June 2011 3/22/13 11:39 PM Page 1 National Zoo bird researcher is charged No more live birds with attempting to poison feral cats sold at San Francisco WASHINGTON D.C.––Alley Cat munity cats in her neighborhood of Columbia farmers’ markets Allies and Alley Cat Rescue on May 26, 2011 Heights, in Washington D.C.,” elaborated the SAN FRANCISCO––Live bird asked the Smithsonian Institution to suspend Alley Cat Rescue blog. “Alley Cat Rescue sales ended at the Heart of the City Farmers’ National Zoo Migratory Bird Center researcher vehemently disagrees with keeping Dauphine Market on May 27, 2011––the only one of the Nico Dauphine. Dauphine was charged three in her current position at the National Zoo and three San Francisco farmers’ markets at days earlier with attempted animal cruelty for believes she should be removed until an inves- which live birds were sold. allegedly trying to poison feral cats. If convict- tigation into these allegations of animal cruelty Two vendors, Raymond Young ed, Dauphine could be fined up to $1,000 and has been completed.” Poultry and Bullfeathers Quail, were notified could be sentenced to 180 days in jail. As well as requesting that on May 3 that live bird sales would no longer Dauphine denied the offense in a Dauphine be suspended from her job, Alley be allowed. “The market has announced that brief statement issued by her attorney. Cat Allies asked the Smithsonian “for confir- it plans to expand 25% and is seeking new “Evidence shows she was putting rat mation that she is no longer conducting her vendor applications, so we can look forward poison and antifreeze in cat food left for com- domestic cat research,” said Alley Cat Allies to the area that was previously filled with president Becky Robinson. abused animals and filth to be used for some- Dauphine, until the cruelty charge thing better!” exulted Lesbian-Gay-Bisexual- Leghorn hen at Pasado’s Safe Haven. became public, was seeking partic- Transgender Compassion founder Andrew (Kim Bartlett) ipants in a study in which small Zollman, 43, who with fellow live market cameras were mounted on free- protester Alex Felsinger, 25, had picketed 1947, since 2009, when an LGBT Compas- roaming cats to document how they the twice-weekly market for about two years. sion campaign closed New Long’s Live hunt birds. Raymond Young Poultry and Poultry, which had operated from a nearby “We know what she’s Bullfeathers Quail reportedly began selling parking lot. Live birds have reportedly never doing would in no way jeopardize live birds at Heart of the City, in United been sold at the Ferry Plaza Farmer’s Market, our animal collection at the Nations Plaza, about 10 years after the mar- begun several years after Heart of the City. National Zoo or jeopardize ket debuted as a Quaker community develop- LGBT Compassion also influenced wildlife,” National Zoo associate ment project in 1981. the Old Oakland Farmers’ Market, across the director of communications Pamela Live birds, frogs, snakes, and San Francisco Bay Bridge, to discontinue Baker-Masson told ABC News, other animals continue to be sold for human live bird sales. “so we feel perfectly comfortable consumption from storefronts in San The San Francisco humane commu- that she continue her research.” Francisco’s Chinatown, but Heart of the City nity has often conflicted with the owners and “Residents living near was the only live market in the city outside of customers of live markets, who today are Malcolm X Park have long seen Chinatown. Live birds have not been sold at mostly ethnic Asian. In earlier times San Feral cats (Marvin Sobel) (continued on page 8) the Alemany Farmer’s Market, founded in Francisco also featured live markets serving mainly Italian and Hispanic customers. Before the LGBT Compassion cam- paign, however, the live markets had usually withstood humane pressure, beginning in 1868, when banker James Sloan Hutchinson ANIMAL PEOPLE became so upset at the abuse of a pig he saw dragged to slaughter that he founded the San News For People Who Care About Animals Francisco SPCA. The San Francisco SPCA grew into one of the largest and most influen- tial in the world, yet never succeeded in clos- ing a live market or in passing local legisla- June 2011 tion to restrict their activity. The LGBT Compassion campaign Volume 20, #5 uniquely morphed into a clash between San Francisco’s two most prominent minority cul- tures, especially after alleged assaults and (continued on page 6) Fundraising turf war brings California groups’ complaint against the ASPCA EL CERRITO, California– – California, such expenditure is insignificant in Alleging “unfair and deceptive fundraising comparison to the amount of money the orga- practices which harm local humane societies nization raises in this state,” Hughes charged. and SPCAs,” the State Humane Association of “For example, according to the ASPCA, it California on May 3, 2011 filed a complaint received $116.5 million in revenue in 2009. against the American SPCA with the California However, [California organizations] in 2010 Office of the Attorney General. received a total of only $352,100 from the Explained State Humane Association ASPCA. That is only .03% of the ASPCA of California executive director Erica Gaudet income, while California represents 13% of Hughes, “The complaint alleges that ASPCA the national economy and undoubtedly donates capitalizes on, and intentionally reinforces, proportionately to the ASPCA, especially [in the widely held mistaken belief that it is a par- response to] targeted ASPCA solicitations.” ent or umbrella organization to the thousands Asserted Hughes, “Since such of humane societies and SPCAs across the aggressive fundraising by the ASPCA in country. In reality,” Hughes said, “the California began several years ago, humane ASPCA operates only one animal shelter, in societies and SPCAs throughout the country Pup rescued from Fukushima nuclear disaster exclusion zone. (Kinship Circle) New York City. While it does fund projects in have suffered. The State Humane Association of California does not take issue with the work done by the Far from Fukushima, helpers find ASPCA,” Hughes said, “and has been involved in cooperative themselves near the eye of the storm efforts with them. We simply want TOKYO, ST. LOUIS––Six thou- tions in 2005, realized the need to do their the ASPCA to stop capitalizing on sand miles from the earthquake, tsunami, work well away from the excitement. and reinforcing public confusion and triple nuclear meltdown that hit northeast- “I never get to do the exciting regarding its relationship to local ern Japan on March 11, 2011, and six weeks stuff,” Shoss joked. SPCAs and humane societies.” after the crisis began, Kinship Circle execu- But in late April a flurry of torna- A subsection of the State tive director Brenda Shoss and Best Friends does culminating in the “2011 Super Humane Association of California Animal Society community relations special- Outbreak” briefly put Shoss and Lea close to web site explains that neither the ist Troy Lea remained on post-disaster over- the eye of the storm. ASPCA nor the Humane Society load in late May, even though they never left “I was lucky, but my neighbors not of the U.S. is an umbrella organi- their home offices near St. Louis, Missouri. so lucky,” Lea told ANIMAL PEOPLE on zation representing SPCAs or Shoss, of University City, used April 24. “My house and my mom’s house humane societies. Skype telephone calls, Facebook, and e-mail are still standing,” Lea said, “but right down “I’ve witnessed the prob- to coordinate animal rescue efforts involving the street a tornado took out a bunch of lem firsthand,” wrote Whole Dog 10 Kinship Circle volunteers and about 30 homes. Thankfully no one was killed, but a Journal editor Nancy Kerns. “As a volunteers from other organizations in the lot of people are now going to have to rebuild. volunteer at the North West vicinity of the stricken Fukushima nuclear It was so damn scary! Tornadoes were touch- SPCA,” in Oroville, California, reactor complex. ing down all over the place right around us.” “I’ve frequently had people tell Lea, of Maryland Heights, not The tornadoes ripping through St. me, ‘I give money to you guys all actually part of the Best Friends disaster relief Louis were only the first of a five-day the time. The ASPCA loves me!’ team, handled extra calls about routine ani- onslaught during which 327 tornadoes hit 21 When I inquire, gently, whether mal problems to help cover for personnel who states, killing 344 people. April 27, the peak they gave money to the NW/SPCA were more directly involved, either in the day, brought 292 tornadoes. or the ASPCA, they are always Fukushima crisis or in response to flooding In Tuscaloosa, Alabama, scene of confused as to the difference—and along the Mississippi River and tributaries. 41 human fatalities, “More than two weeks dismayed, and sometimes angry, Most of the calls to which Lea responded after twisters shattered the South, teams from when I explain that none of any would never make headlines, yet involved a the Humane Society of the U.S. are still money they sent to the ASPCA has life-and-death crisis for an individual animal. rounding up stray animals and pets in the ever made its way to the shelter Shoss and Lea, both veterans of most heavily damaged areas,” reported Jay (continued on page 14) post-Hurricane Katrina disaster relief opera- (continued on page 12) June 2011 3/22/13 11:39 PM Page 2 2 - ANIMAL PEOPLE, June 2011 June 2011 3/22/13 11:39 PM Page 3 Editorial feature ANIMAL PEOPLE, June 2011 - 3 Slaughtering animals, crime, & societal health Phillip Danforth Armour (1832-1901) is today remembered only for the meatpacking graphic characteristics of the workers, social disorganization in the communities, and company he founded, but in his own time was lauded for allegedly contributing to the increased unemployment rates.