardians wants to take According to data gathered by horses to the 79,000 who purportedly have ago in an all-terrain vehicle accident. Pickens’ plan further by proposing a solution Nevada wild horse ecologist Craig C. Downer, nowhere else to go will reinforce the impres- Epstein ordered that all of the sur- the group believes would resolve public land presented to an October 12, 2008 “Wild Horse sion they hope to create that slaughter is neces- viving horses were to be removed from the grazing conflicts that have resulted in the hors- Summit” organized by the International sary, to cope with the surplus. That argument ranch by December 5, 2008. es needing a home,” reported Susan Montoya Society for the Protection of Mustangs & gained spin on November 12, 2008 when “Only 76 horses remained when vol- Bryan of Associated Press on November 29, Burros, the BLM has reduced the amount of Blackfeet Buffalo Horse Coalition founder unteers led by the Montana Horse Sanctuary 2008. “WildEarth Guardians is advocating its land accessible to wild horses by 18% since Robert Bedard, 57, was charged with aggra- arrived to begin rounding up the animals and legislation that would allow ranchers to relin- 1971. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service has vated animal cruelty in connection with the readying them to be taken to new homes quish grazing permits in exchange for compen- excluded wild horses from 53% of its holdings alleged starvation deaths of at least 13 wild across Montana and as far away as Canada and sation. The idea is that livestock would be in former horse habitat––mostly in the name of horses last winter on the 640-acre Seven Kentucky,” wrote Skornogoski. removed from the allotment, leaving a refuge conservation. Yet more than 95% of the land Eagles Ranch, west of Browning, Montana. Finished Gallagher, “Had the volun- for wild horses and other native animals and used by wild horses in 1971 is still used for Bedard founded the Blackfeet teers not arranged relocation of the horses, plants,” Bryan explained. grazing livestock, in much greater numbers. Bryan was unable to obtain comment “While forage and water rarely seem from Madeleine Pickens. New Mexico Cattle to be an issue for the established livestock and Growers Association executive director Caren big game interests,” Downer charged, “these Cowan opposed the idea. same resources are almost always portrayed as But The New York Times o n being too little for the relatively tiny members November 19, 2008 editorially backed both of our nation’s remaining wild horses and bur- Pickens and WildEarth Guardians. ros. My overall analysis reveals an effective “Pickens plans to sterilize the horses displacement of the wild equids from at least on her land and says she will take any addi- 75%, or three fourths, of the public lands–– tional horses the federal government wants to both BLM and USFWS––to which they are cull from the wild herd,” The New York Times legally entitled…Our supposed public servants editors noted. “Sterilization is the best solu- have already eliminated the wild horses and tion for long-term wild horse management. burros from the grazing allotments of 36% of The federal Bureau of Land Management is the public lands ranchers in spite of the legal finally coming to understand that and is now right of the horses and burros to live there.” working with the Humane Society of the U.S. Downer calculated that livestock on very promising contraception studies in two consume nearly 14 million Animal Unit herds. The bureau also needs to consider buy- Months’ worth of forage per year on BLM and ing back some of its range permits from cattle USFWS land, while wild horses consume ranchers. We suspect that in this economic cli- barely 400,000 AUMs. mate, some ranchers would be glad to part “Given the length of time equids with them. The bureau then could leave wild have evolved here, it would be blind not to horses on the range.” recognize the great importance of the equid Summarized Layton, “About 33,000 element in the North American ecosystem,” horses still roam wild on federal lands in 10 Downer continued. “Yet government person- western states. About half are in Nevada. The nel persist in maintaining that the wild equids BLM believes the range can accommodate do not warrant native wildlife designation. I only about 27,000 horses. Each year govern- suggest they visit one of our national monu- ment-hired cowboys round up 7,000 to 13,000 ments, by the name of Hagerman Horse Fossil horses and take them to holding pens. The in Idaho, and carefully consider the abundant roundups became more aggressive under the evidence from paleontological science that Bush administration. As of June, BLM was establishes the horse family, genus, and even holding 30,088 horses, more than triple the modern-day species, Equus caballus, as 9,807 held in 2001.” The cost of keeping the among the most truly native in North America, horses also tripled, to $21 million in 2007. of longest evolutionary duration here. The The November 17 Reno hearing horse as returned native species and the burro about killing wild horses came one week after as a species with substantial evolutionary roots the Government Accountability Office, a in North America are proven facts…but rarely Congressional watchdog agency, projected if ever acknowledged by BLM and USFS offi- that the BLM would spend $27 million on cials charged with their protection.” keeping wild horses captive in 2009. “BLM cannot afford to care for all Slaughter lobby the animals off the range, while at the same In the background, the National time manage wild horse and burro populations Cattlemen’s Beef Association in mid-2008 on the range,” the GAO concluded. The GAO joined lobbyists for the horse slaughter indus- noted that Bisson had in June 2008 suggested try to try to prevent the passage of federal leg- killing or selling horses to cut costs. islation that would criminalize selling or trans- Under an amendment to the 1971 porting horses to be slaughtered for human Wild and Free Ranging Horse and Burro consumption. Protection Act slipped through Congress as a “Although the House and Senate last-minute rider to the November 2004 have both passed legislation by wide margins Consolidated Appropriations Act, the Bureau intended to stop the slaughter of horses for of Land Management is now mandated to sell human consumption, and state legislatures “without limitation” any “excess” horse or November/December 2008 3/22/13 9:17 PM Page 9
ANIMAL PEOPLE, November/December 2008 - 9
Shelters respond to economic crisis Companion animal welfare notes The Best Friends Animal Society in Bands of Mercy involved schoolchildren in edu- The 950-store PETCO chain on film Pedigree Dogs Exposed, which argued November 2008 laid off 30 personnel, retaining cational activities, while the Jack London Clubs November 17, 2008 announced that it is that highly selective breeding was damaging 420. “Our revenues are up about 5% this year mobilized 750,000 teenaged animal advocates. “phasing out rabbit sales in favor of the health of many pedigree dogs and compared to last, but in recent years we have The Florida East Coast Humane a d o p t i o n s . ” Said PETCO spokesperson undermining their genetic diversity. The averaged near 20% annual growth,” chief execu- S o c i e t y, formerly the St. Augustine Humane Lisa Epstein, “PETCO already has strong Royal SPCA, the People’s Dispensary for tive officer Paul Berry told ANIMAL PEOPLE. S o c i e t y , sent six dogs and 15 cats to the relationships with about 70 rabbit adoption Sick Animals, and Dogs Trust responded “Donors are giving less frequently, because they Jacksonville Humane Society on October 31, groups, including the Minnesota by pulling out of Crufts.” Sponsor Pedigree are worried about the uncertain economy. We 2008, and closed “after more than 65 years in Companion Rabbit Society, the Oregon also withdrew, citing commercial concerns. wanted to act now, in advance of any urgency,” operation,” reported Charlie Patton of the Humane Society, the Animal Rescue The Kennel Club announced in October Berry added, “so that we could afford our folks a Florida Times-Union. Executive director Cindy League of Boston, the San Diego House 2008 that it is redrafting the show standards proper severance and get them out in the job mar- Bishop hoped a fundraising drive might enable it Rabbit Society and the Escondido Humane for 209 breeds to eliminate rules that favor ket now, before the worst of it hits.” The largest to reopen in six to eight months. Society. PETCO is also communicating dogs with extreme and unnatural character- previous layoff by any major U.S. humane soci- Dog & Kitty City, a 30-year-old no- with the national House Rabbit Society to istics which might impair their health. ety of which ANIMAL PEOPLE has record kill shelter in Dallas, Texas, in November 2008 build additional relationships with local Founded in 1873, the Kennel Club has held came when the Massachusetts SPCA, with 600 briefly stopped accepting animals due to lack of chapters and affiliates.” the Crufts show since 1891. staff, laid off 20 and eliminated 32 vacant posi- funds, reporting a 25% drop in adoptions and a The BBC, televising the Crufts The American SPCA has added tions in 2003. The MSPCA had survived the 75% fall in donations since a year earlier, but an dog exhibition since 1966, “is consider- former Louisiana SPCA chief executive Great Depression without laying off anyone, but article about the crisis by Dan X. McGraw of the ing ending its coverage of the Kennel Laura Maloney as senior vice president for had earlier all but folded the Bands of Mercy and Dallas Morning News brought “more than Club’s showpiece event,” reported Stephen anti-cruelty initiatives and has promoted Jack London Clubs to cope with the debt incurred $15,000 and hundreds of pounds of food to the Moss of The Guardian on December 5. In attorney Stacy Wolf, with the ASPCA since in building Angell Memorial Hospital, opened in no-kill shelter,” shelter director Sandra Mustafa August 2008, Moss explained, “BBC1 1998, to vice president and chief legal 1915. At peak in 1912 as many as 265,000 told McGraw several days later. broadcast Jemima Harrison’s disturbing counsel for humane law enforcement. Events Dec. 20: Adopt, Don’t Shop! day of protest against puppy mills. Info:
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10 - ANIMAL PEOPLE, November/December 2008
sows with metal rods, slamming piglets on a not-so-gradual spread of even more restrictive resulted in the two pig farms left in the state at concrete floor, and bragging about jamming legislation from state-to-state.” the time going out of business, and in an rods into the anuses of sows,” summarized Responded HSUS factory farm cam- ongoing effort led by the Florida Chamber of Amy Lorentzen of Associated Press. paign coordinator Paul Shapiro, “In a clear Commerce to dismantle the process by which Now headed by former USDA and unequivocal voice, 63.3% of California the law was adopted. Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service voters sent the strongest message yet to animal Of growing concern to all sectors of chief Ron DeHaven, the American Veterinary agribusiness: The time for change has come. the livestock industry, nationwide, is that Medical Association responded to the No doubt, some defenders of agribusiness’ increased public concern about farm animal MowMar case after it was exposed by declar- status quo will argue that producers should just welfare will undermine agribusiness resistance ing that “The practices documented in the dig in their heels and hope to do a better job of to stricter regulation of emissions and efflu- video are not only disturbing, intolerable and ‘educating consumers’ about standard industry ents. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 2007 inhumane, but may also be in violation of practices, but the egg industry has just waged that greenhouse gases emitted by livestock state laws.” The AVMA urged “an immediate the most expensive ‘educational campaign’ in may be regulated as air pollution, and the and thorough investigation.” agribusiness history concerning battery cages, Environmental Protection Agency has already But Jolley argued for language yet still lost in a landslide.” proposed regulations for the livestock industry stronger than that. After the turkey abuse case “What Proposition Two and experi- under the Clean Water Act. Factory farms cur- broke, “Aviagen representatives told the New ence over the past decade have shown,” rently release about 56 million pounds of phos- York Times that they ‘promised to pursue fur- Shapiro assessed, “is that the more consumers phorous, 110 million pounds of nitrogen, and ther investigations that could eventually lead learn about the ways in which many farm ani- two billion pounds of sediment per year into to the employees in the video being fired,’” mals––especially caged laying hens––are treat- U.S. waterways. Jolley recited. “Their promise is unacceptable. ed, the more disturbed they become. With each Contributing to agribusiness con- Domestic turkey. (Kim Bartlett) The weak-kneed phrase ‘could eventually’ campaign, with each release of video from cern, the California Regional Water Quality ment the pollution and turned them over to the should have been replaced with ‘will absolute- whistle-blowing employees, with each split Control Board on November 21, 2008 warned water quality control board. ly.’ As in the case of the Hallmark scandal,” a between future-looking farmers and those who Armstrong Farms that the egg ranches it oper- The Proposition Two requirements cruelty case at a California slaughterhouse cling to the status quo, consumers gain a real ates in San Diego County, keeping about parallel European Union legislation. The EU exposed in 2007 by the Humane Society of the understanding of the routine suffering too 660,000 chickens at any given time, may be phase-out of battery caging for laying hens is U.S., “the next step should be criminal many farm animals endure.” fined for allowing polluted runoff. to be completed by 2012, but 81% of the lay- charges filed against those employees as well Proposition Two passed in the same Owner Ryan Armstrong prominently ing hens in Northern Ireland are reportedly still as their immediate superiors. week that a Florida ban on confining pregnant opposed Proposition Two. After Armstrong battery caged. Producers in other regions may “The alternative,” warned Jolley, pigs in gestation crates took effect, six years asserted at a hearing on Proposition Two that be no quicker to replace their caging. “is to allow PETA and HSUS to continue pub- after passage. The Florida bill, the prototype he had “nothing to hide,” HSUS obtained The next major area of farm animal wel- licizing animal abuse,” and “will lead to the for the pig provisions of Proposition Two, county inspection records that reportedly docu- fare legislation may address how poultry are killed. Poultry are exempt- ed from the U.S. Humane Slaughter Act, and from the humane slaughter laws of most nations, but this may change with the intro- duction of controlled atmosphere killing, app- roved for use in Britain in 1995 and recommended by PETA to replace slaughter by hanging birds upside down and beheading them. The Asda supermarket chain in Britain in November 2008 began requiring suppliers to use controlled atmosphere killing. “The suppliers will load chickens into crates, which will be passed through a multi- stage machine in which oxygen levels are reduced, leaving the birds to breathe only carbon dioxide until they are dead,” explained Rachel Shields of T h e Independent. This method uses one of the major greenhouse gases. Despite the PETA endorsement, “From a welfare point of view, it would be better if carbon dioxide wasn’t used,” Compassion in World Farming policy advisor Peter Stevenson told Shields. “Carbon dioxide causes the birds respiratory d i s t r e s s – – h y p e r v e n t i l a t i o n and gasping,” Stevenson explained. “The reason slaughterhouses want to use it is because the alter- native––high levels of nitrogen or argon,” which are also greenhouse gases, “can cause reflex wing flapping. The birds are unconscious, but they flap their wings. That can dam- age the carcasses.”
TRIBUTES
In honor of the Prophet Isaiah & John Wesley. ––Brien Comerford ––––––––––––––––––––– In honor of Gabriella Gatta, on the one-year anniversary of her change from a homeless street waif to a much-loved Bella Principessa. Love from Mom. ––Judy Youngman November/December 2008 3/22/13 9:17 PM Page 11
ANIMAL PEOPLE, November/December 2008 - 11 Pennsylvania SPCA resumes animal control P H I L A D E L P H I A ––Effective on on doing high-volume, low-cost dog and cat speak to services such as adop- January 1, 2009, the Pennsylvania SPCA will sterilization and adopting out animals––essen- tion, spay/neuter, education, resume providing animal care and control ser- tially the same role that the San Francisco or helping responsible people vices to Philadelphia, after a six-and-a-half SPCA pursued after turning the San Francisco retain their pets,” which in San year hiatus. But the new animal care and con- animal control contract over to the S.F. Francisco were and are provid- trol contract will pay the Pennsylvania SPCA Department of Animal Care & Control in ed primarily by the SF/SPCA. $2.89 million, more than three times as much 1989, after a five-year phase-out. “PACCA was to pro- money as the $790,000 contract that the chari- San Francisco by April 1994 had vide minimal services at the ty relinquished in 2002. the lowest rate of shelter killing of dogs and lowest possible cost,” Wino- “The Philadelphia Animal Care and cats of any major city in the U.S., and has grad continued. “Animals Control Association has provided services retained that status, guaranteeing a home to were killed within minutes of since 2002,” reported Dafney Tales of the any healthy animal impounded in the city. arrival, kennels went un- Philadelphia Daily News. “An audit released But the results in Philadelphia have cleaned, animals were allowed in October by the City Controller’s Office been very different. In 1997 all shelters serv- to suffer and die. In the end, found numerous problems with PACCA, ing the city combined killed 28,289 dogs and 88% of all animals [arriving] including insufficient software and phone sys- cats, a rate of 19.7 per 1,000 human residents. lost their lives. In 2005, I was tems, and failing to properly handle bite cases. In 2006, all shelters serving Philadelphia hired to review the organiza- PACCA chief executive Tara Derby admitted killed 28,774 dogs and cats, a rate of 19.9 per tion and make recommenda- to failures, in a written statement, but said 1,000 human residents. tions for change. In the first that many were corrected,” and attributed Former San Francisco SPCA law year of the effort,” coinciding other shortcomings to insufficient funding. and advocacy director Nathan Winograd in a with Derby’s arrival as execu- PACCA more than doubled the May 2008 blog alleged that the Philadelphia tive director, “the change was dramatic. critical of Howard Nelson, the Pennsylvania Philadelphia animal control adoption rate experiment was failing “because a true and Shirkers were terminated. Adoption, rescue, SPCA chief executive since May 2007. between 2004 and 2007, working under complete champion for no kill no longer exists, volunteer, and foster care programs were In his previous post as executive essentially the same financial terms that the as it did in San Francisco with the San implemented. The death rate declined to less director of the Washington D.C. Humane Pennsylvania SPCA will inherit, but with just Francisco SPCA under Richard Avanzino,” than 40%. But the effort stalled. A pet adop- Society, Nelson “introduced a ‘Good Home a fraction of the facilities and total resources of who headed the SF/SPCA from 1976 through tion center, which should have opened within Guarantee’ program that was touted as a no- the 141-year-old SPCA, the third SPCA 1998, and now heads Maddie’s Fund. a few months, took over two years to finally kill initiative,” sumarized Philadelphia Weekly founded in the U.S. The first problem, Winograd assert- open.” Winograd blamed “hostility to reform writer Tara Murtha of Winograd’s Redemption The Pennsylvania SPCA even with- ed, was that “The mission of PACCA,” like from the health department that oversees statements. “The truth is that the Washington out the animal control contract has had an that of most animal control agencies, “was PACCA, lack of support for the no kill initia- Humane Society managed to claim a no-kill annual budget of more than $6 million in identified as protecting the health of people tive from the other community shelters, and philosophy while euthanizing 70% of the ani- recent years, with facilities worth $8.5 million from injury and disease ‘caused or transmitted an unfavorable location.” mals [it received] by employing a very narrow and about $17.5 million in financial assets. by domestic or feral animals within the city’s Winograd in his 2007 book definition of ‘adoptable.’ For example, the Since giving up the animal control boundaries.’ A list of seventeen duties was Redemption: The Myth of Pet Overpopulation definition of ‘adoptable’ excluded all pit bulls contract, the Pennsylvania SPCA has focused outlined to meet the mission. None of them & the No Kill Revolution in America was also and pit-bull mixes, cats with ear mites, and animals with a host of [other] minor conditions easily reme- died with medicine. “In Philadelphia,” Murtha continued, “this would be prob- lematic. On a recent visit to the PACCA shelter, about 95% of the dogs housed were pit bull mixes. Pit bulls commonly make up most of a shelter’s canine population,” Murtha explained, “because that’s what’s left after advocacy groups comb the intake and fun- nel specific breeds into place- ment networks.” But the nature of the intake also matters. Former Pennsyl- vania SPCA executive director Eric Hendricks, in announcing the December 2000 decision of the Pennsylvania SPCA to relin- quish the city animal control contract, cited frustration with the reluctance of the city coun- cil to adopt a breed-specific ordinance to curtail backyard breeding of pit bulls, in a city where the rate of pit bull and pit mix intake is believed to be far higher than the national average of 25% of all dogs. The Pennsylvania SPCA killed 3,500 pit bulls in 2000, 4,000 in 1999, and 3,200 in 1998, Hendricks said. Adding a staff animal behavorist and introducing a program to rehabilitate suspect- ed fighting dogs, PACCA killed just 1,222 pit bulls and pit mixes in 2006, of 4,716 received, Tara Derby told Philadelphia Inquirer s t a f f writer Robert Moran in October 2007. However, the rate of pit bull intake had continued to rise, and PACCA was running out of ways to save them. The Pennsylvania SPCA, continuing to investigate cruelty cases after giving up the animal control contract, impounded and killed 42 pit bulls in fight- ing cases in 2006, but had received 76 in the first 10 months of 2007. “I can’t tell you if he found the light,” Winograd told Murtha, “but over the last cou- ple of months Howard Nelson has made an active effort to reach out to me and to try to assure me that those historical policies [at the Washinton Humane Society] were just that—history. I told him that’s great, but I’m not interested in promises.” November/December 2008 3/22/13 9:17 PM Page 12
12 - ANIMAL PEOPLE, November/December 2008 Bali animal welfare societies battle rabies outbreak DENPASAR, Bali––S o m e o n e Animals 2008 conference. The last visiting outbreak within a matter of days. brought a rabid dog to Bali. Yachting, fish- delegates had just left when the first human Instead, the 40,000 sterilized dogs ing, or trading goods, the culprit apparently victims were bitten in mid-September 2008. were not vaccinated against rabies because came by boat, docking near Ungasan village, The bite victims did not seek imme- Balinese officials mistakenly believed the vac- where about 170 families live on a peninsula diate post-exposure vaccination. Between cine might itself introduce the disease. forming the southernmost part of Bali. November 14 and November 23, 2008, four “Unfortunately, the Balinese govern- The rabid dog arrived at about the victims died at hospitals in Denpasar and ment has been short-sighted in not permitting same time that more than 200 animal advo- Badung: a 32-year-old, a 28-year-old, an 8- the distribution of the rabies vaccine across cates from nearly 30 nations met at Sanur year-old, and another child whose age was not Bali, and by turning a blind eye to the illegal Beach, just to the north, for the Asia for disclosed. importation of animals into Bali,” acknowl- Containing the outbreak should have edged BAWA acting operations manager Dani been easy. Fences, runways, and access Stokeld in a post to the Asian Animal roads surrounding the Ngurah Rai Airport Protection Network. “Only one hospital in inhibit dog movement between Ungasan and Bali maintained a minimal stock of the human the heavily populated southeastern part of Bali, post-exposure rabies vaccine, and the govern- including Denpasar, the capital city. ment has not allowed any rabies vaccine for The Yudisthira Swarga Foundation, pets to be imported to Bali.” Bali Street Dog Foundation, and Bali Animal “Bali has been free of rabies for Welfare Association have among them steril- decades; we haven’t had any need for a vac- ized nearly 40,000 dogs in southeastern Bali cine in the island,” BAWA spokesperson
during the past 10 years. If the Bali govern- Tinneke Indrajaya told the Jakarta Post.” So [ADVERTISEMENT] ment had allowed the animal welfare societies the Bali animal advocates did not push hard tion, and sent their heads to be tested for to vaccinate the dogs against rabies at the same against the ban on importing rabies vaccine. rabies at a laboratory in West Java. Other time they were sterilized, in accordance with There was little initial panic when agencies killed another six dogs, whose heads international protocol, a barrier of already rabies appeared, indicated Jakarta Post were also sent for testing. vaccinated dogs would have combined with reporter Andra Wisnu. The Badung Health Only one dog turned out to have the isolation of Ungasan to prevent any likeli- Agency obtained enough human post-exposure been rabid. But Bali governor Made Mangku hood of the outbreak spreading. vaccine to treat another 76 Ungasan residents Pastika on November 29, 2008 “ordered the A vaccination drive targeting all who had been bitten by dogs in the preceding Balinese people to conduct a mass culling of dogs on the Ungasan/Ululatu peninsula, com- two months. Yudisthira Swarga Foundation stray dogs,” reported Ni Komang Erviani of bined with euthanizing any dogs showing signs volunteers euthanized 11 dogs found in the the Jakarta Post. BAWA founder Janice Girardi. (Kim Bartlett) of exposure, might then have extinguished the vicinity of the biting incidents by lethal injec- “Residents can just go ahead by tak- ing the initiative to kill stray dogs. If the mass dog culling relied only on gov- ernment officials, it would take too long,” Pastika told a public forum. “Pastika also demand- ed the strict supervision of the entrance of other ani- mals into Bali, like mon- keys and cats, which transmit diseases to human beings,” Ni Komang Erviani added. Word of Pastika’s edicts appeared on the International Society for Infectious Diseases’ Pro- Med online bulletin board five days later. “This method of dis- ease control does not work,” objected Alliance for Rabies Control execu- tive director Deborah K. Briggs. “For example, officials on Flores Island,” like Bali a part of Indonesia, “tried to elimi- nate a canine rabies out- break eight years ago by killing over 500,000 dogs, yet rabies is still present on that island. Similarly, when canine rabies spread to the region of Sulawesi in Indonesia approximately five years later, mass culling of dogs was again attempted without success- fully eliminating rabies. “On the other hand, mass vaccination of dogs against rabies does work,” Briggs emphasized. “There are many countrywide examples proving that when the World Health Organization recommendation of vacci- nating 70% of the dog pop- ulation against rabies is applied, the spread of rabies throughout the dog population is stopped. Excellent examples of suc- cessful programs exist in Latin America, where the Pan American Health Organization spearheaded mass canine vaccination programs throughout the continent, resulting in a dramatic reduction in the prevalence of both canine rabies and human rabies. “Similar success has been reported in Africa,” Briggs continued, “for example in Tanzania, where mass canine rabies vaccination cleared rabies (continued on page 13) November/December 2008 3/22/13 9:17 PM Page 13
ANIMAL PEOPLE, November/December 2008 - 13
Bali animal welfare societies battle rabies outbreak (from page 12) from the community dog population surrounding the Serengeti Wilde noted that the custom of dog-eating persists other related institutions,” agreed to “cull stray dogs and vacci- region, protecting endangered wildlife within the park. among the Christian population of Flores. Dog-eaters often nate domesticated dogs in areas 10 kilometers from Ungasan “The tools to prevent the existence and spread of believe that dogs who have been vaccinated against rabies can- and Kedonganan villages,” reported Luh De Suriyani and rabies in dogs already exist and have been proven to work,” not be eaten safely. Hyginus Hardoyo of the Jakarta Post Denpasar bureau. Briggs finished. “They only need to be utilized.” After his Flores visit, Wilde remembered, “I met Kedonganan is at the neck of the Ungasan/Ululatu Supporting testimony came from Henry Wilde, with a health official in Bali who expressed great anxiety that peninsula. M.D., of the Chulalongkorn University Faculty of Medicine in some similar event might happen there. His fear was justified,” “At least 20,000 doses of rabies vaccine for dogs Bangkok, Thailand, who visited Flores on behalf of WHO. Wilde concluded. “Culling alone does not work!” have been sent from Jakarta,” Luh De Suriyani and Hyginus “Fisherman had imported three dogs, and with them, At a November 30 strategy meeting chaired by Bali Hardoyo added. “Dog owners are encouraged to fence their rabies,” Wilde recalled. “Within one year, over 100 humans director general of disease control and environmental health dogs so they are not infected by sick animals.” died on this island of about one million human population. A Tjandra Yoga Aditama, “officials from animal husbandry Luh De Suriyani quoted Yudisthira Swarga Found- local decision was made to cull as many dogs as possible,” agencies, the Bali Health Agency, police, tourism offices, ation veterinarian Rina Dwiasih’s recommendation against poi- contrary to Wilde’s advice to vaccinate the dogs instead. community health centers, the state-run Sanglah Hospital, and soning dogs. “The government has commenced a rabies vac- cine program for dogs, but only for dogs in the infect- ed area,” affirmed Stokeld. “Sadly, there are reports of the culling of healthy Bali street dogs, and poisoning has commenced on the beaches in the tourist area of Kuta,” the first village north of the airport. “BAWA is trying to form a coalition with other animal welfare organisa- tions and the Bali Vet Association to lobby the government to act responsi- bly and to take a more prag- matic approach,” Stokeld said. “We would like to see the government support a Bali-wide vaccination and de-sexing program for dogs and cats; public education about responsible pet own- ership and zoonoses; and pass the animal welfare laws that have been sitting in the Indonesian legisla- ture for years.” “We have been assist- ing the farm department to administer rabies vaccines in the Bukit area,” BAWA founder Janice Girardi told ANIMAL PEOPLE, but as of December 5, she said, she had been unable to get a meeting with Pastika. “At the moment we are trying to get enough human vaccines for all of our staff,” Girardi added. “Of course we need to increase the amount of sterilization we do, especially north of the infected areas, to keep the dogs from straying. As if animal welfare wasn’t hard enough in Bali, with- out laws, with rabies life just got even harder. “There are many pet stores in that area,” Girardi noted, “so we will try to inspect the pet shops and warn all the owners. I’d love to get the pet shops closed down. Often we see many dogs together in a small cage, out in the hot sun with no water. We can give the animals water, and try to educate the employ- ees, but without animal welfare laws nothing will really change.” November/December 2008 3/22/13 9:17 PM Page 14
14 - ANIMAL PEOPLE, November/december 2008
Victory for the Horses! After SHARK placed relentless pressure on the Cheyenne Frontier Days rodeo by exposing their cruelty, the rodeo chair announced that from now on, horses will only be shocked in cases of an emergency.
This is a great first step, but the cruel and deadly events of steer roping, calf roping and wild horse racing still have not been addressed by the CFD officials. Incredibly, the booking company for Cheyenne Frontier Days has filed a federal lawsuit against SHARK that is an outrageous slap in the face to the First Amendment, asking that SHARK be barred from informing entertainers about the facts of what REALLY happens at the Cheyenne Rodeo. To view the shocking documentation for yourself and to get more information on this cruel and deadly rodeo, please visit www.shameoncheyenne.com Please help SHARK fight this frivolous lawsuit, which if successful, will silence animal activists every- where! Help us continue to fight the remaining cruel and deadly events at Cheyenne Frontier Days that include steer roping, calf roping, and the wild horse race. SHARK, P.O. Box 28, Geneva, IL 60134 www.sharkonline.org November/December 2008 3/22/13 9:17 PM Page 15
ANIMAL PEOPLE, November/December 2008 - 15
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The Watchdog monitors fundraising, spending, and The political activity in the name of animal and habitat protec - tion—both pro and con. His empty bowl stands for all the bowls left empty when some Watchdog take more than they need. Reform begins at one of India’s oldest K A K I N A D A ––The 102-year-old Kakinada SPCA, from starvation, as the goondas left the coffers among the oldest western-style humane societies in India, has dry, and there were no resources with which to “had its working committee abolished by district collector and care for them. The Kakinada SPCA has never ex-officio president Gopalakrishna Dwivedi, owing to detec- received animals in these numbers,” Warden tion of irregularities in its functioning,” The Hindu reported on charged. “It is clearly an orchestrated attempt to December 3, 2008. make the clean-up efforts turn into a disaster.” Founded with a gift of 98 acres by the Maharajah of But People for Animals founder and Pithapuram, the Kakinada SPCA was expected to support itself former federal minister for animal welfare by making use of the land, but only two acres remain. Maneka Gandhi was skeptical of the claimed plot. Part of the role of a “district collector” in India is “ 350 animals coming into the shelter at one time ensuring that nonprofit organizations fulfill their public trust. is certainly not new,” Mrs. Gandhi told A N I - Any humane society calling itself a Society for the Protection MAL PEOPLE. “Kakinada is on the main of Animals is now required to include the local district collector smuggling area to Kerala and to Al Kabeer near as ex-officio president. The dissolution of the Kakinada SPCA Hyderabad. The police catch trucks regularly and working committee is among the first reported consequences of send the animals to the SPCA. The only differ- the newly mandated board structure. ence is that Guruprasad used to sell the animals District collector Dwivedi acted upon allegations for- immediately to butchers.” warded by the Animal Welfare Board of India. “The charges Current Revenue department divisional framed against SPCA secretary S.S.R. Guru Prasad, treasurer officer G.C. Kishore Kumar and Agriculture & Peacock and plaque led to reforming the Kakinada SPCA. (Lisa Warden) K.G. Lunani, and other members of the core committee includ- Animal Husbandry Department staff formed a committee to nized humane award for achievements purportedly including ed negligence in taking care of animals, misusing funds, and build a proper shelter for the animals on the premises, mostly founding the Visakha SPCA. using almost half” of the present Kakinada SPCA campus “for cattle. “Meanwhile,” The Hindu reported, “the ground is being “I believe that the situation was my fault for not hav- purposes other than animal welfare,” The Hindu e l a b o r a t e d . prepared to initiate criminal proceedings against all those ing had my antenna up,” said Mrs. Gandhi. “Guru Prasad’s “Guru Prasad had his own house constructed in a corner of the responsible for the pitiable plight of the cattle, most of whom Gopal Surabathula went around as the People for Animals head premises where animals were supposed to be sheltered, and were being smuggled to abattoirs.” there. Just one day before Lisa Warden sent me her letter and embarked on building a commercial complex” on the site, The “Lcal people have been submitting complaints about photos, he wrote to me saying that he had signed a memoran- Hindu said. the Kakinada SPCA to the authorities for quite a few years,” dum of understanding with the local administration to do the In addition, The Hindu reported, “a python and a Warden told ANIMAL PEOPLE. Unfortunately, the authori- Animal Birth Control program, and that I should ask them to peacock were illegally kept in cages on the SPCA premises and ties, for whatever reason, chose to do nothing.” release the money to him immediately––which I would have were subsequently left out in the jungle days before the inquiry Among the complainants was Visakha SPCA founder done if Lisa had not happened along. was instituted, instead of handing them over to wildlife offi- Pradeep Kumar Nath, who received 11 dogs and a kitten from “The odd part,” Mrs. Gandhi added, “is that now cials. Criminal cases were booked against the accused persons.” the Kakinada SPCA via Warden while her letter was en route to that I look at Guru Prasad’s accounts, they were always rub- Confirmed Blue Cross of India chief executive the Animal Welfare Board, and is now “trying to coordinate bish. To a trained eye like mine, they should have stood out. Chinny Krishna, “Sadly, the report seems to be correct. Guru with the Animal Welfare Board” to reconstitute the Kakinada But I simply did not see them for so many years, nor did any- Prasad is a former member of the Animal Welfare Board of SPCA, Nath said. one else. He didn’t get caught fudging accounts. He got caught India, and he and his son have been accused of misusing the “Ironically, the VSPCA owes its present status to by the physical and photographic evidence provided by Lisa funds of the SPCA. The person who has really been responsi- information from Guru Prasad that an animal welfare confer- and the snake and peacock––for which I had him raided by the ble for bringing all this to light is Lisa Warden.” ence would be held at Delhi in January 1997,” Nath recalled. wildlife department.” Wrote Warden to the Animal Welfare Board on “It does sadden me greatly that Guru Prasad joined with his son Speaking at the Kakinada SPCA centenary celebra- October 30, 2008, “I arrived in Kakinada on October 2, 2008 Gopal in indulging alleged criminal activities in the name of tion in January 2005, member of Parliament Mutha to join my husband, who is in India on a three-year contract. animals. It is very disheartening to read the many types of ways Gopalakrishna announced that the city would soon have a six- As an animal lover, I was happy to see the SPCA sign on the that they were making money in the name of animals.” acre “street dog park.” Perhaps he meant that street dogs would main road. I looked forward to visiting the place and was hop- Nath developed suspicion about the integrity of the roam the business park now occupying much of the Maharajah ing to register to help as a volunteer.” Kakinada SPCA after observing that a “structure of just a roof, of Pithapuram’s legacy. ––Merritt Clifton During the next month Warden documented severe sponsored by the Royal SPCA” appeared to cost much less than neglect of animals on the premises, numerous animal deaths, a the value of the grant that paid for it.” federally funded Animal Birth Control program that was not Nath also heard rumors that the Kakinada SPCA was Donate your old car & actually sterilizing dogs, and a water fountain for animals tout- selling “rescued” cattle to slaughter, and that burglaries of the help support ed in Kakinada SPCA brochures that has no water in it. premises were inside jobs. But Nath was particularly perturbed Warden and her husband fed the animals and tried to when he learned that Guru Prasad had won a nationally recog- encourage improvements in the operation. But push came to shove after Guru Prasad balked for three days before finally euthanizing a cow who was in severe pain from a broken ankle. Detailing her findings about the Kakinada SPCA to the Animal Welfare Board on October 28, 2008, Warden noted that “The plaque commemorating the construction of the It's easy to make a contribution that supports commercial center” built on about half of the remaining SPCA ANIMAL PEOPLE! Here's how it works: property “bears the names of the president of the SPCA, who is Call Toll-Free 877-537-5277, or e-mail Kakinada’s district collector, and the SPCA vice-president,
16 - ANIMAL PEOPLE, November/December 2008 “Doggie in the window” singer hopes to sing swan song for puppy mills (from page 1) see that doggie in the shelter?” It begins, “Do Kunzelman in 1967, Petland now has 140 pliers. USDA inspectors found that more than But as Sidhartha Banerjee of you see that doggie in the shelter, the one with U.S. franchises, plus 63 more in Canada, 60% of the breeders had committed serious Canadian Press pointed out, the definitions of the take me home eyes? If you give him your Chile, France, Japan, and South Africa. infractions of the federal Animal Welfare Act, “puppy mill” accepted by the industry and love and attention, he will be your best friend “More than 25 new domestic stores HSUS staff said. used by animal advocates are quite different. for life.” The new version may not climb the are scheduled to open within the next twelve “Assuring consumers that they only “Certain people say that if there are pop charts, though it might if a current singing months,” asserts the Petland web site. But the buy puppies from good breeders with the high- 50 or 60 or 100 animals in cages, that’s a star picks it up, but Page and HSUS hope it Petland expansions of most concern to the est standards of care, some Petland stores puppy mill,” Anima-Quebec executive direc- will bookend an era––along with U.S. humane community are abroad. Petland in even buy puppies from brokers and middle- tor Veronique Langlois told Banerjee. “Or if President-elect Barack Obama’s pledge to May 2008 opened a store in Shanghai, China, men, and may not even know who the breeder the owner is making money, it’s a puppy mill. adopt a shelter dog for his daughters. where pet acquisition is booming, and is until after the puppy arrives in the store,” But breeding is not illegal. But certainly there announced that “franchise agreements have Markarian charged. are criteria for keeping animals. We prefer to Petland probe been finalized for the future openings of “Petland should join leading retailers use the terms ethical or unethical breeding.” Speaking from the HSUS head office Petland stores in Mexico and Puerto Rico,” like PETCO and PetSmart,” Markarian rec- Responded Montreal SPCA acting in Washington D.C., Humane Society both nations with abundant street dogs and ommended, “who have socially responsible director Alana Devine, “In my opinion anyone Legislative Fund president Mike Markarian on desperately underfunded rescue groups. policies of not selling puppies in their stores who is breeding a large number of dogs of all November 20, 2008 rolled out for media the HSUS investigators said that they and who instead work with humane societies different breeds and profiting from it as their findings of an eight-month investigation of the visited 21 Petland stores plus 35 breeders and and rescue groups to promote adoptions of main source of income is not properly treating treatment of the doggies in the windows of the distributors who sell puppies to Petland, and homeless animals.” the animals. It is actually impossible to turn a Petland chain, believed to be the largest chain reviewed USDA Animal & Plant Health Many Petland franchises do work profit from breeding dogs,” Devine opined, still selling dogs from high-volume breeders. Inspection Service records on more than 100 with humane societies and rescue groups to “because if you’re doing it properly, the cost Founded by Ohio entrepreneur Ed breeders who are believed to be Petland sup- promote adoptions––more than 92%, presi- of caring from them and caring for the puppies dent Frank Difatta and director of business is so astronomical.” improvement Brian Winslow told media in The Montreal SPCA retains law Alleged Mississippi puppy 2006. Petland claims to have found homes for enforcement authority. In early October 2008, more than 270,000 animals since 2001. the Montreal SPCA raided two alleged puppy millers charged with felony But Petland also sells dogs from mills north of Montreal, impounding about NEW ALBANY, Miss.– – A t t o r n e y Adriana Santana Lemar, was caged in a closet breeders. Controversies involving animal care 275 allegedly emaciated, parasite-ridden dogs. Tony Farese of Ashland, Mississippi, told for prolonged periods and forced to eat, sleep, and the health of animals bought from Petland Patsy R. Brumfield of the Northeast Mississ- urinate and defecate in the cage. From have erupted in at least 10 U.S. cities since Self-policing ippi Journal on November 10, 2008 that no November 1, 2007, until May 1, 2008, Luisa 2005. The American Kennel Club in The AKC and Anima-Quebec con- plea bargain is imminent on behalf of alleged Fernanda Barreto was tied in a baby crib. September 2006 reportedly reached an agree- troversies involving Petland spotlight the long- puppy millers and accessories to manslaughter From November 1, 2007, through May 1, ment with Petland to promote AKC registra- standing conflict between the concepts of self- Janet Lee Killough Barreto, 37, and Ramon 2008, Juan Fernando Barreto was tied in a tion within the Petland stores, but withdrew policing, favored by the pet industry, and Barreto, 31. But Farese, representing the baby crib.” from the deal under pressure from members of external supervision and enforcement, favored Barretos, “did not deny he was offered a Added Brumfield, “An official close AKC-affiliated breed rescue networks. by the humane community. deal” by Union County assistant district attor- to the investigation said Adriana, now 8 years The 24 Petland franchises in Quebec The argument for self-policing is ney Kelly Luther, Brumfield said. old, was the first child then-Janet Killough in October 2008 co-sponsored a fundraising that the pet industry itself has an interest in The Barretos on August 7, 2008 adopted and later gave away because the child event for Anima-Quebec, the nonprofit maintaining a good reputation by breeding and pleaded not guilty to six counts each of child suffered from a brain disorder.” The Barretos, agency created by the Quebec government in selling only healthy, temperamentally stable endangerment, three counts each of felony who had one child together, later adopted six 2006 to supersede the Montreal SPCA and animals. Counter-arguments include that the child abuse, and one count each of more Guatemalan children in addition to Enna. local humane societies in doing humane law price of even an expensive purebred animal is manslaughter by culpable negligence. They were not charged with animal enforcement. Part of the work of Anima- so low that individual consumers have little Marainna Torres, Janet Barreto’s offenses, but sheriff’s deputies impounded Quebec is supposed to be policing alleged chance to hold breeders and dealers account- 17-year-old biological daughter from a previ- “more than 180 dogs, 25 cats and several puppy mills, but Quebec animal advocates able through civil lawsuits, since the maxi- ous marriage, on July 2, 2008 pleaded guilty ducks” from their “mass puppy breeding oper- have alleged ever since it formed that the pres- mum damage award is usually the price paid to killing her two-year-old adopted ation,” reported Emily Le Coz of the ence of Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council for the animal. Class action lawsuits are diffi- Guatemalan step-sister Enna on May 18, 2008 Northeast Mississippi Journal. Tupelo-Lee Canada representative Louis McCann on the cult to bring against an industry with so many by hitting Enna and throwing her into a baby Humane Society director Debbie Hood told Le Anima-Quebec board ensures that it will different suppliers and vendors. bed. Torres, who spent a month in a Memphis Coz that the Barretos apparently bred Yorkies, defend the breeding industry. Further, the procedures by which mental hospital after the killing, currently English bulldogs, Shitzus, and pugs, whom “It’s like putting the fox in charge of breeders and dealers cull unhealthy and unsta- awaits sentencing, facing two to 20 years in they sold at “various Northeast Mississippi the henhouse when it comes to puppy mills,” ble animals are often in themselves inhumane. prison. She is now “held in an undisclosed flea markets.” charges Rebecca Aldworth, Canadian repre- In addition, the traditional animal jail, believed to be in northeast Mississippi,” In Defense of Animals, whose sentative for the Humane Society International care standards of the pet industry have histori- Brumfield wrote. Project Hope sanctuary in Mississippi was subsidiary of HSUS. cally been so low that the accepted norms of “In the indictment, the Barretos are involved in the animal rescue, cited the McCann, a former inspector for the the industry cannot be accepted as satisfactory accused of three specific instances of child Barreto case in promoting the last Saturday Montreal SPCA, has denied running inference from a humane perspective. abuse,” Brumfield reported earlier. “From before Christmas, December 20, 2008, as a for breeders, but reportedly testified recently Finally, the goal of animal welfare September 14, 2000, through February 8, national “Adopt, Don’t Shop! Day,” in in a private lawsuit against a major breeder advocacy is to prevent suffering from occur- 2006, Adriana Killough, also known as protest against puppy mills. than the defendant is not a “puppy mill.” (continued on page 17) Exposé leads to exit of Atlanta shelter director SCHAUMBERG, Illinois–– ban tail-docking. A new Animal A T L A N T A – – F u l t o n “because Jere would not allow us to dogfighting case, and later said they The American Veterinary Medical Welfare Act including anti-tail dock- County Animal Control director Jere euthanize pit bulls, and even placed euthanized him due to pneumonia. Association “opposes ear cropping ing language took effect in Britain in Alexander resigned on November 3, them in cages with other dogs. In Veterinarian Danielle and tail docking of dogs,” when April 2007. Different versions apply 2008 after an exposé of shelter con- addition,” Swain said, “the previ- LaMarr “produced an e-mail from done for cosmetic reasons, and asks in England, Wales, Scotland, and ditions by Randy Travis of Fox 5 ous management normally kept the Alexander,” Torpy and Eckstein breed fanciers “to remove mention of Northern Ireland. The English ver- TV. She was succeeded on an inter- shelter population under 400 ani- wrote, “saying she had attended the procedures from their standards,” sion allows a vet to dock puppies’ im basis by 30-year county shelter mals. Under Barking Hound we dogfights because she was writing a the AVMA executive board resolved tails within five days of birth, if the worker Herman Swann. eventually kept between 450-525 dissertation on an ‘ethnographic on November 14, 2008. person requesting the docking docu- “Alexander worked for animals. We went from having study of dogfighting, pit bulls, and The new AVMA ear crop- ments the “type” of the mother and Barking Hound Village, the compa- almost no dog fights to having seri- pit bull people.’” ping and tail docking statement states that the dog will be used for ny that last March acquired the $2.1 ous dog fights every day.” Said Alexander in the e- updates a position taken by the hunting or work. Wales requires def- million contract to manage the shel- Swain said Alexander pre- mail, “I have worked with dogfight- AVMA House of Delegates in 1999. inition of “breed” rather than type. ter,” reported Jeffry Scott of the vented him from euthanizing pit ers to learn about this practice and The 1999 statement “point- Scotland bans docking outright. Atlanta Journal-Constitution. bulls who killed smaller dogs they culture. Of course I don’t condone ed out that cosmetic ear cropping and The December 15, 2008 “Barking Hound, an off- were housed with, including a dogfighting, and my research was tail docking afford no benefits for edition of JAVMA also announced shoot of a successful dog day care sheltie and a rat terrier. very traumatic at times.” animal patients, and advised vets that that the AVMA executive board has chain,” won the contract although Vet tech Valencia Pullin Torpy and Eckstein identi- they should warn clients about relat- endorsed in concept the Universal the Southern Hope Humane Soci- told Torpy and Eckstein that one fied Jere Alexander as “a Notre ed, inherent risks of anesthesia, Declaration on Animal Welfare. ety, the contract holder since 2003, evening she saw Jere Alexander and Dame-educated lawyer,” who blood loss, and infection,” said the The World Society for the “was picked by a selection commit- her husband Rocky Alexander car- “founded a web site, since taken December 15, 2008 edition of the Protection of Animals and ancestral tee as being more qualified. Bark- rying 19 caged feral cats out of the down, that was ‘dedicated to pre- Journal of the American Veterinary bodies have sought since 1952 to win ing Hound, however, offered to run shelter, saying they were going to a serving and reimagining the Medicine. United Nations approval of various the shelter for $300,000 a year less rescue group. “Swain said he con- American pit bull terrier through the The AVMA policy is now versions of the Universal Declar- than Southern Hope was receiving,” fronted Alexander the next morning creation of an online museum.’” “consistent with those of the ation, which evolved out of drafts said Bill Torpy and Sandra Eckstein and she filled out a form saying the Torpy and Eckstein also American Animal Hospital Associ- prepared in 1924 and 1926 for pre- in a Journal-Constitution follow-up. rescue organization was called Nine found a web site, they said, where ation and the Canadian VMA,” sentation to the League of Nations. Travis and the J o u r n a l - Lives,” Torpy and Eckstein wrote. Rocky Alexander described himself wrote JAVMA senior reporter R. The 169-nation World Constitution quoted longtime shelter “Over four months, Nine Lives as “‘a professional canine behavior- Scott Nolen. But the British Royal Organization for Animal Health rati- manager Myles Swain, whom took 83 cats from the shelter. ist, trainer, handler, historian and College of Veterinary Surgeons in fied the Universal Declaration in Alexander fired in July 2008. Co- Groups that take animals from shel- conditioner’ who grew up in an area November 1992, asked Parliament to May 2007. worker Shelton Robinson alleged to ters must be licensed by the state where ‘a professional dogfight was the Georgia Department of Agricul- Department of Agriculture, but offi- as normal as a baseball game.’” ture that Swain euthanized “as many cials found no such records. A One of Jere Alexander’s American pit bull terriers as possi- department investigation found that first hires at the shelter, Torpy and The Longest Struggle: ble to prevent fighting in the kennels Jere Alexander ran the rescue group. Eckstein noted, “was a vet tech Animal Advocacy from Pythagoras to PETA and make excessive room for daily But it could not determine what hap- named Sherri Shelf,” president of intake,” but Swain told Torpy and pened to the cats. Charles Woody, the Georgia American Pit Bull by Norm Phelps Eckstein that the allegation was listed on the form as a vet who Terrier Association, whose husband added to his personnel file after he neutered cats for Nine Lives, said Tony on November 13, 2008 plead- Available from Lantern Books was fired “to make me look like a that he never heard of the group.” ed guilty in Illinois to a felony disgruntled employee.” Pullin also told Torpy and charge of transporting dogs for Swain clashed with Alex- Eckstein that the Alexanders took fighting and was sentenced to a year www.lanternbooks.com ander “almost immediately,” he home a pit bull named Beast who in prison, Cook County prosecutor acknowledged in an open e-mail, was held as evidence in a criminal Bob Schwarz told them. and online booksellers November/December 2008 3/22/13 9:17 PM Page 17
ANIMAL PEOPLE, November/December 2008 - 17 “Doggie in the window” singer hopes to sing swan song for puppy mills (from page 16) ring, not just to detect and punish it after the directly to the public, and with the explosion dogs to be unaffected. Raymond Stoltzfus of Lancaster County $4.4 fact. Imposing animal care standards from of people purchasing animals over the Internet, “The board will provide detailed lan- million, and permanently revoke their right to outside the industry is a means of raising the those unregulated breeders are where many of guage to address extreme temperatures, poor do business in Pennsylvania. floor level of husbandry beyond what the pet the problems are.” ventilation, high ammonia levels, and bad “The filing charges that the industry itself has voluntarily done. “Puppy millers are moving to lighting,” summarized Worden. “Among the Stoltzfuses, who operate CC Pets L.L.C., HSUS in targeting Petland spotlight- Oklahoma because of lax law enforcement,” new requirements: larger cage sizes, the elimi- failed to identify their business in 884 ads on ed recent “puppy mill” cases in Oklahoma, alleged HSUS spokesperson Stephanie Shain. nation of cage stacking, outdoor exercise, and Internet sites and in at least four newspapers, where 24 breeders are Petland suppliers. “The Internet has just ramped this semi-annual veterinary care. The board will including The Inquirer, as required under a One case involved Robert and problem up,” HSUS Oklahoma representative consider appeals by breeders for exemptions to 2005 consent petition,” summarized Worden. Darlene Lourance of Duncan, whose 500-dog Cynthia Armstrong told Murphy. “People can the exercise and flooring requirements. The “CC Pets sold more than 2,000 puppies last facility was cited by USDA inspectors earlier create a cute Web site with a puppy sitting on law bans wire flooring,” Worden explained, year, putting it among the state’s highest-vol- in 2008 for having injured animals who had a gingham blanket, but there’s no telling what “but allows various forms of slatted or slanted ume dog sellers. In 2005, the Stoltzfuses were apparently not breen properly treated, improp- kind of conditions those animals came from.” flooring to allow drainage.” the subject of the largest-ever state consumer er record keeping, failing to provide adequate “This year, Louisiana, Pennsyl- Breeders will have until October fraud settlement involving the sale of sick and food and shelter, and failing to maintain sani- vania, and Virginia passed strong anti-puppy 2009 to bring their facilities into compliance. defective dogs. The suit was filed on behalf of tary conditions. mill laws, and the Farm Bill passed by the Governor Rendell had pushed to 171 people who bought sick dogs from the Another case was the November 2, U.S. Congress banned the import of young reinforce the Pennsylvania laws regulating dog Stoltzfuses, then doing business as Puppy 2008 seizure of 107 starving cocker spaniels dogs from foreign puppy mills,” Markarian breeding since 2006. Rendell started about a Love Kennel. The Stoltzfuses were fined and miniature poodles from the premises of mentioned, seeking support for an amendment year after Main Line Animal Rescue, of $75,000 in restitution and costs and were Sue Davis, 52, and Randall Dick, 55, in to the federal Animal Welfare Act that would Chester Prings, Pennsyvlania, began posting required to get health checks for the puppies Colcord. Nine dead dogs had been scavenged “require that dogs get 60 minutes of exercise billboards alongside the Pennsylvania they sold and to identify their kennel in all by some of the others, Delaware County sher- per day rather than being confined in cages for Turnpike, advising visitors that they were classified advertising.” iff’s deputy Mark Berry told Sheila Stogsdill their entire lives, and would also apply the entering puppy mill country. Main Line The 2005 consent agreement settled of the Oklahoman. The dogs were believed to Animal Welfare Act to puppy breeders who Animal Rescue later extended the billboard charges that the Stoltzfuses violated a 2000 have been last fed on October 25. sell directly to the public or over the Internet.” campaign to Chicago, where one of the bill- agreement that settled a case filed in 1997. The nearest animal shelter, the boards inspired Oprah Winfrey to devote a The new action against the Stoltz- Grove Humane Society, could not house all of Pennsylvania law show to the Pennsylvania puppy mill issue. fuses came about two weeks after the Pennsyl- the dogs, and neither could any other shelter The Pennsylvania law, endorsed “Made up of veterinarians appointed vania State Department of Agriculture revoked in Oklahoma. Eventually 98 dogs were taken into law by Governor Ed Rendell on October by Rendell, Republican and Democratic leg- the license of Upper Milford Township breed- first to Salina, Kansas, and were then relayed 9, created a nine-member Canine Health islative leaders, the Pennsylvania Veterinary er Derbe “Skip” Eckhart, who did business as to the Denver Dumb Friends League. Board. The board was mandated to “craft tem- Medical Association, and the University of Almost Heaven Kennels. Pennsylvania SPCA “Oklahoma ranks second in the porary guidelines for large kennels within 45 Pennsylvania Veterinary Medical School, the personnel “found more than 800 animals in nation with 625 breeders licensed by the days” of appointment, explained Philadelphia health board was proposed as a last-minute squalid conditions” in an early October raid on USDA,” explained Associated Press writer Inquirer Harrisburg bureau reporter Amy compromise to ensure passage [of the new Almost Heaven, Worden recounted. Sean Murphy. “That trails only Missouri, Worden. As defined by the law, “large ken- law] in the Senate,” wrote Worden. Eckhart “has long been notorious in which has more than 1,600 federally licensed nels” means about 650 breeders who sell dogs Less than a week after Rendell animal protection circles because of a 20-year breeders. But that only includes breeders who to pet stores or otherwise sell more than 60 signed the new law, Pennsylvania attorney history of cruelty charges and other offenses,” sell animals to retailers or brokers. There is no dogs per year. Nearly 2,000 other licensed general Tom Corbett asked the Common- wrote Daniel Patrick Sheehan of the Allentown federal or state oversight of breeders who sell Pennsylvania kennel operators sell few enough wealth Court to fine dog breeders Joyce and Morning Call, yet Almost Heaven received passing marks from six inspec- tions by the Pennsylvania Bureau of Dog Law Enforce- ment during 2007 and 2008. After the Eckhart raid, the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture transferred south- east regional dog warden super- visor Richard Martrich to the state Bureau of Weights & Measures. “Department spokes- man Chris Ryder declined to comment on the reasons for the transfer, saying it was a per- sonnel matter,” wrote Worden. “Martrich, who also declined to comment, was removed from active duty in July pending an investigation, after a July 17 raid on a Chester County kennel revealed wide- spread abuse and poor condi- tions,” Worden added. The Pennsylvania SPCA on that occasion impounded 103 dogs from Limestone Kennel in Cochranville. Owner John S. Blank, 54, voluntarily surrendered his kennel license. “Under Martrich, Lime- stone Kennel received only clean inspections for the last three years,” noted Worden. Blank was put out of busi- ness after “he gave away sever- al old dogs with health prob- lems to people who turned out to be volunteers with Main Line Animal Rescue,” recounted Philadelphia Inquirer s t a f f writer Nancy Peterson. “Bill Smith, executive director of the organization, took them to the Pennsylvania SPCA. The Pennsylvania SPCA sent under- cover agent Ashley Mutch to Blank’s kennel. Blank sold her a sickly three-week-old puppy,” who died at the Pennsylvania SPCA shelter. “Agents raided the farm a week later,” said Peterson. Some breeders, seeing declining sales of high-priced dogs due to the U.S. economic recession, are turning their dogs over to rescue groups rather than invest in meeting the new Pennsylvania stan- dards, wrote Erin Negley of the Reading Eagle on December 2, 2008. A breeder had just given 12 dogs who previously might have sold for $500 and up to the Animal Rescue League, in Cumru Township. November/December 2008 3/22/13 9:18 PM Page 18
18 - ANIMAL PEOPLE, November/December 2008 Animal Welfare in Islamic Law by Kristen Stilt 94 pages. Hard copy:
It would be difficult to review Animal Welfare in Stilt examines Islamic laws addressing slaugh- Islamic Law more thoroughly, or to praise it more strongly, ter, euthanasia, and the treatment of work animals, the than is already accomplished in the preface by Al Azhar much misrepresented teachings of Mohammed in favor University professor of Islamic law Abd Allah Mahbrook Al- of dogs, and the highly favorable Islamic teachings and Najjar. The professor is a member of the Council of Islamic traditions concerning cats. Research at Al Azhar University, which is widely viewed as Stilt over-reaches in a chapter on animal wel- the most eminent institution of Islamic scholarship. fare in Islamic history. “It was not Europeans who estab- According to Abd Allah Mahbrook Al-Najjar, lished the first animal welfare organizations and animal Animal Welfare in Islamic Law author Kristen Stilt “supported shelters, rather it was Muslims,” she asserts. “In fact, what she wrote that is related to the principles of Islamic law the Prophet was the first to call for kindness and mercy to with sound legal rules from the Qur’an and the Prophetic animals, and to call for humans to provide animals with Princess Alia Al Hussein of Jordan and Jackie & Ahmed al Sherbiny Sunna. She was faithful in her treatment of these sources, food and water and to treat them kindly.” of the Egyptian Society of Animal Friends at an October 2008 interpreting them correctly...Nothing in the book deviates from Some of the Islamic cities had animal welfare conference on Islam & animal welfare. (Kim Bartlett) the Islamic Sharia or contradicts its principles.” organizations and shelters centuries before Europe, but the who was among Mohammed’s closest friends. In the conserva- Opens Stilt, “In my studies of Islamic law, I have first animal welfare organizations and animal shelters in record- tive translation that Stilt favors, “A prostitute passed by a dog always been impressed by the extensive rules that require ed history existed in India in the time of the Buddha and near the head of a well. The dog was panting and it seemed humans to treat animals kindly and with mercy. These rules are Mahavir, the last prophet of the Jains, 900 years before that he was going to die of thirst. The woman managed to give wide ranging, and include significant protections for work ani- Mohammed’s time. Both the Buddha and Mahavir taught kind- the dog water by filling up her shoe with water. Her sins were mals, requirements that slaughtering be done in the most ness and mercy toward animals, apparently building on older forgiven for doing that.” absolutely merciful way possible, and commands to treat dogs traditions. The Hebrew prophet Moses also taught that animals Another common version stipulates that the woman and cats kindly in all situations…The rules of Islamic law on should be given adequate food and water, and should receive used her head covering to lower the shoe into the well to get the animal welfare, established in the seventh century, do more to merciful treatment, as did Isaiah. water––which strengthens the message that the act of kindness protect animals than the laws of any country today.” Except in the sweep of her historical summary, how- matters more than the transgressions against societal norms. Unfortunately, the statements and examples cited by ever, Stilt tends toward understatement. More vehement inter- “This hadith is very powerful,” writes Stilt. “Even a Mohammed himself on behalf of animals are not as well known pretations of the sayings of Mohammed appear in the online woman who had committed such a sin was forgiven for saving or widely observed as he clearly meant them to be––especially postings of Islamic animal advocates, who for several years the life of a dog.” A broader reading is that adultery and any in some of the societies that most pretend to observe sharia. have been building an animal rights movement with an Arabic sin lesser than adultery should be forgiven on behalf of anyone As Stilt explains, “Islam is based on overarching accent through the Internet. Young women in particular are who shows even routine kindness toward animals. principles of kindness, mercy, compassion, justice, and doing inhibited in much of the Islamic world from organizing the res- Concludes Stilt, “Islam requires kindness and com- good works. These principles are seen pervasively throughout cue and protest activities that characterize animal advocacy in passion toward all animals in all situations. I hope most fer- the texts of the religion…For example, Aisha [youngest of the west and much of Asia, but passionately discuss animal vently that these rules can truly become a part of daily life.” Mohammed’s wives] reported an admonition of the Prophet: issues online, with the H a d i t h s of Mohammed as their chief Published with the help of ANIMAL PEOPLE and ‘Truly God is kind and loves kindness. He rewards kindness philosophical foundation. Marchig Animal Welfare Trust, the text of Animal Welfare in and does not reward violence.’” A favorite of many is Hadith 3208, from Bukhari, Islamic Law appears in both English and Arabic. ––M.C. Long Distance Transport & Welfare of Farm Animals Edited by Michael C. Appleby, Victoria Cussen, Leah Garcés, Lasley A. Lambert & Jacy Turner CABI Publishing (2001 Evans Road, Cary, NC 27513), 2008. 450 pages, hardcover, $150. “Most people interested in animal the world. However, legislation must be ade- East with live animals, it would of course be “It is welfare would agree that transporting livestock quately enforced,” summarizes World Society essential to ensure that this market was not widely held,” destined for slaughter across either an ocean or for the Protection of Animals representative filled by imports from countries where regula- Menczer sum- a continent is a practice that should be discon- Victoria Cussen. Her essay details “A large tion is weaker,” Rahman writes. marizes, “that tinued,” writes Colorado State University ani- degree of variability in enforcement” of the Those countries might be China, or c o u n t r i e s mal science professor Temple Grandin in her European legislation, even though Europe is a any of several livestock-exporting nations in which have foreword to Long Distance Transport & relatively small part of the world with high South America and Africa. high inci- Welfare of Farm Animals. public awareness of animal welfare. African nations already supply live- dences of “Shipping the chilled or frozen meat Donald Broom of the Cambridge stock to the Middle East in high volume, but poverty are unable to and processing the animals in the region of ori- University Animal Welfare Information Centre the commerce moves mostly overland, and is afford good care for animals. However, con- gin would improve welfare and reduce stress,” points out that what is “long” transport varies much less visible than the multi-story livestock tradicting this is the attitude of small farmers, Grandlin opines. by species. “Because poultry held in crates or vessels running back and forth from Australia who are often the poorest among the popula- Long Distance Transport & Welfare drawers cannot be effectively fed and watered and New Zealand. tion…The attitude goes beyond simply caring of Farm Animals collects papers by 23 leading during transport,” Broom explains, “journeys “Limited power availability plays a for the animal because of the price the animal experts. About half are staff or consultants for [for birds] must be considerably shorter.” part in the movement of animals,” explains will bring at market. There is true animal hus- animal welfare groups. The rest work in acad- Broom is equally critical of how Karen Menczer in her coverage of Africa. “It bandry involved, which arguably takes time emic support of the livestock industry. mammals are usually hauled to slaughter. is more efficient to transport the live animal and money that could be spent elsewhere.” Together they assess the status of animal wel- “When four-legged animals are rather than to transport meat when the poten- For example, Menczer says, “In fare in animal transport by region. standing on a surface subject to movement, tial exists for spoilage without cold storage.” East Africa, where there are both Christian Though each region presents a some- such as a road vehicle,” Broom points out, African livestock are often still dri- and Moslem livestock producers, strong cul- what different context, the basic problems of “they position their feet outside the normal ven to slaughter on their own feet. In parts of tural beliefs and practices influence the man- overcrowding, rough handling, and ill effects area under the body in order to help them to East Africa, says Menczer, herds may be dri- agement of livestock. These communities tend from long rides without rest are essentially the balance. They also need to take steps out of ven for 75 days to reach urban markets. As the their animals with a lot of care and affec- same in all parts of the world. this normal area if subjected to accelerations in “vegetation is thorny, and water points and tion…This balance is disturbed when livestock Grandin points out that while most a particular direction. Hence, they need more pasture are scarce…carcasses of animals too traders who treat animals as commodities enter harm to livestock in transport originates with space than if standing still.” weak to go on, suffering from lack of water, the equation…Throughout Africa,” Menczer attempts to save money, the net outcome is But livestock are seldom allowed are frequently found on the savannah. contends, “cattle producers have close ties to that sick and injured animals cost the livestock even as much space in transport as they get in “Trekking is steadily decreasing due their livestock. Once an animal is sold to mid- industry as a whole much more than the sum confinement husbandry. to increased urbanization, land use conflicts, dlemen, the bond is broken.” of savings by corner-cutting individual farm- Instead, haulers typically try to pack and initiatives to encourage pastoralists to The issues in South America appear ers, brokers, transporters, and slaughterhous- as many animals into a vehicle as can be become sedentary,” Menczer writes. to be comparable to those in Africa, according es. Long distance livestock transport in itself shoved aboard. The animals are kept upright “Transport by rail is decreasing as well due to to summaries by Carmen Gallo and Tamira is economically inefficient, but persists large- by the pressure of the bodies of the other ani- deteriorating railway infrastructure. Transport Tadich, except that South America is less ly because of insufficient investment in devel- mals around them, or by nose and tail tying. by road is increasing. Transport by ship politically fragmented. As in Africa, the oping the alternatives. Many are injured, and injure each other. occurs mainly for export. nations most involved in international live- Grandin mentions 19 specific points In Broom’s view, “Stocking densi- “In many countries in the region,” stock export are also among the most affluent, of conflict between short-term economic inter- ties must be defined as floor area per animal of Menczer adds, “bureaucracy and corruption and have some visible animal advocates––but est and the welfare of animals in transport, a specified live weight.” Definitions based on prolong already long trips, and increase expo- not enough to have much influence. each of which might be remedied if the live- floor area per animal “are not an acceptable sure to heat and sun and the amount of time In China, points out University of stock marketing system could be modified to way of defining floor space requirements,” spent without food, water, and rest. Overland Houston professor Peter Li, the biggest prob- share the economic results of better animal Broom believes, “since they take no account trips can take seven days [along common lem throughout the livestock sector may be welfare throughout the supply chain. of variation in animal weight.” routes] and can be even longer if the truck sheer inexperience. Globally, animal agricul- In much of the world, Grandin Within Long Distance Transport & stops at more markets along the way, has a ture has rapidly expanded during the past 50 notes, “Transporting live animals usually Welfare of Farm Animals, there is no dis- breakdown, or is stopped at borders for incor- years, but in most nations the expansion has requires less capital than building and operat- agreement with the recommendation of the rect permits or for harassment. The multiplici- involved an already experienced livestock ing a slaughter plant”––at least up front. Federation of Veterinarians of Europe that ani- ty of control points, taxes and fees complicate industry labor pool finding ways to raise, When the cumulative cost of transport is taken mals should be slaughtered as near the point of trade routes…Rough terrain is also a problem. haul, and slaughter more animals. into account, building an up-to-date slaughter- production as possible [and no opposition to In some of these countries, roads are so rutted By contrast, the explosive growth of house and refrigeration infrastucture to distrib- slaughtering animals in the first place], but that it is impossible for animals to remain the Chinese livestock industry has come in ute and sell frozen meat would quickly pay for several contributors are skeptical that long upright in the vehicle.” regions with little history of animal agricul- itself; but the economic structure of the indus- hauls can be abolished. Laws meant to protect livestock in ture, and came initially by government direc- try favors tens of thousands of haulers moving S.A. Rahman believes that religious transport exist in South Africa, Egypt, tive, not by initiative on the part of producers. millions of live animals, instead of pooled and cultural requirements in parts of the Nigeria, Kenya, Ethiopia, and Eritrea, Nine of the 10 Chinese provinces now produc- investment and shared returns. Middle East will thwart attempts to replace Menczer notes, but the laws are seldom ing the most animals were not among the top The contributors to Long Distance imports of live sheep and cattle with a frozen enforced, chiefly because the enforcement 10 as recently as 25 years ago. Transport & Welfare of Farm Animals a l l carcass trade, “at least during the period of agencies, where any exist, lack the resources Li is optimistic that the Chinese gov- favor improved legislation, but none seem to Hajj,” the pilgrimage season, when about to do much more than make token gestures. ernment supports improved animal welfare as see legislation as more than a step toward sys- 25% of all livestock slaughter in the region “By far the greatest cultural influ- part and parcel of continuing to build the temic change which must be motivated by occurs. However, Rahman points out, other ence on the perception and management of industry, in transport as well as in other market forces and cultural pressure. livestock imports could be replaced by frozen livestock is the extent of poverty within the aspects, but believes that economic considera- “The European Union has more carcass trade. country,” says Menczer ––but she takes issue tions rather than actual concern for the animals comprehensive legislation for animal welfare “If Australia, New Zealand, and the with conventional belief about the relationship are motivating official endorsement of during animal transport than anywhere else in European Union ceased to supply the Middle of poverty to animal welfare. improvements. ––Merritt Clifton November/December 2008 3/22/13 9:18 PM Page 19
ANIMAL PEOPLE, November/December 2008 - 19 the fact. Mentioned in ancient times, but Turvey’s role was to organize and has helped locals to reduce their reliance on Witness to Extinction apparently never as abundant as the now lead a two-boat survey of the entire length of fishing by offering alternatives such as poultry How We Failed to scarce Yangtse River porpoise, the baiji was the Yangtse and major tributaries in 2005 that farming.” probably already headed toward extinction found not a trace of a living baiji and no credi- Even from a perspective limited to Save the Yangtse when 17-year-old American duck hunter ble reports of recent sightings. A blurred and species conservation, increased poultry farm- River Dolphin Charles Hoy shot the first scientifically distant video of a purported sighting in a tribu- ing in estuarial dolphin habitat would be described specimen in 1914. tary turned up in 2006, but even if one or two alarming. Poultry excretia, rich in phosphorus, by Samuel Turvey Baiji were at times hunted for food baiji remain, chances are slim that they will be is implicated in declining water quality in U.S. and oil, especially during the so-called Great enough to rebuild the population. inland waters from the Arkansas River to Oxford University Press Leap Forward under Mao tse Tung, when as Turvey recounts the loss of the baiji Chesapeake Bay. River dolphins would be (198 Madison Ave., New York, many as 30 million Chinese people starved to in hopes that lessons can be learned on behalf affected if the U.S. had any. NY 10016), 2008. death, but mostly they appear to have been of other rare species, including the vaquita Thirty years after Pakistan prohibited 224 pages, paperback. $29.95. accidental victims of “rolling hook” fishing, whale, found only in the Gulf of California. hunting the Indus river dolphin, which is blind fish netting, and boat traffic along the river The North American Commission and lacks a dorsal fin, this species had Samuel Turvey, born in Lohja, which has long been among China’s busiest for Environmental Cooperation reported in increased to 1,330, according to a spring 2006 Finland, as a child enjoyed a rare sighting of thoroughfares. October 2008 that only about 150 vaquitas survey. The Indus river dolphin appeared to the Lake Saimaa seal. Landlocked by receding Not more than 200 baiji were left by remain in the wild, while as many as 40 are be a short-term beneficiary of a 25% increase glaciers about 9,500 years ago, the Saimaa the time field studies started circa 1979. Inept killed each year by fishing nets. in glacial melt from the Himalayas, attributed seal has adapted to living in fresh water. At attempts to catch baiji for captive breeding, Other Asian river dolphins have to global warming. As the glaciers recede, the time, researchers believed there were bare- lack of knowledge about the needs of baiji declined to the scarcity that the baiji reached this stimulus will decline. ly 100 left. The population rose to 280 in once captured, institutional rivalries, and the before anyone sounded an alarm. The dolphin population of the Upper 2005, but has since dropped to 260. perception of international conservation orga- The Wildlife Conservation Society Ganga river in India has increased from 20 to “Getting entangled in fishing nets is nizations that the baiji was a lost cause all con- and Bangladesh Cetacean Diversity Project 40 since 1993, World Wildlife Fund freshwa- the biggest single cause of death. If we get rid tributed to the failure of last-ditch efforts to told Shafiq Alam of Agence France-Presse in ter program coordinator Sandeep Behera told of that, the Saimaa seal could probably sur- resuscitate the species. October 2008 that they have counted an unex- The Hindu in November 2008. Accomplishing vive global warming,” World Wildlife Fund Turvey appears to be especially bit- pectedly large population of 5,832 Irrawaddy this required building a sewage treatment representative Jari Luukkonen recently told ter about the lack of grant funding allocated to dolphins in the estuaries of coastal Bangla- plant, stopping fishing and mining along 165 Terhi Kinnunen of Agence France-Press. saving the baiji, seemingly oblivious to the desh. But that is almost the only unequivocal kilometres of river, and persuading farmers to Turvey grew up to earn a Ph.D. in need for someone to raise the funds to be recent good news about Irrawaddy dolphins in fertilize only with cow manure. Chinese paleontology, but inspired by his granted. If major funders would not try, baiji any of their five Southeast Asian habitats. Supot Chandhrapornsil of the Saimaa seal encounter, felt impelled to try to enthusiasts might have taken their case directly Fewer than 100 Mekong Irrwaddy Thailand Department of Marine and Coastal discover the fate of the baiji, the Yangtse to the public via direct mail and e-mail. dolphins remain in northern Cambodia, Sun Resources warned in May 2008 that only river dolphin, last known to exist when the As Turvey notes, marine mammolo- Mao of the Cambodian Rural Development about 40 Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins last captive baiji died in 2002. gist Stephen Leatherwood became involved Team told Guy Delauney of BBC News in July remain in Khanom Bay at Nakhon Si Tham- Turvey’s title, How We Failed to toward the end of his life, and knew how to do 2008. “A ban on the use of gill nets has cut marat. Four of the pink dolphins were killed Save the Yangtse River Dolphin, is a bit of a what needed to be done, but died in January down the number of dolphins accidentally by entanglement in fishing nets during the first misnomer, since his involvement began after 1997. That probably doomed the whole cause. caught,” Delauney reported. “Instead, CRDT five months of 2008. ––Merritt Clifton The Fatwa of Sheikh Mohamed Sayed Tantawi on Slaughter &
ANIMAL PEOPLE noted in a June and Slaughter,” held just ahead of the annual began, “they could hardly stand. After a terri- ins during smuggling operations. 2008 cover article on the resumption of live conference of the World Organization for fying 1,000-metre underground trip into the But stressful as the tunnel journey is animal exports from Australia to Egypt that Animal Health. The latter organization, cre- Israeli-blockaded Gaza Strip, what the young for calves headed toward sacrifice, it is short, even if Egypt fails to enforce secular law gov- ated by the United Nations, is better known by cattle wanted most was a long drink of cool and the calves are watered at the end of it. erning animal transport and slaughter, the French abbreviation OIE. water. Underground livestock smuggling has They may be among the best treated of all the Muhammad Sayyid Tantawi, the Chief Imam The ESAF conference and publica- increased dramatically ahead of Eid Al-Adha, animals who are transported each year for Eid and Shaikh of al-Azhar, Egypt, had issued a tion ceremonies included participation by three the day of sacrifice [December 10, 2008] Al-Adha sacrifice: about 700,000 killed at the fatwa, or religious opinion, meant to rein- senior Islamic scholars from Al-Ahzar when Muslims slaughter animals and feed the conclusion of the Haj pilgrimage to Mecca, force the observance of the intent of the hallal University, widely seen as the world’s leading poor to seek God’s forgiveness.” plus two to three million who will be killed slaughter laws, meant to minimize animal suf- institution of Islamic learning; Nasser Farid Nidal al-Mughrabi interviewed tun- either by or on behalf of the 1.3 billion fering, that are central to Islamic practice. Wasef, former mufti (chief scholar) for Egypt; nel operator Abu Luqaib, 23, “as his crew Muslims who remain at home. The Egyptian Society of Animal the Jordanian minister of religious affairs, and pulled a bawling calf up the deep shaft by a The ESAF handbook may help those Friends has now published the fatwa as a Princess Alia Al Hussein of Jordan. simple rope around its middle. The calves cost animals, and many more––especially if handbook, also including the “Five Freedoms” The OIE conference also empha- $350 each plus $250 for the transport, a total Muslim consumers join animal advocates in and Universal Declaration on Animal Welfare. sized the need to improve animal welfare in of $600 per head,” Nidal al-Mughrabi learned. pressuring everyone involved in livestock The “Five Freedoms,” first enumer- animal husbandry, transport, and slaughter, The traffic is dangerous for humans transport and slaughter to observe the h a l l a l ated in 1967 by a British government-appoint- and asked the international donor community as well as animals. Just in 2008, more than principles, if animals are to be transported and ed panel, require that all captive animals be to help developing nations worldwide to 45 people have reportedly been killed in cave- slaughtered at all. ––Merritt Clifton guaranteed freedom from thirst, hunger and achieve high animal wel- malnutrition; freedom from discomfort; free- fare standards. dom from pain, injury and disease; freedom As the delegates Breaking the Chain: to express normal behavior; and freedom from to the ESAF and OIE con- Teaching kindness & compassion to animals fear and distress. The Universal Declaration ferences crossed paths in on Animal Welfare, evolving as a proposed Cairo, the Reuters news through art & creative writing item of international legislation for more than syndicate on October 21, Edited by Bari Mears & Deb White. 80 years, in present form surrounds the “Five 2008 distributed “Under- Freedoms” with points of cultural context. ground cattle trade thrives Free download:
20 - ANIMAL PEOPLE, November/December 2008 A Template for Change by Carolyn Menteith Jointly published by Savage Humans & Stray Dogs Dogs Trust and Battersea Dogs & Cats Home by Hiranmay Karlekar Free download from
Directed by Tygve Allisten Diesen & Lucky McKee. Produced by Norman Dreyfuss & Tygve Allister Diesen. Starring Amanda P lummer, B r i an Cox, Kim Dickens, Kyl e Gallner, Noel Fi sher, Red, adapted by screenwriter Steph-en Susco from a Ludlow tries to get the boys to admit that they did it, 1995 novel of the same title by Jack Ketchum, begins with a and to apologize. He interests a young investigative reporter Wolf Clifton: crime of a sort that many readers of ANIMAL PEOPLE have for a local television station in his story. The reporter, played R e d is relevant to animal welfare, as it pertains to encountered, and often will have personally investigated, pros- by Kim Dickens, interviews Ludlow where Red was killed, dogs. But the main character is both a hunter and fisher. Issues ecuted, or otherwise responded to as animal advocates. but Ludlow does not divulge the boys’ names from fear of a of note include Avery Ludlow’s inconsistencies toward ani- R e d has evoked varied responses from people who libel suit. But they know who he is talking about. mals, and especially the influence that acculturation toward care about animals. Novelist Arthur Winfield Knight, a retired Someone throws a rock wrapped with a piece of hunting has in developing the entire scenario, on both sides of film critic, wrote to bring R e d to the attention of A N I M A L paper warning him to back off. Then someone burns down the conflict. PEOPLE after seeing it with his wife Kit, who is still an active Ludlow’s small store. Ludlow knows the boys are responsible, film critic. ANIMAL PEOPLE president Kim Bartlett and but cannot prove it. Kim Bartlett: artist Wolf Clifton watched R e d at Knight’s recommendation, At this point I expected Ludlow to go after the boys, Red is rather pro-hunting and pro-fishing, not an ani- and took different views of it. much as Charles Bronson’s character went after the people mal rights production at all. Arthur Winfield Knight: responsible for murdering his wife and raping his daughter in If I had watched Red as simply a movie coming on Avery Ludlow, 64, played by Brian Cox, lives the first Death Wish, but Red doesn’t play out that way. This is HBO or something from Netflix, I would have thought that it alone after his mentally ill eldest son kills his wife and younger a thinking person’s film. Without giving anything away, the was troubling from an animal rights perspective, but that it son, with only his 14-year-old dog Red for companionship. ending is close to being tragic, so anyone looking for an easy might cause some general viewers to think about hunting as a The dog, as a puppy, was Ludlow’s 50th birthday present from resolution should probably skip Red. precursor to violence against people and pets. his wife. While Ludlow is fishing one afternoon, Red lying by Everything about R e d seems real, and the acting is However, the link is not made consciously in the his side, three teenaged deer hunters attempt to extort money uniformly good. The Hollywood Reporter got it right when it film, and in no way is violence to non-pet animals presented from Ludlow. When they fail, one of them blows Red’s head said this film is “riveting,” just as Mark Olsen of the L o s from a critical or even questioning angle. to pieces with a shotgun. Another boy laughs. Angeles Times did when he referred to this small, independent Protagonist Avery Ludlow is an honorable man, as Ludlow discovers the boys’ identities and confronts production as “an elegant thriller.” people go, but the scene in which the dog is killed begins with the father of two of them, played by Tom Sizemore. My wife Kit and I have a retired racing greyhound him sitting with a fishing pole baited with a live worm on the Sizemore’s character is affluent and uninterested in what who has become an enormous part of our lives in the past five hook. Ludlow has to say. The two boys deny having had anything to years. We tell people that Nikkie is the best dog in the world, Ludlow visits gun stores to try to track down the do with Red’s death. and we’re not kidding. Kit was walking Nikkie once when a boys, and the gun store employees are uncritically portrayed. The third boy’s father is an out-of-work carpenter spaniel came charging out of someone’s yard, racing toward One gun store proprietor has a dog and tells how the dog saved who is also uninterested in hearing Ludlow. His son, like the Nikkie. The spaniel did not seem friendly. The dog’s person his life by encouraging him to go on even though he had blown other two, denies having any involvement in the shooting. sat on his porch, watching as if this was an everyday event. off his own foot while out trying to kill animals. This is also Maybe it was. Kit, usually mild-tempered, yelled “Keep your presented without irony. Misfits Country (2008), the latest of Arthur Winfield dog under control,” although she added a few expletives. We first meet the father of the boy who shot the dog Knight’s historical novels, occurs on the set of The Misfits, the The man said, “I couldn’t help it. My dog got out of in his study full of stuffed animals. This seems sinister, but not 1961 film that was the last screen appearance by both Marilyn my yard.” Almost everyone has an excuse, which is at least really different from the good guys at the gun stores who have Monroe and Clark Gable, and brought public notice to the partially what R e d is about. It is so thoughtful a film that I heads on the walls. mass roundups for slaughter which threatened to exterminate almost didn’t quote the Los Angeles Times, because this film is Avery Ludlow's elder son murdered Ludlow’s wife wild horses in the U.S. west. Says Knight’s publisher, Tres much more than a thriller. and younger son by burning them with kerosene, but no con- Picos Press, “Arthur Winfield Knight was in Dayton, Nevada I reviewed a film a week for more than a decade, and nection is made between that behavior and any hunting the boy when The Misfits was filmed, and he was in Virginia City have seen a lot of films since then. Kit now reviews films for probably was exposed to early in life. He is mentioned just as a when John Huston rode his camel to victory there,” in a 1960 three newspapers in Nevada and one in California. sort of an inexplicable bad seed. four-camel race which has become an annual event. Knight’s Our perspective is that R e d is not only a genuine At the end the TV journalist brings Ludlow a puppy other novels include The Secret Life of Jesse James and Johnny work of art, but is, quite simply, one of the best films either of from a friend whose unspayed dog had a litter. That seems D: The Story of John Dillinger. us have seen in years. hardly worth mentioning, given everything else. November/December 2008 3/22/13 9:18 PM Page 21
ANIMAL PEOPLE, November/December 2008 - 21 The Rhino With ANIMAL PEOPLE Glue-On Shoes thanks you for your generous support & other surprising stories of Honoring the parable of the widow's mite––in which zoo vets and their patients a poor woman gives but one coin to charity, yet that is all she Edited by Lucy H. Spelman, DVM possesses––we do not list our donors by how much they give, but we and Ted Y. Mashima, DVM greatly appreciate large gifts that help us do more for animals. ––Wolf Clifton Delacorte Press (c/o Random House, Heather Abraham, Pelizabeth Anderson, Florence Arday, Lana Bajsel, Gini Barrett, Nancy Barthule, Mike Baumayr, Risa Beckham, 1745 Broadway, New York, NY 10019), Alexandra Bechter, James Berenbaum, Louis Bertrand, Frances Bialek, Laura Black, Neil Brandt, Dr. Joanne Brown, Shirley Brown, 2008. Hardcover, 310 pages. $22.00. Elizabeth Buley, Michael Burton, Patricia Cade, Jeanette Capotorto, Jean Carr, Donna & Jim Carter, John & June Caspersen, Joan Casterlin, Grover Chapman, Michael Chrysam, Shirley Ann Coffey, Gale Cohen-Demarco, Alice Conkey, David Conklin, Peggy Conyers, Petie Cook-Chisum, Bonnie Crecelius, Anne Galloway Curtis, Katherine Day, Theresa Della Bella, Len & Jean Diamond, Trust Me: I’m Anthony Di Piazza, DTS Charitable Foundation, Jennifer Dudley, Linda Dyer, Carol Ebel, Johanna Elias, La Rue Ewers, Sandra Exposito Ayala, Renee Farmer, Janet Forman, Marla Friedrich, Mildred Funk, Paul Gallaher, Marilyn Gardner, Margaret Gebhard, Debra Giambattista, John Green, Linda Jean Gregg, Rudy Grodowski, Harriet Gross, Christine Heinrichs, Mildred Huey, Sharon Jaffe, not a veterinarian Jerome Kahn, Ruth Kamp, Mahmoud Kassraian, Sharon Kilburg, Ronald Klugh, Alan Kneier, Ann & Bill Koros, Mildred Krisik, William Lane, Kitty Langdon, Lange Foundation, Linda Leas, Irving Lillien, Cindy Love, Nam Hari Kaur Lucenti, Dr. Jane Mahlow, …No Dog Before His Time! Mariana Manzo, Viorel Marinescu, Leanne Martin, Lyn McFarland, Patricia McGuire, Catherine McKenzie, Janyce McLean, James D. Schwartz Karen McNeil, Esther Mechler, Ronald Meltzer, Nazen Merjian, Lola Merritt, Melvin Miller, John Morris, Mr. & Mrs. George Nader, Deborah Nuzzo, Steven Pagani, Wendi Paschal, Marcia Pearson, Damon Phillips, Carol Piligian, Leslie Fay Pomerantz, Michael Porteus, Next To Kin Foundation (5954 S. Monaco Mr. & Mrs. William Reis, Nancie Sailor, Yvonne Saunders, Marietta Scaltrito, Jill & Bill Sedam, Kathleen Shopa, Darcy Silver, Way, Centennial, CO 80111), 2008. Magda Simopoulos, Aileen Siracusa, Jean Smith, Barbara Smolinski, Lindy & Marvin Sobel, Bernadette Sonefeld, Kathleen Spain, 324 pages, paperback. $15.99. Elizabeth Stacy, George Stassinopoulos, Miriam & John Steinke, Kathy Straedey, Cristina Suzuki, Joseph Swierkosz, Miriam Tamburro, Mrs. R.S. Tatton, Mimi Taylor, Dee Tharpe, United Way for Animals/Susan Parry, Angel Vega, Anna Bell Washburn, Paul Weber, The Rhino With Glue-On Shoes a n d Cathy Wentz, Marie-Christine Whitman, Ronald Winkler, Nancy Withers, Judy Youngman, Audrey Yuse Trust Me: I’m not a veterinarian could scarce- ly present more contrasting views of the veteri- most famous, not for her many years as problem in each case was that the total number much of the trust that the public invests in vets nary profession. National Zoo chief veterinarian, but for her of animals of the species involved who had is misplaced. Among his targets are misrepre- Twenty-eight zoo vets in The Rhino brief, catastrophic tenure as director of the ever been sedated was fewer than the number sentation of cremation services, vets who With Glue-On Shoes recall their most memo- zoo. That ended in mid-2004 after a National of dogs or cats a typical vet might see in a insist that animals be vaccinated annually rable patients. Each appears to work in the tra- Academy of Sciences investigative panel criti- week, and the appropriate dose-to-weight against rabies even though vaccinating only dition of All Creatures Great & Small a u t h o r cized her management style and alleged defi- ratios turned out to be far lower than had been every third year is adequate, overpricing vac- James Herriot, authentically fond of animals ciencies in the zoo’s veterinary care. inferred from previous experience. cination, gaps in disaster response planning, and quick to respond to any crisis involving A variety of experts have told ANI- Boehm’s chapter of The Rhino With and the deficiencies of vet health insurance. any sort of animal, from sea dragons to goril- MAL PEOPLE, however, that the biggest Glue-On Shoes recounts how the Shedd saved Schwartz himself has tried to sell an approach las and polar bears. problem at the National Zoo, not just under a beluga whale baby who was orphaned by the to vet health insurance that he believes would Zoo vets tend to be among the best Spelman but for generations, has been that it unexpected death of his mother. better serve pets and their people. of the best, especially at diagnostic work. A is operated by the Smithsonian Institution, Not all of the stories in The Rhino Schwartz appears to be fingering zoo vet must be able to treat hundreds of which is oriented toward running museums, With Glue-On Shoes end happily. Some of the average small animal clinicians, with typical species for thousands of conditions specific to not housing live animals. Much of the zoo was vets are still wondering, years later, what they practices. Many readers will have had experi- their kind. Some of these conditions transmit built long before current ideas about keeping might have done to save animals who died ences similar to some of those Schwartz interspecies but present wildly varied symp- animals healthy in captivity began to develop. mysteriously. But there are many happy end- describes. But probably most will have met toms in different species. Because the base of Spelman’s contribution, providing ings when vets discover unexpected solutions professionals in other fields whose perfor- medical knowledge about most animal species the title to the anthology, is about saving a to baffling problems. A reader favorite will mance is unsatisfactory, who get away with kept in zoos is relatively narrow, zoo vets are rhino with a history of chronic foot problems probably be former Wildlife Waystation vet mediocrity in part because the demand for their at much greater risk of making mistakes than caused by having spent most of his life on Becky Yates’ account of saving a bear cub services exceeds the numbers who are trained dog, cat, equine, and agricultural vets. unnaturally hard surfaces. Eventually the whose bones failed to harden. Yates was out to step in as replacements. At the same time, zoo vets work rhino was sent to a more appropriate habitat. of ideas and hope, but Waystation founder The present global veterinary short- under omnipresent public scrutiny. If a cele- The next best-known contributor to Martine Colette insisted that such a happy ani- age is not expected to ease soon. The best vets brated zoo animal falls ill or is injured, the The Rhino With Glue-On Shoes is probably mal would recover properly with the right diet today are better than ever, through the combi- case can become a local cause celebré. If the Jeff Boehm of the Shedd Aquarium in and care. The cub eventually proved her right. nation of improved training, improved diag- animal dies, the zoo vet will often be blamed. Chicago. Early in his career Boehm had the James D. Schwartz, a personal nostic equipment, and more effective medica- Nowhere in The Rhino With Glue-On misfortune to be among the attending vets, at financial planner, wrote Trust Me: I’m not a tions, but any vet with a license can find work. Shoes is there a list of the contributors, though two different institutions, when animals who veterinarian just before the U.S. economy col- Meanwhile, Schwartz’ critique suf- a brief biography of each one appears at the were already a focus of activist attention died lapsed, eroding public faith in fiduciaries. fers from having apparently been written as end of his or her chapter. Most of their names under sedation. Despite the bashing Boehm Surveys continue to show that veteri- web pages. The choppy writing style, suited would not be recognized outside the zoo field. got from elsewhere, he was willing to discuss narians are among the most trusted practition- to a small screen, does not translate into a flu- Co-editor Lucy Spelman may be the both cases with ANIMAL PEOPLE. The ers of any profession. Schwartz contends that ent narrative in book format. ––Merritt Clifton
Right: Ray Fadden about 50 years OBITUARIES ago with his pet porcupine Needles. “Dad had the knack of picking up Needles,” recalls Ray Fadden-Tehanetorens, 98, operating the museum each summer, then son John Fadden. “One evening when the died on November 14, 2008 at the Iakhihsotha retired to focus on teaching museum visitors. light wasn’t good, he picked up a wild porcu - nursing home in Akwesasne, the Mohawk Wrote Doug George-Kanentiio, “Without pine by mistake. He wondered why he put up nation located on either side of the U.S. and Tehanetorens there would not have been a such a fuss. He even put him in his huge Canadian border near Massena, New York, White Roots of Peace, an Akwesasne Notes, chicken wire-covered teepee cage. Later, the and St. Regis, Ontario. Born in a farmhouse CKON Radio, Indian Time, Freedom School, real Needles roamed home, and Dad realized five miles east of Onchiota, New York, or Mohawk Nation Council of Chiefs. There his mistake. Needless to say he let the other Fadden met his wife Christine Chubb, who would be no land claims. The Mohawk one free, and he hurried away as fast as he survives him, while teaching elementary Council of Akwesasne would still be the St. could, which wasn’t too fast, as you know. school at the Tuscarora Reservation, near Regis Band Council. Akwesasne as a place of When he was young, Dad had an un-descent - Niagara Falls. He also met and began helping power would not be. We would still be calling ed skunk too,” John Fadden added. “The Clinton Rickard, founder of the Indian ourselves the St. Regis Indians. The new skunk lived in his camp/shack in back of the Defense League of America. Moving to the scholarship which is finally seeing us as we house, he told me.” St. Regis Mohawk School in Hogansburg, were, and are, would not have taken root. He New York, Fadden taught science to genera- inspired students from everywhere.” But a stove urged ANIMAL PEOPLE e d i t o r hunting. In the early 1970s, when most major tions of young Mohawks by emphasizing out- fiercely expressed central part of his message Merritt Clifton to found a newspaper for peo- U.S. humane societies were reluctant to con- door nature study. Not harming or disturbing was less amplified. “Folks out there always ple who care about animals in the spirit of front hunting, Lefebvre began collecting animals was central to his teaching. “He loved heard his message about First Nations people,” Akwesasne Notes, the First Nations newspaper promises from leading humane organizations animals and passed that tradition on to my affirmed John Fadden, “but didn’t really hear that both Ray and John Fadden helped to that they would at least work to abolish chase sons, myself, and many, many others. He the animal part. He undeniably was an advo- found, describing ANIMAL PEOPLE i n pens and “canned hunts,” in which the hunted also was a strong advocate for First Nations cate for animals, trees, waters, sky, clouds, concept three years before it existed animals have no chance to escape. Twenty People, and we continue to carry on his work rocks––all of it. Animals and birds were his Mona Lefebvre, 93, died on years later, as a charter subscriber to A N I - at the museum he created,” e-mailed his son, first love since he was a kid. He learned that August 1, 2008 in Topeka, Kansas. Born in MAL PEOPLE, Lefebvre wrote that the artist and longtime ANIMAL PEOPLE reader traditionally among most Native Nations there Egypt, of French parents, she came to the promises had not been kept. Some progress John Fadden-Kahiones. At 90, recalled song- was a respect for nature, i.e., birds, plants, U.S. via marriage. Living first in Pennsylv- has been made since then. Chase pens and writer Roy Hurd, Fadden admitted, “I’m four-leggeds, etc., and that’s what directed ania, she was appalled by U.S.-style sport canned hunts have been banned or restricted in slowing down. I’m only feeding the birds at him toward that history and culture.” Fadden several states. The federal Lacey Act, govern- 200 places in the woods instead of 300.” taught that harming animals in any way for fun ing interstate transport of wildlife, is now Recalled Plattsburgh Press Republican s t a f f or profit is profane. Mohawk participation in more strictly enforced, after the growth of writer Robin Caudell, “In the early 1940s, commercial fur trapping was the sin that recognition that transporting raccoons, foxes Fadden created the Akwesasne Mohawk destroyed the Six Nations, along with their and coyotes to be killed in chase pens has Counselor Organization, designed to educate wildlife family, Fadden believed. A lifelong spread several rabies outbreaks, and that haul- Mohawk children about Native history, wood- opponent of hunting and trapping, who for ing deer and elk from game ranches to canned craft, and Mohawk tradition, and to develop a decades fed bears at remote locations to keep hunts has spread chronic wasting syndrome to positive self-image.” As appropriate educa- them from being shot for seeking food in prox- wild populations. Disengaging from public tional materials were not available, Fadden imity to humans, Fadden emphasized that it is activism, Lefebvre meanwhile rescued several published 27 relevant pamphlets and 40 charts today moral opposition to sport and commer- coyotes from chase pens, returning most to the himself, many of them still in print in editions cial hunting, trapping, whaling, and sealing wild. One she named Cheyenne proved to produced by other publishers. Fadden founded ––often rationalized by association with tradi- have been so habituated to human care that he the Six Nations Indian Museum near Onchiota tional Native American practice––that most became her longtime household companion, in 1954. Fadden taught seventh grade science honors Native American religious belief. Ray even learning to use a flush toilet. at Saranac Central School from 1957 to 1967, Fadden in a 1989 discussion over his wood- Mona Lefebvre & Cheyenne in 1994. (More obituaries are on page 22.) November/December 2008 3/22/13 9:18 PM Page 22
22 - ANIMAL PEOPLE, November/December 2008 ANIMAL OBITUARIES Peetie, the last cat known to survive er, could not be safely returned there. A few D a i s y (at right), the former street from the neuter/return feral cat population con- very tough tomcats from the neighborhood dog who inspired Aura Maratas of Bucharest, trol project that the founders of A N I M A L were released after sterilization, including one Romania, to start the Daisy Hope Foundation PEOPLE undertook in 1991-1992 in northern called Pete, who was obviously Peetie’s shelter, “died without reason on August 6, Fairfield County, Connecticut, was eutha- father, as Peetie looked just like him. We 2008 in my hands,” Maratas wrote to A N I- nized due to incurable kidney failure on took in all of the school cats except for the MAL PEOPLE. “She is one of my protecting November 16, 2008. “Peetie was born in very tough guys, who were strong, healthy, angels, along with all of my other dogs who inner Bridgeport, to a cat belonging to a nun and totally wild. Peetie was only half-tame. have passed on,” Maratas said, “reminding us who was principal of St. Teresa’s School,” The nun could pick him up by the scruff, but I that we must keep hope.” recalled ANIMAL PEOPLE president Kim was never able to handle him at all until just Bartlett. “By the time I picked up Peetie in the the past few years when he began to get sick. Titus, 25, the last golden-crowned sifaka lemur in captivity, died on December 2, spring of 1992, his mother had another litter Even when he was young and fit, however, he Daisy, of Daisy Hope. 2008 at the Duke Lemur Center in Durham, of kittens. The school was closing, and the preferred to sleep on my bed.” The ANIMAL B o b b y , 25, a silverback gorilla cats who lived there, except for Peetie’s moth- PEOPLE neuter/return project was among the North Carolina. “He died after Lemur Center veterinary staff removed a tumor from his liver recalled by Andy McSmith of The Independent first in the U.S. to be closely documented and as “the star attraction of the London Zoo,” extensively publicized. that was one-tenth of his 9-pound size,” reported Raleigh News & Observer staff writer was found dead in his cage on December 5, Mr. Buck, a 8-to-10-point tame Leah Friedman. “The shock of the surgery 2008. In the wild, noted McSmith, silver- deer who lived at the Bear Creek Pioneers was too much for his elderly body, said Bevan back gorillas live for 35 years or more. “In Park’s wildlife sanctuary near Houston, was Clark, the primate technician who had cared captivity,” he wrote, “their average life decapitated in his pen on November 24, 2008 for Titus for the past two years.” Born in the expectancy is 50 years. Zoo staff were not by a midnight intruder. Brandon Eugene wild in Madagascar, Titus was captured and able to say why Bobby died. One probability Gregory, 23, was arrested for the killing on brought to the Duke Lemur Center in 1993. is that he died of cardiomyopathy, a degenera- December 5. “Along with the tools used in the He was intended to become the founding male tive heart condition to which adult male west- slaying, Sergeant Johnny Longoria of the of a breeding colony meant to preserve the ern lowland gorillas are particularly prone.” Texas Parks and Wildlife Special highly endangered species, but did not pro- G r i z z l y , 4-year-old Rottweiler pet Investigations Unit said authorities also recov- duce offspring with his first intended mate, of Tony and Natalie Lazenby, of Anchorage, ered the bodies of two additional improperly Messilina, and the center never found a suit- Alaska, “and loved by others in the neighbor- tagged deer on the apartment patio that had able mate for him. “In Madagascar,” wrote hood,” according to Debra McKinney of the been taken from an adjoining county,” wrote Friedman, “sifakas live in a forest about the Anchorage Daily News, died from a crushed Peggy O’Hare and Anita Hassan of the size of Durham County. They don’t live any- throat on November 26, 2009 when he poked Houston Chronicle. Gregory reportedly told where else in the world. At one time, the his head into a Conibear 220 trap that a neigh- the investigating officers that he intended to sifakas’ habitat was much larger, and the bor allegedly left on his porch with a bucket of take Mr. Buck’s entire carcass, but Mr. Buck Madagascar government was on the verge of meat. “It took four people to get the trap off gored him so severely that he was unable to protecting it. But gold was discovered on the the dead dog’s head,” McKinney wrote. Peetie. (Kim Bartlett) drag away the carcass. land, and the protection plan was abandoned.” ANIMAL PEOPLE in March 2008 published obituaries for four other dogs who were killed Alaina Templeton, 6, a potbellied in similar incidents. Conibear and leghold OBITUARIES pig kept by Michelle Schmitz of Winona, traps, almost impossible to open by prying Minnesota, was found dead at her home on against their jaws, can be opened relatively Ron Davis, 52, died on November Robert H. Foote, 86, died on November 18, 2008. “Alaina made it into easily by simultaneously depressing the levers, 6, 2008, in East Lansing, Michigan, from October 27, 2008 of lung failure, in Ithaca, newspapers across the world and even received tabs, or “ears” on either side of their jaws. pancreatic cancer. President of the American New York. Raised on a dairy farm, Foote snarky commentary on Saturday Night Live’s G u s , certified in June 2008 as the Medical Association from July 2007 to July joined the Cornell University animal science Weekend Update when a case of animal cruel- World’s Ugliest Dog at the Sonoma-Marin 2008, “Ron was always a strong advocate of faculty in 1950. At Cornell he worked closely ty was brought against her former caretaker,” Fair, was euthanized on November 10, 2008 preventive medicine and compassionate med- with Samuel Leonard, Sydney Arthur Asdell, wrote Kevin Behr of the Winona Daily News, due to cancer. A hairless Chinese crested dog, ical practice,” recalled Physicians Committee and Glenn Wade Salisbury, who all preceded “for letting her balloon to nearly triple her nor- Gus spent his early years caged in a dark for Responsible Medicine founder Neal him in death, in reproductive research which mal weight. Schmitz left her pet in the care of garage, and lost his left eye in a fight with a Barnard, M.D., who had interviewed Davis as included developing human and animal birth Mary Josephine Beesecker in February 2007 as cat. He later lost his left leg to cancer. His a guest on PCRM’s Doctor’s Forum. Director control methods; advancing the use of artifi- she underwent incapacitating surgery. After rescuer and guardian of the past eight years, of the Office on Smoking and Health at the cial insemination, superovulation, in vitro fer- several months, Schmitz said, she was forced Jeanenne Teed of Gulfport, Florida, spent his Centers for Disease Control and Prevention tilization and embryo transfer; and cloning. to remove Alaina from Beesecker’s farm winnings as Ugliest Dog––and considerably from 1987 to 1991, Davis from 1991 to 1998 Among the first researchers to study DNA, because Beesecker refused to return her phone more––on his chemotherapy. The annual served as founding editor of the journal Foote “also conducted the early research that calls. Schmitz discovered her pet had gained Ugliest Dog contest rose to national promi- Tobacco Control. His AMA obituary recalled led to the understanding that all female mam- about 100 pounds, and her elastic collar was nence through the charisma of another hairless that among his scientific papers were several mals are born with a finite number of eggs that imbedded in her neck, requiring more than Chinese crested dog, Sam, a three-time win- exposing “the link between passive smoking are depleted over a lifetime by degeneration four hours of surgery to remove.” Beesecker, ner 2003-2005, kept by Suzie Lockheed of and cancer in pets.” Davis during his tenure and ovulation,” remembered N e w s d a y . of Houston, Minnesota, is to be tried by jury Santa Barbara, California. Sam died at age 15 as AMA president joined then-American Notorious vivisectors to some, who pioneered in January 2009. Veterinary Medical Association president some of the techniques that have made factory in November 2005. Roger Mahr to develop and introduced the One farming possible on the present scale, Health Resolution, calling on veterinarians Leonard, Asdell, Salisbury, and Foote also and physicians to collaborate in disease contributed to developing some of the most MEMORIALS research and health initiatives. “Ron not only widely used alternatives to using animals in advocated One Health principles within AMA, research, and in finding non-surgical methods In memory of Peetie. We are sorry this past but he personally represented AMA on the of sterilizing animals. year has been such a painful one for AVMA One Health Initiative Task Force and ANIMAL PEOPLE. We understand what Nordin Montong, 32, of Sarawak, these losses of animals mean. There is not a contributed materially to the development of Malaysia, employed since June 2008 as a cage the Task Force recommendations,” recalled day that we do not miss our cats Bubbie and cleaner at the Singapore Zoo, on November Tinker. We still look for them before we colleagues Laura H. Kahn, M.D., Bruce 13, 2008 jumped into the white tiger exhibit, Kaplan, DVM, and Thomas P. Monath, M.D. realize they are not lying on our bed. pulled a bucket over his head, and was fatally ––Lindy & Marvin Sobel in a joint statement. ______mauled by two tigers. Montong reportedly dis- In memory of Levi, 14, Robert J. Crossman, 29, of played abnormal behavior before the incident, In memory of Francesca. beloved dog of Tracy Schwiger. Syracuse, New York, was electrocuted in complained of insomnia, and told other work- Your loyalty and enduring spirit ______front of his nine-year-old daughter on ers that they would not be seeing him again. will serve as an inspiration for us all. To Daisy, who inspired Aura (Maratas) November 3, 2008 while holding a ladder to ––Lindy, Marvin & Melinda Sobel Olaru to begin the Daisy Hope Foundation. help another man rescue a cat from a tree. The There is no better way to ______climber was uninjured. The cat descended on remember animals or animal people In memory of Patricia Harvey's In memory of Jett, a former lab cat. her own. than with an ANIMAL PEOPLE beloved black velvet cat, Mickey. When the lab was closed & the technicians Herminio Rodriguez Palma, 26, a memorial. Send donations ––Marcia Pearson were laid off, one tech took all the cats home ______keeper at Bioparque Estrella, northwest of (any amount), with address for & devoted her life thereafter to animal rescue. Mexico City, was fatally mauled on acknowledgement, if desired, to In memory of Roger Smith Troen, ______November 10, 2008 when a tiger escaped a mild maverick and cherished friend. In memory of Purr Box (12/3/87), from an unlocked cage. The tiger was located P.O. Box 960 He is greatly missed. Prometheus (3/21/81), Friendl (10/30/87), and killed the next morning. Clinton, WA 98236-0960 ––Marcia Pearson ______Lizzie (5/8/84), Boy Cat (12/26/85), Miss Penrose (11/18/98), Duke (11/1/98), For my beloved parents. There is never Purr Box, Jr. (5/1/04), Mylady (8/1/06), CLASSIFIEDS––$1.00 a word! • a day that I do not love and miss you. Muffin (1/2/08), Blackie (9/9/96), ––Lindy Sobel anpeopl [email protected] and Honey Boy (11/1/05). FREE SPAY/NEUTER for stray and feral Register your pro-animal organization at cats and dogs in Arad, Romania. Please www.worldanimal.net help us with a donation: www.animed.ro ______Your love for animals ______SIGN THE PETITION TO THE FREE ANTI-FUR ACTION KIT. UNITED NATIONS to adopt the Universal can go on forever. 603-224-1361 Declaration on Animal Welfare: The last thing we want is to lose our friends, 8 Hutchins St., Concord, NH 03301 www.animalsmatter.org ______but you can help continue our vital educational mission with a bequest to ANIMAL PEOPLE SUBSCRIBE NOW TO VEGAN VOICE, Want Art that Reflects Your Values? (a 501(c)(3) charitable corporation, federal ID# 14-1752216) Australia's celebrated and singular quarterly W W W . L I T T L E G I R L L O O K I N G . C O M magazine! www.veganic.net sells unique Art for Animal/Environmental Animal People, Inc., ______Advocates. Dogs Deserve Better or your PO Box 960, Clinton WA 98236 HOLY LANCE favorite Animal Charity receives 15-50% of http://holy-lance.blogspot.com the profits. Ask for our free brochure Estate Planning for Animal People November/December 2008 3/22/13 9:18 PM Page 23
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Epstein said, they likely would have gone to slaughter,” but slaughtering them either in Mexico or Canada would have required a haul of more than 1,000 miles.