Save the lions -Donations Needed!Urgently!

Save the lions
Caged in a cramped and rusty Romanian hell-hole these starving big cats face death...unless we help


PITIFUL: The lions have been kept like this for years


RAW: Sore on Caesar's tail


DOOMED: Caesar
By Philip Whiteside, 30/08/2009

LEANING her emaciated body against the small rusty cage, starving lioness Anetta paws at the bars forlornly as the days count down to her pride's execution.

For Anetta and 13 other kings and queens of the jungle - some too weak to stand or even roar - are to be SHOT unless something is done to save them.


The squalid, ramshackle Romanian zoo that has been their home all their lives has been condemned as unfit for animals by the European Union.


And its director has no money to build proper enclosures to replace the tiny 15ft by 12ft cages into which up to FOUR lions at a time are crammed.


So today we are launching a fundraising campaign . . . to help these manigficent animals roar with pride again.


"We cannot afford to do any more for them," said Daiana Ghender, 43, who is in charge of the state-run zoo built 37 years ago under the communist regime of Nicolae Ceausescu. "I feel terrible when I look at them. They are sick and do not have the space for their bodies."


Caesar, head of the pride, is barely able to walk. His once mighty muscles have atrophied for lack of exercise. He shares his cage with females Annetta and Alis, both seven, and their two cubs. Like all the lions here they sleep on a concrete floor, live in their dirt and are covered in sores.


Most were bred into their hellish captivity at Oradea Zoo. "It was originally created to keep the people happy," said Daiana. "At first there were only a couple of lions. Now we have too many and there is no way to keep them apart to stop them breeding further."


Sickeningly, some visitors to the zoo laugh at the lions' plight. "There is no money and little food for them," said a tearful Daiana. "Any money we make goes straight to the government. "It upsets me so much to see them like this." Soon the zoo will have no choice but to put the animals down.


There is only one way they can escape their fate. Backed by the News of the World, the Yorkshire Wildlife Park wants to bring all the lions to Britain. They need to raise £150,000 to ship the animals to the UK and create a proper enclosure for them to live in comfort.

Full story and links to donate:http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/news/477986/Lions-face-death-at-Romanian-zoo.html

Thank you Simone for this action alert!

New law aims to reduce pet shelter numbers

A state law taking effect Sept. 30 sets conditions under which shelters may sterilize and implant microchips on impounded dogs and cats before they are released to owners.

The goal: reducing the number of unwanted animals.

"Every animal that is spayed or neutered is tens of animals less on the street," said Aprille Hollis, spokeswoman for Maricopa County Animal Care and Control, which pushed for the change.
The measure, sponsored by Rep. Steve Court, R-Mesa, gives shelters the right to spay or neuter unlicensed dogs or cats without the owners' permission provided they first hold the animals for three days and make reasonable efforts to locate owners. Those who retrieve their animals in time will have the option of paying $50 on top of any other fees to have them released without sterilization or microchips.

The law also requires shelters to hold licensed animals for at least five days before they are put up for adoption. Current law requires shelters to hold any animal for at least three days.

Hollis said one reason for the law is that stray dogs are likely to return to the streets after owners claim them.

"Dog are escape artists. If they find a way out, they will try again," she said.

To help encourage owners to spay or neuter pets, Hollis' agency absorbs the cost of the procedures and charges $25 to implant a microchip. However, the law says owners are responsible for the cost of sterilization and microchips.

Maria Felix, veterinary technician at the Santa Cruz Humane Society in Nogales, said she didn't know how much of an impact the law would have there because owners rarely come to claim dogs or cats.

"It happens twice a year, and if it happens and if we have spayed or neutered the pet, owners are OK with it," Felix said.

Full story:
http://www.azcentral.com/news/election/azelections/articles/2009/08/30/20090830politics-animals0830.html

New Era Dawning For Animal Rights

A new and more humane era may be dawning for animals as recognition
spreads that, like human beings, they are sentient creatures who
experience joy and feel pain and are entitled to legal protection.

“Animal law is a rapidly expanding field that is becoming an important
aspect of our social policy,” says animal rights authority Diane
Sullivan, who in 2004 founded an animal rights program at the
Massachusetts School of Law at Andover(MSL). At present, “Legal
textbooks on animal rights are replete with judicial decisions that,
in case after case, make all too clear that the law does nothing to
genuinely protect animals. It certainly does not recognize their true
value and special place in our homes,” the law professor says. Recent
studies, she says, suggest dogs possess “a sense of fairness” and are
on the same mental plane as a two-year-old child.

--
full story:
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0908/S00260.htm

Back in Santa Cruz, Peter Young still advocating for animals

SANTA CRUZ -- The night before masked demonstrators rattled the door
of a UC Santa Cruz biomedical researcher's home in February 2008,
famed animal rights advocate Peter Young gave a speech at the Louden
Nelson Community Center.

The 32-year-old Los Gatos native, who served two years in prison after
being convicted in 2005 of setting minks free from farms in the
Midwest, had returned to Santa Cruz just four months earlier.
...
Although Young shared the same views as Animal Liberation Front
activists, in all his raids, he said he chose not to claim the action
on behalf of the organization, mainly for strategic reasons. He said
invoking the organization's name could bring more attention from
authorities and potential targets.
...
In 2006, Congress passed the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act,
replacing an earlier law by making it an act of domestic terror to
harass or endanger researchers who use animals.

Young says the tighter restrictions on free speech have pushed
activists toward more aggressive action, like the UCSC firebombings.
"Now a protest at the home of a vivisector is illegal," Young said.
"They've closed off all legal channels to affect change. What do you
expect?"

--
full story:
http://www.mercurynews.com/centralcoast/ci_12979334


SEE ALSO:
Veterinarian endorses her non-vegan lifestyle

SHG Press Release - RSPCA slaughter ten German Shepherds by bolt pistol

The Self Help Group for Farmers, Pet Owners and OthersExperiencing Difficulties with the RSPCA (The SHG)Press ReleaseFor Immediate Release30th September 2009
RSPCA Slaughter Ten German Shepherds with Bolt PistolAnimal Lovers besiege RSPCA Facebook page in protestThe RSPCA's Facebook page has been inundated with posts from angry animal lovers protesting about the RSPCA slaughter of ten German Shepherd dogs using a bolt pistol.According to RSPCA e-mail responses relatives contacted the RSPCA after the dog's owner died and the dogs were left living on their own.An RSPCA inspector decided that the dogs were unsocialised, had a skin condition and therefore were unfit for rehoming and should be put down.The RSPCA said that if the relatives could not find a rescue to take the dogs the RSPCA would take and euthanase them.When there is a death in the family people have other, more pressing matters to deal with and are likely to be too distressed to think clearly. How are they going to find the local shelters in these circumstances?A furious Jayne Shenstone of German Shepherd Rescue said:"There is a large network of GSD rescues in the UK yet not one of us was contacted by either the owners or by the RSPCA. The fact that the RSPCA would not attempt to contact any other rescue suggests that they couldn't be bothered and that it was easier and cheaper to shoot the dogs.""The GSD is naturally very protective and territorial so will guard home and owner. With regard to the ten, their owner had died so one would assume that they would be confused and frightened.""To an inexperienced person they would have appeared aggressive.""They should have been separated and they would have calmed down.""If they had a skin condition what was it and why couldn't it be treated?""GSD's that come into rescue often need experienced help which is why even other non-GSD rescues will approach us for help with rehoming any that come into their care."The SHG has accused the RSPCA of utter hypocrisy.Anne Kasica of the SHG said:"The RSPCA used the case of David Smith who shot unwanted greyhounds with a bolt pistol to promote a massive publicity campaign aimed at obtaining increased regulation of greyhound breeding, training and racing, despite the claims that the RSPCA made use of Mr. Smith's services.""Either it is acceptable to shoot excess unwanted dogs or it is not.""This is not the first time the RSPCA has been criticised for shooting dogs with a bolt pistol. They were fully aware after their shooting of two basset hounds in Ipswich in 2004 that the public do not find this acceptable practice.""If the RSPCA believes it is acceptable to shoot dogs with captive bolt pistols then they should make it quite clear that this is what will happen to dogs that come into their care."Ernest Vine also of the SHG asked:"What qualifications does an inspector have to assess dogs in this situation? Is he a vet? The RSPCA uses the yardstick of 'failure to seek veterinary advice' in their prosecutions. How was it possible to assess the mental state of each dog in these circumstances?""We are told that a dog's mental capacity is that of the average two year old toddler. Imagine the reaction of a toddler who had been left alone like this and then faced with strangers. Would he be upset? Perhaps be aggressive and try to escape? Or maybe even bite? Could it be that too much is expected of dogs in difficult circumstances and that these dogs were far better behaved than they were given credit for?""We are calling for some check on what happens to animals that pass through large organisations like the RSPCA. Animals are killed before their owners have a chance to claim them. Owners are told their animals are not in RSPCA shelters when they are there and in the process of being rehomed.""For these reasons the SHG wants a cooling off period for animal sign overs to the RSPCA similar to the protections provided when buying double glazing. Perhaps 28 days would give time for people to reflect on their actions. After all, if the dogs were in need of rehabilitation that would not be an excessive time period and nothing would stop prospective adopters from registering their interests.""Could it be that the RSPCA is being driven by financial cuts (£54million) to seek the cheapest alternative without adequately considering the animal's welfare?"EndsWord Total: 720
Notes to Editors: -ReferencesThe RSPCA facebook page can be viewed athttp://www.facebook.com/RSPCAShould it be removed the SHG has saved a copy and will provide it on request.The RSPCA Head of Inspectorate is Tim Wass whose e-mail is twass@rspca.org.ukNo justice for murdered greyhoundshttp://www.greyhoundaction.org.uk/NoJustice.htm
RSPCA shoots basset houndshttp://www.germanshepherdrescue.freeforums.org/basset-hounds-shot-by-rspca-t590.html10 German Shepherds slaughtered by captive bolthttp://www.germanshepherdrescue.freeforums.org/10-german-shepherds-slaughtered-by-rspca-with-captive-bolt-t585.html
Information on Captive Bolt Pistols, types and useshttp://www.reference.com/browse/captive+bolt
Rusty alive despite being shot by captive bolt pistolhttp://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/a-dogs-life-aint-what-it-used-to-be-486989.html
Better dead than fed PETA claimshttp://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2005/06/23/EDG11DC9BK1.DTL
No Kill Now - Ingrid Newkirk should resignhttp://www.nokillnow.com/PETAIngridNewkirkResign.htm
The petition to the Prime Minister for a public inquiry into the policies and running of the RSPCA obtained over 2,029 signatures and can be seen at http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/rspcainquiry
RSPCA to reduce expenditure by54millionhttp://www.charityfinance.co.uk/home/content.php?id=2837
Contacts:Jayne Shenstone of German Shepherd Rescue can be contacted on 01568 797957 orby e-mail at info@germanshepherdrescue.co.uk
For further comment from the SHG please contact Anne Kasica on 01559 371031 or Ernest Vine on 01559 370566. Mobile 07534 056634.e-mail:shg@the-shg.orgThe SHG was officially formed in June 1990 and has been helping people to defend themselves and their animals from the RSPCA ever since.The national help line number is 0844 700 66 90A copy of this and previous press releases from
The SHG are online athttp://www.the-shg.org/SHGPressReleases.htm
Background information on the Self Help Group for Farmers Pet Owners and Other Experiencing Difficulties with the RSPCA can be found athttp://www.the-shg.org/
Details of further criticisms of the RSPCA can be found at the RSPCA-Animadversion website: http://cheetah.webtribe.net/~animadversion

URGENT: Faxes Needed for NY Cruelty Case by Sept 1st

Source:
http://ida.convio.net/site/MessageViewer?em_id=7361.0&printer_friendly=1

In May, two New York City teenagers ransacked the home of an ex-roommate, Valerie Hernandez. Not content to limit their destructive rage to Hernandez's apartment, in an act of unspeakable viciousness they stuffed Hernandez's kitten Tiger Lily into a hot oven and left her there to burn to death.

The older of the two admitted to the police that they fled the apartment so they wouldn't hear the kitten screaming and desperately scratching at the oven door. She admitted that she left the apartment knowing the kitten was in the oven with the heat turned up to 500 degrees. She told police that action was committed as "a joke."

The shocking case of animal cruelty is coming to a close next week with the probationary review of Cheyenne Cherry in Bronx Supreme Court.

The case has been adjourned to September 2 for probationary review, so all comments must be received by the Judge by September 1. IDA is hopeful that the latest additional information about Cherry's violation of probation will lead Judge Clancy to conclude the two one-year sentences should run consecutively, not concurrently.

Polite letters are needed to Judge Margaret Clancy to ask that the two sentences run consecutively so there is independent punishment for the animal cruelty charge. Scroll down for talking points for your letter, and contact information for the Judge.

The unnamed 14-year-old was sentenced to 18 months in juvenile detention. According to news accounts, she was the initiator of the plan to place Tiger Lily in a hot oven, though Cherry made the decision that they should flee to avoid hearing the kitten's cries.

Contact Info:

It is important to keep letters polite to be effective. This case has generated a great deal of anger, but that anger should not be vented on the Judge. Write (and fax) to:

Case #:02546-2009
RE: Cheyenne Cherry
Honorable Judge Margaret Clancy
Bronx County Supreme Court
265 East 161st Street
Bronx, NY 10451
Fax: 718-618-3573

Talking Points:

* Thank Judge Clancy for this review of the case, expressing that you are hopeful the review will result in a longer jail sentence for someone with such a violent past.
* Emphasize that Cherry is a repeat offender, with two prior armed robberies.
* Cherry should be barred from ever "owning" or working with animals in the future. In July, Judge Clancy ruled that Cherry be barred from "owning" animals for only 3 years. This is not enough. Given the reckless disregard for animal suffering she exhibited in this case, and her lack of remorse reported in the press, the prohibition should be imposed permanently.
* Ask the Judge for Post Release Supervision of Cherry along with psychological counseling for both Cherry and her juvenile accomplice. This is extremely important because of the tendency for animal abusers to commit repeat offenses, as well as escalate crimes. Adequate psychological counseling for both Cherry and her accomplice is the only way to address the root cause of their violent actions and total lack of empathy for living beings.
* Adolescents who commit brutal crimes against people usually begin with other species. Indeed, the intentional burning of a non-human animal is a "particularly significant predictor of violent and even homicidal behavior," says Dr. Randall Lockwood of the ASPCA's Anti-Cruelty Initiatives and a frequent law enforcement consultant. Dr. Lockwood's conclusions about "the link" have been confirmed and cited by the FBI.

Protect Our Earth's Treasures P.O.E.T.

P.O Box 06619
Columbus, Ohio 43206-0619

614-224-4598

Contact POET via e-mail

Since its founding in 1984, Protect Our Earth’s Treasures,(P.O.E.T.), our mission has been to inform and educate the public on the issues of animal exploitation. We are a central-ohio based grass-roots organization working toward improving the lives of animals. We formed after learning about a “tooth-movement” experiment involving cats and improper anesthesia dosages being conducted at OSU. It became clear, as the case unfolded, that research animals in central Ohio, had no advocate. Now they do!

Since that incident our mission has expanded to include activism in all areas of animal use and abuse.

Demonstration and leaflett event against Dr. Billman and his dog experiments.
Tuesday, May 12th at 4:30PM
Meeting at High St. and 15th Ave. on the plaza.

Additional Billman info updated 5/09
More information here:http://www.poetwill.org

Bullfighting Barbie Banished!

After a hard-hitting campaign spearheaded by SHARK, Mattel stopped production of the "Spanish Barbie." This doll, dressed as a matador, glorified the despicable murder of bulls, to young children no less! After a public campaign by SHARK that took the harsh reality of bullfighting to the streets, first by using the "Slam Van", a van with three televisions, and then the Tiger Truck, Mattel heeded the public outcry. The makers of the Bullfighting Barbie assured SHARK there would be no more.

Another victory for the unwavering voices of compassionate consumers!

How Tre Arrow Became America's Most Wanted Environmental " Terrorist

That Tre Arrow, a tree-hugging vegan who espouses non-violence and
lives by the airy and some nebulous philosophy of Gaia, would top the
FBI’s Most Wanted list, only reaffirms the notion that the Bureau’s
energy is being exerted in specious directions.

On August 12, 2008, after a tumultuous seven-year investigation, Arrow
was sentenced in Federal court to six-and-a-half years for lighting
three cement haulers ablaze at the notorious Ross Island Sand and
Gravel in Portland, Oregon, as well as firebombing two trucks and one
front loader owned by Ray Schoppert Logging Company near the timber
town of Estacada, Oregon. The acts were in protest of the Eagle Creek
timber sale in Mt. Hood National Forest in the late 1990s.

--
full story:
http://www.counterpunch.org/stclair08282009.html

Geese at Melrose's Ell Pond being trapped, euthanized

By Daniel DeMaina / ddemaina@cnc.com

Melrose - What's good for the goose isn't good for those who take a gander
at The Knoll's playing fields, which are typically covered in bird
droppings.

To combat the problem of Canada geese [1]soiling those playing fields, the
Melrose Health Department [2] has called in the feds. Last Friday, the U.S.
Department of Agriculture [3](USDA) reported to the Melrose Police [4]that
they would be conducting net-gun captures of geese at Ell Pond.

Carol Bannerman, spokeswoman for the USDA's wildlife division, said the
captured geese are gassed, leading to a quiet death, and donated to food
banks and homeless shelters through a program called Hunters for the
Homeless, which mainly takes food donations from hunters.

The USDA also uses sound and light devices to harass the geese and when used
in conjunction with the net-gun -- making the geese associate the sound and
noise with the net-guns -- deters the geese from taking up residence at Ell
Pond.

"The problem isn't that there are resident Canada geese," Bannerman said.
"The problem is there's an overabundance in an area that's too small."

Ruth Clay, Melrose-Wakefield Health Director, said her office has received
"a lot of complaints" about the geese excrement from parents of children who
use the playing fields at The Knoll.

"We're trying to address that by reducing the number of birds," Clay said.
"It's an ongoing problem. This is the first year we've been in partnership
with the USDA helping us."

It's not a case of just a few bird droppings here and there, either,
Bannerman said. Canada geese leave, at a minimum, a half a pound of feces a
day.

"In a park area that has 50 Canada geese, you're going to have 25 pounds a
day," she said.

The killing of Canada geese as way of controlling the their population in
urban and suburban areas -- and thereby protecting humans from the bird's
droppings -- is not without controversy. The Web site of the New York-based
Coalition to Prevent the Destruction of Canada Geese [5] cites studies by
the National Wildlife Health Center and the New Jersey Division of Fish and
Wildlife, which state that Canada geese and their feces do not pose a public
health risk to humans.

The Coalition urges the use of non-lethal goose control methods, such as
scare devices and lawn treatments.

Bannerman said the USDA, depending on the situation, does use an "integrated
approach" combining a variety of techniques besides killing the geese, such
as egg and nest treatment and habitat management.

She also noted that in some cases, such as in New York City, harassing the
geese into taking up residence someplace else usually results in the geese
only moving half a mile to a mile away, still in the city.

"However, I would hesitate to say that [in relation to Melrose], because we
haven't done that type of study in this area," Bannerman said.

One way Melrosians can help control the Canada geese population at Ell Pond
is to avoid feeding the geese, Bannerman said.

"I always feel a little bit guilty saying this -- I have a lovely picture of
my kids and I on my desk feeding the geese and the ducks," she said. "That
was before I knew about the problems. I understand that it's a fun activity
to do with your children and grandchildren, but by and large the food humans
give to wild fowl like geese or ducks is not the healthiest food for them.
It really only encourages the birds staying in an area that's not right for
them. Certainly we would discourage the feeding of wild birds. Wild birds
are the ones that end up harmed in those situations."

****************************************************************************
*****************************
CONTACT INFO:
Robert A. Boisselle
President of the Board of Aldermen
(781) 979-4100
Aldermen@cityofmelrose.org [6]
Mayor Robert J. Dolan
(send e-email to Mayor through City's web site)
http://www.cityofmelrose.org/contact.html

Letter to Editor: melrose@cnc.com
[7]


1: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Canada_Goose/id

2: http://www.cityofmelrose.org/departments/health.htm

3: http://www.usda.gov/

4: http://www.melrosepolice.com/

5: http://www.canadageese.org/

6: http://us.mc511.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=Aldermen@cityofmelrose.org

7: http://us.mc511.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=melrose@cnc.com

Dog rescue center tries to head off eviction

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/southflorida/v-print/story/1205770.html

Dog rescue center tries to head off eviction

BY LAURA MORALES
llmorales@MiamiHerald.com

Help is on the way for the Sabbath Memorial Dog Rescue Center, which faces
eviction next month for illegally sheltering up to 130 dogs in a nine-acre
mamey grove.The Clydey Foundation, a Fort Lauderdale-based animal protection
organization, has pledged legal and financial support to help keep the
center open.

Sharon Jacobson -- who named her foundation after a deceased beloved cat --
came down Thursday to the makeshift dog shelter near Homestead to meet
Sabbath's founder Robbie Coy.

Her foundation, which helps provide medical care for animals whose owners
can't afford it, will soon bring its mobile spay-and-neuter clinic to the
remote farm where Coy takes care of up to 130 stray and abandoned dogs.

Jacobson said her group will also pay the Fort Lauderdale law firm Tripp
Scott, which represents the Clydey Foundation, to help Coy and his landlord
find a way to keep the rescue center open.

``We're also hoping to get some of them [dogs], as many as we can,
adopted,'' added Jacobson, a Fort Lauderdale resident who got involved after seeing
a report on the no-kill shelter's looming eviction.

Following an anonymous complaint in April, Miami-Dade's Animal Services
department cited Coy's rescue service -- and his landlord, Hialeah doctor
Miguel Chamah -- for not having a kennel license.

For the shelter to remain open, Chamah would have to get a zoning variance
from the county, a long and costly process he did not want to undertake. The
property is now zoned agricultural/ residential -- fine for farm animals,
but not for more than eight dogs.

Chamah faced evicting Coy and the dogs by mid-September. But they received
an extension until Oct. 1, said Animal Services spokeswoman Xiomara
Mordcovich.

Sabbath's founder said it baffles him that farm animals are permitted on
the land, but only eight dogs. ``We're in the middle of nowhere. We don't
bother anybody. It's not like the dogs are going to bother or attack anybody,''
he said.

Sabbath's dogs, many of which have suffered past abuse, looked well-fed
Thursday and have access to wooden shelters that are functional, even if
they're not exactly pretty.

``Without this place, many of these dogs would be dead,'' foundation
founder Jacobson added.

She said that if Sabbath does have to leave, her group will help it move.

``Robbie's doing great work here,'' she said.

Coy said he was ``elated'' when Jacobson contacted him.

``A lot of people call and say they want to help, but don't come through,''
he said. ``Talk is cheap, but these guys are for real.''

International Animal Rescue News-Our team in Indonesia helps orangutans in crisis

International Animal Rescue's team in Indonesia is embarking on a new project to help captive orangutans in West Kalimantan (Indonesian Borneo.) They have just signed an MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) with the Forestry Department to agree plans for the rescue, rehabilitation and release of orangutans that have lost their treetop homes to deforestation for palm oil plantations. The agreement allows for the purchase of land and the creation of facilities where the rescued animals can be rehabilitated before being released back into protected areas of forest.

Karmele Llano Sanchez, International Animal Rescue's Veterinary Director in Indonesia, says: "We're delighted to have reached agreement with the BKSDA (forestry department) on a project to help the orangutans in West Kalimantan. There is an urgent need to help animals that are already suffering injuries and disease from their time in captivity and now we can take immediate action to help them.

"There is currently no rehabilitation facility for rescued orangutans in West Kalimantan and our priority is to set up a temporary centre where they can be given appropriate care and veterinary treatment."

The team has already identified many captive orangutans living in deplorable conditions: some are chained up on pallets over an open sewer choked with human waste, others are confined in small dark cages, wracked with boredom and frustration.

International Animal Rescue already has the experience and expertise to help the orangutans. Its primate rescue centre in Ciapus on the island of Java is successfully rehabilitating macaque monkeys and endangered slow lorises and has recently released 35 macaques back into the wild.

Alan Knight OBE, Chief Executive, says: "We are thrilled to be able to join our colleagues in other groups who are already helping orangutans. Thanks to the cooperation of the Forestry Department and the generosity of our supporters, we really feel empowered to take this project on. Individual orangutans are suffering, and at the same time the future of the entire species is under threat. The need to act is critical if we are to protect these beautiful animals and their habitat."Read more here:

http://www.internationalanimalrescue.org/news/2009/aug09-28.shtml

Flying fox hunting unsustainable in South East Asia

Endangered by overhunting, Pteropus vampyrus, with satellite collar, Malaysia. Copyright Jonathan H. Epstein.
World's largest bats need international protection

August 2009. Without at least a temporary reprieve from hunting, the world's largest species of fruit bat, the "large flying fox" (Pteropus vampyrus), could be driven to extinction in Peninsular Malaysia at the current hunting rate, scientists have warned. They say around 22,000 flying foxes are legally hunted (in addition to those illegally hunted) each year in Peninsular Malaysia, a level of hunting that is unsustainable based on their estimates of the number of bats in the country.

Satellite tracking reveals they travel to Thailand & Indonesia
Dr Jonathan Epstein, a veterinary epidemiologist at Wildlife Trust, and colleagues surveyed 33 roost sites across Peninsular Malaysia and repeatedly counted the numbers of bats at eight sites between 2003 and 2007. They compared this data along with the number of hunting licenses issued by the Malaysian Department of Wildlife and National Parks using computer models to see whether the number of bats hunted each year was sustainable. They also used satellite transmitters attached to bats to see how far the species migrated and found that they travel from Malaysia to Indonesia and Thailand. This is the first study of its kind on flying foxes in Asia.

Important seed dispersers
Flying foxes - which are important seed dispersers and pollinators in tropical rainforests - are commonly hunted for food, medicine and sport in Malaysia and many other countries in Southeast Asia. Hunting is regulated by the Malaysian Department of Wildlife and National Parks, which participated in the current study because there was interest in generating data to help assess the impact of current hunting rates.

More info:http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/flying-fox.html?utm_campaign=Australian%20oil%20spill%3B%20Madagascar%20pochard%3B%20Scottish%20forest%20threat%3B%20Flying%20foxes%2E&utm_content=tachigb@yahoo.es&utm_medium=Email&utm_source=VerticalResponse&utm_term=Flying%20fox%20hunting%20unsustainable%20in%20South%20East%20Asia

Help Save 150 American Buffalo!

We’ve only got weeks to go, but we’ve done it before, and with your help,
we will do it again!

In 2003, In Defense of Animals (IDA) was contacted by Catalina Island citizens, concerned that 105 buffalo were being sent to auction. You responded to our appeal and, together, we saved and successfully relocated all 105 auction-bound buffalo from Catalina Island, off the coast of California, to protected Native American land in South Dakota. The dramatic rescue on barges across 23 miles of ocean, then 1,800 miles by highway to South Dakota garnered international media. You can view video of that rescue here.

That buffalo relocation was simply amazing. IDA members and staff who participated cried with joy and astonishment at the beauty and magnitude of what we accomplished. If you missed out on the opportunity to be a part of that effort, you now have another chance.

IDA now has the opportunity to rescue and relocate 150 more buffalo. We want these magnificent creatures to join their cousins living safely on land controlled by the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe in South Dakota!

But we need your help!
We need to raise $35,000 to get the job done. I am writing today to ask that you help make our dream a reality. Click here to donate.

Around the world, buffalo are considered the symbol of the American pioneering spirit. Our traditional songs glorify them and our folklore reveals their importance to the fabric of our nation. Can you imagine any telling of the American story not including buffalo?

But what are buffalo doing on a Pacific Ocean island anyway?

Fourteen buffalo were brought to Santa Catalina Island for a 1925 silent film, “The Vanishing American.” The buffalo population soon grew, and visitors to the island have been enchanted by their magnificence ever since.

The Catalina Island Conservancy was formed in 1975 to preserve the land, its native animals and plants. Because the buffalo are non-native to the island they have periodically been sent to auction on the mainland. But, thanks to caring members like you, IDA is changing that!

In 2003, when we successfully relocated 105 at-risk bison, that whole paradigm changed. Now that we’ve shown how they can be saved, they must be saved.

The buffalo we rescued in 2003 are doing amazingly well. They gain 150 pounds during the winter months and grow even thicker coats. They no longer climb mountains to graze for grass. Many great-great grandchildren have been born. Thanks to you, these very special animals have a safe home today.

We are gearing up for our next amazing rescue a much larger group of buffalo this time. Will you be a part of it?

If you can help us fund the relocation of the buffalo from Catalina Island once again - on barges across 23 miles of ocean and then 1,800 by highway to South Dakota - IDA has a guarantee that the buffalo will be allowed to roam free and not be hunted or harmed in any way!

So please be as generous as you can, as quickly as you can. Then, when you see the heartwarming transport unfolding on television, you can say “I helped make that happen!”
http://ida.convio.net/site/PageServer

Rendell shows a little puppy love, signs new animal cruelty

With an audience on hand that included over a dozen dogs and their
owners, Gov. Ed Rendell this morning signed into law a measure that
supporters say is the next step towards shedding the state's label as
the Puppy Mill Capital of the East.

House Bill 39, backed by the Humane Society of the United States, the
American Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and other animal
rights groups, sets further guidelines for the care of dogs, spelling
out certain procedures that must be done by a veterinarian.

Before the new law, procedures such as cropping or trimming an ear and
Caesarean births could be done by anyone, with no requirements for
training.

With one of his own dogs, Maggie, a Golden Retriever, looking on,
Rendell signed the bill which also makes stealing an animal for the
purpose of dog fighting a third-degree felony.

--
full story:
http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2009/08/rendell_shows_a_little_puppy_l.html

Ask Japanese University to Halt Cruel Veterinary Training

Please help us to stop more tragedy.


Ask Japanese University to Halt Cruel Veterinary Training
(English page)
https://secure.peta.org/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=2423


Veterinary medicine students at Rakuno Gakuen Veterinary University in
Japan practice exsanguination, a cruel and outdated form of slaughter, as
part of their training.

This barbaric process includes administering muscle relaxants or sedatives
to cows?but no anesthetics?in order to immobilize them for gruesome anatomy
trainings. Students cut the animals' necks, then pull out their jugular
veins. They allow the cows to slowly die as the blood is drained from their
bodies while they are still conscious. Five hundred cows a year are killed
in this way at this university alone?a place where students should be
learning to care about and respect animals.

Protests from animal rights organizations and the student body have been
ignored. The university administration needs to hear a strong response from
the public in order to convince it to halt this cruel practice. Please
contact Dr. Hiroyuki Taniyama, principal of Rakuno Gakuen University, and
politely ask him to teach veterinary students compassion, not cruelty.



Japanese page (JAVA Japan Anti-Vivisection Association)
http://www.java-animal.org/jan/090822.htm

Great New Book on Rod Coronado and the Animal Liberation Front–Review it!

Aug 27th, 2009 by Will Potter

Operation Bite Back is a great new book by Dean Kuipers on the life of Rod Coronado, one of the most influential figures in the modern animal rights and environmental movements. Coronado is perhaps best known for a string of Animal Liberation Front actions, the namesake of the book, targeting the fur industry. He also had a pivotal role in the growth of the Sea Shepherds (I’m still waiting for the next “Whale Wars” disc on Netflix) and the ideological development of radical environmental groups like Earth First! and the Earth Liberation Front.

That’s a grossly abridged look at this man’s life. Regardless of how you feel about direct action and the animal rights and environmental movements, Rod Coronado’s story is one that demands to be told.

Kuipers has done just that, and well. Of course, some folks are up in arms that he is telling the story, period. Fur industry folks have slammed the book, not because of the content, but because it was written. Kuipers had a great response to an Amazon review:

“Platt [of the Fur Commission] has strong opinions about these issues and I don’t take them lightly. They’re represented in the book. But maybe she could have given me two stars for writing well!? Ah, the writer’s ego, another bourgeois vestige …”

Please check out the book and leave a review on the Operation Bite Back Amazon page.
Actually, BUY the book. As a writer I think I need to make this across-the-board pitch for other writers: buy their work. If a writer is dead, yeah, who cares, go to your local used book store, borrow from a friend, go to the library. But if the writer is alive? Well, they’re trying to pay their bills by doing what they love–something this culture undervalues–and if you don’t support them they can’t pursue their craft.

Soldiers' hero dog Sandbag to be flown to UK after he was rescued on streets of Iraq

A stray dog who became a mascot for British soldiers in Iraq has been transported to a safe house with his puppy in preparation for their flight to the UK.
Troops were forced to return home without their four-legged friend Sandbag earlier this year and feared he would not last long once they had left - although he was rumoured to have already survived being shot five times.
They were worried he would be put down by local Iraqis or killed by other dogs, but the Society for the Welfare of Horses and Ponies (SWHP) tracked him down and his puppy Dirtbag around the port at Umm Qasr, near Basra, last week.
British mascot: Sandbag (right) relaxes with Dirtbag in Iraq. They have been rescued and put in a safe house in preparation for their flights to the UK
The dogs were believed to have been living on the streets for about three weeks.
Three armoured vehicles were deployed last Thursday to rescue the dogs and transport them to a safe house in Baghdad where they will be cared for while arrangements are made to fly them to the UK.
Emma Simpson from the SWHP, who has been co-ordinating the rescue attempt, said: 'It was a real challenge trying to track Sandbag and Dirtbag down and thank goodness we got there when we did.

'The US troops had already left the base and we gather the dogs had been living on the streets for over three weeks.
'I don't know how much longer they would have survived on their own. Now we just need to continue to raise enough money to bring them both and Hesco back to the UK.'
Stray friend: Hesco, who also became a mascot for British soldiers, is bound for the UK
A fundraising appeal to bring Sandbag home, along with fellow mascot Hesco the cat, was launched on August 7 by the Blue Cross and the SWHP.
Nearly 500 people worldwide have donated to the appeal since then, raising over £8,000 to date.
Steve Goody, Blue Cross director of companion animal welfare, said: 'We've been amazed and extremely touched by the strength of public sympathy for these animals.'
Hesco, who had also been straying, was taken in last Thursday in Umm Qasr by local animal charity Baghdad Cat Rescue, run by former British soldier Louise Hastie.
Ms Hastie is trying to arrange for the cat's transport to Baghdad to join the two dogs.
All the animals will need to stay at the safe house for at least a month until the temperature cools enough to safely fly them to Kuwait for the journey to Britain.
The funds raised so far have covered the transport and accommodation of the animals in Iraq, but it is estimated that at least another £2,000 will be needed to fly them all to the UK and pay for six months in quarantine.
Sandbag was born on the forward operating base at North Port in Umm Qasr nearly two and a half years ago and quickly endeared himself to the British troops stationed there.
Dirtbag is believed to be his only surviving offspring after the mother was killed.
To donate to the fundraising appeal, call 0800 408 1831 or visit http://www.bluecross.org.uk/

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1209501/Soldiers-hero-dog-Sandbag-flown-UK-rescued-streets-Iraq.html#ixzz0PXpj27Jt

Ask Japanese University to Halt Cruel Veterinary Training

Please help us to stop more tragedy.


Ask Japanese University to Halt Cruel Veterinary Training
(English page)
https://secure.peta.org/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=2423


Veterinary medicine students at Rakuno Gakuen Veterinary University in
Japan practice exsanguination, a cruel and outdated form of slaughter, as
part of their training.

This barbaric process includes administering muscle relaxants or sedatives
to cows?but no anesthetics?in order to immobilize them for gruesome anatomy
trainings. Students cut the animals' necks, then pull out their jugular
veins. They allow the cows to slowly die as the blood is drained from their
bodies while they are still conscious. Five hundred cows a year are killed
in this way at this university alone?a place where students should be
learning to care about and respect animals.

Protests from animal rights organizations and the student body have been
ignored. The university administration needs to hear a strong response from
the public in order to convince it to halt this cruel practice. Please
contact Dr. Hiroyuki Taniyama, principal of Rakuno Gakuen University, and
politely ask him to teach veterinary students compassion, not cruelty.



Japanese page (JAVA Japan Anti-Vivisection Association)
http://www.java-animal.org/jan/090822.htm

Steve Best, Gary Francione to debate animal rights

Twitter has been buzzing lately about September's debate between Prof.
Steve Best of the University of Texas at El Paso and Prof. Gary
Francione of Rutgers School of Law-Newark.

Best and Francione both defend their respective animal rights
ideologies which oppose most noticeably by each's view on violence and
pacifism in the animal rights movement.
...
The debate will be held on September 18th shortly thereafter appearing
on the Animal Voices talk show. Originally, the debate was to feature
three additional persons; Prof. Bob Torres, author of Vegan Freaks and
co-host of Vegan Freak Radio as a third opponent, Host Anthony Marr as
moderator, and Vegan News host Adam Kochanowicz as co-moderator. The
debate was to be ordered with specific questions and alternating time
slots for each professor's respective points. However Best and
Francione have recently agreed to simplify the debate to only
themselves in an unmoderated debate with Marr introducing.

--
full story:
http://www.examiner.com/x-4198-Vegan-Examiner~y2009m8d26-Steve-Best-Gary-Francione-to-debate-animal-rights

Message just in from Turkey .. please act now !!

Message just in from Turkey .. please act now !!

hi my friend..some people from the municipality came to Fatih Mosque last night and took 40-50 kittens by their car.the kittens were so small that their eyes hasnt opened yet.they must have taken to a forest..they were ill..if they are alive,they must be hungry and suffering.please help us..we will phone them in the morning;but it is not enough..you all can write them mail..a lot of mail...if they are alive,this is our last chance or they will go on with the rest.

Please send emails of protest st the removal of these kittens to almost certain death :

http://www.fatih.bel.tr/haber_detay.asp?tur=310&id=1071


HERE IS MY LETTER I JUST SENT TO ALL THE ADDYS THAT ARE ON THEIR WEBSITE ABOVE!!
AND I ALSO ATTACHED THE SECOND Picture about REAL MAN ARE KIND TO ANIMALS-if u want you can also DO SO...and also CALL but see the Time Difference and be POLITE!

BELEDİYE SANTRAL TELEFONLARI
453 1453 - 453 14 00 584 16 00-03
FABİM (Fatih Belediyesi İletişim Merkezi)
Tel: (212) 444 0 176
Fax: (212) 453 14 83
FABİM (Fatih Belediyesi İletişim Merkezi)
Tel: (212) 444 0 176
Fax: (212) 453 14 83

ADDYS:
ozelkalem@fatih.bel.tr,basinyayin@fatih.bel.tr,bilgiislem@fatih.bel.tr,kulturvesosyalisler@fatih.bel.tr ,fenisleri@fatih.bel.tr,
parkvebahceler@fatih.bel.tr,etudproje@fatih.bel.tr,malihizmetler@fatih.bel.tr,hukukisl@fatih.bel.tr,destekhizmetleri@fatih.bel.tr, imarvesehircilik@fatih.bel.tr,ulasimhizmetleri@fatih.bel.tr, insankaynaklari@faith.bell.tr, saglikisleri@fatih.bel.tr,
temizlikisleri@fatih.bel.tr,yaziisl@fatih.bel.tr,zabita@fatih.bel.tr, emlakveistimlak@fatih.bel.tr,ruhsatvedenetim@fatih.bel.tr,
isletme@fatih.bel.tr,

Dear Faith Mosque Officialls,

We know that Last Night some people from the Municipality came to Fatih Mosque and took 40-50 kittens by their Car.The Kittens were so small that their Eyes hasnt opened yet. They must have taken to a Forest..they were ill..if they are alive,they must be hungry and suffering...WE ARE HEREBY PROTESTING AGAINST THIS INHUMANE AND TREATMENT OF SENTINENT CREATION...PLEASE HELP US because Our PROPHET was an animal lover. He was known once to actually cut his garment sleeve off as to not disturb his cat so he could go make prayer. We are told even a man's sins were forgiven because he climbed down into a well holding his leather shoes in his teeth to get water for a thirsty dog and that a woman would go to hell because she continually tied up her cat and starved it....

Please DO ALLAHS Will and HELP these Poor Creatures!!!

Sincerelly,
NAME&COUNTRY

United Poultry Concerns-A Wing & A Prayer - The Kapparot Chicken-Swinging Ritual

Please Help!

"Kapparot is not consistent with Jewish teachings and law. Repentance
and charity can be better accomplished by using money instead of a
slaughtered chicken." - Former Israeli Chief Rabbi Shlomo Goren

Photo by: David Rosenfeld
http://www.upc-online.org/kaparos/kapparot_brooklyn_oct2008.jpg
Kapparot practitioners prepare to "swing" chickens in Brooklyn, NY in
2008

Kapparot (kaparos), which means "atonements," is a custom preceding
Yom Kippur - the Jewish Day of Atonement - in which chickens are
ritually sacrificed by many Orthodox Jews. The observer "swings" the
chicken, held by the legs or by pinning the bird's wings backward,
around his or her head, while reciting a chant about transferring one's
sins symbolically onto the bird. The chicken is then slaughtered, and
may or may not be given to the poor. Prior to the ceremony, the chickens
are packed in crates, usually for days without food, water or shelter,
and birds not used in the ritual have been found abandoned in their
crates when the ceremony was over. Most telling is the callous way
practitioners stand around chatting while holding the chickens with
their wings pinned painfully backward and their legs dangling, as if
they were sacks of garbage instead of living creatures.

Kapparot is not required by the Torah or the Talmud. Most observers
swing money for charity as a symbolic gesture. However, thousands of
chickens are used each year for this purpose.

This year (2009), Yom Kippur is on September 28. This means that
kapparot will be practiced in the last week of September. Please help us
help the birds.

What Can I Do to Disperse the Kindness Message?

Please write a letter to your local Jewish newspapers expressing your
objection to the use of chickens for kapparot and urge that money be
used instead. Ask them to do an article about kapparot that examines the
ceremony from the standpoint of Jewish teachings that encourage
compassion for animals.

Please ask your Rabbi to incorporate the cruel facts about the use of
chickens in kapparot ceremonies, and how to have a compassionate
ceremony, into his (or her) Rosh Hashanah sermon. Ask your Rabbi,
please, to write an informative and directional item in the Temple's
newsletter. And please ask the Rabbinical Council of America to advocate
that kapparot be carried out with money instead of chickens.
Respectfully request a reply. Contact:

Rabbi Moshe Kletenik, President
Rabbinical Council of America
305 Seventh Avenue, 12th Floor
New York, NY 10001
Phone: 212-807-9000. Fax: 212-727-8452
Email: [mailto:mkletenik@rabbis.org], [mailto:office@rabbis.org]
For all RCA officers' & administrators' email addresses,
go to http://www.rabbis.org/contact_us.cfm


If you are a member of the Orthodox faith, please contact:

Rabbi Jack Abramowitz
Associate Director of Synagogue Services
Orthodox Union
11 Broadway
New York, NY 10004
Phone: 212-563-4000
Fax: 212-613-0752
Email: mailto:jack@ou.org
Email: mailto:webstaff@ou.org
Website: http://www.ou.org

Rabbi David Zwiebel
Executive Vice President
Agudath Israel of America
42 Broadway
New York, NY 10004
Phone: 212-797-7385
Fax: 646-254-1650
Email: mailto:DZwiebel@agudathisrael.org

Here are some relevant Official Statements on Animals that are
considered normative across the Orthodox Jewish faith:

"It is forbidden, according to the law of the Torah, to inflict pain
upon any living creature. On the contrary, it is our duty to relieve the
pain of any creature, even if it is ownerless or belongs to a non-Jew."
- from Rabbi Solomon Granzfried, Code of Jewish Law, New York Hebrew
Publishing Co. (1961), book 4, p. 84.

The Talmud asserts that the concept of tzaar baalei chaim includes not
only the need to avoid causing pain to animals but also the need to show
them compassion. "Whoever has compassion for other creatures is shown
compassion from Heaven; whoever does not have compassion for other
creatures is not shown compassion from Heaven." - from Talmud: Shabbos
151b.

These and more Official Statements on Animals can be found at:
http://www.hsus.org/religion/profiles/orthodox_judaism.html

United Poultry Concerns' 2009 letter to the Rabbinical Council America
can be read at:
http://www.upc-online.org/kaparos/090825wingprayer.html#upc_letter

Food for Life director Suzanne Yacowitz Dragan's 2009 letter to
Orthodox Rabbis in New Jersey can be read at:
http://www.upc-online.org/kaparos/090825wingprayer.html#ffl_letter

Note: Our brochures, A Wing & A Prayer - The Kapparot Chicken-Swinging
Ritual, are available for a small donation of $3 for 30 brochures.
Please order these and distribute them to your local news media, family,
friends, synagogue, and others you think could be helpful. To view our
kapparot brochure online, visit http://www.upc-online.org/kaparos
Thank you for
your help.

Online version of this alert:
http://www.upc-online.org/kaparos/090825wingprayer.html

--
United Poultry Concerns is a nonprofit organization that promotes the
compassionate and respectful treatment of domestic fowl.
Don't just switch from beef to chicken. Go Vegan.
http://www.UPC-online.org
Order Today: http://www.upc-online.org/merchandise/book.html
Prisoned
Chickens, Poisoned Eggs: An Inside Look at the Modern Poultry Industry
(2009 Revised Edition)

President of Animal Aid in Tulsa charged w/embezzlement

http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=11&articleid=20090806_11_A11_




Missing money sparks an audit
An animal rescue group's president has been charged with felony embezzlement.

CHARGED
Susan Warren: She and a co-worker were dismissed after more than $15,000 was discovered to be missing.

By MATT BARNARD World Staff Writer
Evidence of embezzlement at an animal rescue group has spurred an audit of the agency's finances and the removal of the group's president from office, according to attorneys involved in the case.

Susan Warren, the former president of Animal Aid of Tulsa, was charged Tuesday with felony embezzlement on allegations that she diverted more than $15,000 with the help of another worker.

Warren, 61, is accused of listing phony expenses for the organization and then writing checks to herself during a two-year period starting in August 2006, Tulsa County Assistant District Attorney Stephanie Milburn said.

"It was a continuous series of takings — not just one," she said.

As for the amount of money involved, "it's not the largest case I've seen, but it's a good amount," Milburnsaid. "It's nothing to sneeze at."

The group's ad- ministrators removed Warren from office and dismissed another worker when the allegations surfaced, and they hired an outside auditing firm to examine the organization's finances, Ken Bodenhamer, an attorney who represents Animal Aid, said.

The probe could u
ncover thousands of additional misspent dollars, he added.

At this point, $15,200 is believed to be missing, but Milburn agreed that the amount could increase significantly when auditors finish their investigation.

"There's been some bookkeeping back and forth that we haven't sorted out," she said.

The other worker, who is suspected of covering
up the theft, has not been charged, but the inquiry is ongoing, Milburn said.

Warren had not been arrested Wednesday night and did not return a phone call seeking comment.

She volunteered with Animal Aid about 20 hours per week and was not paid a salary, tax records indicate.

Officials learned of the missing money in July, when workers noticed discrepancies riddling the group's expense reports, Bodenhamer said. Warren recently had become active in Animal Aid's finances, and her involvement raised suspicion among the staff, he said.

The board of directors called an emergency meeting and unanimously voted to remove Warren from the board and end its relationship with the other worker, Bodenhamer said. Warren was on vacation in Hawaii when the vote was taken and never responded to the allegations, he said.

Warren was replaced by then-Vice President Gloria Bodenhamer, who is also a volunteer. Ken Bodenhamer, her husband, is representing the agency at no cost until the case is resolved, Gloria Bodenhamer said.

Animal Aid rescues sick or injured animals that have no apparent owner and arranges medical care with veterinarians. The group handles between
70 and 100 animals at any given time and primarily relies on donor support, administrators said.

The loss of the funds affected Animal Aid's ability to care for pets at a time when donations are already stretched thin, Gloria Bodenhamer said.

Economic troubles have reduced donations for many nonprofit groups, and unwanted animals are more common as people try to reduce their spending, she said.

SHAC Global Week of Action

Target: Huntingdon Life Sciences Top Customers

This week we will be focusing on Huntingdon Life Sciences' Top Customers
as we participate in a global week of action culminating in a protest on
Sunday at the home of HLS CEO Andrew Baker. On Wednesday and Friday
evenings, we will be protesting at the offices of Novartis and
Bristol-Myers Squibb. Hopefully, we will catch some executives as they
are leaving the office like we did last Friday at Bristol-Myers Squibb.
On Sunday, we will start off at the home of Andrew Baker and then visit
other key executives in the neighborhood.

On Friday, August 28, 2009, after the Bristol-Myers Squibb protest, we
will travel down to Greenwich Village to see the movie "At the Edge of
the World" about Sea Shepherd's campaign to stop Japanese whaling in the
Antarctic. The screening will be followed by a Q & A with the film's
director/producer Dan Stone and animal rights activist Tim Gorski who
filmed the action.
(More about the movie in a separate e-mail coming later this week).

Join us for a special event on Saturday, August 29th at 7:00 pm as we
host a WAR Open House featuring campaign videos, including the NYC
Premiere of SHAC's Time for Action 4 Video as well as other old
favorites like Strike Back. Information will be provided about our
coming campaigns and a special announcement relating to the Stop
Huntingdon Animal Cruelty campaign will be made. You will also learn
about our upcoming anti-fur campaign as well as international events
like FARM's World Farm Animal Day and a solidarity day of action against
the Japanese whale & dolphin slaughters. Vegan snacks will be provided
and t-shirts, buttons and other merchandise will be available for purchase.

HLS Customer - Novartis
Date: Wednesday, August 26, 2009 @ 5:00 pm
Where: 608 Fifth Avenue (40th St.), NYC

HLS Customer - Bristol-Myers Squibb
Date: Friday, August 28, 2009 @ 5:00 pm
Where: 345 Park Avenue (51st St.), NYC

Win Animal Rights Open House
Date: Saturday, August 29, 2009 @ 7:00 pm
Where: 269 Bleecker St., Greenwich Village

HLS/Baker Protest
Date: Sunday, August 30, 2009 @ 4:00 pm
Where: 279 Central Park West (W. 88th St.), NYC


Coming events: Mark your calendars now!

September 14 - 20: Max Mara Anti-Fur Week of Action
September 24 - 27: Escada Anti-Fur Week of Action

Visit the WAR Calendar for future events:
http://calendar.yahoo.com/winanimalrights
Visit the WAR MySpace page: http://www.myspace.com/winanimalrights

Visit WAR on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Win-Animal-Rights/25169195791


For more info contact Win Animal Rights at: winanimalrights@optonline.net

Call: 646.267.9934 or visit the WAR website at: http://war-online.org


W.A.R. (WIN ANIMAL RIGHTS) is an independent non-profit organization not
affiliated or associated with SHAC, SHAC USA or any other group or
organization and does not conduct or incite any illegal activity. The
above information is not meant to incite or request any illegal actions
or illegal activities of any kind. If you have any questions about the
legality of any act, we encourage everyone receiving this (or the)
action alert(s) to check your local laws and ordinances before
proceeding to do anything.

PETITIONS TO SIGN!

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/2/encouraging-letter-to-the-angels-of-the-sea-sea-shepherds
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/2/cIRCUS-ANIMALS-FREE
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/no-bullfighting-in-las-vegas-non-la-corrida-las-vegas
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/MARS-tests-animals
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/boycott-MARS-candy
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/outrageous-killing

Battery farm for tigers: The 1, 400 big cats whose body parts are prized on the black market

In the wild, they prowl across hundreds of miles of jungle.
In contrast, these tigers share the wretched experience of battery hens.
Here in South-East China, hundreds of the endangered animals are crampedin tiny pens - and are slowly starved to death, say critics.
The reason, it is said, is that they are worth more dead than alive.
The Xiongsen Bear and Tiger Park is home to 1,400 tigers - more than livewild in India.
Full story:http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-494841/Battery-farm-tigers-The-1-400-big-cats-body-parts-prized-black-market.html

OPERATION: IX3 (Institutional Investor Insanity)

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED

On July 10, 2008, Win Animal Rights, launched Operation: IX3
(Institutional Investor Insanity) targeting those companies that were
unknowingly profitting off of the blood and suffering of innocent
animals by investing in Huntingdon Life Sciences (trading on the NYSE
Arca exchange under ticker symbol LSR).

In our initial announcement, we forecast "massive headaches and losses"
for investors and we were right! In the past 13 months, many of LSR's
institutional investors were targeted by an aggressive campaign that
included hundreds of street demonstrations at both offices and
residences. We have watched as one after another of their investors
dumped their shares and LSR's price plummeted. The final investor to
drop was Morgan Stanley, which dumped over 675,000 shares at one time. A
combination of events forced LSR to accept their only option for
possible survival, an offer to take the company private by the notorious
and despicable Andrew Baker.

Consequently, we are pleased to announce the successful closure of
Operation: IX3 with a MISSION ACCOMPLISHED.

Check out our final campaign report here:

http://war-online.org/Alert_IX3-Final.htm


This week we will be focusing on Huntingdon Life Sciences' Top Customers
as we participate in a global week of action culminating in a protest on
Sunday at the home of HLS CEO Andrew Baker. Details will be announced
later today. Next week, we will be launching a new operation. Stay
tuned for details and new web pages.

HLS/Baker Protest
Date: Sunday, August 30, 2009 @ 4:00 pm
Where: 279 Central Park West (W. 88th St.)
New York City


Coming events: Mark your calendars now!

August 24 - 30: HLS Top Customer Week of Action
September 14 - 20: Max Mara Anti-Fur Week of Action
September 24 - 27: Escada Anti-Fur Week of Action

Visit the WAR Calendar for future events:
http://calendar.yahoo.com/winanimalrights

Visit the WAR MySpace page: http://www.myspace.com/winanimalrights

Visit WAR on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Win-Animal-Rights/25169195791


For more info contact Win Animal Rights at: winanimalrights@optonline.net

Call: 646.267.9934 or visit the WAR website at: http://war-online.org


W.A.R. (WIN ANIMAL RIGHTS) is an independent non-profit organization not
affiliated or associated with SHAC, SHAC USA or any other group or
organization and does not conduct or incite any illegal activity. The
above information is not meant to incite or request any illegal actions
or illegal activities of any kind. If you have any questions about the
legality of any act, we encourage everyone receiving this (or the)
action alert(s) to check your local laws and ordinances before
proceeding to do anything.

(UK) Vegan prisoners win right to 'cruelty free' products in jail

Vegan prisoners have won the right to order ethically-sourced food,
toiletries and cosmetics in jail.
...
They will be allowed to buy in products including nuts, seeds, dried
fruits, vegan chocolate bars, soap, shampoo, deodorant, sunscreen,
lipstick and facial scrubs after prison chiefs agreed to allow them to
place mail order requests to two “eco-outlets”.

Vegans refuse to eat any food, wear any clothes or use any product
which involves the use of animals in any way. They don’t wear wool and
leather, don’t consume dairy products and will not use toiletries or
cosmetics that contain animal products or that have been tested on
animals.

Some of the strictest vegans avoid all products with even a remote
connection to animal exploitation, including sugar processed with
animal bones and camera film that contains gelatin.

There are an estimated 800 in the prison population at any one time
and they currently struggle to obtain products they find acceptable,
with most jail canteen food and even prison-issue boots excluded.

--
full story:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/lawandorder/6081670/Vegan-prisoners-win-right-to-cruelty-free-products-in-jail.html

SPCA busts East Germantown dog-fighting ring

Officers from the Pennsylvania SPCA yesterday uncovered a dog-fighting
ring at an East Germantown house and rescued several badly injured pit
bulls found there.

Following a tip to an animal-cruelty hotline, the officers discovered
two dead dogs and five others at the house, in the 200 block of East
Bringhurst Street.

Three men, including the property owner and the alleged ringleader,
face charges.

The bust came 10 days after the Philadelphia Eagles signed quarterback
Michael Vick, who served 18 months in federal prison for running a
dog-fighting operation. He has pledged to speak out on the issue,
casting a spotlight on the problem of dog-fighting in the city.

Today, the Eagles plan to hold a summit of area animal-welfare groups
at the NovaCare Complex, the team's South Philadelphia training
facility. Vick is not expected to attend.

--
full story:
http://www.philly.com/inquirer/local/pa/20090824_SPCA_busts_East_Germantown_dog-fighting_ring.html

Lee County NC (now near Chapel Hill) - Dog survives fire then scheduled to be PTS - in temp foster, needs rescue

“Prince” is a 25 pound beagle mix, appx. 3 years old, who has had TWO near death experiences in one week, and is anxious for the safety and comfort of a kind home.
Prince’s person was injured and sent to a hospital over a week ago. While he was there, his house lost caught fire. Sadly, Prince’s brother did not make it. Then, local animal control picked up Prince from the yard and scheduled this sweetheart to be PTS in less than one week, despite the unusual circumstances. The Triangle Red Cross and Bayou Rescue worked to save Prince from his second brush with death, but now Prince must find a foster or forever home. (His owner has asked that we find him a good home).
Prince is a gentle soul who loves people of all ages and abilities, and he seeks out attention in a calm manner. He is happiest when meeting new friends (which is everyone). Prince is very friendly with other dogs, and even had some feline friends at his last home, so he’d be an easy fit into a caring home.
Prince is now UTD on all vaccinations, and will be neutered this week.
He is learning the many facets of indoor life, including preferred potty places, but learns quickly because he is SO EAGER TO PLEASE. Prince is much more touch motivated than food motivated, and responds well to verbal praise. He is still a bit unsure of his place in the world after all the events of the week, but still manages an eager tail wag every time he gets to meet someone new (he's been taken several places this weekend). If you have just a bit of time & TLC to invest in “Prince,” he promises to treat you and your family like royalty.
Many of his special qualities also make him a good candidate for work as a therapy dog once he has basic training under his 'belt.' Even now he's not even phased by wheelchairs - "HEY! may I have permission to sit with you?" And he just wants human contact - - and did I mention he seeks it out in the most gentle manner, from everyone??
If you can offer Prince a safe haven as a foster organization, or would like to adopt Prince, please contact Bayou Rescue at 919-260-5992 or email: ambera@bayourescue.org ( @ bayourescue.org)


Amber Alsobrooks
BAYOU RESCUE
Ready. Respond. Reunite.
A non-profit organization providing disaster relief and rescue response for animals and their caretakers, locally and nationally.


WEB: www.bayourescue.org

BLOG: www.bayourescue.typepad.com

LA,CA- 20y.o cat dumped at the shelter!Please help!!!

crossposting only. this is completely unacceptable. i've networked a lot of seniors but 20 yrs. is the oldest, cat or dog, in 2.5 years.. CONTACT: E. Valley Shelter 818.756.9323

Impound # A1057146
WHY??!! would someone do this?! PLEASE Read! (east valley shelter)
I am a private recuer, I look on the "death row" listings constantly in an attempt to post and help people animals connect to save the animals' lives. WELL, when I was on there I saw this sad, sad tragic cat. Her name is Notbobbi and she is guestimated to be almost 20 years old. They say she is healthy, and SOMEONE dumped her HERE, to be KILLED at this time in her life. Someone was SELFISH enough to not even keep and take care of her, to pay $25 to have SOMEONE ELSE just KILL HER and get her out of their "hair." At her age, she has got to be the easiest thing to take care of, just sleeping all day, and wanting some belly rubs and some love.. THIS IS GUTWRENCHING! Even if notbobbi's owner passed away, WHY WOULD SOMEONE put a mature cat like this in a shelter where SHE IS GOING TO BE KILLED BY SOMEONE THAT DOESNT CARE ABOUT HER? She has no site of anyone she THOUGHT LOVED HER, and she is seemingly healthy. THIS KILLS ME. It is so disgusting and undignified, and the worst thing any owner could ever do! It makes me cry and breaks my heart. Notbobbi's ID # is 1057146 and East Valley's phone number is: (818) 756-9323---and address is:--14409 Vanowen St, Van Nuys CA 91405 I just want to know if there is ANYONE out there that want to let this older lady live out her last years in comfort, and not only have a FEW DAYS TO LIVE IN TERROR. WOULD WE KILL a senior citizen? I always see these city vans that have the "stop senior abuse sticker" and ironically, it's teh same city that's going to kill this senior kitty cat. *JUST LOOK AT HER! SHE IS TERRIFIED! The misery IS DEEPLY ENGRAVED IN HER FACIAL EXPRESSION.....AND THIS IS A SICK, SICK SHAME!* if you have ANY way to help her, please do!

Florida manatees aren't faring too well this year, according to state mortality counts.

While it's too early to tell whether the mortality rate will reach or surpass the 2006 record of 417 deaths in one year, as of Aug. 14 researchers accounted for 324 dead manatees discovered in Florida waters. The deaths surpass the number of manatee deaths during the same time period for every year since 2004.

In January, an annual aerial survey of manatees determined at least 3,807 manatees swim in Florida waters.

According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, 67 manatees died this year from water craft injuries, five from flood gate or lock injuries, five from other human causes, 88 from perinatal causes, 53 from cold stress, 22 from various natural causes, seven verified but unrecoverable carcasses, 67 from undetermined causes and 10 from "undetermined, other" causes.

Lee County remains an epicenter for manatee mortalities. Eighty-eight of the dead manatees this year were recovered from Lee County waters. This year, Charlotte County waters has seen seven manatee deaths to date, while Sarasota County is listed as having nine deaths to date.

From January 1975 to March 2009, 1,205 manatees died in Lee County. During the same time span, 290 died in Charlotte and 212 died in Sarasota County waters.

The perinatal mortalities refer to deaths of immature manatees. Those numbers are running high, too.

In June, the 3.5-foot carcass of a baby manatee, no more than a week or two old, was discovered in an Overbrook Gardens canal in Englewood. The dead manatee bore no prop wounds or other visible causes of death. After a necropsy performed on the manatee, scientists still couldn't determine the exact cause of death because the carcass was too decomposed. However, none of the infant manatee's bones were broken nor did it show any other signs of sustaining severe trauma before its death.

Why the number for perinatal deaths this year is so high remains a question for scientists, said Martine deWit, a researcher with the institute's pathology laboratory. The deaths may be a result of the cold stress, due to harsh cold days this past winter and drops in water temperatures. Manatee birth rates could also be a factor.

"We don't know," deWit said.

With the 20 percent of deaths due water craft injuries, the numbers tend to jump after holiday weekends, deWit said. After a holiday, more dead manatees show up at the pathology lab in St. Petersburg.


For more information on manatees and other marine life research, visit the Florida Fish and Wildlife Research Institute Web site at http://research.myfwc.com/.


E-mail: reilly@sun-herald.com


By STEVE REILLY

Staff Writer
(http://www.sunnewspapers.net/articles/pnnews.aspx?NewsID=443004&a=newsarchive2/082209/tp1ch3.htm&pnpg=0)

Police clear animal rights protestors from Boehringer again

Animal rights protesters occupied the site of a planned animal
experimentation centre in Hannover again on Saturday, prompting the
police to temporarily arrest 16 people.

The protestors are trying to stop plans by German pharmaceutical
company Boehringer Ingelheim to build a European centre for research
on animal vaccines on the site.

Local residents are also opposed to the idea, which would create space
for 1,000 pigs for use in the vaccine tests, citing concerns about
safety and possible smells.

--
full story:
http://www.thelocal.de/society/20090823-21435.html

Protest planned at S.L. McDonald's

The Pretenders lead singer Chrissie Hynde is taking some time off from
her world tour Monday to put her animal-rights sentiments to music.

Hynde will kick off a national advertising campaign in front of a
McDonald's in downtown Salt Lake City, protesting the fast-food
chain's slaughter practices. The singer developed the campaign, titled
"i'm hatin' it," in conjunction with People for the Ethical Treatment
of Animals.

--
full story:
http://www.deseretnews.com/article/705325329/Protest-planned-at-SL-McDonalds.html

Stolen dogs found in Peru medical school lab

Lima: At least two stolen dogs were found in an operating room used
for dissections at the medical school of South America's oldest
university, but its dean denied relying on dognappers to collect
specimens for classes.

The University of San Marcos does not have access to enough human
cadavers for its students, so they sometimes cut open dogs instead.

Carmen Valverde's dog Tomas was stolen by two men while she was
walking in the working-class Brena district of Lima, and a friend who
works at the school's teaching hospital spotted him by chance in a
surgery room where dogs are dissected.

--
full story:
http://www.kolkatamirror.com/index.aspx?page=article§id=75&contentid=2009082220090822153657461f3eff31§xslt=

No monkey business: Thailand launches primate birth control

By Noppawan Bunluesilp

LOPBURI, Thailand (Reuters Life!) - Thailand is trying to limit the
number of monkeys that roam freely in the town of Lopburi after
residents complained the primate tourist attractions are becoming more
annoying, and aggressive.

About 2,500 macaques live in close proximity to the people of Lopburi,
north of Bangkok, scrambling around its famous, ancient Hindu-Buddhist
shrine and Khmer-style pagodas as well as homes and the local market.

The monkeys often snatch bags away from passers-by, and even enter
homes to steal food and play. Barbed wire and iron fences are a common
sight on buildings to deter them.

For years, residents have tolerated the animals, but the monkey
population is growing rapidly and intensifying the battle with humans
for food and living space.

Veterinarians, who are sterilizing male monkeys, say this will benefit
the macaques, not just the people.

"There is not enough food or homes for monkeys," said veterinarian
Juthamas Sumanam. "If their numbers increase, people will be in
trouble as well as the monkeys."

Every day, a team of vets marches into alleyways, armed with candy
bags to tempt the monkeys, who are then captured and operated on.

At least half of the 1,500 male macaques are expected to be sterilized
as part of the program. Male monkeys can mate 10 times a day and
females can give birth twice a year.

The sterilization procedure takes around half an hour. The monkeys are
released back into their concrete jungle the next day, after they have
recovered.

Last year, the primates gave birth to 500 babies. Veterinarians are
aiming for a maximum of 300 from now on.

But while the monkeys can often be an annoyance, not everyone in
Lopburi, which thousands of visitors a year come to partly to see the
animals, agrees with the program.

"The main attraction in Lopburi is monkeys. The tourists only come
here to see monkeys. Only a few of them come here to see the ancient
shrine," said temple worker Saksit Saepoo.

Macaques can live up to 35 years.

(Editing by Miral Fahmy)
Full story:http://www.reuters.com/article/lifestyleMolt/idUSTRE57K0TO20090821

DINO THE DALMATION LOST HIS HOME

PLEASE HELP THIS SWEET DOG.


He loves everyone even cats. If you are interested in giving Dino his forever or foster home please email immediately VeRoTiKaXo@aol.com (@aol.com) Dino looks forward to meeting you

Subject: DINO/DALMATION, LIVING IN A GARAGE, NMY- HELP,WILL TRANSPORT-URGENT


THIS POOR DOG IS IVING IN A GARAGE. PLEASE SEE THE EMAIL INFO AND INFO ON HIM IS HERE - HES YOUNG AND SO SWEET. HELP.

Dino The Dalmation Lost his Home

Dino's owner could no longer care for him .So we took him in so he did not end up at the kill shelter. So for now he is staying in a garage till he finds his forever home but we would like to put him into a foster or adoptive home..Dino is 9 months old he is a very sweet and calm .He walks good on the leash. He is houstrained. He loves everyone even cats. If you are interested in giving Dino his forever or foster home please email immediately VeRoTiKaXo@aol.com or reply to this email. Dino looks forward to meeting you.

DEMAND JUSTICE FOR DOG TORTURED AND KILLED BY OWNER!

PLEASE SHOW THE PHOTO OF THIS DISGUSTING CRIMINAL TO HEAVENS & EARTH!

http://fortheloveofthedogblog.com/news-updates/demand-justice-for-dog-tortured-and-killed-by-owner-petition

Demand Justice for Dog Tortured and Killed by Owner - PETITION
Finally Some Media Coverage and IMPORTANT-Charges Can be Upgraded, Must Contact County Attorney ASAP!!

Mr. Robert Suttles, Somerset, KY, has demonstrated a total disregard for the life and health of his devoted canine companion "Bowser." 911 (Sheriff's Department) has been called in the past to the home of Mr. Suttles where neighbors had observed that he refused to give his dog the basics for sustenance: food and water. Emergency personnel would not seize the dog "since no ribs were showing." On other occasions they refused to respond to the 911 calls.

In retaliation for the neighbors' calls, on June 30, 2009, Mr. Suttles demonstrated his "dominance" over this animal. Boasting of his ability to treat his own dog as he liked, he proceeded to pour antifreeze onto bread and to stuff this deadly concoction in Bowser's mouth, holding the mouth closed so that Bowser could not spit it out and had to swallow it. Mr. Suttles performed this act of cruelty in front of neighbors and other witnesses. Death from antifreeze poisoning is one of the cruelest deaths.

Bowser was unable to regain standing position after this poisoning as he was in severe pain from the deadly food. Mr. Suttles left Bowser outside in pain for two full days (no food, water, meds, comfort) until he went outside to Bowser, kicked him viciously in the head until Bowser finally died. At this point, on July 2, 2009, he dragged the lifeless body across his yard to a burn barrel and proceeded to burn Bowser's body that night, leaving no opportunity for necropsy. But there were witnesses to his vile and heinous acts. Witnesses who are willing to testify to his heinous acts.

On July 20, 2009, charges against Mr. Suttles were finally filed. He has been charged with second degree animal cruelty and harassment and a $7,500 bail has been set. Mr. Suttles tried to plead to lesser charges but Judge Woods set trial for Monday, August 28, 2009, at a time to be determined later, in order for the DA to interview witnesses and gather facts.

On the night of the burning of the body, the Sheriff was called to Mr. Suttles, but made himself unavailable to help.

This is not the first time that Mr. Suttles has been involved in documented cruelty to animals. He has bragged about killing another dog in March 2009. And he has been seen throwing food (laced with antifreeze?) over another neighbor's fence to her goats.

Somerset KY has experienced many unexplained deaths of domestic animals by antifreeze poisoning and other means. It has been suggested that Mr. Suttles may be behind those acts as well, but we do not have evidence to support that at this time.

Somerset KY is a nice community with good neighbors who love and care for their domestic animals. If "Bowser," a beautiful black lab mix, had become a burden to Mr. Suttles, he could have surrendered Bowser to the Humane Society for rehoming. Instead, he willingly and viciously killed his own dog in a most horrendous way, with witnesses around who were unable to stop him or get the law to arrest him at the time of the assault.

It is time to get justice for Bowser! Please read below and then sign the petition. The petition will be sent to the Judge and DA on the Friday before the trial.

ACTION REQUESTED

Urge the District Attorney for Pulaski County, KY (Somerset) to prosecute Defendant Mr. Robert Suttles, Somerset, KY, for the maximum charges allowable by law as a result of his egregious acts of animal cruelty and harassment against his dog Bowzer.

Urge Judge Woods (or the sitting judge for the trial) to find Mr. Robert Suttles "Guilty" (Note from Deanna: I believe this may be a jury trial from information I found researching this) on all counts of animal cruelty charged against him and to sentence him to the fullest amount of time for such charges. Urge Judge Woods to require that he complete at least 75% of his sentence in jail, that the remainder of the sentence be community service to a NON-animal related agency (you can't trust him around animals), and bar him from forever owning a domestic animal again (dog, cat, etc.) Any other animals in the home shall be surrendered to the Pulaski County Humane Society for the purpose of rehoming in a loving home. Finally, Mr. Suttles should be required to reimburse the Pulaski County Humane Society $xxx.xx for the care given to Bowser before his death. If any expenses have already been donated by the public, Mr. Suttles should still be fined at least $1,500, with the monies going to the Humane Society for the purpose of helping document and obtain veterinary and humane care, for future cases of cruelty.

In light of recent notorious cases such as the Michael Vick dogfighting case, we in Pulaski County need to send a clear message to our residents and other residents of Kentucky that such acts of cruelty will not be tolerated and will be fully pursued and prosecuted.

We appreciate your time in reading this petition and again we urge you to send a clear message of justice on behalf of the late Bowser.

Thank you.
Signed by:
Concerned Citizens of Somerset, KY, Pulaski County
Concerned Animal Advocates of Kentucky, Tennessee, and other states
The Pulaski County Humane Society

Please write, call, fax, or email the public officials in Pulaski County and give them your opinion on this case. As always, we ask that you be polite and stick to the facts. Hysteria and cursing (or worse!) will only harm our cause. You don't need to write a long letter. Just let the DA and Judge know that the citizens of Pulaski County will no longer tolerate a "slap on the wrist" to perpetrators of animal cruelty. See below.

CONTACT INFO
District Judge Katie Wood
402 Grande Avenue
Somerset, KY 42501
Phone: 606-219-5783

William Thompson
County Attorney
104 North Main Street
Somerset KY 42501
Phone: 606-679-4449
Fax: 606-678-2635

Pulaski County Judge Executive
Barty Bullock
P.O. Box 712
Somerset, KY 42502
606-678-4853 - phone
606-679-8642 - fax

Sheriff Todd Wood
Pulaski County Sheriff's Department
P.O. Box 752
Somerset, KY 42502
Phone: (606) 678-5145
Fax (606) 679-3119
info@pulaskisheriff.com

The information above came directly from the petition which you can sign HERE. Oddly enough I could find no media coverage of this horrendous crime but as the petition is sponsored in part by the humane society and the trial is on the docket, I will accept the facts as laid out.

This dog was routinely starved, then poisoned and kicked to death then had his tortured body burned to try to hide the crime! There is no excuse for the suffering inflicted on this innocent creature!! We must demand justice!!!

What this waste of human life did was to cruelly torture this poor dog in a vicious power play, taunt and harass his neighbors and witnesses and someone almost get away with this crime!! He needs to be punished severely and there needs to be justice for Bowser, tortured and killed for no reason except for some POS to play his power game.

Please, I ask that you not only sign the petition but to call and write!! This is one dangerous psychopath and if he's on the streets, his neighbors fear retribution as do the witnesses who are scared but willing to set that fear aside and testify to try to get justice for "just a dog" against a bully!!

Help to get the word out and share this with anyone who has a heart and cares!! Only through our action can we make a difference!!

Again, here's the PETITION!

UPDATE 8/20/09 - IMPORTANT!!!
Finally some media coverage of this horrific crime!

Now for the important part; the charges for this crime can be upgraded to a Class D Felony under Romero's Law!! For some reason the County Attorney wants to leave it a 2nd Degree Misdemeanor. No Way!! I don't think so!! There is no way you can know the details of this and not see it as the torture that it is.

Please, please, please. keep in mind that time is short.

Contact County Attorney (Bill Thompson) or the Assistant County Attorney (Dan Thompson - Bill's brother) to refer this case to the Commonwealth Attorney (Eddie Montgomery) for prosecution as a Class D felony under Romeo's Law.

County Attorney's office
PO Box 5
Somerset, KY 42502-0005.
Phone at: (606) 679-4449 or (606) 679-4440.