http://www2.peta.org/site/MessageViewer?amp;autologin=true&dlv_id=0&dlv_id=225167&em_id=157065.0&pgwrap=n

Dear Mark,

For three years, PETA Asia has been working with authorities in the Philippines to help them find and prosecute the makers of horrific “crush” videos in which scantily clad girls (one as young as 12 years old) are filmed stepping, standing, and stomping on and slowly crushing animals—from the smallest of mice to large dogs who are tied down and helpless. Now PETA Asia’s efforts to shut down the makers of these sick fetish videos have resulted in a landmark ruling against those who torture and kill puppies, rabbits, and other animals.

Today, a Philippine court found Vicente and Dorma Ridon guilty of child abuse, animal welfare crimes, human trafficking, and wildlife-protection crimes and sentenced the pair to life imprisonment and a fine of more than 9 million pesos (US$198,000) each for their part in making the videos.

This huge victory began with a single compassionate person who stumbled upon these vile videos and took the time to report them to PETA Asia, which then worked with authorities to ensure that the Ridons were located, arrested, prosecuted, and ultimately sentenced for their crimes. In videos made by the Ridons, one dog is seen being skinned alive and another burned with a clothes iron. Rabbits are seen having their ears cut off or flailing and screaming as they are set on fire. One video shows a puppy crushed until the animal vomits up internal organs.

The Ridons’ long sentence is a warning to anyone involved in the vile crush video industry that there are grave consequences for harming animals.

Their sentence is also a powerful reminder of PETA Asia’s commitment to helping animals no matter how long it takes.

Thank you for all you do for animals in need. Your compassion is helping PETA and our international affiliates save animals’ lives.

Very truly yours,
Ingrid E. Newkirk

President

Filed under: CAMPAIGNS - Global Animal Welfare Issues, GENERAL NEWS - International / National / Regional | Leave a comment »

http://www.care2.com/causes/victory-wyomings-wolves-just-got-federal-protection-back.html

Victory! Wyoming’s Wolves Just Got Federal Protection Back

by Alicia Graef

September 26, 2014

Read more: http://www.care2.com/causes/victory-wyomings-wolves-just-got-federal-protection-back.html#ixzz3Ec8czGAw

In a victory for gray wolves in Wyoming, a federal judge reinstated federal protection under the Endangered Species Act, which just made life harder for anyone who had their sights set on killing them.

Wyoming had been fighting to get the authority to manage wolves since 2003, but kept getting denied over its failure to come up with a reasonable plan. Unfortunately, the state finally succeeded in 2012 after the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) determined that their numbers had rebounded enough to take federal protection away.

Under the state’s plan, wolves were declared a trophy-game animal, which allowed for seasonal hunting and trapping, and a predator that could be shot on sight in unlimited numbers in more than 80 percent of the state. According to the Center for Biological Diversity, 219 wolves have been killed under Wyoming’s management since the delisting.

Environmental groups including Earthjustice, the Natural Resources Defense Council, Defenders of Wildlife, the Sierra Club, and the Center for Biological Diversity challenged the 2012 ruling in court, arguing that the state’s management plan ultimately failed to ensure their future survival.

“Any state that has a wolf-management plan that allows for unlimited wolf killing throughout most of the state should not be allowed to manage wolves,” said Defenders of Wildlife president and CEO Jamie Rappaport Clark.

While U.S. District Court Judge Amy Berman Jackson supported the determination that wolves aren’t in danger of extinction in the state, she ultimately ruled that the state’s plan was inadequate and unenforceable and that it was “arbitrary and capricious” of federal officials to accept it, relying on the state’s nonbonding promises to maintain a particular number of wolves.

“The court has ruled and Wyoming’s kill-on-sight approach to wolf management throughout much of the state must stop,” said Earthjustice attorney Tim Preso. “Today’s ruling restores much-needed federal protection to wolves throughout Wyoming, which allowed killing along the borders of Yellowstone National Park and throughout national forest lands south of Jackson Hole where wolves were treated as vermin under state management. If Wyoming wants to resume management of wolves, it must develop a legitimate conservation plan that ensures a vibrant wolf population in the northern Rockies.”

According to Reuters, Wyoming Governor Matt Mead said the state intends to take the matter to a higher court to block the judge’s order and allow the state to keep its current policies in place, which would include continuing licensed hunting and allowing wolves to be shot on sight, but for now wolves will be safe from the state’s hostility.

This victory comes on the heels of another for wolves in Michigan, following an announcement that its 2014 hunting season would be cancelled. While wolf advocates continue to fight to stop the senseless persecution and ensure this iconic species keeps its rightful place in the wild, we still have to wait and see what will happen with the FWS’ proposal to strip federal protection for gray wolves throughout the U.S., which could be decided later this year.

Read more: http://www.care2.com/causes/victory-wyomings-wolves-just-got-federal-protection-back.html#ixzz3Ec8nF7gL

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ADDITIONAL

This is a very powerful video lasting over one hour; which shows both the bad and good sides of stray dog control in the Balkans.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jo3uNYAGhqU#t=13

Filed under: CAMPAIGNS - Global Animal Welfare Issues, GENERAL NEWS - International / National / Regional | Leave a comment »