A quarter of a century later, recollections remain vivid & the aftershocks rumble on September 11, 2001, though it reshaped our world, is now as remote as Pearl Harbor Day, December 7, 1941, was to Americans born in 1966, who have now reached or will soon be reaching 60 years of age. Yet the current […]
Ed Duvin: “I saw the best minds of animal advocacy destroyed by madness”
The no-kill movement is not yet old enough to be suffering from advanced dementia This will be a different essay than I normally write, not carefully constructed and edited, but a stream of thoughts shared with fellow activists. Why? Issues that should elicit a sense of urgency in the movement, from the rising bloodshed by […]
Birds & the poop on solar panels: does solar harm avian biodiversity?
Chinese birders refute study claiming that “China’s Solar Expansion Policy Reduces Bird Diversity” NANJING, China; HONG KONG; SINGAPORE––”China’s Solar Expansion Policy Reduces Bird Diversity,” a study led by a Chinese professor with no background in either ornithology or avian ecology, but with a history of doing research linked to the coal industry, rattled solar panels […]
Wendell Berry, Gloria Steinem, & animal rights: idols meet (meat) reality
Berry raised animals for slaughter. Steinem believed “Animals are not ours to eat, wear, experiment on, or use for entertainment.” Neither Wendell Berry and Gloria Steinem, each deceased at 92, on August 31, 2026 and September 2, 2026, respectively, were known primarily––or perhaps even at all––for their considerable influence on the late 20th century rise […]
No jail time for convicted perp yet again after a Canadian dog attack fatality
Prosecutor asked for five years. Judge sentenced two years under house arrest. EDMONTON, Alberta––Playing an abusive upbringing and Métis and Mi’kmaq First Nations heritage as a “Get Out of Jail Free” card, defense lawyer Evan McIntyre on September 3, 2026 won former Cane Corso owner Crystal Jean MacDonald, 46, a two-year sentence under house arrest for […]
1st Hong Kong fatal pit bull attack in 10 years rouses public more than 41 in U.S.
“JoJo” was a “dog slave” who tried to save them all, but died as a pit bull’s dessert HONG KONG––Wong Cho-yee, 33, dog rescuer and trainer, “JoJo” to her friends, was not much different from thousands of young American women, and others around the world, who dream of earning their livings helping animals. Wong Cho-yee […]
Guest column by Ed Boks: Finish the job that no-kill started
This ANIMALS 24-7 guest column originally appeared as the September 1, 2026 installment of author Ed Boks’ own blog, Animal Politics with Ed Boks. Boks may be reached at animalpolitics8@gmail.com. Ed Boks’ resumé in animal welfare includes having headed the animal control departments in Maricopa County, Arizona; New York City; Los Angeles; and Yavapai County, […]
Pit bulls get their kicks near old Route 66, killing men in Illinois & New Mexico
Killer pit bulls in Illinois and New Mexico cases had priors WASHINGTON PARK, Illinois; SANTA ROSA, New Mexico––Historic Route 66 linked the pit bull attack deaths of James L. Gibson, 68, on August 27, 2026 in Washington Park, Illinois, and Randall “Randy” Wade, 73, the following day in Santa Rosa, New Mexico. So did the […]
Oklahoma cockfighters & dogfighters lose three in a row
Justin Humphrey & Anthony DeVore defeated in primaries; Julius Deane Griffin sent to prison. Streak in dogfighting lingo makes law & order a “Grand Champion.” ATOKA & TULSA, Oklahoma––If the Oklahoma Republican primaries had been a cockfighting derby, ten-year Oklahoma District 19 incumbent Justin Humphrey, a longtime proponent of re-legalizing cockfighting––and of selling licenses to […]
Mutilating horses & steers’ tails is cruel, agree Scotland & Illinois judge
McHenry County case brings first known convictions for steer-tailing GLASGOW, Scotland; WOODSTOCK, Illinois––August 2026 may be noted in some quarters as the month in which both the government of Scotland and circuit judge Justin M. Hansen of McHenry County, Illinois formally recognized that removing the tails of large quaduped grazing animals from their hindquarters constitutes […]