WellBeing International WBI Studies Repository Fall 1993 WCRO Fall 1993 Follow this and additional works at: https://www.wellbeingintlstudiesrepository.org/wescoarn Recommended Citation "WCRO Fall 1993" (1993). West Coast Regional Office. 13. https://www.wellbeingintlstudiesrepository.org/wescoarn/13 This material is brought to you for free and open access by WellBeing International. It has been accepted for inclusion by an authorized administrator of the WBI Studies Repository. For more information, please contact [email protected]. THE HUMANE SOCIETY OF THE UNITED STATES • FALL 1993 HSUS Opposes Bear Hunting INSIDE • EGG-stra Good News For Last November, The HSUS helped to Earlier this year, Senator Nick Petris Laying Hens and Consumers pass a ballot initiative in Colorado which introduced SB 67, which would outlaw banned the use of dogs and bait in the the use of dogs in hunting bears. The • Animal Sacrifice Ordinance hunting of bears, and ended the spring HSUS and other groups strongly support Cut Down by U.S. Supreme bear hunt. The measure passed by an this bill. Even California Department of inspiring 70 percent margin. Many Fish and Game Director Boyd Gibbon Court Colorado hunters supported the initiative, has stated publicly that while he is a • Fast Pace For WCRO Staff saying it was unsporting to hunt bears hunter, he opposes such unsportsmanlike with hounds outfitted with radio teleme­ events. SB 67 has come up against intense • Year of the Cat Seminar try collars. Incredibly, this method of pressure from the NRA and other pro­ hunting is still allowed in California! hunting groups. After two attempts to • San Diego is Site for For those unfamiliar with how this pass the Senate Natural Resources Animal Care EXPO '94 "sport" is conducted, consider the follow­ Committee, SB 67 was made into a two­ ing. A bunch of bear-hunting buddies year bill. It could be heard as soon as releases a pack of hounds wearing teleme­ January, but there are no plans to bring it try collars to locate and chase a black back at this time. bear through the woods, sometimes for HSUS members who are interested in Another Chance hours. The collar emits a "beep" sent to a banning the use of dogs to hunt bears receiver that allows the hunters to sit in should send a card (with their address) to For Yogi their truck and follow the chase. the WCRO asking to receive special legis­ The exhausted bear eventually climbs lative updates on this issue. To receive a In August 1992, The HSUS Great a tree to escape the dogs. Hiding in the fact sheet on bear hunting in California, Lakes Regional Office (GLRO) and the refuge, it is shot and killed by the "sports­ send a self-addressed, stamped envelope Wood County Sheriff's Office in Bowling men" once they arrive on the scene. to: BEAR FACT SHEET, HSUS/ WCRO, Green, Ohio, rescued a one-and-a-half­ Frequently, a bear will turn to fight the P.O. Box 417220, Sacramento, CA year-old, two-hundred-pound American pursuing dogs - resulting in severe injuries 95841-7220. • black bear from a miserable existence. or death to the dogs. The bear, named Yogi, had been pur­ chased as a pet from one of the many exotic animal auctions in the midwest. He had spent that summer chained to a junked automobile without protection from the sun. Yogi's diet consisted of mostly surplus baked goods, and it was reported that he was frequently given whiskey and beer. After receiving complaints from wit­ nesses, the GLRO worked with local law enforcement officers and succeeded in getting Yogi confiscated. Yogi's owner, who was charged with three counts of animal cruelty, accepted a conviction on one count in a pretrial settlement ensur­ ing Yogi would never be returned to him. A ninety-day jail sentence and $500 fine were suspended, subject to the terms of a strict four-year probationary period. The next difficult task facing GLRO Once a bear is treed by dogs, it becomes a sitting duck for hunters armed with high staff was where to place Yogi. Their search powered rifles, handguns, or archery equipment. continued on page 2 Yogi This procedure has been in use several EGG-stra Good News For DIRECTOR'S places for up to 18 years. However, it STAFF TRACKS ... continued from page 1 COMMENT wasn't until the American Veterinary Laying Hens and Consumers Medical Association (AVMA) and the Shelter visits California Veterinary Medical Associa­ by Charlene Drennon In May and June, WCRO investigator Until recently, approximately 98 per­ a growing list of supermarkets are now tion (CVMA) addressed this issue in Kurt Lapham visited a number of Northern cent of all eggs produced in the U.S. and selling eggs that come from uncaged 1992 and early 1993, that the practice of Year of the Cat California animal shelters operated by virtually all eggs sold in supermarkets hens. Hens that are able to scratch, dust early spay/neuter began to flourish. The CVMA and The HSUS have endorsed local humane societies and animal control came from hens crowded together in wire bathe, lay their eggs in nests, exercise, Seminar agencies including Dunsmuir Animal "battery" cages. These hens spend their and even fly. And these eggs cost only early spay/neuter as another way to keep On June 18, 1993, 200 people attended animals from unnecessarily breeding and Control, the Siskiyou Humane Society, entire adult lives of up to two years con­ pennies more than eggs from battery­ our Year of the Cat Seminar in Sacra­ Eureka Animal Control, the Haven Humane fined in cages so small they cannot even caged hens. Safeway Stores already stock being killed when there are no homes. mento, California. According to audience Cat rabies inoculation and licensing Society in Redding, the Monterey County spread their wings, scratch for food, preen, these eggs in its San Francisco locations written evaluations, it was a great success. SPCA, and Salinas Animal Control. or escape from more aggressive cage­ and in 70 stores along the front range of were explained by Dr. Larry Barrett of The meeting was kicked off with a the California State Health Department Lapham also completed an in-depth eval­ mates. Hens confined in this manner also Colorado. More farmers would like to be rousing keynote, "A Cat Is Not A Dog" and Dr. Bruno Charnel, UC Davis. uation of the overall operation and facili­ suffer from bone problems due to a com­ able to raise birds this way too, but they by Dr. Randy Lockwood HSUS Vice Most animal control and humane soci­ ties for the City of Marina Department of plete lack of exercise, and damage to need help letting supermarkets know that President of Educational Initiatives. The ety shelters handle more cats than dogs. Public Safety/ Animal Services at the their feet and feathers from the wire consumers care. This will give consumers main thrust of the day was to address A recent California survey on animal request of the Public Safety Director. His cages. There is nothing natural about con­ a voice in how laying hens are treated three major cat issues. Becky Robinson control reported that, due to lack of iden­ report of findings with recommendations fining hens in such a manner. It is done and will allow other farmers to begin pro­ of Alley Cat Allies debated the value of tification, only 1% of cats were redeemed was forwarded to the requesting authority strictly to obtain the greatest number of ducing eggs more humanely. maintaining feral cat colonies. Opposing by their owners, whereas, 50-60% of in July. eggs from the smallest number of birds Whether you live in the San Francisco her was Dr. Dale Brooks of UC Davis. dogs were redeemed. with all the convenience for the producer Bay area or not, you can help by letting The early spay/neuter segment by Dr. Our office has been receiving calls Calgary, and little or no consideration for the hens' your grocer know that you want eggs John Hamil, President of the California from animal control agencies in Cali­ social and behavioral requirements. from uncaged hens carried in your local Veterinary Medical Association was the fornia that indicate some may stop han­ Alberta, Canada hit of the meeting. Dan Morrison, Cali­ Getting the most for the least may be a supermarket, and by thanking them if dling cats since their budgets have been fornia Animal Control Directors Associa­ At the request of Crown's Assistant basic tenet of doing business, but consci­ they already do. Do the same with your slashed. State law doesn't mandate im­ tion and Ed Cubrda, Los Angeles SPCA, Prosecutor Darlene Oko and the Calgary entious consumers are helping to send the local bakery and favorite restaurants. And poundment or licensing, therefore cats Humane Society, WCRO investigator described how their agencies have been bring in no license revenue. message that convenience and profit please let us know if your local grocer or Before he was rescued by The HSUS, spaying and neutering dogs and cats as Eric Sakach traveled to Canada to pro­ needn't be sacrificed for a more humanely­ other food establishments stock or use Yogi lived a miserable existence chained All of us who want to see cats given vide expert witness testimony in the pros­ young as 8 weeks. With the use of early the care and respect they deserve will produced product thanks to a consumer eggs from uncaged hens. To receive our to a junked car. spay/neuter operations agencies need not ecution of a cockfighting case.