Latest development in PETA's orca lawsuit

According to Steven Wise:

"Over the objections of both PETA and SeaWorld, U.S. District Court Judge Jeffrey T. Miller granted a request by the Nonhuman Rights Project (NhRP) to appear as an amicus curiae, or "Friend of the Court," in the case PETA filed on behalf of five orcas against SeaWorld. The NhRP had not sought to appear as an amicus on behalf of either PETA or SeaWorld, but solely to assist the Court in understanding certain issues that were raised within the context of this litigation and to further the interests of the orcas."

See the full press release at nonhumanrights.org

Can't believe I forgot to post here!

Ok, so this should put to rest any doubt that my brain is truly made of swiss cheese...

I completely forgot to post about the web launch for the newest incarnation of my animal-related career. Here's Monday's announcement:

Dear Family, Friends and Colleagues:

It is with great pleasure that we announce plans for the Animal History Museum! It will be the first brick-and-mortar museum to focus on the always complex, but historically marginalized, relationship between humans, (non-human) animals and society in general. As described in our mission statement , the museum's "purpose is to serve and educate the public through the creation of a museum in Los Angeles County, California, for the collection, preservation and exploration of the history, culture, science and law relating to the relationship between human and non-human animals; by presenting exhibitions, lectures and other activities that are consistent with, and supportive of, the museum's educational goals and purpose."

Today is our social media launch! Check us out at:

www.animalhistorymuseum.org
facebook/animalhistorymuseum
twitter:@animal_history

If you like what you see, please take a minute to like the page, and/or follow us on Twitter! Most importantly, please re-post and re-tweet on your accounts to help us get the word out as widely as possible! Thank you!!!

What's it gonna take?

For the first time ever, Congress is considering a measure that would take the emotional well-being of chickens into account. And just as notably, the nation's biggest egg producer and biggest animal welfare organization are actually on the same side - lobbying in favor of the measure! Yet, the deal still might not get done.

NPR explains why...

Death of an Ordinary Housecat

There's nothing to see here. Move along. Nothing, that is, but this report of a minor incident in Russellville, Arkansas: "Democratic Congressional candidate Ken Aden's campaign manager returned home to find his family pet slaughtered, with the word 'liberal' painted on the animal's corpse."

Read this extremely thoughtful, unapologetic look at what some may try to paint as an "isolated incident" in the Huffington Post...

Supreme Court overturns Calif. law on euthanizing downed livestock

The Supreme Court on Monday blocked a California law that would require euthanizing downed livestock at federally inspected slaughterhouses to keep the meat out of the nation’s food system.

Read more in this Associated Press article picked up by The Washington Post...

New breed of grandparents fawn over grandpuppies

It's one thing for a dog to be man's best friend. But a growing number of baby boomers are taking puppy love to a whole new level. Some parents, anxiously awaiting the day when they become grandparents, are showering affection on their children's pets. They're known as grandpuppies.

CBS This Morning reports...

Animal rescuers arrested in Tennessee had been watched in California

Three days before animal rescuers Hearts for Hounds left California for Virginia, officials from the Long Beach Animal Care Services stopped by to investigate complaints about noise and odor.

During the Jan. 12 visit, officers found far more than the 75 animals the group was licensed to house, and a followup visit was scheduled for Jan. 17.

"Between that time and our followup visit, that Sunday afternoon, they left town," said John Keisler, acting manager at Long Beach Animal Care Services.

According to The Commercial Appeal, the two women arrested now face more than 100 charges of aggravated animal cruelty and bonds of $100,000 each...

(Interestingly, the founder of frozen yogurt chain Pinkberry was released on just $60,000 bail after allegedly attacking a homeless man with a tire iron...)

Where's the legal line drawn in animal-rights activism?

A federal courthouse in Boston and a ranch in California's San Joaquin Valley present competing faces of the animal rights movement.

One side is peaceful. The other, decidedly, is not. Both can feel the weight of the law and the sting of being called a terrorist.

The Sacramento Bee has the rest of this thoughtful article...

Homeless v. Helpless

An effort to ban animals on the Las Vegas Strip is stirring debate over whether the measure is really intended to help prevent animals from cruelty or is just a backhanded attempt to target the homeless.

The Las Vegas Review-Journal has more...

Animal Hospice praised by celebs facing cruelty charges

If you are a fan of Oprah, or Food Network's Rachel Ray, you may have heard of Angel's Gate in New York. It's become something of a celebrity animal hospice these past few years. (To the extent that shelters enjoy a celebrity status, that is.)

Angel's Gate is back in the news, but it's probably not enjoying the spotlight this time. After receiving a tip from a job applicant, PETA sent in one of its undercover volunteers and turned over its secret video to prosecutors.

The hospice is now facing multiple cruelty charges. Sounds terrible at first blush, but it seems that the issue centers around whether some of the animals are in such bad shape that, according to PETA, they should be humanely euthanized instead.

NPR has more on this morality-laden controversy...

First-ever forensic veterinarian for NJ SPCA...

The New Jersey Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is adding a new position to its staff that may be more familiar to fans of human-centered crime shows.

Dr. Ernest Rogers is joining the NJSPCA as its first ever "forensic veterinarian." The Associated Press has the story...