Happy New Year, everyone!

Been so busy with plans for the first Animal History Museum Friendraiser that I don't think I even posted the usual two-second holiday greetings this year, so here goes:  Happy Hanukkah! Merry Christmas! Joyous Kwanzaa!  And at least I'm not late for: Best Wishes for a Happy New Year!

If you haven't had a chance to check out our museum website yet, please do.  And like every other NFP out there, I'll also add the obligatory: there's still time to make a donation - or buy tickets to our Friendraiser - in order to get a  charitable deduction on your taxes in a few months! :)

See you in 2013!

OMG....

Feld Entertainment, Inc., the producer of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey^® Circus, announced today that the company has reached a legal settlement with the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) in connection with two federal court cases. Under the settlement, ASPCA has paid Feld Entertainment $9.3 million to settle all claims related to its part in more than a decade of manufactured litigation that attempted to outlaw elephants in the company's Ringling Bros. ^® Circus.  This settlement applies only to the ASPCA.  Feld Entertainment's legal proceedings, including its claims for litigation abuse and racketeering, will continue against the remaining defendants, Humane Society of the United States, the Fund for Animals, Animal Welfare Institute, Animal Protection Institute United with Born Free USA, Tom Rider and the attorneys involved.

Read more in the HeraldOnline....

Thanks to Joan Schaffner for the heads-up on this one...

Read more here: http://www.heraldonline.com/2012/12/28/4509413/aspca-pays-93-million-in-landmark.html#storylink=cpy

Dutch law will ban mink farming by 2024!

The Dutch senate on Tuesday passed a ban on mink farming in the Netherlands, the world's third-largest producer of the animal fur, in a ruling that will phase out the industry by 2024. The bill, tabled by both the Labour Party and the Socialist Party, was passed by a majority of lawmakers in a vote of 46 to 29, according to a statement on the senate website.

Read more here...

And it looks like I forgot to post the other week that Costa Rica has banned hunting! My bad.  Anyone checking this blog has probably read all about it by now, but in case not, here's a link to more...

Two great animal welfare bills pass U.S. Senate!

As an ASPCA guest blogger aptly notes:

With all the political gridlock in Washington D.C., it seems that Congress has nearly ground to a complete halt. So it was very exciting late yesterday when the U.S. Senate considered two important measures to help animals in need!

One bill allows for the adoption of retired military dogs and the other gives law enforcement more tools to crack down on dog and cockfighting.

Read more in this ASPCA blog post...

Great news for whales!

After drawing international criticism in July following its announcement that is was considering the resumption of whaling for “scientific research,” Seoul has opted not to submit notice of plans for a whale hunt to the International Whaling Commission by a Dec. 3 deadline.

Read more in the Wall Street Journal...