The algebra of zoo management is Harambe times X-number equals what amount of public outrage cutting into profits? AMSTERDAM, The Netherlands––Is the European Association of Zoos & Aquaria heading full speed toward the 2016 Harambe debacle at the Cincinnati Zoo times a dozen? Or … [Read More...]
Can Las Vegas really get to no-kill animal control? Don’t bet on it.
Reality in Las Vegas is a lack of realism about the realities of the job LAS VEGAS, Nevada––Each spin of the roulette wheel, each toss of the dice, each turn of the cards, each yank of the lever on the one-armed bandit slot machines, builds breathless anticipation, but ends with … [Read More...]
$350 million for animal crossings, but zip for roadkill avoidance education
Win for HSUS is a gain, yet not the most cost-effective way to save animal & human lives on highways WASHINGTON D.C.––The first official U.S. national commitment to preventing roadkills of wildlife appears to have been buried deep within the $1.3 trillion Infrastructure Investment … [Read More...]
Four court cases lost amid the Rittenhouse/Arbery media blitz
Even coverage of the $15 million Elijah McClain settlement mostly omitted the vegan aspect Court news dominated mass media during the two weeks preceding Thanksgiving 2021, but key developments in three cases long followed by ANIMALS 24-7 barely cracked even local news lineups. Coverage of a fourth case, a $15 million settlement between the City of Aurora, Colorado and the family of police … [Read More...]
Bestiality & child porn: ex-K9 cop Terry Yetman gets 20 years
Allegedly had sex with police dog BOSSIER CITY, Louisiana––Former Bossier City police officer and K9 handler Terry Yetman, 40, was on November 23, 2021 sentenced to serve at least 20 years in prison after pleading guilty in August 2021 to six of the 71 counts he faced in connection with alleged acts of bestiality and possession of child pornography. Louisiana 26th Judicial … [Read More...]
International Primate Protection League founder Shirley McGreal, 87
Animal advocate, teacher, conservationist, investigative journalist, and beloved friend to primates, both human and nonhuman SUMMERVILLE, South Carolina––“With heavy hearts, we are informing Shirley’s many friends that she died Saturday morning,” the International Primate Protection League posted to founder Shirley McGreal’s Facebook page on November 21, 2021. McGreal, … [Read More...]
Where the late Bernie Rollin got his garbled “facts” about pit bulls
"It's in the book!" ––a 1922 work of fiction The ANIMALS 24-7 obituary for philosopher, teacher, and author Bernard Rollin (1943-2021), posted on November 20, 2021, mentioned that, "His late-career writings about pit bulls, in particular, offered no more than recitations of stock pit bull advocacy rhetoric, little if any of his material originating with himself." (See Bernard Rollin, … [Read More...]
Bernard Rollin, 78, addressed the big issues but often fumbled the facts
Author of Animal Rights & Human Morality and The Unheeded Cry FORT COLLINS, Colorado––Bernard Elliot Rollin, Ph.D., 78, better known as just Bernie Rollin, died on November 19, 2021. Remembered and appreciated as an entertaining, provocative, and often persuasive bridge among the animal rights, animal welfare, academic, veterinary, and legal communities during his 51 years of … [Read More...]
Namibia reports oral rabies vaccination breakthrough for street dogs
Oral vaccine achieves up to 78% immunization of dogs who cannot otherwise be vaccinated WINDHOEK, Namibia––The Namibian Ministry of Agriculture, Water & Land Reform on November 11, 2021 told the Chinese national news agency Xinhua that it had successfully completed a first field trial of an oral rabies vaccine for dogs. The Namibian field trial appears to be the first claimed … [Read More...]
Gary Tiscornia, 75, headed Michigan Humane & Monterey County SPCA
Led Michigan Humane recovery post-David Wills TUCSON, Arizona––Gary Tiscornia, 75, died on October 14, 2021 in Tucson, Arizona, his home for much of his childhood, his university and early professional years, and in retirement after 41 years of leading or helping to lead the Humane Society of Tucson, the Michigan Humane Society, the Society of Animal Welfare Administrators … [Read More...]
Winter, star of Dolphin’s Tale, showed aquariums can thrive as rescue centers
Winter's 16 summers helped to bring a new dawn for captive wildlife CLEARWATER, Florida––Winter, 16, an Atlantic bottlenose dolphin who spent almost her entire life at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium after losing her tail to a blue crab trap at just two months of age, died on November 11, 2021 from a twisted intestine. Clearwater Marine Aquarium staff and media covering Winter’s … [Read More...]
Colorado warns public: New Hope Rescue may have spread distemper
New Hope Rescue director & vet face cruelty charges; shelter loses operating permit COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado––New Hope Rescue Inc. is in big-time trouble again. This time the Colorado Department of Agriculture has reportedly revoked the New Hope Rescue operating permit. Colorado Department of Agriculture Pet Animal Care & Facilities Act enforcement bureau chief Nick Fisher on … [Read More...]
Perp gets 4 to 6 years for assaulting SHARK investigator; another to be tried
Judge sends James V. “Bub” Newcomb II to prison, throws out Shannon Clark plea bargain IRONTON, Ohio––Sentenced on November 10, 2021 for assaulting Showing Animals Respect & Kindness [SHARK] founder Steve Hindi and SHARK investigator Adam Fahnestock, James V. “Bub” Newcomb II, 54, of Waterloo, Ohio, left the Lawrence County Courthouse in Ironton on his way––probably––to … [Read More...]
Pit bulls, greenhouse gases, & poop: the solution is not dilution
Or, pit bull breeding kennels & the Tower of Babel VAUGHAN, Ontario; CAERPHILLY, Wales; DURBANVILLE, South Africa; OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma––“The solution to pollution is dilution,” industrial polluters frequently persuaded politicians, back in the early days of the environmental movement, long before either pit bull attacks or greenhouse gases became a hot public issue. In the … [Read More...]
Pit bulls running amok to kill is not “manslaughter,” says Oklahoma City jury
Owner spent $8,000 for two "American bullies," but not a dime to fix his fence OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma––Antwon Demetris Burks, 36, was on November 5, 2021 found not guilty of second degree manslaughter in connection with the April 6, 2017 pit bull mauling death of Cecille Short, 82. The jury deliberated for seven hours before reaching the verdict. Short and her own small … [Read More...]
Irish farmers have a beef––and that’s our problem, too
Pastoral nations object to cattle cutbacks recommended for greenhouse gas emissions based on factory farm data GLASGOW, Scotland––“Cutting methane,” specifically methane emitted by cattle, “is the biggest opportunity to slow [global] warming between now and 2040,” Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change lead reviewer Durwood Zaelke suggested in August 2021, during the run-up to the 2021 … [Read More...]
Native opposition to fur farming joins COVID-19 to kill the B.C. mink industry
British Columbia government accepts recommendation of the Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs VICTORIA, B.C.––British Columbia agriculture minister Lana Popham on November 5, 2021 made British Columbia the first jurisdiction in North America to announce a permanent ban on mink farming. In so doing, Popham responded, six months later, to an April 6, 2021 urgent appeal from the Union of … [Read More...]
Assault on SHARK investigators brings felony & misdemeanor convictions
Sentencing for attack on Steve Hindi & Adam Fahnestock by alleged cockfighters is set for November 10 IRONTON, Ohio––James V. “Bub” Newcomb II, 54, of Waterloo, Ohio, was on November 5, 2021 convicted of two felonies and one misdemeanor resulting from his January 3, 2021 attack on Showing Animals Respect & Kindness [SHARK] founder Steve Hindi and SHARK investigator Adam … [Read More...]
Bad for bears, people, & their wallets: the myth of “diversionary feeding”
British Columbia bear feeder fined $60,000 VANCOUVER, B.C.; VANCOUVER, Washington––Three hundred miles apart, in different nations, the two west coast Vancouver areas recently witnessed remarkably similar court cases over back yard bear-feeding, with comparably sad results for the bears, but strikingly different outcomes for the convicted feeders. The British Columbia … [Read More...]
Animal friends Kim Crumbo, David Amess, & Ali Laoual Abagana remembered
Rewilding Earth board member, Member of Parliament, & giraffe advocate at CITES Crumbo presumed dead in Shoshone Lake, Yellowstone National Park Conservationist Kim Crumbo, 74, remembered by Project Coyote founder Camilla Fox as “a true environmental hero for wildlife and wildlands,” has been missing and presumed dead since September 20, 2021, when the remains of his brother Mark … [Read More...]