(It was only a matter of time when the backlash would come …)
The Springwatch host saw no issue being likened to St Francis of Assisi, making his holier-than-thou attitude worse than ever this week
Vanity is a bewitching drug for some of the BBC’s biggest stars. Jostling for most luminous position in the media firmament this week, next to Gary Lineker (who completely by mistake, and in the knowledge that the media watches his every social media move, managed to post to Instagram the suggestion that Jews were rats) was Chris Packham. …..
Queen Camilla is the patron of the Battersea Dogs and Cats home Credit: Instagram
The Queen has shared a picture of her new rescue dog.
The image of Moley, who was adopted from Battersea Dogs and Cats home, shows the animal perched on a wooden chair.
The King and Queen are expected to see the names of their dogs featured in a Chelsea Flower Show garden when they visit the attraction on Monday.
Monty Don, of BBC Gardeners’ World, is behind a dog-friendly garden which aims to celebrate the UK’s reputation as a nation of dog lovers and garden enthusiasts, opening to the public on Tuesday.
Microchipping and registering animals is not only essential for improving the welfare of cats and dogs; as well as ensuring public health; it could also save EU stated up to 25 BILLION euros per year.
As the European Commission’s proposal on the welfare of dogs and cats; including their traceability; makes its way though Parliament; the mandatory identification and registration of all companion animals remains a crucial element of the legislation.
Under current legislation proposals, certain animals are at risk of being excluded from the mandate to microchip and register pets. Leaving gaps in the legislation will allow the illegal pet trade to continue unabated, resulting in lost revenues for tax authorities and a continued burden on the public sector related to the maintenance of unwanted and abandoned animals.
With almost 6 MILLION dogs in demand across the EU each year; a staggering 79% come from unverified sources. With a conservative purchase price of around 800 Euros per puppy, dogs coming from un verified sources constitute up to 3.8 BILLIONG in lost revenues and VAT annually. With around 78 million cats in EU households, and some purebred prices reaching a disgusting 50,000 Euros; cats are a vital element of this proposal.
The uncontrolled trade and breeding of dogs and cats leads to striking costs of managing free roaming populations. Feral and abandoned pets constitute 30% of all cats and dogs worldwide, with the number of abandoned, homeless cats and dogs in EUROPE most likely underestimated to be 100 MILLION animals. In Italy alone it costs 180 – 200 million Euros of public funds to keep ABANDONED DOGS in shelters, If we look at the numbers throughout the EU, then the numbers and prices become staggering.
The lack of EU wide requirements could be costing EU member states, municipalities and EU citizens up to 25 BILLION Euros per year, an equivalent of 0.15% of total EU GDP. However, this money could be saved if the European Parliament acts responsibly when handling the current legislative proposals.
Currently, 24 EU member states require the mandatory of dogs; and 7 EU member states require it for cats; with more countries anticipated in coming years.
An EU wide system needs to be implemented to ensure that animals are traceable and that information on ownership, health and any disease history is fully recorded on an EU database.
The average annual ownership costs amount to approximately 1,129 Euros for cats and 1,305 Euros for a dog. THE ONE OFF COST OF MICROCHIPPING works out at around 40 Euros per animal – just 3-4 % of the annual ownership for a dog or a cat. Therefore making microchipping mandatory feasible for all EU animals throughout all EU member states. With adapted transition periods and local solutions in place; this highly practical solution is within reach.
In the development of a sound and reliable identification and registration system throughout ALL EU member states, the costs related to the acquisition of animals from unknown sources as well as the management of ‘unwanted animals’ will reduce over time; and thus leading to more responsible breeding and keeping of animals throughout ALL EU member states.
Thus this our evidence – we hope it is enough for EU citizens to this site to be able to ask their MEP’s to fully support this legislation.
Chris Packham with his portrait, which it is said depicts him as “a living saint”, in the Fitzrovia Chapel Credit: Richard Ansett/Radio Times
Chris Packham has posed as St Francis of Assisi in a portrait celebrating him as a “living saint”.
The portrait of the presenter and environmental campaigner is now on show on the altar of the Fitzrovia Chapel, central London.
Originally commissioned by Radio Times magazine to mark Earth Day, it is the work of photographic artist Richard Ansett.
Packham is surrounded by images of some of the UK’s most endangered species. Mr Ansett said it also made reference to Packham’s neurodiversity – the presenter was diagnosed with autism in his 40s.
“I hope that every pixel of this portrait offers a safe space for anyone challenged by neurodiversity. Packham’s remarkable connection to the natural world drives him relentlessly to save us from ourselves,” Mr Ansett said.
The portrait of Packham is available to view until May 21 at the former chapel, where it is described as a work “elevating him to the status of living saint”.
Chris Packham is surrounded by some of the UK’s most endangered species in the artwork Credit: Richard Ansett/Radio Times
Packham said: “This photo is about a fundamental level of engagement, an engagement of equals. It conveys the importance of nature to heal us, provide us with a sanctuary in times of terrible trouble.
“But the species featured are also rare or declining so it serves to remind us that our one and only home, our Earth, is on a brink too many are refusing to see and act to protect and repair.
“This is a photograph about love, a love of life, all life.”
The featured species include the red squirrel, the house martin, the woodcock and the hedgehog.
Mr Ansett, an award-winning photographer whose previous works include Sir Grayson Perry in the style of the Madonna and Child, added that the Packham portrait “recognises the difficulties that he has prevailed over to become a success in his career and a positive light for so many people”.
It is “a personal tribute to Packham’s humanity in challenging the worst parts of ours, in our ambivalence to the destruction created in the wake of our own needs”, the photographer said.
Firstly, we wish to welcome all our international visitors to the site https://clustrmaps.com/site/1a9kn – we hope that you find our posts interesting and informative; and trust you can use the data to act as a supplement to your personal campaigning. Regards, Diana and Mark.
As MEP’s, or Members of the European Parliament, prepare to vote on the landmark regulations for the welfare of both dogs and cats, animal protection organisations are sounding the alarm – proposed amendments and exemptions could undermine the regulation, thus leaving millions of cats and dogs unprotected.
In December 2023 the European Commission (EC) unveiled the first ever regulation on the welfare of dogs and cats – a move which was greatly applauded by welfare organisations and EU citizens alike.
It is now concerning however that a solid proposal from the commission; strengthened by the EU Council, is now at risk of being significantly weakener by some political groups with the European Parliament. MEPs now have a chance to step up their reputation and their game by upholding a regulation that delivers for all companion animals.
Welfare organisations are particularly concerned about:
The possibility for cats to be exempted from identification and registration (I and R) and breeding requirements. Without mandatory I and R authorities cannot trace ownership, fight illegal breeding or manage disease outbreaks. In addition to protecting cat welfare, mandatory I and R could reduce costs to public authorities by up to 25 billion Euros EU wide.
A proposed amendment to exempt small and household breeders from registration and other responsibilities. One unregulated household breeder can be responsible for up to 100 pups or kittens in an animals lifetime. Without controls, this could lead to breeding in areas which are both unsanitary and unethical (puppy mills), an exponential increase in the number of strays, which in turn leads to an increase in pressure on the numbers of excellent shelters which ARE ALREADY OPERATING AT MAXIMUM CAPACITY around the EU.
Leaving out Hunting and Military dogs, despite them having the same behavioral and health needs of any other dog. Allowing mutilations and other painful practices under the guise of ‘preserving health’ is known to cause significant suffering and trauma to these types of dogs.
Watering down of breeding practices, with a possibility of lowering the breeding age of female dogs to 12 months, and allowing for artificial insemination in most cases. Breeding from animals which are unable to mate naturally often perpetulates hereditary problema and poor welfare outcomes.
Other companion animals left unprotected. Animal welfare organisations call for the proposal to offer a legislative opening to the future for other companion animals to be protected, through the production of an EU wide positive list which would be a tool stipulating which animals would be allowed as pets. This will address the current inconsistent Member State rules, enforcement gaps and loopholes which are currently undermining international welfare.
Crazy ? – NO – ASK EU POLITICIANS FOR THEIR VIEWS.
Wehave several posts on the issue here on the site – the kill shelter at San Antonio has exceptionally high numbers – today, Tuesday, 48 dogs are listed for “euthanasia” …
Please stop the killing of loving healthy and loveable dogs! And they kill owner surrenders first. Mia in the photo here was 4–her owners said very sweet. She was wagging her tail happily in her pink harness as she entered the shelter. Then, terrified, despite the best efforts of volunteers, she was killed three days later. Her life was short—and precious. She deserved better.
In 2024 , six days a week, animal rescue nonprofit and kind individuals have less than two hours to rescue dogs that are released to be euthanized. They were on target to kill more than 4000 dogs and cats in 2023–and it’s as bad this year.
It would be worse without the army of volunteers and kind rescues who step up to save these sweet adoptable pets. In March 13 2023 they even killed a service dog despite efforts to save him including an adoption bid.
ACS euthanizes healthy adoptable dogs three days after intake—a Director stated in an interview he wished he could do this quicker. There are usually 20 plus dogs killed at a time, including sweet friendly and highly adoptable puppies. Over 20% of dogs are killed—the figure for cats is worse.
They euthanize puppies, nursing mothers, young dogs, dogs that are confiscated because of cruelty and seniors. They euthanize gentle loving dogs.
Let’s stop this killing together. Let the mayor Ron Nirenberg, city manager Eric Walsh and governor Greg Abbott and the director of Animal Services in San Antonio feel your outrage at these unnecessary deaths by signing. Let them know they need to pay attention to the dogs and you—and stop this! Networking and more funding—with a change of policy and perhaps personnel at administration level—would be a good start. Other cities manage this.
The policy of high kill isn’t helping San Antonio’s problem with strays and the dumping of dogs. They need an aggressive spay and neuter campaign.
Up to 508 puppies can be born from one unspayed female dog and her offspring in seven years.
Up to 4,948 kittens can be born from one unspayed female cat and her offspring in seven years.
The more they kill the more are produced, and spaying and neutering—and limiting breeding in the city—would be a cheaper solution than slaughter.
And without your help thousands more dogs will be quietly killed. Please sign—and share and promote if you can. Their lives are sacred—it’s the only one they get.
51 stray animals were found dead in garbage bins outside the Street Animal Rehabilitation and Training Center owned by Gebze Municipality. Animal rights advocates and witnesses have accused municipal workers of killing the animals and discarding their bodies in garbage bags.
Footage shared online shows numerous dead cats and dogs, placed in black garbage bags, lying next to the rehabilitation center’s trash containers. Videos circulating on social media depict animal corpses being removed from torn bags that were pulled out of the containers.
Following the discovery, animal rights advocates rushed to the shelter to investigate the situation.
“We found four of them alive, barely breathing,” said Nimet Ozdemir, main opposition party CHP deputy from Istanbul, who spoke with BBC Turkish. Ozdemir stated that witnesses captured footage of workers sedating two dogs with an injection before placing them in the garbage. She confirmed that 36 dogs and 15 cats were retrieved from the bins.
Ozdemir reported that the dead animals were dumped along with medical waste, including syringes and drugs used to euthanize them. “We pulled four of them out alive, but they were in agony,” she said. According to Ozdemir, the dead animals were found together with their offspring, and the situation posed not only an animal rights issue but also a public health risk.
“Gebze Municipality has failed to follow the necessary procedures for disposing of deceased animals,” she continued. “Dead animals must first be stored in cold storage, then transported in special vehicles and buried properly. Otherwise, this endangers both the public and children.”
In a statement, Gebze Municipality, governed by the ruling AK Party condemned the incident and labeled the footage as “unacceptable.” The statement mentioned that 16 of the dead dogs were collected from the streets, while 3 died in traffic accidents and 10 succumbed to health issues. Regarding the dead cats, 9 were reportedly found dead due to “various reasons,” and 2 died after failing to respond to treatment.
The municipality confirmed that an investigation had been launched and that those involved were suspended pending the outcome. It also stated that the Kocaeli Public Prosecutor’s Office had been informed, and a legal process was underway.
Deputy Ozdemir emphasized that the incident reflects broader concerns about animal rights in Türkiye, especially following recent changes to animal protection laws. The amended law permits the euthanasia of dogs under certain conditions, but cats were not included in this provision, reflecting their deep cultural significance, especially in cities like Istanbul. For centuries, Istanbul’s street cats have been considered part of the city’s unique identity, with locals often providing food and shelter for them.
Main opposition party CHP deputy from Istanbul, Nimet Ozdemir holding dead cats in Gebze animal shelter of Türkiye on October 11, 2024. (Photo via X)
Animal rights groups have also raised alarms over similar incidents in Nigde and Ankara earlier this year, where municipalities were accused of killing stray animals. Both municipalities denied the allegations.
The incident in Gebze has reignited the debate over Türkiye’s treatment of stray animals, a contentious issue that has seen growing tensions between local authorities and animal rights advocates.
Local officials, including main opposition party CHP’s Kocaeli Deputy Nail Ciler, condemned the situation, calling on Gebze Municipality to provide a clear explanation. “This is a disgrace to Gebze. The authorities need to address this immediately,” Ciler said.
Meanwhile, Kocaeli’s governorate confirmed that both judicial and administrative investigations had been launched into the deaths of the animals
This gross video is not recent, granted – but this is still the situation in many US States. And many also still use gas. As here.
The Comments below say it all really …
Author, Unknown:
Yes, I Gas Dogs and Cats for a Living. I’m an Animal Control officer in a very small town in central North Carolina. I’m in my mid thirties, and have been working for the town in different positions since high school. There is not much work here, and working for the county provides good pay and benefits for a person like me without a higher education. I’m the person you all write about how horrible I am.
I’m the one that gasses the dogs and cats and makes them suffer. I’m the one that pulls their dead corpses out smelling of Carbon Monoxide and throws them into green plastic bags. But I’m also the one that hates my job and hates what I have to do.
First off, all you people out there that judge me, don’t. God is judging me, and I know I’m going to Hell. Yes, I’m going to hell. I wont lie, it’s despicable, cold, cruel and I feel like a serial killer. I’m not all to blame, if the law would mandate spay and neuter, lots of these dogs and cats wouldn’t be here for me to gas. I’m the devil, I know it, but I want you people to see that there is another side to me, the devil Gas Chamber man. The shelter usually gasses on Friday morning.
Friday’s are the day that most people look forward to, this is the day that I hate, and wish that time will stand still on Thursday night. Thursday night, late, after nobody’s around, my friend and I go through a fast food line, and buy 50 dollars worth of cheeseburgers and fries, and chicken. I’m not allowed to feed the dogs on Thursday, for I’m told that they will make a mess in the gas chamber, and why waste the food.
So, Thursday night, with the lights still closed, I go into the saddest room that anyone can every imagine, and let all the doomed dogs out out their cages.
I have never been bit, and in all my years doing this, the dogs have never fought over the food. My buddy and I, open each wrapper of cheeseburger and chicken sandwich, and feed them to the skinny, starving dogs.
They swallow the food so fast, that I don’t believe they even taste it. There tails are wagging, and some don’t even go for the food, they roll on their backs wanting a scratch on their bellies. They start running, jumping and kissing me and my buddy.
They go back to their food, and come back to us. All their eyes are on us with such trust and hope, and their tails wag so fast, that I have come out with black and blues on my thighs.. They devour the food, then it’s time for them to devour some love and peace. My buddy and I sit down on the dirty, pee stained concrete floor, and we let the dogs jump on us. They lick us, they put their butts in the air to play, and they play with each other. Some lick each other, but most are glued on me and my buddy.
I look into the eyes of each dog. I give each dog a name. They will not die without a name. I give each dog 5 minutes of unconditional love and touch. I talk to them, and tell them that I’m so sorry that tomorrow they will die a gruesome, long, torturous death at the hands of me in the gas chamber. Some tilt their heads to try to understand. I tell them, that they will be in a better place, and I beg them not to hate me. I tell them that I know I’m going to hell, but they will all be playing with all the dogs and cats in heaven.
After about 30 minutes, I take each dog individually, into their feces filled concrete jail cell, and pet them and scratch them under their chins. Some give me their paw, and I just want to die. I just want to die. I close the jail cell on each dog, and ask them to forgive me. As my buddy and I are walking out, we watch as every dog is smiling at us and them don’t even move their heads. They will sleep, with a full belly, and a false sense of security.
As we walk out of the doomed dog room, my buddy and I go to the cat room. We take our box, and put the very friendly kittens and pregnant cats in our box. The shelter does not keep tabs on the cats, like they do the dogs. As I hand pick which cats are going to make it out, I feel like I’m playing God, deciding whose going to live and die.
We take the cats into my truck, and put them on blankets in the back. ‘ Usually, as soon as we start to drive away, there are purring cats sitting on our necks or rubbing against us. My buddy and I take our one way two hour trip to a county that is very wealthy and they use injection to kill animals.
We go to exclusive neighborhoods, and let one or two cats out at a time.
They don’t want to run, they want to stay with us. We shoo them away, which makes me feel sad.
I tell them that these rich people will adopt them, and if worse comes to worse and they do get put down, they will be put down with a painless needle being cradled by a loving veterinarian. After the last cat is free, we drive back to our town.
It’s about 5 in the morning now, about two hours until I have to gas my best friends.
I go home, take a shower, take my 4 anti-anxiety pills and drive to work.. I don’t eat, I can’t eat. It’s now time, to put these animals in the gas chamber. I put my ear plugs in, and when I go to the collect the dogs, the dogs are so excited to see me, that they jump up to kiss me and think they are going to play.
I put them in the rolling cage and take them to the gas chamber. They know. They just know.
They can smell the death. They can smell the fear. They start whimpering, the second I put them in the box. The boss tells me to squeeze in as many as I can to save on gas. He watches. He knows I hate him, he knows I hate my job. I do as I’m told. He watches until all the dogs, and cats (thrown in together) are fighting and screaming. The sounds is very muffled to me because of my ear plugs. He walks out, I turn the gas on, and walk out.
I walk out as fast as I can. I walk into the bathroom, and I take a pin and draw blood from my hand. Why? The pain and blood takes my brain off of what I just did. In 40 minutes, I have to go back and unload the dead animals. I pray that none survived, which happens when I overstuff the chamber. I pull them out with thick gloves, and the smell of carbon monoxide makes me sick. So does the vomit and blood, and all the bowel movements. I pull them out, put them in plastic bags.
They are in heaven now, I tell myself. I then start cleaning up the mess, the mess, that YOU PEOPLE are creating by not spay or neutering your animals. The mess that YOU PEOPLE are creating by not demanding that a vet come in and do this humanely. You ARE THE TAXPAYERS, DEMAND that this practice STOP!
So, don’t call me the monster, the devil, the gasser, call the politicians, the shelter directors, and the county people the devil. Heck, call the governor, tell him to make it stop.
As usual, I will take sleeping pills tonight to drown out the screams I heard in the past, before I discovered the ear plugs. I will jump and twitch in my sleep, and I believe I’m starting to hallucinate.
This is my life. Don’t judge me. Believe me, I judge myself enough.
******************
This is the current situation:
U.S. States With Highest And Lowest Shelter Kill Rates
Shelters across the country are full and many over capacity with adoptable dogs and cats. While each shelter does their best to find a loving home for each animal, hundreds of thousands (355,000) are euthanized each year due to lack of space and resources.
There are more homeless pets than adopters and it forces numerous shelters to make tough choices. Veterinarians.org published a study that analyzed the intake and outcome data from U.S. animal shelters and ranked the highest and lowest shelter kill rates.
They examined 3,261 shelters which covers roughly 93.5% of the total sheltered animals in the country. They found some heartbreaking results but also some states who are completely no-kill and inspiring others to do the same.
The bad news…
Mississippi has the highest kill rate of 18.3%, which is 3 times the nation-wide average. North Carolina and Alabama come next with high kill rates (over 14%). Less than half of the shelters in these states are no-kill.
However, when it comes to actual numbers Texas comes in with highest number of animals killed in a year – over 61,000. California comes next followed by North Carolina, Florida and Alabama.
The study found, “Five states account for half of all cats and dogs killed in U.S. animal shelters: California, Texas, Florida, North Carolina, and Alabama.”
The solution to this heartbreaking problem is to encourage more people to adopt and give shelters the support and assistance they need to transform into a no-kill shelter.
The good news…
52% of U.S. animal shelters are no-kill, which has doubled since 2016. Best Friends Animal Society has a goal of making all shelters no-kill by 2025. They want to ensure that all dogs and cats get the chance to find a loving home – no matter how long it takes.
But shelters cannot do it alone. Best Friends shared, “For far too long, the burden has been placed on shelters themselves to save the lives of the animals in their care. It is imperative that the community and local government provide their shelters with the support they need to succeed.”
They help guide shelters toward no-kill status by giving them the tools they need to succeed.
According to Best Friends, “The most effective path to no-kill includes a combination of (1) collaborative partnerships and coalitions among animal shelters, animal rescue groups and community members working toward a collective goal; (2) proven programs and best practices designed to save the most lives possible; and (3) data-driven decision-making for each individual community.”
The only two no-kill states are Delaware and New Hampshire. Rhode Island, North Dakota, and Maine round out the top five with under 1% kill rate.
You can check and see if your local shelter is a no-kill shelter through the pet lifesaving dashboard. If not, see how you can help.
Best Friends reminds people, “Saving the lives of dogs and cats in animal shelters is the responsibility of each community. Animal shelters and the staff who work there can only create and sustain lifesaving programs if they have community support and participation. Working together thoughtfully, honestly and collaboratively is what makes true no-kill possible.”
*******************
(Google)
**************
30 Jul 2019
Shelter killing is the leading cause of death for homeless dogs and cats in the United States. It doesn’t have to be. This is the story of animal sheltering, which was born of compassion and then lost its way. It is the story of the No Kill movement, which says we can and must stop the killing. It is about heroes and villains, betrayal and redemption. And it is about a social movement as noble and just as those that have come before. But most of all, it is a story about believing in the community and trusting in the power of compassion.
World Animals Voice 