Lucky Dies at 23

The world's oldest sheep has died in Australia at the age of 23 -
twice the normal life expectancy - after succumbing to a record
heatwave.
Lucky hit the Guinness record in 2007 and was a celebrity in her
hometown of Lake Bolac, near Melbourne.
The ewe had died on Monday at the farm where she had been found as a
little lamb, her owner Delrae Westgarth said.
Lucky was hand-reared from birth after being abandoned by her mother.
She went on to have 35 offspring of her own.
"She used to come and howl at the back gate, torment the dogs and that
sort of thing," Mrs Westgarth told public broadcaster ABC.
Lucky, a Polwarth-Dorchester cross, succumbed to a weeklong heatwave,
as temperatures soared above 30C (86F).
"We brought her into the shed where she was reared and put air
conditioners on her," Mrs Westgarth said, but she did not survive.
Lucky - who became toothless and arthritic in her old age - had been
buried under her favourite nectarine tree, Mrs Westgarth added.
A copy of her Guinness World Record certificate is on the wall of Lake
Bolac's tourist information centre, which carries Lucky postcards,
bookmarks and wool samples for sale, the Melbourne Herald-Sun reports.

AAP Primadomus opens in Spain

Almere/Villena, 25 November 2009 – The Dutch AAP Foundation officially opened a new rescue centre in Spain called AAP Primadomus. Dr. Jane Goodall, a campaigner for chimpanzees hosted the opening ceremony, with several guests attending from all over Europe. Primadomus is situated in the city of Villena, approximately fifty kilometers West of Alicante.

With the opening of the Primadomus rescue centre, AAP aims to increase its support for government institutions throughout Europe and assist in enforcing animal welfare laws. AAP has been looking forward to opening AAP Primadomus for a long time. After years of building and preparation, the rescue centre will offer a permanent residence for chimpanzees and other primates that have no place else to go.

Hundreds of primates and other exotic mammals throughout Europe are living in appalling circumstances. Every year, a lot of Barbary Macaques are illegally transported from Morocco to European households and many chimpanzees are still exploited by circuses. AAP cooperates with government institutions and other animal welfare organizations, assisting in the rescue of these animals. AAP’s rescue center in Almere, the Netherlands, does not provide enough space to house all the animals that need shelter. Furthermore, once the animals at AAP have been resocialised, it is not always possible to find suitable outplacement addresses such as renowned zoos or sanctuaries. The opening of Primadomus gives AAP extra possibilities to give discarded monkeys a permanent home.

Among the speakers at the opening ceremony were Dr. Jane Goodall, who revealed a commemorative plaque in celebration of the opening of Primadomus, the mayor of Villena, Celia Lledó, David van Gennep, director of AAP Foundation and Olga Martin, director of the project in Spain. The deputy mayor of Villena was presented with a commemorative plaque to mark the opening of a natural education centre just outside AAP Primadomus. The guests also had a chance to see how the ten ‘Donkey’s group’ chimpanzees enjoying their new environment. The guests at the opening included some of AAP’s financial donors and representatives of other animal organizations such as IFAW and WSPA.

Earlier this month, ten chimpanzees known as ‘Donkey’s group’ were the first inhabitants to move to Primadomus. These chimps were rescued from circuses, unscrupulous zoos and private owners. In AAP Primadomus, they can enjoy the peace and space that this beautiful centre has to offer. Situated at the foot of the Sierra de Salinas mountains, Primadomus will eventually offer permanent housing to approximately 150 animals from around Europe. A large part of the terrain will remain a nature reserve.

http://aap.nl/english/index.php

Coalition of Animal Sanctuaries Craft Policy Statement on Urban Chicken-Keeping

Animal Activists Urged to Present This Policy Statement to Their
Municipalities

A coalition of animal sanctuaries involved in the direct care of unwanted
chickens in the United States has formulated recommendations regarding the
recent trend in backyard chicken-keeping. As the popularity of raising
backyard flocks has grown, our shelters have become inundated with calls to
take in unwanted chickens. In addition, we understand many communities are
now besieged with requests to legally regulate the keeping of backyard
flocks.

Recognizing the importance of this issue, we developed the following
Position Statement. If you live in a municipality that allows urban
"backyard" chicken-keeping already or is considering an Ordinance to
allow the keeping of chickens, please provide this Position Statement to
your local Animal Control, City Council, and Mayor. Please use the
information in it to write letters to the editor of your local newspapers
and respond to media coverage about the trend in urban/suburban backyard
chicken-keeping.

But first, please read and consider the issues raised in our Position
Statement and consider the reasons we give for encouraging your
municipality to resist becoming zoned for chicken-keeping. If zoning is
already in place, we urge your municipality to establish and enforce strict
requirements designed to protect both the birds, and your community, from
serious problems that will, quite predictably, otherwise result. Thank you.

===========================================================================

Collective Position Statement on Backyard Poultry

Click here for PDF: [http://www.upc-online.org/chickens/backyard_poultry.pdf]

Background

In the past year, shelters and sanctuaries in urban and suburban areas
have witnessed a dramatic increase in the intake of chickens, particularly
roosters. Hatcheries producing day-old chicks for shipment to feed stores
and individuals are backlogged with orders. The desire to raise poultry can
be linked to organic backyard farming as well as a desire to have direct
access to food (eggs and, in some cases, meat).

As a coalition of animal sanctuaries interested in the welfare of hens
and roosters, we have created this position statement on the keeping and
raising of chickens. All of us have been inundated with calls to take in
hens and roosters who are a) no longer wanted; b) not the correct sex; c)
not legally permissible. As organizations with limited resources and space,
it is no longer feasible to take in even a small percentage of these
unwanted animals. Even with placement assistance, most of these chickens,
particularly roosters, do not find permanent placement. This leaves
municipal dog and cat shelters the task of taking in, housing, feeding,
caring for, and inevitably killing healthy, adoptable chickens.

Problems associated with urban backyard flocks

Hatcheries are like puppy mills: When animals are reduced to
commodities, their best interests are pushed aside in favor of profit.
Hatcheries that produce chicks for backyard flocks treat chickens and their
offspring in much the same way puppy mills treat breeding dogs and their
puppies. There are no legal requirements dictating how breeding hens and
roosters are housed, meaning they may be crammed into small cages or sheds
without outdoor access.

Shipping day-old chicks is cruel: Most chickens purchased are bought from
hatcheries or feed stores (these chicks originate from hatcheries).
Hatcheries ship day-old birds through the postal service without any legal
oversight. Young chickens are deprived of food and water for up to 72 hours
and exposed to extremes in temperature. As Dr. Jean Cypher, a veterinarian
specializing in avian medicine states, "A day-old chick can no more
withstand three days in a dark crowded box than can any other newborn."
Other experts in avian medicine and behavior agree that transporting
day-old chicks in boxes for the first 24-72 hours of life is cruel and
medically detrimental to the birds. See, for example:
[http://www.upc-online.org/transport/71408shippingbirds.html].

Chicken sexing is more art than science: Using data collected from
sanctuaries and rescues that field calls daily about unwanted chickens, we
estimate between 20-50% of purchased "hens" are actually roosters.
Depending on breed, visually identifying a rooster can take weeks to
months.

Roosters may be unwanted and are often illegal: Male chickens are
generally unwanted for two reasons: They don't produce eggs and they are
rarely legal in urban or suburban settings. Hatcheries may use rooster
chicks as packing material, regardless of whether they were ordered. Most
incorporated or urban regions that do permit chickens only allow hens, not
roosters. Unwanted roosters may be abandoned to the streets, slaughtered,
or end up in a municipal shelter to be killed. Very few find their way into
a permanent home or sanctuary.

Chickens attract rodents: Even the cleanest coop is attractive to rats
and mice who enjoy the free bedding (straw and shavings) and food. Rodents
are generally viewed as pests and their presence is unwanted by chicken
owners and neighbors.

Lack of professional medical care: Avian medicine has made progress but
there are few vets specialized in the treatment and care of birds.
Veterinarians who do treat poultry are often expensive, with the average
vet visit starting at a minimum of $100.

Concerns with new ordinances allowing backyard poultry

Enforcement costs: Municipal shelters run on a tight budget dealing with
animal cruelty cases, dangerous dog calls, and the normal day to day
operation of their facilities. Adding an extra burden, like enforcing
chicken licensing laws and related complaints, is unwise amidst current
economic concerns.

Slaughter: The average chicken guardian is ill-equipped to "properly"
stun and kill a chicken. Further, slaughtering can be traumatic for
neighbors, including impressionable children. If chickens are to be
permitted in urban areas, they must be protected from cruel mistreatment as
much as "traditional" companion animals like dogs or cats, including a
ban on slaughtering them for consumption.

Roosters will be killed: Creating new ordinances permitting chickens
creates a market for killing 50% of all chicks born in hatcheries. Urban
and suburban areas considering chickens generally ban roosters, yet male
chickens comprise half of all chicks born. Hatcheries mail roosters as
packing material, and sexing of chickens is more art than science (see
above). When residents purchase chicks from hatcheries or feedstores and
end up with roosters, they will be put in the position of having to rehome
the bird(s). Most roosters are not rehomed and end up abandoned or dumped
at shelters, where they are invariably killed.

Suggestions if you are considering a backyard flock

Make sure it's legal: If you live in an unincorporated area, contact
your planning department and ask about the zoning requirements regarding
poultry. If you live in an incorporated region, contact the city clerk for
information on ordinances regarding chickens. Adopt: Avoid the cruelties of
the hatcheries by adopting birds already in existence who need homes. Check
out [http://www.petfinder.org] for animals available at your local shelter. Visit [http://www.sanctuaries.org] or [http://www.farmanimalshelters.org] and
contact a sanctuary near you about adopting birds. If they do not have
birds, do not give up. Sanctuaries and rescues receive inquiries daily
regarding animals needing homes - ask that you be contacted if one of these
calls occurs.

Do your research: Chickens can be wonderful companions. While they are
relatively easy to maintain, they do have special needs. Be sure to
research housing, predator proofing, diet, and medical needs. Some things
to be aware of:

- Some breeds of chickens are cold-sensitive: Hens and roosters with large
single combs are prone to frost-bite in cooler climates. Make sure adequate
housing accommodates birds in both cool and hot temperatures.

- Predator protection is vital: Chickens should be locked up at night in a
safe enclosure that prevents access by all predators, including dogs,
raccoons, aerial predators, rats, cats, wild canines, weasels, etc. During
the day, animals should be housed in a fully-fenced enclosure or yard with
proper protection from aerial, day-time predators and neighborhood dogs
and, in the case of small bantams, large domestic free-roaming cats.

- Veterinary care is critical: Avian medicine is still considered an
"exotic" practice and, as such, is more expensive. A one-time visit may
start at $100. Nevertheless, before considering housing chickens, it is
imperative that they have access to veterinary care.

Supporting Organizations

- Animal Place - http://www.animalplace.org



- Chicken Run Rescue - http://www.brittonclouse.com/chickenrunrescue/





]

- Chocowinity Chicken Sanctuary - http://www.chocochickensanctuary.org/
- Eastern Shore Sanctuary and Education Center - http://www.bravebirds.org

- Farm Sanctuary - http://www.farmsanctuary.org/
- Sunny Skies Bird and Animal Sanctuary - http://www.sunnyskiesbirdsanctuary.org/

- http://www.upc-online.org/ United Poultry Concerns
(Chicken Care: http://www.upc-online.org/chickens/
--
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]

View online: http://www.upc-online.org/chickens/backyard_poultry.html

Hanson sentencing set for Friday

Sentencing is set Friday for a man who fled the area after being
convicted of animal cruelty more than three years ago.

William Henry Hanson, 45, is scheduled to appear in Baxter County
District Court at 10 a.m. Friday, court officials said. He will be
sentenced on 20 misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty and will be
arraigned on a failure to appear charge.

Hanson, along with his wife, Tammy, 43, were convicted of the animal
cruelty charges more than three years ago and fled before sentencing.
The two had operated the Every Dog Needs a Home pet sanctuary at
Gamaliel, where authorities found more than 400 dogs in unsanitary
conditions.

William Hanson returned to Baxter County on Friday, after authorities
brought him back from Johnson County, Mo. He was extradited after
Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon signed a misdemeanor governor's warrant
ordering him to return to Arkansas.

--
full story:
http://www.baxterbulletin.com/article/20091117/NEWS01/911170331

Judge Scolds Ranch Owner, Sends Cops To Property

PITTSBURGH -- Sentencing for the owner of a Western Pennsylvania animal sanctuary where nearly 250 cats were seized by animal welfare agents has been delayed.

Linda Bruno had hundreds of cats at her 29-acre Tiger Ranch Farm, about 20 miles northwest of Pittsburgh. However, officials said many were sick, dying or dead.

Bruno was set to be sentenced Monday, but has been pushed back until Dec. 4 pending a psychiatric evaluation. The evaluation, the judge said, was supposed to be completed before today's court date.

The judge also scolded Bruno for being around animals when a condition of bail said "no contact." He threatened to revoke bail and ordered deputies to the property of Tiger Ranch to see if cats are in buildings.

Feral cats are OK, but not in buildings, the judge said.

The judge still heard testimony from witnesses on Monday since they were already at the courthouse.

Two animal control people testified, including Kathy Hecker. The workers talked about what they saw at the facility and the number of cats there.

Bruno was arrested in March 2008 and pleaded guilty earlier this year to 12 animal cruelty charges and two counts of tampering. Prosecutors withdrew more than 500 other charges.

The 240 cats were made available for adoption at the Clarion County branch of the Pennsylvania Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in Shippenville.
Full article,pictures and video:http://www.wpxi.com/news/21204577/detail.html

Elephants roam free in Middle Tennessee sanctuary

By Cindy Wolff (Contact), Memphis Commercial Appeal
Sunday, October 4, 2009

OHENWALD, Tenn. — Most of the locals haven't heard the trumpeting or seen the massive animals that can stand 12 feet tall and weigh thousands of pounds.


Karen Pulfer Focht/The Commercial Appeal

Elephants live at the Elephant Sanctuary with a high standard of care, a compatible herd and lush vegetation to accommodate their needs. The sanctuary provides a healthy environment for the elephants' needs and physical space they require on 2,700 acres in Lewis County. This is Lizzy, Billie and Freida.

Pals Tarra the elephant and Bella romp free at the Elephant Sanctuary in Middle Tennessee.

Freida, age 49, roams through a treeline at the Elephant Sanctuary outside Hohenwald, Tenn. It is the nation's largest natural-habitat refuge developed specifically to meet the needs of endangered and aging elephants.Karen Pulfer
Here in Hohenwald, a small city outside Nashville with a population of about 3,800, residents know world-famous elephants roam just outside of town.

But that's all they know.

There are no signs with elephants on them. No arrow directs tourists. No vista offers a view of the majestic herds of elephants living free in Tennessee.

But 15 elephants are tucked deep into 2,700 acres in Lewis County, which is named after famous explorer Meriwether Lewis, who is buried there.

"People who come through here want to know about the elephants," 70-year-old James Cotton said, sitting at a table at Nick's Main Street Market, where locals gather to drink coffee and catch up.

"My wife works at the bank and people call there all the time from everywhere," Cotton said. "This couple called from New York. She told them it wasn't open for visitors, but they came to town anyway. You can't see them (the elephants) off any road. All they probably saw were trees."

And that's how co-founders Carol Buckley and Scott Blais intended it.

A CBS News story earlier this year, which became a popular clip on YouTube, spotlighted an unlikely pair of friends at the sanctuary, an elephant and a dog. The story caused a stampede of attention worldwide for the sanctuary, located about 160 miles east of Memphis.

Fourteen years ago, Buckley and Blais who worked together with Tarra Productions, a company Buckley founded for her elephant Tarra, decided to dedicate their lives to providing sanctuary for sick, elderly and needy elephants. They started with about 200 acres outside Hohenwald and have steadily increased in size through the years.

Full article:

http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2009/oct/04/a-world-apart-h

No cruelty charges for shelter

By Suzanne Roig
Advertiser Staff Writer
The Honolulu prosecutor's office has decided not to pursue a case against the surviving owner of a Leeward Coast animal shelter where more than 400 dogs, cats and birds were housed.
Norman Pang of Nanakuli had not been cited, arrested or charged for alleged cruelty to animals, but the Hawaiian Humane Society sought prosecution.
Pang, whose wife operated Animal Haven on the couple's property, died in July.
Pamela Burns, Hawaiian Humane Society chief executive officer, said she respected the prosecutor's office decision not to pursue the case against Animal Haven. The Humane Society forwarded all of its information to the prosecutor's office for determination, Burns said.
"Although we received numerous complaints, we were prohibited access to the property to conduct an animal cruelty investigation," Burns said in a prepared statement. "As a result our case was severely compromised. We stand by our decision to forward this case to the prosecutor's office for their determination about the strength and quality of the evidence to pursue a conviction."
In July, animal welfare agencies took control of the animals at the no-kill shelter that had been run by Pang's wife, Bonnie.
After her death, Norman Pang signed a surrender statement giving the O'ahu Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals ownership of the animals in the sanctuary. The O'ahu SPCA requested help from the Humane Society of the United States. It took five days for welfare agencies to orchestrate what's been described as O'ahu's largest animal rescue operation.
Jim Fulton, spokesman for the prosecutor's office, said it came down to a question of whether prosecutors could prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt.
"Our standard is proving a case beyond a reasonable doubt," Fulton said. "We didn't treat this case any differently than any other case. It was a complete investigation."
The Pangs had a running dispute with the Hawaiian Humane Society that spanned more than two decades. In 1995, the Humane Society took Bonnie Pang to court on charges of cruelty to animals, although a judge dismissed the case.
Earlier this month, Norman Pang filed a lawsuit against several local and national animal welfare organizations, including the Hawaiian Humane Society. The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court, claims the organizations and their representatives have defamed him and that he has been deprived of his rights. He also is suing to force the animal organizations to remove all photographs and video of Animal Haven from their Internet sites.
Photographs and video taken when the animals were removed in July have shown up on the Web site of the Humane Society of the United States, describing the shelter as a "hoarding situation."
Pang feels vindicated by the prosecutor's decision not to pursue criminal charges, said his attorney, Michael Ostendorp.
"He feels the Hawaiian Humane Society is out of control," Ostendorp said. "He said the Humane Society was trying to prosecute on fabricated claims."

WE NEED YOUR HELP IN THE FIGHT OF OUR LIVES …. AND THEIRS

Today I was greeted at the door of my home by a Town of Saltville Police Officer who handed me an envelope. In the envelope was a letter from the Saltville Town Manager informing me that the Saltville, VA Town Council passed a new ordinance on on Sept 8th stating that anyone residing within the town limits could no longer have more than 6 dogs on their property, excluding dogs under 6 months.

Despite the fact I have 4 acres and have been operating here for 4+ years and our property is zoned for agricultural use, which as you may or may not know, management of domestic animals fall under the Jurisdiction of the Dept of Agriculture, if Saving Furry Friends Rescue cannot fight this, the Town of Saltville will be essentially shutting us down!


It is my opinion, the Town of Saltville is protecting the breeders in town by putting in a clause to prohibit puppies under 6 months of age from being counted toward the 6 dog limit, while punishing us, Saving Furry Friends, the ONLY rescue in this town. It appears that Saltville is more interested in adding to the problem of pet over population than it is in solving the problem. It seems they are also protecting hunters with a limit of 6 dogs where most ordinances usually limit the number to 3-4 dogs. In essence, this new ordinance will affect only us, Saving Furry Friends Rescue and Sanctuary!! Is there a reason that we seem to be specifically targeted?

It should be noted that EVERY animal control officer in this county has been here and complimented us on the work we do as well as the care of the animals and the cleanliness of our rescue. Thankfully we have written references from them. We also have several reference from neighbors in regard to how our animals are cared for, how clean our rescue is, etc. In fact on one occasion we were actually called by the Saltville PD to please come and pick up a stray beagle, which we did.

As for the animal loving citizen’s of this town, we ask that you remember these council members as well as the mayor come election time. If you happen to be a resident of Saltville, VA, please contact the Council Members and let them know what you think about this.

Those wishing to help us in our fight may make a tax deducible donation to help us defray legal expenses. Donations may be made online on our website www.savingfurryfriends.com

or thru snail mail:

Saving Furry Friends
PO Box 741
Glade Spring,Va 24340

PERMISSION IS GIVEN TO CROSS POST AND IS APPRECIATED!!! WIN, LOSE OR DRAW I WANT EVERYONE TO KNOW HOW THIS TOWN’S OFFICERS REGARD ANIMALS





Thanks to SFF and its volunteers, almost 500 animals have been spared. Some where adopted to be therapy dogs, some were adopted to widowers whose only company and companionship comes from an animal they adopted through us, many many more were adopted to families with children; by parents who wanted their child to have a pet to grow up with, to teach them unconditional love, compassion and responsibility.

Aside from rescuing and adopting pets that where on death row, our rescue has distributed petfood to low income families in the community who, without our help would be unable to keep their pet(s). Our rescue has also picked up pets belonging to the citizens of this town, some of them shut-ins that did not have a way to get their pet to the vet to be vaccinated, and transported them to the veterinarian, at our cost. Our rescue funded the surgery of one Saltville woman’s dog after he was struck by an automobile and required an amputation of his front leg. She called us for help upon realizing she herself could not afford his much needed surgery, surgery I might add he would have had to been put to sleep without.

We have also, through rescuing dogs, saved the tax payers of Smyth County over $8000.00. Monies that did not need to be spent for the medications used for euthanizing dogs, for feeding them, for housing and caring for them because they were here at Saving Furry Friends Rescue, and for hauling off the bodies of animals that would have been euthanized if not for our efforts.

Perhaps you are not an animal lover, not everyone is as passionate about them as I am. But I ask you, what is my crime?? I ask you, how can I be guilty of a crime when they wrote the law FOUR YEARS AFTER I started this??? Per the new ordinance if I am not in compliance by 10/10/09 (note THAT IS LESS THAN 30 DAYS) I could be charged with a Class 1 Misdemeanor.

We will be speaking to an attorney on Monday as I am not sure, but I believe this to be illegal as I feel we should have been grandfathered in.

I will update everyone on Monday after I meet with the attorney.

In any event if this IS legal, we will still continue to run our rescue utilizing fosters and boarding for the older dogs until such time that we can sell this property and secure another. We will continue taking in kittens/cats and puppies under 6 months old.

We are also asking our rescue friends, should it become necessary to move dogs, if any of you can commit to taking a dog in, should it come to that. If we are not able to fight this I don’t want to be scrambling to find homes/fosters/rescues at the last minute.

If anyone has any insight into matters like this please email me at savingfurryfriends@yahoo.com

SAVE THE CANCUN TIGERS!ACTION ALERT

Last Chance for Animals (LCA) urges everyone to help rescue and relocate 7 Tigers that have been living in deplorable, substandard conditions, in Cancun, Mexico for FIVE years. They are kept in 12 foot cages, sitting in their own feces, with little or no interaction. They are not fed or given water regularly (they often drink water covered in algae, bugs, and rotten food). The level of neglect is appalling! "Pepe," the owner, refuses to allow a veterinarian to examine his tigers; consequently they are in dire need of medical attention!


LCA interviews Tippi Hedren at Shambala Preserve in Acton, CA.
See footage of the Cancun Tigers shot by LCA's undercover operative.

Bengal Tiger with dislocated leg, sitting in feces and rotten food

"Pepe" used to own and run a restaurant/hotel in Cancun. Tourists would dine among the caged tigers, and for a fee, get a picture taken with them. When Hurricane Wilma wiped out Cancun in 2004, the restaurant was never re-opened. Consequently, the building they are caged in is in dangerous disrepair. They are malnourished, abused, and in dire need of medical attention!

"Pepe" dragging a tiger after his restaurant was flooded in 2004.

And it's getting worse! Read this testimonial from a passing tourist who saw the tigers recently and wrote this letter of outrage:

I have seen these animals in March 2009 and one of the tigers kept trying to stand up but it's back legs would give way. While we were looking Pepe came out shouting at us to go away which we did not do. When I asked him to come to the side of the iron bars I was on, he refused because I told him I would put him in the same dying condition of these poor endangered big cats..

The Mexican Government wildlife agency, PROFEPA, recently reviewed and revoked the UMA license held by Gil Jose Juarez ("Pepe") after pressure from GEPDA (Gente por la Defensa Animal), an animal rights group in Mexico that has been trying to relocate these tigers to The Wild Animal Sanctuary (TWAS) in Keenesburg, CO.

This is where the Cancun tigers should be!

Affectionate tigers relaxing on TWAS' 320 acres of grassland

The rescue mission was in place 10 days ago--the Mexican government has now reneged on their agreement to release and relocate these tigers to TWAS. They are now talking about sending these already abused animals to a zoo in Mexico City! PLEASE--help us put the pressure on them to honor the original plan: to release and relocate these tigers to TWAS, where they will get the medical attention they desperately need, as well as a beautiful home where they will be safe and taken care of. TWAS is located on 320 acres of Colorado grasslands, and would be the perfect home for these neglected exotic wild cats.

A CALL TO ACTION!

Help LCA, GEPDA, and TWAS save these exotic cats by putting the pressure on the Mexican Government, as well as the Mexican Embassies and Consulates all across the U.S., by flooding their offices with emails, telephone calls, and letters demanding (politely!) that they release these beautiful animals to The Wild Animal Sanctuary (TWAS), in Keenesburg, CO.

The Cancun Tigers could be frolicking here at TWAS!

Happy tigers relaxing on the wide open grasslands at TWAS

Please contact the Mexican authorities, and give a voice to the voiceless. The terrible existence of these beautiful, exotic animals is reprehensible! The Cancun authorities don't want negative publicity to affect their holiday trade--this desire to avoid negative public perception can be used to pressure them to do the right thing and relocate these tigers immediately to The Wild Animal Sanctuary (TWAS)!

For complete information on who to contact and helpful talking points, please visit:

www.savethecancuntigers.com

Help LCA, GEPDA, and TWAS rescue these exotic cats!



For the animals,

Campaigns Dept
Last Chance for Animals
310-271-6096 x 27
campaigns@LCAnimal.org

Act Now for Queenie

Please make a phone call or send a fax by Wednesday!

(September 8, 2009 update) - It has been 19 days since the USDA confiscated Jewel and Tina, but left Queenie (aka Boo) behind in Leggett, Texas in the hands of the incompetent Will Davenport, who has gravely endangered the health of all three elephants. With each day that passes, IDA is more concerned about Queenie's welfare as she remains at the mercy of a man who has shown repeatedly that he is incapable of providing her with proper and humane care.

This video contains heartbreaking and disturbing footage of Queenie, chained to a tree in Texas, swaying neurotically behind Will Davenport after the truck carrying Tina and Jewel to the San Diego Zoo had pulled away. (The video, made by Davenport's friends in Polk County, contains many untruths, but does provide some interesting footage of the elephant confiscation.)

Even if you have already called the USDA, please take a moment by Wednesday to leave a telephone message for the Secretary of Agriculture and email the Administrator of the USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service to urge the agency to return to Leggett immediately for Queenie and send her to a sanctuary where her safety and well-being can be assured. It's very important to contact both USDA officials.






Tell the USDA:

It is inconceivable that the agency would leave Queenie in the "care" of Davenport, who has racked up countless Animal Welfare Act violations since receiving his USDA exhibitor's license just two years ago.

The many outstanding legal issues regarding Will Davenport's conduct (including his defiance of a federal order during USDA's first confiscation attempt on August 15) provide a clear avenue for them to help Queenie.

You hold the agency directly responsible for Queenie's welfare. After all she has been through, Queenie must be retired from public display and sent to either the PAWS sanctuary in California or The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee. Since Queenie has no pressing health issues requiring intensive veterinary care, she can go immediately to a sanctuary. There is no excuse for sending her to a zoo.
Note: Do not allow the USDA to tell you that they have no jurisdiction over Queenie's care since Davenport voluntarily surrendered his USDA license - the agency has plenty of legal avenues to pursue to bring Davenport to justice and secure Queenie's rescue.

USDA Contact Information:

Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack
Phone: 202 720-3631, Fax: 202-720-2166

Acting APHIS Administrator Kevin Shea
Phone: 202-720-3861 Email: Kevin.A.Shea@usda.gov

Contact Congress Too!

As your Congressperson and Senators to contact Secretary Vilsack in support of Queenie's rescue and transfer to a sanctuary. If they have been responsive in the past, be sure to thank them for their previous help in securing Tina and Jewel’s confiscation, but let them know that Queenie has been left behind in dire circumstances.

Find your federal representatives here.

Please continue to call and email these officials until Queenie is safely housed at the PAWS sanctuary in California or The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee.

Background on Queenie

Queenie is an Asian elephant who is estimated to be 52 years of age. She has been "owned" by the Davenport family for at least two decades and has been trucked around the country and forced to perform in circuses and to give elephant rides for years. In 2006, an undercover investigator for Animal Defenders International videotaped Queenie (also known as Boo) and another elephant named Chrissy being abused by Mike Swain, an employee of the Bailey Brothers Circus, a Davenport family operation.

In March 2007, USDA inspectors documented the continued abuse of Queenie, who was found in poor condition at a fairgrounds in Pueblo, Colorado. The inspection report from that time states:

"[The elephant has] excessive dead skin over most of her body and doesn’t show evidence of proper bathing for quite some time. She has urine staining and what appears to be urine scalds on her back legs. The pads on this elephant had excessive growth and there were numerous flaps of skin that had trapped debris in them. The cuticles were also excessively long."

Queenie also had "multiple wounds draining yellowish exudates inside the left ear" . . consistent with the improper use of an ankus in the ear."

The handler was "not properly trained or experienced." "[He] had to continuously rely on excessive and inappropriate use of the ankus to get the elephant to perform the behaviors he was asking for during the rides and performances. . . during the rides and performances, the handler was observed repeatedly jabbing and hitting the elephant with the ankus. Several times during the elephant ride, the handler used the ankus to hit the elephant and she reacted by throwing her head and changing her gait demonstrating irritation at the action of the handler. . . This is inappropriate and abusive use of the ankus and such use is likely to cause trauma, behavioral stress, physical harm or unnecessary discomfort . . . " (Emphasis added).

Queenie must not be left at the Davenports’ mercy. Ask USDA to act promptly to send her to a sanctuary!

For more information, please see http://www.helpelephants.com/tina_jewel_and_queenie.html

In Defense of Animals, located in San Rafael, Calif., is an international animal protection organization with more than 85,000 members and supporters dedicated to ending the abuse and exploitation of animals by protecting their rights and welfare. IDA's efforts include educational events, cruelty investigations, boycotts, grassroots activism, and hands-on rescue through our sanctuaries in Mississippi, Mumbai, India, and Cameroon, Africa.

In Defense of Animals is a registered 501(c)3 non-profit organization. We welcome your feedback and appreciate your donations. Please join today! All donations to IDA are tax-deductible.

In Defense of Animals
3010 Kerner, San Rafael, CA 94901
Tel. (415) 448-0048 Fax (415) 454-1031
idainfo@idausa.org

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.''

New zoning may force out shelter dogs

BY ELINOR J. BRECHER

ebrecher@MiamiHerald.com

By intent, Sabbath Memorial Rescue Center is hard to find -- until you're
close enough to follow the noise and soon, your nose.

About 130 dogs live there, on part of a nine-acre mamey grove edging the
Everglades. A few wander freely, minimally curious about visitors; most occupy
runs, sheds or lean-tos.

It's muddy and makeshift, but for the strays and castoffs that otherwise
might die on the street -- or at the Miami-Dade County Animal Services shelter
-- it's a sanctuary.

But not for much longer. Rescue operator Robbie Coy is being evicted
because the property is zoned agricultural/ residential -- fine for farm animals
but not for more than eight dogs.

CJM Investment Group, Inc., which owns the land, rents to Coy for $450 a
month. For him to stay, principal investor Miguel Chamah, a family doctor,
would have to seek an ``unusual classification variance.''

Chamah doesn't want to. The process is expensive and complicated, involving
public hearings, government red tape and the loss of his agricultural tax
exemption.

Instead, he has told Coy -- along with Buzzy, Teddy Bear, Cisco, Zeus,
Jewel, Duchess, Sampson, Joey and the rest -- to leave by Aug. 31.

Coy doesn't blame his landlord, but wants an extension, which lawyers on
both side are negotiating.

CJM's attorney, Peter Abesada, said his client ``is willing to do any
reasonable thing to safeguard the welfare of the animals.'' Still, ``we have no
alternative than to proceed with an eviction or face severe civil
penalties.''

FINDING NEW HOMES

Dr. Sara Pizano, Miami-Dade Animal Services director, supports an
extension, so that Coy can place his dogs.

``We want nothing more than for the dogs at Sabbath Rescue to fine
permanent and safe homes,'' Pizano said.

`We have already reached out to our 50 rescue partners asking them to help
save the dogs from Sabbath Rescue.''

When animal lovers' passions meet government regulation, tempers flare and
accusations fly, so for some of Coy's supporters, that's no consolation.

Sabbath's plight has caused an uproar in the South Florida animal-welfare
community, where many consider Coy saintly for dedicating his life to placing
adoptable dogs and offering the old, sick and aggressive what the county
shelter can't: a secure place to live out their lives.

``He has put aside a life of having a nice house and car to be able to
provide food and shelter to these canines,'' supporter Lucia Ramirez wrote in an
e-mail to The Miami Herald. ``Just because he doesn't hold a mere license
does not mean this man and helpless animals deserve to be shut down.''

The controversy began April 21 when four county police officers, three
Animal Services investigators and an Animal Planet video crew showed up at the
shelter's gate.

The Discovery Channel-owned program has spent nine months updating its
five-year-old Miami Animal Cops series. New episodes will begin airing in
December.

COMPLAINT

County officials say they were responding to an anonymous complaint about
possible dog fighting, but by their own admission found nothing of the kind.

``They went through my place with a fine-tooth comb,'' said Coy, 48. ``Then
they asked for a kennel license'' and cited him for failing to produce one.

It costs $100 a year.

A ponytailed Long Islander, Coy named the rescue for a beloved pet dog,
Sabbath, now long gone. Over the past decade, he's had other locations,
including a Hialeah storefront where a handful of dogs remain.

He insists that the righteousness of his mission trumps the bureaucracy' s
dictates.

``I'm out there in the middle of nowhere,'' he said. ``Why would anybody
care?''

Coy's arms and legs bear the evidence of hands-on interaction with
generations of dogs: slashes, punctures, deep-purple scars.

He said he has poured $1 million of his own money -- from a T-shirt
business -- into the rescue, some $100,000 of it for upgrades at the site he's
about to vacate.

``It's not perfect,'' he admits. ``We don't have any money. But the dogs
are well fed and cared for.''

A full-time caretaker lives on the property with his own dogs. Coy and a
handful of volunteers spend their days feeding, cleaning enclosures, treating
illness and injury and fielding calls from prospective adopters, who pay
what they can to cover neutering and other costs.

Despite food donations -- including 20,000 pounds of treats from
celebu-cook Rachael Ray -- Coy said he spends up to $10,000 a month on animal care,
and owes money to veterinarians all over the county.

``I'm saving dogs lives!'' he declared from his mobile office: the front
seat of a beat-up 1996 Honda Passport.

And he's determined that not one dog will end up at the county-run Animal
Services.

By statute, its Medley shelter, which has the capacity for 300 cats and
dogs but often houses twice as many, must accept every one of them that comes
in the door. Pizano projects 37,000 this year.

21,000 DIED

Last year, about one-third of shelter admissions reunited with original
owners, were adopted or taken by rescue groups. It was a record number, yet
21,000 adult mutts and purebreds, tiny kittens and teething puppies met their
demise.

The county calls it euthanasia; Coy calls it killing.

That dismays Pizano, a veterinarian.

``It's damaging to the reputation of the department to be unfairly depicted
as murderers. . .as a result of a law that everyone must abide by,
regardless of their good intentions,' ' she wrote in an e-mail.

While Coy may have a laudable purpose, county officials insist he still has
to follow the rules. In an e-mail Thursday, Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Alvarez
-- battling criticism for not simply granting a zoning waiver, something he
says he's not legally empowered to do -- praised Coy for ``providing a much
needed service to our community, particularly, to the dogs themselves.' '

Then he detailed the county's involvement.

On April 16, Alvarez wrote, a police officer checking out the fighting
complaint saw ``some dogs which appeared to be in poor condition and reported
this to Animal Services.''

Investigators cited both Sabbath and CJM for failing to have a kennel
license. Five days later, Neighborhood Compliance personnel responded to another
anonymous complaint, Alvarez said, then sent CJM a warning letter on the
zoning issue.

But the letter went to the Homestead address, and Chamah didn't know he had
a problem until after he missed the deadline to appeal.

The $265 citation ``went to collection,' ' Pizano said, and began accruing
charges: $5,000 by the time CJM sought, and got, a late appeal.

Pizano said she'll remove the accrual as soon as CJM pays the $265 citation
and brings the property into compliance -- in this case by evicting the
kennel.

HELPED OTHERS

She noted that her department has helped with other unlicensed rescues in
similar situations. Currently, a five-acre shelter in the Redland with 100
dogs called Born Free Pet Shelter, is working with the county to rezone and
getting a kennel license.

``The Animal Services Department strives to save as many lives as possible
and we welcome all the help that compassionate people want to offer,''
Pizano said. ``But only the community can solve this crisis by spaying and
neutering their pets.''
FULL STORY:http://www.miamiherald.com/news/miami-dade/story/1197361.html

Baltimore County Humane Society decided to invite Days End Farm Horse Rescue to their "2009 DogFest"!

Baltimore County Humane Society decided to invite Days End Farm Horse Rescue to their "2009 DogFest"!


There are MANY more deserving equine rescues in Maryland that deserve that publicity! Days End is already the wealthiest rescue in Maryland AND they get tons of publicity on a regular basis! Days End is a kill-rescue & pro-slaughter.


Please email the BHS and ask them include another equine rescue! There are many equine rescues that I'm sure would be more than willing to participate in the DogFest!


One of the ponies DEFHR killed has a website: http://ourmaggie.awardspace.info
(feel free to send to the event coordinators below)
There are also a lot of DEFHR movies circulating to get the truth out like:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q4rx9y3akUo and
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KeyobX43Wrw (the 2 geldings killed for being "too old")


Email:
Jadstravel@aol.com
lhalpert@comcast.net
and/or Jadsaj@aol.com
Thank you so much!
Juli

(CA) Animal rights activists plan Lucy freedom march

A local animal activist group will walk through the streets of
Edmonton today, petition in hand, to put pressure on the city to free
Lucy the elephant from the Valley Zoo.

The Friends of Lucy will be approaching members of the public to sign
a paper petition, which they plan to submit to city council in the
fall.

"This northern climate is too cold for elephants and then they're kept
inside for much of the year," said group spokesman Melissa Murphy.

She added that zoo officials "continue to disregard the evidence of
how Lucy's health is being negatively impacted by Edmonton's winters."

--
full story:
http://www.edmontonsun.com/news/edmonton/2009/08/15/10470781-sun.html

West Virginia Farm Is Save Haven For Cows

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) -On farms across West Virginia, 204,000 beef
cattle now await slaughter. But at the International Society for Cow
Protection's 168-acre hillside farm in Marshall County, cattle are
treated far differently from those that are headed to slaughterhouses
and onto plates.

William Dove and his family keep 22 cows and oxen comfortable for
their entire lives and plan to chant the holy names of God to each
animal as it dies a natural death at their farm outside of
Moundsville.

Dove, a Hare Krishna, founded the cow protection society with his
wife, Irene, in 1990.

Visitors to farm and to the society's Web site (www.iscowp.org) are
encouraged to adopt an animal for $420 a year.
...
Dove said the violence done to animals is reflected in society at
large - in highway fatalities, in wars, in murders.

Visitors to the farm learn how to train oxen and how to do farm work with them.

"A lot of them already are vegetarians and some of them are vegans who
want to have dairy products in their diet but don't want to support
the factory farming," he said.

But Dove said some people still don't see the connection b etween a
piece of meat and where it came from. When kids come to the farm, they
can hug and pet the cows and "understand where their hamburger is
coming from."

"McDonalds wants to the kids to think it's a happy meal," he said.
"But if you took the kids to a slaughterhouse, those kids would become
vegetarians. 'This is where my Happy Meal comes from?' "

Dove, 63, became a vegetarian as a young man growing up in Hawaii and
reading the Bible. He did a lot of open ocean fishing for tunas and
marlins. Then he got to thinking.

"I am causing him so much suffering. He is fighting for his life so I
can have my tuna fish sandwich," Dove thought. "So I just thought, 'If
this is the suffering I am causing, I don't want to do it.'"

Since he began working with cows in 1974, several years after becoming
a Hare Krishna, Dove has found the animals have a definite
personality.

--
full story:
http://www.cattlenetwork.com/Content.asp?ContentID=337192

Protesters want Lucy moved immediately

[video at full story link]

It's a fight that's been going on for several months, but animal
rights activists aren't giving up; they staged a protest outside the
Edmonton Valley Zoo Saturday saying Lucy the elephant needs to be
moved immediately.

'We are asking for Lucy to be moved to a sanctuary immediately," said
Ashley Byrne, a volunteer with People for the Ethical Treatment of
Animals (PETA).

The animal rights group claims Lucy is showing signs of depression and
severe arthritis, something they say is due to decades of confinement
at the zoo.

"She spent the last 30 years being used for human entertainment, the
least thin she deserves is to be transferred to a sanctuary," said
Byrne.

--
full story:
http://calgary.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20090808/EDM_lucy_090808/20090808/?hub=CalgaryHome

Animal Placer to have two havens

http://www.thereporter.com/ci_13021390


Twenty years ago Kim Sturla bought a barren piece of property at the
end of Laguna Creek Trail in rural Vacaville and began making it a
sanctuary for abused and discarded farm animals.

Established in 1989, the 60-acre property became Animal Place and,
since then, has become a safe haven to thousands of rescued animals
that are eventually placed in loving homes. In addition, it has become
an education center, hosting countless field trips.

Last November, the nonprofit, tax-exempt organization closed escrow on
a 590-acre site in Grass Valley. Sturla, co-founder and executive
director of Animal Place, and her staff and volunteers have been
working hard to get that property ready, a move that would involve
transporting all of their 300

or so animals.

As it sits, four new barns are near completion at the Grass Valley
location. The last big project that must be completed before moving is
the building of nearly 2.5 miles of fencing.

But last Wednesday, a generous donation from an anonymous source
altered Sturla's moving plans.

Now Animal Place will be able to keep the Vacaville property and
operate it in conjunction with its new headquarters in Grass Valley.

"I'm just still in a state of pleasurable shock and gratefulness,"
said Sturla.

Instead of worrying about packing every chicken, pig, goat, rabbit,
sheep and cow, Sturla said that a select few who have been longtime
residents will probably get to stay. Not to mention, Sturla doesn't
have to worry about trying to put the property on the market at a time
when real estate values have plummeted.

The Vacaville property will now become the home of Rescue Ranch, a
project of Animal Place. It will serve as a farm animal adoption
center focusing mostly on poultry or nonproducing, "spent" hens, many
rescued from commercial poultry operations.

The new program will allow Animal Place to provide the animals with
two options: placement into a new home or permanent sanctuary in Grass
Valley.

Although Animal Place will stay in Vacaville, some changes will be
made.

Tours will no longer be available in Vacaville, as those, along with
other on-site events, will be hosted at the sanctuary in Grass Valley.
Volunteer opportunities and internships will remain, however.

You would need to look no further than the mix of rescued animals at
Animal Place, commingling and sharing the land, to know it is the
ideal location for a sanctuary. And if you still couldn't discern the
difference, Sturla would tell you.

The site is also where she built her charming log cabin-style home,
which houses not just her but also resident interns and handful of
dogs and cats.

"There really isn't another place like us out there.

It's perfect," said Sturla.

Rescue Ranch will go into operation after the Grass Valley location is
operational, sometime early next year. Until then, Animal Place will
offer its final Saturday tours through September.

For tour dates and times, or for more information about Animal Place
Sanctuary and Education Center, call 449-4814 or visit www.animalplace.org

Hillside Animal Sanctuary Appeal - Lizzie's Appeal

Lizzie's Appeal

To see a short film of Lizzie and an interview with our vet please click on the link below ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4JP_HrqC0S0

When Lizzie the pony began to show some uncharacteristic behaviour, our vet diagnosed that she has developed a large tumour. While it is not life threatening at the moment, this growth needs to be removed before her condition deteriorates any further.
The surgery will hopefully take place at a veterinary hospital in Newmarket, and is likely to cost in the region of £2000 - £3000.

If you would like to help Lizzie please donate here...

http://www.hillside.org.uk/acatalog/donations.html

(CA) Move elephant to sanctuary: local vet

Contact information for the zoo if you wish to send in your comments:

The Valley Zoo is owned and operated by the City of Edmonton.
Zoo Director: denise.prefontaine@edmonton.ca

Address
13315 Buena Vista Road (87th Avenue)
Valley Zoo PO Box 2359 Edmonton, Alberta T5J 2R7, Canada


Move elephant to sanctuary: local vet

Last Updated: Wednesday, July 15, 2009
CBC News

Lucy the elephant needs to be moved out of the Edmonton Valley Zoo and into
an elephant sanctuary, because she isn't getting the care she needs, an
Edmonton veterinarian said Tuesday.

A 65-page report, which includes Lucy's medical records, was compiled by
veterinarian Debi Zimmermann.

Lucy's quality of life would be greatly improved if she lived in a warmer
climate with other elephants, Zimmermann said.

"It doesn't take a medical degree, but since I have one and in review of the
records and the natural biology of elephants, it's just a no-brainer when
you look at what they need and what's provided, " she said.

A number of animal rights activists have stated publicly that Lucy needs to
be moved out of the zoo, but Zimmermann is the first veterinarian to take
that position publicly.

Officials at the Valley Zoo dismiss Zimmermann's report. "No contact, no
review of this elephant other than just to look at a written record ‹ [it's]
kind of disappointing really," said Dean Treichel, the supervisor of animal
care at the zoo.

It's more important to take the advice of veterinarians who have actually
examined Lucy, he said.

The zoo has a veterinarian with the same qualifications as Zimmermann who is
involved with the elephant on a daily basis.

"My personal and professional reputation is on the line here, and I say
Lucy's best situation right now is that she should remain here," Dr. Milton
Ness said.

Moving the elephant in the near future is out of the question, because Lucy
has respiratory problems and a move could prove fatal, both Ness and
Treichel said.

They also dismiss claims that Lucy isn't being well cared for.

Canadian authors including Margaret Atwood and game show host and animal
activist Bob Barker have also come forward and made a plea for Lucy to be
moved from the Valley Zoo to a sanctuary in the U.S.


http://www.cbc.ca/canada/edmonton/story/2009/07/15/edmonton-elephant-lucy.html

(US/pa) Woman who had hundreds of cats pleads guilty to cruelty

The owner of a Frazer cat shelter where authorities found hundreds of
neglected felines last year pleaded guilty today to animal cruelty and
tampering with public records.

Linda M. Bruno, 47, whose legal name is Lin Marie, was arrested in
March 2008 after a raid on the Tiger Ranch found close to 400 cats
still alive and 106 dead, many stuffed into freezers.

She pleaded guilty to misdemeanor counts and is scheduled to be
sentenced by Allegheny County Judge Jill E. Rangos Oct. 5, when
Assistant District Attorney Deborah Jugan said she will argue for jail
time. Each of the 14 counts carries a maximum of two years in jail.

Ms. Bruno, as part of the plea agreement, is ordered to pay $200,000
to the Pennsylvania Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
to reimburse for their care of the cats.

Veterinarian Becky Morrow said about 250 of the cats are still alive
in a shelter in Clarion, but none has been adopted yet because they
are still considered evidence in the case.

--
full story:
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09194/983642-100.stm