Texas, Washington, and West Virginia now have legislation pending regarding animal abuser registries.
Update: New states introducing animal abuser registry legislation include: Texas (HB 3747), Washington (HB 1786), and West Virginia (SB 468).
Legislation is currently pending for several states that would create animal abuser registries for those convicted of crimes involving animal abuse. Read our previous post for the full story.
Paws Up!
To the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for increasing the protected habitat of the western snowy plover.
According to a recent news article, The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service “designated 38 square miles along the West Coast as critical habitat for a federally listed beach- and mud-loving bird called the Pacific Coast western snowy plover.
As with all endangered species, these efforts aren’t just about saving the snowy plover. Because species are intertwined in the food web, saving even the smallest of animals makes a huge impact on all wildlife.
“The designation more than doubles the amount of habitat set aside for the threatened pocket-size birds in California, Oregon and Washington.”
Whenever we can protect threatened and endangered species and their habitat, we can save them from the brink of extinction. By our actions today, we can keep a part of our natural world intact for future generations.
Take Action: Thank the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for taking action to save the western snowy plover.
Rowan W. Gould, Acting Director
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
1849 C Street, NW
Washington, DC 20240
Help protect the mountain caribou, write the the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Whenever we can protect critical habitat for a threatened or endangered species, we give that species a better chance at recovery. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is proposing to protect more than 375,000 acres of critical habitat for mountain caribou in northern Idaho and northeastern Washington.
Please write to the service in support of this action and encourage the service to protect even more territory south of the designated area to provide even greater support for mountain caribou. Whenever we save a species from the brink of extinction and preserve enough of the habitat for the species to thrive, we keep a part of our natural world intact for future generations.
Brian T. Kelly, State Supervisor
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Idaho Fish and Wildlife Office
1387 S. Vinnell Way, Room 368
Boise, ID 83709
Paws Up!
To the Washington State legislature and Governor Gregoire for banning the trade of shark fins in the state.
According to a news report, “Each year, tens of millions of sharks are killed for their fins, mostly to make shark fin soup. In this wasteful and cruel practice, a shark’s fins are sliced off while at sea and the remainder of the animal is thrown back into the water to die.”
Photo by Willy Volk
The article states further, “Hawaii and Guam have passed similar measures. Proposed measures are being considered in Oregon and California.”
Shark finning is illegal in the United States; however, shark fins are being imported into this country. By banning the trade, Washington state effectively closes the issue.
Take Action: Washington state residents, write a letter of thanks to your legislators and the governor. Residents of others states where shark fin soup is a delicacy, send polite letters to your legislators asking them to ban the trade of shark fins in your state.
The Honorable Chris Gregoire
Office of the Governor
PO Box 40002
Olympia, WA 98504-0002
Tele. No.: 360-902-4111
Fax No.: 360-753-4110
Source:
finance.yahoo.com/
kuow.org/
Paws Down!
To the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Fisheries Service for approving the killing of sea lions in the Columbia River.
According to a news source, NOAA’s Fisheries Service has “approved killing the sea lions, which travel up the Columbia River to eat salmon trying to pass the dam on their way to spawn.”
According to the article, “California sea lions are protected by the Marine Mammal Protection Act, but NOAA said the population of about 238,000 is ‘healthy and stable.’”
Photo by lowjumpingfrog
Once humans alter the balance of prey/predator species, we create situations where there are too many of one and not enough of the other. So, then, we decide to correct the balance by, as in this case, killing off a predator. But then what if the salmon don’t return in sufficient numbers? Have we killed sea lions for no purpose? Playing with Mother Nature leads us into some unimaginable scenarios.
Other variables, such as the hydraulic damns, themselves, and the introduction of nonnative species of fish, i.e. bass and walleye, may be contributing to the salmon’s decline; yet it is the sea lion who is being singled out and who will suffer greatly.
Take Action: Write a polite letter to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Fisheries Service requesting a reevaluation of the plan to kill sea lions.
Eric C. Schwaab
Assistant Administrator for Fisheries
NOAA Fisheries Service
Partnerships & Communications
1315 East West Highway
Silver Spring, MD 20910
Source:
noaanews.noaa.gov/
bendbulletin.com/
Paws Up!
To several states where bills have been introduced to create animal abuser registries.
Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, South Carolina, Virginia, and Washington have all introduced bills to establish animal abuser registries.
NHES supports legislation that will create animal abuser registries for those convicted of felony animal abuse or who committed certain violent offenses against animals. The registries, modeled after sex offender and arson registries, would collect and publish the names of individuals who have been convicted of animal abuse within the state. If an offender moves to a state with such a registry, he or she would have to register with police within days of moving. Such registries can include the offender’s name, aliases, address, place of employment, nature of the offense, and photo. Such information would be posted online.
Keeping track of animal abusers would help protect not just the animals of a community but the humans as well. Animal cruelty poses a definite risk to a community and society as a whole. Intentional animal cruelty is of particular concern as it is a sign of psychological distress and often indicates an individual may be predisposed to committing acts of violence toward humans. Maintaining a registry of individuals convicted of felony animal cruelty will help protect the animals and humans of a state where such a registry exists.
Take Action: If you are a resident of these states, please contact your legislators urging them to support bills creating an animal abuser registry. If you are not a resident of these states and your state does not have such legislation, contact your legislators urging them to introduce legislation creating an animal abuser registry.
The National Humane Education Society 