Australia Proposes: "Chain Your Dog, Go To Jail"

Walk your dog every day or go to jail: that is the import of draft legislation that Australia's leading animal rights campaigner wants the government to adopt.

Hugh Wirth is one of four experts appointed to draw up a national code of Australian pet ownership. He is head of the Victoria state branch of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. If his guidelines are accepted and passed into law, owners would be obliged to take their dogs out to play or face prosecution and fines of up to 12,000 Australian dollars ($11,000 US dollars).

Magistrates could impose custodial sentences. Time in jail would likely be reserved for people "who chain their animals up or pen their animals for days and week and months at a time with absolutely no exercise," Wirth said.

Source: earthtimes.org

Tiny Officer Has Big Job!

Every morning, Midge stretches her 11-in. frame, puts on her special work shirt emblazoned with a star designating her as an official police dog, and prepares for a full day working as a narcotics-detecting K-9.

The Guinness World Record holder for "smallest dog used for law enforcement," the 8-lb. Chihuahua/rat terrier mix works closely with her partner, Sheriff Dan McClelland at the Geauga County Police Department in Ohio.

When he first got an e-mail from Guinness inquiring about Midge, McClelland says, "Frankly I stepped out into the hallway to see if anyone was giggling." Fortunately the message turned out to be authentic, and the pooch has held the record for nearly three years. "It's not real macho to be seen with a dog that looks like it belongs to Paris Hilton," laughs McClelland, who began looking for a smaller police dog after noting the incidence of damage to cars that were searched by unwieldy German shepherds.

Since earning her certification in narcotics three years ago, the 4-year-old Midge has bragging rights to two arrests. "A dog doesn't get credit for an arrest unless they make a detection that we didn't know was there," explains McClelland. "In one case, Midgey searched a burglar's getaway car and alerted us to the seat cushions." Once she finds the drugs, her reward is simple — her partner throws a ball for her and gives her a big hug!

When she's not giving lessons to students on substance abuse and ridding the world of bad guys, Midge plays with McClelland at home, sometimes nipping on to his pant legs. And at night, she goes to sleep buried beneath blankets year-round. Sounds like a fitting end to a hard day's work!

Source: peoplepets.com

Woman Wins 2 Year Dog Custody Battle

When Peggy Bunker broke up with her fiancé, Richard Higgs, in May 2007, she left their five-acre mansion in Bedminster, New Jersey with her boys: two West Highland terriers named Barkley and Willis. After accepting a new job, Bunker moved the dogs with her to Denver that August, and was blindsided a month later when Higgs filed a lawsuit in New Jersey to get back the animals — valued at $1,800 each.

For Bunker, co-anchor of Fox's Good Day Colorado, it was the start of a two-year legal battle that cost her more than $25,000, not counting the expense of making 23 trips to New Jersey for court appearances and visitations every five weeks with her dogs. Higgs, 42, a Wall Street bank executive, and Bunker, 37, are among what the Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF) says are a growing number of couples battling over pet custody. "It was expensive," acknowledges Bunker, who turned down Higgs's offer of $100,000 to walk away from the dogs, "but I would not have been able to live with myself if I had just turned and walked away. It was not an option."

On Nov. 20, 2009, following an eight-day trial in October, a New Jersey judge ordered the dogs returned to Bunker. Higgs, who wasn't in court for the verdict, refused to comment on the case. Now Bunker and her husband of 18 months, CJ Hummel, 38, an investment banker who flew with their pets to Denver the next day, are re-bonding with Barkley, 6, and Willis, 5. "We were driving home from the airport with the dogs in the backseat," says Bunker, "and CJ said, 'Look we're a family.' It made me cry. We are a family."

Source: peoplepets.com

WV Men Indicted for Turkey Abuse

A Monroe County (West Virginia) Grand Jury has indicted two former turkey plant workers already charged with abusing birds and captured on tape by animal rights activists.

Walter Lee Hambrick, of Fairlea (WV), faces three charges of animal cruelty and Scott Alvin White, of Second Creek (WV), faces one charge. Both men have attorneys, but neither could be immediately reached for comment.

Monroe County Prosecutor Justin St. Clair says the charges stem from an incident last year in which the Norfolk, Virginia group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals videotaped workers at an Aviagen Turkeys Inc. plant abusing the birds.

Lee pleaded guilty in April to animal cruelty misdemeanors in Greenbrier County. Charges against Hambrick in Greenbrier County are pending.

Source: whsv.com

MD Police Must Report Dog Killings During Drug Raids

Beginning in 2010, police departments in Maryland will be required to report to the Governor's office every time they kill a dog during a drug raid. That requirement is part of a new law pushed by Cheye Calvo, the mayor of the small town of Berwyn Heights, Maryland.

Calvo proposed the legislation because police officers conducted a particularly violent raid last summer on his home in Prince George's County after intercepting a package of marijuana at a delivery-service warehouse. The cops then completed the delivery themselves to the address on the package. As it turns out, the house belonged Calvo, who had no connection to the drugs. The package was part of a botched distribution scheme in which an accomplice working for the delivery service was supposed to have intercepted it before it was delivered.

The raid made headlines around the world, not only because the police mistakenly busted into the home of a sitting mayor, but because they killed Calvo's two black Labradors, Peyton and Chase. Peyton was shot four times. Chase was shot twice, once from behind as he fled.

Within days, Calvo and his family were cleared of any wrongdoing, but Prince George's County officials have steadfastly refused to apologize.

The raid on Calvo's home was actually the second in 10 months in which police in Prince George's County burst into a private home during a drug raid, shot and killed the family dog, then realized they had raided the wrong house.

Source: thedailybeast.com

Kitty Killer Gets 1 Year Behind Bars

A heartless kitty killer hissed angrily at animal rights activists on July 15, 2009, grinning widely as she took credit for stuffing the helpless pet into a 500-degree oven.

"It's dead, bitch!" snapped an unrepentant Cheyenne Cherry, sticking her tongue out after a plea bargain that will put her behind bars for a year in the May 6 killing of tiny Tiger Lily. Cherry, 17, was confronted after her guilty plea in Bronx (New York State) Supreme Court to charges of animal cruelty and attempted burglary in the May 6 killing at her former roommate's apartment.

Tiger Lily was left to die inside the blistering oven after Cherry and a 14-year-old friend trashed the apartment of Valerie Hernandez, destroying furniture before stealing DVDs and food.

After her arrest, Cherry told police the cat killing was "just a joke." In court Cherry admitted that the younger girl put the cat in the oven - and "I didn't let the cat out." The pair fled the apartment because they didn't want to hear the dying cat's cries or desperate scratching at the oven door, authorities said.

The second girl is facing trial in Family Court because of her age. The state's prosecutor said Cherry was granted a plea deal because her cohort was "more culpable" for the crimes.

Under the plea agreement, Cherry pleaded guilty to two charges in a six-count indictment. She waived her right to appeal and agreed not to keep a pet for the next three years. Cherry, jailed on a probation violation, faces formal sentencing July 31.

As she exited the courtroom, Cherry passed a row of animal rights activists outraged by her crime. "Justice for Tiger Lily," read one sign held by the demonstrators. One of the activists extended both her middle fingers and kissed them. Cherry grinned widely, stuck out her tongue and responded with her profane retort. The dozen animal lovers who attended the hearing said they represented more than 20,000 people who signed an online petition supporting harsh punishment for Cherry.

Source: nydailynews

Wind Farm Feared to Wack Bats in WV

Environmental and animal rights groups want to stop further construction on a Greenbrier County, West Virginia wind farm until a judge can determine whether the project is harmful to the endangered Indiana bat.

The Animal Welfare Institute and Mountain Communities for Responsible Energy filed a motion for a preliminary injunction on July 10, 2009 in the U.S. District Court in Maryland against developer Beech Ridge Energy LLC of Rockville, Maryland. No hearing date was immediately set.

The groups filed a lawsuit last month seeking to force Beech Ridge Energy to obtain a required federal permit before it continued working on the project. Shortly thereafter, Beech Ridge Energy stated it would begin placing wind turbines starting in August with 67 turbines operating by the end of 2009. The company's statement forced the plaintiffs to move forward with the motion for a preliminary injunction before additional construction took place.

The plaintiffs say the development will place 390-foot-tall wind turbines within miles of known Indiana bat habitat. A permit is required from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service under the Endangered Species Act if an otherwise lawful activity results in the incidental death or harm to an endangered species. The latest motion was accompanied by affidavits from three biologists. Thomas Kunz, a biology professor at Boston University, said Beech Ridge Energy's projection of 6,746 bat deaths annually from the wind project was "likely an underestimate."

The West Virginia Supreme Court upheld the wind farm project last year. Earlier this year, the West Virginia Public Service Commission said it would not reconsider its previous decision to approve the siting and construction.

Source: wvgazette.com; Photo: windeis.anl.gov

Fireman Kills Dogs & "Flips Off" Reporters

A Columbus (Ohio) firefighter, David P. Santuomo, 43, pled guilty to two counts of animal cruelty and one count of possession of a criminal tool for taking his two dogs to his basement, laying down a plastic sheet, tying the dogs up and partially suspending them from a pipe and killing them with a rifle and makeshift silencer so he and a girlfriend could vacation without paying to board the animals. The dogs were shot at least 11 times, with one of the dogs shot six times in the head.

Santuomo adopted the two mixed-breed dogs, named "Sloopy" and "Skeeter", from the local humane society in January 2007.

"[Santuomo] said chunks of concrete were flying everywhere," Assistant Franklin County Prosecutor Heather Robinson said. "I think it was the thrill of the kill for him. He has shown no remorse for this." The humane society would have taken the animals if Santuomo had asked, and two neighbors had offered to watch the dogs in his absence, Robinson said.

After the killing, Santuomo bragged about it to his fellow firefighters and dumped the animals' bodies in a dumpster behind the fire station.

Santuomo was sentenced to 90 days in jail, $4,500 costs, $150 fines, 5 years probation, 200 hours community service, to not possess animals for five years and to undergo random home inspections during probation. The court will allow Santuomo to serve his 90 days of jailtime in 10 day stints over the next two years. In addition, Santuomo has to file a formal apology with a national firefighters magazine and write a letter to his local newspaper.

Santuomo remains on active duty as a firefighter while awaiting a disciplinary hearing.

Despite his defense attorney's claim after sentencing that Santuomo is "extremely remorseful", in the courtroom Santuomo raised a middle finger to the reporters assembled to cover his case.

Source: dispatch.com, pet-abuse.com

WV Turkey Worker Gobbles Up Guilty Plea Deal

A worker at a Lewisburg, West Virginia turkey plant was sentenced yesterday to one year of home confinement for stomping on a bird's head and slamming another to the ground. The abuse that was caught on videotape at the Aviagen Turkeys Inc. plant during an undercover PETA investigation.

Edward Eric Gwinn of Crawley (WV) will be jailed if he violates the terms set by Greenbrier County Circuit Judge James Rowe, who also fined Gwinn $1,000 and ordered him to have no contact with domestic animals.

Both Gwinn and Scott Alvin White of Second Creek (WV) were indicted on felony charges in February, but each pleaded guilty to two animal cruelty misdemeanors in April. White was sentenced on June 8, 2009 to one year in jail, but can petition for home confinement. Both men were also fired by their employer.

Source: theeagle.com

Poor Little Guys!

Polish customs on June 23, 2009 found 121 Central Asian tortoises, a threatened species, bound so tightly in black tape that their heads could barely squeeze out from their shells.

Customs officers arrested a 34-year-old Ukrainian man allegedly attempting to cross the border into Poland with the animals where they sell for 200 Polish zlotys ($62) to people who generally want them as pets.

A customs sniffer dog discovered the tortoises stacked in a converted gasoline tank of the suspect's car. The tortoises will be given to a zoo in nearby Zamosc.

The suspect could face up to five years in prison if convicted of trafficking in exotic species.

Source: huffingtonpost

Governator Wants Judgment Day for Strays

California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is eager to save every penny he can in budget-stricken California, even if it means killing a few thousand cats and dogs before their time.

The Hayden Bill, enacted 11 years ago, requires that California animal shelters hold stray animals for at least six days before euthanizing them. According to an analyst's report, the state could save $23 million by slashing that time from 6 days to only 3 days.

How does the Governator feel about the possibility of signing so many death warrants? “I feel terrible about it,” Schwarzenegger told the San Diego Union-Tribune.

Source: nbclosangeles; Photos: nbclosangeles, google

US Supreme Court to Hear "Crush Video" Case

This fall the United States Supreme Court will hear arguments in a major case involving animal cruelty. The case concerns infamous dogfighting videographer Robert Stevens, who was convicted by a Pennsylvania jury of violating a 1999 federal law banning the commercial sale of videos depicting extreme and illegal acts of animal cruelty.

The Depiction of Animal Cruelty Act was prompted in part by an Humane Society of the United States investigation that uncovered an underground subculture of “animal crush” videos, where scantily clad women, often in high-heeled shoes, would impale and crush to death puppies, kittens and other small animals, catering to those with a sexual fetish for this aberrant behavior.

The challenged law in bans depictions of animal fighting and other extreme cruelty. At the same time The HSUS filed its brief, Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum and 25 other state Attorneys General filed a brief arguing in support of banning these gruesome depictions, which merit no protection under the First Amendment. The Washington Legal Foundation and Allied Educational Foundation also filed a concurring brief.

As explained in all of the briefs filed Monday, the Depiction of Animal Cruelty Act criminalizes depictions of animal cruelty that have no significant redeeming political, social, or artistic value.

Source: HSUS

Soldier May Get Honorable Discharge After Stomping Dog to Death

Fort Bliss Texas soldier Frank Zimmerman, who was arrested in mid-March 2009 for killing one adopted dog and breaking another adopted puppy's leg, will be dismissed from the Army in a non-judicial proceding. It is not determined at this time whether or not Zimmerman's dismissal will be dishonorable.

Zimmerman's wife stated at the time of his arrest that Zimmerman stomped "Tinkerbell", a golden retreiver, to death and broke "Wrigley", the puppy's, leg when he was angered that the dogs wouldn't listen to him. The Zimmermans had adopted both dogs only two weeks previously. Wrigley the puppy was returned to the facility from where he was adopted and was treated for his injuries at a local clinic.

Local animal advocates believe the Uniform Code of Military Justice has failed in this case and are rallying together to see if there is anything else that can be done.

Source: pet-abuse.com

36,000 Dogs Killed Following Chinese Rabies Deaths

Since late May 2009, rabies has killed 12 people in Hanzhong, China, where more than 6,000 people have been bitten or scratched during that time.

In response, the city has killed 36,000 stray and pet dogs in a bid to wipe out rabies, state media has reported.

Animal protection organizations expressed concern over the Hanzhong cull. China's first law to recognize "animal welfare" and include domestic animals is in the draft stage. "Once [the law] gets passed, the abuses of animals, such as the Hanzhong dog killings, is expected to stop," states Chang Jiwen, a professor who is leading the legal drafting team.

Source: reuters

Party-Pooping Puppy Punched Dead

On June 11, 2009, Sioux City Iowa police arrested Bobby Loggins, 35, who allegedly punched his five month old American Bulldog puppy, named "Sire", in the face about 30 times, causing the dog's death. Loggins was upset his dog had gone on the carpet during a party at his home. Loggins told police, however, he accidentally slammed his dog's head in the door. Loggins was released after only two hours in custody.

Loggins is charged with one count of animal torture and for filing a false police report, both misdemeanors.

Police Chief Doug Young called Sire's death "a heinous crime." City Attorney Andrew Mai said he has talked to the Woodbury County Attorneys' office, who will handle the case. "They said they will file the maximum charge they can file in court and are prosecuting it to the fullest extent of the law in the death of this animal," Mai said.

Source: siouxcityjournal

Canton China: "Pick Your Favorite Furchild...."

Mrs. Chen can't imagine abandoning one of her two best friends: her scruffy terrier mutt and a white fluffy Pekingese mix with buggy eyes.

But that is what she will have to do in less than one month when a "one dog" policy takes effect in Guangzhou, formerly known as Canton.

Beginning July 1, 2009, each household can raise only one pooch. The regulation won't be grandfathered in, so families with two or more dogs will have to decide which one gets to stay. "It's a cruel regulation. These dogs are like family. How can you keep one and get rid of the others?" said Chen, who declined to give her full name because she feared the police would track her down and seize the dogs.

There is potential for the regulation to trigger a public backlash. Police and city government officials appear to be aware of the issue's sensitivity. Canton government officials have refused to discuss the new policy with foreign press.

The "one dog" regulation appears to be part of an effort to control stray dogs. Many Chinese pet owners don't spay or neuter and the offspring often end up on the street.

Guangzhou is also host of the 2010 Asian Games. In preparation, crews have been scrubbing down this city of 12 million people. Reducing the dog population will likely mean cleaner sidewalks.

Many other Chinese cities, including Beijing, have long had "one dog" policies.

Source: ap

Surprise!! Its a Misdemeanor to Kill 4,150 U.S. Pets With Melamine

ChemNutra, a Nevada company, and its owners have pleaded guilty to federal charges of selling 800 metric tons of wheat gluten tainted with melamine to U.S. pet-food makers in 2007. The FDA estimates that 1,950 cats and 2,200 dogs died after eating pet food poisoned with melamine.

Las Vegas residents Sally Qing Miller, 43, a Chinese national, and her husband, Stephen S. Miller, 56, each pleaded guilty to one count of selling adulterated food and one count of selling misbranded food, both misdemeanors.

The Millers face up to two years in federal prison without parole, a fine up to $200,000 and restitution. ChemNutra faces a fine up to $400,000 and restitution.

Source: usatoday, lvrj.com, usdoj; Photo: consumeraffairs

Teen Burns Kitten Alive in Oven

A Bronx, New York teenager has allegedly confessed to roasting alive a kitten, named "Tiger Lily", in a 200 degree oven. Cheyenne Cherry, 17, was arrested and charged with arson, burglary, criminal trespass and felony aggravated animal cruelty.

Cherry was previously arrested for larceny and extortion in 2008 for the armed dog-napping of a teacup Yorkie. Cherry held the Yorkie until a reward was posted, and then sent friends to collect the reward. Cherry dismissed both Tiger Lily's killing and her unrelated 2008 robbery of a man at gunpoint for his iPod as "a practical joke". Cherry pled guilty to the robbery and was sentenced to 5 years probation. She also has a separate 2007 arrest for assault.

Cherry was arrested June 3, 2009 in connection with Tiger Lily's May 6 killing which occurred after Cherry and an unnamed accomplice broke into Cherry's ex-roommate's apartment, trashed the place and threw the ex-roommate's kitten in the hot oven before leaving the apartment with her ex-rommate's DVDs and packages of noodles. As they left, Tiger Lily cried and scratched at the oven door, according to an ASPCA official.

Despite her prior arrest history, Cherry was released without bail into her mother's care after the Tiger Lily's killing. Family members state that Cherry is not an animal hater and that at home she "has a little Yorkie that she loves."

Mail, email or telephone the District Attorney and the Judge regarding this matter at these addresses:

Robert T. Johnson, Bronx District Attorney
The Office of the Bronx County District Attorney
198 East 161st Street; Bronx, NY 10451
ph: 718-590-2000, 718-590-2312; fax: 718-590-2198
EMAIL: angueirl@bronxda.nyc.gov

Judge Dennis J. Boyle
G Correspondence Clerk
Bronx Supreme Court Criminal Division
851 Grand Concourse, Room 123
Bronx, NY 10451

An ASPCA official said Tiger Lily suffered "an agonizing death.'' Tiger Lily was burned so badly a necropsy had to be performed to determine her sex. Firefighers found Tiger Lily's remains smoldering in the oven after neighbors complained of smoke coming from the apartment.

Published reports indicate that Cherry confessed to the crime and allegedly told investigators "I hate cats." Cherry's unidentified accomplice has not been charged.

Source: pet-abuse.com, nydailynews.com

VA Police Shoot & Kill 11 year old Doxie

Danville, Virginia police shot and killed an 11-year-old, 12 pound Miniature Dachshund named “Killer” on June 8, 2009.

Killer was the household pet of the Harper family. Angela Harper stated that the Danville police officer told her, "Your dog was barking at me, and I had to shoot him.". Family member Tawaiin Harper said the officer stated, "I don’t care what kind of dog it is. I shot him."

Click here to Sign a Petition for Justice for Killer or send a letter and/or email to:

Chief of Police-Philip A Broadfoot
City of Danville
Police Department
427 Patton St.
Danville, VA 24541
Phone: (434) 799-6510
Email: danvillepd@ci.danville.va.us

Danville police admit their officer shot and killed the dog after they say the dog attacked him while he was serving warrants in the neighborhood. The police will not identify the officer who killed the dog. The officer's supervisor, a lieutenant, "was very, very remorseful," Harper said. "He kept apologizing. And he said, 'I know apologizing can't bring the dog back, but I just don't know what to say."

Neighbors said that “Killer” sounds like a ferocious name, but he was a sweet, neighborhood dog. "He just kind of walked up and down the neighborhood and didn't bother anybody," said Jenine Edmunds, who lives on the same cul-de-sac as Killer's owners, "He was just a little house dog."

Whenever a car pulled into the cul-de-sac, Killer barked to let everyone know that someone new was there. "He was the security guard around here," Angela Harper said.

Killer was outside of his owner's property when he was shot in nearby Ebony McNear’s front yard. “It’s a loss to the neighborhood as well as the family,” McNear said. “I just don’t think him being shot was necessary.“ The owners agree. Words can’t describe how he’ll be missed,“ Angela Harper said.

Killer’s collar is still hanging on a light post outside the Harper’s home.

Here is a Danville VA Police Press Release:

On Monday evening at approximately 8:30PM, a Danville police officer attempted to serve two outstanding warrants on a resident in the 100 block of Berman Drive. The officer went to the door of the wanted person, but there was no answer and he left. As the officer was walking back to his police vehicle, he was surprised by a growling dog running through the yard directly at him from the rear, leaving him with just seconds to consider his options (run for the safety of the police vehicle, attempt to distract the dog from its attack, try to use pepper spray or baton, or use his firearm). As the dog lunged at the officer and attacked him, he was able to draw and fire his weapon once. The bullet struck and killed the dog.

The investigation revealed that the dog was named “Killer”, was a Dachshund, had displayed aggressive tendencies before to others, and belonged at the house next door to where the officer was attempting to serve the warrant.

The Danville Police Department realizes that the shooting of a small breed dog is unusual and will be the subject of much discussion in the community. Officers are constantly confronted by dogs because part of the job of being a police officer entails approaching homes, walking through yards, and climbing over fences. We successfully defuse these encounters on a daily basis without resorting to the use of a firearm. Members of the Department received training in 2006 sponsored by the Danville Humane Society and the American Humane Association and learned several techniques to defuse aggressive behavior in dogs. Unfortunately, as the training acknowledged, options are limited when dealing with a dog that is engaged in a running attack from the rear without warning.

Shooting a dog which is actively presenting a threat to an officer is within the department’s policy. An officer is not required to “take a bite” from any dog, including small breeds, because any breaking of the skin can transmit rabies. If the attacking dog cannot be identified and captured and quarantined after the attack, the officer must take a series of rabies vaccine shots. Rabies is a fatal disease that cannot be reversed. An infected person cannot wait and see if they have rabies and then take the shots.

In the few seconds before the attack, most officers will not decide to “take a bite” in the hopes that the dog can be identified, captured, and quarantined. It is unreasonable to expect an officer to factor into his decision making process during an attack the likelihood of a successful identification, capture, and quarantine after the attack.

Source: wsls.com, paws4life, timesdispatch.com

West Virginia Outlaws Gas Chamber

SB 501 prohibiting use of the gas chamber to kill animals in West Virginia has been signed by Governor Manchin and becomes effective on August 27, 2009. THANK YOU Governor Manchin for your support!

Photo: wvgov.org