WellBeing International WBI Studies Repository Summer 1976 HS NEWS Volume 21, Issue 03 Follow this and additional works at: https://www.wellbeingintlstudiesrepository.org/v21_news Recommended Citation "HS NEWS Volume 21, Issue 03" (1976). HSUS News 1976. 1. https://www.wellbeingintlstudiesrepository.org/v21_news/1 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]. Senator Lowell Representative m~[Bl~t8J[[O]~ lffi[Bl~[O]~[~ Weicker Thomas Foley A~IMAL Th.t>,•Jiurna.ne Society News is published quarterly by The Humane ~ocieJY ofthe United. States, with WELFARE h~ad(J.tlc1~¢:a:s at 2100 L Street, N.w., WashiAgton,. D.C. 20037. Telephone: Regardless of the lopsided votes of the research societies. Among the problems (2Q2) 452 ..1100 . ACT Congress on this matter, it seems that for too discussed were: flimsy and inadequate long this legislation was a low priority item. shipping crates, lack of adequate care at Animal safety was too minor to bother with. terminal facilities, and lack of cargo handling The House and Senate vote totals guidelines on the care of animals. AME DED demonstrated, however, that once the Congress Unfortunately, the department responsible was finally ready to take a stand on animal for administering animal regulations, the welfare, it spoke loudly and decisively. Department of Agriculture, thought it best that By Perhaps it is best at this time to develop a we rely on voluntary cooperation among all historical background of the animal welfare groups interested in the animal transportation legislation. Beginning in 1966, with the problem. They saw no need for legislation to Senator Lowell Weicker (Conn.) enactment of the Federal Laboratory Animal correct the abuses in this area and yet did very Welfare Act, a mandate was established to little to support efforts to initiate the voluntary insure the humane treatment of animals. It was cooperation concept. So what was left was a the intent of this act to empower the Secretary void where nothing was being done to correct of Agriculture to establish humane standards of the ever increasing number of abuses, injuries, the treatment of animals used for research and and deaths of animals each year in experimentation while in scientific institutions, transportation. on the premises of animal dealers, or in transit. So enactment this April of the new Animal Congress took this authority one step further Welfare Act Amendments insures an effective In July of 1970, Mrs. Arthur Baum of Stamford, Connecticut, waited at in 1970, when they passed the Animal Welfare means of ending the inhumane abuses Kennedy International Airport in New York for a precious package, a Act Amendments which amended the 1966 Act involved with animal transportation. An 10-month old German Shepherd puppy, sent by air from Chicago. She to include non-laboratory animals transported, equally important problem that is addressed had a long wait. bought or sold for "teaching purposes or for use through the law is the dehumanizing practice Scheduled to arrive around 2 p.m. that Saturday afternoon, the flight as pets". For the first time new categories of of animal fighting. While many states do was delayed by mechanical trouble. It never left the ground until4 p.m. animal handlers including exhibitors (circuses, outlaw this outrageous sport, it continues to (Eastern Time) in Chicago, and arrived at 7 p.m. zoos, and others) and wholesale pet dealers grow and as this sport becomes increasingly The long wait was the easy part for Mrs. Baum. When her beautiful were required to meet the humane standards of interstate in nature the need of federal puppy arrived, he was dead-the victim of heat exhaustion and neglect. the Act's regulations. legislation to halt this practice became Rigor mortis had already set in. All the while the plane sat on the But as I found out in 1970 and as Rep. apparent. ground in Chicago, the poor, helpless animal remained caged in the Thomas Foley has been trying to correct since Hopefully as this new law is enforced we will unventilated cargo hold on board. 1964, there were glaring omissions from the no longer hear a litany of tragedies involved A veterinarian tried to reassure the woman, saying her dog was not 1966 Act and the 1970 Amendments that did not with animal transportation and animal fighting especially unfortunate--"these reports are common and routine in hot include the coverage of animals while they ventures. This law is a major step in the weather", he said. were being shipped in interstate commerce by direction of ending animal abuses. As Mrs. Baum's Congressman, she wrote me a letter with the grim common carriers. These loopholes allowed a I want to take this opportunity to thank The details. From that day on, I promised to work to change the "common large segment of the animal population that is Humane Society of the United States and all its and routine" manner of treating living animals in transit. shipped each year from being covered by any members for their continued support of this It was a long, long fight. Today, proper safeguards for animals are regulations insuring their protection and safe important legislation. finally on the books as law. conduct while they were classified as cargo and The overwhelming approval given this year by both the House of were carried by train, truck, bus, or airline. Representatives and the Senate raises questions as to why it took so Congressional action to close this loophole long. On April6, the House passed the conference report on this bill by was prompted by documentation of the ThE: Humane Sddety of the a 332-31 vote. The next day the Senate in a unanimous 91-0 vote problems and tragedies involved in the 21QO L Street, N,W., supported this measure and sent it to President Ford who signed the transportation of animals as related by pet 20037. legislation into law on April 22. owners, humane societies, and medical The Humane Society News • Summer/Fall 1976 1 Trapping I received your magazine today and have written Your opposition to the encouragement of more pet I am interested in obtaining your book "Careers: tuna companies stating I shall boycott ALL of their breeding by the Small Business Administration loans Working With Animals". Would you send me Thank you for letting us know President Ford products and ask all others to do the same. I interests me very much. I have been thinking for some information on this book and how to obtain it? Thank signed the Foley-Weicker bill. Is HSUS taking any appreciate the work you are doing and am proud to be time that all the effort by animal societies to promote you. position on the Anderson-Bayh bill (HR 66)? a member of your group. spaying is of small value as long as commercial P.M. M.C.P. A.R. breeding continues without limitation. Chicago, Ill. N.Y., N.Y. Huntington Beach, Calif. C. G. It is a 60 page manual geared for junior high HSUS was invited to testify on supporting Milwaukee, Wise. through college level students and describing H.R. 66. We supported it since it would Each day looks a little brighter for those victims of various animal-related careers. It can be prohibit the interstate shipment or use on the Teton Dam flood. Certainly the success of our I am very pleased with the information you provide ordered from HSUS for $1.95. public lands of any trapping device which does efforts to rescue those misplaced and injured animals in your quarterly magazine and special reports. I have Ed. not painlessly capture or immediately kill its and to force government recognition of their written Congressman William Whitehurst regarding victim. responsibility to involved animals was directly the wild horses (H.R. 11539). I also sent a copy of my With regard to your Winter issue of the News, I Ed. proportionate to the physical and moral support given letter to the Department of Interior who oversees the am glad to note your endeavor to teach young by The Humane Society of the United States. capturing of the wild horses. children a humane attitude. Your picture of the Thank you for the literature about trapping. I have There is no adequate way to thank you for your L.D. children watching the dog fight is what I consider been enraged by this custom for years and have immediate and thorough action in this matter except, Boston, Mass. obscene, but the kind of obscenity that needs to be written congressmen and the wildlife commissions. perhaps, to assure you that the animal suffering has shown. Certainly no sex pornography could harm letters So far, I have received no encouragement that anyone been minimized. Please put me on your Action Alert list at once. children as much as this sadistic dog fighting. If dog letters is going to do anything about banning steel traps. Gail M. Snider Within three days after receipt of your alert on the fights are illegal, could not allowing children to Apparently, once more the special interests are too Bonneville Humane Society Foley-Weicker bill my friends and I sent at least 15 attend them be classed as contributing to the powerful. Surely, powerful organizations such as Idaho Falls, Idaho letters. delinquency of minors? yours will eventually put a stop to this horror. K.K. F.A.G. J.M. We are traveling to Hawaii with our dog. Are there Birmingham, Ala.