What a week for our Animal Crime and Animal Cruelty Reports

I doubt you've ever been inside a pig breeding facility, and you can be sure the industry wants to keep it that way. The locked gates and razor wire send a strong message that there are secrets inside they don't want you to see. 
The Animal Legal Defense Fund's undercover investigations team continues to expose some of the worst injustices that are happening to animals behind closed doors and the dirty secrets of tragic, large-scale animal abuse. More importantly, we are capturing evidence which allows us to take legal action that will change laws and seek justice for abused animals. 


One of our investigators was able to penetrate a pig breeding facility in the mid-west. To maintain the integrity of our investigation I can't share full details now about the action we're taking on this case, but I can tell you some of the abuse the Animal Legal Defense Fund was able to document. 
We documented mother pigs who were sick and left alone to suffer, dying slowly over days and weeks instead of being mercifully euthanized. We documented baby piglets who were old enough to wean, but deemed too small or sickly, killed by smashing their heads against a concrete floor. And we witnessed a callous and entrenched indifference to animal suffering that permeated the entire facility. 
By gathering the irrefutable documentation that our legal team needs, this investigation will be making our fight for justice possible. The Animal Legal Defense Fund will continue to wage legal battles as we uncover more cases of animal abuse, but we need you by our side. Please make a tax-deductible gift today. 

Thank you for your continued support and for making our important work possible. 


New Technology Stops Poachers in their Tracks
Punish Person Responsible for Mass Poisoning of Stray Dogs.
stray-dog-by-amiya-shrivastava
Goal: Demand person who killed 20 dogs with poisoned food is punished to the fullest extent of the law.
More than 20 stray dogs were recently found dead and dying by an animal activist who had been feeding them. In a horrid scene, corpses littered the neighborhood while other dogs were found running erratically and struggling to breathe. Authorities say that someone deliberately fed the dogs food laced with poison. A pesticide bag was found on the scene.
According to authorities, two separate security cameras show a man feeding stray dogs in the neighborhood. He has been identified as a local pig farmer and slaughterer. Locals say that the stray dogs scared and hurt the pigs, and suspect that the man poisoned the dogs to keep them from causing further nuisance to his pigs.
A similar mass poisoning occurred in a nearby neighborhood only a couple months prior to this incident. Fifty dogs were found dead in that case. Rights group Peace for Animal Welfare Association India has said that is suspects the pig farmer to be responsible for both of these horrific acts. The suspect has been questioned and was subsequently released without charge.
This callous mass killing resulted in the slow, torturous death of over 20 dogs. If the person responsible is not stopped, these savage acts will continue. Sign the petition below to urge the prosecutor to seek to punish the suspect to the fullest extent of the law, if he is found guilty.
Dear Mr. Nikam,
Many dogs were recently found scattered about a Mumbai neighborhood dead, while others were seen behaving erratically and struggling to breathe. Authorities suspect that the dogs were poisoned by a man seen on camera feeding them food that was suspected to be laced with poison. This is the second mass stray dog poisoning of recent times, both of which occurred within close proximity to each other.
This barbaric act resulted in the slow, painful deaths of several animals. These shocking mass killings will continue until the person responsible is punished. In order to prevent the person responsible from re-offending as well as send a strong message that this type of cruelty will not be tolerated, you must ensure that the person guilty is punished to the fullest extent of the law.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo credit: amiya shrivastava
Retire Cancer Stricken Elderly Dolphin From Marine Park.
Dolphin Australia for Dolphins
Target: Paige Sinclair, CEO of Dolphin Marine Magic
Goal: Retire Bucky, an elderly dolphin with cancer, to an accredited sanctuary.
Dolphin Marine Magic is a marine park located in Australia that is currently forcing a 47-year-old dolphin ridden with cancer to perform daily. The dolphin, named Bucky, is the star of the show and sometimes performs two to three times a day.
Dolphins typically live between 40 and 50 years. At 47, Bucky is at the human equivalent of 80 years old. In addition, a veterinarian noticed lumps in Bucky’s mouth which were later confirmed to be cancer. In his poor health, Bucky is still forced to jump through hoops, do flips in the air and drag people across pools.
Sign this petition and demand Bucky is retired to an accredited sanctuary. He does not have much time left, however we could make it the best time of his life.
Dear Ms. Sinclair,
Currently, your facility holds a dolphin, named Bucky, who is 47 years old and sick with cancer. As you probably know, dolphins typically live between 40 and 50 years. At 47, this puts Bucky at the human equivalent of 80 years old.
It is unacceptable, cruel and selfish of you to continue forcing Bucky to perform shows daily, including doing flips, jumping through hoops ad dragging people across pools. Bucky does not have much time left and he deserves to rest for his remaining days.
If you truly care about these animals, then you already know what is best for Bucky. Please retire him to an accredited sanctuary where he can happily live out the rest of his days.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo credit: Australia for Dolphins
Trapped Coyotes Bark Like Dogs
Man Who Starved Young Husky to Death and Left Dog to Rot Must be Properly Punished.
husky-by-skeeze
Target: Barra McGrory, Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland
Goal: Review and increase the far too lenient sentence given to man who starved his dog to death.
A man who pleaded guilty to starving his pet Husky to death has only been given a small fine, some community service and a ban from owning animals for just five years. The man identified as Robert Porter from Belfast, Northern Ireland, admitted to letting his four-year-old dog starve to death and to leaving his body to decompose in his kitchen for four months.
The dog had been severely underweight, weighing a mere 11 kilograms (24 pounds), less than half the normal weight of 27 kilograms (60 pounds) for his breed. Porter admitted that the dog had not been fed in weeks before he died of starvation. This man deserves a much harsher punishment for this horrific act.
Sign this petition demanding that Porter’s sentence is reviewed and severely increased to include jail time as a deterrent for other abusers, and a lifetime ban on keeping pets so that no more animals suffer from his neglect.
Dear Mr. McGrory,
Robert Porter pleaded guilty to starving his young dog to death, yet he only received a small fine, some community service and a mere five-year ban on keeping pets. This sentence is far too lenient for a man who has admitted that he neglected to feed his dog for several weeks, resulting in the animal’s suffering and death from starvation.
Letting this man walk free sends the harmful message that animal cruelty is not a serious crime. This man must also be banned from owning animals for life to ensure he cannot harm another pet. We demand that Robert Porter’s sentence is increased to include jail time and a lifetime ban on keeping animals.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo credit: skeeze
Urge the NSW Government to Reject the Inhumane Cull of the Snowy Mountain Brumbies: Catch and Re-home them Instead.
Urge the NSW Government to Reject the Inhumane Cull of the Snowy Mountain Brumbies: Catch and Re-home them Instead
TARGET: NSW Premier, Mike Baird, Australia
165,123 of the 170,000 Goal - 29,442 from Australia

Overview petition
Update #2 4 days ago
Thanks for signing the petition. The list of signatures will now be forwarded to the NSW Government.

Update #1 16 days ago
UPDATE: A plan to cull most of the Snowy Mountains brumby population over the next two decades has been released by the New South Wales Government: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-05-01/plans-to-drastically-reduce-snowy-mountains-brumby-population/7373634

Please share the petition to demand the government uses humane population management.

About This Petition
The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) is calling for an inhumane cull of wild horses in the Snowy Mountains, according to a report on smh.com.au.

NPWS and other groups say horses in Kosciuszko National Park are damaging fragile environments and should be shot from helicopters to protect mountain ecosystems. They also allege that any attempts to re-home wild horses are not practical and could also be cruel to the horses.

However, the vice- president of the Hunter Valley Brumby Association, who is also an environmental scientist, says there is no scientific evidence of the horses damaging the National Park, and those animals re-homed settle well into their new surroundings. In addition, the brumby association believes the National Parks areas where the wild horses roam can be preserved.

Aerial culling has had disastrous results in NSW previously - an aerial cull conducted in 2000 saw many horses left dying for days after inaccurate marksmen failed to kill them outright.

Join me in urging the NSW Government to choose compassion over cruelty and allow a trap and re-homing scheme over aerial or ground shooting. Please sign and share the petition.

Save abandoned animals in the Florida Everglades.
Since 2010, thousands of animals -- mainly dogs and cats -- have been abandoned and left to die in a remote part of the Everglades. Irresponsible owners who are unable or unwilling to continue caring for their pet simply pull over to the side of the road, open the door, and shove out the unwanted animal. Some dogs wait faithfully at that spot, sure their family will be back to get them; others are hit by cars, while some simply starve to death.

This type of cruelty is unacceptable, and it’s time for Dade County to stop ignoring the animal dumping epidemic and take steps to curb this horrific practice. Please sign my petition asking Dade County to step up efforts and funding to patrol the area being used to dump pets, coordinate with pet rescue groups and work to get most of these animals off the streets and into a forever home.
It is illegal in Florida to abandon an animal. But deep in the Everglades, those who do are almost never caught. And the problem doesn’t seem to be getting better. Rescuers speak of finding dogs in the most dire situations: running in and out of traffic on busy roadways, or shivering in the middle of fields in the rain. Every year, hundreds of pets are found. It’s time to end this madness.

Please join me and and help save thousands of animals’ lives. Sign my petition asking Dade County to publicly commit to step up efforts to curb animal abandonment in the Everglades. Our pets deserve better than this.

This petition will be delivered to: Mayor of Miami-Dade County, Carlos A. Gimenez

Justice for Cat Shot Twenty Times.
cat-by-Mrooczek262
Target: Chuck Miller, Kanawha County Prosecuting Attorney
Goal: Demand the maximum punishment for the person who shot a cat twenty times in a deliberate act of cruelty.
A cat miraculously survived after being shot twenty times and having two of its legs broken. The person responsible is still at large. Demand justice for this innocent animal.
A resident found the orange 1-year-old cat hiding out underneath his deck, clearly in excruciating pain. The cat suffered two broken legs and twenty pellet wounds on his body. Veterinarians examined the cat and deemed that his injuries were caused deliberately. The perpetrator is still unknown.
The county is offering a $5,000 reward to anyone who can identify the person responsible for this heinous act. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals is also on the case, encouraging local residents to keep their animals inside until the perpetrator is caught. Sign below and demand justice for this innocent animal.
Dear Mr. Miller,
A cat suffered horrifically after sustaining twenty pellet wounds and two broken legs. The perpetrator is still at large. We demand the maximum punishment for the perpetrator of this heinous abuse.
The orange 1-year-old cat was found hiding underneath a deck, clearly in excruciating pain. Veterinarians counted twenty pellet wounds on his body along with two broken legs. The cat survived, miraculously, but this horrific abuser is still at large.
As long as this perpetrator is free, all animals are in danger. This deliberate act of cruelty cannot go unpunished. We demand the maximum penalty for the perpetrator of this crime.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo Credit: Mrooczek262
Bird strike problem: Sonic nets could prevent bird strikes at airports, says new study 

We need to end the Dog Meat Trade. The dog meat trade is a vile attack on nature, perpetuated by criminals seeking to make money from the abuse of animals. Network for Animals has fought the dog meat trade since 1997, and our latest raid occurred on March 28th 2016.
Following weeks of surveillance, our team arrived at the compound in Batangas, Philippines, with a team of three unarmed police officers. As our team entered, two large men kept attempted to block our path but did not resist for long. We moved carefully however, after spotting a pistol magazine on top of a small table.
DSC_5310
As we began searching the area, a dog meat trader inside a small hut opened up a cage and released an estimated 21 dogs, who immediately scampered down a creek to escape the area.

Finding the remaining dogs took a great deal of effort, not least due to the summer temperature having hit 102 degrees fahrenheit. Eventually, following the sound of whimpering, we came across the cage featured in the video above. No food. No water. Just fifteen dogs, most clinging to life, all with barely space to move.
DSC_5309
We carried all surviving dogs up the mountain and loaded them to an ambulance where we gave them water. Most drank like they had never tasted it before – utter desperation.  We then carefully transported them to the PSPCA pound, for veterinary treatment and to work towards rehabilitation and rehoming.

If these dogs had made it to slaughter, they would have experienced a barbaric death, been butchered, and sent to the north of the Philippines where there meat would have been sold as food for humans. Thanks to years of work by ourselves and others, the sale of dog meat is illegal and the general perception of dog meat as human food is drastically changing. You can learn more about the Dog Meat Trade in our campaigns area.

Our team were relieved to escape this experience with their lives. Please show them your support by making a  donation, no matter how small.

Make a donationSign our petition
DSC_5326
Chinese Citizens Rally Together to Protest the Dog Meat Trade. This June, China will hold its annual Yulin Meat Festival, a tradition in which participants eat dog meat and lychees to mark the summer solstice. As such, in an act of courage and compassion, Chinese citizens and activists have come together to protest this cruel festival and the dog meat industry that supports it. With an estimated 300 dogs killed every day in preparation for the festival, citizens have banded together to call for its end. The festival is all perfectly legal – it’s no secret why people are upset.

So in a strong act of opposition, animal rights activists gathered at a government-organized event, which was attended by more than 100,000 people.

This was the perfect opportunity to capture authorities’ attention to the fact that the public will not stand for this disgusting industry.
Chinese Citizens Rally Together to End Meat Trade
In a Facebook post, Humane Society International stayed hopeful, noting that, “Momentum keeps building to shut down the despicable dog meat trade in China.”
Chinese Citizens Rally Together to End Meat Trade
Citizens proudly took the street, along with their four-legged friends, donning signs that read, “Legislate Animal Protection. Punish Dog Theft. Outlaw Dog Meat Trade!”
Chinese Citizens Rally Together to End Meat Trade
These brave citizens aren’t alone in their outrage; about four million people from around the world have signed an online petition calling for its end.
Chinese Citizens Rally Together to End Meat Trade
Let’s join these activists in fighting to #StopYulin once and for all!

How Can You Help?
First and foremost, educating yourself and others about the dangers associated with eating dog meat is critical to bringing an end to this practice. Humane Society International has a wealth of information and resources to help and they also run large campaigns encouraging country leaders to take action to ban the trade altogether. Many people are not aware of the cruel practices and dangers or even the existence of the dog meat trade, so your best course of action is to educate yourself and others to expose the truth of this industry – share this article to get started! All Image Source: Humane Society International/Facebook.

Animal revenge on humans: Man in China hacks turtle in two, gets eye-for-an-eye response

Baby bison killed: Yellowstone Park bison calf euthanized because tourists put it in SUV

Justice for Baby Bison Euthanized Because Tourists Put Him in Their Car. 
Bison-Calf-by-Yellowstone-National-Park
Target: Jonathan Jarvis, Director of National Park Service
Goal: Issue harsh punishments to tourists who loaded a bison calf into their vehicle and were ultimately responsible for its death.
A newborn bison calf had to be euthanized after tourists loaded it into their vehicle and dropped it off at a park facility. Thanks to their careless actions, the calf was abandoned by its herd and rangers’ attempts at reuniting the bison were unsuccessful. Officials said that because the calf was abandoned, it began approaching people and cars creating dangerous situations, and thus had to be euthanized.
The people who caused this innocent wild animal’s death only received a fine, as if money could replace its life. After the incident, the park simply issued “fresh warnings” telling visitors to stay away from the animals. There were several similar cases prior to this one where visitors broke the rules and dangerously interacted with the park’s wild animals. Clearly, the minuscule fines and fresh warnings aren’t stopping people from endangering other life at the park. Help prevent more senseless deaths by demanding that the visitors be properly punished for their reckless behavior that ultimately led to the calf’s death.
Dear Mr. Jarvis,
Visitors at Yellowstone National Park loaded a bison calf into their vehicle and dropped him off somewhere else, which caused his herd to abandon him. Officials said the calf had to be euthanized as their efforts to reunite the herd were fruitless, so the abandoned calf began approaching people and cars.
This is just another example of park visitors completely ignoring rules and destroying wildlife because they’re careless. If there were actual penalties other than a fine for breaking the rules, this calf probably wouldn’t have died. Please see to it that visitors who endanger other life at the park are harshly penalized, starting with these people.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo credit: Yellowstone National Park
Snapchatting animal cruelty: Scottish teens share video of kitten swung around on leash



EARL GIBSON III/WIREIMAGE/GETTY IMAGES
PetSmart: Groomer at Store in San Mateo, Calif., Arrested for Alleged Animal Cruelty After Dog Dies
Juan Zarate, 38, was arrested after a dachshund named Henry died in his care Sunday, police said, adding X-rays showed the dog suffered two broken ribs and a punctured lung.


Update: Free the Tigers at Houston's Downtown Aquarium: It's All Because of You. MAY 18, 2016 — Thank you to the fourteen activists who protested at the Downtown Aquarium this past Saturday! For those who couldn't make it, make sure to check out the video below featuring the protest.
We have some good news to share from Landry's. Several months ago, we learned that the Association of Zoos and Aquariums is updating their tiger care standards and that the Downtown Aquarium will likely not meet the new standards. This week, we found out that Landry's agrees with our assessment and is considering several options, including the possibility of building a new exhibit or retiring the tigers. You can read the full letter we received here: https://goo.gl/c3S0cu.

We're pleased and cautiously optimistic with the latest development in this campaign. Your support has been critical in raising public awareness for this issue, and we deeply appreciate it. Stay tuned for further developments!
Houston's Downtown Aquarium has been the home to four white Bengal tigers since 2005. These tigers are held indoors at all times in a small, stressful, and inhumane environment.

The aquarium is one of several of the "Downtown Aquarium" branded restaurants owned by Landry's, Inc. An aquarium-themed restaurant is not an acceptable habitat for tigers to live. The tigers at Houston's aquarium are denied everything that is natural to them, and are not even allowed outside.
We're petitioning Landry's, Inc. to transfer the tigers at this facility to a large cat sanctuary accredited by the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries. We're also asking the Association for Zoos and Aquariums to reevaluate the aquarium's accreditation.

We need your support to help these tigers. Please take just a moment to sign this petition. Thank you.

This petition will be delivered to: Landry's, Inc., Association of Zoos and Aquariums, CityPASS

Cancel “Cowboy Monkey Rodeo” at Baseball Games.
Monkey Rodeo Kelly
Target: Clark Minker, League Director of Wilmington Blue Rocks
Goal: Cancel the several “Cowboy Monkey Rodeo” events occurring at the Wilmington Blue Rocks’ stadium.
Several events called the “Cowboy Monkey Rodeo” will be hosted at a baseball team’s stadium this summer. The Wilmington Blue Rocks are a Minor League Baseball team located in Delaware.
At the “Cowboy Monkey Rodeo,” a capuchin monkey is dressed up and strapped to a dog who is trained to abruptly start, stop and run up to 30 miles per hour around a track. The monkeys are jerked around in every direction and face a high risk of getting injured.
This event is inherently cruel and unnecessary. It is extremely stressful for the animals and they could potentially injure themselves. Sign this petition and demand the Wilmington Blue Rocks cancel this event.
Dear Mr. Minker,
This summer, the Wilmington Blue Rocks’ stadium is planning on hosting several events called “Cowboy Monkey Rodeo.” At this event, a capuchin monkey is forced into a costume and strapped to a dog that sprints around a track.
Dogs can reach speeds of up to 30 miles per hour, and these dogs are trained to start and stop abruptly. These abrupt changes of pace and high speeds cause the monkey to be jerked around in every direction possible. The monkeys face a very high risk of getting injured during the event.
It is unnecessary and cruel to let these events happen. Animals should not be forced into uncomfortable and frightful situations for mere entertainment. Please consider cancelling these events.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo credit: Kelly
FINALLY: stables for working horses in Petra
t-shirt was sign of the Devil

More:
Don’t Build Lab Where Thousands of Animals Will Die
Save Rapidly Dissolving Coral Reefs
Justice for Bear Cub Needlessly Put to Death

Justice for Puppies Maimed by Abuser