Animal activist decries inaction on animal cruelty in KK, Malaysia

KOTA KINABALU: Malaysia:- An animal activist has criticised local authorities for their alleged lackadaisical approach in dealing with stray dogs problem and animal cruelty.

Sam Lau pointed out that Section 428 of the Penal Code stipulates that the killing of a dog, an area that should be of concern to the police, may result in jail of not more than two years or a fine or both; whereas acts of wilful cruelty towards dogs or other animals, under the jurisdiction of the Department of Veterinary Services (DVS), may result in heavy fines.

“In KK, however, these provisions seem to hold little sway, with the authorities being slow to act or choosing not to act at all,” he said.

“The tragedy of stray animals is a seemingly never-ending and all-pervasive problem – a sight familiar to us all in KK.

A badly beaten stray dog while another lies dead on the cargo bed of a truck.

“The slaughter and brutal maiming of five stray dogs recently in Country Heights Apartments, Penampang,is a case in point and not a sight residents will easily forget,” Lau said.

He claimed that the management of the housing estate had resorted to clubbing the dogs to death after complaints to the local council fell on dead ears.

He said a member of Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) present ordered the release of the one dog that was still alive, but no measures were taken to prosecute.

The perpetrators, using the developer’s lorry to remove the dogs’ bodies, left the scene unquestioned.

“Where is the voice of authority to speak out for animal rights in Sabah? Evidently it is muffled at best or non-existent in the main.”

Lau said that in a similar incident, a recent Trap Neuter and Release (TNR) initiative by SPCA in Taman Nelly Phase 9, Kolombong ended in tragedy.

“Residents sponsoring the neutering of local strays witnessed a red truck passing through the vicinity and meat being distributed to five neutered-and-released street dogs, two of which died soon after ingesting the meat,” he claimed.

“How, despite laws being in place to criminalize the killing of these animals, can they continue to be treated as rubbish to be disposed of rather than sentient beings with the right to life?”

“Perhaps Sabah can take a page from the book of those championing dogs’ rights to life in Selangor. Following the disastrous incident of an elderly woman’s long-time pet being shot by Ipoh City Council, an ensuing outcry from the public, NGOS and Malaysian Animal-Assisted Therapy for the Disabled and Elderly Association (Petpositive), led to a ban on the shooting of dogs in Ipoh.”

Lau said it is high time for more firm action to be taken against brutalising strays in KK.

“Firstly, the ambiguity surrounding prosecutions under Penal Code 428 must be addressed by the relevant parties and penalties dealt more swiftly.

“Secondly, city authorities in KK would do well to engage in dialogue with animal rights and animal protection groups to discuss ways of improving its management of stray dogs in the city.

“Such efforts would ensure that the animals are not only given a chance to live well but also provide the long-term benefits of companionship to the pet lovers who adopt them.

“The cruel killing of dogs is unacceptable if we wish to live in a truly compassionate and caring Sabah.”

News Link:-: http://www.theborneopost.com/2013/07/01/animal-activist-decries-inaction-on-animal-cruelty-in-kk/#ixzz2Xk0DtcoE

Please speak up for the canines in Malaysia by signing the petitions on these links:

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/555/397/991/stop-shooting-stray-dogs-in-kota-kinabalu/

http://stopanimalabuse.petfinder.my/

Please push the SPCA in Kota Kinabalu to take action against this by posting on their facebook page:

http://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=257789997643901&id=207200722626426¬if_t=share_reply

Read more: http://digitaljournal.com/blog/16275

Cruelty, torture & abuse

Animal Welfare Groups Plan Suit in Response to USDA Decision to Support the Slaughter of Horses for Human Consumption

“Scroll to the end of this post, to see a gallery of some of the worlds most beautiful horses…how could anyone even think, about killing one; let alone eating one??”

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has given the green light for the grisly practice of horse slaughter to resume on U.S. soil. The agency approved an application for horse slaughter inspections under federal law at a plant in New Mexico.

This news comes on the heels of the U.S. House and Senate appropriations committees’ votes to halt all funding for horse slaughter in FY 2014. The decision means that the federal government could potentially spend millions of taxpayer dollars to start up inspections at horse slaughter plants, only to have Congress terminate the process in the coming months.

In response to the USDA’s decision, The Humane Society of the United States and Front Range Equine Rescue plan to file suit immediately against the USDA to put a stop to this agency decision. The two groups previously informed USDA that they would take aggressive legal action against the agency, in light of the serious unresolved environmental and food safety issues surrounding horse slaughter.

Jonathan Lovvorn, senior vice president and chief counsel for animal protection litigation at The HSUS, said: “The USDA’s decision to start up domestic horse slaughter, while at the same time asking Congress to defund it, is bizarre and unwarranted. Slaughter plants have a history of polluting their communities and producing horsemeat that is tainted with a dangerous cocktail of banned drugs.

“We intend to hold the Obama administration accountable in federal court for this inhumane, wasteful and illegal decision.”

Hilary Wood, president of Front Range Equine Rescue, said: “America’s horses are not raised as food animals, and they receive numerous substances during their lives making them unfit and illegal for human consumption. Adding insult to injury, the suffering of the horses in the slaughter pipeline and the danger to humans makes this action more than inhumane. Horses bound for slaughter have many alternatives open to them including re-training, re-homing, and humane euthanasia. We remain committed to stopping this insult to justice and our sense of justice.”

The USDA’s approval is particularly surprising, considering the recent scandal in the European Union, where horsemeat was discovered in food products labeled as beef.  The operation of horse slaughter plants in the U.S. will make it more difficult to prevent the commingling between horsemeat and beef products that occurred in Europe.

Horses are raised as pets and for use in show, sport, work and recreation in the U.S. and are regularly administered drugs that are expressly prohibited by current federal regulations for use in animals intended for human consumption. For example, a common pain reliever routinely administered to all types of horses, Phenylbutazone, is known to cause potentially fatal human diseases, and if the animal has taken the drug, the meat is adulterated and should not be eaten. There is also no system in the U.S. to track medications and veterinary treatments given to horses to ensure that their meat is safe.

Any facility slaughtering thousands of horses will necessarily be processing the blood, organs and remains of animals whose tissues and blood may contain significant amounts of dangerous substances, which are either known to be dangerous, or which have never been tested on humans and therefore present completely unknown dangers. At least six applications for horse slaughter inspections have been filed with the USDA.

Background:

• This month, the U.S. House and Senate Appropriations committees voted to block funding for inspections of horse slaughter plants. President Obama’s proposed FY 2014 budget also included a request for Congress to prevent tax dollars from supporting horse slaughter.
• The HSUS and FRER also filed petitions with USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to declare horsemeat unfit for human consumption. USDA denied that petition.
• According to a national poll conducted last year, 80 percent of Americans disapprove of horse slaughter.
• “Kill buyers” gather up horses from random sources and profit by selling healthy horses for slaughter that bring the best price per pound for their meat. USDA reports show that approximately 92 percent of American horses going to slaughter are healthy and would otherwise be able to go on to lead productive lives.
• The methods used to kill horses rarely result in quick, painless deaths, as horses often endure repeated blows to render them unconscious and sometimes remain conscious during the slaughtering process. When horse slaughter plants previously operated in the U.S., the USDA documented severe injuries to horses in the slaughter pipeline, including broken bones and eyeballs hanging from a thread of skin.
• The Safeguard American Food Exports Act, H.R. 1094 / S. 541, introduced this year by U.S. Sens. Mary Landrieu, D-La., and Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and Reps. Patrick Meehan, R-Pa., and Jan Schakowsky, D-Ill., is a bipartisan measure that would outlaw horse slaughter operations in the U.S., end the current export of American horses for slaughter abroad, and protect the public from consuming toxic horsemeat.

News Link:-http://www.humanesociety.org/news/press_releases/2013/06/usda-horse-slaughter-suit-062813.html

Some of the world most beautiful horses – should not end up on a dinner plate!

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LITH Woman Charged with Animal Cruelty; Dog Starves to Death

“I know what I would do with this sick bxxxh, throw her in jail & don’t feed her! No excuse whatsoever regards food, a full bag of dog food,yet she couldn’t even be arsed to open it…what does that tell you about her? I just pray the other dog isn’t too malnourished & will survive. At the very minimal, she must be banned from ever owning or working with any animals; nothing less will do!!”

Charmain L. Krishnan, 48, of Lake in the Hills was arrested for animal cruelty.

A Lake in the Hills woman has been charged by police with two counts of animal cruelty after she allegedly didn’t feed her dogs, causing one dog to starve to death, police said.

Charmain L. Krishnan, 48, of the 2600 block of Stanton Circle, was arrested at 3:03 p.m. Wednesday, June 19, and was charged with animal cruelty and also two counts of violation of owners duties, police arrest reports show.

LITH Police Sgt. Mark Smith said McHenry County Animal Control officials had been checking on the two dogs and recently gave Krishnan dog food for the pets.

During a routine check last week, Animal Control officials found one dog dead in the yard, and removed the other dog from the home.

“She hadn’t even opened the bag of dog food, according to Animal Control,” Sgt. Smith said. “They believe the dog died of malnourishment.”

Kirshnan was released on bond, according to police reports.

News Link:–http://algonquin.patch.com/groups/police-and-fire/p/lake-in-the-hills-woman-charged-with-animal-cruelty-starved-dog-dies

Rescuers Stop Traffic To Save Stray Dog

Rescuers Stop Traffic to Save Stray Dog | Life With Dogs.

Rescuers risked their life in heavy traffic last Sunday night to save the life of a stray German shepherd.

Chris Jenkins of Bandade Animal Rescue was one of the people that spotted the German shepherd on a busy toll road in Houston, Texas. Jenkins got some help from a Good Samaritan that stopped to help her corral the dog, stop traffic and bring the dog to safety.

Once is the safety of Jenkins car Jenkins realized that the dog had a badly infected hind leg. Once taken to the veterinarian the leg would have to be amputated due to the severe infection. The dog has been named Mills and is doing well after her surgery. She is estimated to be two-years-old and once she is fully recovered and spayed she will be ready for adoption.

For more information on Bandade Animal Rescue and how you can donate to help with the cost of treating Mills visit their website.

News Link:–http://www.lifewithdogs.tv/2013/06/rescuers-stop-traffic-to-save-stray-dog/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+LifeWithDogs+%28Life+With+Dogs%29

Dept. of Agriculture Approves Horse Slaughterhouse Amid Lawsuit Threat

“PLEASE NOTE – GRAPHIC IMAGES OF HORSE TRAILER ACCIDENTS – AT THE END OF THIS POST. Do not scroll down the post if you do not want to see them! They are just one of many reasons why these companion animals should not be slaughtered for human consumption; would you think it ok to send your family pet dog to slaughter? Horses were not put on Gods green earth for humans to eat, they are our pets; just as much as cats & dogs are!”

“It is pure greed, FFS we slaughter enough animals to satisfy the human hunger for meat. Nobody is going to starve, horses are not part of a normal persons diet. I am totally sickened & disgusted that this heinous act, the killing of Gods noble most beautiful creatures; is once more going to be in action!! I can only hope & pray that those who want to eat any part of a horse, after all the health scares etc. suffer a miserable & painful existence!! PLEASE sign the petitions”

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A New Mexico meat plant received federal approval on Friday to slaughter horses for meat, a move that drew immediate opposition from animal rights group and will likely be opposed by the White House.

The U.S. Agriculture Department said it was required by law to issue a “grant of inspection” to Valley Meat Co, Roswell, New Mexico, because it had met all federal requirements. Now, the USDA is obliged to assign meat inspectors to the plant.

The USDA also said it may soon issue similar grants for plants in Missouri and Iowa.

NO HORSE SHOULD END UP ON THE END OF A BUTCHERS HOOK!!

Horse meat cannot be sold as food in the United States, but it can be exported. Attempts to reach Valley Meat Co via a number listed on-line were unsuccessful.

Valley Meat would be the first meat plant to be allowed to slaughter horses since Congress banned it in 2006.

It is not known when the plant will start production, but two bills in Congress want to ban horse slaughter and President Obama has asked Congress to ban it.

The Humane Society of the United States and Front Range Equine Rescue threatened on Friday to sue the USDA, saying horses are raised as pets and as working animals. Because they are not intended as food animals, horses are given medications banned from other livestock, the groups said, questioning if the meat would be safe.

The USDA says it can test for residues of 130 pesticide and veterinary drugs. It also has safeguards to keep horse meat out of the food supply.

Congress effectively banned horse slaughter in 2006 by saying the USDA could not spend any money to inspect horse plants. Without USDA inspection, meat plants cannot operate.

The ban was part of the annual USDA funding bill and was renewed a year at a time through 2011. The prohibition expired in October 2011.

Lawmakers could vote on reinstating the ban in coming weeks when the USDA appropriations bills are debated in the House and Senate. But no date has been set to consider the bills and it could be months before work is completed.

The USDA said it was required by law to issue the grant of inspection because Valley Meat met all federal requirements. At one point, the company sued the USDA for an overly long review of its application. Once it issues a grant of inspection, the USDA is obliged to assign meat inspectors to a meat plant.

“Until Congress acts, the department must comply with current law,” said a USDA spokeswoman.

Valley Meat retrofitted its plant for horses after drought weakened its cattle slaughter business.

Horse meat is sold for human consumption in China, Russia, Mexico and other foreign nations and is sometimes used as feed for zoo animals.

But in the United States, horses enjoy a higher stature, more akin to house pets, than to hogs, cattle and chickens.

An estimated 130,000 U.S. horses are shipped annually to slaughter in Canada and Mexico. Groups have quarreled for a decade whether a ban on slaughter will save horses from a cruel death or lead to abandonment by owners of animals they cannot afford to feed or treat for illness.

Early this year, regulators discovered that horse meat was being sold as beef in Ireland. The mislabelled meat was found in meatballs sold by Swedish retailer IKEA in much of Europe and in other outlets.

IF YOU SCROLL FURTHER – GRAPHIC IMAGES ARE BELOW – VIEWER DISCRETION ADVISED 

USDA conducts tests on domestic and imported products to identify the species that yielded the meat. The tests can distinguish beef, sheep, swine, poultry, deer and horse.

As well, USDA stepped up its species testing in April because of the meat adulteration scandal in Europe.

(Reporting By Charles Abbott; Editing by Bernard Orr)

News Link:-http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/06/29/dept-of-agriculture-approves-horse-slaughterhouse-amid-lawsuit-threat/

This link explains in a little more detail, worth reading:-http://online.wsj.com/article/PR-CO-20130628-909609.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

HORRIFIC INJURIES OBTAINED WHILST TRAVELLING TO SLAUGHTER HOUSE 

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Hoarder Sisters In Georgia Face Cruelty And Exploitation Charges

Snellville, GA – Two Georgia hoarders, sisters Elisha and Leah Waller, both face charges for animal cruelty and the exploitation of a disabled adult.

Arrests were made Wednesday after authorities discovered 31 dying cats, a dog, and a disabled young man cramped inside a filthy hotel room the night before, according to the Huffington Post.

The women were ultimately exposed after several people staying at the Snellville hotel reported smelling an overpowering stench emanating from the room the Waller sisters shared.

Police identified the disabled man as Leah Waller’s 19-year-old son, who has cerebral palsy. He was found trapped in the filthy room, confined to his wheelchair amid massive amounts of animal feces, urine saturation, and garbage, reports WSBTV.

Cerebral palsy is an umbrella term denoting a group of non-progressive conditions that cause physical disability in human development.

The felines were found, many of them suffering with upper respiratory infections, open soars, and missing hair. Only two were deemed fit enough to survive. The rest, 29 in total, were euthanized.

According to local animal control, there was no other option than to humanely euthanize them due to their unhealthy condition.

This is the sisters’ second abuse-related arrest in less than two months.

Hoarding is a compulsive behavior to pathologically collect to excess, obsessively acquiring objects or even animals. However, hoarders are incapable or unwilling to discard the aforementioned acquisitions, regardless of the clutter, filth, danger or disease that can result, as doing so can cause significant distress or impairment.

Compulsive hoarding has been associated with health risks, impaired functioning, economic burden, and can result in adverse effects on friends and family members – creating frustration-fueled rifts between loved ones. Parents have had children taken away and couples have divorced over hoarding.

The troubling condition often stems from some type of psychologically engrained trauma. For one reason or another, a hoarder developed an unhealthy attachment, clinging to the otherwise innocuous, valueless item others would throw away.

The act of hoarding is dangerous as it puts the individual or others at risk from fire, falling, poor sanitation, and other health concerns.

Video & News Link: http://www.inquisitr.com/821617/hoarder-sisters-in-georgia-face-cruelty-and-exploitation-charges-video/#pZFB3BgdyEMC1WVJ.99

Animal Cruelty Case Back In Court In the Fall for Sentencing

Thursday, June 27, 2013 – 2:17 PM
By Sara Buchan
Grande Prairie

The animal cruelty case against a Fort St. John woman returns to court in Grande Prairie in November.

54-year old Debra Holden will be sentenced on a guilty plea to allowing an animal to be in distress.

Back in July of last year Grande Prairie RCMP arrested a woman at a campsite after discovering a dead dog and a burning kennel in a fire pit.

Witnesses told police of another injured dog, and Mounties searched the bush but couldn’t find it.

Holden was originally charged with injuring or endangering animals, but pleaded guilty to the lesser charge.

The Alberta Animal Protection Act allows for fines of as much as $20,000 and bans on owning pets.

News Link:-http://hqgrandeprairie.com/news/local/news/v/Local/214603/Animal-cruelty-case-back-in-court-in-the-fall-for-sentencing

Local Woman Charged With Animal Cruelty

A High Point woman has been charged with animal cruelty according to the Randolph County Health Department.

Mimi Cooper, public health director, confirmed that Donna Burkhart, of 1205 Blain St. in High Point, has been charged with one count of misdemeanor animal cruelty. She also faces a felony cruelty to animals charge from March.

Cooper said Burkhart housed her animals on Kimery Lane in Liberty and the animals were in poor conditions without food and water. “We started getting calls about these horses years ago,” Cooper said. “When we would go, the horses looked fine.

When we would contact Burkhart she would tell us that she fed and watered her  horses.” Cooper said in March that all changed. “One of our officers was there checking out a complaint and we found two donkeys in horrendous condition,” Cooper said.

One donkey had a halter that apparently was put on when he was young and had never been taken off. According to Cooper, he was not socialized and could not be touched by humans.

The other donkey had not had his feet trimmed in at least a year, according to Cooper.
“It’s very painful to have to walk on and it’s like walking on your fingernails,” she said.

According to Cooper, Burkhart surrendered both of the donkeys to the health department, a vet was called out, and the team sedated the donkey with the embedded collar.

“He was so stressed and in such poor condition that he died while we were giving him sedation,” Cooper said. “The other one we brought back to the shelter, had his feet fixed and found him an adoptive home.”

Cooper said that they continued to monitor the other horses that Burkhart had on the property. They received a call one day that the horses were without food and water.
After leaving a note and trying to call Burkhart, Cooper said she went to the Randolph County District Attorney and the Magistrate’s Office to get a warrant to seize the seven remaining horses on the property.

“Three of the horses are in very poor condition and the other three are in okay condition,” Cooper said.
She said that she does not know when Burkhart will go to court on the charges. Burkhart could not be reached for comment Thursday.

News Link:–http://www.hpe.com/news/local/x1065839475/Local-woman-charged-with-animal-cruelty

Key West Man Arrested For Animal Neglect Resulting in Pomeranian’s Death

In the heartbreaking death of an 11-year-old Pomeranian, Daniel Doane, the dog‘s owner, was arrested on Friday in Key West and charged with felony animal cruelty. The dog named Snarf had been repeatedly neglected by Doane for the last ten months

Please rescue a Pomeranian as a tribute to little Snarf who died a tortured death. (Pomeranian shown is not Snarf) Credits: Rescue Me! Pomeranian Rescue Facebook

According to the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office blog, Sheriff’s Detective Dave Chayka and the Society for the Prevention of Animal Cruelty charged Doane with long term neglect and failing to take care of his dog.

Beginning last September, poor, neglected Snarf had been turned into the SPCA with rotten teeth and a severe infestation of fleas and ticks. Snarf was again picked up in April running loose with the same physical problems. Doane was charged with animal cruelty and ordered to appear in court. Both times the SPCA asked Doane to surrender Snarf, but Doane refuse

Just days before Doane was to appear in court, Snarf was found near the White Street Pier barely able to stand. He was taken to the SPCA where he died a short while later.

Veterinarian reports stated the senior dog died from a severe, fully engorged tick infestation.

“A senior dog who should have been sleeping peacefully in an air conditioned room with plenty of food, water, and pampering, but instead he’s made to suffer like this and die from ticks sucking his blood.

How cruel can anyone be? I hope he is never allowed to own another animal for the rest of his life. He could have done the right thing for that dog months ago,” stated Amy Collins, a vet technician in Miami.

Rest in peace Snarf. Doane remains in the Monroe County Detention Center.

For more information on rescuing Pomeranians, please click here.

News Link:-http://www.examiner.com/article/key-west-man-arrested-for-animal-neglect-resulting-pomeranian-s-death?CID=examiner_alerts_article

Rare Asian bird kKlled By Wind Turbine As Avid Spotters Watched

One of the world’s fastest birds has died after flying into a wind turbine as scores of people watched.

The white-throated needletail, which is native to Asia, was spotted on the Isle of Harris, off the west coast of Scotland, this week and is believed to have arrived on Monday.

Bird spotters travelled to the island to catch a glimpse of the bird and many posted pictures on Twitter, but they then saw it die when it flew into a community-owned wind turbine on Wednesday.

The Rare Bird Alert, an on-line service that notifies users of sightings, had passed on reports of the white-throated needletail on Tuesday.

A spokesman for the service said users had told them the bird died on Wednesday.

On Thursday morning, the service tweeted: “The white-throated needletail on Harris flew into a wind turbine and has died, pathetic way for such an amazing bird to die.”

The needletail is a migrating bird and is black with white patches around its throat and undertail. It is small but has a large wingspan and is said to be able to fly up to 70mph.

A spokeswoman for the RSPB Scotland said they did not know the exact details of the case but migrating birds can be blown off course when travelling and the needletail may have lost its bearings and ended up in Harris.

She added: “Whilst the collision of this unusual visitor with a small domestic wind turbine is very unfortunate, incidents of this sort are really very rare.

“Careful choice of location and design of wind farms and turbines prevents, as much as possible, such occurrences happening on a large scale.

“Wind energy makes a vital contribution towards mitigating the impacts of climate change, which is the biggest threat to our native birds and wildlife.”

News Link:-http://news.stv.tv/scotland/231100-rare-asian-bird-killed-by-wind-turbine-while-migrating-to-scotland/