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1) UPDATE / SOURCE: Animal welfare history is made as the final curtain falls on dancing bears in India 12/18/09, SUMMARY: A coalition of conservation and rescue groups — International Animal Rescue (IAR), Wildlife SOS (WSOS) of India, Free the Bears Fund (FTB) from Australia, and One Voice Association France — has made animal welfare history by taking the last dancing bears off the streets of India. This ends a centuries-old tradition that starts with killing mother sloth bears to poach their cubs for sale to kalandar nomads. To make young bears dance, claws are torn out and teeth broken off with an iron bar. A red hot poker pushed through the bear’s snout is drawn out his delicate muzzle and nose. A rope is looped through the open wound. When handlers jerk the rope, a bear stands on her hind legs to escape pain. Bears are pulled over hot coals...to make them appear to “dance.” The rescue coalition has given refuge to over 600 highly endangered sloth bears at sanctuaries in India. They’ve also provided a rehabilitation package for kalandars, enabling them to lean new trades that support their families after bears are surrendered. KINSHIP CIRCLE REFERENCES: PHOTOS: Wildlife S.O.S. / Dancing bears in India – Final Curtain —————————————————————— Back To Top ——————————————————————
2) UPDATE / SOURCE: Office of the State’s Attorney For Baltimore City 12/18/09, SUMMARY: Baltimore, MD / Patricia C. Jessamy, State’s Attorney — Tremayne and Travers Johnson, 17, pled not guilty at their arraignment. Judge David W. Young set a jury trial date of 3/22/10. Assistant State’s Attorney Jennifer Rallo will prosecute this case. Baltimore City Grand Jury indicted Tremayne and Travers Johnson 11/13/09 for violation of animal abuse laws. On 5/27/09 the Johnsons allegedly set a pit bull on fire on Presbury Street. Police discovered a pit bull dog engulfed in flames. The dog, affectionately named Phoenix, was euthanized due to injuries sustained in the attack... It is also alleged CCTV camera footage in the area captured the brothers leaving the area where the dog was burned. Both Johnsons are held at Baltimore City Detention Center without bail. KINSHIP CIRCLE REFERENCES: —————————————————————— Back To Top ——————————————————————
12/18/09, SUMMARY: Manhattan Supreme Court — Joseph Petcka, a "Sex and the City" actor and former minor league ballplayer who killed his girlfriend's cat Norman “in self defense,” walked away with a misdemeanor rap. With over 500 hours of community service, the 6-foot-two, 205-pound Petcka was allowed to plead guilty to attempted animal cruelty, a misdemeanor. He was originally tried on felony animal cruelty charges. "You love that cat more than me!" Petcka screamed at then girlfriend Lisa Altobelli on 3/27/07 before kicking her cat to death at her West Village apartment... ACTION - TELL THESE MED SCHOOLS TO GET ANIMALS OUT OF LABS: 4) UPDATE / SOURCE: Zoë (Sallie) & Ellie Updates 12/2009, SUMMARY: Since summer, we’ve updated you on rescued pit bulls Sallie (now Zoe) and Ellie — the skeletal dogs Officer Bruce Petitt found tied to a tree by a 4-foot chain, with a litter of dead puppies nearby, in Wadley, Georgia. Their former guardian was charged with felony aggravated animal cruelty and Kinship Circle member Kelly Jenkins became the dogs’ angel. Both adorable girls are now safe in foster, but still need forever homes! POTENTIAL ADOPTERS OF ZOE AND/OR ELLIE: Contact Kelly Jenkins, jenkins.kelly@gmail.com KINSHIP CIRCLE REFERENCES: PHOTOS: Zoe photos (lt) from Kym, Zoë's foster mom in Oregon. Ellie photos (rt) from her foster family in Atlanta 5) UPDATE / SOURCE: Area men sentenced in dog-fighting ring 12/8/09, SUMMARY: ST LOUIS, MO — In a multi-state crackdown on illegal dog fighting, 38-year-old Michael Morgan of Hannibal and 56-year-old Robert Hackman of Foley, were ordered to serve one year and one day in prison, followed by two years of supervised release. Both pleaded guilty to one felony count of conspiracy to commit federal offenses and one felony count of prohibitions against animal fighting ventures. The two men and three other Missouri suspects, Teddy Kiriakidis, Ronald Creach and Jack Ruppel, were indicted in July for incidents between Jan. 2008 and June 2009. All together, 26 people in seven states were charged and more than 500 dogs seized following federal raids. A federal court ordered that ownership of the seized dogs be transferred to the Humane Society of Missouri. FIGHT WITH THE FACTS. DOWNLOAD THESE FACT SHEETS:
—————————————————————— Back To Top —————————————————————— 6) UPDATE / SOURCE: Bronx teen Cheyenne Cherry gets two years for roasting cat in oven 12/3/09, SUMMARY: YOUR LETTERS HAVE IMPACT! We reported (7/15/09) that Bronx kitten killer Cheyenne Cherry, 17, had plea-bargained her way to a 1-year jail term with a 3-year ban on “pets.” Instead, she’ll spend 2 years in jail for roasting Tiger Lilly in a 500-degree oven during an attempted burglary 5/6/09 at former friend Valerie Hernandez’ apartment. Cherry’s accomplice, 14, was sentenced in August to 18 months in juvenile jail. Cherry’s restriction on animals still stands at three years and she is subject to three years of post-release supervision. Cherry faces formal sentencing on Jan. 21, 2009. Two years is not full justice for Tiger Lilly’s unanswered cries as her body exploded inside an oven. But after months of court adjournments, with your comments persistently pouring in, Cherry’s original plea deal fell apart. Judge Margaret Clancy reassessed the 1-year only jail term, concluding it was unlawful to lower a violent felony to a non-violent charge. Kinship Circle’s hundreds of letter writers, along with campaigns from In Defense of Animals and other groups, highlighted the gravity of this crime. IDA writes: “Prosecutors and judge were enlightened about the importance of bringing charges of animal cruelty, along with a stiff sentence.” KINSHIP CIRCLE REFERENCES: PHOTOS: nydailynews.com. YORKIE PHOTO: Cheyenne Cherry was also busted in the dog-napping of a teacup Yorkie. Her boyfriend snatched the dog from a Bronx woman last June after holding a BB gun to her forehead... READ MORE —————————————————————— Back To Top —————————————————————— 7) UPDATE / SOURCE: OSU Stops Primate Torture: Panties Bunched Up by Baboons 12/2/09, SUMMARY: Oklahoma State University canceled anthrax experiments on baboons after Madeleine Pickens threatened to pull a $5 million donation to the university’s vet school. Thank Madeleine Pickens here: www.madeleinepickens.com/contact/ ACTION - TELL THESE MED SCHOOLS TO GET ANIMALS OUT OF LABS: —————————————————————— Back To Top —————————————————————— 8) UPDATE / SOURCE: OSU Stops Primate Torture: Panties Bunched Up by Baboons 12/2/09, SUMMARY: Government sponsored scientists in the Netherlands have grown meat in a laboratory for the first time. Though no one has yet to taste this lab meat, there is speculation that it could be on your dinner table within the next five years. The process of creating artificial meat started with extracting cells from a live pig and then placing them in a broth-like mixture of other animal parts until the cells multiplied. When the cells eventually multiplied they created muscle tissue... The “meat” grown in a laboratory may challenge previously held ethical beliefs about consuming meat. If no animals were harmed or killed to make it, is it still an unethical choice to consume meat? The folks at People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) sounded off their approval of the project stating: “As far as we’re concerned, if meat is no longer a piece of a dead animal there’s no ethical objection.” Ditto for Kinship Circle! AGRI-MEAT HURTS HUMAN HEALH, ANIMALS & PLANET. DOWNLOAD THESE FACT SHEETS:
—————————————————————— Back To Top —————————————————————— 9) UPDATE / SOURCE: Michael Vick wants another dog, denies electrocuting pit bulls at Bad Newz Kennels 12/1/09, SUMMARY: At a Boys and Girls Club in Newark, N.J., NFL star and convicted dogfighter Michael Vick said he wished he could have a dog again "more than anything in the world." He’s currently legally prohibited from doing so. During the appearance — arranged by the Humane Society of the United States — Vick also answered questions about the Bad Newz operation and his part in it... "Everything you heard was true, except for the electrocution," he said, referring to the accusation that he electrocuted dogs that didn't perform well as fighters. "That never happened." Since his release from prison, Vick has made a number of appearances alongside Humane Society President and CEO Wayne Pacelle, advising young people to make good choices and avoid the pitfalls of peer pressure. Though he's referred to himself as "an animal rights advocate," the dogs he abused have rarely received more than a passing mention. KINSHIP CIRCLE REFERENCES: FIGHT WITH THE FACTS. DOWNLOAD THESE FACT SHEETS:
—————————————————————— Back To Top —————————————————————— 10) UPDATE / SOURCE: Woman sentenced to probation for drowning bunnies 11/20/09, SUMMARY: Kent State University student Liz Carlisle — who received national media attention and death threats after she was photographed smiling with two rabbits she had drowned at a former Petland store — was sentenced to 180 days in jail. But Akron Municipal Judge Stephen Fallis suspended the jail time. Carlisle was put on six months' probation, ordered to pay $350 in fines and costs and spend 120 hours community service. Fallis said if the probation department determines she would benefit from counseling, she will have to get it. Fallis said Carlisle explained that she found two injured rabbits who had been fighting. She asked her supervisor what to do. "The supervisor told her to 'baptize them, and made up and down motions' which she believed meant to drown them," Fallis said. "She drowned them in a bucket." Petland officials terminated the owner's franchise agreement... KINSHIP CIRCLE REFERENCES: —————————————————————— Back To Top —————————————————————— 11) UPDATE / SOURCE: Shark Conservation Act of 2009 Approaches the Finish Line in Senate 11/19/09, SUMMARY: Following passage of the Shark Conservation Act of 2009 (H.R. 81) in the House of Representatives last March, a Senate companion version (S. 850) — that also mandates sharks be landed with their fins naturally intact — has since moved out of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee. Next stop: The bill is headed to the floor for a (still unscheduled) vote by the full Senate. S. 850 enforces a ban on the extremely cruel amputation of shark fins in all U.S. waters. KINSHIP CIRCLE REFERENCES: 12) UPDATE / SOURCE: Wild horse removal generates over 7,000 comments to BLM 11/16/09, SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management logged over 7,000 comments regarding the scheduled round up of 2,700 wild horses from the Calico Complex in Northern Nevada. Release of the Preliminary Environmental Assessment revealed that 80% to 90% of the herds are to be removed from the wild... BLM documents show a 2004 population of 575 animals...almost half of those were mares injected with the immunocontraceptive PZP. By October of this year, BLM records show the complex as home to over 3,000 wild horses... Jerome Fox, BLM wild horse and burro specialist, stated that he personally joined the October 2009 aerial survey. The population count of 3,095 wild horses was correct. When asked if the movement of horses over the 4-1/2 day time frame could cause some to be counted two or even three times, he began a reference to "natural barriers" then abruptly ended the conversation saying, "I gotta go. Talk to you later. Bye,” then hung up the phone... ACTION — BLM STILL CAPTURING HORSES. ENOUGH ALREADY! PHOTO: Best-horse-photos.com 13) UPDATE / SOURCE: Judge: Seals can stay at Children's Pool 11/13/09, SUMMARY: La Jolla, California — Casa Beach (the Children’s Pool) is home to a harbor seal colony under threat of removal. Kinship Circle supporters joined the heroic efforts of Animal Protection and Rescue League and other area activists, urging Calif. Legislature Assembly Natural Resources Committee representatives to vote “YES” ON SB-428 — to protect the seals’ right to be there. In June 2009, Superior Court Judge Yuri Hoffman gave San Diego one month to answer plaintiff Valerie O’ Sullivan’s proposed use of a sprinkler system (the Scarecrow) to disperse the seals. But in the end Superior Court Judge Timothy Taylor overturned two previous rulings to disperse all 200 seals. As of January 1, 2010, San Diego has legal leeway to let seals stay in their cove. San Diego lawyer Paul Kennerson, who led efforts to remove seals, was vague about filing more litigation. “This may well be the end of the line,” he said. KINSHIP CIRCLE REFERENCES: —————————————————————— Back To Top —————————————————————— 14) UPDATE / SOURCE: Sandra Nathan-Moody 11/13/09, SUMMARY: “A heartfelt thanks to everyone for caring about Little No Name. Unfortunately, there will be no justice for this dog left to rot after dying inside an Alabama pound. Any findings from the "investigation" (Chief Batistte's "looking into it") haven’t been disclosed. The evidence, Little No Name’s decaying body, was thrown away like trash. Worse, the eye witnesses to Little No Name's rotting body, vanished and do not want to come forward to press charges. Little No Name's struggle to exist as an unwanted dog ended in painful death. Alabama has no state mandated standards for animal control pounds. Only legislation will provide protection for animals behind the closed doors of Alabama's pounds. Don't forget Little No Name. I won't.” KINSHIP CIRCLE REFERENCES: —————————————————————— Back To Top —————————————————————— 15) UPDATE / SOURCE: An end to Japanese whaling? 11/12/09, SUMMARY: A review of Japanese government spending could spell the end to whaling in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary, according to Greenpeace. Japan’s Spending Review Committee proposed massive cuts in subsidies to the Overseas Fisheries Cooperation Fund (OFCF), which funds the so-called scientific research program. It was recommended that “research whaling” have its funding revoked, except monies needed for loans in 2010. KINSHIP CIRCLE REFERENCES: —————————————————————— Back To Top —————————————————————— 16) UPDATE / SOURCE: Tel Aviv Bans Horse-Drawn Carts 11/10/09, SUMMARY: CHAI's 10-year campaign to get cart horses banned from the streets of Tel Aviv achieved success when the city announced that it has banned the practice... Says CHAI's Director, Nina Natelson "We are pleased that, at long last, there will no longer be sights of thin, injured, beaten cart horses in Tel Aviv, and we will continue pressing Mayors of other cities in Israel to issue similar bans." KINSHIP CIRCLE REFERENCES: PHOTOS: Horse abuse in Jaffa exposed by Hakol Chai and highlights from Chai’s campaign. —————————————————————— Back To Top —————————————————————— 17) UPDATE / SOURCE: California cities act to ban cat declawing 11/2009, SUMMARY: Ordinances that Illegalize declawing — a procedure that amputates not only the claw, but also the entire last "knuckle" of a cat's toes — passed in San Francisco, Santa Monica, Beverly Hills and Los Angeles. Kinship Circle worked with a Los Angeles based veterinarian opposed to the “convenience surgery,” instructing our subscribers to urge key City Council members to enact the proposed bans and thereby establish a precedent for communities worldwide. Armaiti May, D.V.M., kind_dvm@yahoo.com, writes: We did it! Unanimous 11-0 victory for cats in LA. So far, Santa Monica, San Francisco, Beverly Hills and LA have passed bans on declawing, with Berkeley set to have a vote. These ordinances send a loud and clear message to elected officials that we don't want cruelty to animals in our cities: Amputating the toes of cats is not okay. Period. Learn more about efforts to ban declawing and stay informed of updates, please bookmark. KINSHIP CIRCLE ACTION CAMPAIGNS & EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS: —————————————————————— Back To Top —————————————————————— 18) UPDATE / SOURCE: Kinship Circle 10/24/09, SUMMARY: Kinship Circle joined St. Louis Animal Rights Team (START) to protest animal experimentation, as part of National Primate Liberation Week. More than 20 activists held signs and marched outside Barnes-Jewish Hospital — the teaching hospital for Washington University School of Medicine. Students there still conduct animal research, including experiments upon primates... Kinship Circle’s Brenda Shoss brought her mother and her eight-year-old son, showing that the fight to end animal cruelty spans three generations from grandma to mom to third-grader! National Primate Liberation Week 2009 was a tremendous success, reports its organizer, Michael Budkie, executive director of SAEN (Stop Animal Exploitation Now). Activists from California to Boston and Atlanta to Seattle came out to fight for the rights of non-human primates and expose abuses. Protests, vigils and news conferences took place in over 20 cities...with substantial news coverage in publications like the Chronicle of Higher Education, USA Today, etc. ANIMAL RESEARCH IS A HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUE TOO... —————————————————————— Back To Top —————————————————————— 19) UPDATE / SOURCE: Progress Made: Two New Laws To Protect Farm Animals 10/2009, SUMMARY: Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed a bill to ban tail docking by California’s dairy industry and Governor Jennifer Granholm of Michigan signed legislation to ban battery cages, gestation crates and veal crates in her state. California is the first state to ban tail docking of dairy cows. Michigan becomes the second state to ban battery cages, following California’s passage of Proposition 2 last year. It is also the fifth state to ban veal crates and seventh to ban gestation crates. KNOW THE FACTS. DOWNLOAD THESE FACT SHEETS:
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10/10/09, SUMMARY: CAFT Ireland, Coalition to Abolish the Fur Trade — PRESS RELEASE — Contact CAFT Ireland spokesperson Laura Broxson, 086 8729 444. Saturday 10th October marked an historical victory for anti-fur campaigners across Ireland. Green Party members voted in favour for a new programme which will see fur farming banned in Ireland within 3 years... KNOW THE FACTS. DOWNLOAD THESE FACT SHEETS:
—————————————————————— Back To Top —————————————————————— 21) UPDATE / SOURCE: Salazar Presents Ambitious Plan to Manage Wild Horses 10/9/09, SUMMARY: Secretary of Interior Ken Salazar proposed a national solution to restore the health of America's wild horse herds... The proposal from the Department of the Interior would create new wild horse preserves in Midwestern and Eastern lands that are not as taxed by drought and wildfire as the western lands currently home to the majority of wild horses. Additionally, it would manage population growth of wild horses through fertility control. The adoption process may become more flexible where Appropriate... The key element of Salazar's plan would designate a new set of wild horse preserves across the nation. ACTION - BLM STILL CAPTURING HORSES. ENOUGH ALREADY! KINSHIP CIRCLE REFERENCES: —————————————————————— Back To Top —————————————————————— 22) UPDATE / SOURCE: Arkansas Woman To Be Sentenced for Animal Cruelty • Tammy Hanson On Pet-Abuse.com 9/25/09, SUMMARY: Tammy Hanson, 38 — the former owner of “Every Dog Needs A Home,” where investigators uncovered almost 600 abused dogs in 2005 — has been sentenced for 20 misdemeanor counts of cruelty to animals. Baxter County, Arkansas District Judge Van Gearhart imposed a 1-year sentence in the county jail and $10,000 in fines. Hanson and her husband had been living under false names in Vermont, but were extradited to Arkansas to finally face penalties for their 2006 conviction. —————————————————————— Back To Top ——————————————————————
*DISCLAIMER: The information in these alerts is verified with the original source. Kinship Circle does not assume responsibility for the accuracy of the information or for the consequences of its use. Nothing on this web site is intended to encourage illegal action in whatever country you are reading it in. Kinship Circle does not engage in, nor support, any form of harassment or unlawful activity. Nothing in this alert serves to promote such conduct. *Kinship Circle cannot guarantee validity of email addresses. During a campaign, recipients may change or disable their email.
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