05/06/2022
Animals continue to be victimized by Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine. Thankfully, a group of British military veterans stepped in to rescue nine lions trapped in a Ukrainian zoo. For the seven adult lions and two cubs, “it was ‘do or die’ given that they ran a very real risk of dying of starvation” and “Russian missiles could also wipe out the animal enclosures.” The lions are now safe in Romania.
In other news:
- The owner of a Petland franchise is suing the City of Dallas, saying his store will be forced to close due to a new ordinance making it illegal for pet stores to sell commercially-bred dogs and cats. In addition to “an injunction preventing the ordinance from going into effect,” the plaintiff seeks “more than $1 million in damages.” He deserves nothing.
- As more people turn to rescue and adoption and more shelters embrace progressive policies, the number of communities placing over 95% and as high as 99% of the animals is increasing.
- The California Senate unanimously passed a bill “that prohibits the use of dogs and cats to test chemicals, toxic substances and food additives.” SB 879 now heads to the Assembly for consideration.
- Meanwhile, the California Assembly passed a bill that would prohibit the declawing of cats. It now heads to the Senate.
- The worldwide adoption of pets is driving growth in the veterinary services market. In the U.S. alone, spending “hit $103.6 billion in 2020, up 6.7% from the preceding year. Veterinary care accounted for $31.4 billion of the total, up 7.2% from the preceding year.”
- The vegan chocolate candy market is growing at 15% per year. Driving the growth are concerns about animal welfare, the adverse health effects of an animal-based diet, and the environmental impact of dairy-based products on climate change.
- Meanwhile, the vegan egg market is growing at almost 9% per year, driven by the same factors: cruelty, health, and the environment. Every year, for example, six billion baby male chicks are ground up alive shortly after birth in giant macerators because they serve no purpose to the egg and “broiler” chicken industry. And while some countries are banning the live-shredding of baby chicks by employing technology that can s*x chicks before they hatch, this technology doesn’t spare the females from being exploited for the egg industry or from being eaten. Enter vegan eggs.
- As reported earlier, the federal government filed a lawsuit against Envigo, “a company that runs a Virginia facility breeding dogs for research of violating animal welfare law and recently seized at least 145 beagles found to be in ‘acute distress’. Government officials now report that more dogs have been rescued: “Envigo has relinquished 446 beagles...”
- New York assemblymember Donna Lupardo has condemned 25,000 animals to death, despite an immediate place for them to go. These are animals in “shelters” who rescue groups are ready, willing, and able to save but who will be killed needlessly. As Chair of the Agriculture Committee, she would not allow A7155, the Shelter Animal Rescue Act (SARA), to come to a vote, even though it had the support to pass. SARA would have made it illegal for New York shelters to kill animals if qualified non-profit rescue organizations were willing to save them.
- And finally, the New York legislature passed an ASPCA bill that allows shelters to kill scared and shy animals, undermines rescue work, and incentivizes killing over adoption. Unless the Governor vetoes it, it will lead to a higher death toll.
These and other stories are part of my Substack coverage on “This Week in Animal Protection”: https://bit.ly/38PIrjB.
Subscribers can also listen to it as a podcast, which includes extended commentary on many of the issues, including the history and success of laws making it illegal for shelters/pounds to kill animals if qualified rescue groups are willing to save them.
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