Settlement cases stemming from a lawsuit brought against Ringling over the care of elephants WASHINGTON D.C.––The Humane Society of the U.S. and codefendants “have paid Feld Entertainment, Inc., the parent company of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, $15.75 million to settle cases stemming from a lawsuit they brought against Ringling over the […]
Purina vs. Blue Buffalo food fight catches animal shelters in the middle
Lawsuit alleges false advertising ST. LOUIS, Missouri; WILTON, Connecticut; RANCHO SANTA FE, California––Purina, long the leading pet food industry sponsor of animal shelter aid programs, on May 6, 2014 sued Blue Buffalo Company Ltd., sponsor of the Home 4 the Holidays adoption program, over alleged false advertising. Blue Buffalo countersued on May 14, 2014. […]
Veterinary protectionism rises again in Alabama (update)
Nonprofit clinic suspends operations COLUMBIANA, Alabama––A three-year push by Alabama for-profit veterinarians to close the four nonprofit spay/neuter clinics in the state partially succeeded during the last week of April 2014 when charges brought against William B. Weber, DVM and the nonprofit Alabama Spay/Neuter Clinic in Irondale intimidated Joy Baird, DVM into suspending operations at the […]
The fundraising potential of welcoming visitors to animal shelters
“People who rescue feral or abandoned or abused animals also tend to resemble the animals they choose, not in physical appearance but in the psychological sense.” “It has often been observed,” New Hampshire activist Peter Marsh told Spay/USA conference attendees in July 2000, “that people tend to resemble the animals they […]
Maddie’s Fund scraps model shelter plan
Model shelter is no shelter at all PLEASANTON, California––The long-awaited state-of-the-art Maddie’s Fund teaching and training shelter turns out to be no shelter at all. Whether this reflects a change in the Maddie’s Fund thinking about how best to transition the U.S. to no-kill animal control is unclear, but the decision to scrap the notion […]
Busted for alleged arms trafficking, Leland Yee had mixed record on animals
Allegedly bought from Philippine rebels, tried to resell to FBI undercover agent SAN FRANCISCO––The March 26, 2014 arrest of California state senator Leland Yee for alleged firearms trafficking and corruption sent shockwaves rippling through the animal advocacy community, as well as through the California Democratic Party and San Francisco’s Chinatown, […]
Iron Maiden undercover probe reveals the poop on pig farming
More than most of the public cared to know OWENSBORO, Kentucky––The American public on February 20, 2014 learned more about pig feeding and porcine epidemic diarrhea than almost anyone wanted to know. Humane Society of the U.S. investigators working undercover at Iron Maiden Farms in Owensboro, Kentucky in early 2014 expected to videotape the use […]
Awards & Honors, 1st quarter 2014
The 25th annual edition of the Limca Book of Records honored 25 women for their contributions to Indian society, including Geeta Seshamani, founder of the Friendicoes Society for Eradicating Cruelty to Animals and cofounder of Wildlife SOS. Friendicoes has operated a dog-and-cat shelter in Delhi since 1979, and has […]
People & positions, 1st quarter 2014
Cal Morgan, Michigan Humane Society president since 2001, on January 24, 2014 resigned to become president of the Atlanta Humane Society & Georgia SPCA. Michigan SPCA chief operating officer David Williams was named interim president while the organization seeks Morgan’s successor. Morgan at the Atlanta Humane Society & Georgia SPCA succeeds Rick Aiken, interim director […]
Review: Monsters & Miracles: Henry Bergh’s America, by Gary Kaskel
Monsters & Miracles: Henry Bergh’s America by Gary Kaskel Infinity Publishing (1094 New DeHaven St., Suite100, W. Conshohocken, PA 19428), 2013. 383 pages, electronic & paperback formats. $10.95. Henry Bergh, who founded the American SPCA in 1866, remains such an influential and legendary figure that a succinct biography of Bergh fills nearly half of […]