Filed under: SALDF | Tags: animal shelters, California, chihuahuas, Paris Hilton syndrome, San Francisco
Click here to read more about ‘Paris Hilton Syndrome’ striking California shelters. 
Whale of a find
A 70-foot female blue whale that officials believe was struck by a ship is seen washed ashore on the Northern California coast on Oct. 20 near Fort Bragg.
Filed under: SALDF | Tags: animal welfare, ASPCA, ban, California, cows, farm animals, tail docking
Victory for Farm Animals—California Bans Tail Docking of Cows
Attention, animal lovers! After a long fight, California’s dairy cows have emerged victorious! The ASPCA applauds California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, who made history by signing into law SB 135, a bill forbidding the cruel and unnecessary amputation of dairy cows’ tails. Since tail docking is already outlawed for horses in California, SB 135 will simply add the words “and cattle” to the law’s language.
Tail docking is a common practice of the dairy industry, where up to two-thirds of a dairy cow’s tail is amputated without the use of painkiller or anesthesia. The docking is often performed by applying a constrictive rubber band to the tail, cutting off blood flow and allowing the tail to fall off. This often leads to neuromas—dense masses of nerve endings associated with both chronic and acute pain. Infected wounds resulting from careless tail docking are also common.
“Cows naturally use their tails to swat off biting insects,” says Jill Buckley, Senior Director of Government Relations for the ASPCA. “Tail docking makes this simple movement impossible—leading to enormous suffering, especially during fly season.”
The bill, which will go into effect January 1, was introduced by state Senate Majority Leader Dean Florez and supported by the ASPCA, Humane Society of the United States, the California Veterinary Medical Association, California Cattlemen’s Association and California Farm Bureau. The bill was passed by the Senate 27-12, and the Assembly approved it by a vote of 58-15.
While the docking of cows’ tails is already banned in several European nations, including the U.K. and Netherlands, California—the U.S.’s largest dairy state—is the first state to ban the procedure. This act will protect the more than 1.8 million California cows farmed for their milk. The ASPCA is hoping this landmark legislation will encourage other large dairy states to follow suit.
Read more about the ASPCA’s fight against cruelty to farm animals.
Small group of animal rights activists protests Vick outside Coliseum
There were mixed feelings toward Vick outside the Coliseum, where a small group of protesters held signs made by In Defence of Animals. Fans barked their support, in the stadium and out.
“It’s been a little hostile,” said Wright, a sturdy 44-year-old tow truck driver from Oakland. “I’m a Michael Vick fan. I wanted to get the original jersey and sport that. It’s like this: Sooner or later you’re going to have to forgive the guy anyway. You may as well get it out of your system.”
Wright had his supporters, too. One man walked by, saw the black No. 7 jersey and said “Michael Vick!” and pumped his fist.
Vick came out to the field for his regular warmup, but had already gone inside when an airplane began circling with a banner reading, “Dog Fighter Go Home!” sponsored by Bay Area Doglovers Responsible About Pitbulls.
The group calling itself BAD RAP said it extended the invitation through the Eagles to Vick last week to view his former dogs that were part of the dog fighting operation at Bad Newz Kennels in southeastern Virginia. Vick declined.
Some fans barked like dogs in the stands. Jeff Blagg, a 42-year-old resident of nearby Martinez, barked around outside.
“I’m a dog owner,” Blagg said. “I don’t like people who abuse animals and get away with it. He got back too soon. It bothers me he’s in the NFL.”
One sign read, “NFL Please Add Dogfighting to your code of conduct.”
Passers-by had their opinions of the protesters.
“Come on, the dude paid his debt to society,” one man hollered.
“I don’t think he should be a role model for children,” said 38-year-old Megan Collison, who travelled four hours from Albion on California’s North coast to protest Vick. “I think a lot of people look up to NFL players. I feel very strongly. I have a pit bull at home and she was abused. Her ribs stick out from being kicked in.”
Collison said she rescued her dog Shatzi, which means “Sweetheart,” from Southern California. The dog wasn’t involved in fighting. Collison held a sign reading “VICK: WE HAVE NOT FORGOTTEN” and argued with Raiders fan Gary Marshall, who called Vick’s crime mild compared to other offences he considers far worse.
“I think child molesters should go to jail for life,” Marshall said.
Vick visited with a few people he knew on the sidelines but declined to sign autographs when making his way inside before the game.
Filed under: SALDF | Tags: California, Mr. Newman, photograph, San Francisco, world's saddest dog
‘World’s saddest dog’ finds friends on web
A forlorn pug photographed as he waited for his owner by the side of the road has been acclaimed as the world’s saddest dog.
Pictures of the pet taken by a passer-by have become an internet sensation after being posted on the photo-sharing website Flickr.
The dog – nicknamed Mr Newman – looks inconsolable as he sits on the pavement tied to a lamp-post with his lead.
The photograph was taken outside a café in the bohemian Californian city of San Francisco, which may go some way to explaining why he is dressed in a stylish grey and purple sweater.
“He was hanging around looking for somebody to love him. I tried to cheer him up – he seemed happy to me,” said the photographer Chris Michel.
One of the four photos of the dog on Flickr is titled “Tough day for Mr Newman” and captioned: “Despite his cool threads, the girls just aren’t interested in him any more.”
Dozens of commenters on the site said they had been touched by the dog’s maudlin gaze. “I come back to see this photo every now and then because it’s too darn cute,” wrote one.
Another viewer said that she had been moved to buy a pug of her own after seeing the photos.
Mr Newman may have won the hearts of internet users but his web fame is unlikely to eclipse that of feline rival Keyboard Cat, the musical pet who has become a meme in his own right on YouTube.
Filed under: SALDF | Tags: animal abuse, animal protection, breeders, California, dogfighting, legislation, Nava, Responsible Breeder Act of 2009
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L.A. Unleashed
All things animal in Southern
California and beyondAnimal protection bills await Gov. Schwarzenegger’s signature following the close of state legislative session
September 15, 2009 | 11:28 am
As California’s legislative session drew to a close last week, one big winner in the fight for animal-protection issues emerged: Assemblyman Pedro Nava (D-Santa Barbara), who introduced three bills that passed California state Assembly and Senate votes and now await Gov. Schwarzenegger’s signature.
The first, A.B. 241, is called “The Responsible Breeder Act of 2009″ and imposes a limit on the number of unsterilized dogs and cats an individual or business can have for the purposes of breeding for the pet market. (Don’t get hot under the collar, animal breeders — the “magic number” the bill would impose is 50, far more unaltered animals than any responsible breeder would ever consider having at one time. Even so, the American Kennel Club opposes the bill, offering a statement that read in part, “AKC believes that the quality of a breeder is not determined by the number of animals he has, but by the care the animals receive.”)
A.B. 241 applies only to adult animals (so puppies and kittens too young to be spayed or neutered don’t enter into the total) and the operative phrase in its text is “for sale” — so shelters, rescue groups and veterinary facilities would be exempted. Failure to comply, should the bill be enacted into law, would be a misdemeanor, and a window of time would be given for owners of more than 50 unaltered animals to either rehome the excess animals or have them spayed or neutered.
The second, A.B. 242, addresses the issue of dogfighting by substantially increasing the penalties for spectators caught attending fights. Current law provides a maximum sentence of 6 months of jail time and a $1,000 fine. A.B. 242 would double the maximum jail time and increase the maximum fine fivefold, making the maximum penalty, should it be enacted, one year in jail and a $5,000 fine.
Nava’s final animal-welfare bill, A.B. 243, would prevent those convicted of certain animal-abuse crimes from being able to own or care for other animals after their conviction. (Current law allows judges to impose a mandate preventing an offender from owning animals in the future, but Assemblyman Nava’s bill would require that this mandate be imposed for those convicted of certain crimes against animals.)
“We commend lawmakers in California for passing this raft of legislation to protect animals from cruelty and abuse, and especially Assemblyman Nava for his effective leadership,” Jennifer Fearing of the Humane Society of the United States said in a statement. “The anti-cruelty laws of a state are a reflection of our basic values and attitudes toward animals, and this collection of bills is a measurable step forward for the state of California.”
The three Nava bills — as well as a bill introduced by Senate Majority Leader Dean Florez which would outlaw the docking of cows’ tails; a bill introduced by Torrance-based Assemblyman Ted Lieu that would outlaw roadside and parking-lot sales of animals; and Montebello senator Ron Calderon’s bill which would authorize the seizure of property and profits from convicted dogfighters to be used for the purpose of benefiting abused dogs — next go to Gov. Schwarzenegger’s office for signature.
Another animal-related bill, S.B. 250, also known as the “Pet Responsibility Act,” failed to win passage. S.B. 250 would have required that California dogs — with the exception of service animals, hunting dogs and police dogs — either be spayed or neutered or face increased licensing fees. (S.B. 250 would also have required that free-roaming cats be spayed or neutered.) But Florez, who backed the bill, said his work on its behalf was far from over and announced he planned to reintroduce it early next year.
In a statement, Florez pointed to the spread of “untruths” as one reason S.B. 250 failed to pass an Assembly vote during the recently-expired legislative session. “No responsible pet owner has to worry that the ‘puppy police’ will come knocking at their door,” the statement continued, referring to a criticism that came from some who opposed it. “No one is going to force you to get your dog fixed if it gets out of the yard once. This bill is a tool for local animal control to use in dealing with irresponsible pet owners whose chronic disregard for the law is taking a financial and emotional toll on taxpayers, pet lovers and shelter workers.”
RELATED:
California legislature approves bid to ban tail-docking for cows
Pet Responsibility Act clears state Senate hurdle; bill would mandate spay/neuter for California dogs
Bills affecting farm animals make their way through California legislature– Lindsay Barnett
Photo: Assemblyman Pedro Nava (right) shakes hands with California State California Assembly Majority Leader Alberto Torrico (D-Newark) after passing a solution to close the state’s budget gap July 24. Credit: Max Whittaker / Getty Images
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Filed under: SALDF | Tags: boarding costs, California, horse, lame, punitive damages, Tom Selleck
Tom Selleck wins Calif. court battle over horse
DEL MAR, Calif. – Actor Tom Selleck has been awarded more than $187,000 after a California jury found the actor was duped into buying a lame horse.
Selleck accused Del Mar equestrian Dolores Cuenca of trying to pass off a show horse with a medical condition as fit to ride in competitions.
The defense had argued that Selleck didn’t check the veterinarian records of the 10-year-old Zorro.
The bulk of the San Diego County jury’s award is for the price of the horse. The rest is to cover boarding costs. A second trial next week will determine how much Selleck should be paid in punitive damages.
Selleck is best known for his role on TV’s “Magnum, P.I.” in the 1980s.
Filed under: SALDF | Tags: California, cows, Humane Society of the United States, tail docking
California Legislature Passes Bill to Outlaw Tail Docking of Cows |
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September 3, 2009
The Humane Society of the United States applauds legislators in California, the nation’s number-one dairy state, for passing a bill with bipartisan support to prevent a common mutilation of dairy cows. The California Assembly passed the bill on Thursday, and the California Senate passed the bill on May 26.
California Senate Majority Leader Dean Florez introduced Senate Bill 135 in February to ban the painful and unnecessary tail docking of dairy cows.
“By signing this legislation, Governor Schwarzenegger can halt the cruel and inhumane tail docking of tens of thousands of cows in California,” said Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of The HSUS. “All animals deserve humane treatment, including animals raised for food, and there’s no excuse for this needless mutilation of animals.”
The bill’s supporters include The HSUS, the California Veterinary Medical Association, the ASPCA, the California Farm Bureau and the California Cattlemen’s Association. If enacted, S.B. 135 would be the first state law banning tail docking. California is the largest dairy state in the nation, and enactment of this measure should increase pressure on other large dairy states to follow suit.
The practice of routinely amputating portions of dairy cows’ tails—without any painkiller—is already banned in several nations and opposed by The HSUS, the American Veterinary Medical Association and the American Bovine Practitioners Association.
Comprehensive research by California animal scientists and veterinarians found that “the available data do not support claims that docking improves the dairy workers’ comfort or safety or the health or cleanliness of the cow’s udder.” The California Dairy Quality Assurance program even advises that “[t]here is no benefit to tail docking normal, healthy tails in dairy cattle based on peer-reviewed scientific studies and governmental sponsored research.” The program concludes that “[t]ail docking… must not be routinely performed on the dairy herd.”
Facts
- Tail docking is the partial amputation of up to two-thirds of a dairy cow’s tail, a procedure typically performed without anesthetic.
- There are approximately 1.8 million cows raised for milk on 2,200 farms in California, the nation’s top dairy-producing state.
- A Colorado State University 2005-2006 survey of 113 dairy facilities reported that 82.3 percent of dairies surveyed practiced tail-docking. Recent efforts by the California dairy industry estimate prevalence of the practice at 10 to 15 percent of in-state dairies.
- In a landslide November vote, Californians approved the Prevention of Farm Animal Cruelty Act — a new law making it a criminal offense (with a phase-out period) to confine hens in battery cages, pigs in gestation crates and calves in veal crates. The passage of Proposition 2 demonstrated to lawmakers that Californians are deeply concerned about the humane treatment of farm animals.
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Follow The HSUS on Twitter.
The Humane Society of the United States is the nation’s largest animal protection organization — backed by 11 million Americans, or one of every 28. For more than a half-century, The HSUS has been fighting for the protection of all animals through advocacy, education and hands-on programs. Celebrating animals and confronting cruelty — On the web at humanesociety.org.
Filed under: SALDF | Tags: Animal Legal Defense Fund, California, California Penal Code, National Meat Association v. Brown, Ninth Circuit, slaughterhouses, United States Court of Appeals
National Meat Association v. Brown Update
The United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit recently heard arguments in National Meat Association v. Brown, a case in which the meat industry is attempting to invalidate a California law designed to reduce animal suffering and protect public safety.
At issue is Section 599f of the California Penal Code, which, among other things, prohibits slaughterhouses from purchasing, receiving, selling, dragging, or pushing non-ambulatory animals, also known as “downers,” and requires immediate euthanasia of such animals.
Read more about National Meat Association v. Brown.Lucky the Turtle Gets New Legs, Second Chance After Animal Attack
Wednesday, September 02, 2009 
A tiny box turtle surviving on painkillers and antibiotics after having his front legs eaten by a raccoon is getting a second chance — and a new pair of legs — thanks to a clever veterinarian in California.
When Lucky the turtle’s legs were chewed to bits on July 31, his owner feared the mangled and bloody stumps would be too much for him to bear, the Press Democrat of Santa Rosa reported.
But the tenacious terrapin wasn’t giving in, so owner Sally Pyne sought help from a local vet with experience in reptile care.
Veterinary surgeon Robert Jereb attached plastic sliders — the small discs usually stuck underneath chairs and table legs — to get Lucky back on his feet again, the paper reported.
Jereb stacked the discs two high and taped them to Lucky’s stomach, restoring him to his usual height and allowing the turtle to propel himself with his hind legs, pushing from the back and sliding along in front.
Jereb said he wasn’t sure how an animal got to the turtle, which normally would have boxed up for protection by withdrawing his legs and head into his shell, the Press Democrat reported. Jereb said Lucky may have been overweight or could have had a shell deformity that put him at risk.
Pyne said Lucky is adjusting well to the change, but told the Press Democrat the loggerhead’s libido has waned, and he now leaves his companion Lovey alone after years of unwanted amorous advances.
“Now Lucky doesn’t chase her around and try to make babies any more,” she said.
