General News, Stray Animals, Uncategorized

Greece: Article and Support Link for the Stray Dogs of Loutraki Landfill.

The Tragic Story of Greece’s Loutraki Landfill Dogs

the Loutraki Landfill’s Garbage Dogs
The Loutraki Landfill dogs. Credit: https://www.facebook.com/LoutrakiLandfillDogs

Julie from Manchester, England, has been in contact with us.

Julie’s message was bout animal welfare in Greece, especially the stray dogs lving off the Loutraki Landfill.

Julie has written a story about these dogs, which has been published in different magazines and newspapers.  Here is a link to one of those:

The Tragic Story of Greece’s Loutraki Landfill Dogs

Loutraki Landfill’s Garbage Dogs
One of the Loutraki Landfill dogs is seen trying to find something to eat in the garbage. Credit: https://www.facebook.com/LoutrakiLandfillDogs

Please check this excellent article out, which has many pictures of the strays and individuals who are devoted to helping them.  Aphrodite Tsoulaka, the Greek volunteer who has taken on the mammoth task of helping the dogs at the landfill, does not expect anything in return other than the gratification of seeing them living in better conditions.

If you want to make a donation to help the dogs or to visit the Facebook page dedicated to help and support for the dogs; all the information is given in the article.

The Tragic Story of Greece’s Loutraki Landfill Dogs

Check out an additional article (including video) by clicking here:

Takis’ Shelter: The Greek Man Who Devotes His Life to Animals (video) (greekreporter.com)

Regards Mark

A dog drinking water from puddles on the landfill
A dog drinking water from a filthy puddle at the landfill. Credit: https://www.facebook.com/LoutrakiLandfillDogs
landfill dogs

Animal Saviour – Tsoulaka feeding her landfill dogs. Credit: https://www.facebook.com/LoutrakiLandfillDogs

Farm Animals, General News

USA: N.J. celebrities want ban on crates that confine pigs and calves. Christie vetoed it twice.

N.J. celebrities want ban on crates that confine pigs and calves. Christie vetoed it twice.

Updated May 10, 2021; Posted May 10, 2021

Seven years after similar efforts hit a wall under former Gov. Chris Christie, a group of 16 New Jersey celebrities are calling on state leaders to ban the farm practice of using gestation crates to confine pregnant pigs and veal crates to confine calves.

The celebrities — including Steven Van Zandt, Debbie Harry, Chelsea Handler, and Ethan Hawke — joined the Animal Legal Defense Fund in penning the open letter urging the state Legislature and Gov. Phil Murphy to enact a new bill that would criminalize the use of such crates in New Jersey, calling the practice “indefensible.”

“Gestation crates and veal crates are inherently cruel,” the celebrities wrote in the letter, according to a copy obtained by NJ Advance Media. “Both include severely restricting the animal’s movement, to the point of virtual immobilization, which leads to highly stressful conditions that induces physical and psychological illness — and great suffering.”

The celebrities are musician and actor Steven Van Zandt (a Middletown native), actress Maureen Van Zandt, actor Paul Wesley (of Marlboro), comedian Michael Ian Black (of Hillsborough), actress Taissa Farmiga (of Whitehouse Station), television host Daisy Fuentes (of Harrison), comedian Chelsea Handler (of Livingston), musician Debbie Harry (of Hawthorne), actor Ethan Hawke (of West Windsor), YouTube Grace Helbig (of Woodbury), television personality Alison Haislip (of Tewksbury), comedian Myq Kaplan (of Livingston), comedian Bill Maher (of River Vale), actress Cristin Milioti (of Cherry Hill), actress Christina Ricci (of Montclair), and musician Karen O (of Englewood).

Gestation crates are used to confine pigs and calves during pregnancy. Proponents say the crates prevent the animals from fighting each other. Opponents say they prevent the animals from turning around and fully extending their limbs.

“Coupled with increasing demand by consumers for increased compassion and transparency in how farmed animals are raised, now is the time for New Jersey to ban the crates,” Animal Legal Defense Fund Executive Director Stephen Wells said.

New Jersey’s bill (S3401), sponsored by Democrats, would make their use a crime and establish monetary fines. Ten other states, as well as Canada and the European Union, have banned gestation crates.

Christie, a Republican, vetoed measures banning pig gestation crates twice during his tenure as governor, first in 2013 and then in 2014.

Critics accused the then-governor of rejecting the bill because he was planning to run for president and didn’t want to upset pork producers in the key state of Iowa, where nearly one-third of the nation’s hogs are raised.

But it was also uncertain as to how much of an effect the measure would have had in New Jersey. The state is home to fewer than 10,000 pigs, and it’s unclear if any are kept in crates when pregnant.

Christie noted both the state Board of Agriculture and state Department fo Agriculture adopted humane standards in 1995 that cover the issue. He also accused sponsors of using the bill as a “political cudgel” against him.

“I will rely on our in-state experts rather than the partisan politicians who sponsor this bill,” Christie said at the time.

Both houses of the Democratic-controlled state Legislature would need to pass the new bill before Murphy, a Democrat, could decide whether to sign or veto it.

Former state Sen. Raymond Lesniak recently wrote an op-ed saying he had hope the measure would succeed this time now that Murphy is in charge.

“Help is on the way for the suffering pigs,” Lesniak, a Union County Democrat, wrote.

 

Pro-Palestinian protesters rally against Israeli strikes on Gaza — live updates | News | DW | 15.05.2021
Farm Animals, General News

USA: Approximately 10,000 hogs killed in fire at Pillen Family Farms, Nebraska.

See the video here:

Approximately 10,000 hogs killed in fire at Pillen Family Farms – PLATTE VALLEY – NEWS CHANNEL NEBRASKA

Approximately 10,000 hogs killed in fire at Pillen Family Farms

A large fire near Albion has claimed the lives of approximately 10,000 hogs, according to the Petersburg Volunteer Fire Department.

ALBION, Neb. — A large fire near Albion has claimed the lives of approximately 10,000 hogs, according to the Petersburg Volunteer Fire Department.

The department was training late in Tuesday night when, at 3:14 a.m., a call from Pillen Family Farm came in: one of their barns near Albion was ablaze. 

“The bells started ringing, and by the time we got west of town … it was just a glowing ball out there,” said Doug Koch, a volunteer firefighter. 

The 20-pound hogs were trapped under the collapsed, burning building; none salvageable.

“I kept thinking, you would have thought at least one pig would come walking out, that at least one would have survived […] It was the most destructive for losing livestock I’ve ever seen that large,” said Petersburg Fire Chief Neil Baumgartner. 

They eventually stopped it by tearing through the building around 11 a.m., but they were later called back onto the scene throughout Wednesday to fend off flames.   

“It is dry so a spark could go a long way… the guys are drinking coffee today,” Baumgartner said. 

The cause is still under investigation, but Baumgartner said there had been construction on-site previously.

While the whole building was a loss, no people were injured. 

Pillen Family Farm has not commented on the issue yet to NCN. 

No human injuries were reported. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation.

The Animal Welfare Institute said Thursday morning that the Wednesday fire was the deadliest barn fire in Nebraska this year.

“While we are relieved no humans were injured, the extreme suffering and fear these animals must have endured as they were trapped in a burning building cannot be ignored,” said Allie Granger, farm animal policy associate for the Animal Welfare Institute. “Producers and the industry as a whole must take this problem seriously and start prioritizing fire prevention.”

The institute says nearly 5.3 million farm animals have perished in barn fires since 2013. Nebraska reported the most animal deaths from barn fires last year with approximately 400,000 dying in three fires.

 

Protests held around the country in support of Palestine
General News

Germany: Police save duck family

Report from the Stuttgart police– Stuttgart

+++ 🦆 Duck good, everything is good – the duck family of ten has apparently got lost 👮‍♀👮‍♂ +++

A mother duck with her nine little ducklings apparently got lost on Sunday afternoon in the jungle of houses in the west of Stuttgart.
To Papa Erpel’s delight, our colleagues were able to help.

🔹 What happened?
The mother duck probably lost her orientation on Mother’s Day excursion and was heading in the completely wrong direction. After the duck excitedly “spoke to” several passers-by, they finally notified the police at around 3:30 pm.

👉 Our colleagues managed to show the mother duck the right way to the lake of fire at home, whereupon the ten-headed duck pack set off on the sidewalk.
Due to the high number of waddling duck feet, our colleagues accompanied the extended family to their destination for safety.

💦 Papa Drake was waiting longingly for his family at the “Fire-lake” (Feuersee).

Reunited, after all the excitement, they all took a refreshing bath together.

Your #police #Stuttgart

And I mean..Many thanks to the sensitive people who informed the police and also thanks to the police! 🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰
Maybe that was their cutest outing of the year.

This world would be a lot more bearable if everyone did their job conscientiously and competently..

My best regards to all, Venus

Hunting

“Poaching with state cover”: Austrian prince kills bear in Romania!

Statement by Martin Balluch (VGT, Austria)

Arthur was a big bear. It is said to be the largest in Romania and maybe even in the EU.
He was 17 years old for a bear in the wild. And very healthy!

How do we know? Because Arthur has been watched and looked after for years. Namely by the nature conservation organization Agent Green, which is also campaigning against the illegal logging of the last primeval forests in the Carpathian Mountains of Romania.

Arthur lived in the Natura 2000 reserve Oituz-Ojdula northeast of Brasov, formerly Kronstadt, away from human habitation.
A bear of his size has a fixed territory, so you know where to meet him. But Arthur’s whereabouts were not only known to Agent Green.
Another organization was targeting Arthur as well. Only was not a bear-friendly one, it was a hunting trip organizer.
They wanted a big bonus from a rich Western European snob for its kill.

Prince Emanuel von und zu Liechtenstein

The plan should have been something like this:

First, a farmer complains about a bear that is causing agricultural damage to him.
In fact, the mayor of Ojdula, which is on the edge of the Carpathian forests, says that in the summer of 2020 there were some complaints about a little she-bear with cubs.
Nothing exciting, and no compensation was ever paid. At the end of January 2021, a farmer from Ojdula demanded that this she-bear be shot because she was disturbing.
To do this, he writes a handwritten letter to the responsible ministry:

Agent Green visited this farmer. When his letter was presented to him, he said that he has written it.
In the further conversation it turned out, however, that he cannot read at all.
Was it just used as an excuse to get permission to shoot?
In fact, the ministry will issue one in mid-February 2021:

Emanuel Liechtenstein, who calls himself “Prince” and comes from the royal family of the Principality of Liechtenstein, but in  Austria lives in the Riegers Castle, receives this permit.
He is allowed to kill this “problem bear”, who even leads children, between March 12th and 16th, 2021.

The time has come on March 13th. Emanuel Liechtenstein shot a bear. Only it was Arthur:

Corpse of Bear Arthur

Continue reading ““Poaching with state cover”: Austrian prince kills bear in Romania!” →

Hunting

England: Hunter’s band seriously injured hunt saboteur

A member of Manchester Hunt Saboteurs was nearly killed by badger baiters in the Little Lever area of Bolton last night.
The sab was checking on badgers when he disturbed a gang of five thugs digging out a known badger sett.
He was then set upon, viciously beaten, and left for dead.

It is believed that spades and other digging implements were used in the attack. When he came to, he was thankfully able to make his way back to the road and call friendly locals who rushed to his aid.

The sab is in good spirits but has sustained very serious injuries that will require plastic surgery and dozens of stitches to the head.

Badger baiting – which has been illegal since 1835 – involves badgers being torn apart by multiple dogs.

Typically, terriers are sent into a sett to attack the badger underground, while the baiters use spades and crowbars to dig down to the fighting animals. Once the badger is exposed, it is pulled out and set upon by larger dogs.
The badger suffers an agonising fight to the death and the dogs, too, frequently sustain terrible injuries.

Manchester Hunt Sabs commented:

“To say we are angry would be an understatement, but we are incredibly proud of the bravery shown by our sab last night. Thanks to him the baiters abandoned their plans and fled the area. This sett will be watched closely from now on.”

HSA Press Officer Lee Moon added:

“As hunt sabs we get used to violence from animal abusers but the savagery of this attack has shocked us. These baiters clearly intended to kill this brave man and he’s extremely lucky to survive. He has our admiration for his bravery and we’re frankly in awe that he was willing to put himself in such a dangerous position to protect these badgers.

Fox hunters, hare coursers and badger baiters are all cut from the same cloth. They’re people who daily commit acts of violence against wildlife and are equally happy to use violence against those who try and stop them.

https://www.huntsabs.org.uk/hunt-saboteur-left-for-dead-by-badger-baiters/

And I mean…The gangs are mostly working-class guys in their twenties. They use social media like Snapchat to organise digs and share pictures.

These people are very brutaly and guarded.
They don’t care if the animals they kill suffer; they’re just killing them for sport and fun.

What they are doing is just horrific.
To these people, killing animals is a sport – the more brutal, the better.

Generally badger baiters don’t take their dogs to vets with their injuries because that would be recorded and reported; so they stitch up their wounds themselves.
They are valuable dogs for hunting and breeding so they’re a commodity to them and they’ll protect the commodity but they don’t have any concern about the feelings of the animal.

And they’re quite happy to dispose of them once they’re no longer a useful commodity.

Those who are not afraid to brutally massacre animals also lose the feeling of humanity.
Hunting leads to bestiality and dehumanization

My best regards to all, Venus

General News

There was no Hollywood ending for Tai

💔 Her death comes after decades of abuse, confinement, and forced appearances in films and TV shows.

After being captured from her family as a calf, Tai was eventually sold to her abusive handlers at Have Trunk Will Travel.

They beat her with bullhooks and used electric shocks to force her to perform. She was carted around the country to dozens of sets, including ‘Water for Elephants,’ ‘George of the Jungle’, and HBO’s Westworld.

In 2005, an undercover investigator for Animal Defenders International (ADI) obtained damning footage of elephants being brutally trained by HTWT workers — the workers beat and prodded the elephants with bullhooks, and shocked them with stun guns, to get them to perform tricks.
In one section of the footage, one of the older female elephants, ( it was Tai who also performed in the recent episode of “Westworld”), cries out when she’s zapped with the stun gun on her sensitive skin.

CGI, animatronics, and so many more humane technologies exist—Hollywood must ban using real animals in film and TV!

The video also shows trainers repeatedly torturing and mocking the animals while teaching them choreographies and poses for the show.
The elephants look confused and scared. They are powerless at the mercy of the chains and bumps that are used to prepare them for their scenes in film or television.

A trainer is seen violently handling a baby elephant who is clearly scared and struggling.
The trainer mocks the elephant by using a metal hook to push it into sensitive areas of the body such as the trunk.
The elephant begins to cry and other elephants watching it do the same.

According to the comment in the video, the elephants are chained for up to twelve hours if not exercised. They will then have no way of moving or relaxing.

One of the elephants in the video is a female named Tai.
She was being prepared to appear in the aforementioned episode of the Westworld series. This means that she has been suffering from the conditions shown in the video for over ten years.

Torture tools for elephants

“Have Trunk Will Travel has exhibited some of the most vicious and sadistic treatment of elephants, including babies, that I have seen on film in my over 30 years as a wildlife behavioral biologist,” Toni Frohoff, an elephant biologist with In Defense of Animals (IDA), told “The Dodo”.

“There is no excuse or justification for abusing elephants like this, nor for mishandling a helpless baby’s sensitive trunk, as is shown.”

PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) 

And I mean… when The Dodo approached HBO for comment, a spokesperson noted that “none of this video was shot during the production” and claimed the ADI footage “does not in any way reflect practices on our sets.”

“All of the animals featured on HBO series are treated with the utmost care and respect for their health, safety and well-being,” the HBO spokesperson told “The Dodo”.

“A certified animal safety representative from American Humane was present at all times during any animal action on the set of ‘Westworld.’
The AHA has confirmed that the animals were well-treated, and the production received the designation of ‘No Animals Were Harmed.’

A common trait of all unscrupulous animal exploiters is to deny video recordings, even though they clearly document reality. That is also the case with the slaughterhouse investigations.

And if all the tricks and lies don’t work, then the animal abusers speak of an absolute exception, or from an “inexperienced” employee.

The best way to stop performing animals for entertainment is to not endorse productions that use them. We can vote with our wallets by not attending circuses and other forms of entertainment.

And maybe making the names and addresses of the animal abusers public on the Internet, that could also help a lot

My best regards to all, Venus

General News, Hunting

Burkina Faso: Animal rights activists murdered

Report by Martin Bussmann- MEP

Irish animal rights activist Rory Young was murdered last week in Burkina Faso.

Irish citizen killed in Burkina Faso was working in anti-poaching operations

Rory was leading a wildlife protection patrol in Arly National Park, Burkina Faso on 26th April 2021 when they were attacked by terrorists which resulted in his death and that of two Spanish journalists, the 44-year-old David Beriáin, a reporter, and 47-year-old Roberto Fraile, a photographer, who were capturing his efforts to protect precious wildlife.

He was there with the two journalists, to make a documentary about the protection of the national parks.

5-2021 — Hot Topics: Sustainable Fashion, Elephants, Climate

Poaching is a big problem in this country.
The convoy was ambushed, Rory Young kidnapped and then executed.
The perpetrators belong to a local terrorist group that makes a lot of money from poaching

Botswana: Gewilderter Afrikanischer Elefant

Again and again you read about the death of people who stand up for the climate, the environment, nature and animals.
Hundreds are killed every year, and more are killed every year.

In 2019, 212 official activists were killed, compared to at least 331 in 2020.
In 2018 there were 164 people who had to pay with their lives for their work.
So the murders have doubled in just two years. The increasing violence comes from those who make good money from destroying our planet.

Some murders are downright commissioned by corporations or even governments, which of course don’t want to get their hands dirty.

In Germany, too, the tone is getting rougher and the repression of progressive forces is increasing. Anyone who stands up for nature and animals in this country is constantly being attacked by the lobby organizations from industry and agriculture.

Animal rights activists who uncover crimes and thus prevent a lot of suffering are sometimes criminalized.
It is said that the activists are militant.
Those who themselves continuously use violence when it comes to animals accuse people who give animals a voice of being violent.

What nonsense! those who are actually prepared to use violence are on the other side.
Fortunately, there has not yet been a murder in Germany. Because when it comes to willingness to use violence, the international death statistics speak a clear language.
Let’s be on guard.

https://www.facebook.com/Tierschutzabgeordneter/

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/apr/27/spanish-journalists-irish-citizen-killed-by-jihadists-burkina-faso

And I mean…“No one has claimed responsibility for the attack on a road leading to the vast forested reserve of Pama. The government said it had not identified the assailants, whom it described as “terrorists”, it says in the IrishCentral newspaper

Some media suspect that the al-Qaeda organization is behind it, but what benefit would such an organization get from the kidnapping and murder of an animal rights activist and two journalists, who do a documentary about wildlife?

Of course, one could suspect that extremist groups are partially financed by kidnapping foreign nationals.
But in this case there was no ransom
There was kidnapping and murder.
And so acts only the mafia.
Or highly paid poachers who acted under the order to destroy the documentation.

By the way: Terrorists also include members of the government of a country who work closely with the poaching mafia out of private interests.
A common business model in Africa.

On the Chengeta Wildlife website, Young was described as...”Rory is an expert tracker with amazing knowledge, skills, and highly developed intuition to become one of the best in his field. He has dedicated his life to wildlife protection and he co-authored, “A Field Manual For Anti-Poaching Activities”, a guide that provides workable solutions to poaching”.

We are infinitely sad and angry about the death of the three men and especially of Rory.

My best regards to all, Venus