(06/08/2002) Stop Cetacean Deaths in European Waters
by ECBC
Thousands of porpoises, dolphins and whales are dying in European
waters each year, due to entanglement in fishing nets.
The Member States of the European Community are obliged, under the
Habitats and Species Directive (92/43/EEC), to monitor the incidental
capture and killing of all cetaceans, and to take action to ensure that
incidental capture does not have a significant impact on the species
concerned. They have also made commitments, under the Bonn Agreement
(ASCOBANS, ACCOBAMS), to minimise, and ultimately reduce to zero, losses
of small cetaceans through fisheries bycatch.
However, the Member States of the European Community are not complying
with the Directive, and are failing to honour their commitments.
We the undersigned therefore request that, as a matter of urgency and in accordance with Article 6 of the Amsterdam Treaty, the European Common Fisheries Policy be amended, to incorporate a Cetacean Bycatch Response Strategy.
Please sign our online petition!
[Link
to petition]
(07/08/2002) Stranded Dolphins Rescued in Massachusetts
by Becky A. Dayhuff
More than 20 marine biologists and volunteers recently saved 12 Atlantic white-sided dolphins that had become stranded on a beach near Wellfleet, MA.
The dolphins were sighted by carpenters working on a house that overlooks
Wellfleet Harbor. They rushed out to help the animals, and after reaching
them immediately began pouring water on their bodies to keep them moist.
Within a few hours, staff members of the International Fund for Animal Welfare, the Cape Cod Stranding Network and other humane organizations arrived.
Five of the dolphins were simply washed back to sea when the tide rose. The other seven were carried on stretchers to trucks, driven to Rhode Island and then released into deep waters near Provincetown.
Three dolphins that had been very seriously injured during the stranding were euthanized.
None of the rescued dolphins have since been spotted.
[Link]
(Notice) EUROPEAN CETACEAN BYCATCH CAMPAIGN
Action
Week AUGUST 19th – 25th 2002
Thousands of porpoises, dolphins and whales are dying
in European waters each year. They are dying due to entanglement
in gill nets, tangle nets, trammel nets, purse seine nets, drift
nets (which are not prohibited in the Baltic Sea), longlines, and
in the nets of pelagic trawlers, the most destructive of which are
the pair trawlers.
It would seem that economic and political considerations take
precedence over environmental and animal welfare concerns.
PLEASE participate in our ACTION WEEK AUGUST 19th – 25th 2002
We ask that you write to:
Your MP - explain your reasons for not eating fish products,
request that he/she supports your actions, and raises the issue of
cetacean bycatch in your national parliament.
Your MEP - explain your reasons for not eating fish products,
request that he/she supports your actions, and raises the issue of
cetacean bycatch in the European Parliament.
Your national Minister for Fisheries - explain your reasons
for not eating fish products, and request details of the measures
that your national government is taking in order to comply with
the Habitats Directive, in relation to cetacean bycatch.
Mr. Franz Fischler, EU Commissioner for Agriculture & Fisheries, 200, Rue de la Loi, B-1049, Brussels.
[Email]
- explain your reasons for not eating fish products, and request
details of the measures that the Commission is taking in order to
comply with the Habitats Directive, in relation to cetacean
bycatch.
Supermarkets - explain your reason for not eating fish
products, and request that they provide the consumer with a
greater variety of products suitable for vegetarians and vegans.
Ms Margot Wallstrom, EU Commissioner for the Environment, 200, Rue de la Loi, B-1049, Brussels
[Email] - requesting that she sanction Member States for non compliance with the Habitats Directive.
Please help these intelligent, gentle, and beautiful creatures.
For further information please contact
[Email]
and visit our website
[Link]
(08/08/2002) Zoo's Plan to Declaw Tiger Cub Draws Criticism
by Denyse Dowling
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) recently urged ME's Zoo in Parker City, IN not to declaw an 8-week-old white tiger cub named Masai after
learning that the owner of the zoo intended to have the procedure done.
In a letter to Eileen Oren, PETA called declawing "cruel and debilitating surgery...performed for no other
purpose than convenience."
"It's just like declawing a house cat," Oren, who has had all six of the other members of large cat species kept at the zoo declawed, told a Star Press reporter. "People do it all the time. It's not cruelty to animals."
The procedure involves amputating the outermost joint of every toe along with the claws. The animal afterward must learn how to walk all over again.
Declawing has been called "an unnecessary mutilation" by the British Veterinary Association, and is illegal in
Germany, Brazil, Australia and many other countries except when medically necessary.
[Link]
(09/08/2002) Beer-Loving Bear Forced to Give Up Drinking
by Margaret Gorham
A bear in Bosnia recently was forced to give up drinking beer by residents of the village of Dobratic who grew tired of the "singing" he did in a nearby meadow while drunk.
The 2-year-old bear, named Mirki, developed his habit of getting drunk by imbibing from discarded cans that still contained some beer.
"It got to the stage of him drinking up to 20 cans of beer a day," said Tadija Sugic, who owns a coffee shop in Dobratic. "We tried to give him soft drinks, but he just didn't like them. So, we decided to trick him with non-alcoholic beer, and it's worked."
Mirki has lived in the meadow and been cared for by village residents since his mother was killed by hunters when he was only a few months old.
"He is so tame that you can sit down and enjoy a beer with him without fear that he will turn aggressive," said Sugic.
[Link]
(16/08/2002) Lone and neglected dolphin Makaiko finally in safety!
After more than 2 years of struggle against a facility located in Isla Mujeres, Cancun, finally on 11 August we could confiscate a dolphin and transfer him to a better place. This is a summary of the story: 3 years ago 3 dolphins imported from Japan were transported to "Aleta Bay" located in Isla Mujeres, very near from Cancun. They were located in a concrete tank in terrible conditions, with no control of the temperature, or salinity.
Two years ago, I visited the facility twice, and after a denounce, we almost could make the confiscation to put the dolphins in a lagoon as a sanctuary. Nevertheless, we could not win the legal actions and lost that first denounce. From then to six months ago two of the dolphins died, so this dolphin, named "Makaiko" was left all alone in a concrete tank, with very high temperature in the water and started to hit himself against the tank's walls. A local organization (GEMA) and COMARINO got a trainer who really loves dolphins and she was aloud to take care of Makaiko. After months of denounces and close and frequent talks to the authorities finally on 11 August Makaiko was relocated to a sea pen in "Dolphin Discovery", as we asked the authorities to do and against the petition of CONVIMAR who offered to take Makaiko to a concrete tank in Mexico City.
We were strong against this petition of CONVIMAR and finally won a sea pen, with good currents for this solitaire dolphin. From today on he can listen to the sea noises, he can interact with other dolphins and the temperature of the water is no longer killing him. Though he is in captivity, this is the best we could get for him in all Mexico.
This could be possible thanks to the help of a new director of wild
life for PROFEPA named Jose Bernal Stopen. I would like to ask from you to
write to him and to the highest authorities, congratulating them for this
very good action.
In 1928 Portugal banned so-called Spanish bullfights, which resulted in the death of the animal. While Portugal unfortunately still allows bullfights, nevertheless the animals were not tortured and killed at the end, as in Spain. The small town of Barrancos in southern Portugal, however, has never obeyed this law and, in fact, has continued torturing and killing bulls up to the present day. Recently Portuguese television exposed the horror in Barrancos. Since then animal rights groups, such as ANIMAL, with the support of the overwhelming majority of the Portuguese people (85% according to polls), have demanded that Barrancos obey the law.
INSTEAD OF ENFORCING THE LAW, THE GOVERNMENT REVOKED IT!
Barrancos will stage its gruesome and barbaric spectacle on the 29th
and 30th of August, when bulls will be killed, and on the 31st when a cow
will be killed.
ANIMAL is calling for a worldwide demonstration outside all Portuguese
embassies to coincide with the start of the brutality from 3 p.m. to 6
p.m. (GMT) on Thursday, 29 August.
If you wish to join our show of solidarity against the cruelty, please
contact me urgently with your pledge of cooperation. Many, many thanks.
The innocent animals of Portugal need you!
Miguel Moutinho | ANIMAL
Mobile phone:
+ 351962358183
E-mail: [E-mail]
(18/08/2002) Man Imprisoned for Throwing Dog at Wall
by Joyce Qi
Pacific Beach, CA resident Dirk Clarke was recently sentenced to 120 days
in jail and placed on probation for three years after pleading no contest
to killing a puppy by throwing him against a wall.
Clarke, who admitted in court that he's had a drinking problem for many
years, said that he was drunk and arguing with his girlfriend when he
killed the dog.
"This is a man who took a 7-week-old Chihuahua puppy and in a rage
threw him against a wall, causing multiple skull fractures, while yelling
'We never should have gotten this f'ing dog,'" said prosecutor Stacey
McReynolds during the trial. "This man should never have an animal
again."
Defense attorney Scott Williams tried to convince the judge to change the
charge from a felony to a misdemeanor by pointing out that Clarke had
attended numerous Alcoholics Anonymous meetings and never before behaved
violently toward his girlfriend or the puppy, but was unsuccessful.
[Link]
(19/08/2002) Shipping Lane Changes to Protect Right Whales
by Stephanie Janard
The International Maritime Organization recently approved rezoning shipping lanes in the Bay of Fundy, which is located off the coast of Nova Scotia, Canada, in order to help ensure that right whales will not be struck by ships or become entangled in fishing nets.
A significant number of the endangered whales - there are only about 350 of them left in the world - each summer travel to the Bay in order to take advantage of its abundance of plankton.
Scientists believe that more than half of right whale deaths result from collisions with ships. The marine mammals are slow-moving, and therefore highly susceptible to them.
"This is a major step," Center for Coastal Studies spokesperson Moira Brown told a Halifax Herald reporter. "This is the first habitat area where something is being done to reduce the effect on right whales."
"By shifting the lanes we're hoping we can reduce the potential for ship strikes by as much as 80 percent," said Transport Canada spokesperson Paul Doucet.
Several shipping companies and an organization representing international tanker owners have expressed support for the rezoning, which will require only a slight deviation from courses currently used.
The changes are expected to be implemented next summer.
[Link]
(20/08/2002) Corridas - Lettre Au Bureau De Tourisme De Carcassonne
A propos de la belle ville de Carcassonne et de ses corridas
Monsieur,
Afin de rentabiliser mieux encore le tourisme dans la région de Carcassonne, outre les corridas, je vous suggère d'organiser également des sacrifices humains. Il s'agit là d'une amusante tradition des anciens Gaulois (victimes brûlées vivantes dans des mannequins de paille), un genre de spectacles très folkloriques et hauts en couleurs, issu directement de vos meilleures traditions françaises, qui plaisent beaucoup aux touristes ! Ou alors, je ne sais pas, des combats de coqs ? De chiens ? D'ours ? Des exécutions publiques ? Une guillotine les jours de haute saison ? N'est-ce pas là votre logique ? Du moment que les gens le demandent ?
Oui, ainsi que vous le dites dans vos réponses à vos correspondants, nous savons tous que le monde va mal et que les Africains meurent par millions du sida. Mais ce n'est certes pas en massacrant longuement et savamment un bovidé innocent ou de jeunes taureaux que les choses iront mieux ou que l'esprit des hommes évoluera vers la paix et l'ouverture aux autres !
La France - déjà gravement fautive quant à ses pratiques de chasse -devrait avoir honte de tolérer ces jeux sanglants et barbares issus d'une autre époque sur son propre territoire. Sachez, Monsieur, que l'Europe est écœurée par la tolérance de votre pays et de votre gouvernement à l'égard de ces pratiques stupides, obsolètes et dégradantes pour ceux qui les commettent.
Croyez-bien en tous cas que, loin de favoriser le tourisme, ce genre d'initiatives sanglantes risque au contraire de le réduire singulièrement. Nous nous y appliquerons.
(21/08/2002) New Report Proves Link between Poverty and Factory Farming in Developing Countries
Report also shows potential resurgence of BSE and impact on human health and the environment
Compassion in World Farming Trust (CIWF Trust), today released a major report that proves that the introduction of industrial animal farming
into developing countries will cause local job losses and significantly increase poverty in these countries.
Using real examples with economic analysis from the World Bank, the World Health Organisation and the United Nations, the report
demonstrates that crowding thousands of animals together in disease-prone sheds uses very little local labour, makes use of scarce
water and electricity and creates a reliance on imports for cereals and farming equipment. The report goes on to show how these farms produce
polluting excreta that the local environment cannot absorb and culminate in a final product which the local or national poor cannot afford.
The report also shows how industrial animal farming in developing countries will cause a massive global increase in antibiotic-resistant
bacterial infections in humans and may well affect a resurgence in BSE.
Joyce D'Silva, Chief Executive of CIWF Trust, said "Unfettered by legislative constraints, agri-businesses trade sustainability for
short-term profit, degrading the local environment and creating dependencies on unstable world markets. Reducing poverty must be a
global priority, but experience has shown that it is misguided to expect the free market to deliver this elusive food security. Industrial
factory farming is a discredited and outdated system for food productionthat
should be abandoned urgently".
The report "The Detrimental Impact of Industrial Animal Agriculture" is available directly from Compassion in World Farming Trust or
downloadable in PDF format from their web site
www.ciwf.co.uk.
For further information or photographs contact CIWF's press office on 00 44 1730 233 904 or 00 44 7771 926 005 (mobile).Out of office hours call 00 44 777 1 926 005.
(22/08/2002) Buav Probe Leads To Home Office Action Against Cambridge University for Breaking Law On Animal Experiments
The BUAV (British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection) has succeeded in
exposing at least two examples of breaches of the law on animal experiments
by Cambridge University, with a third example pending investigation.
In November 2001, the BUAV first exposed a tasteless and horrific experiment
at Cambridge University involving almost 300 mice; half the mice were injected with methamphetamine (speed), the other half with salt water, and
then the animals were deliberately exposed to extremely loud music - Bach and The Prodigy. As a result, some of the mice died during the experiment,
others suffered seizures and brain damage, and some displayed abnormal repetitive behaviour (a sign of severe mental disturbance, suggesting the
animals were being subjected to stress of unmanageable proportions).
Outraged by these "sick speed experiments", the BUAV pursued the matter with
the Home Office for nine months. Our determined efforts have finally revealed that this experiment actually broke the law governing animal
experiments. The Cambridge researchers were only licensed to conduct research into Huntington's disease but conducted the "speed" experiments
anyway, even though it wasn't authorised and had nothing to do with their research project. In a letter to the BUAV the Home Office has admitted that
the experiment "exceeded the procedures permitted under the authorities of
the project licence. Infringement action has been taken." However we were
outraged when the Home Office confirmed the researchers were simply
"admonished".
Yet this is not the first time Cambridge researchers have broken the law.During a BUAV undercover investigation at Cambridge University's
Wellcome/Cancer Research Campaign Institute in 2001, minutes from a meeting
in December 2000 reveal that one researcher, a previous Lasker Medical Research Award winner, is noted as having "exceeded the number of mice
stated on his project licence."
Another BUAV undercover investigation, this time at Cambridge University's
primate neurological laboratories, revealed shocking evidence of horrific monkey brain experiments at the institution. The University admitted in a
statement that it was investigating whether its researchers had worked outside the terms of their licence. The BUAV's evidence shows that the
University's claim to the Home Office that no animal would suffer more than
"moderately", at any stage, was self-evidently nonsensical.
GET ACTIVE
What the Cambridge researchers have done is a criminal offence under the 1986 Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act. Specifically they have breached
section 3 of the 1986 Act. (..) In a clear demonstration of how the
regulations offer no protection whatsoever to even those laboratory animals used illegally, and
serve as no deterrent to researchers breaching the law, the Cambridge researchers have simply been "told off" by the Home Office. This just isn't
good enough.
rite to the Home Office today to say how appalled you are that the Cambridge researchers have got off so lightly and that if the general public
are to be convinced to hold any faith at all in the law regarding vivisection, the researchers in question should be properly prosecuted and
punished accordingly. Title your letters "Methamphetamine experiments on mice at Cambridge University" and write to:
Bob Ainsworth MP
Home Office
50 Queen Anne's Gate
London SW1H 9AT.
British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection www.buav.org
(23/08/2002) British Live Lamb Exports Resume
by Laura McLean
Farmers in Great Britain recently received permission from the European Union (EU) to resume exporting live lambs to other member countries for slaughter.
The practice was prohibited shortly after an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease occurred in England more than one year ago.
According to Compassion in World Farming, lambs exported from Great Britain are sent on journeys lasting as long as 90 hours that leave the animals "increasingly exhausted, dehydrated and stressed as the journey wears on."
"There is an awful lot spoken about the horrors of transporting lambs...but as long as they are reasonably looked after and fed and watered overnight there really isn't a problem," a Meat and Livestock Commission spokesperson told an Independent reporter.
"I would like to see a complete end to the long distance transportation of animals for slaughter," said Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) Parliamentary Under-Secretary Elliot Morley. "It can't be right that sheep are taken from the United Kingdom all the way to southern Europe for slaughter."
According to Morley, while the European Commission continues to review EU regulations regarding the export of live animals, the DEFRA will scrutinize route plans submitted by exporters and make sure that animals are fit to travel before leaving Great Britain.
[Link]
(24/08/2002) Penguins Found Soaked in Oil in Australia
by Lesley Abrams
Approximately 250 penguins that had been covered in oil were recently discovered in New South Wales, Australia.
"We don't know the cause of the oiling, despite a helicopter search that covered a 12-mile area," said Wayne Smith, who is a member of the New South Wales Parliament.
Wildlife officials are asking individuals who find other penguins that have been soaked to wrap them in towels from the neck down to prevent the birds from ingesting oil while preening their feathers and then contact Booderee National Park and Botanic Gardens headquarters or the Native Animal Network Association.
"The incident remains a mystery which has had devastating effects on our precious local penguins," said Smith.
The oiled birds are members of a penguin colony on Bowen Island in Jervis Bay that has a population of about 10,000.
[Link]
(25/08/2002) Pennsylvania Bans Live Deer and Elk Imports
by Laura McLean
The government of Pennsylvania recently banned the importation of all live deer and elk in order to prevent an outbreak of chronic wasting disease (CWD) in the state.
"We are fortunate to be able to assure the public that we currently have no confirmed or suspected cases of CWD in Pennsylvania's wild or captive cervid herds, and we want to see it stay that way," said Vern Ross, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Game Commission.
CWD gradually damages the brains and nervous systems of cervids - deer, elk, moose and caribou - until the animals die. Among the symptoms of the disease are poor posture, weight loss, drooling, increased thirst and uncoordinated movement.
CWD is similar to mad cow disease and scrapie, which is contracted by sheep.
There currently is no vaccine or treatment.
CWD was first detected in Colorado in 1967, and since has been found in wild and/or captive cervids in Wyoming, Wisconsin, Nebraska, South Dakota, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Canada and South Korea.
Pennsylvania is the 20th state to prohibit the import of live deer and elk in order to protect local cervid populations.
[Link]
(26/08/2002) British Man Imprisoned for Dog Fighting
by Wendy Freeman
A Cambridge, England resident was recently jailed for six months for conducting dog fights.
Two other individuals were fined for their attendance.
Andrew Crowe was given two concurrent prison sentences - one for holding the fights on his property and the other for causing dogs to fight and allowing them to suffer. In addition, he was ordered to pay a fine of more than $1,500 for owning two "Pit Bull-type" dogs; required to pay approximately $3,000 to cover various expenses, and prohibited from keeping dogs for 30 years.
Crowe's cousin, Glenn Brown, was given a fine of about $750 for attending a dog fight; ordered to perform 240 hours of community service for causing suffering to animals and possessing a dog bred specifically for fighting; required to pay more than $7,500 to cover various costs, and barred from keeping dogs for 20 years.
Mark Willis was ordered to pay approximately $8,000 for attending a
dog fight and possessing a "Pit Bull-type" dog.
The dog fighting was discovered by police and Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) inspectors when they raided Crowe's property in May 2001. Two maimed and bloodied Pit Bulls which had to be euthanized were found in a pen, and dog fighting paraphernalia was found in the garage in which the fights took place.
"We believe the sentences were commensurate with the offenses," said RSPCA inspector Chris Nice. "I think this sends out the right message to those involved in illegal dog fighting. This is an horrendous activity. It is cruel to animals. It causes serious injury and at times death. It is a problem that is still scattered around the country and we consider it to be a priority."
The RSPCA is urging the British government to revise outdated cruelty laws and increase the severity of the penalties for conducting animal fights.
Crowe, a secondary school learning support assistant, was recently fired.
[Link]
(27/08/2002) Actie in Brussel op donderdag 29 augustus voor de ambassade van Portugal als steun voor de internationale campagne van ANIMAL
Beste Dierenvrienden,
Zoals jullie waarschijnlijk al weten, heeft ANIMAL, Portugese dierenrechten organisatie, een internationale oproep gelanceerd om voor de Portugese ambassade in verschillende landen te protesteren tegen het legaliseren van het doden van stieren in de Portugese arena’s.
Het verbod om stieren te martelen en doden in de arena gold in Portugal sinds 1928. Nu wordt de toestand nog erger; voorlopig is de toelating alleen bestemd voor Barrancos (Portugal), maar al drie andere gemeentes hebben ook de toelating gevraagd.
Zoals ANIMAL ons gevraagd heeft, gaan wij protesteren voor de ambassade van Portugal te Brussel op donderdag 29 augustus (nu donderdag dus). Ook zullen wij een brief aan de ambassadeur afgeven. Samen met dit protest uiten wij ook onze eisen om een algemeen verbod op stierengevechten.
Het Comité Anti Stierenvechten zal zorgen voor de organisatie van deze actie, maar alle organisaties voor dierenrechten zijn van harte welkom.
De bedoeling is voor de ambassade vreedzaam en in stilte te protest betogen.
Het tijdstip: Donderdag namiddag om 15u45 (de betoging is aangekondigd voor 16u00)
De Plaats: Ambassade van Portugal, Gulden Vlieslaan 55, 1060 Brussel
Wij brengen enkele posters en onze spandoek, maar jullie eigen
materiaal (affiches, spandoeken, foto’s, enz.) is ook welkom.
De ambassade is te bereiken met openbare vervoer. Vanuit Zuid station is er een metro die gaat naar ‘Porte de Hal’ of ‘Halport’, richting “Simonis”
Vanuit Noord station is er een metro die naar de Gulden Vlieslaan rijdt, richting ‘Zuid station’ of ‘Gare du Midi’.
Waarschijnlijk is er ook transport vanuit Brussel Centraal station,
maar wij moeten dit nog verder opzoeken.
Wie meer wilt weten over openbare vervoer om naar de actie te komen,
kan naar ons kantoor bellen.
Wij rekenen op jullie talloze aanwezigheid.
Voor meer informatie kunnen jullie contact opnemen met het Comité Anti stierenvechten
Hi, I'm Chico and I'm a victim of divorce. My life has really been turned upside down since my parents split up and I am now in what they call 'quarantine' in a huge shelter on the outskirts of Brussels. Apparently I am in good health and so can leave immediately. I'm male, 6 years old, fully vaccinated and just love chatting! Could someone please offer me a new home? I don't much like it here!
(29/08/2002) Wisconsin to Test 50,000 Deer for Fatal Disease
by Diana Moes VandeHoef
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources recently announced that it will test approximately 50,000 deer for chronic wasting disease (CWD), which is similar to mad cow disease, in the fall.
The testing is going to be undertaken because 18 deer infected with CWD have been found in Wisconsin since February.
"This statewide testing plan will tell.citizens with 99 percent certainty that the disease does or doesn't exist in the deer population in a given county," said Bureau of Wildlife Management Chief Tom Hauge.
The results of the testing will be posted on a Web site and made available to individuals who call a toll-free telephone number.
CWD gradually damages the brains and nervous systems of cervids - deer, elk, moose and caribou - until the animals die.
The symptoms of the disease, among which are stumbling, tremors, weight loss and increased salivation and thirst, usually do not appear until an animal has been infected for months or years.
There currently is no vaccine or treatment available.
In order to prevent the spread of CWD, Wisconsin wildlife officials plan to eradicate deer in areas encompassing three counties that surround locations in which infected animals are found.
[Link]
(30/08/2002) Animals No Longer Euthanized During Surgery Class
by Sabrina Glidden
The practice of euthanizing 40 dogs and 20 cats operated on by students taking a third-year course in surgery at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine was recently ended.
The change was brought about by Assistant Professor of Surgery Dorothy Brown, DVM, who sought "to improve the course for students and animals alike" when she recently took over teaching it.
During the class, two dogs and one cat are used per student to teach "the more common and useful soft tissue procedures." One of each pair of dogs is obtained from the Pennsylvania Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, and spayed or neutered by a student under supervision.
None of the animals are permanently harmed. In addition, they all afterward are made available for adoption.
American Anti-Vivisection Society Executive Director Tina Nelson praised the change, and described the new method of conducting the class as "instilling a sense of compassion and responsibility within the students."
Veterinary schools that are part of a number of other universities also have recently taken steps to make at least some of the courses they offer more humane. Among them are the Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine, Western University of Health Sciences School of Veterinary Medicine and Colorado State University College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences.
[Link]
(31/08/2002) Veterinary Clinic Set Up in Shipping Container
by David Milner
The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) recently opened a veterinary clinic in a formerly disused shipping container in Swannieville,
South Africa.
The "container clinic" - the first of its kind in the world - is the first
permanent veterinary facility opened in the town.
"IFAW is very proud to be opening this veterinary clinic here in Swannieville as the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) is
(taking place) in Johannesburg," said IFAW President Fred O'Regan.
Before the facility went into use, only weekly outdoor veterinary clinics staffed by volunteers were available to pet owners in Swannieville.
"That IFAW...was able to establish a full-service veterinary clinic for a disadvantaged
community... highlights the spirit, aims and - we would hope and trust - achievements of the (WSSD)," said O'Regan.
[Link]
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