Too Much Animal & Wildlife Abuse, Crime & Welfare to Report this week: Animal Legal Defense Fund nominated for Webby, Getting active for animals, (Animated) Life as Betta, Dumbasses at the Bandera Bacon Bash in Texas & Hanoi Circus, "Wanted" signs, Emma Hurst, Surabaya Zoo, & The Impact of Climate Change on Animals


VIDEO: 'Game of Thrones' Star Jerome Flynn Urges Fans Not to Buy 'Direwolves' The final season of Game of Thrones is here! Watch PETA's new video with Jerome Flynn, and find out why we should never buy huskies or any other animal ("direwolves" included) on impulse. Watch Now!

Without any federal laws regulating animal abuse in the U.S., states are responsible for the creation and adoption of their own animal abuse and cruelty laws.

While some states are making strides towards a cruelty-free future — banning animal testing and reviewing legislation to ban fur farms — others only consider animal abuse a felony if the abuse falls under specific conditions. Even worse, some states don't consider animal abuse a felony in any capacity.

Just a few months ago, the state of Virginia only considered animal abuse a felony if the animal died as a result of torture. But recently, lawmakers passed a bill into law that recognizes animal abuse as a felony, after hearing the story of how Tommie, a pitbull, was found brutally burned, doused in accelerant, and left tied to a pole. Tommie died just a few days after he was found.

How many more animals must be brutally tortured, abused, and murdered before states step up and do the right thing for animals?

We need to put the pressure on all U.S. states that are failing to pass tough laws that will protect animals and punish perpetrators accordingly. Please sign this petition today to give a voice to the voiceless, and demand that animal abuse becomes a felony in every state.
Would you know what to do if you saw your neighbor kicking his cat? Or if you saw a clearly malnourished horse tied up in a dirty yard with no access to water, food, or shelter? What if you were in the parking lot of a grocery store and saw a puppy panting heavily — left alone in a car on a hot summer day?
Violence against animals is all too common. And I would know, I’ve been fighting animal cruelty and injustice for 40 years. And while the law may be our most powerful tool to combat cruelty, it’s vital that people know what to do if they ever witness an act of animal abuse — it could save a life.
HOW TO: Report Animal Cruelty in Your State
I hope that you never find yourself a witness to animal abuse, neglect, or exploitation. But we owe it to vulnerable and defenseless animals to get them the help they need if you do see an animal being harmed.
I have some exciting news! The Animal Legal Defense Fund has been nominated for a Webby award in the category of Best Law Website!
The New York Times has described the Webbys as “the Internet’s highest honor” and we’re beyond excited to be one of the nominees this year!
HELP US WIN A WEBBY | VOTE NOW!
This is a great opportunity for us to share the message of legal advocacy for animals to a worldwide audience. Millions of people follow and vote for the awards, and many of them may not know how desperately animals need legal protections.
Established in 1996, the Webby Awards is the leading international award honoring excellence on the internet. The Webby Awards presents two honors — The Webby Award and The Webby People’s Voice Award.
Members of the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences (IADAS) select the nominees for both awards, as well as the Winners of The Webby Awards. But in the spirit of the open Web, The Webby People’s Voice is awarded by the voting public. That’s where you come in Don — we need your help to win the Webby People’s Voice Award.
Date: Oct. 25-27, 2019
Location: Portland Art Museum, Mark Building
1119 SW Park Avenue, Portland, OR 97205
Get directions.
Spaces are very limited, so I encourage you to register now. I hope to see you in Portland this fall!
Registration for the Animal Law Conference in Portland, Oregon is now open! Don’t miss the country’s premiere animal law event, co-presented by the Animal Legal Defense Fund, the Center for Animal Law Studies, and the Lewis & Clark Animal Legal Defense Fund Student Chapter.
This year’s thought provoking theme – Representing Animals: Elevating Animal Status – will explore the wide-ranging work being done to transform the legal status of animals. Panels will include perspectives through the lens of criminal law, science, politics, civil litigation and more.
Tourists from all over the world flock to Egypt to marvel at the Great Pyramid of Giza, one of the Seven Wonders of the World; Saqqara's ancient burial site; and Luxor's royal tombs, but these sites have a violent side in plain view. PETA's latest investigation in Egypt has revealed horrific abuse of horses and camels at the top tourist sites. They're forced to haul visitors on their backs or in carriages in the blistering heat without access to food, water, or shade. Those who were too exhausted to carry on were beaten.
Animals no longer able to give rides around the Giza and Saqqara pyramids are returned to the notorious Birqash Camel Market to be sent for slaughter.

Visitors who pay to take a ride are directly contributing to their pain and misery. Animal abuse occurs when animals are seen as inanimate objects instead of living beings. Please never ride an animal, and urge Egypt's minister of tourism to end this abuse by banning the rental of animals at these sites.

Take Action for Animals Suffering in Egypt

Old West-style "Wanted" signs are popping up around Idaho, encouraging hunters and trappers to kill wolves.

Their reward? $1,000 and the wolf's pelt.

Idaho is so hell-bent on eliminating wolves it's paying bounties to anyone who kills one. You can expect more of this kind of slaughter if wolves lose federal protection and states take over.

Please give now to our Predator Defense Fund. Your support will power our fight for wolves, in the courts and in the streets. All gifts through next month will be matched dollar for dollar.

With the Trump administration moving quickly to end Endangered Species Act protection, gray wolves in the lower 48 are face to face with the most dangerous threat they've ever seen.

Idaho's a prime example of the horror show we can expect from state management — wolves being hunted and trapped, their packs shattered.

Hatred is what's driven Idaho to allow up to 20 wolves to be killed by a single hunter in one year — the same mentality that fuels the state's sickening bounty hunts.

This is why we've gone to court to secure the recovery of gray wolves nationwide. And it’s why we launched Call of the Wild, our biggest grassroots mobilization ever, for gray wolves.

More than 65 wolf events have been hosted by volunteers in 25 states across the country. In the weeks ahead, we plan to deliver more than a million comments opposing the plan to strip away wolf protection.

The administration has refused to schedule any public hearings on this — because it knows its attack on wolves isn't what the American people want. We'll be gathering communities nationwide so our voices are heard.

We can win this fight for wolves, but we need you with us.

Please give today to double your support of wolves through the Predator Defense Fund.
Lawsuit Launched to Expand Recovery of Grizzly Bears
Grizzly bears today live in just a fraction of their historic habitat in the lower 48. If they're ever going to truly recover, we need a national plan to return them to more places.

That's why this week the Center for Biological Diversity filed a formal notice of intent to sue the Trump administration for failing to create a comprehensive recovery plan for grizzly bears. That includes considering reintroducing them to places like California's Sierra Nevada, the Selway-Bitteroot in Idaho and Montana, Utah's Uinta Mountains, and the Grand Canyon and surrounding areas in Arizona.

The filing follows a 2014 petition by the Center that identified 110,000 square miles of potential grizzly habitat in the western United States.

Get more from KULR-TV and consider donating to our Predator Defense Fund to save wolves, grizzlies and jaguars. Every donation will be matched through May.

David Bernhardt
Senate Confirms David Bernhardt as Interior Secretary
Despite an unfolding controversy over suppression of evidence that pesticides pose great dangers to wildlife, the U.S. Senate this morning confirmed David Bernhardt as the next secretary of the Interior.

The vote came even as nine Democratic senators are seeking an Inspector General investigation of Bernhardt's efforts, as deputy Interior secretary, to scuttle a scientific review on the harms of chlorpyrifos and two other pesticides. The review concluded that these pesticides jeopardize the existence of more than 1,300 endangered species.

"Bernhardt has spent decades scheming to undercut protections for wildlife and public lands across the country," said Kierán Suckling, the Center's executive director. "He's the perfect distillation of Trump's contempt for the natural world."

Read more.

Help Horses and Camels Whipped and Beaten for Tourist Rides in Egypt. PETA Asia's breaking investigation revealed that horses and camels are being forced to haul visitors in the blistering heat at top tourist sites, often without access to food, water, and shade. Show our new video to all your friends, and urge Egypt's Minister of Tourism to ban such rides immediately. Take Action Now!

The Best Vegan Easter Eggs and Treats of 2019. From white chocolate eggs to dark chocolate truffles, we've put together an ultimate guide to vegan Easter treats available across the UK. They suit any budget and all tastes, and most importantly, they're all cruelty-free. View Them all Now!

Urge American Vintage to Stop Selling Angora. The French clothing brand sells jumpers made with angora, despite knowing that this soft fur is often plucked from terrified rabbits as they cry out in pain. Please never wear angora, and urge the brand to go angora-free. Help Out Now!

Surabaya Zoo is the largest in Indonesia. Almost 3,500 animals are kept in this gruelling zoo, where they endure a life sentence of abuse and neglect. The horrendous conditions and treatment they are subjected to leads to an estimated 25 animals dying each month from unnatural causes.
Surabaya's only giraffe died and was found to have a 40-pound ball of plastic in its stomach. This disturbing discovery raises the question of how the poor giraffe became exposed to plastic food wrappers.
A White Bengal Tiger was found to have a missing ear and spinal problems, and a sick 35-year-old female elephant is suffering swollen joints in her leg. An African lion was found hanged to death in his own cage.
Animals have perished due to neglect, starvation and mistreatment. Please sign the petition to get the zoo closed and the animals rehomed in a sanctuary now.
New Mexico Bans Cruel Coyote-killing Contests
Coyote
Every year New Mexico has hosted at least 30 events whose participants compete to kill the most, biggest or even smallest coyotes for cash or prizes — until now.

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has just signed bipartisan legislation forbidding the barbaric killing competitions statewide.

"We celebrate for coyotes, for endangered wolves that might've been mistakenly killed, and for our children, learning that humane values are New Mexico values," said the Center's Michael Robinson. Read more.
  

Two Men Burned A White Owl Alive Because They Believed It Was a Witch

Federal Farm Bill Includes Important Protections for Animals
The sweeping Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 — an omnibus federal law passed approximately every five years, commonly known as the “farm bill” — included several important provisions, including some victories for animals.
Guam Prosecutes First Felony Animal Neglect Case
When Guam enacted a felony animal cruelty law in 2011, the U.S. territory moved up 18 places on the Animal Legal Defense Fund’s Animal Protection Laws State Rankings, showing the second most improvement of U.S. states and territories that year.  
New Jersey Appellate Court Upholds Bear Hunt Ban on State Lands
In 2003, after a 33-year hiatus, the New Jersey Fish and Game Council reauthorized the hunting of black bears. In the years since, the bear hunt has frequently been the subject of litigation, and has been halted by some governors and reinstated by others.
Ninth Circuit Affirms Dismissal of Almond Milk Labeling Lawsuit
In an unpublished opinion issued December 20, 2018, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the dismissal of a class action against Blue Diamond Growers. The lawsuit alleged that the company’s almond milk products were mislabeled under FDA law. 
 
Virginia Court of Appeals Upholds Bestiality Law

On January 15, 2019, the Virginia Court of Appeals affirmed the conviction of a man who was charged with violating the state’s bestiality law after videotaping encounters he had with a woman and her dog. 
New York Expands Law Allowing Companion Animals on Public Transit in Emergency Evacuations
Wins for Animals in the 2018 Midterm Election
Tell the USDA to Investigate Special Memories Zoo in Wisconsin
So disturbed by what she saw during a visit to Special Memories, a roadside zoo in Greenville, Wisconsin, country star Tanya Tucker is teaming up with the Animal Legal Defense Fund to take action. Tell the USDA to investigate Special Memories and ensure these animals receive the care they deserve.
Lawsuit Filed to Obtain Critical Records Regarding Puerto Rican Zoo
Earlier this month, we filed a lawsuit for information about Puerto Rico’s only official zoo. Numerous animals at Dr. Juan A. Rivero National Zoological Park have died in recent years due to poor sanitation, inadequate veterinary care, filthy enclosures, and untrained staff.
Animal Protection Bills Move Forward in California
Multiple California animal protection bills are one step closer to law – including bills aimed at breaking the cycle of animal cruelty, protecting wild animals from secondary poisoning by rodenticides, and creating greater transparency for animals used in research.
In Defense of Animals
Urgent: Stop Canada's Bloody Spring Seal Hunt. The spring seal hunt in is underway in Eastern Canada. Right now, infant seals are being clubbed, shot, or stabbed to death shortly after they are weaned. Not only is it totally legal in Canada, the Canadian government actually funds this cruel hunt. Speak up now for seals — tell the Canadian government to stop the bloody seal slaughter! TAKE ACTION
In Defense of Animals
Criminalize Federally the Crushing & Burning of Animals! The PACT Act targets the extreme animal cruelty that is the basis of the appalling creation of "crush videos" where animals are slowly killed on film, typically by being crushed to death, for the sexual pleasure of the viewer. Since it's often almost impossible to tell where the cruelty occurred from just photos and video clips, it is currently extremely difficult to fully punish those responsible for these truly diabolical acts. We desperately need federal intervention so there can be no escape from prosecution — don't let animal torturers escape punishment! TAKE ACTION
In Defense of Animals
The Impact of Climate Change on Animals. Animals are drastically affected by global climate change, and humans are the primary contributing factor. The rate of change is faster than the Earth has experienced in the last million years, and we must act now before it is too late. READ MORE
In Defense of Animals
Human Ranchers to Blame for Range Degradation. Every year in the United States, thousands of wild horses and burros are cruelly chased, captured and killed by the. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to ensure that ranchers continue to unfairly profit from the suffering of cows and the use of our taxpayer public lands without any "competition" from the wild animals who need the range to survive. READ MORE 
In Defense of Animals
Cop Charged With Bestiality Arrested for Child Porn. Over 21,000 of you signed our alert to demand the maximum sentencing of the Bossier City, Louisiana patrolman who had been charged with heinous acts of bestiality. It's no surprise that now this sexual predator has been arrested on child pornography charges. READ MORE
In Defense of Animals
Defend the Onaqui Wild Horse Herd from Devastation! The world-renowned Onaqui wild horse herd just outside of Salt Lake City, Utah is in grave danger. The Bureau of Land Management has plans to forcibly remove over 300 of the beloved wild horses and possibly risk their lives with eventual sale for slaughter. A successful rally by advocates has opened negotiations with the Bureau, but we urgently need you NOW to keep the pressure on to prevent the devastation of this beautiful herd. TAKE ACTION
In Defense of Animals
An Act of Mercy During Norman's Final Days. Our Justice for Animals team dedicates their lives to creating a better environment for animals in the Deep South. No efforts are spared to act in the best interests of animals, even if situations involve difficult, heartbreaking decisions. READ MORE
In Defense of Animals
Call Out Judge Over Despicable Puppy Killer Sentencing. After being served eviction papers, a Mississippi resident vacated her residence and left her puppy behind to suffer and die alone with food placed tantalizingly out of reach. For this crime, the presiding judge delivered a shockingly lenient sentence which has sparked public outrage. Speak up now against the judge who allowed this heartless puppy killer to walk away with just a small fine for puppy torture! TAKE ACTION
In Defense of Animals
Stop the Bloody Slaughter of Yellowstone Bison! Terrified bison have been trapped in pens and mercilessly butchered. More of our national mammals face the ax. Act now to stop the Yellowstone massacre! TAKE ACTION
In Defense of Animals
Canada Goose: Ditch Fur and Down to Meet Consumer Demands! Geese and coyotes suffer in agony for Canada Goose jackets. While compassionate consumers increase demand for animal-friendly products, cruel Canada Goose clings to animal abuse in the name of profit and trivial fashion statements. Please urge Canada Goose to ditch animal fur and goose down to save countless animals from senseless pain and death! TAKE ACTION
In Defense of Animals
Victory! Dangerous Rule Revoked to Save Wild Horses & Burros! Last summer, we alerted you to the shocking new rule which opened the door wide open for opportunistic horse slaughter buyers. Implemented by the Bureau of Land Management under a cloak of secrecy, Instructional Memorandum 2018-066 essentially allowed the sale of up to 24 horses per day per buyer, for as many days as requested, for just $25 each. With your help, we put a stop to it! READ MORE
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Turkish Airlines Petition. THANK YOU to the 188,099 of you who signed our Turkish Airlines petition! The company has now agreed to work with us to find solutions to actively stop African grey parrots being smuggled on its planes. This is an amazing first step, but we still have a long way to go.
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Getting active for animals. A handful of marathon runners this past month dedicated their time to join a race and run on behalf of World Animal Protection! We appreciate all their support and the funds they raised to give back to our cause. We can't thank you all enough.

Special shout out to Jana Epstein Gettinger (pictured in the middle) who raised over 2 times her fundraising goal!

Donate to Honor Someone Special
Make a gift to the Animal Legal Defense Fund in honor of a special person or animal in your life. It's a thoughtful way to honor a special companion animal or to let someone know you care.
Don Lichterman
Sunset Corporation of America (SCA)
Sustainable Action Network (SAN)