Archive for July, 2009

Two Goats Found Wandering Along Hutchinson River Parkway in New York City Find Refuge at Farm Sanctuary

Watkins Glen, NY (RPRN) 7/31/2009–Today, July 30, Farm Sanctuary, the nation’s leading farm animal protection organization, will welcome two young goats to its farm animal shelter in Watkins Glen, NY. The goats, a male and female, who appear to be just months old, were first seen on Tuesday wandering along the side of the [...]

Hawthorne on Agribusiness’ Defense Tactics

Mark Hawthorne’s always excellent “Striking at the Roots” blog has a must-read piece on agribusiness’ efforts to derail the work of animal protection activists. This industry observation is especially worth emphasizing: “Activists have learned to use the Internet better than industry has.” That’s undoubtably true, but it’s also true that we haven’t reached 10 percent of our potential when it comes to Internet activism. And once we do, agribusiness will be hosed. Switching effortlessly int

A Future for Fighting Dogs

Viewed as the ” nation’s most famous dogfighting case ,” Michael Vick’s celebrity status and 2007 conviction (which unfortunately ended with Vick being released after serving less than two years in jail for his illegal, six-year dog fighting operation) ignited a firestorm of renewed public interest concerning the dark world of dogfighting, so much that it is now considered a felony offense in all 50 states [PDF]. Vick’s case also brought about a new attitude regarding the future of former figh

U.S House of Representatives Votes to Help Sea Otters, Marine Turtles

The Humane Society of the United States and the Humane Society Legislative Fund praise the U.S. House of Representatives, which took steps to protect rare animals of the sea through legislation passed last night. The House approved H.R. 556, the Southern Sea Otter Recovery and Research Act, which was introduced by longtime animal protection champion Rep. Sam Farr, D-Calif. The bill passed by a vote of 316-107. The House also passed H.R. 509, the Marine Turtle Conservation Reauthorization Act of

TAFA 2009: Third Time’s a Charm

I spent last weekend, July 24-27, in the Washington, DC, area at the fifth annual Taking Action for Animals (TAFA) conference , hosted by the Humane Society of the United States. It was my third year at what HSUS says is the largest animal-advocacy conference in the country, which is easy to believe. There were workshops and panels on so many subjects that I couldn’t possibly list them all. The conference was also celebrity-heavy this year, so keep reading for details on that below. Some of

Humane Society International Congratulates EU for Seal Product Trade Ban; Condemns Canadian Government Response

WASHINGTON, D.C. (RPRN) 7/29/2009–Humane Society International and The Humane Society of the United States congratulated the Council of Ministers of the European Union for overwhelmingly endorsing a comprehensive prohibition on trade in products of commercial seal hunts. Twenty-four nations supported the ban, with only three abstaining. HSI and HSUS condemned the Canadian government for its [...]

PETA Wants to Buy Olympic Billboard Space for Anti-Seal Slaughter Ad

Group Says Marine-Mammal Massacre Taints Olympics Vancouver, British Columbia (RPRN) 7/28/2009–After learning that the Olympic Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic Games is attempting to sell billboard space after having trouble convincing sponsors to buy the space it had stockpiled in advance of the 2010 Winter Games, PETA has sent a letter to the committee offering [...]

Vick Reinstated Conditionally May Play By Week 6

NEW YORK (Reuters) – Quarterback Michael Vick has been reinstated to the NFL on a conditional basis and a decision on his return to action will come by the sixth week of the regular season, Commissioner Roger Goodell said Monday. Vick, who completed a 23-month criminal sentence for bankrolling a dogfighting ring, was free to sign with an NFL team, participate in practice and play in the final two preseason games. A decision on his return to regular-season competition would be based on the progre

Vick reinstated conditionally, may play by Week 6

Quarterback Michael Vick has been reinstated to the NFL on a conditional basis and may be able to play by the sixth week of the regular season, Commissioner Roger Goodell said on Monday. Vick, who completed a 23-month criminal sentence for bankrolling a dogfighting ring, will be considered for full reinstatement for the October 18-19 games “based on the progress he makes in his transition plan,” Goodell said in a statement. Vick was grateful to be given the chance to play again. “I would l

NFL to Sick Vick: What dog thing? Welcome home!

From the L.A. Times Unleashed blog : Former Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick, who served a federal prison sentence of nearly two years for dogfighting, has been conditionally reinstated for NFL play by the league’s commissioner, Roger Goodell. I’d post more, but I need to throw up now. And then take a long, hot shower in hopes of washing of the scum I picked up just from typing that name. It’s not as if the NFL ever got a lot of my money, but as of now and as long as this dirtba