SAOVA Friends,
The epidemic of animal abuser registry proposals continues among New
York Counties. Niagara County Legislature’s Minority Leader Dennis Virtuoso
proposed creation of a database similar to those covering individuals who
commit sex crimes. The registry would contain the names and address information
for all convicted abusers in Niagara County. Repeat offenders would be assigned
to the list for life. County Sheriff James Voutour, whose office would be
responsible for monitoring and updating, supports the registry. The registry is
based on the Orange County law. Orange County lawmaker Mike Anagnostakis
introduced the registry proposal earlier this year which passed the Legislature
in August. County residents over 18 years of age convicted of an animal cruelty
crime must be listed on the registry and cannot own another animal for 15
years. The registry will be maintained by the County sheriff.
According to a report by Mid-Hudson News, out of several New York counties
that have passed animal abuse registry laws only 3 have actually been
implemented. If true, this is good news. Perhaps this means that after rushing
to appease activists by passing a registry law, legislators had a renewed
moment of common sense.
Thank you for reading. Cross posting is encouraged.
Susan Wolf
Sportsmen's and Animal Owners' Voting Alliance
EPA WAS WRONG TO APPROVE DOW PESTICIDE HARMFUL TO BEES
September 10, 2015. A U.S. appeals court ruled on Thursday that federal
regulators erred in allowing an insecticide developed by Dow AgroSciences onto
the market, canceling its approval and giving environmentalists a major
victory. The ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, in San
Francisco, is significant for commercial beekeepers and others who say a
dramatic decline in bee colonies needed to pollinate key food crops is tied to
widespread use of a class of insecticides known as neonicotinoids. Critics say
the Environmental Protection Agency is failing to evaluate the risks
thoroughly. The lawsuit was filed in 2013 against the EPA by a number of
organizations representing the honey and honey beekeeping industry. The groups
specifically challenged EPA approval of insecticides containing sulfoxaflor,
saying studies have shown they are highly toxic to honey bees.
USDA said earlier this year that losses of managed honeybee colonies
hit 42.1 percent from April
2014 through April 2015, up from 34.2 percent for 2013-14, and the
second-highest annual loss to date. Continue reading http://tinyurl.com/nq2u7ru
US COURT OVERTURNS ESA LISTING
The U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas Sept. 1
overturned the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) listing of the lesser
prairie-chicken under the Endangered Species Act. Ruling in favor of the
Permian Basin Petroleum Association and four New Mexico counties, the judge
concluded the listing was arbitrary and capricious, and that the USFWS failed
to properly follow its own process for listing determinations in this matter.
Further, conservation efforts have already been undertaken across millions of
acres over five states to improve habitat for the lesser prairie-chicken and
diminish threats to its existence. The court determined these conservation
efforts, which have resulted in a 25 percent increase in lesser prairie chicken
populations from 2014 to 2015, were ignored by the administration. In a 29-page
ruling, U.S. District Court Judge Robert Junell stated, “The Court finds FSW
did conduct an analysis, however this analysis was neither ‘rigorous’ nor valid
as FWS failed to consider important questions and material information
necessary to make a proper … evaluation.”
GROUPS FILE PETITION WITH FOOD SAFETY AND INSPECTION SERVICE
Animal Legal Defense Fund, Compassion Over Killing, Farm Forward, Farm
Sanctuary, Mercy for Animals, and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals,
filed a rule making petition this month against USDA’s Food Safety and
Inspection Service (FSIS) calling for additional regulations under the Humane
Methods of Slaughter Act (HMSA) and Federal Meat Inspection Act. The coalition
claims the FSIS is not meeting its statutory obligations under HMSA. The
petition states the group based its claims on undercover investigations
conducted by animal welfare groups and government reports. Requested changes
include, codify the definition of “egregious” violations of the HMSA; issue
Notice of Suspension for all egregious violations of the HMSA; require that
intentional cruelty and egregious and reckless abuse be referred for criminal
prosecution, fines, and imprisonment.
One proposed change calls for mandatory enforcement standards for
Noncompliance Records (NR) and suspensions. For example, multiple stuns would
always result in at least a plant suspension. The North American Meat Institute
(NAMI) argued that adopting such a rule change would limit the ability of
plants to take action when needed. “USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service
wisely has permitted plants that acknowledge in advance through written plans
that some animals, like large bulls or mature dairy cows, may be difficult to
stun with a single blow as the law’s language requires,” Mark Dopp, senior vice
president of regulatory affairs and NAMI general counsel, said in a statement.
“FSIS’ approach also recognizes that livestock don’t always stand perfectly
still and human beings charged with stunning and handling can’t executive every
movement perfectly 100 percent of the time. If the agency is forced to use a
regulatory sledge hammer when a plant does the right thing — like double
stunning an animal when it appears necessary — it will only mean the wrong
thing will happen more often — like failing to ensure an animal feels no pain.”
Dopp continued. “During the time period detailed in this petition, our industry
processed nearly 300 million cattle, pigs and sheep. While we work to ensure
optimal welfare, perfection is simply not possible. Still, our overall record
is one that reflects a committed, well-regulated and carefully inspected
industry.” Sources: ALDF website; MeatPoultry.com
SEA WORLD OF TEXAS VS PETA
Sea World of Texas is rejecting the latest allegations raised by People
for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), that the killer whales and sea
lions at the park show signs of abuse and should not be held in captivity, News
Radio 1200 WOAI reports. "I have to tell you, this is the ninth time in
the past two years that PETA has filed claims about our animal welfare, and
none of those claims were found to have any merit," Sea World Director of
Corporate Communications Becca Bedes told News Radio 1200 WOAI's Megan
Bishop. "This is no
different." Source: WOAI http://tinyurl.com/o8xdyfk
ANIMAL RIGHTS GROUP SAYS IT WILL BILL INHOFE FOR DOWNED DRONE
September 14, 2015. An animal rights group said in a press release
Monday that it plans to bill U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe for a drone that was shot
down Friday while being flown over the Tulsa Republican's annual pigeon-shooting
fundraiser. The Illinois-based group, SHowing Animals Respect and Kindness, or
SHARK, was using the drone to monitor the event "for possible violations
of Oklahoma law," and said it would release video of the shootdown and
crash on Tuesday. SHARK said it would hand deliver a bill to Sen. Inhofe's DC
office and file an amendment to SHARK’s ethics complaint against Sen. Inhofe
"for the illegal and dangerous discharge of a firearm with his knowledge
and potential consent." The complaint will be delivered to the offices of
all the members of the Senate Ethics Committee, the group said. Read more including SHARK press release http://newsok.com/article/5446774
MANDATORY SPAY NEUTER ORDINANCES
Mandatory spay/neuter (MSN) laws are promoted by groups who claim it
will end euthanasia of animals, animal abandonment and shelter overpopulation.
There is no success story for mandatory spay/neuter yet legislators still fall
prey to the belief in a legislative quick fix. Flyers opposing MSN can be found on the SAOVA
website http://saova.org/download.html
. Congratulations to the dog owners and groups who defeated recent attempts for
MSN legislation.
* Whittier CA City Council removed MSN from a new animal ordinance
which passed by a 5-0 vote.
* Proposals for MSN and Breeding Permits were presented for
consideration to Spalding County GA Board of Commissioners at their August 3,
2015 meeting and both items were tabled.
City of Savannah GA spay neuter ordinance stalls after commissioners
voice concerns. Residents of Savannah and Chatham County should continue to
monitor.
San Angelo TX council held a public hearing for proposed MSN ordinance
which would require dogs and cats older than 4 months to be sterilized. Exceptions
to the proposed ordinance include permitted/licensed breeders, medical reasons,
competition animals, and law enforcement dogs. The ordinance will be considered
at council’s October 6th meeting.
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