One for the Elephants!

Wednesday, December 10, 2014 at 2:30 am

TO ELEPHANT ADVOCATES EVERYWHERE

Some good news on the circus elephant front! Just got home from the Oakland City Council meeting (5:30pm - 2:30am)--an overflow crowd.

The Council last night passed an ordinance banning the use of bullhooks and similar devices on circus elephants, following Los Angeles' lead. The final vote was 5:2 (AYES: Noel Gallo, Dan Kalb, Libby Schaaf, Pat Kernighan, Rebecca Kaplan. NOES: Larry Reid, Desley Brooks. ABSTAIN: Lynette Gibson McElhaney). 

The NO votes were sympathetic to animal welfare issues but were concerned about possible job and revenue loss, saying those issues were not properly vetted (and I agree with that assessment--they weren't). 

An amendment offered by Rebecca Kaplan was accepted, which I'm not crazy about, but may have been necessary to get the ordinance passed: The ban won't go into effect until September of 2017 (same as the Los Angeles ban).

Still, this is a major step forward (Stockton is considering a similar ordinance). Ideally, of course, ALL wild animal acts should be banned outright as many countries have already done: the United Kingdom, Greece, Israel, Colombia, Mexico City and others.  

So who's the REAL "Third World" here, insofar as animal welfare is concerned?

Some 180 people signed up to speak, mostly pro-ban folks but a sizable number of union workers and caterers--also concerned about the welfare of the elephants but more concerned about personal finances, I think. Plus a couple reps from Ringling Bros./Barnum & Bailey Circus with the usual denials about animal abuse, which has been repeatedly documented over the years.

Thanks to all who came and testified. Nice to win one for a change, hey? Please forward this good news accordingly.

Onward,

Eric Mills, Coordinator

ACTION FOR ANIMALS

Oakland

P.S. - Some notes of thanks to the council members seem in order, esp. Libby Schaaf (lschaaf@oaklandnet.com; and co-sponsors Noel Gallo (ngallo@oaklandnet.com), and  Dan Kalb (dkalb@oaklandnet.com)

Eric Mills is Ohlone Humane Society's Director of Community Advocacy. He can be reached at:

   ACTION FOR ANIMALS

   PO Box 20184

   Oakland, CA 94620

   (510) 652-5603

   Email: afa@mcn.org

Declawing your cat...an unkind cut

Your cat has taken to clawing your new carpet or drapes and you’re frustrated that she doesn’t seem to "get it"—that this is not acceptable behavior. Your friends have suggested a few solutions including having her declawed by your vet. No big deal right? You been told it’s just a simple removal of her claws and problem solved.

But not for your cat. It’s a cat’s basic nature to claw objects with their front paws. It’s believed that this is a way of marking their territory, relieving stress, and aiding in the removal of old and worn nail sheaths. It also is an instinctual way of exercising muscles used in hunting. While outdoor cats have an outlet for this inborn pattern using tree trucks and other natural surfaces, indoor cats tend to direct this strong natural impulse toward what is available…furniture, carpets, etc.

This can be frustrating to a guardian and may lead them to consider deterrents that can lead not only to other bad habits but cause suffering both physical and emotional trauma to their beloved companion and friend.

Before taking a step that will cause your feline friend excruciating pain and could well change her long-term behavior and forever end her trust in you, take time to understand what your decision means to her.

The procedure is often minimized as a “simple” process of removing her claws, while in reality the surgery involves the painful amputation of ten phalanxes at the last joint of each of her toes…equivalent to cutting off all your finger tips.  Removed are bones, nerve tissue, joint capsule, ligaments, and the extensor and flexor tendons. You are essentially removing part of her foot.

The aim of declawing, or onchyectomy, is to remove the entire nail bed and claw by amputation and the procedure is a permanent solution. Like any surgery, there are risks of anesthetization, excessive bleeding and postoperative complications, including infection, and is accompanied by severe pain that may last from several days to much longer unless appropriate analgesia is provided. Post-operative care and the length of time the cat must remain in the veterinary hospital depend on how the surgical procedure is performed and the skill of the surgical team.

Complications from surgery include: excruciating pain, damage to nerves that can cause lifetime distress, hemorrhage, chronic back and joint pain as shoulder, leg, and back muscles weaken. While some people may say “my cat wasn’t in pain,” the truth is that cats often do not show pain because it is a sign of weakness and vulnerability.

The trauma of declawing can have behavioral and psychological consequences. The suffering can change personalities: previously friendly and social cats can become withdrawn and fearful. Without their natural means of defense, cats can become so stressed that they exhibit aggression. Without their claws, they have no choice but to fall back on their only remaining means of defense, their teeth, and bite when faced with even minor upsets. The continuing stress can also challenge their immune system and lead to health problems.

Cats that have had this natural impulse taken away may stop using their litter box because of the pain associated with scratching in the litter after a declawing procedure. This means they will find a more comfortable place to go such as a soft blanket, carpet, etc.—an issue equal to or more challenging than the original scratching problem.

Statistics show that:

• 50% of cats will come out of the operation with immediate medical or behavioral complications for 2-3 weeks, and 30% will have complications for the rest of their lives
• 75% of the cats with litter box aversion and turned into shelters are declawed cats
• 80% of declawed cats that are surrendered to shelters are euthanized because they have a behavioral problem
• 70% of cats turned into shelters for behavioral problems are declawed 

Many cats surrendered to shelters are relinquished because of behavioral problems which developed after the cats were declawed, an action that may ultimately result in a cat deemed “unadoptable” and ending in euthanasia.

Laws in most European countries explicitly prohibit the practice. In Israel, declawing a cat can result in a fine equivalent to more than $20,000. Authorities in the U.K., Brazil, Japan, Turkey and Australia also discourage the practice.

Most animal welfare organizations, including Ohlone Humane Society, are strongly opposed to declawing cats for the convenience of their guardians. Although banned in some progressive U.S. cities, the practice still thrives in many areas.

The Bottom Line: Declawing is an unnecessary surgery which provides no medical benefit to the cat.

Learn how you can easily work with your feline family member to use their claws in a manner that allows everyone in the household to live together happily. Check out the following humane alternatives to declawing that protect your cat’s well-being and your property: http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/cats/tips/declawing.html


Tri-City Voice article by Nancy Lyon, President, Ohlone Humane Society.

Of bobcats, births and whistleblowers

Things have heated up early in the California state legislature. Animal and environmental protection bills addressing issues from cattle rustling to fracking are being hashed out in committee hearings as they progress through the lawmaking process.

One of the most heated bills is the "Bobcat Protection Act of 2013," authored by Assembly Member Richard Bloom. It addresses the growing concern over the increasing demand and price for bobcat fur, especially in foreign markets, and its impact on the bobcat population in California.

Supporters—animal and environmental protectionists—of Assembly Bill (AB) 1213 argue that the killing of California’s bobcats for their fur is simply an unacceptable matter of greed looking to profit from a burgeoning market for fur coats in Asia, Russia and Europe. Reportedly, a bobcat pelt is worth $300-$700 on the current market. About 1,800 California bobcats were legally killed by hunters and trappers during the last licensing year—about 1,500 of them by trappers.

Bobcats are a vital part in our eco-system; they help keep the balance of nature by devouring all kinds of rodents as part of their daily diet. A decrease in bobcat numbers could well result in a threat to public health in a time when there is increased concern over rodents carrying the deadly Hanta virus.

Assembly Bill 1213 was originally designed to be statewide but during committee debates, the bill’s reach was amended to the prohibition of trapping, exporting and selling of bobcat fur or product in the area surrounding Joshua National Park.

If AB 1213 is passed, it would direct California Department of Fish and Wildlife to complete a study of the number of bobcats in the state and develop estimates of how many bobcats can be trapped and killed while maintaining a viable population. If the state fails to complete and enact a management program for bobcats by July 1, 2015, the result would support its original mission of a statewide ban on the trapping of bobcats.

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The animal nursery exhibit—aka live birthing exhibit—continues to be a subject of heated controversy at the California State Fair that runs from July 12-28 in Sacramento. Since the beginning of the exhibit several years ago, animal welfare advocates have come together to urge banning the practice that imprisons pregnant sows in steel-barred "farrowing crates" for three straight weeks, unable to turn around, barely able to move, and forced to give birth on a barren metal grid, further stressed by nightly fireworks and before milling crowds.

Under normal conditions, expectant pigs look for a quiet, secluded place to birth their young. The contrast between the fair exhibit and natural instincts is glaring condemnation of the practice.




Humane housing for a sow and her piglets (Photo: The PIGSAFE Project)

Compare this to the display at last’s year’s Alameda County Fair that featured a 10' x 20' enclosure, the sow in deep sawdust, with her piglets (born off-site) free to come and go at will through a slotted partition across one corner of the pen, drawn by the warmth of a heat lamp, with pigs and public seemly content.

In fact, it’s interesting to note that according to the Animal Legal Defense Fund, farrowing crates have been illegal since 1970 under California Penal Code 597t.

Many individuals and organizations—including OHS—have requested that this cruel exhibit be dropped, and when the State Fair Board meets for its yearly meeting on May 31, perhaps they will listen.

CALIFORNIA FAIR BOARD
Administration Building
1600 Exposition Blvd
Sacramento, CA 95815
www.calexpo.ca.gov
916/263-3276

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One of the most chilling pieces of California legislation that was dropped by its author but may resurface next year was AB 343 by Assembly Member Jim Patterson, a so-called "Ag Gag" bill. AB 343 was meant to punish people who document cruelty to animals by requiring that documenting materials must be given to law enforcement within 120 hours or face a fine.

According to the Humane Society of the United States, Ag Gag bills make it a crime to report animal cruelty inside a poultry warehouse, slaughterhouse, or on a cattle feedlot. They represent a wave of bills passed in state legislatures across the nation that have been put forth by the meat industry to criminalize the reporting of animal cruelty by anyone--journalists, activists, or whistleblowers. Their intent is to prohibit the release of videotapes or photographs that document what happens inside factory farms and meat processing facilities, often with the threat of jail time. The real goal of these laws is to intimidate and discourage a person’s resolve to make public any illegal behavior such as beating or torturing captive animals, often using the police to seize their materials.

The huge agri-business industry is pushing hard to keep Americans in the dark about the extreme cruelty that regularly occurs in food production. Whistleblowers on factory farms and in slaughter houses are being criminalized for exposing animal abuse, unsafe working conditions, and environmental problems on industrial farms.

Instead of upholding existing anti-cruelty laws and working to prevent these abuses from occurring, the agribusiness industry has been working to prevent people from finding out about such problems by promoting anti-whistleblower bills by making it illegal.

Check with HSUS on updates on preventing Ag-Gag bills: https://secure.humanesociety.org/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=6047&s_src=webis


Tri-City Voice article by Nancy Lyon, President, Ohlone Humane Society

Political Animals

As the election dust settles, campaign ads have mercifully disappeared and the 2012 state legislative session adjourns until January. Because of the election there will be many new legislators. Due to term limits, we are losing very good legislators such as San Mateo's Senator Joe Simitian. It's time to look back on the bills that passed or failed. As the Legislative Advisor to OHS and a member of Paw PAC, California's Political Action for Animals, we monitored 50 pieces of legislation affecting animals. Among those that were supported and passed:

Assembly Bill (AB) 2402 authored by Assemblyman Jared Huffman (who is going to Congress) changes the name of the California Department of Fish and Game to Department of Fish and Wildlife. It establishes an independent scientific advisory panel, authorized partnerships with non-profit organizations, and creates an "environmental crime task force." This new law will reflect the broad responsibilities the Department has to all wildlife and their habitats, not just "game." Next year Governor Jerry Brown has an opportunity to appoint at least two Fish and Game Commissioners who oversee the Department. The Commission has always been dominated by hunters. It's time for more environmentalists.

Senate Bill (SB) 1145 authored by Senator Bill Emmerson raises the maximum fines for animal fighting from $5,000 to $10,000 and from $1,000 to $5,000 for spectators. Dog fighting and cock fighting are among the cruelest abuse of animals for entertainment and gambling. The penalties have to be high to be meaningful and encourage enforcement.

SB 1221 authored by Senator Ted Lieu bans the hunting of bears and bobcats with dogs with the exception of pursuing them under a depredation permit or for research purposes. SB 1221 was the most controversial and contested bill in the Capitol Building, filling the halls and hearing rooms with hundreds of hunters and animal advocates. Hound hunting, as it's called, entails dogs pursuing bears or bobcats sometimes for hours until the bear or bobcat is too exhausted to continue and climbs a tree to escape. The hunter then comes and shoots him/her at close range until the animal falls out of the tree. The majority of the legislators and animal advocates do not consider this "fair chase."

SB 1229 authored by Senator Fran Pavley prohibits landlords from requiring the de-clawing of cats or de-barking of dogs as a condition of rentals. De-clawing is a form of amputation and completely unnecessary as is de-barking. While rentals may be temporary, these procedures are permanent.

SB 1500 authored by Senator Ted Lieu amends and improves law enforcement procedures in dealing with "owners" of seized or abandoned animals to be sure the animals can be cared for properly. It does the animals no good to be returned to abusive or neglectful people.

The California Fish and Game Commission passed amended regulations to improve the inspections of facilities where captive exotic animals are kept, including circuses. This is the result of a successful law suit by animal advocates, I am among them, that maintained the Department was violating existing law by allowing permittees to have their own paid veterinarians conduct inspections, a conflict of interest. The Commission also accepted a petition by wolf defenders asking them to protect a lone wolf, OR7, who wandered into California from Oregon. Fortunately, the Commission will once again consider banning the importation of frogs and turtles for live animal markets and the pet trade. Many are diseased and released in California where they are killing our native wildlife.


While good bills were passed, others failed. Among them:

AB 298 authored by Assemblywoman Julia Brownley (who is going to Congress) would have phased out plastic bags that have a onetime use and require stores to make reusable bags available for sale. Plastic bags are a major source of litter often killing wildlife who mistake them for food.

SB 969 authored by Senator Juan Vargas would have set up a California Pet Grooming Council to certify trained groomers and set standards in housing and handling. It would have been a voluntary certification program. This was the second unsuccessful attempt to protect animals from injuries by untrained groomers and unsafe handling.

SB 1480 authored by Alameda County's Senator Ellen Corbett was vetoed by the Governor and is probably the most disappointing loss to animals this year. It would have established a special license for people who trap wildlife, often called "nuisance wildlife trappers." Under current law the animals must have damaged property, but often they are trapped and killed just because they are considered a nuisance. SB 1480 would have banned cruel killing methods such as drowning, crushing chests, or injecting chemicals and would have required trappers to give information to their customers about current laws. Many people assume or are told that the animals will be released to the wild. But that is against the Fish and Game Code. If you have a wildlife problem, call a wildlife rehabilitation center for suggestions.

SB 1523 authored by Senator Tony Strickland would have provided money from fines and fees to go into the "Retired California Race Horses Fund" for the retirement, rehabilitation, and re-training of race horses. Many race horses end up going to slaughterhouses. These animals have won money for their "owners" and deserve a humane retirement instead of being treated with neglect, abuse, and greed.

Virginia Handley has advocated for animals at the State and local levels for more than 30 years. She is President of Paw PAC founded in 1980, and currently heads up the Animal Switchboard. Copies of the bills, the votes, and legislative analyses are available at www.leginfo.ca.gov. For more information on PawPAC contact Virginia at (510) 222-2236 or info@pawpac.org.

Tri-City Voice article by Virginia Handley, President, Paw PAC (California's Political Action Committee for Animals)

When the Greatest Show on Earth…isn’t

In California a growing coalition of humane societies and SPCAs have come together in response to charges of animal abuse by the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus. They are calling for a public boycott of upcoming performances because of the circus’ use of cruel bullhooks, prods, and shackles on animals that are used in what is billed as the ‘Greatest Show on Earth.’

Responding to concerns and documentation from animal protection agencies, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) conducted a year-long investigation of charges leveled at the circus. Over a dozen investigations of Feld Entertainment, Inc., the corporation that owns Ringling Bros. Circus, surfaced evidence supporting the allegations yet regulators did not immediately act on the findings of abuse. A former head of the animal care unit in the USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service said that with a limited budget, the agency was unable to prosecute many cases.

Pressured by reports from animal welfare agencies of continuing abuse of treatment of the circus animals, the USDA brought charges against Feld in March of 2012. While Feld never admitted that Ringling Brothers Circus was guilty of cruel methods to make animals in its care  perform, they settled out of court which resulted in an unheard of civil penalty of a fine of $270,000 for violating the federal Animal Welfare Act.  Ironically, as part of the settlement, the company admits no wrongdoing or violation of USDA policy.

The boycott, spearheaded by the Marin Humane Society currently includes Palo Alto Humane Society, Ohlone Humane Society, East Bay SPCA, Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA, Bakersfield SPCA, Humane Society Silicon Valley, Humane Society of Ventura County, Pasadena Humane Society & SPCA, Sacramento SPCA, San Francisco SPCA, Santa Cruz SPCA, Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals -Los Angeles, Sonoma Humane Society, and the SPCA for Monterey County. The number of humane organizations signing on is growing still.

The humane coalition states: “The use of animals as circus performers is an outdated—and inhumane—concept. Behind the scenes trainers often use whips, bullhooks, electric prods and other painful tools and methods to force animals to perform tricks. When not performing, animals are kept in small, cramped cages for days at a time with little monitoring. Exotic animals that have special husbandry needs are often kept in violation of the federal Animal Welfare Act (AWA). Elephants that travel with circuses spend hours in transit and in chains. Circuses train animals through such coercive means as beating, whipping, prodding and shocking. Elephants are subject to abusive handling methods from devices known as bullhooks that can puncture and tear sensitive skin.”

Performing animals such as elephants and other wild animals, by their very nature, do not willingly perform stunts. While some positive training methods are used and some efforts are made on their behalf, the abnormal circus feats are too often produced through fear of the mistreatment that refusal of performing brings. The animals lead lives that offer little toward even a minimum quality of life so important to their individual species, their living conditions often running afoul of AWA regulations.

Animals such as elephants are first and foremost wild animals that can and have cracked under the strain of intense captivity and mistreatment. There have been highly publicized incidents when spectators and circus workers have been seriously injured and killed regardless of training. Incidents of this kind bring to light not only the suffering endured by performing wild animals but that they can and have become dangerous when they reached a breaking point.

The humane coalition asks that the public not attend performances that support the misuse and abuse of wild and exotic animals. They are asking people to not attend circuses with performing animals that send the wrong message, especially to children, since wild animals are living beings and are not meant to be exploited for entertainment purposes.

Ringling Brothers has performances scheduled in Anaheim, Bakersfield, Oakland, San Diego, San Jose and Stockton throughout July, August and September. Because of the company’s routine abuse of animals, it is requested that the public not support this cruelty by not attending any of the performances.

Instead consider the many exciting and amazing circuses that do not use and/or abuse animals, such as Cirque du Soleil, the San Francisco-based New Pickle Circus, the Moscow State Circus and many more, all with entertaining performances that rival and surpass those using animals.

For an extensive list of Animal-Free/No-Animal circuses check the Born Free USA website – bornfreeusa.org.


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Tri-City Voice article by Nancy Lyon, President, Ohlone Humane Society.

Photo's courtesy of: www.dreamstime.com

Jungle George - unfair fare: Raccoon on a Stick, anyone?

The Alameda County Fair in Pleasanton closed July 8. I attended opening day on June 20, and had a grand old time (accent on the "old"). And that's part of the fair's appeal: you pretty much know what to expect from one year to the next: farmed animals, 4-H clubs, horse racing, fruit and vegetable displays, handcrafts, painting and photography, etc. And, of course, unhealthful foods of unimaginable variety, most of them deep-fried. In addition, the fair hosts music concerts and the slightly seedy attractions of the midway and its neon-lit rides with screaming kids (and adults, too), especially magical at night.

But for me, the best news was the fact that, unlike last year, exotic foods vendor "Jungle George" (based in Livermore) was not present to purvey his repugnant (and cruel) wares: "Raccoon on a Stick," "Beaver on a Stick," "Python on a Stick," bear, yak, fried crickets and scorpions, "Chocolate-covered Cockroaches," and my personal favorite, "Grilled Cheese Maggot Sandwiches." Chez Panisse's Alice Waters would have had a heart attack. Reportedly, "Jungle George" used to feature African lion meat, until PETA got on his case.

It's hard to believe that local public health authorities would approve these items for human consumption. Raccoons are notorious carriers of rabies, distemper and roundworms. Bon appetit.

But from an animal welfare point of view, I was more disturbed by the fact that wildlife was being turned into novelty items for a bunch of would-be macho types to impress their girlfriends. I called the FDA (who approved this fare) to find out the source of the raccoon and beaver meat, hoping against hope that it came from road kill. No such luck. "Nope, it's from out-of-state fur farms," I was told.

Fur farms are illegal in California, and for good reason. They are horrendously cruel, not unlike battery cages for egg-laying hens. The raccoons and beavers are confined in tiny wire cages their entire short lives, generally at the mercy of the elements, and driven either neurotic or insane by their living conditions, until their untimely demise, either by gassing, electrocution, or having their necks broken. And for what? A completely unnecessary luxury item: fur coats.

So if fur farms are illegal in California, it seems highly inappropriate that we should then be offering the by-products at our state and county fairs, no? Plus the risks to public health. (NOTE: "Jungle George" was also a vendor at last year's California State Fair in Sacramento. He is not being invited back to this year's fair for various reasons. The State Fair opened July 12 and runs through July 29)

Here's hoping that "Jungle George" will NOT be allowed to sell or give away any such products at future Alameda County Fairs or anywhere else in the state or country. The public is urged to contact the Alameda County Fairgrounds to express their concerns (see contact info below).

Animal Nursery Update - But the best news to report from the Pleasanton fair was their commendable Animal Nursery, in stark contrast to the brutal display at our State Fair in Sacramento. When I saw the exhibit on opening day, it featured a single pregnant sow in a spacious 10' x 20' pen, in deep sawdust. There was a slotted partition which fit across one corner of the pen, allowing the piglets to come and go at will, attracted by a heat lamp, and safe from being lain on by the sow... a truly humane display. I complimented the young woman in charge of the area, a former 4-H member, upon the humaneness of the exhibit. She told me that the sow was due to give birth the very next day.

Traditional Farrowing Crates - Photo: Farm Sanctuary

When I described the farrowing crates at the State Fair, she told me she believed the crates to be inhumane. Indeed, someone had suggested that the Alameda County Fair exhibit have farrowing crates on display, too. She refused, out of concern for the animals' welfare. It should also be noted that the Pleasanton fair featured a display with a cow and young calf, again in a pen in deep sawdust. Kudos for that! At the State Fair, cows and their newborn calves are separated at birth, stressing all concerned. We can/must do better by these animals.

The State Fair folks should follow Alameda County's lead. In the nursery exhibit in Sacramento, pregnant sows are imprisoned in metal-barred "farrowing" crates, barely able to move, for three straight weeks, and forced to give birth on a metal grid. Do this to a dog and go to jail. What's the difference, pray?

WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP - Please contact the Alameda County and California State Fairs to express your concerns about these humane issues. Thank Mr. Pickering for Alameda County's humane Animal Nursery display. Ask that the "farrowing" crates be banned, and that exotic food vendors such as "Jungle George" not be allowed to sell such unsavory products at our State and County fairs in the future.

Write/call: Norbert Bartosik, CEO & General Manager, CalEXPO, 2600 Exposition Blvd., Sacramento, CA 95815; tel. 916/263-3010; email - calexpoboard@calexpo.com. As noted, the State Fair runs July 12-29. There'll be a "Mexican Extravaganza" on the 29th featuring six bull rides, yet another concern.

Rick Pickering, CEO, Alameda County Fairgrounds, 4501 Pleasanton Avenue, Pleasanton, CA 94566; tel. 925/426-7600; email - april@alamedacountyfair.com

Thanks for caring.

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Tri-City Voice article by Eric Mills, OHS Community Relations Director, Ohlone Humane Society

California Humane Societies Call for Boycott of Ringling Bros. Circus

From Sacramento to Los Angeles agencies across the state urge the public to seek entertainment venues that don’t use animal performers

(NOVATO, CALIF., July 18, 2012) — The Marin Humane Society, Bakersfield SPCA, East Bay SPCA, Humane Society Silicon Valley, Humane Society of Ventura County, Ohlone Humane Society, Palo Alto Humane Society, Pasadena Humane Society & SPCA, Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA, Sacramento SPCA, San Francisco SPCA, Santa Cruz SPCA, Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Los Angeles (spcaLA), Sonoma Humane Society, and SPCA for Monterey County today publicly called for a boycott of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, citing the company’s routine abuse of animals. Ringling Bros. is scheduled to perform in Anaheim, Bakersfield, Oakland, San Diego, San Jose and Stockton throughout July, August and September.

California Humane Societies agree: The use of animals as circus performers is an outdated—and inhumane—concept. Behind the scenes trainers often use whips, bullhooks, electric prods and other painful tools and methods to force animals to perform tricks. When not performing, animals are kept in small, cramped cages for days at a time with little monitoring. Exotic animals that have special husbandry needs are often kept in violation. Elephants that travel with circuses spend hours in transit and in chains. Circuses train animals through such coercive means as beating, whipping, prodding and shocking. Elephants are subject to abusive handling methods from devices known as bullhooks that can puncture and tear sensitive skin.

Ringling’s use of bullhooks, prods, and shackles are in violation of Federal Law. Shockingly, laws and regulations offer circus animals minimal protection, and they are rarely enforced. In March 2012 Ringling Brothers settled a USDA action that resulted in a fine of $270,000 for mishandling animals. This is the largest civil imposed penalty ever issued to a circus by USDA.

Circuses with performing animals send the wrong message especially to children, since wild animals are living beings and are not meant to be exploited for entertainment purposes. Animals do not naturally ride bicycles, walk on their hind legs, balance on balls, or jump through flaming hoops.

There are many wonderful circuses that do not use and/or abuse animals, such as Cirque du Soleil, and they are just as exciting and entertaining, if not more so, than those that do. The public is strongly urged to seek entertainment venues that don’t use animal performers.

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Contact Information

Marin Humane Society

Carrie Harrington

Director of Communications

415.506.6256

charrington@marinhumanesociety.org

Bakersfield SPCA

Julie Johnson

Executive Director

661.323.8353

jjohnson@bakersfieldspca.org

East Bay SPCA

Laura Fulda

Director of Marketing and Development

510.563.4611

lfulda@eastbayspca.org

Humane Society Silicon Valley

Mark Saraceni

Vice President, Marketing

408.262.2133, X130

mark.saraceni@hssv.org

Humane Society of Ventura County

Jolene Hoffman

Shelter Director

805.646.6650

shelterdirector@humanesocietyvc.org

Ohlone Humane Society

Nancy Lyon

President

510.792.4587

nancylyon@aol.com

Palo Alto Humane Society

Carole Hyde

Director

650.424.1901

carole.hyde@paloaltohumane.org

Pasadena Humane Society & SPCA

Steve McNall

Executive Director

626.792.7151

steve@phsspca.org

Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA

Scott Delucchi

Senior Vice President, Community Relations

650.685.8510

delucchi@peninsulahumanesociety.org

Sacramento SPCA

Lesley Kirrene

Director of Public Relations and Marketing

916.504.2828

lkirrene@sspca.org

San Francisco SPCA

Cynthia Kopec

Vice President of Marketing and Communications

415.522.3506

ckopec@sfspca.org

Santa Cruz SPCA

Lisa Carter

Executive Director

831.566.8600

director@santacruzspca.org

Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Los Angeles (spcaLA)

Ana Bustilloz

Director of Communications and Marketing

323.730.5300 x252

abustilloz@spcala.com

Sonoma Humane Society

Kiska Icard

Executive Director

707.542.0882 x201

kIcard@sonomahumane.org

SPCA for Monterey County

Beth Brookhouser

Director of Community Outreach

831.264.5469

bbrookhouser@spcamc.org

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Photo courtesy of: www.dreamstime.com

Yahoo! supports the killing of Whales and dolphins

Whales and dolphins are among the most intelligent species on the planet and many countries have officially recognized the dangers to the survival of these incredible creatures due to human activity. Actions that have placed whales on the protected and endangered species list.


Numerous countries that have hunted them in the past, and corporations that have profited from the sale of whale and dolphin meat, have taken the path of responsibility and discontinued killing and selling products from their flesh; yet Bay Area based Internet giant Yahoo! negligently and shamefully continues to reap profit from their Japanese affiliate Yahoo! Japan that offers the sale of hundreds of whale and dolphin meat products on their web sites.


Take Action and urge Yahoo! to be accountable and pressure Yahoo! Japan to permanently ban the sale of whale and dolphin meat on their websites and urge them to stop supporting whaling before more species are lost forever.


Corporate offices:


Yahoo! Inc.
701 First Avenue
Sunnyvale, CA 94089
Tel: (408) 349-3300
Fax: (408) 349-3301



For more information on how to participate, please follow on the link below:


http://www.hsi.org/issues/whaling/tips/#Take%20action


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Photo's courtesy of: www.geekphilosopher.com/GeekPhilosopher.com/photos/photos.aspx

Cruelly trapped wildlife need your immediate help

It's pretty safe to say that not everyone feels that sharing their abode with wildlife is an enjoyable experience. Unfortunately for the animals, removing them by commercial trapping has become a business that has often employed means of cruelly disposing of those unlucky enough to be captured, a practice that has increasingly come under the scrutiny of animal protectionists.

Customers of trapping services usually have little idea what happens to the animals they wish removed from their property. To address this omission, California Senate Majority Leader Ellen Corbett (D-San Leandro) has authored legislation Senate  Bill (SB) 1480 that would mandate that consumers using commercial trapping services must be provided with a written contract stating these details so they can make informed choices regarding the removal of wildlife when they become "nuisance" problems or create property damage.

The bill would also prohibit specific barbaric methods of killing animals like raccoons, opossum, skunks and other wild creatures. Currently, commercial trappers have little, if any, supervision on the methods used to destroy captured wildlife. SB 1480 would make it illegal to kill any trapped mammal by intentional drowning or injection with any chemical not specifically sold for the purpose of euthanizing animals. Killing by the injection of solutions such as chemical solvents, sodium cyanide and even fingernail polish remover, toxic products that have been used in the past and caused an excruciating death; or by thoracic compression, commonly known as chest crushing would be illegal.

Senator Corbett stated "This bill helps consumers find legitimate and experienced trappers," Corbett said. "It's time we quit turning a blind eye to the inhumane practices used by some wildlife trappers."

In 2003 a law was passed that required individuals offering commercial wildlife trapping services to the public to be obligated to obtain a license from the state Department of Fish and Game. However, because of  insufficient resources to enforce the law, Fish & Game has not issued any regulations that would act as guidelines for commercial trappers. SB 1480, if passed, directs the Department of Fish and Game to maintain a list of licensed trappers on its website, requires trappers to provide a written contract to consumers, and forbids cruel methods of animal killing.

SB 1480 is co-sponsored by Born Free USA, a non-profit organization whose mission is to end the suffering of wild animals in captivity, rescue animals in need, protect wildlife in their natural habitats, and encourage compassionate conservation and is partnered by the San Francisco Wildlife Center. Monica Engebetson, the senior program associate for Born Free USA stated "This important bill will increase protections for wildlife, reduce the chances of family dogs and cats being inadvertently killed in traps and will help consumers make informed decisions. Our organization has worked for many years to address this issue, and we are grateful to Senator Corbett for introducing this bill."

Ohlone Humane Society's Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, whose mission is to save orphaned and injured wildlife, can attest to a number of orphaned baby mammals coming into the Center every year whose mothers have been killed by for-profit trappers. In an effort to address this tragedy, SB 1480 incorporates specific regulations and guidelines that for-profit trappers must follow to insure the protection young animals still dependent on their mothers for survival. It states, "The bill would require a class II trapping licensee to make a reasonable effort not to leave dependent young animals that are orphaned as a consequence of the trapping and killing of their mother, to die within an area of a home or business that is inaccessible to the licensee." It would also mandate that all trapped lactating females be immediately released to care for their young.

People who hire commercial trappers to remove animals from their property not only need but deserve to know what will happen to animals they pay to have removed. They also have the right - and yes - the obligation to know how the animals will be killed if it is considered "necessary."

SB 1480 successfully passed the Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee, and will be heard next by the Senate Appropriations Committee (SAC) possibly this coming week. I recently spoke with Senator Corbett's aides in Sacramento, and they emphasized the importance of continuing public support and urged that in the remaining days before going before SAC, possibly just days after this is published, that they ask supporters to call SAC committee members and urge their support of SB 1480. Please take a moment and let your representatives know that you support the humane treatment of wildlife that are presently at the mercy of commercial trappers.

Members of the Senate Appropriations Committee:
Christine Kehoe (Chair) (916) 651-4039
Mimi Walters (Vice Chair) (916) 651-4033
Elaine Alquist (916) 651-4013
Bob Dutton (916) 651-4031
Ted W. Lieu (916) 651-4028
Curran D. Price, Jr (916) 651-4026
Darrel Steinberg (916) 651-4006

For assistance in humanely discouraging wildlife from "homesteading" at your residence, call the OHS Wildlife Rehabilitation Center for information: 510-797-9449.

*****

Tri-City Voice article by Nancy Lyon, President, Ohlone Humane Society, dated May 22 2012.

Fish and Game in the Crosshairs

"The mighty hunter with luck and pluck hopes to outwit a duck." - Ogden Nash

When California Fish and Game (F&G) Commission President Dan Richards proudly posed dancing with a dead mountain lion, the picture went viral and the public went ballistic. The person we depend on to protect our wildlife and enforce our laws went to an Idaho hunting ranch and hound hunted a mountain lion who, if in California, would be protected. California voters had passed an initiative banning sport hunting of mountain lions in 1990 and defeated another initiative in 1996 to repeal it.

There were calls for Commissioner Richard’s resignation or removal and 41 legislators sent him a letter saying he was "eroding the public’s confidence and trust in their government." Richard’s response was that "There is zero chance I would consider resigning." Ultimately, no legislative action was taken possibly because not only was the hunt legal in Idaho but Richard’s term is up next year and any hearings now would be a shoot-out in the Capitol halls filled with hunters and animal advocates.

I’ve attended Commission meetings for 30 years all over the state. Every Commissioner hunts. They always have. They even have an Advisory Committee to promote hunting named after Albert Taucher, a long gone commissioner and avid advocate for the "consumptive" use of wildlife. It was a good ole boys hunting club and it still is.

Former President and current Commissioner Jim Kellogg was equally avid refusing to let me testify on a hunting bill he was asking the Commission to endorse sight unseen. He maintained that he only took recommendations from the Albert Taucher Committee of which he is a member. Before him was Mike Flores, a bow hunter, who said he was not interested in any land that didn’t allow hunting. Where’s a John Muir Advisory Committee?

But Commissioner Richards may have shot himself in the foot. His timing could not have been worse. Right now the F&G Department and Commission are being heavily scrutinized by the California Fish and Wildlife Strategic Vision headed by Secretary of Resources John Laird and formed after the passage of AB 2376 authored by Assemblymember Jared Huffman. Many recommendations are being considered and some may become legislation. Ironically, one of the members on the Strategic Vision represents landowners of the Tejon Ranch in California that was recently fined $136,500 by F&G for illegally killing at least 11 mountain lions.

One of the recommendations that has already become legislation is AB 2293 authored by Assemblymember Tony Portantino to change the name of the F&G Department to Fish and Wildlife Department. AB 2402 authored by Assemblymember Jared Huffman would also change the name and establish an independent scientific advisory panel. The Department’s broader responsibilities need to be reflected in their name.

In addition to hunting and fishing, the Department deals with endangered and threatened species, non-game animals, marine protection, wildlife in captivity (zoos, aquariums, circuses, breeders, sanctuaries, laboratories, etc), wildlife rehabilitation, live animal markets, pet trade, land and water conservation and restoration, depredation permits, "nuisance" wildlife, fur trapping, animal dealers, management of state lands, wildlife research, deer farms, and our overworked, understaffed, underfunded wardens. More legislation is expected from recommendations by Strategic Vision, hopefully, such as reforming the makeup and qualifications of the F&G Commissioners.

Under current law, wildlife belongs to all of the people of California though many of us would argue that they belong to themselves for their own intrinsic value whether or not they are used for "consumptive" or even "non-consumptive" use.

Current law also requires the Commission to "consider the welfare of the individual animal." This was put in after F&G had given a permit for captive elk to have their antlers cut off in velvet, a very painful and bloody process. I, and other animal protectionists, had to put in a bill to ban it. We also had to ban alligator farms after F&G wanted to permit them even though the non-native alligators would wreak havoc if escaped or released. We have been waiting and working for years for the Commission to take definitive actions on inspections of wildlife facilities, lead shot, and live animal markets where millions of non-native turtles and frogs are imported devastating wild populations in other states.

There are numerous bills affecting wildlife now being heard in the Legislature. Among them is SB 1221 by Senator Ted Lieu to ban the hound hunting of bears and bobcats, unsporting and cruel to both wildlife and hounds. AB 1773 by Assemblymember Mariko Yamanda recognizes the importance of the Pacific Flyway for migratory birds.

The Flyway is our wildlife corridor in the sky. SB 1358 by Senator Mimi Walters gives F&G and Game wardens more bargaining power as law enforcement officers. Wardens endanger their lives everyday while protecting wildlife. SB 1480 by Senator Ellen Corbett establishes minimum standards for trappers of wildlife who are damaging property and prohibits their cruel killing.

Governor Jerry Brown needs to step in and speak up. His silence has been deafening. Two Commissioners’ terms expired months ago (Jim Kellogg, Richard Rogers) but continue as Commissioners until the Governor replaces them. Dan Richards’ term is up in January 2013. It’s past time for the Commission and Department to represent those of us who want wildlife alive, not just gun fodder.

Contact information:
Governor Brown
c/o State Capitol
Suite 1173
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: (916) 445-2841
Fax: (916) 558-3160

Tri-City Voice article by Virginia Handley, Ohlone Humane Society Legislative Advisor

Celebrating Life

In a couple of weeks people around the world of the Christian faith will be celebrating Easter, the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead following his death on Good Friday. It symbolizes rebirth and shares the time with the vernal equinox, historically a time venerated by early pagans who celebrated the arrival of spring and the awaking of life.

While Easter heralds the resurrection of Christ, the word Easter was derived from a Saxon goddess known as Oestre or Eastre, and in Germany as Ostara, who represented spring and dawn and the coming of the light arising from the east. She represented the bringing forth of new life both human and animal and the flowering of plants. The hare known for its noteworthy ability to produce offspring was her sacred animal, an animal whose roots in pre-13th century pagan tradition was destined to eventually become the fabled Easter Bunny.

In pagan tradition, eggs and fluffy newborn chicks were a representation of new growth. And it is told that brightly colored eggs, chicks, and bunnies were all used at festival time to express appreciation for Ostara's gift of abundance. They were later incorporated into the celebration of Easter, separately from the Christian tradition of honoring the day Jesus Christ rose from the dead.

While there may be no real correlation in the history of Easter between the secular symbols and the Christian holiday, the Christian and pagan have been gracefully woven together; each reminding us of the cycle of rebirth and the need for renewal.

While there is also no clear connection between a rabbit being associated with the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Easter Bunny is perhaps the biggest commercial symbol of Easter. Some believe rabbits were another connection with pagan belief associated with Eastre, the goddess of spring and fertility, because of their especially high reproduction rate.

The animals that have been brought into this as symbols of human belief do not always fare well. Today at Easter they are often given as gifts to amuse children and often do not represent an image of veneration as a remembrance of the renewal of life.

Tradition and belief aside, these innocent, temporarily fluffy and adorable little animals very soon become a larger problem. They have special dietary needs and behavioral issues, and their care, if they are to survive, will fall to the adults in the family.

They rapidly grow into extremely messy adult chickens and rabbits that can deposit sizeable amounts of droppings that soon turn into a constant need for cleaning to prevent insects and odor from becoming a home and neighborhood issue.

Baby chicks and ducklings can also present a serious health risk to small children. These young birds are often the carriers of dangerous bacteria called salmonella and each spring some children given very young chicks and ducklings as an Easter gift will fall ill from handling them. Children can be exposed by simply holding, cuddling or kissing them.

According to the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), anticipating an increase of demand for young birds at Easter, hatcheries increase the hatching, especially of chicks, for the commercial market. Shipping large numbers of these animals at one time increases the stress upon the chicks and ducklings and makes them more prone to disease. This in turn increases the chance of salmonella being transmitted to both children and adults.

HSUS also warns that baby chicks and ducklings are fragile creatures that can be unintentionally injured or killed from mishandling. Not only does the animal suffer but children are traumatized by the death of a beloved pet.

The House Rabbit Society (HRS), an international nonprofit organization, warns against giving rabbits as gifts at Easter. The Richmond based Bay Area HRS strongly urges parents not to buy their children live "Easter bunnies" unless they are willing to make a 10-year commitment to properly care for the animals. Each year, thousands of baby rabbits, chicks, and ducks are purchased as Easter gifts only to be abandoned or left at shelters in the days, weeks and months that follow Easter.

HRS says that many of the rabbits purchased as Easter pets will never live to see their first birthday. Some will die from neglect, while others will be abandoned in local parks or left at animal shelters. Rabbits are fragile, ground-loving creatures that break easily when dropped. Additionally, rabbits are easily frightened by loud noises. It is unreasonable to expect a small child to make a 10-year commitment to taking care of a rabbit. All too often, the child loses interest, and the rabbit ends up neglected or abandoned.

Domestic rabbits abandoned to the wild no longer have the ability to survive in those circumstances and soon die or become easy targets for predators of all species.

Does this mean families with children should never have pet rabbits? "Not at all!" says the HRS. "But what it does mean is that parents must be actively involved on a daily basis, and willing to supervise any interactions between rabbits and children. Otherwise, chocolate is the way to go!"

Ohlone Humane Society joins the Humane Society of the United States and House Rabbit Society in asking people to refrain from acquiring live chicks, ducklings and rabbits as Easter gifts this holiday season. Young, adorable animals mature quickly into adults and need daily care for the rest of their lives. Instead of live animals as gifts, consider giving children a plush toy or a chocolate rabbit. Celebrate the renewal of life in a humane and compassionate manner that truly represents the holiday.

Tri-City Voice article by Nancy Lyon, President, Ohlone Humane Society

State to cut shelter animal lifeline?

There’s no disputing that California is in a huge budgetary crisis and has been for some time. Looking for ways to address the state shortfall, Governor Brown’s administration has targeted a list of 30 state mandated programs and eliminating assistance to some the state’s most needy inhabitants. Included in the grim edict is the elimination of a legal safety net aimed at giving innocent shelter animals a greater chance at survival.

Even with the current protections, shelter animals have very limited time for an owner to reclaim them or a chance at adoption before they may be put to death. Any repeal of current legal protections would be a death sentence for many animals.

Before 1998, animals unfortunate enough to end up in kill shelters were given only a minimum 72 hours after their initial impoundment before they could be killed; hours that were counted whether the shelter was open or not.

In 1998, then-Senator Tom Hayden introduced Senate Bill 1785 that was to become the "Hayden Law." This major piece of animal welfare legislation provided animals in shelters a greater chance of survival than ever before.

The 72 hour holding period was replaced with a requirement to hold animals 4-6 working days based on the number of hours the public had shelter access to reclaim their companion animals; lost and found lists were mandated so people desperately searching for their missing animals had a decent chance of locating them. Traumatized domestic cats received greater protection by establishing standardized testing that helped shelter staff to identify them rather than just declaring them feral - meaning speedy euthanization.

It mandated care and maintenance for the same period for impounded rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, pot-bellied pigs, birds, lizards, snakes, turtles, or tortoises legally allowed as personal property that were often euthanized.

It directed when impounded that "necessary and prompt veterinary care" be provided for stray or abandoned injured cats and dogs and emergency treatment be given even though they might ultimately be euthanized. It also directed animal shelters to maintain records on animals that were not medically treated by a veterinarian, but were taken in, then euthanized after the holding period.

The Hayden Law originally included reimbursement to cities or counties for costs that were incurred from implementing the law’s mandates. However, for several years now, due to the budget crisis, the Hayden Law has been in partial suspension; while all other sections of it are still in effect, the state has not been issuing reimbursements to the cities or counties. Since no financial loss from the law has recently impacted California’s budget why is there now a move to repeal it entirely? Why not still leave it on the books with its mandated protections for the shelter animals?

Even though the Hayden Law reimbursements have been in suspension since 2009, Brown’s administration still states that it is a budget issue. Because reimbursement is part of the Hayden Law, and it directs the state to pay animal shelters for the costs incurred from those extra days they keep animals alive. Department of Finance spokesman H.D.Palmer stated that the law costs the state approximately $23 million a year. This would be true only if reimbursements were still being made, but they are not!

In 2008 a report by the nonpartisan Legislative Analyst's Office, recommended eliminating the law because it did not find that it resulted in an increased demand for adoptions. This erroneous information was arrived at by bureaucrats seeking to justify not allowing shelter animals a decent chance at survival while theoretically saving a few bucks. Those working in the trenches, working to save shelter animals as I am, know the inaccuracy of the report. How can bean-counters translate the lives of living, feeling beings into numbers? Sadly, it seems all too easy.

As an animal shelter volunteer and regional rescue networker for more than 20 years, I’ve seen the tough reality of what it was like before the Hayden Law came into effect and the increase in adoptions, owner redemptions and rescues since its inception - and this reaches far beyond local findings. Obviously, the bureaucrats have been talking to the wrong people and it has lead the Governor and his advisors down the wrong path.

If repealed, the protections mentioned will be history. Reportedly, left in the gutted bill will be the important non-revenue impacting provision that allows non-profit rescues special opportunity to pull animals before they are killed. Unfortunately, rescues are overburdened and each additional day an animal has gives them time to find rehoming options for them.

Several years ago, then Governor Arnold Schwartzenegger attempted to repeal sections of the Hayden Law only to be faced with such an overwhelming public outcry against the proposal that he backed down. Governor Brown now needs to listen to current huge chorus of disapproval and drop all consideration of repealing any part of the Hayden Law. As a dog lover, he may be attempting to be objective but these are animals whose lives are just as precious as that of his own dog… not impersonal statistics removed from the reality of looming death. It’s in our hands - so request that he choose to be humane and find other means to balance the budget.

Moves to repeal the Hayden Law are also being considered in State Assembly and Senate budgetary committees. TAKE ACTION NOW and contact the committee members backing repeal and tell them this move is not acceptable:

Governor Brown: (916) 445-2841 (9 am to 5 pm); Fax (916) 558-3177
Senator Mark Leno, Chair, Senate Budget Committee: (916) 651-4003
Assemblymember Bob Blumenfield, Chair, Assembly Budget Committee: (916) 319-2040

Tri-City Voice article by Nancy Lyon, President, Ohlone Humane Society

Bullfrogs and Turtles and the Dept of Fish & Game...Oh My!

California annually imports two million American bullfrogs and more than 300,000 freshwater turtles for live food markets. None of these animals are native to California. The inhumane treatment of live market animals includes many being killed while fully conscious. Both public safety and the environment are being compromised by these imports through:

• Diseases and parasites found in all live market frogs and turtles, including E. coli, salmonella and pasturella, to name a few
• Depletion of local red-eared slider and spiny softshell turtle populations in states east of the Rockies
• Non-native frogs and turtles preying upon and displacing our native species after being released into local waters

Back in 2009, the California Fish & Game Commission directed the Department of Fish & Game to cease issuing import permits for frogs and turtles used for human consumption. Despite this instruction and support for the proposed import ban by wide-ranging groups, politicians and the general public, permits continue to be issued!

Eric Mills, OHS' Community Relations Director and Legislative Liason, has gathered some surprising background on the Department of Fish & Game. He also covers encouraging news about a proposed Santa Cruz County ban on the importation/possession of American bullfrogs. Finally, learn what WE can do to stop the permits and, thus, the importation of live market frogs and turtles.

Read the Tri-City Voice article "It's not easy being green...live animal food markets": http://www.tricityvoice.com/articlefiledisplay.php?issue=2012-01-10&file=Being+Green++TCV.txt

Live Animal Food Market Update

Live animal food market update is an eye-opening article in the Tri-City Voice by Eric Mills, OHS' Community Relations Director. Permits allowing the importation and sale of live frogs and turtles for human consumption are still being issued by the Dept. of Fish and Game, despite being instructed to the contrary.

There are three market animals for which the Dept. of Fish and Game issues permits: the American bullfrog, the spiny softshell turtle and the red-eared slider. The last animal might be familiar to you—baby red-eared slider turtles used to be sold as pets. Remember the funky plastic tank with the palm tree?

Eric’s article clarifies why it’s so important to get these permits stopped and what you can do to make it happen. As he eloquently states, "Only such a move will adequately protect the environment, the public health and the welfare of the animals."