Animals 24-7

News on dogs, cats, horses, wildlife, zoonoses, & nature

“Bloody hell!” Elizabeth II set poor example on hunting, but loved her dogs

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Corgis were almost certainly first to mourn LONDON,  U.K.–– Queen Elizabeth II,  96,  who ceremonially ruled the United Kingdom for 70 years and 214 days,  died on September 8, 2022 at Balmoral Castle,  Aberdeenshire,  Scotland,  one of the three royal hunting estates. The others are the 20,000-acre Sandringham estate,  in Norfolk,  England,   and Dalnadamph,  a 6,700-acre […]

Animal advocacy “Robin Hood” Gil Michaels dies at 80

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Michaels put $40 million into animal causes,  but was convicted of toner cartridge scam that netted more than $126 million,  according to the federal Department of Justice. VAN NUYS,  California––Gilbert N. Michaels,  80,  founder of the Compassion for Animals Foundation and Animal Guardians,  died on August 19,  2022,  while on compassionate release from a four-year […]

Why the USDA cannot effectively enforce the Animal Welfare Act

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The USDA Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service was designed to fail             WASHINGTON D.C.–– Responsible for federal Animal Welfare Act enforcement,  such as it is,  the Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture [USDA-APHIS] on May 20,  2022 got a public butt-kicking from National Geographic writer Rachel Fobar. The […]

Buffalo attack death mystery recalls injuries & deaths of other animal advocates

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Shando Mathebula,  Steve Ross,  Jerry W. Brown,  & Angela Glover JOHANNESBURG––The South African National Park Service [SANParks] and South African Police Service [SAPS] are reportedly investigating the May 4,  2022 death of Kruger National Park field ranger and dog handler Shando Mathebula,  36. Mathebula,  while on patrol in the park,  was either fatally gored by […]

Erika Brunson, 86, animal advocate, actress, interior decorator, & furniture maker

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Rose from rough start in life to philanthropic success Animal advocacy and spay/neuter philanthropist Erika Devore Brunson,  86,  died in Los Angeles,  California on May 17, 2022. Maria Erika Knab,  her original given name,  was born on September 4, 1935,  “in the small fishing town of Konigsberg in East Prussia,”  according to an October 16,  2013 […]

Tony Fitzjohn, renowned for wildlife conservation work in Kenya & Tanzania, dies at 76

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Began as a Boy Scout,  became a hippie,  hitchhiked to Africa,  & made himself useful Tony Fitzjohn,  76,  died on May 23,  2022,  “following a prolonged fight against a malignant cancer,”  the Tony Fitzjohn-WildlifeNow George Adamson Wildlife Preservation Trust announced. Fitzjohn recounted most of his long career working on behalf of African wildlife in his […]

Malcolm X on pit bulls, other dangerous dogs, & betrayal

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Malcolm X said little about dogs,  yet his whole message was directly relevant             NEW YORK,  N.Y.–– February 21,  2022 will mark the 57th anniversary of the assassination of Afro-American leader Malcolm X at the former Audubon Ballroom in New York City,  now preserved as the Malcolm X & Dr. Betty Shabazz Memorial & Educational Center. […]

Alisa Marie Mullins: longtime behind-the-scenes voice of PETA

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PETA obituary understated Mullins’ role as author,  ghostwriter,  & spokesperson Alisa Marie Mullins,  59,  a People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals researcher and writer for 30 years,  died on March 22, 2022 “after a 2-year battle with brain cancer,”  PETA announced. The PETA obituary announcement understated Mullins’ longtime role as author and/or ghost writer […]

Charles Henry Turner proved Darwin was right about animal sentience

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Turner had no laboratory & no lab animals for most of his career,  but keenly watched bugs CINCINNATI,  Ohio––Science,  law,  and animal advocacy have at last begun paying serious attention to what Charles Henry Turner discovered and wrote about animal intelligence and sentience. In the United Kingdom,  for instance,  a pending amendment to the Animal […]

Wildlife Waystation founder Martine Colette, 79, goes to “walk with tigers”

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Rescued,  sheltered,  & rehabilitated wildlife for 43 years LAKE HAVASU,  Arizona––Wildlife Waystation founder Martine Colette,  79,  died on January 23,  2022. Reported CBS-Los Angeles,  “Colette, who had been suffering from lung cancer,  died at her Lake Havasu home, according to her publicist.” Wrote Mike Barnes for Hollywood Reporter,  “She died surrounded by friends,  and one […]