An open letter from John F. Robins, Animal Concern Scotland Aileen McLeod, MSP Minister for Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform St Andrew’s House, Regent Road, Edinburgh EH1 3DG Scotland Dear Minister: I write concerning Usan Salmon Fisheries Ltd., which trades as the Scottish Wild Salmon Company. Last month at Forfar Sheriff Court, Usan […]
Scottish minister admits allowing Gamekeepers’ Association to write policy
by John F. Robins I’d like you to view a short video (link at the foot of this page). In fact I’d like you to view it two or three times just so you believe that you really are hearing with your own ears exactly what Aileen McLeod, the Scottish Minister for Environment, Climate Change […]
Foot-and-mouth disease spreads; Indian outbreak of foot-in-mouth disease may inhibit global vaccination effort
Erratic performance from some Indian-made vaccines NEW DELHI––Erratic performance from some Indian-made vaccines may be undercutting foot-and-mouth disease eradication efforts throughout the developing world, potentially threatening the lives of millions of cattle, sheep, pigs, and other hooved animals. The alleged vaccine failures might also pose a significant threat to animals in Europe and North America. […]
More raids in horse-meat-sold-as-beef scandal
Horse meat is no longer a high-end commodity DEN HAAG, The Netherlands––The April 24, 2015 coordinated arrests of 26 traffickers in seven European nations who allegedly sold horse meat as beef underscored the reality that horse meat as such is no longer a high-end commodity. Eight years after the USDA by Congressional directive quit inspecting […]
International Animal Rescue cofounder John Hicks dies at 63
John Hicks, 63, cofounder of Animal Activists, International Animal Rescue, and International Animal Rescue/Goa, “passed away earlier this week,” Federation of Indian Animal Welfare Societies spokesperson Varda Mehrotra e-mailed to FIAPO membership on February 27, 2015. “All of us at FIAPO are saddened to hear of this,” Mehrotra continued. “Our thoughts are with Jo, his […]
Shelter rabies cases remind of the risk in trying to “save them all”
“He was a kitten. He came in at four weeks old.” PITTSBURGH, LONDON––Alerts to the risk that animal shelters, shelterless rescues, and adoption transport may spread rabies came simultaneously in December 2014 from no-kill organizations on both sides of the Atlantic. “He was a kitten. He came in at four weeks old,” Washington Area Humane […]
Did Holocaust comparison cost vegan her RSPCA ruling council seat?
Petra Watson-Smith ousted LONDON––Vegan Society activist Peta Watson-Smith has lost her seat on the 25-member ruling council of the Royal SPCA of England and Wales, but fellow vegan and “radical” candidate Joseph Piccioni, a past ruling council member whom Watson-Smith nominated, was elected. The RSPCA on June 5, 2014 announced the winners in the six-way […]
Will vegan anti-hunters seize the RSPCA?
Six candidates for five board seats LONDON––Ballots to elect the Royal SPCA of England & Wales ruling council are due on Tuesday, June 3, 2014. Just under 25,000 RSPCA members are eligible to vote, down from a reported peak of about 38,600 in 2004. They will choose among six candidates for five available seats. Among […]
U.K. amends Dangerous Dogs Act, but fails to close “Staffordshire” loophole
Bull mastiff mauling came two days before amendments took effect MANCHESTER, U.K.––Amendments to the Dangerous Dogs Act that permit prosecuting people whose dogs attack other people on private property took effect two days too late to satisfy Paula Kudray, 33, of Moston, a district of Manchester. The amendments took effect on a Tuesday, explained Dan […]
Humane innovator Clarissa Baldwin retires from Dogs Trust
Saved former National Canine Defence League LONDON––Clarissa Baldwin, who took charge of the then-faltering National Canine Defence League in 1986 and turned it into the globally influential Dogs Trust, on March 11, 2014 announced her retirement. “I joined Dogs Trust in 1974 as head of public relations on a six-month contract and ending up staying for […]