Deep Roots: Animal Rights Blog

Rounded Up in the City, Then Coddled in Style [NY Times]
The newest New Yorker to arrive [at Farm Sanctuary] is Lucky Lady, a lamb who was found tearing through the Bronx on June 13. Seeing her agricultural tags, the people who saved Lucky Lady concluded that she had escaped from a live animal market where the culinary and cultural value of certain kinds of meat comes from the timeliness and manner of slaughter.

Internet surfers save more than 800 cats [Reuters]
About 30 animal lovers rushed to a parking lot in Shanghai after reading an Internet posting sparked by animal rights activist Huo Puyang that said two trucks carrying cats in wooden boxes had been intercepted, Huo said on Monday.

Humane Society Applauds House Agriculture Committee for Removing “Great Federal Power Grab” from Farm Bill, and Eliminating Earmark for Veal [HSUS]
Late last night, the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Agriculture released its latest mark-up of the 2007 Farm Bill, and The Humane Society of the United States thanked the committee for removing a little-known but far-reaching provision that had threatened to nullify dozens of animal welfare and food safety laws enacted through democratic decision-making at the state and local level, as well as removing a $12 million subsidy for the veal industry.

The fix is in for pet control [USA Today]
Despite successful campaigns to persuade prospective owners to adopt shelter pets, about 7 million dogs and cats are euthanized in shelters every year, and there’s no evidence that adoptions will increase enough to close the gap, experts say.

Australian Defense Department’s Plan To Kill Hundreds Of Kangaroos Shelved [AHN]
Australia’s Defense Department has shelved plans to shoot more than 2,800 kangaroos at its Majura firing range near Canberra, after criticism by a top animal rights group.

Zimbabwe: One Million Wild Animals Killed Since Farm Invasions [AllAfrica.com]
Zimbabwe is home to some of Africa’s largest game reserves but experts say several animal species such as impala, warthog, kudu and wildebeest are at risk from rampant poaching by people struggling with hunger and rising poverty and from cross-border trophy hunters.

Animal rights group says Six Flags mistreats elephants [Alameda Times-Star]
As the City of Vallejo prepares to turn over its interest in the theme park to the Six Flags corporation, the protesters called for Vallejo to send the four city-owned elephants to a sanctuary instead of including them as part of the park’s sale.

New Colorado law: Vets must report animal abuse [9News NBC]
A new Colorado law that went into effect on Sunday requires veterinarians to report any case in which they suspect an animal is being abused or involved in fighting.

The sickening side of greyhound racing [Daily Mail]
Most will suffer a fate similar to those buried in a “mass grave” next to David Smith’s bungalow off a secluded farm track in County Durham.

Dozens of dogs seized from ‘deplorable’ conditions [Newsday]
A missing dog up for sale on an animal rescue Web site led Suffolk County police to a Medford house where they found more than 50 dogs in “deplorable condition” Wednesday, authorities said.

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.

Legal Support Needed for Ten Animal Rights Activists in Chicago [Infoshop]
On June 16th, ten activists on the HLS Shut Them Down tour were arrested in Chicago. Two were minors and were not charged, while the other eight are facing three misdemeanor charges each, and one is facing one felony charge.

Judge Dismisses Schumacher Suit Against IDA, PeTA and Kevin Mieras [Portland IMC]
In federal court today, the judge dismissed all of Schumacher’s claims against IDA (and its employees) and PeTA, and dismissed a majority of the claims against Kevin Mieras.

Cat and Dog Fur Trade to End in EU [Sky News]
The European Parliament has voted to ban the “horrific” trade in cat and dog fur in the EU, in response to campaigns to outlaw a practice which many consider unethical.

Bernard Matthews worker caught playing football with turkeys [Daily Mail]
Poultry tycoon Bernard Matthews faces more criticism after animal rights supporters released a video showing one of his workers repeatedly kicking turkeys.

Roar greets bill to ban risky animals [The News & Observer]
The bill would ban private ownership of animals deemed “inherently dangerous,” including lions, tigers, apes, monkeys and venomous snakes not indigenous to North Carolina. It would exempt some organizations, including circuses, research facilities and sanctuaries that meet federal mandates. And it also contains a “grandfather” clause if the owner registers the animal with local animal control authorities, which would enforce the proposed law.

China Tiger Trade Ban Won’t Last, Official Says [ENN]
China will inevitably lift its ban on the trade of tiger bones and body parts, a wildlife official told state media, saying groups seeking to profit from the government’s captive-bred tigers were too strong to resist.

Alaska’s only elephant set for sunny retirement [The West Australian]
Ms Lampi said possible new homes for Maggie include sanctuaries in California and Tennessee.

Indiana Shelter Euthanizing Animals Inhumanely, Ex-Workers Say [Channel 6 News]
“They get all doped up, and they … run into the walls and everything,” Frye said. “It’s horrible to watch. It’s horrible to even have to be a part of it.”
Frye said it took some animals an hour to die.

Judge allows last US horse slaughterhouse to stay open a few more days [International Herald Tribune]
A judge has extended an order allowing the United States’ last operating horse slaughterhouse to remain in business while it challenges a state law that would force it to close.

Knesset outlaws animal testing for cosmetic products [The Jerusalem Post]
Animal shelters across Israel prepared to take in new tenants Monday, after the Knesset passed a law outlawing all animal testing for cosmetic and cleaning products.

Other big aquariums face risks of cutting-edge captivity [Atlanta Journal-Constitution]
Some of the nation’s major aquariums experienced a bit of déjà vu this week when the second whale shark in six months died at the Georgia Aquarium, unleashing a wave of negative publicity and stinging criticism.

The sick hipness of dog fighting [Chicago Sun-Times]
Embraced by street gangs starting in the late 1980s, who were drawn to it for their own sport then discovered it could be a profitable enterprise, the new world of dog fighting ranges from highly organized, well-attended matches featuring tens of thousands of dollars in betting pools and prize money to impromptu bouts on street corners and in playgrounds.

Animal hoarding becoming ‘epidemic’ [The Citizens Voice]
There are an estimated 3,000 cases of animal hoarding each year, involving nearly a quarter of a million animals, said Gary Patronek, a veterinarian and epidemiologist with the Animal Rescue League of Boston.

Animal rights activists free Bulgaria’s last 3 dancing bears, ending practice [Canada.com]
After a lifetime of brutal treatment, including walking on burning embers, Bulgaria’s last three dancing bears will get to rest their paws at a mountain sanctuary, in an apparent end to the centuries-old performance tradition in the Balkans.

Wildlife trade talks end with surprises [MSNBC]
Elephants emerged safer and tigers won a vote of support, but sharks and corals failed to win protection at a two-week wildlife trade conference that ended Friday.