July 6, 2015 The U.S. House of Representatives is voting on July 7 on a bill that will block the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service from cracking down on the domestic illegal ivory trade and will remove wolves from the endangered species list. This spending bill could mean the extinction of elephants and possibly wolves […]
Animal Welfare
For lovers of animals, animal welfare is an important issue. Cruelty and negligence toward animals is the norm rather than the exception. Animals are mistreated on farms, in the wild, in laboratories and in industries which profit from animal abuse.
Most countries recognize that animals have the right to “Five Freedoms” which were first proposed in the United Kingdom in the 1960s:
- Freedom from Hunger and Thirst
- Freedom from Discomfort
- Freedom from Pain, Injury or Disease
- Freedom to Express Normal Behavior
- Freedom from Fear and Distress
Promotion of animal welfare can be on many levels. First, there is the legislative level. Laws already exist which prevent certain types of animal cruelty but there is still much to be done. Public campaigns are also important, to convince the public to treat animals humanely and not support those who don’t. On the individual level, volunteering at an animal shelter or animal welfare organization can do a world of good. Getting involved in conservation is also a positive action.
- When euthanasia goes wrong
- Famous Animal Rights Activists
- Nathan J. Winograd
- Help Animals – Support These Sites
- HSUS Report on Orca Shows
- The Exotic Pet Industry and Animal Welfare
- Why Do People Keep Wild Animals as Pets?
- Ohio Prohibits Wild Animals as Pets
More
Bringing Home Military Dogs
Robin R. Ganzert, President and CEO of the American Humane Association (AHA) reports that the U.S. Congress has passed the 2016 National Defense Authorization Act. This bill guarantees that all of America’s heroic military working dogs will be returned to the U.S. when retired. The bill also states that their human handlers and their families […]
Elephants – Did You Know
Elephants are one of the most favorite animals to children (and many adults as well) They are the largest living land animal in the world. Here are some other interesting facts about them. Elephants are the only other animals besides humans who mourn for their dead. They will visit the bones of friends who have […]
FBI – New Animal Abuse Law
Beginning in 2016, the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) will reclassify animal abuse as a Group A felony. This classification means it is considered a major crime. Offenses will be reported on the FBI’s National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS). Up until this reclassification, animal abuse was judged under Group B offenses which are […]
Do Raccoons Make Good Pets
Raccoons are cute to look at and it’s amusing watching their antics. But it’s important to remember that they are wild animals and that’s where they belong – in the wild. Although baby raccoons can be purchased through exotic animal breeders who are licensed to sell them, people who want a pet should opt for […]
African Elephants in Danger
African elephant poaching has increased at an alarming rate. If nothing is done to stop the killing of these magnificent creatures for their ivory tusks, they will be threatened with extinction in the near future. The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) tells us that the United States is the second largest retail market […]
Disaster for a Noble Dog Breed
The Tibetan Mastiff is an imposing breed of dog. It was once an outstanding sheepdog in its native Tibet, fighting off wolves and leopards, protecting its flock. The Tibetan Mastiff’s abilities extended to guarding isolated homes and whole villages. This Mastiff became the breed of choice in China, each individual commanding an enormous pricetag. Some […]
Vaccinating an Exotic Pet
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) tells us that the rabies virus can be transmitted to all mammals, humans too. Some mammals are carriers of the rabies virus and are referred to as reservoirs. Commonly, raccoons, foxes, coyotes, skunks and some species of bats are reservoirs but can also be infected by the […]
No Kill Advocacy Event June 11th
2014 Last year the No Kill Advocacy Center Just One Day campaign was a resounding success. Euthanasia needles were set aside, incinerators closed and morgues empty at over 1,000 participating shelters and rescue groups. In the U.S. 12,000 animals were adopted, finding safe, loving homes. Shelters were made to realize with that one day that […]
ASPCA-Gag Bills
2014 Idaho is the 7th state to pass an “ag-gag” law. These dangerous laws make it illegal to expose abusive conditions on factory farms and make it easier to hide animal cruelty from the public. Signed into law by Idaho Governor C.L. “Butch” Otter, the anti-whistleblower bill punishes anyone who exposes the horrific conditions for […]