SHARK ALERT: News Coverage of Vile Pigeon Shooter Richard Shackleton

Dear Friends,


On April 9, SHARK made an unannounced visit to the Long Beach Township
Committee meeting, to confront town attorney Richard Shackleton about
his vile and hate filled attack against two female activists outside
the infamous Philadelphia Gun Club during the February 20, 2010 pigeon
shoot. You can watch the video of what happened HERE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4SH3mOm0nHE


The Press of Atlantic City, the major daily newspaper covering that
area, ran a story today about Mr. Shackleton's obscene behavior.
Again Mr. Shackleton admitted to and took complete ownership of his
disgusting verbal assault.

This big, tough lawyer, who illegally shoots small defenseless animals
catapulted out of boxes, and attacks women from the safety inside of
his big SUV, seems to be suddenly quite upset that SHARK took pictures
of him while he was pigeon shooting. That means we are doing our job!
Claiming that we were "harassing" him when everything we did was legal
and peaceful shows what incredible crybabies animal abusers are.

One thing for all of us to celebrate is that after over one hundred
thirty years of slaughtering pigeons at the club, our efforts have
shut those killing parties down, in spite of all their money and
political clout. It shows what a small group of determined
individuals can do.

You can go to the newspaper site and leave a comment about what you
think about Mr. Shackleton HERE:
http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/news/press/ocean/article_9150cfc0-4a4e-11df-8a69-001cc4c03286.html



Please contact the Mayor and two Commissioners of Long Beach Township
and let him know what you think about Mr. Shackleton's sickening words
and request his dismissal as township solicitor.

Mayor Joseph H. Mancini mancini@longbeachtownship.com

Commissioner Bill Knarre knarre@longbeachtownship.com

Commissioner Ralph H. Bayard rbayard@longbeachtownship.com


Please help SHARK continue to shutdown illegal pigeon shoots by
donating Here. http://www.sharkonline.org/?P=0000000502


Kindest Regards,
Steve Hindi and Your SHARK Team



The Press of Atlantic City: Richard Shackleton says members of an
animal rights group were harassing him

By DONNA WEAVER, Staff Writer Posted: Saturday, April 17, 2010


LONG BEACH TOWNSHIP - Township Solicitor Richard Shackleton said he
has nothing to apologize for after an animal-rights group videotaped
him shooting live pigeons at a Philadelphia gun club.

In the video, which was shot by Showing Animals Respect and Kindness,
or SHARK, Shackleton curses at the two women who videotaped him taking
part in the live pigeon shoot Feb. 20 outside the gun club. The video
has been posted to the Web site YouTube.

Stuart Chaifetz, an investigator in Cherry Hill, attended the Long
Beach Township meeting April 9 to confront Shackleton and the Board of
Commissioners. He said Shackleton said the most horrible thing he
could say to a woman and then he drove away.

"This was such a horrible, hateful thing he did. I wanted to confront
him in public about it. We were going to give him a chance to
apologize or at least at some level he would be held accountable for
what he did," said Chaifetz, of Cherry Hill, Camden County.

"I'm happy to say that what I said, I meant every word of
it,"Shackleton told Chaifetz.

SHARK is an animal rights group headquartered in Geneva, Ill. The
group's president, Steve Hindi, said pigeon shoots are competitions in
which thousands of live birds are shot to win prizes. A typical three-
day contest can kill and injure as many as 15,000 birds, he said.
They're illegal in most states, but are permitted in Pennsylvania.

"These are ugly, nasty events that attract ugly, nasty people,"Hindi
said.
Shackleton said he travels to Pennsylvania to participate in the
pigeon shoots because it is the most difficult form of shotgun shooting.

According to Shackleton, SHARK members have been harassing members of
the Philadelphia Gun Club all season.

"They've accused the members of criminal conduct and took photos of us
without our permission,"Shackleton said.

Hindi said several police reports were filed against Shackleton and
other members of the club with the Bensalem Police Department but that
police have not filed any charges.

Marianne Bessey, of Lansdowne, Pa., was one of the two women standing
outside the club for about eight hours Feb. 20, videotaping members as
they left.

"At the time that Mr. Shackleton drove out, I was standing on a public
access on the side of the road closest to his truck and he yelled it
right at me. I have a very good recollection of his face,"Bessey said.

"I still have trouble with it. But on the other hand, he goes inside a
gun club and shoots innocent pigeons for fun, so it must be in
character for him to say such a vile remark," she said.

After the exchange between Shackleton and Chaifetz, township Mayor
Joseph Mancini asked if the comments had anything to do with township
business. He then suggested Chaifetz discuss the issue at Shackleton's
Ship Bottom law offices.

On Thursday, Shackleton said the matter had been turned over to his
attorneys for further review. Chaifetz said SHARK believes
Shackleton's comments violate the Pennsylvania obscenity law.

A New Jersey Bar Association representative referred a request for
comment to the state's Office of Attorney Ethics, which did not return
a telephone call.

Ducks victims in animal cruelty case

CHANGHUA, Taiwan -- Some ducks were killed due to poison
contamination, while some are being tortured to death. Changhua County
police yesterday launched investigation into animal cruelty after
local residents reported the ducks living in a park lake shot with
arrows, according to ETTV news channel.

The police suspect at least three culprits were involved in the
torture resulting in the death of one duck and the injuries of four
others. One of the local residents saw people approached the lake in
the night and attacked the ducks with”blowing arrows” working like air
guns.

--
full story:
http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/local/changhua/2009/11/27/234358/Ducks-victims.htm

UPC Defends Delmarva Resident’s Right to Keep Her Chickens and Ducks

“‘Elsa’ and ‘Evelyn’ have been Elizabeth Fisher’s backyard companions for the past two years. That is about to change, though. . . .” Read the article:
www.delmarvanow.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2009910110301


For readers unfamiliar with this region of the US, Elizabeth Fisher and her birds live in Berlin, Maryland on the Eastern Shore. Also known as the Delmarva Peninsula, the Eastern Shore, a narrow strip of land 50 miles wide and 150 miles long, holds 571,263,000 chickens in 5,100 buildings owned by Perdue, Tyson, and three regional poultry companies.

Karen Davis’s Letter to the Editor, The Daily Times (Salisbury, MD), Oct. 15, 2009
“Complaints about pet hens and ducks puzzling”
www.delmarvanow.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2009910150388


I am puzzled by the resistance to Elizabeth Fisher’s desire to have her pet fowl on her residential property in Berlin. As I understand it, Fisher is not in the business of keeping poultry. Rather, she has kept two hens and three ducks as pets for the past two years. She isn’t breeding her birds or commercializing them or their eggs. She is not adding to the population of unwanted animals or allowing her birds to roam the neighborhood and dig up the neighbors’ flowerbeds.

With so many unwanted animals on the Eastern Shore and elsewhere, and so many people who mistreat and abandon their animals, why should Fisher and her fortunate birds be penalized? She seems to be an example of what a responsible pet owner should be. If she is not waking up the community with a flock of crowing roosters each morning and her birds are confined to their own living quarters near the house, what is the complaint?

It seems strange this could be an issue with so many urgent problems demanding the attention of law enforcement. I hope Fisher will find a way to keep her birds safe. I applaud and support her effort to protect her pets. - Karen Davis

Karen Davis is president of United Poultry Concerns, a nonprofit organization that promotes the compassionate and respectful treatment of domestic fowl. United Poultry Concerns is located on the Delmarva Peninsula on the Eastern Shore of Virginia.

URGENT!!! CALL TO ALL FARMED ANIMAL SANCTUARIES! Homes Needed

URGENT!!! CALL TO ALL FARMED ANIMAL SANCTUARIES! Homes Needed
Desperately for Roosters Seized in Cockfighting Ring in Virginia


Three months ago, 21 roosters were seized by the Page County Sheriff's
Office in Virginia as part of their bust of an illegal cockfighting
operation. Finally, due to very hard work on the part of deputies, public
attorneys, and other county personnel, they are now able to be released.
Their release date is the first week of October, 2009.

The Eastern Shore Sanctuary and Education Center will be taking eight (8)
of the most aggressive birds, the maximum number we can rehabilitate at
once. Over the past five years, we have honed a rehabilitation technique
to the point that within a month or so, these guys will be able to mix and
mingle with the rest of the flocks here.

THAT LEAVES THIRTEEN ROOSTERS WHO WILL BE KILLED IF HOMES ARE NOT FOUND
BY OCTOBER 6, 2009.

It is critical to note that over the past three months, these roosters
have calmed down considerably. They are NOT, repeat NOT showing signs of
active aggression, and while they might need a bit of work, they will not
require nearly the level of time and effort to rehabilitate as the others
will.

We are willing to work via phone and email to explain the VERY EASY
rehabilitation methods we've developed over time. Very little in the way
of equipment is needed, and if you do it well, it's DONE.

We desperately need sanctuaries who are willing to give this a chance.

Contact the Eastern Shore Sanctuary at 802-885-4017 or
sanctuary@bravebirds.org
Even if you aren't SURE about it but might
CONSIDER the idea, give a call and we will be very happy to talk about it.

For the animals,

The Eastern Shore Sanctuary and Education Center

Woodstock Sanctuary Needs Home for 94 Rescued Roosters - Help!

Woodstock Farm Animal Sanctuary took in, via the ASPCA, 94 young
roosters seized from an illegal slaughterhouse in New York City. The
ASPCA mistakenly proclaimed all of the birds to be hens. Woodstock is
DESPERATE to find homes for these birds. Possible homes have been
located for about 14 birds, which leaves 80 ADORABLE young roosters who
need to be adopted.

If you or anyone you know can adopt one or more of these roosters,
please contact:

Jenny Brown, Director
Woodstock Farm Animal Sanctuary
Woodstock, NY 12498
Phone: 845-679-5955
Email: [mailto:jenny@woodstocksanctuary.org]
Website: [http://www.WoodstockSanctuary.org]

Cock-a-Doodle-Doo! Thank you!

--
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]

Over 70 Rescued Roosters Need Homes ASAP!!

Over 100 chickens were rescued this past week and we need to find homes for
over 70 young roosters. We are looking for homes anywhere along the East
Coast or within a 300 mile radius of New York City. We are more than willing
to bring them to you! Any help would be greatly appreciated.

For more information, please contact:
Kristi Adams at 646-235-6675
or
Kymberlie Adams at 917-621-7604 / Kymberlielou@gmail.com


PLEASE POST FAR AND WIDE!!

Arctic Geese Skip Migration as Planet Warms

No Longer Just Summer Birds Discovery News Video Sept. 16, 2009 --
In the Fall of 2007, tens of thousands of small arctic geese called Pacific brant (Branta bernicla nigricans) decided not to go south for the winter.

For these long-haul migratory birds, it was a dramatic choice -- they usually spend the cold months munching their favorite eel grass in the waters off Mexico's Baja peninsula. But changes in Earth's climate have so affected them that the barren windswept lagoons of western Alaska are looking more and more appealing.

The trend is likely to continue, according to a new study, affecting not only brant but a host of migratory birds around the globe.

David Ward of the United States Geological Survey in Anchorage has been studying brant behavior for nearly three decades.

When he began back in the 1970s, only around 4000 birds toughed out the winter in Izembek Lagoon, a 25-mile long stretch of protected water on the Alaska Peninsula. Two autumns ago, the number had climbed to 40,000 -- nearly 30 percent of the total population.

"The birds normally wait for a storm system to come down through the Aleutians," Ward said. "They catch the tail winds down south. But the track of storm systems is a little different now."


WATCH VIDEO: Is Alaska America's poster child for climate change? Related Content:
Full story:http://dsc.discovery.com/news/2009/09/16/birds-migration-warming.html

No charges against troopers who clubbed seagulls

By SCOTT GUTIERREZ
SEATTLEPI.COM STAFF
King County prosecutors have decided not to
file animal cruelty charges against two state troopers who killed three
seagulls at the Colman Dock in July, the Prosecutor's Office announced
Thursday.


Read the prosecutor's statement explaining why no charges were filed against the troopers

"The troopers used poor judgment, but there is no evidence to
suggest that they acted with malice which is a requirement for criminal
charges to be filed. Rather, they were attempting, in a misguided way,
to alleviate a genuine problem at the ferry terminal in a way that is
generally consistent with how the problem would have been handled if
the USDA or the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife had
been called," prosecutors said in a statement.

The troopers, who provide security at the ferry docks, were asked by
the state ferry workers to do something about the seagulls, which were
aggressively swooping down on passengers and ferry employees, according
to the news release. The seagulls had nested atop administrative
offices at the terminal.

The troopers used their batons to club the seagulls. A trooper cadet was present but did not take part in the clubbing.

Prosecutors first reviewed the troopers' actions under the state's
law for second-degree animal cruelty, but did not have evidence to
support the charge.

"The troopers killed the young seagulls quickly using their batons
to deliver blows to the birds' heads. They took these actions under the
color of state regulatory authority granted to state agents, such as
Fish & Wildlife officers and in limited circumstances, state
troopers," the statement said. " Under state law, state agents are
allowed to kill wildlife for limited purposes. Because seagulls fall
into the category of wildlife and because troopers have authority under
state law to regulate wildlife, including up to killing wildlife in
limited circumstances, the animal cruelty statute does not apply."

The case was instead reviewed for a potential charge of Unlawful
Taking of Protected Fish or Wildlife, a misdemeanor. But prosecutors
say they had no evidence showing the troopers "acted with malicious
intent or hunted without authority."

Prosecutors say the state ferry system contracts with the state
division of wildlife services and the U.S. Department of Agriculture to
deal with aggressive seagulls defending their nests. If USSA agents
have to kill seagull chicks, they use carbon dioxide or shoot them in
the head with an air rifle, which follows state and federal law,
according to the Prosecutor's Office.

At least one of the troopers was aware of the USDA's policies. By
law, "state agencies such as the Department of Fish and Wildlife and
the State Patrol also have legal authority to remove animal life to
prevent substantial harm to others," according to the Prosecutor's
Office.

The troopers erroneously thought they were acting in accordance with
the State Patrol's policies on dealing with threatening animals, which
allows for killing animals in self defense and to prevent substantial
harm to others, or when it would be humane to kill an animal that is
badly hurt and suffering.

Since the troopers have been cleared of criminal wrongdoing, they
will return to duty while the State Patrol conducts an internal
investigation, WSP spokesman Bob Calkins said.

The cadet will not be included in the internal investigation, which
could result in sanctions such as retraining or discipline, he said.

"Their commander will make a decision on the best remedy," he said.

As result of the incident, the State Patrol and ferry system now
have clarity on who handles animal problems at the ferry docks, Calkins
said.

"Unless it's a life-threatening situation, the State Patrol will not
be handling animal problems at state facilities. We will leave that to
trained professionals. Trained wildlife agents will handle wildlife
issues," he said.


Scott Gutierrez can be reached at 206-448-8334 or scottgutierrez@seattlepi.com

LETTERS NEEDED: Ontario, Canada golf course about to shoot migratory geese!

Dear friends of Canada geese:

We just learned that a golf course (Osprey Links) in the Municipality of
Callander in Ontario, Canada has been granted permission by Canadian
Wildlife Services to shoot geese that land on their golf course. Please
click on the link below for the news article:

http://www.nugget.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1734603


There is absolutely no good reason for shooting geese, either to frighten
them away or to kill them to "set an example" for other geese not to land
upon the golf course. A golf course in New Brunswick, Canada has had great
success getting geese off their courses just by the simple act of turning on
their water sprinklers:

http://www.hallofshame.lovecanadageese.com/humane.html


Please write letters voicing your opposition to the proposed shooting of
geese at Osprey Links and offer humane methods instead.

WRITE TO OSPREY LINKS AT:

info@ospreylinksgolf.com
SUBMIT A LETTER TO THE EDITOR OF THE NORTH BAY NUGGET:
http://www.nugget.ca/feedback1/LetterToEditor.aspx


Thank you all so much!

Choo and Earl
www.LoveCanadaGeese.com

France's animal rights activists free songbirds in protest over illicit delicacy

To legions of illicit gourmets, it is the ultimate guilty pleasure: a
delicacy so tempting and yet so barbarous it is traditionally consumed
with one's head cloaked in a napkin. But to France's animal rights
activists, the traditional practice of eating ortolan, an endangered
songbird, is cruel and anachronistic.

Now, enraged by the failure – or refusal – of successive governments
to crack down on poachers, campaigners are taking matters into their
own hands.

In a co-ordinated protest, members of the League for the Protection of
Birds (LPO) destroyed hundreds of traps and set free the birds inside.
The time had come, they said, to prioritise biodiversity over
gastronomy.

"For 10 years now, not only has the state turned a blind eye [to the
poachers] but it has been complicit," said Allain Bougrain-Dubourg,
president of the LPO. "It is time to make the state face up to its
responsibilities."

The hunting and selling of ortolans, which have suffered a Europe-wide
decline of 40-50% in the last 40 years, has been illegal in France
since 1999.

--
full story:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/aug/31/france-activists-poaching-endangered-ortolan

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

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)

IDA NEWS

Victory For Tina, Jewel, And Maybe Queenie?
Breaking News! USDA Undersecretary Ann Wright's office has confirmed that Tina and Jewel were confiscated Thursday August 20! Stay tuned for more information!
For two years, IDA and our members have been working tirelessly on behalf of three elephants - Jewel, Tina, and Queenie - suffering in a travelling circus. IDA members have written tens of thousands of letters and e-mails to their Representatives, Senators, and the USDA.
You've made thousands of phone calls. We've held demos across the nation, wherever these poor creatures have been forced to perform their demeaning, unnatural stunts. And, with the assistance of caring people, we have documented their deteriorating condition as they traveled from city to city in the hands of their incompetent and abusive handler.
It appears our efforts have paid off. Victory seems to be very close. Click here to read more!

Exxon Mobil Pleads Guilty To Killing Migratory Birds
The New York Times reports that Exxon Mobil Corp. pleaded guilty in federal court last week to killing at least 85 protected birds, including hawks and owls, in five states. The birds died from exposure to natural gas well reserve pits and waste water storage facilities at Exxon Mobil drilling and production facilities in Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas and Wyoming. Read the full New York Times story here..

National Lawyers Guild Publishes Guide For Animal Rights Activists
The National Lawyers Guild (NLG), with decades of experience defending and supporting activists, has just published "Operation Backfire: a Survival Guide for Environmental and Animal Rights Activists." The NLG is giving the guide away free at http://ida.convio.net/site/R?i=LgCgk3hn4-kt9LQ0zR4iwQ...
It's a pocket-sized booklet that features a "know-your-rights" section with advice for handling various legal issues that activists often encounter, especially those involving Constitutional rights. The NLG also set up a "Green Scare Hotline" at 888-NLG-ECOL (888-654-3265) for more assistance.

Cloud's Final Weeks of Freedom? Help Save Him and His Family
The Pryor Mountain wild horses in Montana are the descendents of the horses brought to the Americas with the Spanish Conquistadors in 1500. One horse in particular, Cloud, pictured here, and his family are perhaps the most famous wild horses in the world - having been the subject of fascinating documentaries and books. But their fame is not going to protect the herd from a drastic government round up planned to begin September 1. Read more and send an e-mail to government officials.

Free Bulk Copies Of Our Latest Guardians Magazine Available
Got a tabling event or demo coming up? IDA will be happy to send you as many copies as you need (within reason!) of our latest Guardians Magazine..
E-mail Jessica or call (415) 448-0048 x215.
This and other cool vegan buttons only $1. Click here to see more!
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 Animals3010 Kerner, San Rafael, CA 94901Tel. (415) 448-0048 Fax (415) 454-1031http://us.mc1100.mail..yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=idainfo@idausa.org

Kittery Water District kills geese at York pond

By Susan Morse

smorse@seacoastonline.com

August 18, 2009 4:08 PM

YORK - Kittery Water Superintendent Mike Rogers shot five Canada geese at
Boulter Pond in York in June and July upsetting local residents who believe
non-lethal methods could have deterred the birds from living around the
public water supply.

Boulter Pond, off New Boston Road, provides drinking water to Kittery,
Eliot, part of York and Portsmouth Naval Shipyard.

Rogers confirmed he killed the geese after getting the necessary permit from
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service June 16. He shot five geese over the
subsequent five weeks, he said by e-mail response. No geese have been shot
for at least two to three weeks, he said.

Two geese wounded by gunshot were brought to the Center for Wildlife in
York, according to Executive Director Karen McElmurry. One had an injured
eye; the other had superficial wounds that prevented it from flying, she
said. They were treated and released to a location in Greenland, N.H., which
could handle additional geese, McElmurry said.

Rogers said he killed the geese to protect the water supply from fecal
bacteria contamination as the geese were near the area of the pond's intake
tower.

"The reason was to drive the geese from Boulter Pond, which is one of our
public water supplies," he said. "The amount of feces left behind from the
flock, sometimes as many as 40 at one time, is astonishing. The feces on the
dam, which abuts Boulter Pond, was so excessive that it was killing the
grass."

As it is maintained, Boulter Pond invites geese, according to local resident
Joanne Muckenhoupt, president of the New Boston Road and Thomas Road
Homeowners' Association. The way to get rid of the birds is to make the area
less hospitable, she said. Geese feed on manicured grass around the pond,
she said. There is no barrier between the water and grass, which is also
inviting for the birds, that don't like to fly over such obstacles.

"It's a perfect environment for geese," she said. "It doesn't make sense in
people's minds to make a hospitable environment. I would remove turf, which
is food."

Planting an English ivy or other inedible plant would help, she said, as
would erecting a fence, or raising the rock wall that lines the embankment.

The private roads around Boulter Pond are maintained by the water district,
which has worked hard to be a good neighbor, Muckenhoupt said. Residents
don't understand the shootings. "There's no reason they can't get the
community involved to help with solutions," she said. "This seems like an
extreme measure."

Muckenhoupt and others regularly walk their dogs by the pond. Neighbors
reported seeing dead geese at the site, she said. A goose carcass was seen
on a recent tour of the pond. It's unknown if the bird was shot or died of
other causes.

Muckenhoupt advises walkers to be wary of goose droppings along the grassy
trail. She has seen three families of geese at the pond. The birds come back
every year for two months during the summer, along their migratory route,
she said.


Shooting requests not uncommon


The Canada Geese became a problem in 2008, Rogers said.

"They are a very hard animal to drive away without using lethal methods," he
said. "We purchased an audio system that operates 24 hours a day, and used
(it) both last summer and this summer."

Rogers said they also used decoys, blow-ups like beach balls with reflective
eyes that were placed on land and in the water. "These were useless, the
geese would walk and swim right around them," he said. "One of our plant
operators even purchased a sling shot and marbles to try to drive them away
before reverting to lethal action."

Richard and Natalia Locke of Cider Hill Road are also upset by the Water
District's decision to kill the geese. "You can't convince me there's such a
risk from goose run off," Richard Locke said.

McElmurry also questions if there is proof geese are contaminating the
drinking water. "Are fecal counts high?" she asked. "If they're just
shooting them because they're suspect, they don't know really if they're
causing problems. I think the general public has a hard time with that. You
would think all of the treatment our water goes through, it's going to kill
just about anything."

Rogers said no water samples were taken. "I am taking a proactive approach
on this," he said, "and not a reactive approach, meaning I did not want to
wait for an outbreak of bacteria or residents becoming sick from drinking
our water before taking action."

Rogers said he notified the York Police Department as a courtesy, in case
police received calls of shots fired. Police Capt. Kevin LeConte on Monday
confirmed Rogers contacted the department.

Rogers needed no town approval, but did need a U.S. Fish and Wildlife
depredation permit. A U.S. Fish and Wildlife spokeswoman said such requests
are common. "We don't issue a permit unless they've tried non-lethal
techniques first," said Chief of Permits Valerie Slocund, who works out of
the West Hadley, Mass., regional office.

Non-lethal techniques recommended by the department include harassment,
scaring and fencing.

Slocund was not familiar with the Water District case but said the town had
to get a recommendation from the U.S. Department of Agriculture before a
permit was issued, she said. John Forbes of the Maine USDA was familiar with
the request. Forbes is the state director of USDA Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service, Wildlife Services. "Usually, by the time they contact
us, they're at wit's end," he said, "and they've tried other things."

Forbes' department easily handles "50 to 75 requests each year," he said.
"In Maine, we're starting to see population increases. There's a
sub-population of geese that don't go to the Arctic and nest."

In addition to lethal control, Forbes said the USDA recommends non-lethal
measures. "It's a standard approach throughout the country," he said.

McElmurry said the Center for Wildlife fields calls daily from people
fearful of wildlife causing a problem. Killing wildlife is often seen as the
best solution by some.

"On a personal and professional level, yes we have a problem with that," she
said. "We're trying to teach tolerance and educate people so that the fear
factor gets notched down a little bit."

Rogers said the goose problem seems to have gone away - for now, and hopes
geese have learned they're not welcome at Boulter Pond. "If the geese return
in the spring, there is a method available that we will try that does not
allow the eggs of the young ones to hatch," he said. "There is an ingredient
that can be put out for the geese to ingest, but it must be done early in
the spring. If the flock returns, then yes, future shootings could occur."

The season for hunting geese opens shortly, Rogers said, and the district
"does permit hunting on our properties, so we could get some assistance in
thinning down the flock."

"I do not want to shoot these birds, but we as drinking water suppliers need
to ensure that our source of drinking water is as free from pollution as
possible, ensuring that the feces does not lead to an out break of e-coli or
fecal bacteria," he said. "Ninety-nine percent of the geese activity was
occurring near the water intake tower of Boulter Pond."

CONTACT INFO:

Letters to Editor: opinion@seacoastonline.com

Letters to goose killer: Michael S. Rogers, Superintendent Kittery Water
District - kitterywater@comcast.net



Letters to York, Maine Selectmen: selectmen@yorkmaine.org


Letters to York Town Manager, Robert G. Yandow: ryandow@yorkmaine.org

Animal rights activists rally against pigeon net

CITY HALL — Animal rights activists staged a small protest before the
City Council meeting Tuesday in opposition to a plan to install
netting underneath the Santa Monica Pier in an effort to prevent
pigeons from fouling the waters.

Their hope is to change the minds of city officials who just last
month approved a $107,758 contract with Bird Busters to put up a net
that will run the length and width of the pier. Doing so could be a
matter of life and death, at least for the birds, opponents say.

"When you try to put a net under there to exclude pigeons from getting
up in there, everything above the net, that is all the babies and the
parents who won't leave the nests, are going to starve to death," Dr.
Red Enright, an attorney and self-proclaimed pigeon expert, said. "Any
of the pigeons that happened to be out at the time (the net is
installed) are going to die of exhaustion trying to get back to the
only place they know to roost and where their young ones are and their
nests are."

--
full story:
http://www.smdp.com/Articles-c-2009-08-12-61243.113116_Animal_rights_activists_rally_against_pigeon_net.html

Pigeon cull in Port Lincoln (Australia) sanctioned by RSPCA

PLEASE FORWARD WIDELY TO ALL GROUPS NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL PARTICULARLY THOSE IN AUSTRALIA

Pigeon cull in Port Lincoln (Australia) sanctioned by RSPCA. All complaints to RSPCA at Port Lincoln please- rspca.ptlincoln@bigpond.com

Please see the appalling article below, please keep all correspondence to RSPCA polite. Many thanks

SWAP team UK

Pigeon cull at silo site
http://www.portlincolntimes.com.au/news/local/news/general/pigeon-cull-at-silo-site/1595017.aspx

Port lincoln Times

SOPHIE WANDEL
12/08/2009 11:30:00 PM
PIGEONS might be dropping out of the sky around Port Lincoln but it is just part of an annual cull conducted by ABB Grain.

ABB has a procedure to control pigeons at all of its sites in South Australia and western Victoria, which is ongoing throughout the year.

The procedure includes deterring, trapping, storing or destroying pigeons in a way that minimises stress to the birds and also complies with guidelines set out by the RSPCA.

Port Lincoln RSPCA shelter manager Narelle Biddell said this latest cull involved poisoning the pigeons, which was considered humane, and generally the pigeons would die around the ABB site.

She said poison was put in the grain, which the birds ate and in turn euthanised them.

People should not be alarmed if they noticed a few dead pigeons around town she said, because the cull was controlled.

"Occasionally one bird might not eat enough grain and it will take a bit longer to die and it will fall somewhere else."

Ms Biddell said this type of cull would continue until the end of the month.

A spokesperson for ABB Grain said pigeon control procedures put in place at the ABB site in Port Lincoln had proven effective.

The spokesperson said this was evidenced by the lack of pigeons in the town and ABB's ongoing program of controlling flocks so they don't become a nuisance.

"Trapping and precision shooting with air rifles are the preferred measure for controlling the pigeon population," he said.

ABB had several other ways in which it minimised pigeon populations such as restricting roosting sites and maintaining good hygiene.

State ferries gull-killing plan has long roots

By JERRY CORNFIELD
THE HERALD



EVERETT, Wash. -- Federally sanctioned
killing of gulls at state ferry facilities began a decade ago after an
Edmonds terminal worker contracted an illness linked with exposure to
bird feces.

As that employee recovered from a bout of
psittacosis, the state developed plans to keep facilities clean of bird
droppings and signed up with a federal agency to keep gulls from
roosting in areas heavily used by workers and riders.

Since
1999, the state has spent roughly $1 million on the effort. It includes
$316,087 for cleaning up the poop, which must be handled as a hazardous
waste. The remainder has gone to the U.S. Department of Agriculture
Wildlife Services Program to use lethal and nonlethal means to curb
gulls' presence in and around terminals. This year's contract costs
$67,315.

"We take the health and safety of our customers and our employees very seriously," said ferries spokeswoman Marta Coursey.

"Balancing
the needs of our marine wildlife with the needs of the traveling public
is of paramount importance to us, and comes at a significant cost," she
said.

Ninety percent of what the agency workers do to control
birds is nonlethal, said Ken Gruver, assistant state director for
Washington and Alaska Wildlife Services program.

Every couple months, licensed agency workers carry out nighttime raids in which birds are forcibly removed and slain.

On
average, about 60 gulls are killed each year. While it is likely some
deaths occur at the Edmonds, Mukilteo and Clinton terminals, Gruver and
Coursey each said statistics are not kept on how many birds are killed
at each of the state's 20 terminals.

"We're not going out
there to try to wipe out all the gulls. Only gulls posing a threat to
human health and safety are removed," Gruver said.

Different
methods are used to make the birds seek other places to hang out. For
instance, netting with holes too small for the birds to get through and
too flimsy to hold their weight may be installed in some areas. Another
diversionary tactic involves putting spikes on structures to prevent
birds from landing.

The public became more widely aware of
the policy of killing gulls since two Washington State Patrol troopers
clubbed a couple of gulls to death at a ferry terminal in downtown
Seattle last month.

What the troopers did was not part of the
federally sanctioned program and the two have been placed on leave
during an investigation of their actions.

Two means of
euthanizing gulls are used. Nests found in terminal structures are
removed by hand and the young birds typically are gassed with carbon
dioxide in an aluminum chamber about the size of a microwave oven.
Adults often are killed with low-velocity pellet guns.

Both methods are approved by the USDA as humane, Gruver said.

Gulls are a federally protected migratory bird, though not an endangered species.

They
are known to swoop in and devour juvenile salmon. The federal agency is
contracted to remove them from places such as the Columbia River to
help protect the fish. It is permitted to remove up to 4,000 gulls a
year statewide including those at ferry terminals, Gruver said.

~END~

12 parrot species under review for endangered-species listing

http://www.oregonlive.com/pets/index.ssf/2009/07/12_parrot_species_under_review.html


Putting a wild parrot in a cage may become harder soon.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is reviewing the status of 12 parrot
species and may declare all or some of them endangered species.

The species under review are the blue-headed macaw, crimson shining parrot,
great green macaw, grey-cheeked parakeet, hyacinth macaw, military macaw,
Philippine cockatoo, red-crowned parrot, scarlet macaw, white cockatoo,
yellow-billed parrot and yellow-crested cockatoo.

These parrots are facing rapid declines in population in large part due to
the pet trade.

Adding the parrots to the endangered-species list will not only restrict
their importation severely, but also will protect them from being traded
commercially within the United States, said Lee Hall, legal director of
Friends of Animals, the group that filed the initial petition for the status
change.

However, under certain conditions, exceptions for domestic trade may be
written into the listing, she said. It may remain legal to trade specimens
bred in captivity in the United States, for example.

The wildlife service is accepting comments and information concerning the
species.

To comment, write to: Public Comments Processing, Attn: FWS-R9-IA-2009-0016;
Division of Policy and Directives Management; 4401 N. Fairfax Drive, Suite
222; Arlington, VA 22203.

Comments will not be accepted by e-mail, phone or fax.

-- Jacques Von Lunen; pets@jvonlunen.com

One man’s meat

The practice of force-feeding an animal for the sole pleasure of the
palate has come under criticism from animal welfare groups.

IN any killing of animals for food, there is a certain degree of
cruelty, a fact that has led many people to stop eating meat.

There’s also the environmental concern in animal agriculture, which is
the main source of methane worldwide, a significant contributor to
global warming.

This, however, is not a polemic for vegetarianism, despite the proven
benefits to our bodies and the planet (the food must be organic,
though), or a question of morality. The fact of the matter is that one
can be an animal lover and still eat meat.

Standard animal agriculture practices leave much to be desired and
many informed meat-eaters draw the line at what they consider unfair
treatment of an animal before it ends up on their tables.

The matter is especially contentious when it comes to gourmet food.
Certainly, there appears to be no bigger controversy than the
production of foie gras (pronoun­ced “fwah grah”) – duck or goose
liver that is fattened by force-feeding.

This is done by feeding the birds through a tube shoved down their
throats. Anti-foie gras campaigners say this is painful, cruel and
something the industry wants to hide. This has also led many animal
rights groups to go undercover to film the process. These videos can
be viewed on their websites, along with images of unkempt and dead
birds.

--
full story:
http://thestar.com.my/lifestyle/story.asp?file=/2009/7/27/lifefocus/3448294&sec=lifefocus

These fliers aren't cleared for landing

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/hotstories/6546506.html
Waller County airport allowed to kill certain birds to save planes
By MATTHEW TRESAUGUE
HOUSTON CHRONICLE
Federal wildlife wardens have granted a Waller County airport permission to
kill up to 2,400 birds a year to reduce the danger of collisions with
aircraft, stirring a new round of criticism from conservationists.

The permit allows the 2-year-old Houston Executive Airport to kill 13
species of migratory birds, including geese, egrets and sandhill cranes, in
an effort to ensure aircraft safety.

Bird advocates argue that the permit confirms their decades-old position
that the Katy Prairie, a popular stopping point for migratory birds on the
central flyway, is not the right place for an airport.

"Why put an airport in a place full of migratory birds?" said attorney Jim
Blackburn, who represented a citizens group that had opposed the development
of the airport near wetlands and wildlife preserves. "They will kill
thousands of birds, but the problem won't go away."

But Jeff Haskins, who leads the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's migratory
bird office for the Southwest region, said the permit was "kind of a
no-brainer. I always side with the aircraft."

An airplane's engine can suck in a bird - killing it and, sometimes, the
engine. In January, geese sucked into engines forced a US Airways jet to
make an emergency landing in the Hudson River shortly after taking off from
New York's LaGuardia Airport.

More than 7,500 planes collided with birds in 2007, according to the most
recent federal data. But the Federal Aviation Administration has said it
doesn't know the full extent of the problem because only about 20 percent of
bird strikes are reported.

The Houston Executive Airport, about 35 miles west of downtown, has recorded
two bird strikes since opening in January 2007, said Andrew Perry, its
executive director.

Airport officials have used loud, startling noises to scare birds away from
the runway. The permit allows them to use shotguns and pesticides after
every effort has been made to haze birds from the 1,980-acre property.

A wildlife manager under contract with the airport would kill the birds. If
any are killed, it likely will happen mostly in the winter, as flocks of
migratory fowl arrive.

Perry said the permit is standard operating procedure for an airport "in
case there is a need to take an animal for the safety of people and the
aircraft."

The permit is in effect for one year, after which the airport must submit a
list of kills to the Fish and Wildlife Service.

Airports throughout Texas and the nation must request such permits because
transitory birds are protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918
among the United States, Canada, Mexico and many other countries.

Environmentalists had previously raised concerns about potential bird deaths
if an airport operated on the prairie, home to hundreds of thousands of
wintering geese, ducks and hawks and other resident birds, such as bald
eagles and barn owls.

For nearly two decades, the city of Houston debated whether to build a
Waller County airport for corporate jets and other smaller planes. But the
city abandoned the project in 1998 after the FAA concluded that an airport
should not be built on the site because the large number of birds in the
area posed a threat.

Perry said the bird population has declined since then because of suburban
sprawl.

Still, some bird experts said the permit makes little sense because most
birds on the list are abundant.

"Where do you draw the line? Are 2,400 birds enough when thousands of geese
winter in Waller County? I don't think so," said Cliff Shackelford, an
ornithologist with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

What's more, the list doesn't include snow geese-a prominent inhabitant in
the winter.

"This is a peculiar list," said Fred Collins, a former president of the
Houston Audubon Society. "It's hard to recognize what they're trying to do."

Haskins, of the Fish and Wildlife Service, said the agency is aware that
2,400 is a small percentage of the birds that winter near the airport.

He said the number is based on the airport wildlife manager's request.

matthew.tresaugue@chron.com