Protected Wildlife Killed in Florida

ORANGE COUNTY --

Two teens and a juvenile from Jacksonville and Middleburg are facing prison time and fines after Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission law enforcement officers arrested them in Orange County for killing a state-designated threatened species and for felony cruelty to animals.
The three allegedly ran over two gopher tortoises with a vehicle in the Tosohatchee Wildlife Management Area and then, while the tortoises were still alive, picked them up and intentionally slammed them violently to the ground.

FWC officers arrested 20-year-old Michael Dublin of Jacksonville, 19-year-old Dalton Bothwell of Middleburg, and a 17-year-old juvenile male from Middleburg and charged each with killing/wounding a threatened species and felony cruelty to animals.

The adults were transported to the Orange County Jail and the juvenile to the Orange County Juvenile Assessment Center. The charges are third-degree felonies, and each carries a maximum penalty of a $10,000 fine and five years in prison.

FWC Officer Steve McDaniel and FWC Reserve Officer James Nelson were patrolling the Tosohatchee WMA around 2 p.m. on May 27 when they found a large, severely injured gopher tortoise attempting to move on a roadway. Nearby was another, smaller tortoise. It too had a cracked shell.

After investigating the incident, the officers determined that Dublin had intentionally struck the tortoises with the vehicle they were all riding in. He struck the smaller tortoise first, left the injured animal to suffer and die in the hot sun while they rode off and “messed around” in the wildlife area. Hours later, as they were leaving the area, they struck the larger tortoise and then got out, picked up the injured animal and slammed it to the ground, causing additional injuries. They then located the first tortoise they hit, found it injured but still alive, and picked it up and slammed it into the ground.
“They made no attempt to render aid or take the animals to a vet. They said they simply wanted to ‘see what would happen if we dropped it,’” said Officer McDaniel.

Both animals died.
“I just don’t understand how and why people can do things like this,” McDaniel said.

To report wildlife, fish and boating violations, please call the FWC’s 24-hour toll-free Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-FWCC (3922).

Callers may remain anonymous and may be eligible for a reward if their information leads to an arrest.

The loss of our Rescue Partner and Great Friend Diane Stewart

Ms. Diane Lynch Stewart

Diane Lynch Stewart passed away on Friday, May 25, 2012 at UNC Hospital in Chapel Hill after a brief illness.

A celebration of life will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Friday, June 1 at First Baptist Church in the chapel.

Diane was born in Greensboro, NC on August 25, 1955 and graduated from Grimsley Senior High School. Diane was full of life and a joy to be with. She loved her family and friends with a passion that is rarely found and will be sorely missed. Her warm smile and caring personality brought happiness to us all. She was a beloved mother, sister and aunt.

Diane was preceded in death by her parents Charles B. and Martha Stanfield Lynch.

Left to cherish her memory are her beloved daughter, Nikki Stewart (Crested Butte, CO); sister, Martha Leonard (Larry) of Pleasant Garden; brother, John Lynch of Greensboro, niece, Stacey Dozier (Wayne), Lily and Ava; nephews, Brian Anderson, Trey Lynch, and aunt, Jean Lane. She is also survived by an extended family of cousins.

Thanks to all her family, neighbors and friends for their help through this difficult time.

Memorial contributions may be made to NC Shelter Rescue Inc.

Dogs seized from suspected Jones County puppy mill

Dogs seized from suspected Jones County puppy
mill



Authorities rescued at least 80 dogs from a suspected puppy mill
at a rural Jones County property on March 14, 2012.

More than 80 dogs were seized from this Jones County property on
March 14, 2012. (Image courtesy of WNCT-TV)
1 / 2
RELATED
Suspected
Jones County puppy mill raided
Site Search


Trenton, N.C. — Authorities rescued 88 dogs and
one cat on Wednesday from a suspected puppy mill at a rural Jones County
property.
A person who went to the property at at 1780 N.C. Highway 41 West in
Trento to buy a puppy notified law enforcement that the animals were being kept
in poor conditions.
The Jones County Sheriff's Office searched the property on Wednesday morning
and found the dogs living in unsanitary conditions and lacking veterinary care
and socialization.
The Humane Society of the U.S., which assisted with the rescue, said
chihuahuas, French bulldogs, dachshunds and pomeranians were living crowded in
small wire enclosures amid their own feces. Many of the dogs were severely
matted, appeared malnourished and were suffering from a variety of medical
issues.
The property owner was selling puppies to unsuspecting consumers through
local newspaper advertisements, the Humane Society said.
"When people see the pictures of these dogs, they're going to understand what
the inherent problem is with having puppy mills in North Carolina or any state,"
said Molly Stone with the Wake County SPCA. "It's a really good visual
illustration of why we need regulation."


The owner, whose name was not released, surrendered the dogs to authorities.
It is unclear if anyone has been charged.
The Jones County Sheriff's Office has not returned calls for comment.
The animals were transported to the Wake County SPCA holding center in Garner
on Wednesday afternoon, where they will be examined and treated by veterinarians
before being eligible for adoption or foster care.
"The worst of the dogs were transported to an urgent care facility so they
could get medical care," said Mondy Lamb with the Wake County SPCA.
Reporter: Beau Minnick
Photographer: Mark
Simpson
Web Editor: Kathy Hanrahan
RELATED TOPICS: Jones County, Wake County, Garner

NC Kennel wife found shot dead.

http://www.wbtv.com/story/16355943/man-charged-after-wife-found-shot-to-death-at-kennel

Save the Orcas from SeaWorld

LandMark Case in the Works, Save the Orcas' from SeaWorld !
PETA Sues SeaWorld for Violating Orcas' Constitutional Rights

In the first case of its kind, PETA, three marine-mammal experts, and two former orca trainers are filing a Alawsuit asking a federal court to declare that five wild-caught orcas forced to perform at SeaWorld are being held as slaves in violation of the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. The filing—the first ever seeking to apply the 13th Amendment to nonhuman animals—names the five orcas as plaintiffs and also seeks their release to their natural habitats or seaside sanctuaries.

The suit is based on the plain text of the 13th Amendment, which prohibits the condition of slavery without reference to "person" or any particular class of victim. "Slavery is slavery, and it does not depend on the species of the slave any more than it depends on gender, race, or religion," says general counsel to PETA, Jeffrey Kerr.The five wild-captured orca plaintiffs are Tilikum and Katina (both confined at SeaWorld Orlando) and Kasatka, Corky, and Ulises (all three confined at SeaWorld San Diego). "All five of these orcas were violently seized from the ocean and taken from their families as babies. They are denied freedom and everything else that is natural and important to them while kept in small concrete tanks and reduced to performing stupid tricks," says PETA President Ingrid E. Newkirk. "The 13th Amendment prohibits slavery, and these orcas are, by definition, slaves."


In the aerial view of SeaWorld, one can see how little room orcas have. Inside the circle is Tilikum, whose nose and tail almost touch the ends of his tank. Image © 2011 GoogleOrcas are intelligent animals who, in the wild, work cooperatively, form complex relationships, communicate using distinct dialects, and swim up to 100 miles every day.

At SeaWorld, they are forced to swim in circles in small, barren concrete tanks. Deprived of the opportunity to make conscious choices and to practice their cultural vocal, social, and foraging traditions, they are compelled to perform meaningless tricks for a reward of dead fish.Our understanding of animals grows every day. Animals are no longer regarded as "things" to dominate, but as breathing, feeling beings with families, dialects, intellect, and emotions. Just as we look back with shame at a time when we enslaved other humans and viewed some people as property less deserving of protection and consideration, we will look back on our treatment of these animals with shame.

The 13th Amendment exists to abolish slavery in all its forms—and this lawsuit is the next step. The orcas are represented in the suit by what the law refers to as their "next friends": PETA, Ric O'Barry (a former orca and dolphin trainer and the star of the Academy Award–winning documentary The Cove), renowned marine biologist and orca expert Dr. Ingrid N. Visser, Orca Network founder Howard Garrett, and former SeaWorld trainers Samantha Berg and Carol Ray.The groundbreaking suit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California in San Diego.Please help animals imprisoned by SeaWorld today.

Click here to write to The Blackstone Group—the company that owns SeaWorld—and ask that it immediately set in place a firm and rapid plan to release the animals to sanctuaries that can provide them with an appropriate and more natural environment.
Posted by PETA
Tags:
SeaWorld, orcas, slavery, 13th Amendment

Victory ! Suspected "Crush" Video Ring Leaders Arrested

Victory! Suspected ‘Crush’ Video Ring Leaders Arrested
Victory! Suspected ‘Crush’ Video Ring Leaders Arrested

tweetmeme_url = 'http://blog.petaasiapacific.com/animals-in-entertainment/victory-suspected-crush-video-ring-leaders-arrested';

-->Here’s a reason for dogs, frogs, monkeys, mice, pigs and many other animals to smile: Dorma (“Chita”) and Vicente Ridon, the Filipino couple charged with crimes related to the production of a series of “crush” videos—in which scantily clad young girls engaged in the torture killing of animals—were arrested by the police on Tuesday morning. The couple has been charged with violations of child abuse and animal welfare laws, and are expected to face further charges involving human trafficking and wildlife protection laws. They are expected to face trial within the year.

The “crush” videos depict extreme cruelty to animals, including scenes of a rabbit as he or she was skinned alive, rabbits as they flailed and screamed while their ears were cut off and they were set on fire, a dog as he or she was burned with a clothes iron, a monkey and several dogs as they were repeatedly hit in the eyes with the sharp end of a stiletto heel, and puppies as they were crushed until they vomited their internal organs.Thanks to everyone who took the time to report the Ridons’ whereabouts. We’re happy to see that Filipinos take animal welfare seriously and will do all they can to see justice served.

Posted by Rochelle Regodon

The Elephants Lose Again

Circus Elephant Abuse Lawsuit Dismissed By Appeals Court

WASHINGTON — A federal appeals court on Friday upheld the dismissal of a lawsuit brought by animal rights activists that claims the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus abuses its elephants.The U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington agreed with a lower court judge that the Animal Protection Institute and a former Ringling employee Tom Ryder did not have the legal standing to sue the circus. The lower court found that Ryder was "essentially a paid plaintiff" because he received at least $190,000 from the animal rights activists pursuing the case.The lawsuit claimed the circus is violating the elephants' protection under the Endangered Species Act with the use of bullhooks for training and prolonged chaining during train rides between shows.Feld Entertainment Inc. argued the elephants are not hurt and that the instruments are necessary to keep the animals under control and protect public safety. The Vienna, Va.-based company runs the circus and has an elephant sanctuary in Florida.Feld attorney John Simpson said the appellate ruling supports the company's $20 million racketeering lawsuit against Ryder, animal rights groups and their attorneys that claims they committed bribery, obstruction of justice and other illegal acts in filing the elephant suit. Simpson said the purpose of the company's suit is to keep animal rights groups from using the federal court system to pursue "radical agendas.""Feld Entertainment is the target today and some other businesses are going to be targets tomorrow," Simpson said in a telephone interview. "And at some point it has to stop."The Animal Protection Institute declined to comment on the ongoing litigation. But they are asking a judge to dismiss Feld's racketeering suit, calling it "a transparent effort to stifle any criticism of FEI's elephant treatment practices" and to bankrupt and punish the animal rights groups.