ANIMALS IN THE NEWS!
War Dogs Remembered by Handlers (2/12/10)
On Saturday, February 13, 2010, thousands of people gathered at the
War Dog Memorial in California to honor both the war veteran handlers
and, of course, their dogs. This reunion brings to the forefront
the manner by which dogs were and, perhaps, are treated by the
military. As a recent article on www.cnn.com, noted, “[o]f the more
than 4,000 dogs who served in Vietnam, only about 200 came home.
Many of them euthanized, help to avert more than 10,000 casualties . .
” Thankfully, in 2000, the U.S. changed policy, setting up a
military working dog adoption program. However, that program has
its problems. For one, the program is not widely publicized.
Second, many adoptable veteran war dogs are euthanized, even after years
of loyal and dedicated service.
Should the military set up a user-friendly adoption website?
Should the military be precluded from euthanizing adoptable veteran war
dogs until they are adopted? If the military were to stop
euthanizing these war veterans, would they not just add to the over
population of pets that we already have in this country? Of,
should the military accept full responsibility for the care, custody and
control for these veterans until they are adopted or become
unadoptable?
The article of interest is located at http://www.cnn.com/2010/LIVING/02/12/war.dogs/index.html?hpt=C1.
Nassau County DA announces new unit devoted to animals
(2/10/10)
On February 9th Nassau County’s District
Attorney, Kathleen Rice, announced the creation of a new unit in her
office which will be devoted to prosecuting cases of animal cruelty,
abuse and neglect with the goal of better protecting pets and
animals.
The unit will handle all felony and misdemeanor
cases of animal mistreatment or neglect, including cases involving
victims of domestic violence, and prosecutors within the unit also will
conduct training for local law enforcement agencies and will speak to
animal welfare groups.
DA Rice stated, “The Animal Cruelty Unit
will do everything possible to ensure that those who endanger pets and
other animals will face the full brunt of the criminal justice
system.” Anyone who believes an animal is being
abused or neglected should call the new hotline number, 516-680-8624,
which is manned 24 hours a day. Callers may remain
anonymous. The Unit may also be contacted by email at AnimalCrueltyUnit@Nassauda.org.
More information appears in the following
article.
http://www.longislandpress.com/2010/02/10/nassau-da-cracks-down-on-animal-abuse
If you would like to comment upon this subject,
please go to our Blog located at: http://nysbar.com/blogs/animalaw/
In an Attempt to End Puppy Mills, West Hollywood Passes an Ordinance
Banning the Sale of Dogs and Cats in Pet Shops (2/2/10)
The West Hollywood Council announced the passage of an
ordinance banning the sale of dogs and cats in its pet shops. The
purpose of the ordinance is to begin the process of ending puppy mills,
from where local pet shops purchase dogs. Puppy mills have long been
considered a place of animal cruelty, where dogs are kept in inhumane
conditions, and where unhealthy dogs are breed purely for profit. See
the article here: http://www.examiner.com/x-941-LA-Pets-Examiner~y2010m2d2-West-Hollywood-passes-landmark-legislation-against-sale-of-pets
If you wish to comment on this topic please go to our Blog at: http://nysbar.com/blogs/animalaw/
Elderly woman allowed to keep dog in spite of no pets clause in
co-op agreement
A widely publicized case in which a co-operative board was
pitted against a 92 year old woman and her fourteen year old toy poodle
has been resolved. A federal court ruled that fair housing laws had been
violated by the co-op’s failure to recognize and make
accommodations for the woman’s disability, depression, which was
remediated by the presence of her dog. Federal law requires that
“reasonable accommodations” must be made for residents who
need animals to assist them in dealing with a disability, which
encompasses mental as well as physical disabilities. An article
discussing this situation can be found at http://www.newsday.com/long-island/nassau/rockville-centre-co-op-lets-woman-92-keep-her-dog-1.1728315
If you wish to comment on this, please go to our Blog: http://nysbar.com/blogs/animalaw/
New York City violated the Animal Shelters and
Sterilization Act (9/16/09)
In September 2009 State Supreme Court Justice Marilyn
Shafer found that the City violated the Animal Shelters and
Sterilization Act, NYC CODE § 17-801, et
seq. and ordered New York City to submit to it a plan to open animal
shelters in all five boroughs and keep those shelters open 24 hours a
day, seven days per week to receive and permit the adoption of dogs and
cats. Pursuant to the Act, the City was required, but failed to
ensure that a full-service animal shelter was maintained in all five
boroughs on a 24 hours a day, 7 days a week basis. The City
intends to appeal this decision. Read the decision.
Cat personality test? Shelters try new tactic
(5/23/08)
Behaviorist Dr. Emily Weiss of the
American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals developed the
Feline-ality program, a new test that matches each cat to its purrfect
family.
“People come in and say, I had
a black and white tuxedo cat before, so that’s what I want,”
says Jim Monsma of the Washington Animal Rescue League in Washington,
D.C. “But cats are not all the same. They have widely divergent
personalities.” 45 shelters are already using this new
tool.
(MSN.com)
Salmonella outbreak traced to tainted dog food
(5/21/08)
For the first time, an outbreak of
Salmonella infections in people has been traced to contaminated dry dog
food. And, Salmonella infections from dry dog food may be an
under-recognized source of illness in people, especially young
children, officials
from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.
The CDC isn't sure how the Salmonella bacteria got into the dog food
though. The full report can be accessed at the CDC’s Morbidity
and Mortality Weekly Report
USDA Proposes to Amend Animal Transport Regulations
to Include Minimum Age Requirements for all Covered
Animals
The U.S. Department of
Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)
announced a proposal to amend the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) regulations
by adding minimum age requirements (8 weeks) for the transport of all
covered animals in commerce to insure their human treatment. (USDA.com )
Biotech Company to Auction Chances to Clone a Dog
(5/16/08)
A California company is planning a
string of online auctions next month to clone five dogs, with the
bidding to start at $100,000. (New
York Times.com)
Tainted pet food suit settled for $24 million
(5/14/08)
Menu Foods, other pet food makers and
retailers involved in last year's massive pet food recall will set up a
$24 million cash fund to compensate pet owners, according to a proposed
settlement filed Thursday in federal court. (USA
Today)
Navy Must Comply With No-Sonar Rule (3/2/08)
Environmental groups seeking to
protect whales from the potentially harmful effects of sonar cheered a
legal victory against the Navy and the Bush administration. U.S.
District Judge Florence-Marie Cooper ruled Monday that the Navy is not
exempt from complying with both the National Environmental Policy Act
and a court injunction that created a 12 nautical-mile no-sonar zone off
Southern California. Read the full story.
Animal CSI: Solving horrendous pet crimes (2/15/08)
Animal cruelty cases are difficult to
prosecute because the victims can't talk or point out the abuser, so CSI
must find solid evidence that won’t leave any doubts in the
jurors’ minds. Read the
full story.
Bridgehampton dog bite case in state's top court
(2/14/08)
Dog bite case before the NYS Court of
Appeals challenges the so-called "one bite rule," a 180-year-old body of
common law that suggests dog owners are not liable for animal attacks as
long as their pets had never behaved viciously in the
past. Read the full story.
A Face-Off Over Horse-Drawn Carriages (2/14/08)
Animal-rights activists are seeking a
ban on horse-drawn carriages in New York City. Read the full story.
Ears perked up over animal issues in law (2/7/08)
Interest in animal law issues has grown tremendously
recently, possibly in part due to the Michael Vick coverage.
Prosecutors’ offices are taking on more cases of animal
mistreatment. Law schools and bar associations are also addressing
animal law issues. Read the full story.
Brutalized bovine banned (2/6/08)
After a video showed employees from
the Hallmark Meat Packing Company in Chino, Calif. torturing sick and
injured cows, many school districts and chain restaurants have banned
beef produced at that slaughterhouse. New York City schools are
among those to ban the meat. Read the full story.Animal CSI: Solving horrendous
pet crimes (2/15/08)
New York Tops Animal Cruelty List (2/1/08)
New York, Iowa and Maryland are the
states whose research labs inflict the most pain on animals. Read the full story.
Justice at Last (Feb 2008)
A dog’s four year Court battle
for justice is finally at an end thanks to the December 11, 2007, order
of the Appellate Division, Second Department. Duke,” a six year
old American Bull Terrier had been on the dog equivalent of death row at
the Islip Town Shelter for an incredible four long years. Duke’s
owners alleged that it was a case of mistaken identity that lead to a
dangerous dog complaint filed by a neighbor alleging his bull dog was
injured by Duke in 2003. Read the full story. (PDF)
Michael Vick sentenced to 23 months in prison
(12/11/07)
On Monday, NFL quarterback Michael
Vick was sentenced to 23 months in prison for his role in a dogfighting
conspiracy that involved gambling and killing pit bulls and U.S. Sen.
Bob Menendez, D-N.J., introduced legislation to aid the battle against
animal cruelty. The Tracking Animal Cruelty Crimes Act would
direct the Federal Bureau of Investigation to include animal cruelty
crimes in its annual crime report, according to a news release from
Menendez's office. Animal cruelty crime statistics are not
currently included in the report, which Menendez said makes it difficult
for law enforcement, policy makers and experts to understand overall
patterns or trends in animal cruelty crimes.
Dogfighting has become a lucrative enterprise and cruel pastime for
criminal gangs across America, with "champion" dogs selling for as much
as $25,000 on the black market, and bets on a single fight exceeding
$100,000, according to Menendez's news release. "Perhaps if there
is any silver lining to the Michael Vick episode, it is that such a
high-profile conviction for dogfighting has made everyone aware of the
repulsiveness of animal cruelty and the severe consequences that await
those who participate," Menendez said in the release. Read the full story.
Dog-dissecting days come to an end at Valhalla
College
(11/26/07) VALHALLA - The
controversial dissection of live dogs at New York Medical College in
Valhalla has come to an end. For decades, first-year physiology students
at the school were expected to dissect live dogs to train for surgical
procedures. Putting man's best friend under the knife is something
animal lover Bob Funck pushed to get abolished at the college. "It's
very disturbing, if not impossible, to justify using animals for this
training program," said Funck. A special committee at New York Medical
College has reviewed the policy and recommended it be eliminated.
Students will now use echocardiography, which are reflected ultra sonic
waves that can provide them with the same information. Download
Video
Cats Aren't Grounds for Eviction in One Woman's Case
(11/25/07)
Read the full story.
States consider protection from puppy 'lemons'
(11/15/07)
Read the full story.
Law Will Broaden and Strengthen Existing Dog Fighting
Prohibitions (11/15/07)
Read the full story.
ALDF Report on 2007 State Animal Protection Laws Rankings
(11/13/07)
The Animal Legal Defense Fund
announces the release of its second annual report ranking every state
and the District of Columbia on the relative strength and general
comprehensiveness of their animal protection laws. This report, the only
one of its kind in the nation, is based on a detailed comparative
analysis of the animal protection laws of each jurisdiction, researching
fourteen distinct categories of provisions throughout more than 2,800
pages of statutes. The ranking groups states into a top, middle or
bottom tier, and includes a listing of the best five and worst five
states. Read the full story or download a copy of the report. (PDF)
New Study Names 'Five Best States to Be an Animal Abuser';
Animal Legal Defense Fund Ranks Cruelty Laws Across the Nation
(11/13/07)
Read the full story.
New York City Councilman Proposes $1,000 Fine for Feeding
Pigeons (11/12/07)
Read the full story.
| 
