Kinship Circle: KC UPDATES: APRIL - JUNE 2007

June 18th, 2007 3:17 pm by Kelly

———- Forwarded message ———-
From: Kinship Circle - info [at] kinshipcircle.org
Date: Jun 17, 2007 12:34 PM
Subject: KC UPDATES: APRIL - JUNE 2007

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VIEW ALL KINSHIP CIRCLE UPDATES HERE:
www.kinshipcircle.org/updates/

UPDATES / APRIL - JUNE 2007

1. Europe’s Last Dancing Bears Sheltered After Years of Abuse
2. Tragic Update: Dog Cull In Chongqing
3. Progress In Battle To End The Farra do Boi
4. Man Who Throws Puppy On Grill Gets 3 Years In Prison
5. Coca-Cola Pulls Funding For Animal Tests!
6. Healthy Pets Act Passes State Assembly
7. $45 Million Damage For Menu Foods
8. Texas-Sized Victory For Horses
9. Actress and Animal Advocate Gretchen Wyler Dies at 75
10. U.S. Stops Breeding Chimps For Research
11. Grimes Wins Award For Her Art Honoring Dog She Saved
12. Animal Fighting Prohibition Enforcement Act Signed Into Law
13. Horse Slaughter Bills Move Forward In Congress
14. High School Rodeo Loses National Sponsor!

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1. Europe’s Last Dancing Bears Sheltered After Years of Abuse

SOURCE: Agence France Presse, Paris, France

EDITED FOR LENGTH

6/16/07, by Diana Simeonova, GETSOVO, Bulgaria (AFP) — They cuddled and kissed, cried and cursed: the Stanev gypsy family parted with their three brown bears, the last dancing bears in Bulgaria and the European Union, rescued this week from years of abuse… Velichka Staneva, 58, cried outside her house in the northeastern village of Getsovo…

“What was going on here was slavery,” veterinary doctor Amir Khalil, who manages the Dancing Bears Park near Belitsa, told AFP. He said the bears were captured as cubs and forced to ‘dance’ on hot metal plates while their gypsy masters played music on their rebecs. Once fully trained, they were led around town on a chain fixed to their nose-ring and made to jig about to the sound of music.

“The bears’ nails were cut regularly and cutting one nail off a bear hurts like cutting a whole human finger without anaesthesia,” Khalil said. His Austrian-based organisation Vier Pfoten (Four Paws), together with French animal rights activist Brigitte Bardot, founded the Dancing Bears Park in 2000 and had already taken in 22 of Bulgaria’s officially registered 25 dancing bears.

Misho, Svetla, and Mila were the last three to go and according to Vier Pfoten data, they were also the last of their abused kind in the whole European Union… Most dancing bears were chronically misfed, beaten and often inebriated with liquor by their gypsy owners.

Two bears at the park have already died of incurable conditions and the others are slow to recover, park workers said…

Once the bears arrive in Belitsa, they will be fed tomatoes, apples, pears, carrots and other fruit, as well as some bread. They will also be encouraged to search for food hidden around the park which comprises 12 hectares (30 acres) of forests and mountains, 12 caves, seven artificial ponds and a number of dens. Misho, Svetla and Mima…will never be able to live outside this artificial habitat as their natural instincts have long been suppressed by captivity.

RELATED KINSHIP CIRCLE LINKS:

7/1/04: When Bears Weep: India’s Forgotten Dancing Bears
www.kinshipcircle.org/letter_library/letter.asp?LetterID=1193&seriesfirst=true

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2. Tragic Update: Dog Cull In Chongqing

SOURCE: Rosa Mertens, mertens.rosa [at] skynet.be

NOTE FROM KINSHIP CIRCLE: I am not sure who the the author is in this emailed update about the June dog cull in Chongqing — but based on past massacres, I do not doubt the validity of the horrible words below. While it’s too late for these dogs, and some of their people who died alongside them, it is important to keep the protest alive. China continually resorts to mass slaughter as a means of rabies and population control. It is obscene, and while we cannot expect a nation with little regard for its humans, let alone animals, to care — we can shame them before the 2008 Beijing Olympics. And we can boycott Chinese goods and tourism. Bad press (and petitions from dog guardians) essentially prompted Chinese President Hu Jintao to suspend a Beijing crackdown on dogs last December.

Hu’s chief secretary said at the time: “Mr. Hu was unhappy about the complaints and international media coverage of the campaign, and had put a stop to the programme late last month…”

EDITED FOR LENGTH

6/15/07 — The “dog killing teams” in Changshou have already killed almost all the stray dogs by now - between 1000-2000 of them with the cruelest way one can imagine…

Before the deadline of June 10, the local government called for the pet dog owners “solve” their own dogs themselves, otherwise they’ll have to “help” them solve the problem. Under the high pressure and out of irresponsibility, many owners drown their own dogs with a plastic bags with its throats tightly tied. Everyday since June 1-10, people salvaged several dozens of bodies of dogs died this way…

Mr.—- has had his man shot all the process with a video. Yesterday, the three volunteers he sent to take pictures saved two half died dogs from the butcher knife of the killers. Two of them are young girls and they told them the “dog killing teams” that the two dogs are theirs… They have pictures of the process of dog saving. However, later when they witnessed and shot the garbage trucks with bags of bodies of killed dogs and the horrible killing instruments, one little dog’s eyeball were beaten off/out… they’ve got a paralysis on the ground… One of the dog they saved is about 2 kg weight and was hit by thick wood stick on the head. Other major trapping and killing instruments include iron fork bamboo staff, dog clincher clip, etc. Amazing news: for the “dog killing teams”, they receive 30 yuan or $4 once they killed a dog. There’s a place called Guang Kou where by the end of the day, all the “dog killing teams” meet up and count on their “results of battle” and silently count how much they can earn that day. Good business for them. The “dog killing teams” members are mainly from neighborhood committee and assistant policemen and gangsters.

In the countryside, before June 10th, the village committee gave each family a bag of poison and asked them to kill their dogs. Every bag of poison costs about 5 yuan or $0.7 according to M—-.

Ju Wei Hui - the neighborhood or residents committees - the lowest level of Chinese government, have all the list of families who have dogs. Since now almost all the stray dogs have been killed, next step would be the pet dogs. Many pet dog owners say the police don’t have the right to force into any citizen’s home. OK, now, they’ve worked out something smart - a general forage for order is ready and they can get into anybody’s house now. The policy would most likely be: first, mobilize or threaten the owners to surrender their pet dogs themselves. Otherwise they won’t be polite any more. They’ll use any instrument they think necessary to trap and kill the dogs.

A true story happened in Changshou: an elderly lady has kept her two dogs at home for so long that one day she silently opened her door hoping to walk her dogs. As soon as the dogs were out and she found everything was too late: there standing the “dog killing team”. The dogs were caught and killed by the impatient team immediately.

Another two true stories: A 15-16 years old Beijing girl has a pet dog whom she regarded as her best friend, sister or brother. The police came to her home forcing to take the dog away. Knowing what kind of fate is waiting for her friend, she told the policement: if you dare to take him away, I’ll jump from the roof of this building. The policemen did take her words seriously. They forced into her room and killed the dog in front of her. She cried like hell and run to the roof of her building and jumped from there…

An elderly lady in Shenyang, northeast China, was on the way taking her dog to the police station to get her dog registered before the deadline. They were caught by a “dog killing team”. They didn’t listen to her at all and killed the dog in front of her. She has had a heart attack and slipped up on the ground. Before she died, she used her last strength try to creep/approach her dog and hold him. Their bodies can’t be aparted…

Let’s pray for the poor souls together and may they rest in peace in heaven… Forgive me for my poor English, spelling and grammar mistakes… Many thanks!

RELATED KINSHIP CIRCLE LINKS:

6/8/07: Stop China’s Massacre Of Dogs
www.kinshipcircle.org/letter_library/letter.asp?LetterID=1655&seriesfirst=true

3/12/07: Fax Protest Against Latest Dog Cull In China
www.kinshipcircle.org/letter_library/letter.asp?LetterID=1633&seriesfirst=true

11/6/06: Beijing Dog Cull Begins 11/7. Write now and don’t stop.
www.kinshipcircle.org/letter_library/letter.asp?LetterID=1593&seriesfirst=true

8/3/06: China’s Slaughter Of Innocents: 50,000+ Dogs In 5 Days
www.kinshipcircle.org/letter_library/letter.asp?LetterID=1544&seriesfirst=true

Oct. - Dec. 06 UPDATES: Chinese President Hu Jintao Halts Dog Cull
www.kinshipcircle.org/updates/updates_oct-dec.html#3

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3. Progress In Battle To End The Farra do Boi

SOURCE: Forwarded By: mentayflor [at] ciudad.com.ar; Planeta Animal, planetanimal [at] msn.com

Original Message: Alejandro Caprario, planetaemperigo [at] yahoo.com.br / www.farradoboi.info/

NOTE FROM KINSHIP CIRCLE: Brazil’s Farra do Boi takes place in over 30 coastal villages throughout Santa Catarina, where adults and children annually observe “Oxen Fun Days” with the brutal torture of several hundred oxen. Revelers armed with sticks, knives, whips, stones, bamboo lances, and ropes chase a terrified ox through the streets for three or more days of stabbing and bludgeoning.

In the frenzy, participants flick pepper into the ox’s eyes and often gouge them out. Partakers break the ox’s horns and legs and sever his tail. World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) correspondents in Brazil have observed gasoline-soaked animals set on fire. Finally, the besieged animal is drowned in the ocean or killed and butchered for consumption.

EDITED FOR LENGTH

6/13/06 — About our progress to combat the farra do boi: After the support of many organizations, mostly thanks for the help of the Anti-Fur Society, local authorities seem to be afraid about a possible boycott. This week we’ve been received by the following authorities:

1. President of the State Assembly of Santa Catarina

Result: we are going to launch a state law for the protection of animals. That could (that’s the problem: not “should’, but “could”) include the prohibition of the “farra do boi,” after a “lot of discussions.”

2. Federal Police - Results:

Dr. Erivelton, the superintendent in Santa Catarina, was the great for our hopeness… They can’t be involved now. They will expect for the Governor and the Police to act. If they don’t, they will investigate why they don’t.

3. Public Minister in Santa Catarina — It is today.

We are going to ask why they are not doing more, if this problem is with them. This meeting will be very important. Cross your fingers.

Thanks again for the support of the Anti-Fur Society. It has been very very important for us. I don’t want to cry anymore watching what those bad people do with bulls here. You can’t imagine what this absurd people do to make them suffer in “farras.”

Best regards,
Alejandro Caprario, Green & Blue World
Florianopolis - SC

RELATED KINSHIP CIRCLE LINKS:

4/2/05: Farra do Boi - When Cruelty Poses As Custom
www.kinshipcircle.org/letter_library/letter.asp?LetterID=1334&seriesfirst=true

Kinship Circle - Factsheet - Bullfights & Blood Fiestas

FACT SHEET: Tourist Beware: Bullfights & Blood Fiestas
(free, high-res download) www.kinshipcircle.org/fact_sheets/

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4. Man Who Throws Puppy On Grill Gets 3 Years In Prison

SOURCE: www.awionline.org/new/sc_lady.htm

EDITED FOR LENGTH

6/9/07 — Columbia, S.C. (June 8, 2007): The Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) commends the Honorable Thomas Cooper of the Richland County Fifth Judicial Circuit for sentencing 28-year old Adan Gonzalez to three years in prison for throwing Lady, a 12-week-old boxer puppy, on the burning hot coals of a grill last October. Lady was treated for severe burns on over 60% of her body but died a few days later.

Mr. Gonzalez, who lived in the same mobile home park as Lady and her guardian, pled guilty to one felony count of animal cruelty this week. He faced up to five years in prison along with a $5,000 fine under South Carolina law. In a letter, AWI urged the Attorney General’s Office to request that Judge Cooper hand down the maximum sentence…

RELATED KINSHIP CIRCLE LINKS:

Kinship Circle - Factsheet - Animal Victims Human Victims

FACT SHEET: Animal Victims, Human Victims (police case files)
(free, high-res download) www.kinshipcircle.org/fact_sheets/

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5. Coca-Cola Pulls Funding For Animal Tests!

SOURCE: www.caringconsumer.com/products_cocacola.asp?c=weekly_enews

EDITED FOR LENGTH

6/9/07 — Prior to hearing from PETA, Coca-Cola had a history of conducting invasive and deadly animal experiments — cutting open chimpanzees’ faces in order to conduct taste tests and force-feeding chemicals to rats to test “caramel color” — none of which is required by law.

Coca-Cola’s senior vice president and chief innovation and technology officer, Danny Strickland, wrote the following to PETA on May 22, 2007:

“…The Coca-Cola Company does not conduct animal tests and does not directly fund animal tests on its beverages… We are sending letters to our partners and research organizations who may conduct safety evaluations on … ingredients insisting they use alternatives to animal testing, when such testing is both available and accepted by governments. We encourage the use of alternative testing methods whenever and wherever possible and financially support research to develop these alternative methods.”

Strickland also wrote to PETA concerning a deadly physiology test on sour taste reception in rats that we learned Coca-Cola was funding: “Recently senior management became aware that research involving rats was being conducted as part of a grant we had funded at Virginia Commonwealth University to study taste reception. We have contacted the University and have discontinued our funding.”

RELATED KINSHIP CIRCLE LINKS:

Kinship Circle - Factsheet - Sacrificing one

FACT SHEET: Sacrificing One Won’t Save The Other
(free, high-res download) www.kinshipcircle.org/fact_sheets/

PLEASE DONATE toward printing our educational literature for national distribution: www.kinshipcircle.org/donation/

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6. Healthy Pets Act Passes State Assembly

SOURCE: www.news10.net/display_story.aspx?storyid=28787

EDITED FOR LENGTH

6/6/07 — By Jason Kobely, Internet News Producer: By the slimmest of margins, a controversial bill that would require California dog and cat owners to spay or neuter their animals passed the state Assembly.

The California Healthy Pets Act, which would mandate spaying and neutering for pets within four months of their birth, passed by a 41-38 majority in the State Assembly late Wednesday evening.

AB 1634, authored by Assemblyman Lloyd Levine, D-Van Nuys, now goes to the State Senate for consideration… Supporters say the measure is needed to save money and lives. “This is a hugely serious problem,” said Levine. “It’s a fiscal problem and it’s a humanitarian problem.”

Some registered breeders and service dog users could get an “intact permit” to exempt their animals from being spayed or neutered. But the permits would have fee attached, an amount established by local animal control agencies. Violators of the proposed law would be subject to a $500 fine.

RELATED KINSHIP CIRCLE LINKS:

6/11/07: The Woman Behind The Mandatory Spay/Neuter Bill
We regret this excerpt from a KC DISASTER RELIEF NEWSLETTER is not yet available online. Request email version: kinshipcircle [at] brick.net

APRIL/MAY 2007 KC DIGEST: Make Model Mandatory Spay/Neuter Law Reality
www.kinshipcircle.org/digest/2007_04.html

Kinship Circle - Factsheet - Dying for a Home

FACT SHEET: Dying For A Home
(free, high-res download) www.kinshipcircle.org/fact_sheets/

PLEASE DONATE toward printing our educational literature for national distribution: www.kinshipcircle.org/donation/

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7. $45 Million Damage For Menu Foods

SOURCE: Judy Reed, AnimalVoicesNews [at] earthlink.net

LINK: www.allaboutfeed.net/news/id102-11206/45_million_damage_for_menu_foods.html

EDITED FOR LENGTH

6/1/07 — Menu Foods says the massive pet food recall was the result of a “terrible fraud” against the company and several other US pet food makers and is therefore doing everything they can to stay in business.

“Menu Foods has been in business in various sizes and different scales and the intent will be that we will continue to be around,” Paul Henderson, the company’s president and chief executive officer commented.

The pet food crisis that has been tossing the company around since March 16 is expected to cost Menu Foods at least $45 million. The recall crushed Menu Foods’ first-quarter results, as it reported a loss of $17.5-million on sales of $64.5-million, compared with a profit of $1.3-million on $93.9-million in sales in the first three months of 2006.

In addition, the company has been confronted with a number of lawsuits against it, as well as a probe by the FDA.

RELATED KINSHIP CIRCLE LINKS:

5/8/07: Our Companions Count - FDA Must Monitor Food
www.kinshipcircle.org/letter_library/letter.asp?LetterID=1646&seriesfirst=true

4/25/07: Pet Food Saga Hall Of Shame
www.kinshipcircle.org/updates/updates_04_25_07.html

4/14/07: PET FOOD RECALL: News, Updates, Action
www.kinshipcircle.org/updates/updates_04_14_07.html

4/2/07: TOXIC FOOD - Updates And Action Against Menu Foods
www.kinshipcircle.org/letter_library/letter.asp?LetterID=1638&seriesfirst=true

Kinship Circle - Factsheet - Iams

FACT SHEET: IAMS DOUBLESPEAK: Experiments On Cats And Dogs
(free, high-res download) www.kinshipcircle.org/fact_sheets/

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8. Texas-Sized Victory For Horses

SOURCE: community.hsus.org/ct/41Sw1n51mmhT/

5/30/07 — Efforts to legalize horse slaughter in Texas failed! The horse slaughter industry exhausted every effort to overturn a 1949 state law The HSUS helped to finally get enforced in the courts — a law that makes the practice of horse slaughter illegal…

But our fight is not over; we still need to pass a federal ban. Otherwise, our horses can still be trucked hundreds of miles to slaughterplants in Canada and Mexico where they will be cruelly butchered and their meat shipped overseas as a “delicacy” for foreign dinner tables. Please help pass the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act… community.hsus.org/campaign/FED_2007_horse_slaughter3

RELATED KINSHIP CIRCLE LINKS:

3/29/07: 1 Horse Plant Left…And Now There Are None?
www.kinshipcircle.org/letter_library/letter.asp?LetterID=1636&seriesfirst=true

1/29/07: Horse Slaughter Bill Renewed In 110th Congress
www.kinshipcircle.org/letter_library/letter.asp?LetterID=1628&seriesfirst=true

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9. Actress and Animal Advocate Gretchen Wyler Dies at 75

SOURCE: www.humanesociety.org * Sue Blackmore, The Hollywood Office of The Humane Society of the United States, 818-501 2275

EDITED FOR LENGTH

5/27/07, LOS ANGELES — The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) today announced that Gretchen Wyler, Broadway actress and animal advocate, died this morning from complications stemming from her battle with breast cancer. She was 75, and had retired last year as vice president of the Hollywood office of The HSUS.

Wyler created the Genesis Awards, which honors the media and entertainment industry for shining a spotlight on animal cruelty. The awards program began in 1986, and this year marked the 21st anniversary of the celebration. Known as the nation’s premier consciousness-raiser for animal protection issues, the awards are bestowed by a host of celebrity presenters such as James Cromwell, Pierce Brosnan, Martin Sheen, Kelsey Grammer, Alicia Silverstone, Wendie Malick, David Hyde-Pierce, Dennis Franz and Sidney Poitier, among others. This year, the first Gretchen Wyler Award was bestowed on Paul McCartney, for a lifetime of activism for animals.

Wyler’s theatrical career spanned 50 years and encompassed eight Broadway shows, including the original “Guys and Dolls,” “Silk Stockings,” “Damn Yankees,” “Bye Bye Birdie” and “Sly Fox” with George C. Scott. She was a regular on the CBS television series…

She formed The Ark Trust in 1991 and ran the organization until it joined forces with The HSUS in 2002. Wyler was named Vice President of The HSUS’ Hollywood Office…

In lieu of flowers, Gretchen asked that donations can be sent to the Hollywood office of The Humane Society of the United States. The HSUS last year also created the Gretchen Wyler Legacy Fund, and donations and bequests may be directed to The HSUS for that fund, which supports the work of the Hollywood Office and The Genesis Awards…

For more biographical information on Wyler: www.gretchenwyler.com

For information on the Genesis Awards: www.humanesociety.org/Hollywood

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10. U.S. Stops Breeding Chimps For Research

SOURCE: uk.reuters.com/article/scienceNews/idUKN2438996920070524?feedType=RSS

EDITED FOR LENGTH

5/24/07, By Will Dunham, WASHINGTON (Reuters) — The U.S. National Institutes of Health, which supports a variety of biomedical studies using animals, will stop breeding government-owned chimpanzees for research — a step animal rights advocates lauded on Thursday.

The NIH’s National Center for Research Resources cited financial reasons for its decision this week to permanently cease breeding of government-owned chimpanzees for research. A breeding moratorium on NCRR-owned and supported chimpanzees had been in place since 1995. The Humane Society of the United States said it suspects that ethical reasons also were involved in the decision. The group, which opposes the use of these apes as lab animals, said the decision on ending breeding likely also means NIH no longer will acquire new chimpanzees through other means…

MONUMENTAL DECISION

“This will spare some chimpanzees a life of up to 60 years in a laboratory. While it doesn’t help chimpanzees already living in laboratories, it is a monumental decision,” Kathleen Conlee of the Humane Society said in a statement… The Humane Society said the NCRR’s chimpanzee population includes about 500 in laboratories and 90 more in a federal sanctuary for those deemed no longer needed for research.

In a statement on its Web site, NCRR said it acknowledges the continuing importance of chimpanzees to biomedical research, but cited “fiduciary responsibilities” to maintain the health and well-being of chimpanzees already in its care…

The advocacy group Project R&R: Release and Restitution for Chimpanzees in U.S. Laboratories said about 1,300 chimpanzees are currently in U.S. laboratories. Some were caught in the wild as babies in Africa while others were born in laboratories or sent from zoos, circuses and animal trainers.

Theodora Capaldo, the group’s executive director, said that “not only U.S. but also world sentiment is growing in support of the day when no chimpanzees will be used in laboratory research.”
__._,_.___

RELATED KINSHIP CIRCLE LINKS:

LETTER LIBRARY: Animal Experimentation
www.kinshipcircle.org/letter_library/letters_by_category.asp?CategoryID=7

COLUMNS: Product Testing, Biomedical Research, Non-Animal Research
www.kinshipcircle.org/columns_articles/topic_vivisection.html

Kinship Circle - Factsheet - Vivisection - you paid for it

FACT SHEET: VIVISECTION - You Paid For It
(free, high-res download) www.kinshipcircle.org/fact_sheets/

PLEASE DONATE toward printing our educational literature for national distribution: www.kinshipcircle.org/donation/

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11. Grimes Wins Award For Her Art Honoring Dog She Saved

SOURCE: Tammy Grimes, Dogs Deserve Better, tammy [at] dogsdeservebetter.org

EDITED FOR LENGTH

5/19/07, “When the Circle of Compassion Extends to All” Receives Honorable Mention in Pennsylvania Art Show — Tammy Grimes, artist and founder of Dogs Deserve Better, has won Honorable Mention for her work memorializing a chained and dying dog at the Blair County Arts Festival in Altoona, Pennsylvania. She will receive the award at a banquet honoring the winners at the Penn State Altoona Arts Center Thursday, May 17.

Grimes, scheduled to stand jury trial in June 2007 after her arrest for helping the dog who lay chained and unable to stand, created the piece as a tribute to Doogie and all others like him suffering and dying in backyards across America.

“When the Circle of Compassion Extends to All” puts forth the questions uppermost on the minds of Grimes and her supporters: “How long must we wait until the Circle of Compassion extends to ALL? How long must we wait until life is more valuable than property?”

States Grimes, “I am deeply moved by the Honorable Mention for Circle of Compassion, and very thankful that the emotion put into the piece was visible and noticed. I will always be proud of coming to the aid of Doogie, and I know if he could thank me, he would. Nothing man can do to me could ever take that feeling away.”

…50% of all profits from sales of “When the Circle of Compassion Extends to ALL” will benefit Dogs Deserve Better through June 2007. Other art sales continue to donate 20% of proceeds. The artwork can be viewed at www.littlegirllooking.com/circlecompassion.html

Grimes can be reached at 814-941-7447 or Tammy [at] littlegirllooking.com for comment, and is available for art shows, commissioned works, or interviews.

Dogs Deserve Better was founded in 2002, is an international nonprofit with 150 area reps in the U.S., France, and Canada, and works to bring dogs out of the backyard into the home and family. The site can be viewed at www.dogsdeservebetter.org

RELATED KINSHIP CIRCLE LINKS:
Jan-March 2007 UPDATES: Free From Chains, Doogie Has Died
www.kinshipcircle.org/updates/updates_jan-mar_2007.html#11

Oct-Dec. 2006 UPDATES: Jury Trial Set For Dogs Deserve Better Founder
www.kinshipcircle.org/updates/updates_oct-dec.html#8

Aug-Oct 2006 UPDATES: Arrested Dog Rescuer Tammy Grimes Visits One Happy Dog!
www.kinshipcircle.org/updates/updates_aug-oct_2006.html

9/29/06: 2 Charges Dropped For Grimes; No Charges For Arnolds
www.kinshipcircle.org/katrina/9_29_06.html

9/20/06: Tammy Grimes Update: Vet Says Doogie Is Victim Of Abuse
www.kinshipcircle.org/katrina/9_20_06.html

9/15/06: Tammy Grimes: Save A Life, Go To Jail?
www.kinshipcircle.org/letter_library/letter.asp?LetterID=1568&seriesfirst=true

9/12/06: JAILED - SHAC 7 / Tammy Grimes, Dogs Deserve Better
www.kinshipcircle.org/updates/updates_9_12.html

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12. Animal Fighting Prohibition Enforcement Act Signed Into Law

SOURCE: www.hsus.org/legislation_laws/federal_legislation/cruelty_issues/animal_fighting_law_signed.html

EDITED FOR LENGTH

5/3/07 — Today, President Bush signed into law a bill that will help law enforcement rid the United States of dogfighting, cockfighting, and other forms of animal fighting.

Dogfighting and cockfighting crimes are rampant in the United States, with individuals arrested every week in scores of locations under state laws. The vast underground networks generate pervasive animal cruelty, drug trafficking, illegal gambling, public corruption and even violence and murder. The Animal Fighting Prohibition Enforcement Act, which passed Congress with large bi-partisan support, will give law enforcement a stronger tool to crack down on this illegal activity.

…The law takes effect immediately. It provides felony penalties for interstate commerce, import and export related to animal fighting activities, including commerce in cockfighting weapons. It will make it much harder for criminals who engage in dogfighting and cockfighting to continue their operations. Each violation of the federal law may bring up to three years in jail and up to a $250,000 fine for perpetrators.

Cockfighting is outlawed in every state except Louisiana, although there is mounting pressure in that state to ban the practice. Many states still have misdemeanor penalties for cockfighting. The federal law slaps felony penalties on interstate cockfighting trafficking, and this should provide an enormous deterrent for the tens of thousands of people involved in this criminal industry.

The law will have a devastating impact on major breeders of fighting animals, who depend on customers from all over the United States and abroad. Dog kennels rely on transporting their fighting dogs across state lines and across the world to customers. The new law should substantially curb the transport of fighting animals across state and U.S. borders…

The Animal Fighting Prohibition Enforcement Act will help end the export of fighting animals to other countries. Selling roosters to customers in the Philippines and other nations can be lucrative for American cockfighters. The new law puts increased pressure on the airlines to stop shipping roosters to cockfighting hot spots…

If your state only has misdemeanor penalties, urge STATE legislators to make animal fighting a felony. Map of State Animal Fighting Laws: www.animallaw.info/articles/armpusanimalfighting.htm

RELATED KINSHIP CIRCLE LINKS:

Kinship Circle - Factsheet - Fatal Fights

FACT SHEET: Fatal Fights - Dogs On The Underground Circuit
(free, high-res download) www.kinshipcircle.org/fact_sheets/

MORE KINSHIP CIRCLE LINKS:

COLUMN: Fatal Fights - Dogs On The Underground Circuit
www.kinshipcircle.org/columns_articles/0056.html

FACT SHEETS: Animals Used For Entertainment & Exhibition
www.kinshipcircle.org/fact_sheets/default.html#entertainment

4/19/07: Louisiana - Ban Chicken Blood Sport Now
www.kinshipcircle.org/letter_library/letter.asp?LetterID=1641&seriesfirst=true

4/12/07: About Time! U.S. Animal Fighting Bill On President’s Desk
www.kinshipcircle.org/updates/updates_04_12_07.html

1/25/07: Animal Fighting Bill Back In 110th Congress
www.kinshipcircle.org/letter_library/letter.asp?LetterID=1627&seriesfirst=true

11/24/06: Don’t Let Animal Fighting Bill Die In Committee
www.kinshipcircle.org/letter_library/letter.asp?LetterID=1604&seriesfirst=true

10/24/06: Pass The Animal Fighting Prohibition Enforcement Act
www.kinshipcircle.org/letter_library/letter.asp?LetterID=1589&seriesfirst=true

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13. Horse Slaughter Bills Move Forward In Congress

SOURCE: Ban on Horse Slaughter One Step Closer to Becoming Law
www.hsus.org/press_and_publications/press_releases/horse_slaughter_ban_senate_committee.html

April 25, 2007, WASHINGTON — In an unyielding campaign to end the slaughter of American horses for human consumption overseas, lawmakers on the Senate Commerce Committee today approved the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act (S. 311) by a roll call vote of 15 to 7. The Humane Society of the United States applauds the committee and urges Senate leadership to give the bill a full floor vote.

April 26, 2007 — The U.S. House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly (277-137) to restore a 34-year-old ban on the commercial sale and slaughter of America’s wild horses and burros. On Wednesday, the bill to ban the sale and transport to slaughter of all American horses cleared a critical Senate committee by a decisive 15-7 vote. These victories move us even closer to banning horse slaughter in the United States permanently.

RELATED KINSHIP CIRCLE LINKS:

3/29/07: 1 Horse Plant Left…And Now There Are None?
www.kinshipcircle.org/letter_library/letter.asp?LetterID=1636&seriesfirst=true

1/29/07: Horse Slaughter Bill Renewed In 110th Congress
www.kinshipcircle.org/letter_library/letter.asp?LetterID=1628&seriesfirst=true

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14. High School Rodeo Loses National Sponsor!

SOURCE: SHARK, afinley [at] sharkonline.org

4/24/07 — High School Rodeo Loses National Sponsor / Rules Violations, Animal Abuse Results in Early Termination of Contract: Choice Hotels, one of the largest and most successful lodging franchisers in the world, has terminated its sponsorship, scheduled to run until 2009, of the National High School Rodeo Association (NHSRA). The early termination follows a review of video documentation supplied by SHowing Animals Respect and Kindness (SHARK). Choice Hotels includes well-known brands such as Clarion, Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites, Quality Inn, Sleep Inn, Econolodge, Rodeway, Cambria Suites, Mainstay Suites, and Suburban Extended Stay Hotel.

The following is a statement from SHARK president, Steve Hindi: “We supplied Choice with video documentation of what happened at the 2006 National High School Finals Rodeo in Springfield, Illinois. The company did not rush to judgment, but instead conducted a very thorough investigation. SHARK congratulates Choice Hotels for its sense of corporate ethics, and for doing the right thing. Violations of Illinois State Law, violations of even the rodeo association’s own rules, and animal abuse have cost the National High School Rodeo Association its most prestigious sponsor.

We hope that other sponsors, especially local sponsors such as the Springfield Convention and Visitors Bureau and the State Journal-Register newspaper, will follow the lead of Choice Hotels, and will carefully weigh the impact that sponsoring animal cruelty will have on their image both now and in the future.” The Sangamon County State’s Attorney’s Office is investigating pressing animal cruelty charges against the rodeo.

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Please let Choice Hotels know that you support the company’s responsible and compassionate decision by emailing Anne Madison, Vice President of Corporate Communications at Choice Hotels at: Anne_Madison [at] choicehotels.com

This great development came primarily from the efforts SHARK staffer, Janet Enoch. Ms. Enoch contacted Choice months ago in connection with our www.IllinoisCorruption.com campaign, and then followed up by sending video documentation and continuing communications…

if you have time and talent to volunteer, please contact Janet Enoch at jenoch [at] sharkonline.org

Kindest Regards, Steve Hindi, SHARK | Showing Animals Respect and Kindness

RELATED KINSHIP CIRCLE LINKS:

Kinship Circle - Factsheet - Myth of the Cowboy

FACT SHEET: The Myth Of The Cowboy (free, high-res download)
www.kinshipcircle.org/fact_sheets/

Please help Kinship Circle spread the word on essential animal cruelty/protection issues. DONATE toward printing our educational literature for national distribution: www.kinshipcircle.org/donation/

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Posted in Action Alerts, Action Alerts/from Kinship Circle, In the News, Animals as..., Animals as.../food, Animals as.../entertainment, Animals as.../research subjects, Animals as.../pets, The Movement, Animal Abuse, The Movement/People |

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