Bristol, CT Passes Ordinance to Reduce Cat Overpopulation

Paws Up!

To the city council of Bristol, Connecticut for issuing an ordinance to decrease cat overpopulation through mandatory spay and neuter.

In a recent news article, Ellen Zoppo-Sassu, a Bristol City Councilwoman, related the terms of an ordinance that was passed concerning feral cat overpopulation in the area. It is volunteer-based and complaint-driven. Under the new ordinance, anyone with a cat over the age of six months will be required to have him or her spayed or neutered. Those who disregard the ordinance could face a $90 fine. The ordinance aims to decrease the feral cat population in the area.

Take Action: Please contact your city council to request a mandatory spay and neuter ordinance to be passed in your city.

Federal Court Rules to Protect Ocean Wildlife from Military Training Program

A recent ruling by a federal judge likely saved the lives of countless aquatic species living in the Pacific ocean.

Paws Up!

To U.S. District Court Judge Susan Oki Mollway for upholding animal protection laws in a recent ruling regarding military training in the Pacific Ocean.

According to a recent news article, a federal judge ruled in late March that the National Marine Fisheries Service violated animal protection laws when the agency approved a 5-year plan by the U.S. Navy to conduct military training in the ocean waters off the coasts of Hawaii and Southern California.

According to impact estimates, the program’s use of high frequency sonar and explosives would have likely resulted in the deaths of approximately 155 whales and dolphins in the Pacific ocean in addition to over 10,000 injuries to oceanic wildlife including sea mammals and endangered sea turtles.

Take action. Contact U.S. District Judge Susan Oki Mollway and thank her for upholding our nation’s wildlife conservation and environmental protection laws. Send written correspondence to:

The Honorable Judge Susan Oki Mollway
United States District Court
District of Hawaii
300 Ala Moana Blvd C-338
Honolulu, HI 96850

Ohio Introduces Dog Chaining Ban

Paws Up!

To Ohio Representative John Barnes, Jr. for sponsoring a bill to ban continuous dog chaining in Ohio.

Dogs require daily socialization, exercise, and shelter to live happy lives.

The practice of continually tethering pets outside for extended periods of time is known to be both harmful to animals and the communities they live in. Chained dogs are vulnerable to extreme boredom and frustration as result of isolation and lack of exercise. In addition to the psychological stress caused by long-term chaining, dogs who are chained continuously are vulnerable to extreme weather, attacks by other animals, and infestation by disease-carrying insects. Many dogs who are chained can also become entangled in the chain itself, resulting in injury and even strangulation. Dogs living under these conditions are not provided with opportunities to be good canine citizens and may be more likely to bark, lunge, or snap at passing people or other animals.

In an attempt to rescue dogs and other animals from the fate of life on a chain, Ohio Representative John Barnes, Jr. has introduced H.B. 94, also known as the Animal Protection Initiative. The bill was introduced to the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development on March 4, 2015.  If passed into law, this bill would drastically limit the conditions under which an animal can be legally chained or tethered. Specifically, owners would not be permitted to chain any animal for longer than two consecutive hours. After two consecutive hours, owners would be required to relieve the animal from the tether for a minimum of one hour. Provisions under the law also stipulate conditions under which an animal can be tethered. For instance, the law would prohibit the tethering of an animal for more than six hours in a 24-hour period, between the hours of 10:00pm and 6:00am, in severe weather, or in an unsanitary environment. Violators of the law would be subject to a fine and possible seizure of animals from the property.

Take action. Residents of Ohio, contact your representatives and urge them to pass H.B. 94, also known as the Animal Protection Initiative.

American Trophy Hunters Travel to South Africa for Chance to Kill “Unusual” African Wildlife

Paws Down!

To Africa Hunt Lodge in Texas for supporting a 2500-acre trophy-hunting ranch in South Africa.

According to a recent news article, businessman Barry York has become a wealthy man operating a

Photo by Arno Meintjes / Getty Images

ranch outside of Johannesburg, South Africa. Although the landscape appears natural, the purpose behind the ranch is nothing short of bizarre and disturbing. It is here that Barry York breeds lions, gnus, impalas, and other African wildlife characterized by genetic anomalies. The animals are intentionally bred for traits that rarely appear in nature – such as blue eyes in a lion or white fur on an impala. Although in many cases the mutations occur alongside other, medically hazardous anomalies, many of these animals are not intended to live a normal lifespan. That’s because Barry York has found that American big-game hunters will pay small fortunes for the opportunity to kill these unusual creatures. Businesses like the Texas-based Africa Hunt Lodge are getting in on the action by selling tour packages to the ranch where, according to the Africa Hunt Lodge website, clients can expect to pay upwards of $50,000 to kill a golden wildebeest. Although the breeding of the hunted animals occurs in the nation of South Africa, much of the money funding the operation comes from right here in the United States. While client motivation may be in part the experience of killing the animal, hunters are also motivated by the possibility of bringing home a “trophy” – that is the head, horns or other body part of the animal.

Take Action: Contact your legislator and express your opposition to the importation of the body parts of wildlife killed in trophy hunts.

Feld Entertainment Plans to Phase Out Ringling Bros. Elephants

Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey Circus will no longer use elephants in performances after 2018.

According to a recent article, Feld Entertainment has decided to phase out the use of elephants in performances by their famous subsidiary, Ringling Brothers Barnum & Bailey Circus. For decades, Ringling Bros. has reaped a profit by carting Asian elephants across the United States to perform tricks for paying crowds. Over time, animal welfare advocates and ordinary citizens alike have harbored growing doubts about the quality of life for the majestic, intelligent, and social wild animals used by the circus – leading many to forego the circus altogether. In recent years, the public has also become more aware of Ringling Bros’. use of the bullhook, a weapon-like metal rod equipped with a curved hook at one end designed specifically for use on elephants. Described as a “training tool” by Ringling Bros., the bullhook is used to strike and prod elephants into submission. Many audiences do not consider these practices consistent with the circus’ claim to be “fun for the whole family,” and over the years, many families, venues, and entire cities have turned away from the circus. In response to increasing public awareness, Feld Entertainment has finally made the decision to phase out elephant performers over the next three years. However, Ringling Bros. has not announced plans to retire the company’s tigers, lions, or other exotic animals.

Take Action: Make the commitment to only patronize human-centered entertainment acts. Contact Feld Entertainment to express your support of their decision to retire the company’s performing elephants and urge them to grant similar relief to Ringling Bros.’s other animal performers.

Feld Entertainment Worldwide Headquarters
2001 US Highway 301
Palmetto, FL 34221
(941) 721-1200

New Texas Bill Would Create Statewide Felony Animal Abuser Registry

Paws Up!

To Texas Representative Jennifer Farrar for introducing a bill that would create a public registry of felony animal cruelty convictions.

Willfully violent acts towards animals are well-known precursors to other forms of serious crime.

According a recent news article, a new bill in the Texas legislature could improve monitoring of animal abusers by law enforcement and make the identities of convicted abusers known to the public. If H.B. 235 is passed, adults convicted of  felony animal cruelty in the state of Texas would be legally required to register each year with law enforcement. The offender’s name, address, and photograph would then be submitted to the Texas Department of Public Safety and entered into a database. A similar type of registry is widely employed by law enforcement on a state level to monitor sex offenders after release from prison. As with sex offender registries, registries of felony animal cruelty convictions would help law enforcement officers better ensure that offenders are abiding by the terms of their release. Furthermore, a public registry would be an enormous asset to animal shelters screening potential adopters, pet owners seeking pet sitters, and other individuals and organizations with vested interest in the welfare of animals. Lastly, acts of animal cruelty are well-known precursors to other serious crimes. For this reason, felony animal cruelty offenders should be monitored by law enforcement and be made known to the public to the fullest reasonable extent.

Take Action: Texas residents, contact your representative and urge them to support H.B. 235. Obtain your representative’s contact information here.

Chipotle Halts Pork Sales in Some Locations

Paws Up! To Chipotle for halting the sale of pork due to animal welfare concerns.

Although not a meat-free restaurant chain, Chipotle is well known for efforts to maintain humane and

Chipotle’s policy requires that farmed pigs have opportunities to access outdoor areas.

sustainable business practices. Last year, NHES wrote about Chipotle’s decision to offer more vegan-friendly menu items. According to a recent news article, Chipotle has decided to halt the sale of pork in hundreds of locations after an audit revealed that one of the restaurant’s suppliers was not meeting the company’s standards  for humanely-raised pigs. For example, Chipotle stipulates that animals must have opportunities to be in the outdoors. While NHES is committed to promoting vegan and vegetarian diets, we applaud Chipotle for acting on the company’s commitment to upholding sustainable and humane farming practices.

Take Action: Consider a vegan or vegetarian diet and learn about the humane and health benefits of plant-based eating. If you decide to eat meat, reduce your intake and avoid factory-farmed meats. Contact Chipotle to express your support of humane treatment of farm animals.

USDA Orders Pittsburgh Zoo to Stop Using Dogs to Control Elephants

Paws Up!

To the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) for enforcing humane handling of captive elephants.

According to a recent news article, USDA inspectors visited the Pittsburgh Zoo in January 2015. During the visit, a zoo manager was asked to demonstrate how the zoo uses Australian cattle dogs to control the zoo’s elephants. After the inspector observed an elephant’s distressed reaction to one of the dogs, the USDA issued a report with specific orders stating that the zoo must control the elephants without causing them behavioral stress. The zoo was ordered change “from this point forward” in regard to employing cattle dogs to control elephants.

Take Action: When viewing wildlife, support reputable wildlife sanctuaries and visit parks and refuges where animals can be seen in their natural habitats.

New Bill Aims to Clean Up Great Lakes

If passed, H.R. 223 would allow for the cleanup and restoration of degraded habitats in the Great Lakes region.

Last month, H.R. 223: Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Act of 2015, was introduced and sponsored by Representative David Joyce (R) of Ohio. If passed, this bill would address the water quality of the Great Lakes, which contains 1/5 of the world’s fresh-water supply. The Great Lakes region provides fresh drinking water to over 40 million people, and provides jobs to approximately 1.5 million people. This water supply is undoubtedly an important resource to the community, but is also home to many species of wildlife and other living species that are suffering from pollutants.

If passed, H.R. 223 would allow Federal and non-Federal partners to work together to prevent and control existing invasive species, such as Asian carp, restore habitats in areas polluted by nutrient runoff and algal blooms, and reestablish healthy wetlands. Funding for this initiative would allow 300 million dollars annually through 2019, which, according to Joyce, would not add debt to the federal budget. This bill would promote a healthier ecosystem and support commerce, tourism, transportation, and agriculture in the Great Lakes region.

Take Action: Residents of the Great Lakes region, contact you legislators and urge them to support H.R. 223 for the sake of healthy habitats and a growing economy.

New KY Bill Targets Dogfighting

Paws Up!
To Kentucky House Speaker Greg Stumbo (D) for introducing a bill that would make activities related to dogfighting Class D felonies.

A new bill would make the breeding, selling, and training of dogs for fighting purposes felonies in KY.

Organizing a dogfight is already a felony in Kentucky, as it is in every state. However, unlike other states, Kentucky’s dogfighting laws don’t include certain activities related to dogfighting as felony offenses. If passed, House Bill 154, introduced by House Speaker Greg Stumbo (D), aims to change that. According to a recent news article, HB 154 would make the possession, training, breeding, and selling of dogs for the purpose of dogfighting Class D felonies. In the bill’s current form, the provisions would also include protections for other four-legged animals, such as pigs, who have historically been involved in violent “hog-dog” fights for entertainment or betting purposes. The bill has already been approved by the House Judiciary Committee.

Take Action: Kentucky residents, contact your representatives and ask him/her to support HB 154.