One city’s fight over biomed plans [Christian Science Monitor]
When Covance, a multinational drug-testing company, elected to build a $44 million laboratory here – where it will test chemical and medical compounds on animals – residents, as well as national and international animal rights groups, mounted a vigorous campaign to block it.
To learn more about Covance, go to http://www.protectchandler.org/

Vick Loses Another Sponsor _ Rawlings [ABC News]
Michael Vick lost another sponsor Rawlings. The sports goods company said Tuesday it was ending its relationship with the Atlanta Flacons quarterback because of dogfighting conspiracy charges.

Nike suspends Vick’s endorsement deal [The Oregonian]
A week after seemingly standing by accused dogfighter Michael Vick, Nike said Friday it is suspending without pay its multimillion-dollar endorsement contract with the embattled NFL quarterback.

Is a Vegetarian Diet Healthier? [MSN]
Evidence has been building for two decades that people who eat a mostly vegetarian diet have the upper hand. But even scientific studies may not be enough to convince meat eaters to give up their lust for flesh in exchange for a longer, more disease-free life.

Your Veggie Burger Deconstructed [MSN]
We explain the purpose of some mysterious ingredients commonly spotted on the labels of meat-free burgers.

Poaching, Encroachment Threaten India’s Leopards [ENN]
India’s leopards are under threat, with increasing numbers of the wild cats being poached for their body parts and villagers killing them for straying into human settlements, experts said.

Canada Fights Belgian Ban on Seal Trade at WTO [ENN]
Canada will request consultations at the World Trade Organization to challenge Belgium’s ban of Canadian seal products.

Paul Sentenced to 4 Years… and a Book Report [Green Is The New Red.com]
A federal judge sentenced Jonathan Paul to four years and three months in prison for his role in a 1997 fire that destroyed the Cavel West horsemeat packing plant in Redmond, Ore.

‘Vegansexuals’ Do It With Each Other [ABC]
A recent study conducted in New Zealand found that vegans — notoriously finicky eaters who don’t eat meat or animal byproducts, like eggs and dairy — don’t like the idea of swapping spit (or anything else) with those who have been dining on flesh.

I-Team Report: Poultry Farm Abuse [Fox 8 News, Cleveland]
The Fox 8 News I-Team has obtained hidden camera video shot inside one of the nation’s largest poultry slaughterhouses. (link contains graphic video footage)

Dumping pets a burden on national forests [The Huntsville Item]
Each year, unwanted cats and dogs dumped on national forest lands kill and harass native birds, small mammals, amphibians and reptiles.

Activists ask feds to confiscate Maggie [KTUU]
In a letter sent to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, In Defense of Animals claims the Alaska Zoo is in violation of the Animal Welfare Act.

Costa Rica monkeys lose ground to developers [MSN]
Costa Rica has lost up to half of its monkeys over the last 12 years as developers expanding into their jungle habitat isolate them in small communities, according to local scientists.

Victory for animal rights group against testing [The Independent]
An anti-vivisection campaign group won a partial victory yesterday in its High Court claim that the Government was failing in its legal duty to ensure animal suffering was kept to a minimum in UK laboratories.

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.

The NRDC and BioGems Defenders are now embarking on a campaign to protect the endangered Grizzly Bear. Grizzly habitat in the lower 48 states is being targeted for oil and gas drilling. In combination with the Bush administration’s proposal to remove the Grizzly from the endangered species list, this could mean the end of the Grizzly Bear. The irony is that the administration is likely removing the Grizzly from the list so that corporate interests can exploit the Grizzly habitat for profit (at the expense of the Grizzly population).

It is important that animal rights activists get involved in environmentalist organizing efforts and extend our compassion beyond domesticated animals.