Condemn the "Greatest Show on Earth"
Condemn the "Greatest Show on Earth"
Target: Steve Koonin, President of TNT
Sponsor: ASPCA
An upcoming TV series, "Greatest Show on Earth", promises a "behind-the-scenes" look at the legendary Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. But the real story is that Circus staff regularly abuse and torment performing elephants with bull hooks, chains and other devices.
Elephants Need Protection
The abuse of Ringling Bros. circus elephants -- well documented by animal welfare organizations, state humane agencies, and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) inspectors -- violates both the federal Endangered Species Act and the Animal Welfare Act, which prohibit the abuse of endangered animals used in entertainment.
Many have witnessed routine violent abuse and cruelty toward the elephants, including frequently hitting the elephants with bull hooks, rubbing dirt into sores of elephants to conceal their wounds, and routinely chaining the elephants on concrete or in cramped rail cars for many hours of every day and night.
This kind of cruelty is not entertainment -- contact TNT and urge them to cancel the "Greatest Show on Earth" series.
Sign Petition Here:
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/787638397?z00m=1481...
Target: Steve Koonin, President of TNT
Sponsor: ASPCA
An upcoming TV series, "Greatest Show on Earth", promises a "behind-the-scenes" look at the legendary Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. But the real story is that Circus staff regularly abuse and torment performing elephants with bull hooks, chains and other devices.
Elephants Need Protection
The abuse of Ringling Bros. circus elephants -- well documented by animal welfare organizations, state humane agencies, and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) inspectors -- violates both the federal Endangered Species Act and the Animal Welfare Act, which prohibit the abuse of endangered animals used in entertainment.
Many have witnessed routine violent abuse and cruelty toward the elephants, including frequently hitting the elephants with bull hooks, rubbing dirt into sores of elephants to conceal their wounds, and routinely chaining the elephants on concrete or in cramped rail cars for many hours of every day and night.
This kind of cruelty is not entertainment -- contact TNT and urge them to cancel the "Greatest Show on Earth" series.
Sign Petition Here:
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/787638397?z00m=1481...
Top Ten Reasons Why Pit Bulls Are Scary!
Beware!!! What Pit bulls are really like!
10. They will steal your spot on the couch while you are up getting a soda.
9. They will take the treat you give them and bury in the back yard like a paranoid crack head hiding their stash.
8. They will jump on your bed with muddy feet. Making you do the laundry...again!
7. They will lick visitors with an uncontrolled passion only they
understand.
6. They will cause children to smile.
5. They will make you feel horrible for not walking them by looking at you with deep sad eyes.
4. They will look at you like you committed a crime against them if you don't let them lick your ice cream bowl.
3. They will cause wide spread happiness in large group settings.
2. They will crack you up by shaking their butts so hard you think they are going to snap in half.
And the number one reason why you can't trust vicious Pit Bulls...
1. They will steal your heart like a thief in the night, showing you complete and pure love that only a Pit Bull can show.
stolen from: http://www.nokillnow.com
check it out!
10. They will steal your spot on the couch while you are up getting a soda.
9. They will take the treat you give them and bury in the back yard like a paranoid crack head hiding their stash.
8. They will jump on your bed with muddy feet. Making you do the laundry...again!
7. They will lick visitors with an uncontrolled passion only they
understand.
6. They will cause children to smile.
5. They will make you feel horrible for not walking them by looking at you with deep sad eyes.
4. They will look at you like you committed a crime against them if you don't let them lick your ice cream bowl.
3. They will cause wide spread happiness in large group settings.
2. They will crack you up by shaking their butts so hard you think they are going to snap in half.
And the number one reason why you can't trust vicious Pit Bulls...
1. They will steal your heart like a thief in the night, showing you complete and pure love that only a Pit Bull can show.
stolen from: http://www.nokillnow.com
check it out!
‘BREAKDOWNS’ LED TO BRUTAL DEATH OF ANIMAL SHELTER DOG
The brutal death of a pit bull suggests there’s trouble at Animal Control, a document obtained by the District Weekly suggests.
The March 15 report by registered veterinary technician Christine Culhno of Long Beach Animal Control describes an incident in which an untrained officer used a rabies pole to drag an out-of-control pit bull from its holding pen. The report alleges the officer inadvertently choked the dog until blood gushed from its mouth and nose.
“The dog was flipping around and fighting so much that my syringe needle bent and I had to replace it before administering the drug. I lost my footing on a pool of blood as I walked across the room,” Culhno wrote in the report.
The scene was so exceptionally gruesome that, when the dog was finally euthanized, workers hosed blood off floors, walls, doors, cages and cabinets in the euthanasia room, the complaint alleges.
A source said someone sent the report to members of the media and city officials just a day after Long Beach City Council members voted unanimously to ask Animal Control to enforce stricter regulations for so-called “dangerous dogs” and their owners.
The dog’s death “resulted from several breakdowns in protocol that cumulatively made for an unfortunate incident,” said Michael Johnson, acting press information officer for the Department of Health, which oversees the Animal Control division.
The incident is still under investigation.
The shelter typically requires employees to sedate dangerous dogs before they’re removed from their cages for killing. Johnson says the animal shelter lacks a designated veterinarian on site and has failed to post medical license. California state law requires both. The animal shelter has not had an on-site veterinarian or premise license since December, according to Johnson.
Culhno filed a separate consumer complaint with the state Veterinary Medical Board after the death of the pit bull. She alleges the city has not had a premise veterinarian since October. Employees have been illegally administering controlled substances and vaccinations, an apparent violation of several codes of the state Veterinary Practice Act, according to the complaint.
Johnson said the agency is moving quickly to correct at least one problem. Loren Eslinger, a vet at the Belmont Shore Veterinary Hospital, verbally agreed this week to become the shelter’s premise vet, Johnson said. Eslinger was not available for comment.
link: http://thedistrictweekly.com/daily/writing-shotgun/%E2%80%98b...
The March 15 report by registered veterinary technician Christine Culhno of Long Beach Animal Control describes an incident in which an untrained officer used a rabies pole to drag an out-of-control pit bull from its holding pen. The report alleges the officer inadvertently choked the dog until blood gushed from its mouth and nose.
“The dog was flipping around and fighting so much that my syringe needle bent and I had to replace it before administering the drug. I lost my footing on a pool of blood as I walked across the room,” Culhno wrote in the report.
The scene was so exceptionally gruesome that, when the dog was finally euthanized, workers hosed blood off floors, walls, doors, cages and cabinets in the euthanasia room, the complaint alleges.
A source said someone sent the report to members of the media and city officials just a day after Long Beach City Council members voted unanimously to ask Animal Control to enforce stricter regulations for so-called “dangerous dogs” and their owners.
The dog’s death “resulted from several breakdowns in protocol that cumulatively made for an unfortunate incident,” said Michael Johnson, acting press information officer for the Department of Health, which oversees the Animal Control division.
The incident is still under investigation.
The shelter typically requires employees to sedate dangerous dogs before they’re removed from their cages for killing. Johnson says the animal shelter lacks a designated veterinarian on site and has failed to post medical license. California state law requires both. The animal shelter has not had an on-site veterinarian or premise license since December, according to Johnson.
Culhno filed a separate consumer complaint with the state Veterinary Medical Board after the death of the pit bull. She alleges the city has not had a premise veterinarian since October. Employees have been illegally administering controlled substances and vaccinations, an apparent violation of several codes of the state Veterinary Practice Act, according to the complaint.
Johnson said the agency is moving quickly to correct at least one problem. Loren Eslinger, a vet at the Belmont Shore Veterinary Hospital, verbally agreed this week to become the shelter’s premise vet, Johnson said. Eslinger was not available for comment.
link: http://thedistrictweekly.com/daily/writing-shotgun/%E2%80%98b...
NJ - Reward Offered to Catch Animal Abuser
Reward Offered to Catch Animal Abuser Who Doused Pit Bull in Acid
Posted By Freelance Writers Date: 4/04 Posted Under: Animal Cruelty
Associated Humane Societies/Popcorn Park Zoo is offering a $1,000 reward to help find the person or people who threw acid on the face of a pit bull terrier and left it to die on the streets of Newark, NJ (USA).
“Dogs like this are usually abused, often brutally killed by their owners because they refuse to participate in dog fighting competitions or they are not aggressive,” said Roseann Trezza, Executive Director, Associated Humane Societies/Popcorn Park.
“This sweet dog was tortured, no doubt, because she didn’t have the instinct to fight.
Whoever does this to any living creature needs to be prosecuted.”
Associated Humane Societies has set up a reward fund to be given to anyone who offers information leading to the arrest & conviction of the dog’s abuser(s).
This young female pit bull was found by police wandering on Fabyan Place, here, by police, who noted her condition and immediately contacted the animal control officer at AHS. When the animal control officer arrived at the scene, the dog was hiding behind a parked car.
Officials have named her Fabyana.
She was taken to the Newark Animal Care Center for immediate treatment and today was transported to Garden State Veterinary Specialists in Eatontown for long-term care. Veterinarians there said acid burned her face, back and thighs, yet she remains happy with a tail that wags whenever people or animals approach her. She is about a year old and it is believed that the wounds are about a week old.
Illegal dog fighting has reached epidemic levels in many urban areas, and law enforcement officials are beginning to take notice and take action. Associated Humane Societies urges anyone who knows about illegal dog fighting activity to contact ocal police or the New Jersey SPCA at 1-800-582-5979.
AHS’s Res-Q Fund is a special program that funds special care of animals like Fabyana. If you’d like to help Fabyana and others like her, learn more about Res-Q Fund at www.ahscares.org
Posted By Freelance Writers Date: 4/04 Posted Under: Animal Cruelty
Associated Humane Societies/Popcorn Park Zoo is offering a $1,000 reward to help find the person or people who threw acid on the face of a pit bull terrier and left it to die on the streets of Newark, NJ (USA).
“Dogs like this are usually abused, often brutally killed by their owners because they refuse to participate in dog fighting competitions or they are not aggressive,” said Roseann Trezza, Executive Director, Associated Humane Societies/Popcorn Park.
“This sweet dog was tortured, no doubt, because she didn’t have the instinct to fight.
Whoever does this to any living creature needs to be prosecuted.”
Associated Humane Societies has set up a reward fund to be given to anyone who offers information leading to the arrest & conviction of the dog’s abuser(s).
This young female pit bull was found by police wandering on Fabyan Place, here, by police, who noted her condition and immediately contacted the animal control officer at AHS. When the animal control officer arrived at the scene, the dog was hiding behind a parked car.
Officials have named her Fabyana.
She was taken to the Newark Animal Care Center for immediate treatment and today was transported to Garden State Veterinary Specialists in Eatontown for long-term care. Veterinarians there said acid burned her face, back and thighs, yet she remains happy with a tail that wags whenever people or animals approach her. She is about a year old and it is believed that the wounds are about a week old.
Illegal dog fighting has reached epidemic levels in many urban areas, and law enforcement officials are beginning to take notice and take action. Associated Humane Societies urges anyone who knows about illegal dog fighting activity to contact ocal police or the New Jersey SPCA at 1-800-582-5979.
AHS’s Res-Q Fund is a special program that funds special care of animals like Fabyana. If you’d like to help Fabyana and others like her, learn more about Res-Q Fund at www.ahscares.org
Nassau County, NY - animal cruelty case
oh boy - this one is tough reading. We have attempted murder along with animal abuse and there's a baby in there too that very obviously needs to be protected...
Woman Accused of Killing Dog and Blaming Pit Bull Set for Court
Posted By Ryan O'Meara Date: 24/03 Posted Under: Animal Welfare
Joy Ward over at our friends Dogster, has asked for the following, undoubtedly harrowing story to be crossposted.
The details contained in the following story are hard-going so please be warned.
Here’s the story from Joe:
Last year, Joe’s son, whom I’ll call young Joe, was nice enough to let his friend Christopher Anzalone and his friend’s pregnant girlfriend Kristine move in with him when they faced financial difficulties. His repayment? Kristine became jealous of young Joe and Chistopher’s friendship and tried to poison young Joe by putting Visine in his iced tea. Oddly enough, this form of poison actually CAN work and young Joe became sick. Fortunately, young Joe survived but his two canine furbabies, a chihuahua and a pit bull did not.
No, they did die from a Visine overdose. Kristine had a much worse fate in mind for them. While young Joe and Christopher were off having a beer, Kristine beat the poor chihuahua mercilessly and then threw the almost senseless dog at the also abused pit bull. Then she and two friends left the home. When they returned the chihuahua was dead and the pit bull left to take the blame. The pit was then euthanized.
After witnesses came forward, police discovered the attempted human murder to go along with the murder of these furbabies.
Now Kristine Anzalone (who has a baby and is married to Christopher) comes to court. Joe is asking any pet lover who can to attend the court case. If you’re like me and can’t get to Nassau County, NY for the court appearance then you can call the court and let them know we are watching. We expect that the judge will deal as harshly as possible with this terrible person. Not only has she ruthlessly murdered two trusting dogs, she tried to murder the man who helped her. And don’t forget that now the Anzalones have a human baby. What happens if she gets tired of the baby or jealous of her husband’s affections? Not a pretty site I’m sure!
Here is the court appearance information and the judge’s contact information:
Defendant — Kristine Anzalone
Court date — March 31, 2008
Location — Nassau County, NY Courthouse
252 Old Country Road, Mineola, NY
Part 9
Judge Edward Maron (talk with his clerk, Denise)
516-507-4080, 516-571-2483
Assistant District Attorney handling the case
Schalk
516-572-3000 (I haven’t been able to get through on that line so I haven’t verified the ADA’s first name)
Here’s an article about the case from the Gothamist.
Roommate’s Revenge Plan: Visine Poisoning, Dog Fight
We always thought that Visine poisoning was an urban legend, but a crazy story from Long Island seems to suggest otherwise. Twenty-four year-old Kristine Anzalone has pleaded not guilty to second-degree assault and third-degree criminal mischief after being arrested for allegedly spiking her roommate’s drink with Visine and then agitating his dogs to get into a fight.
According to Newsday, Anzalone and her husband Christopher lived with a male roommate in a North Bellmore home for a few months. But the three squabbled over rent as well as the roommate’s smoking while Anzalone was pregnant. Last June, she allegedly gave the roommate an iced tea with “unknown amount of Visine,” which does contain the chemical tetrahydrozoline. The roommate suffered intestinal distress, including vomiting and rectal bleeding, plus had trouble breathing and was admitted to the hospital.
Then, a few months later, after returning from a business trip, the roommate found his Chihuahua had been killed by his pit bull. A witness told him Anzalone used a cane to provoke the pit bull into attacking the smaller dog.
Follow this link to read the rest of the article.
Here’s an article about this case reported on the LaRusso & Conway Law Office site.
Cops: Housemate Saw Red in Visine Poisoning
A housing squabble at a North Bellmore residence escalated until one tenant poisoned her roommate with eyedrop medication, causing him to vomit and bleed from his rectum, and then provoked his two dogs into a fatal fight, Nassau police said yesterday.
Kristine Anzalone, 24, now living at 45 Ryder Ave. in East Rockaway, pleaded not guilty to second-degree assault and third-degree criminal mischief charges yesterday. She was expected to post bail of $5,000 cash or $10,000 bond, according to Nancy Bartling of Mineola, her lawyer. “The facts will show that she had nothing to do with this,” Bartling said.
From March to early July 2006, Anzalone and her husband, Christopher, lived with an unnamed friend at 999 Newbridge Rd., said Det. Lt. Kevin Smith at a news conference yesterday.
But the housing situation quickly disintegrated over arguments about rent, and Anzalone, who was pregnant at the time, complained about the roommate smoking in the home, Smith said.
One day in June 2006, the roommate was cleaning the garage when Anzalone served him iced tea that was spiked with an unknown amount of Visine, an over-the-counter eyedrop medicine for dry or bloodshot eyes, police said. Visine contains tetrahydrozoline, a chemical that constricts blood vessels.
The next day, the roommate started vomiting, had trouble breathing and bled from his rectum, Smith said. He went to his doctor at North Shore University Hospital in Plainview for medical attention, and soon learned from friends that Anzalone put Visine in his drink, Smith said.
Improper use of Visine can cause organ damage, said Dr. Tom Caraccio, managing director of the Long Island Regional Poison Center at Winthrop-University Hospital in Mineola. “If you ingested enough, it could affect the heart, it could affect the lungs,” he said, citing a case where a toddler fell into a coma after drinking half a bottle of Visine.
A spokeswoman for Johnson & Johnson, the company that makes the eyedrop medicine, said, “Visine is safe and effective when used as directed” and declined to comment on the case.
After he fell ill, the roommate made preparations to move out of the North Bellmore house but had an out-of-town business trip around July 6, 2006, police said. He came home to find his Chihuahua had been killed by his pit bull, and learned from an unidentified witness that Anzalone, using a metal cane, hit and poked the pit bull into attacking the smaller dog, Smith said. The pit bull was later euthanized, he said.
Anzalone’s lawyer said she wasn’t even at home at the time of the pit bull attack. “She came home to see the Chihuahua dead,” Bartling said.
Follow this link to read the rest of the article: http://www.larussoandconway.com/news-anzalone120607.html
If you live near Nassau County and can get to the court to support Joe, I’m sure it would be very much appreciated by all concerned.
Links:
Help Us in Call For Tougher Sentences for Animal Abusers:http://www.dogmagazine.net/archives/47/help-us-in-cal...
Author Details
Ryan O'Meara is editor-in-chief of K9 Magazine, the lifestyle magazine for dog lovers. He lives in the East Midlands with his own two dogs, Mia and Chloe. - See this author's webpage
Woman Accused of Killing Dog and Blaming Pit Bull Set for Court
Posted By Ryan O'Meara Date: 24/03 Posted Under: Animal Welfare
Joy Ward over at our friends Dogster, has asked for the following, undoubtedly harrowing story to be crossposted.
The details contained in the following story are hard-going so please be warned.
Here’s the story from Joe:
Last year, Joe’s son, whom I’ll call young Joe, was nice enough to let his friend Christopher Anzalone and his friend’s pregnant girlfriend Kristine move in with him when they faced financial difficulties. His repayment? Kristine became jealous of young Joe and Chistopher’s friendship and tried to poison young Joe by putting Visine in his iced tea. Oddly enough, this form of poison actually CAN work and young Joe became sick. Fortunately, young Joe survived but his two canine furbabies, a chihuahua and a pit bull did not.
No, they did die from a Visine overdose. Kristine had a much worse fate in mind for them. While young Joe and Christopher were off having a beer, Kristine beat the poor chihuahua mercilessly and then threw the almost senseless dog at the also abused pit bull. Then she and two friends left the home. When they returned the chihuahua was dead and the pit bull left to take the blame. The pit was then euthanized.
After witnesses came forward, police discovered the attempted human murder to go along with the murder of these furbabies.
Now Kristine Anzalone (who has a baby and is married to Christopher) comes to court. Joe is asking any pet lover who can to attend the court case. If you’re like me and can’t get to Nassau County, NY for the court appearance then you can call the court and let them know we are watching. We expect that the judge will deal as harshly as possible with this terrible person. Not only has she ruthlessly murdered two trusting dogs, she tried to murder the man who helped her. And don’t forget that now the Anzalones have a human baby. What happens if she gets tired of the baby or jealous of her husband’s affections? Not a pretty site I’m sure!
Here is the court appearance information and the judge’s contact information:
Defendant — Kristine Anzalone
Court date — March 31, 2008
Location — Nassau County, NY Courthouse
252 Old Country Road, Mineola, NY
Part 9
Judge Edward Maron (talk with his clerk, Denise)
516-507-4080, 516-571-2483
Assistant District Attorney handling the case
Schalk
516-572-3000 (I haven’t been able to get through on that line so I haven’t verified the ADA’s first name)
Here’s an article about the case from the Gothamist.
Roommate’s Revenge Plan: Visine Poisoning, Dog Fight
We always thought that Visine poisoning was an urban legend, but a crazy story from Long Island seems to suggest otherwise. Twenty-four year-old Kristine Anzalone has pleaded not guilty to second-degree assault and third-degree criminal mischief after being arrested for allegedly spiking her roommate’s drink with Visine and then agitating his dogs to get into a fight.
According to Newsday, Anzalone and her husband Christopher lived with a male roommate in a North Bellmore home for a few months. But the three squabbled over rent as well as the roommate’s smoking while Anzalone was pregnant. Last June, she allegedly gave the roommate an iced tea with “unknown amount of Visine,” which does contain the chemical tetrahydrozoline. The roommate suffered intestinal distress, including vomiting and rectal bleeding, plus had trouble breathing and was admitted to the hospital.
Then, a few months later, after returning from a business trip, the roommate found his Chihuahua had been killed by his pit bull. A witness told him Anzalone used a cane to provoke the pit bull into attacking the smaller dog.
Follow this link to read the rest of the article.
Here’s an article about this case reported on the LaRusso & Conway Law Office site.
Cops: Housemate Saw Red in Visine Poisoning
A housing squabble at a North Bellmore residence escalated until one tenant poisoned her roommate with eyedrop medication, causing him to vomit and bleed from his rectum, and then provoked his two dogs into a fatal fight, Nassau police said yesterday.
Kristine Anzalone, 24, now living at 45 Ryder Ave. in East Rockaway, pleaded not guilty to second-degree assault and third-degree criminal mischief charges yesterday. She was expected to post bail of $5,000 cash or $10,000 bond, according to Nancy Bartling of Mineola, her lawyer. “The facts will show that she had nothing to do with this,” Bartling said.
From March to early July 2006, Anzalone and her husband, Christopher, lived with an unnamed friend at 999 Newbridge Rd., said Det. Lt. Kevin Smith at a news conference yesterday.
But the housing situation quickly disintegrated over arguments about rent, and Anzalone, who was pregnant at the time, complained about the roommate smoking in the home, Smith said.
One day in June 2006, the roommate was cleaning the garage when Anzalone served him iced tea that was spiked with an unknown amount of Visine, an over-the-counter eyedrop medicine for dry or bloodshot eyes, police said. Visine contains tetrahydrozoline, a chemical that constricts blood vessels.
The next day, the roommate started vomiting, had trouble breathing and bled from his rectum, Smith said. He went to his doctor at North Shore University Hospital in Plainview for medical attention, and soon learned from friends that Anzalone put Visine in his drink, Smith said.
Improper use of Visine can cause organ damage, said Dr. Tom Caraccio, managing director of the Long Island Regional Poison Center at Winthrop-University Hospital in Mineola. “If you ingested enough, it could affect the heart, it could affect the lungs,” he said, citing a case where a toddler fell into a coma after drinking half a bottle of Visine.
A spokeswoman for Johnson & Johnson, the company that makes the eyedrop medicine, said, “Visine is safe and effective when used as directed” and declined to comment on the case.
After he fell ill, the roommate made preparations to move out of the North Bellmore house but had an out-of-town business trip around July 6, 2006, police said. He came home to find his Chihuahua had been killed by his pit bull, and learned from an unidentified witness that Anzalone, using a metal cane, hit and poked the pit bull into attacking the smaller dog, Smith said. The pit bull was later euthanized, he said.
Anzalone’s lawyer said she wasn’t even at home at the time of the pit bull attack. “She came home to see the Chihuahua dead,” Bartling said.
Follow this link to read the rest of the article: http://www.larussoandconway.com/news-anzalone120607.html
If you live near Nassau County and can get to the court to support Joe, I’m sure it would be very much appreciated by all concerned.
Links:
Help Us in Call For Tougher Sentences for Animal Abusers:http://www.dogmagazine.net/archives/47/help-us-in-cal...
Author Details
Ryan O'Meara is editor-in-chief of K9 Magazine, the lifestyle magazine for dog lovers. He lives in the East Midlands with his own two dogs, Mia and Chloe. - See this author's webpage
Pit bulls ordered to no-kill facility in Georgia never made it
This story makes me feel sick. I wish people who have no business being involved with these dogs would just not GET involved - there are worse things than being humanely euthanized.
By Will Greenlee
Monday, March 24, 2008
FORT PIERCE — One of the pit bull dogs turned up in a "mid-level" drug dealer's home raided about three weeks ago. Another was wandering the city streets.
Some were recovered in Okeechobee and others at a Seminole Indian reservation
Now police are investigating how 13 of 14 dogs ended up in those places instead of the no-kill facility in Georgia where a local court in February ordered them taken. One dog is still missing.
"I think somebody lied, big time, and I think there possibly was collusion big time between some of the people," Frank Andrews, executive director of the Humane Society of St. Lucie County, said Monday. "I think this was not something that just happened, I think it was planned. I am not so sure that these dogs were ever going to get to Georgia given what we know now."
The tangled story began in July 2007 after a Fort Pierce police officer saw Nahume Belvilus, whofaces multiple counts of unlawful confinement of animals and cruelty to animals,beating three dogs. It was unclear how long Belvilus struck and starved 29 pit bulls, which were restrained in his backyard with heavy chains fastened to metal stakes.
Eleven of the 29 were euthanized and four were adopted. The remaining 14 dogs couldn't be adopted because they were too aggressive and had attacked employees, according to the Humane Society, which led to the no-kill shelter solution.
A man identified by police as Mark Steven Hawthorne, 45, picked up the dogs Feb. 11 from the Humane Society and was supposed to take them to the shelter in Georgia, reportedly run by the Georgia-based Homeless Pet Foundation, a nonprofit group that operates no-kill animal shelters.
The arrangement and court order came earlier that month, and apparently was suggested by Belvilus and his attorney, according to police.
"The implication was that this was a nice solution, a win-win solution for everybody," Andrews said. "No one likes to put animals to sleep so we went along with the sworn testimony that this was going to happen."
But, Fort Pierce police Detective Sgt. John Schramm said, the dogs never made it to Georgia. Instead, investigators found one during a drug search warrant executed at a home in the 1200 block of Georgia Avenue during which investigators also turned up 14 ounces of powder cocaine, 80 grams of crack and equipment used to make crack. At least one person, Terry McQueen, was arrested.
Another pit bull was found stray. Talks with Hawthorne, who Andrews said indicated he had an affiliation with the Georgia no-kill facility, led investigators to other dogs in areas including Okeechobee and a Seminole Indian reservation.
On Monday, 13 of the 14 dogs ordered to Georgia were back at the Humane Society.
Andrews said the dogs have lost weight, have "severe flea infestation," and are scared of people. One is pregnant.
"It's a terrible situation," he said.
Schramm said there's no evidence the dogs were used for fighting purposes.
As for Hawthorne, "I think he's got some questions to answer," Andrews said.
Schramm said Hawthorne is in Georgia, and police are trying to determine whether a crime occurred.
Asked if Hawthorne explained why he didn't take the dogs to Georgia, Schramm said, "That's still under investigation."
The attorney who represented Belvilus in February, Juan Torres, couldn't be reached Monday.
By Will Greenlee
Monday, March 24, 2008
FORT PIERCE — One of the pit bull dogs turned up in a "mid-level" drug dealer's home raided about three weeks ago. Another was wandering the city streets.
Some were recovered in Okeechobee and others at a Seminole Indian reservation
Now police are investigating how 13 of 14 dogs ended up in those places instead of the no-kill facility in Georgia where a local court in February ordered them taken. One dog is still missing.
"I think somebody lied, big time, and I think there possibly was collusion big time between some of the people," Frank Andrews, executive director of the Humane Society of St. Lucie County, said Monday. "I think this was not something that just happened, I think it was planned. I am not so sure that these dogs were ever going to get to Georgia given what we know now."
The tangled story began in July 2007 after a Fort Pierce police officer saw Nahume Belvilus, whofaces multiple counts of unlawful confinement of animals and cruelty to animals,beating three dogs. It was unclear how long Belvilus struck and starved 29 pit bulls, which were restrained in his backyard with heavy chains fastened to metal stakes.
Eleven of the 29 were euthanized and four were adopted. The remaining 14 dogs couldn't be adopted because they were too aggressive and had attacked employees, according to the Humane Society, which led to the no-kill shelter solution.
A man identified by police as Mark Steven Hawthorne, 45, picked up the dogs Feb. 11 from the Humane Society and was supposed to take them to the shelter in Georgia, reportedly run by the Georgia-based Homeless Pet Foundation, a nonprofit group that operates no-kill animal shelters.
The arrangement and court order came earlier that month, and apparently was suggested by Belvilus and his attorney, according to police.
"The implication was that this was a nice solution, a win-win solution for everybody," Andrews said. "No one likes to put animals to sleep so we went along with the sworn testimony that this was going to happen."
But, Fort Pierce police Detective Sgt. John Schramm said, the dogs never made it to Georgia. Instead, investigators found one during a drug search warrant executed at a home in the 1200 block of Georgia Avenue during which investigators also turned up 14 ounces of powder cocaine, 80 grams of crack and equipment used to make crack. At least one person, Terry McQueen, was arrested.
Another pit bull was found stray. Talks with Hawthorne, who Andrews said indicated he had an affiliation with the Georgia no-kill facility, led investigators to other dogs in areas including Okeechobee and a Seminole Indian reservation.
On Monday, 13 of the 14 dogs ordered to Georgia were back at the Humane Society.
Andrews said the dogs have lost weight, have "severe flea infestation," and are scared of people. One is pregnant.
"It's a terrible situation," he said.
Schramm said there's no evidence the dogs were used for fighting purposes.
As for Hawthorne, "I think he's got some questions to answer," Andrews said.
Schramm said Hawthorne is in Georgia, and police are trying to determine whether a crime occurred.
Asked if Hawthorne explained why he didn't take the dogs to Georgia, Schramm said, "That's still under investigation."
The attorney who represented Belvilus in February, Juan Torres, couldn't be reached Monday.
Animal torture bill clears hurdle of House panel
Animal torture bill clears hurdle of House panel
A measure that would make it a Class D felony on the first offense for torturing a dog or cat breezed through the House Judiciary Committee after a lengthy discussion Wednesday.
The bill, sponsored by Republican Sen. Tom Buford of Nicholasville, would toughen the penalty for the first instance of subjecting a dog or cat "to extreme physical pain or injury, motivated by an intent to increase or prolong the pain of the animal."
Currently, the first offense is a misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in jail. By making it a Class D felony, someone convicted of animal torture could face between one and five years in prison.
The measure, Senate Bill 58, stems from a case last year in which a Pulaski County man beat a young Labrador retriever named Romeo, an event caught on video. The dog survived and the man was sentenced to four months in jail.
Rep. Stan Lee, R-Lexington, moved Wednesday to have the bill named "Romeo's law" in the dog's honor.
Some House Democrats expressed concern that the bill creates a new felony at a time when state jails and prisons are overflowing and contributing to county and state budget woes.
Still, the bill passed the committee 10-0 with three lawmakers passing. It now moves to the full 100-member House.
Buford told the committee that he researched FBI reports in which a majority of serial killer have admitted in interviews that they tortured cats and dogs regularly.
- Ryan Alessi
Posted on March 19, 2008 at 03:15 PM in KY General Assembly |
A measure that would make it a Class D felony on the first offense for torturing a dog or cat breezed through the House Judiciary Committee after a lengthy discussion Wednesday.
The bill, sponsored by Republican Sen. Tom Buford of Nicholasville, would toughen the penalty for the first instance of subjecting a dog or cat "to extreme physical pain or injury, motivated by an intent to increase or prolong the pain of the animal."
Currently, the first offense is a misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in jail. By making it a Class D felony, someone convicted of animal torture could face between one and five years in prison.
The measure, Senate Bill 58, stems from a case last year in which a Pulaski County man beat a young Labrador retriever named Romeo, an event caught on video. The dog survived and the man was sentenced to four months in jail.
Rep. Stan Lee, R-Lexington, moved Wednesday to have the bill named "Romeo's law" in the dog's honor.
Some House Democrats expressed concern that the bill creates a new felony at a time when state jails and prisons are overflowing and contributing to county and state budget woes.
Still, the bill passed the committee 10-0 with three lawmakers passing. It now moves to the full 100-member House.
Buford told the committee that he researched FBI reports in which a majority of serial killer have admitted in interviews that they tortured cats and dogs regularly.
- Ryan Alessi
Posted on March 19, 2008 at 03:15 PM in KY General Assembly |
Man Wins Dog Back After DNA Test Proves Dog Isn't Pit Bull
Man Wins Dog Back After DNA Test Proves Dog Isn't Pit Bull
Created: Tuesday, 12 Feb 2008, 8:27 PM CST
Chalk a victory up for man's best friend in Kansas City, Kansas. A man just won his eight month legal battle with the city to keep his dog after proving it wasn't a pit bull.
Niko
For the last eight months, Niko has been living in the KCK Animal Control Kennels while his owners fought with the city. Animal Control said the dog violated the pit bull ban, but the dog's owner has said all along the dog is actually a boxer mix.
Niko has only been a free dog for a couple of days. Mike Johnson said it's obvious that eight months in the pound was tough on Niko.
"He lost some fur and has quite a bit of a cough," Johnson said. "He lost about 10-15 pounds."
This all started because the family put up an ad trying to find Niko a new home. Animal Control saw the ad and confiscated the dog, calling it a pit bull, even though paperwork called the dog a boxer.
After months of legal wrangling and a DNA test, all charges have been dropped and now they plan on keeping Niko for good.
"I don't feel it's fair at all," Johnson said. "For one they took our dog. We had documentation what type of dog it was but they wouldn't even look at that."
"People like Mike and Amy get caught in this loop, they actually had criminal charges brought up against them," Cheryl Buell with KC Dog Advocates said.
Buell said this shows pit bull bans are hard to enforce and that's exactly why other cities are changing laws, like Edwardsville, which just changed its ordinance Monday night, removing the pit bull ban.
"Beefing up their dangerous dog ordinance, make sure the people with dangerous dogs are held accountable, those are the people you want to punish fine," Buell said.
Buell wants KCK to re-examine its ordinance.
"It was hard on the dog and the people involved and a huge waste of tax money and it didn't accomplish anything because it wasn't a vicious dog to begin with," she said.
A KCK spokesman said the pit bull ban is there to protect people. It was only a year and a half ago that a 71-year-old woman was attacked and killed by a pit bull in KCK.
Created: Tuesday, 12 Feb 2008, 8:27 PM CST
Chalk a victory up for man's best friend in Kansas City, Kansas. A man just won his eight month legal battle with the city to keep his dog after proving it wasn't a pit bull.
Niko
For the last eight months, Niko has been living in the KCK Animal Control Kennels while his owners fought with the city. Animal Control said the dog violated the pit bull ban, but the dog's owner has said all along the dog is actually a boxer mix.
Niko has only been a free dog for a couple of days. Mike Johnson said it's obvious that eight months in the pound was tough on Niko.
"He lost some fur and has quite a bit of a cough," Johnson said. "He lost about 10-15 pounds."
This all started because the family put up an ad trying to find Niko a new home. Animal Control saw the ad and confiscated the dog, calling it a pit bull, even though paperwork called the dog a boxer.
After months of legal wrangling and a DNA test, all charges have been dropped and now they plan on keeping Niko for good.
"I don't feel it's fair at all," Johnson said. "For one they took our dog. We had documentation what type of dog it was but they wouldn't even look at that."
"People like Mike and Amy get caught in this loop, they actually had criminal charges brought up against them," Cheryl Buell with KC Dog Advocates said.
Buell said this shows pit bull bans are hard to enforce and that's exactly why other cities are changing laws, like Edwardsville, which just changed its ordinance Monday night, removing the pit bull ban.
"Beefing up their dangerous dog ordinance, make sure the people with dangerous dogs are held accountable, those are the people you want to punish fine," Buell said.
Buell wants KCK to re-examine its ordinance.
"It was hard on the dog and the people involved and a huge waste of tax money and it didn't accomplish anything because it wasn't a vicious dog to begin with," she said.
A KCK spokesman said the pit bull ban is there to protect people. It was only a year and a half ago that a 71-year-old woman was attacked and killed by a pit bull in KCK.
L.A. County restricts local dog rescuer
A Ventura County man has made it his personal mission to rescue unwanted animals in Kern County.
But now, his efforts have a legal snag.
Josh Pasewaldt owns a pet feed store in Thousand Oaks and drives to Bakersfield every week to rescue unwanted animals.
He sells them to his customers for the same price he pays.
Now, Animal Control in Los Angeles is demanding he follow state health and safety regulations in order to keep giving Kern County animals a new lease on life.
“I've never been slapped so hard for trying to do the right thing,” said Pasewaldt. “It feels like I'm trying to break the law or rob a bank or something with the equivalence of robbing a bank when all I'm trying to do is save dogs.”
Pasewaldt said he’s being forced to comply with regulations under the L.A. County Animal Care and Control.
He said he must file permits with the city to run a dog kennel and a pet store.
“It’s disheartening,” said Denise Haynes from Kern County Animal Control. “One hand, we have to abide by the law. Joshua is in a very precarious position of having live creatures in his business, and in order to protect those live creatures, there are laws that he has to follow.”
Haynes said Pasewaldt must install a fire alarm or sprinkler system.
That would cost Pasewaldt about $4,000, money he doesn’t have.
“I don't make anybody incur the cost of the gas, the car, anything like that,” said Pasewaldt. “I feed the dogs, I'm having dog food companies pay for that. I initially was paying for that on my own.”
“He is taking all these animals who would die, he's taking them out, and I think that we in Kern County should support him, and if we do that, he can continue because without him, our kill rate would be a thousand animals more,” said Marilyn Stewart from the Alpha Canine Sanctuary. “And last year it was high enough.”
If you would like to help Pasewaldt in his efforts to save the animals, you can contact him at the Newbury Park feed.
The phone number is (805) 498-2415.
Where Do the Candidates Stand on Animal Issues?
Where Do the Candidates Stand on Animal Issues?
http://petloverstips.com/ForTheLoveoftheDog/article/where-do-...
Before I do into this article, I want to state that I am not a big political person and the only issues that I will be addressing here are the candidates’ stands on various animal issues. My feeling when it comes to politics is that I would not support someone who was not strong on animal welfare issues that were important to me but also I would not support someone solely based on their stand on animal welfare issues.
I’m only going to be covering the ‘major’ players in the race and do my best not to allow my own feelings, except for animal welfare issues, come through.
2008 Presidential Candidates
Democrats
Hillary Rodham Clinton
John Edwards
Mike Gravel
Dennis J. Kucinich
Barack Obama
Bill Richardson Republican
Rudolph W. Giuliani
Mike Huckabee
Duncan L. Hunter
John McCain
Ron Paul
Mitt Romney
Fred Thompson
Democrats’ Stands on Animal Welfare Issues
Hillary Rodham Clinton - Considered strong on animal welface issues.She has co-sponsered legislation regarding horse slaughter and animal fighting as well as legislation to stop the processing of ‘downer’ livestock and wants to crack down on puppy mills.
John Edwards - Weak on hunting issues - “Hunting and Fishing Bill of Rights and Responsibilities” that calls for giving hunters more access to federal lands, including, in some cases, national parks. He has supported and co-cponsered bills on the following issues though and was one of the first candidates to come forward and release a statement on animal welfare issues; stop cockfighting, bear poaching, and the processing of “downer” livestock, restricting abusive puppy mills, ensuring the safety of pet food, stopping the trade in pet primates,protect dolphins from tuna nets and prevent drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
Mike Gravel - No readily available information on animal welfare issues.
Dennis Kucinich - He is considered very strong on animal welfare issues. Currently a co-sponsor of 14 animal protection measures, led the effort in 2001 and 2002 to secure more funding for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act at puppy mills, research laboratories, zoos, circuses, and other facilities. Had hosted an online forum to discuss animal issues and is an ethical vegetarian.
Barek Obama - He is considered strong on animal welfare issues. Has co-sponsored of measures to stop horse slaughter, upgrade the penalties for animal fighting, and crack down on dogfighting. You can read more about his stands on animal welface in his Human Society Legislative Fund’s questionairre.
Bill Richardson - Considered strong on animal welfare issues. As Governor of New Mexico he has provided more than ten million dollars for wildlife conservation, animal shelters, animal control, spay/neuter projects, cruelty investigations, and other animal welfare programs. Finally outlawed cockfighting and enacted a law to have a bittering agent added to antifreeze for the safety of children and animals. Weak on rodeos and hunting.
Republicans’ Stands on Animal Welfare Issues
Rudy Giuliani - Not much legislation except for a 2000 bill to promote the spaying and neutering of dogs and cats and open an animal shelter in each borough in order to help curb New York’s pet overpopulation. The first Republican candidate to release a public statement on animal issues - “Animals play an important part in the lives of many Americans. We should all work to reduce animal suffering by advocating for sensible public policies, investigating animal cruelty and strongly enforcing the laws that are already on the books. I will continue to support efforts to educate the public about animal issues, and work with corporations to develop animal-friendly policies.”
Mike Huckabee - Considered weak and poor on animal welfare issues. I think by now everyone had heard about his son and the cruel dog killing incident. Huckabee and his staff was further involved by attempting to have the matter not investigated and covered up. He is an avid hunter and has stood against pretty much any legislation to strengthen animal welfare and strongly sides with Arkansas Farm Bureau, Arkansas Cattlemen’s Association, Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, and Ducks Unlimited refusing to upgrade the penalties for animal cruelty saying they would have adversely impacted hunting, fishing, farming, and other Arkansas traditions. Oh, and one of his favorite foods is purported to be made with horsemeat!
Duncan Hunter - Considered basically poor on animal welfare issues but does support legislation against animal fighting, horse slaughter, and the processing of “downer” livestock. He’s weak on hunting issues to the point that he supports trophy hunting on Santa Rosa Island. He is also involved in a controversial battle over whether the animals will be exterminated from the island or allowed to remain in a canned hunt - a negative for animals with either outcome.
John McCain - Considered strong on various animal welfare issues. Voted for and/or co-sponsored legislation to stop horse slaughter, eliminate a $2 million subsidy for the mink industry, stop the interstate shipment of birds for cockfighting and to stop the poaching of bears. Weak on hunting issues
Ron Paul - Extremely weak and poor on animal welfare issues! to keep the federal penalties weak for dogfighting and cockfighting, providing some great pocket protection for would-be Michael Vicks. He against restoring the decades-old protections for wild horses and burros, instead opting to allow these majestic creatures to be sold for commercial slaughter. And One of only 31 members of the U.S. House of Representatives who voted against every single animal protection measure that came up for a vote in 2007. He voted in Marchvoted in Aprilhe voted in June to allow wealthy American trophy hunters to shoot polar bears in the Arctic and bring their heads and hides back home.
Mitt Romney - Relative poor on animal welfare issues. We all probably remeber the story about him tying his dog on the top on his car in a crate on a family vacation, not cool! That action seems to showcase his measure when it comes to animal welfare, don’t really care. He supports rodeos and appoints animal-unfriendly people to Wildlife boards. The only positive note was a bill to strengthen the Massachusetts animal fighting law and prevent a convicted animal abuser from getting the animal back.
Fred Thompson - Basically poor on animal welfare issues. Voted to continue spending tax dollars to allow the use of two particularly inhumane traps—steel-jawed leghold traps and wire neck snares—for commercial and recreational trapping on National Wildlife Refuges, opposed an amendment to protect dolphins from drowning in tuna fishing nets. The only positive was that he voted to eliminate $2 million subsidy for the mink industry
This is a brief encapsulated overview of the candidates and their stands on various animal welfare issues.
You can find more and detail information on the above candidates and many other politicos in the HSUS Humane Scorecard which you can download HERE (http://www.petloverstips.com/HumaneScorecard2006_final.pdf)
You can also find additional information at the Humane Society Legislative Fund (http://www.fund.org/voter_guide/2008_pres_candidates.html)
and the Animals and Politics Blog, just two of the numerous sources I used to gather information for this article.
----------------------------------------
One issue not addressed in any scorecard or other article is the candidate's stance on Breed Specific Legislation (with the exception of Giuliani, who is IN FAVOR of breed bans). Although BSL is considered a "local matter", my feeling is that it would beehove any owner of a targeted breed to know exactly how the candidate they are considering feels about this issue. Links to each candidate's website & contact info is listed here: http://www.fund.org/voter_guide/2008_pres_candidates.html.
I will be emailing some of the candidate's regarding BSL and will blog any responses that I get.
http://petloverstips.com/ForTheLoveoftheDog/article/where-do-...
Before I do into this article, I want to state that I am not a big political person and the only issues that I will be addressing here are the candidates’ stands on various animal issues. My feeling when it comes to politics is that I would not support someone who was not strong on animal welfare issues that were important to me but also I would not support someone solely based on their stand on animal welfare issues.
I’m only going to be covering the ‘major’ players in the race and do my best not to allow my own feelings, except for animal welfare issues, come through.
2008 Presidential Candidates
Democrats
Hillary Rodham Clinton
John Edwards
Mike Gravel
Dennis J. Kucinich
Barack Obama
Bill Richardson Republican
Rudolph W. Giuliani
Mike Huckabee
Duncan L. Hunter
John McCain
Ron Paul
Mitt Romney
Fred Thompson
Democrats’ Stands on Animal Welfare Issues
Hillary Rodham Clinton - Considered strong on animal welface issues.She has co-sponsered legislation regarding horse slaughter and animal fighting as well as legislation to stop the processing of ‘downer’ livestock and wants to crack down on puppy mills.
John Edwards - Weak on hunting issues - “Hunting and Fishing Bill of Rights and Responsibilities” that calls for giving hunters more access to federal lands, including, in some cases, national parks. He has supported and co-cponsered bills on the following issues though and was one of the first candidates to come forward and release a statement on animal welfare issues; stop cockfighting, bear poaching, and the processing of “downer” livestock, restricting abusive puppy mills, ensuring the safety of pet food, stopping the trade in pet primates,protect dolphins from tuna nets and prevent drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
Mike Gravel - No readily available information on animal welfare issues.
Dennis Kucinich - He is considered very strong on animal welfare issues. Currently a co-sponsor of 14 animal protection measures, led the effort in 2001 and 2002 to secure more funding for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act at puppy mills, research laboratories, zoos, circuses, and other facilities. Had hosted an online forum to discuss animal issues and is an ethical vegetarian.
Barek Obama - He is considered strong on animal welfare issues. Has co-sponsored of measures to stop horse slaughter, upgrade the penalties for animal fighting, and crack down on dogfighting. You can read more about his stands on animal welface in his Human Society Legislative Fund’s questionairre.
Bill Richardson - Considered strong on animal welfare issues. As Governor of New Mexico he has provided more than ten million dollars for wildlife conservation, animal shelters, animal control, spay/neuter projects, cruelty investigations, and other animal welfare programs. Finally outlawed cockfighting and enacted a law to have a bittering agent added to antifreeze for the safety of children and animals. Weak on rodeos and hunting.
Republicans’ Stands on Animal Welfare Issues
Rudy Giuliani - Not much legislation except for a 2000 bill to promote the spaying and neutering of dogs and cats and open an animal shelter in each borough in order to help curb New York’s pet overpopulation. The first Republican candidate to release a public statement on animal issues - “Animals play an important part in the lives of many Americans. We should all work to reduce animal suffering by advocating for sensible public policies, investigating animal cruelty and strongly enforcing the laws that are already on the books. I will continue to support efforts to educate the public about animal issues, and work with corporations to develop animal-friendly policies.”
Mike Huckabee - Considered weak and poor on animal welfare issues. I think by now everyone had heard about his son and the cruel dog killing incident. Huckabee and his staff was further involved by attempting to have the matter not investigated and covered up. He is an avid hunter and has stood against pretty much any legislation to strengthen animal welfare and strongly sides with Arkansas Farm Bureau, Arkansas Cattlemen’s Association, Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, and Ducks Unlimited refusing to upgrade the penalties for animal cruelty saying they would have adversely impacted hunting, fishing, farming, and other Arkansas traditions. Oh, and one of his favorite foods is purported to be made with horsemeat!
Duncan Hunter - Considered basically poor on animal welfare issues but does support legislation against animal fighting, horse slaughter, and the processing of “downer” livestock. He’s weak on hunting issues to the point that he supports trophy hunting on Santa Rosa Island. He is also involved in a controversial battle over whether the animals will be exterminated from the island or allowed to remain in a canned hunt - a negative for animals with either outcome.
John McCain - Considered strong on various animal welfare issues. Voted for and/or co-sponsored legislation to stop horse slaughter, eliminate a $2 million subsidy for the mink industry, stop the interstate shipment of birds for cockfighting and to stop the poaching of bears. Weak on hunting issues
Ron Paul - Extremely weak and poor on animal welfare issues! to keep the federal penalties weak for dogfighting and cockfighting, providing some great pocket protection for would-be Michael Vicks. He against restoring the decades-old protections for wild horses and burros, instead opting to allow these majestic creatures to be sold for commercial slaughter. And One of only 31 members of the U.S. House of Representatives who voted against every single animal protection measure that came up for a vote in 2007. He voted in Marchvoted in Aprilhe voted in June to allow wealthy American trophy hunters to shoot polar bears in the Arctic and bring their heads and hides back home.
Mitt Romney - Relative poor on animal welfare issues. We all probably remeber the story about him tying his dog on the top on his car in a crate on a family vacation, not cool! That action seems to showcase his measure when it comes to animal welfare, don’t really care. He supports rodeos and appoints animal-unfriendly people to Wildlife boards. The only positive note was a bill to strengthen the Massachusetts animal fighting law and prevent a convicted animal abuser from getting the animal back.
Fred Thompson - Basically poor on animal welfare issues. Voted to continue spending tax dollars to allow the use of two particularly inhumane traps—steel-jawed leghold traps and wire neck snares—for commercial and recreational trapping on National Wildlife Refuges, opposed an amendment to protect dolphins from drowning in tuna fishing nets. The only positive was that he voted to eliminate $2 million subsidy for the mink industry
This is a brief encapsulated overview of the candidates and their stands on various animal welfare issues.
You can find more and detail information on the above candidates and many other politicos in the HSUS Humane Scorecard which you can download HERE (http://www.petloverstips.com/HumaneScorecard2006_final.pdf)
You can also find additional information at the Humane Society Legislative Fund (http://www.fund.org/voter_guide/2008_pres_candidates.html)
and the Animals and Politics Blog, just two of the numerous sources I used to gather information for this article.
----------------------------------------
One issue not addressed in any scorecard or other article is the candidate's stance on Breed Specific Legislation (with the exception of Giuliani, who is IN FAVOR of breed bans). Although BSL is considered a "local matter", my feeling is that it would beehove any owner of a targeted breed to know exactly how the candidate they are considering feels about this issue. Links to each candidate's website & contact info is listed here: http://www.fund.org/voter_guide/2008_pres_candidates.html.
I will be emailing some of the candidate's regarding BSL and will blog any responses that I get.
