Animal devocalization is morally reprehensible

Just when I think the human race can't get any more loathsome, I learn of a new way we've figured out to torture and mistreat our fellow beings on this planet. This should be absolutely banned, vets who do this should lose their license, and dog owners who subject their pets to this maiming should be fined out the wazoo.
The Truth about Devocalization

How is devocalization done?
Vocal cord tissue is cut using one of two methods: through a surgical incision in the neck or by inserting instruments through the mouth. The veterinarian may use a scalpel, scissors, biopsy tools or laser. The result is the same: Soft tissue is cut, subjecting animals to surgical risks and potential complications that may compromise them for life or result in a terrible death.

If you want your dogs not to bark, spend time with them and train them properly - if you arent willing to do that, consider not having pets.
Devocalization is illegal in Massachusetts and Warwick, RI. Act NOW to ban it in NY State and protect animals from lifelong suffering or agonizing death—common outcomes no matter how skilled the vet or how the tissue is cut.

French Exceptionalism...

From THE GUARDIAN

A high-level diplomatic spat has broken out between France and Germany, but this time it is not about saving the euro or European integration. Instead, it is foie gras that is causing the fallout.

Angry missives have flown between Paris and Berlin after the decision by organisers of a leading German food fair to ban the French delicacy, which is made from the liver of fattened geese or ducks.

Foie gras producers are incensed after being told their liver pâté will be not welcome at the biennial Anuga food fair in Cologne in October.
[...]
About 37 million ducks and 700,000 geese are slaughtered each year to make French foie gras. The force-feeding practice is said to date to 2,500BC, though it is unlikely the ancient Egyptians took to fattening their fowl on the industrial scale found in France, where foie gras and its controversial production method is enshrined in law as part of the country's so-called cultural exception. Article L654 of the 2006 rural code states: "Foie gras is part of the protected cultural and gastronomic heritage of France. By 'foie gras' is meant the liver of a duck or a goose specifically fattened by force-feeding."

Who would shoot a pet horse?

WCAX-TV

"Police are investigating the shooting of a pet horse in East Montpelier. And the family who owned the horse is left wondering why it happened."

HSUS is offering a $2500 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the responsible party.

Finally!

BURLINGTON FREE PRESS, Saturday, June 5, 2010:

Two former employees of a now-closed Vermont slaughterhouse have been charged with animal cruelty for the excessive shocking of calves with an electric prod, prosecutors said Friday.

The state Attorney General’s office issued arrest warrants for Christopher Gaudette, 37, and Frank Perretta, 51, both of Grand Isle.

The charges stem from revelations last November at the Bushway Packing Inc. slaughterhouse in Grand Isle, where hidden-camera video taken by the Humane Society of the United States showed days-old calves being dragged, kicked and shocked as they were loaded off a truck and taken to slaughter.

A justice of sorts. The struggle continues. Animal rights activist Deb Loring who's been working round the clock on this issue tells me that "they did actually charge one of the owners. There are three owners, two are re-opening and one has left the state. It's the one who left, who was on the video, that is being charged."

Read the full article here.

Letter: Slaughter in the Champlain Islands

Deb Loring writes in Seven Days (04/21/10):

Who regulates Vermont slaughterhouses? Some require both state and federal inspectors on the premises during “processing.” So what went wrong at Bushway Packing in Grand Isle, where Humane Society workers managed to shoot a video of seemingly routine animal abuse? Seven Days readers respond to Andy Bromage’s original March 24 story about the slaughterhouse, “Emails Suggest Vermont Meat Inspector Knew About Bushway Abuse,” and also a March 31 letter from state meat inspector Randy Quenneville.

Ever since Bushway Packing’s horrific animal abuse was exposed by the Humane Society of the U.S. (HSUS), the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets (VAAFM) has denied knowledge and responsibility, and blamed everyone who did take action. They continue to blame HSUS, Dr. Wyatt and now Senator Giard (D-Addison), who are the only ones who did take action. How about blaming the abusers, and taking some responsibility for this?

Of course the state knew about the inhumane handling and food-safety violations that resulted in plant shutdowns in May, June and July 2009 when they occurred, because a state inspector was assigned as the inspector in charge at Bushway during those months.

It is incomprehensible that VAAFM took no action when they knew that the plant was shut down for the same, repeat violation in three successive months. VAAFM also knew that when Dr. Wyatt was no longer at the plant, the inhumane handling violations stopped being reported. Did they think that, all of a sudden, Bushway Packing saw the light? It took an HSUS undercover investigation to force VAAFM to act.

To risk Vermont’s food safety and allow animal abuse to continue in this manner is negligent. They need to stop making excuses and blaming others, admit their culpability in this fiasco, and come up with a corrective action plan that protects Vermont farmers, businesses, animals and consumers from the lasting damage that has been done to the reputation of our state, to the Vermont brand, and to our agricultural businesses.

Deborah Loring
Burlington

VERMONT ACTION ITEM! Stop Agribusiness Power Grab

To my Vermont friends - check this out then call your Senators (it's really easy - they expect your calls)! The state's response to animal abuse is to appoint a board full of industry tradespeople and pass laws about the board, instead of just prosecuting the fuckers who've committed crimes of animal cruelty in factory farms. So please call!

More Video of Abused Calves at Vermont Slaughter Plant

WARNING: Very graphic images:



This was at an organic farm in Grand Isle, Vermont skinning a still-living and squirming cow. USDA inspectors were present during the abuse. The Humane Society of the United States went undercover. FoxNews44 reports that the seven-week long investigation led to suspending operations at the Vermont slaughterhouse. The State of Vermont has not yet filed criminal charges - so please sign the petition for it to happen! There will be a Justice for the Calves Rally Saturday, Nov 14 in Montpelier, VT, in front the Statehouse, from 11 AM - 1 PM.

A TRAGEDY OF ANIMAL AND HUMAN PROPORTIONS

THIS is not an example of "community policing" (thanks to Lotus).

DUTCH POLICE TARGET ANIMAL RIGHTS ACTIVISTS

RNW NEWS

22-12-2008

Extreme animal rights activists will be targeted by a specialist team of policemen, intelligence agents and the ministery of Justice. Dutch Interior Minister Guusje ter Horst has decided this new approach against violence by activists is needed because "they are going too far", she told de Telegraaf daily on Sunday. The minister was referring to increasingly violent actions "against directors of companies that cannot find favour in the eyes of animal rights activists."

The announcement almost coincided with an attack on the property of a senior official of the NYSE Euronext stock exchange. Two cars on the drive of his home in Wassenaar went up in flames. Euronext trades in stocks of British animal testing labs, Huntingdon Life Sciences. Responsibility for the attack has not been claimed yet, but an earlier attack in Hilversum last month was claimed by British animal rights activists.

'ZOORIFIC' ABUSE

As a kid growing up in northern New England, my brothers and I got to see exciting animals at Wild Bill's Rare Bird and Animal Farm in Fairlee, VT. (We lived across the Connecticut River in Orford, NH .) I didn't think of mistreatment at the time, but as a young adult, I began to question the idea of caging "exotic" animals outside of their normal habitat - especially at circuses and zoos. So I'm glad to see Green Left Infoasis has linked to these stories about mistreatment of zoo elephants:

Zoos Kill Elephants, New Scientific Study Confirms

Peer-reviewed evidence validates animal advocates push for closing zoo elephant exhibits

and

Second Damning Elephant Report Should End Debate On The L.A. Zoo Exhibit Expansion

Humane leaders and former L.A. Zoo vet to reveal new findings at press conference tomorrow

'NOTHING IS LESS SEXY THAN A FUR COAT'

From DutchNews.nl

Thursday 11 December 2008

Actress and animal rights activitist Pamela Anderson, in Amsterdam to open this year's Miljonair Fair, has written to queen Beatrix urging her to turn her attention to the plight of farmed mink, reports the Telegraaf.

'Nothing is less sexy than a fur coat,' Anderson wrote. 'I hope my appearance at the Miljonair Fair will help people to realise you can create a look that kills without murder and that no-one should support gassing, strangling or electrocuting animals. Especially not for a luxury item.'

The Miljonair Fair is a trade show for luxury goods that takes place every year in Amsterdam.

OUR CRUELTY TO ZOO ANIMALS

TERENCE BLACKER The Independent on the deal to send two giant pandas from China to the Edinburgh Zoo

The deal is simple: Britain's political leaders and Royal Family have been working tirelessly to hire a couple of sensitive, endangered animals as prize money-making exhibits for Edinburgh Zoo.
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Exploiting these luckless victims of human arrogance by presenting dysfunctional animal behaviour as if it were some kind of soap opera compounds the immorality. The idea that children are educated by gawping at miserable wild animals is an insult to the intelligence. If anything, all they learn is that it is fine to treat wild animals as a show.

The age of the zoo is over. Sensible families will keep their children away from the two luckless giant pandas who will soon be making Edinburgh their miserable home.