This is the heart-melting moment a tiny pup gasps for air after being pulled out of the rubble of a bombed-out home in eastern Ukraine.

Its battle-scarred 77-year-old owner was elated to be reunited with his brave best friend.

Video shows the aftermath of a Russian shell attack on homes in the village of Mikhailovka, Donetsk region.

The grandfather whose house was destroyed made a lucky escape and was able to stand, though he looked worse for wear.

Yet his thoughts immediately turned to the dog, who was missing in the wreckage. 

Police quickly arrived after the shelling ended and – after hearing a timid squeal from below piles of concrete – began burrowing away at the rubble.

Below piles of broken rock, a tiny black dog covered in dust is struggling to breathe. But like his owner, it is miraculously still alive.

The dog’s master thanked Donetsk Regional Police officers for their speedy arrival and for rescuing the persistent pup.

He said: ‘Thanks to the boys for doing everything quickly and promptly here… Thanks a lot to them!’  

Donetsk Regional Police confirmed the rescue and said they were more than happy to help the elderly man. 

They said: ‘[He] was desperate to see his four-legged friend. Law enforcement officers did not give up hope of finding him.

‘The owner and his dog were given medical care. All is well with them.’ 

Local police added: ‘Russia’s war crimes have been documented. The occupier will be held accountable for every missile and projectile fired at civilians.”

Residents in the eastern Donetsk region are preparing for even more intense conflict as Russia redeploys soldiers who failed to take Kyiv to the country’s more vulnerable region. 

Almost 50 days since Russia began its invasion of Ukraine, Putin’s forces have lost 19,800 men, according to the Ukrainian army.

Kyiv also claims Russia has lost 739 tanks, 1,964 armoured fighting vehicles, 358 artillery systems and 115 multiple launch rocket systems.

That is in addition to 64 destroyed anti-aircraft systems, 158 warplanes, 143 helicopters, 1,429 motor vehicles, seven vessels, 76 fuel tankers, 132 unmanned aerial vehicles, 25 special equipment units and four mobile SRBM systems.

Regards Mark

Watch the video of the rescue by clicking on this link:

Brave puppy pulled from rubble and reunited with Ukrainian master, 77 (msn.com)

See our other post on this here:

England: Animal rights activists PETA tell Aintree pub they should show hobby horse racing instead of the Grand National. – World Animals Voice

The death of four horses at the Grand National has prompted calls for tougher safety measures during the race.

Solwara One was the first horse to die on Friday, before Elle Est Belle suffered a suspected heart attack on Saturday. Eclair Surf and Discorama then suffered fatal injuries during the main Grand National event.

Only 15 of the 40 horses that started the event, which has 30 fences, managed the finish the race, while 50-1 outsider Noble Yeats ended up as the winner.

Chris Luffingham, who is the director of external affairs at leading animal welfare charity the League Against Cruel Sports, believes not enough is being done to protect the horses.

‘This death toll is simply unacceptable and a blight on the horse racing industry,’ he said.

‘We need new safety measures to prioritise horse welfare and to bring about an end to this sickening spectacle.

‘We need a new independent, regulatory body which focuses purely on the welfare of the horse and ends the use of the whip and the cruelty and body count associated with the Grand National.’

The RSPCA said: ‘The death of any horse is always one too many so it is crucial that steps are taken to reduce the risk of such tragedies occurring.’

Emma Lavelle, who trained Eclair Surf, spoke about the decision to have the horse put down following his heavy fall at the third fence.

‘We were optimistic when he left the track, but during the night he just got more and more wobbly and as he got more distressed it wasn’t the right thing to do to keep going,’ said Lavelle.

‘He was in the right place for those decisions to be made and the team both at the races and at the hospital were great.

‘You kind of sit there and think of the ifs and buts and why nots, but you can’t sit and think that.

‘It’s a real gutter for everybody – his owners and the team. He was an exciting horse for the future, but what can you say?’

Meanwhile, Paul Nolan’s horse, Discorama, was pulled up during the race due to a pelvic injury and was put to sleep on welfare grounds after being assessed at Aintree’s veterinary treatment facility.

‘I’m devastated. But that is racing and you have to accept those things,’ Nolan said.

‘He gave us some great days, but all we can do is reflect on the couple of happy days and what he has done for us.

‘It is just devastating for the owners and the yard, and it it is just one of those awful things, but it is part of racing and that is what it is.

‘Unfortunately I could not attend. My father is sick at home and we had to come back from Aintree, so we are with him now.

‘He’s not good. It puts everything into perspective. We did not tell him the horse was fatally injured, [just] that he pulled muscles and was home – there are certain things you have to say to soften the blow.’

The British Horseracing Authority has made changes to improve the safety at the Grand National, including making fences more forgiving and levelling off the landing site after each fence.

‘Welfare and safety is an ever-evolving commitment and the BHA works constantly alongside our racecourses to further improve the sport’s safety record and reduce avoidable risk,’ said James Given, director of equine health and welfare at the BHA.

‘Every incident this week will be reviewed, and this information will then build on the significant evidence and evaluation that took place as part of the 2011-12 review, and in subsequent years. Should any further trends be identified that might be linked to increased risk then we are able to act on them.’

Regards Mark

Metro – London:

Grand National ‘must end after 15 out of 40 horses finished and four died’ (msn.com)

11 April 2022

APA

The Animal Protection Agency celebrated a historic breakthrough in ending illegal market trading of exotic animals. Doncaster Racecourse – the venue for the largest UK reptile market – will no longer host the events after their contractual obligations end, with the final event taking place on 19 June 2022; although the Council is continuing investigations into “a number of instances” on compliance and enforcement.

Reptile market organisers planned four events for 2022, the first of which took place on 3rd April. At every event investigated by APA during a long-running campaign, evidence was recorded that it considered to show unlawful animal trading, as well as widespread animal suffering.

Throughout the event’s history, many thousands of sensitive wild animals have been treated like inanimate commodities – displayed and sold in small, plastic takeaway tubs. APA has worked, over several years, with English and Welsh councils to clamp down on reptile markets and as a result, the Doncaster reptile market was the last of its kind in the UK.

APA greatly appreciated the time that Council Officers have taken to examine the evidence provided to them, and will continue to offer further assistance if needed. The hard work and conscientious commitment of supportive Councillors has ensured that reptile markets no longer have a place in Doncaster. APA also acknowledged the vital role played by World Animal Protection in bringing this issue to the public’s attention. Their campaign led to the Council being inundated with letters about the event, which ultimately helped to finish one of the largest reptile markets in Europe.

I’m grateful for the work put in by the Animal Protection Agency over many years, which has brought us to this current position. APA has worked tirelessly and professionally to end potentially illegal trading. Whilst I accept that many exotic animal keepers care for their animals, I find this business abhorrent and something that should not take place in the UK – and certainly not in Doncaster.

Cllr David Shaw, Chair of Doncaster Council’s Licensing Committee

In my view, the reptile markets at Doncaster have for years been a blight on the welfare of these wild animals, which are now well accepted to be highly sensitive to the kind of restrictive captive conditions and deprivations that are absurdly endemic to selling pets via makeshift stalls. The Animal Protection Agency, Doncaster Council, and the venue managers deserve high praise for their commitments to safeguarding animal welfare and mirroring the public conscience, which strongly rejects abusive treatment of wild animals for spurious reasons.

Dr Clifford Warwick, Reptile Biologist

Trading in pet animals at market stalls was outlawed almost forty years ago on the grounds that animal welfare cannot be ensured in temporary and makeshift environments.

We are delighted to see this event coming to an end. No animal deserves such maltreatment and we are now closer than ever to completely eradicating wild animal markets in the UK.

Elaine Toland, APA Director

Read more on wildlife trade and trafficking.

Regards Mark

UPDATE 2000Hrs GMT – 3 horses died this year:

WAV Comment – 9/4/22 was the day in the UK of the annual ‘Grand National’ horse race.  A race which always results in the death of some horses due to the conditions of the race – high jumps, a long course etc. 

Check it out :  Grand National – Wikipedia

The Grand National is a National Hunt horse race held annually at Aintree Racecourse in Liverpool, England. First run in 1839, it is a handicap steeplechase over an official distance of about 4 miles and 2½ furlongs (4 miles 514 yards (6.907 km)), with horses jumping 30 fences over two laps. It is the most valuable jump race in Europe, with a prize fund of £1 million in 2017.

In 173 races since, a total of 84 horses have lost their lives during the world famous steeplechase, either by being killed outright or by being humanely euthanised after sustaining injury during the race.

I did not watch it yesterday; I don’t want to; as far as I am concerned it is putting beautiful horses lives at risk for the enjoyment of humans who want to make money.

Regards Mark

Vegan activists told The Queens Arms not to show Grand National horse racing

Rights group PETA suggested popular Aintree pub show hobby horses instead

Since 2010, 29 horses have died from race-related causes at the Aintree Festival

Vegan activists have urged a pub not to show the Grand National – and instead put on some hobby horse racing.

Animal rights group PETA urged The Queens Arms near the famous Aintree racecourse to televise the barmy stick-based sport instead of the iconic horse race to be held on Saturday.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals have branded the major horseracing event ‘cruel and antiquated’.

The Queens is popular with racegoers before the showpiece race every year.

An employee of the popular boozer told MailOnline they were ‘blindsided’ by the request but did not wish to comment further. 

PETA Director Elisa Allen said: ‘You can make a compassionate statement by betting on willing, enthusiastic, human racers instead.

‘Pub-goers can still enjoy a drink and socialise with friends, knowing that their day of fun did not cause suffering or death for any other sentient beings.

‘No one would be raising a glass if cats or dogs were the ones being whipped and forced to jump dangerous obstacles.

‘Shattering their ankles, snapping their necks, and being shot in the head right on the track.

‘Horses deserve no less sympathy.’

Hobby horse racing – which sees enthusiasts act out horse racing, riding wooden sticks stuffed with toy horses – is immensely popular in parts of Europe, with a huge following in online communities.

In 2019, some 2,500 spectators flocked to Finland for the Finnish Hobbyhorse Championships, in which participants show-jumped, barrel-raced, and pranced in a dressage competition.

PETA tell Aintree pub to show hobby horse racing instead of Grand National  | Daily Mail Online

Regards Mark