“There are differences between species. We are not rats and we are not even other primates, and so that [the] desire here is to see if we could do better,” said Francis Collins, director of the NIH National Human Genome Research Institute. “Ultimately what you are looking for is [whether] this compound does damage to cells.”

Federal scientists have decided to collaborate on a new toxicology testing program that uses stem cell research and computer modeling rather than animal testing. The collaboration is the result of an agreement among the National Toxicology Program at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Chemical Genomics Center under the National Human Genome Research Institute, and EPA National Center for Computational Toxicology.

The agencies teamed up in a five-year agreement to implement the recommendations of the 2007 report from the National Research Council, “Toxicity Testing in the 21st Century: A Vision and a Strategy.” The agencies are confident that the new testing methods will provide more accurate results at a greater speed and with lower costs.

“What is being proposed here is to move the 20th century paradigm of testing of one compound at a time in many animals to going to the 21st Century paradigm [that] tests 5,000 to 10,000 compounds against 20,000 conditions in cells that are very specific to human toxicology,” said NIH Director Elias Zerhouni.

In 30 years of animal testing, NIH has tested 2,500 chemicals. With the use of the new technology, it is estimated that same amount could be done in a single afternoon.

While the shift away from animal testing could take several years, say NIH officials, it is a huge victory for animal rights and public health activists.

Not Everything is Kosher at So-Called Kosher Slaughterhouse [Infoshop News]
Earlier this week PETA filed a formal complaint with Sheridan County Attorney Jamian Simmons asking her to prosecute the Rubashkin-owned Local Pride kosher slaughterhouse in Gordon for apparent violations of Nebraska’s cruelty-to-animals statute. PETA’s complaint follows a two-day undercover investigation.

California spay-neuter bill shelved [Sacramento Bee]
Legislation to require statewide spaying or neutering of dogs and cats was shelved Wednesday after receiving a chilly reception by a Senate committee.

United Poultry Concerns Needs Your Support [UPC]
In the fall, UPC must pay for substantial sanctuary repairs. Much of the fencing and other sanctuary structures, installed in 1998, when we moved our headquarters & chicken sanctuary to Machipongo, VA, need replaced & fixed at an estimated cost of $4000 to $5000 in all.

Police need information to find New Braunfels Animal Shelter vandals [KENS 5]
One year ago this weekend, the New Braunfels Humane Society suffered a huge loss when burglars ransacked the building and killed several animals. The mess is gone but the memories of the brutal crime are vivid, and now, a large reward is being offered for information about the crime.

Animal rights activist challenges VA incumbent [ Frederickburg Free Lance-Star]
Kincheloe said she decided to run for the House seat because otherwise, Orrock would be running unopposed, and she believes there should be more competition in politics.

Proposed law to decide pet custody in divorce cases [The Electric New Paper]
According to ABC News, a proposed Wisconsin state law aims to make judges think about the family pet when deciding divorces and annulments.

U.S. Confirms Low-Risk Bird Flu in Virginia Turkeys [ENN]
None of the birds became ill but 54,000 were being slaughtered as a precaution, said Dr. John Clifford of USDA’s National Veterinary Services Laboratories.

Palm Oil Firms Burning Indonesia Forests [ENN]
Palm oil companies are burning peat forests to clear land for plantations in Indonesia’s Riau province, despite government pledges to end forest fires, environment group Greenpeace said on Thursday.

Tournament organizers dismiss animal rights campaign [Cape Cod Times]
Organizers of the Monster Shark Tournament say a national campaign by animal rights activists is having no impact. However, blue sharks and tiger sharks are off the list of acceptable catches for the tournament, which begins Thursday and ends Saturday. Now, only thresher, mako and porbeagle sharks will count for weigh-in points.

Healthy dogs are being killed [icWhale]
Five ruthless killers in Wales are slaughtering hundreds of healthy racing dogs every year, according to an animal rights group.

China fights back, goes after U.S. meat [Yahoo! News]
China has suspended imports from several major U.S. meat processors, including the world’s largest, in the latest indication the government may be retaliating as its products are turned back from overseas because of safety concerns.

Dead Ocelot Bad News for Falling U.S. Population [ENN]
The unexplained death of a breeding-age ocelot in southeast Texas has brought the endangered cat a step closer to extinction in the United States.

Federal Agency Agrees to Issue New Rules Protecting Whales from Fishing Gear Entanglement [ENN]
New rules to protect endangered whales from fatal fishing-gear entanglements will be in place this fall after environmentalists sued to end the delay.

Battle rages over bill to require pet fixes [DailyBreeze.com]
“There were 2,800 bills introduced in the Legislature this year,” said state Sen. Joe Simitian, D-Palo Alto, “and if you were to ask me which one I’ve received the most reaction to, this is at the top of the list.”

Quebec Foie Gras Investigation [Global Action Network]
Several months ago, Global Action Network, in collaboration with Farm Sanctuary, embarked on an extensive undercover investigation of Canada’s largest foie gras farm – Elevages Perigord.

Animal Rights’ Group Applauds Bans On Declawing of Cats [Loyal Subscriber]
West Hollywood’s groundbreaking ban on declawing cats, which was just upheld by a state appeals court, is the first such ban in the U.S., although 21 other countries have already banned this painful and “unnecessary mutilation,” as the British Veterinary Association calls it.

Cockfighting supporters plan to sue state of New Mexico [The Albuquerque Tribune]
While Bhatka hasn’t decided whether he’ll take part, others who are indirectly connected to the state’s cockfighting industry say they plan to sue the state over the ban, which took effect last week.

Animal rights activists warn of protests against cull of 3,200 kangaroos in Australia [International Herald-Tribune]
Canberra’s administration, the Australian Capital Territory government, announced it would allow the Defense Department to shoot 2,800 kangaroos at one of its properties and use tranquilizer darts to kill another 400 on a second property, where shooting bullets its regarded as too dangerous to the public.

Scientists establish link between Foie Gras and Disease [Indian Catholic]
A University of Tennessee researcher has discovered an association between foie gras prepared from goose or duck liver and the type of amyloid found in rheumatoid arthritis or tuberculosis.

Mad cow lawsuit filed against government – by farmers [Taste Better!]
The courts have cleared the path for a class action suit against the Canadian government. The multi billion dollar suit claims that the feds’ handling of the mad cow outbreak was poorly handled, and public safety was jeopardized.

Josh Harper Finally Out of the Hole [Food Fight!]
After spending nearly 100 days in the SHU (Special Housing Unit, otherwise known as “the hole”), Josh was finally released back into his unit of the prison on Monday 6/18.

Menu Foods says the recall is for products “manufactured between December 3, 2006 and March 6, 2007. The recall is limited to “cuts and gravy” style pet food in cans and pouches manufactured at two of the Fund’s United States facilities.” We’re including the list of dog and cat food brands that are being recalled. Below is the article from the Indianapolis Star about the recall.

Although the recall is only for a certain portion of these products, we feel that if you care about your companion animal’s health, then you will look into foods that don’t use such ingredients as corn filler, wheat gluten, animal “by-products”, and chemical preservatives. Remember, just because the package says “natural” or “healthy” doesn’t mean it actually is.

Dog food brands recalled:
1. Americas Choice, Preferred Pets
2. Authority
3. Award
4. Best Choice
5. Big Bet
6. Big Red
7. Bloom
8. Bruiser
9. Cadillac
10. Companion
11. Demoulas Market Basket
12. Eukanuba
13. Food Lion
14. Giant Companion
15. Great Choice
16. Hannaford
17. Hill Country Fare
18. Hy-Vee
19. Iams
20. Key Food
21. Laura Lynn
22. Loving Meals
23. Meijers Main Choice
24. Mixables
25. Nutriplan
26. Nutro Max
27. Nutro Natural Choice
28. Nutro
29. Ol’Roy Canada
30. Ol’Roy US
31. Paws
32. Pet Essentials
33. Pet Pride – Good n Meaty
34. Presidents Choice
35. Price Chopper
36. Priority
37. Publix
38. Roche Bros
39. Save-A-Lot
40. Schnucks
41. Shep Dog
42. Springsfield Prize
43. Sprout
44. Stater Bros
45. Total Pet, My True Friend
46. Western Family
47. White Rose
48. Winn Dixie
49. Your Pet

Cat food brands recalled:
1. Americas Choice, Preferred Pets
2. Authority
3. Best Choice
4. Companion
5. Compliments
6. Demoulas Market Basket
7. Eukanuba
8. Fine Feline Cat
9. Food Lion
10. Foodtown
11. Giant Companion
12. Hannaford
13. Hill Country Fare
14. Hy-Vee
15. Iams
16. Key Food
17. Laura Lynn
18. Li’l Red
19. Loving Meals
20. Meijer’s Main Choice
21. Nutriplan
22. Nutro Max Gourmet Classics
23. Nutro Natural Choice
24. Paws
25. Pet Pride
26. Presidents Choice
27. Price Chopper
28. Priority
29. Save-A-Lot
30. Schnucks
31. Science Diet Feline Savory Cuts Cans
32. Sophistacat
33. Special Kitty Canada
34. Special Kitty US
35. Springfield Prize
36. Sprout
37. Total Pet, My True Friend
38. Wegmans
39. Western Family
40. White Rose
41. Winn Dixie

From Indystar.com:

Pet food maker issues major recall
Associated Press
March 17, 2007

WASHINGTON — A major manufacturer of pet foods sold throughout North America under dozens of store names is recalling millions of containers of its products while working to determine what caused kidney failure and some deaths of cats and dogs.

Menu Foods said today it is recalling dog food sold under 46 brands and cat food sold under 37 brands and distributed throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico. Major retailers, including Wal-Mart, Kroger and Safeway, sold the pet foods.

A complete list of the recalled products along with product codes, descriptions and production dates is available from the Menu Foods website, http://www.menufoods.com/recall. Consumers with questions can also call (866) 895-2708.

“At this juncture, we’re not 100 percent sure what’s happened,” said Paul Henderson, the company’s president and chief executive officer. However, the recalled products were made using wheat gluten purchased from a new supplier, since dropped for another source, spokeswoman Sarah Tuite said. Wheat gluten is a source of protein.

An unknown number of cats and dogs suffered kidney failure and about 10 died after eating the affected pet food, Menu Foods said in announcing the North American recall. Product testing has not revealed a link explaining the reported cases of illness and death, the company said.

The recall covers the company’s “cuts and gravy” style food, which consists of chunks of meat in gravy, sold in cans and small foil pouches between Dec. 3 and March 6.

Stores operated by the Kroger Co., Safeway Inc., Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and PetSmart Inc., among others, sold the pet food Henderson said.

The company said it makes pet food for 17 of the top 20 North American retailers. It is also a contract manufacturer for the top branded pet food companies, including Procter & Gamble Co.

P&G announced Friday the recall of specific 3 oz., 5.5 oz., 6 oz. and 13.2 oz. canned and 3 oz. and 5.3 oz. foil pouch cat and dog wet food products made by Menu Foods but sold under the Iams and Eukanuba brands. The recalled products bear the code dates of 6339 through 7073 followed by the plant code 4197, P&G said.

Menu Foods’ three U.S. and one Canadian factory produce more than 1 billion containers of wet pet food a year. The recall covers pet food made at company plants in Emporia, Kan., and Pennsauken, N.J., Henderson said.

Henderson said the company received an undisclosed number of owner complaints of vomiting and kidney failure in dogs and cats after they had been fed its products. It has tested its products but not found a cause for the sickness.
“To date, the tests have not indicated any problems with the product,” Henderson said.

The company alerted the Food and Drug Administration, which already has inspectors in one of the two plants, Henderson said.
Menu Foods is majority owned by the Menu Foods Income Fund, based in Ontario, Canada.

Henderson said the recall would cost the company the Canadian equivalent of $26 million to $34 million.