Spokane County lawsuit seeks pet rights

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

SPOKANE, Wash. -- A federal lawsuit is challenging the constitutionality of animal control laws in Spokane, including provisions allowing for the immediate euthanasia of cats.

The lawsuit was filed Thursday by Adam Karp, a Bellingham animal law attorney, who represents Spokane pet owner Patty Schoendorf.

Way to go, Adam! Read more about the suit in this Seattle Post-Intelligencer article.

What's a dog's life worth?

Maybe some people don't think it's worth as much as a person's life. Other people do.

Ohio mayor can't fill board to hear pit-bull appeals

As I'm on my daily search for newsy items to blog about, there's generally at least one - if not multiple - stories about local towns and counties all across the U.S. enacting some new "dangerous dog" law. For example, just within the past week, stories ran about such ordinances in small towns in coastal Maryland and Massachusetts.

But here's a twist. One small city near Columbus, Ohio has a new law requiring owners to appear before an appeals board if they want to fight a determination of viciousness - but apparently the mayor can't find anyone to serve on the board. Read more in Elizabeth Gibson's article in today's Columbus Dispatch.

European Commission calls for greater ban on primate testing

The proposal, announced this past week, would "ban laboratory tests on mankind's closest relatives -- chimpanzees, gorillas, bonobos and orangutans -- in a clampdown on animal testing by the drugs industry and other researchers."

Sounds like a terrific step forward, yes. Although as advocacy groups noted, great apes haven't been used in EU research in six years so perhaps this is more of a token gesture than any real progress. Moreover, monkeys and other animals would not be covered by the ban. The plan also calls for tighter welfare standards, although it was not entirely clear (at least to me), whether any improvements applied only to primates or to all animals used in research. Overwhelmingly, most animal testing is done on rats and mice.

As you can imagine, the announcement generated media attention all over the world, especially in Europe. Here's a sampling of the stories from Reuters (via STV.tv), Financial Times, The Telegraph, The Hindu News Update Service, and China News. Predictably, the announcement is also generating passionate debate both for and against the ban (as well as - also predictably - animal testing in general).

Two Oregon men dead, no winners

"If this were a movie," said Geordie Duckler, a Portland attorney specializing in animal law, "people would say it is too strange to be true. But this is not terribly unusual. Animal disputes engender a huge amount of animosity."

Read about how a dispute over a cat left the cat bloody and two men dead in this Oregonian article by Lori Tobias.

Meanwhile in Kentucky...

The first case under that state's new, stiffer animal cruelty law will go to court next week. According to KRC-TV Local News 12, "Russell Swigart was indicted yesterday for burglary and two counts of torture of a cat... a new offense." Read more here...

Pet owners face code of practice

A shout-out to blog reader Bruce Korol for the heads-up on this BBC News article about Britain's 2006 Animal Welfare Act. Writes the BBC:

Cat and dog owners are to be told to provide "entertainment" and "mental stimulation" for their pets under new government advice.

The code of practice also includes advice on diet and providing "somewhere suitable to go to the toilet".

It says owners should watch for signs of stress and advises on introducing cats to dogs without the fur flying.

Owners will not be fined for breaking the rules but failure to comply may be used in animal cruelty prosecutions.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said it wanted to remind pet owners of their responsibilities under the 2006 Animal Welfare Act.

Read more about the 26-page document on cat welfare here...

Prop 2 passes in California!

Read all about it in this LA Times article by Carla Hall!

Unfortunately, California's Prop 8, banning gay marriage, also passed. Read more in this Wall Street Journal article here.

Open message to Barack Obama

Ok, I'm a Democrat (no surprise there) so I was really happy when Obama was declared the winner in the presidential election just over an hour ago. Props to John McCain for what was probably the most gracious - and genuine - concession speech as has ever been given.

Congratulations to Barack Obama! May his presidency live up to the promise of hope and change that his campaign envisioned. And in case any of his aides or staff happens across this blog post, here's an open message to the next administration:

As you look across this vast nation of ours - all of the different demographics of race, ethnity, gender, sexual orientation, age, religious beliefs and more - please find the compassion in your hearts and perceptive-thinking in your minds to consider, protect and improve the lots of the most vulnerable members of our society: animals.

And President-Elect Obama - you know that puppy you mentioned in your victory speech that you promised your kids would be moving to the White House with you? Please adopt from a shelter. Good luck and God bless!

GET OUT AND VOTE

Thank you.

Horse forfeiture case goes up on appeal in Michigan

A Jackson County prosecutor says the Michigan Court of Appeals has set January 13th as the hearing date in the hotly-contested Henderson horse farm case. Read more in this Jackson Citizen Patriot article by Steven Hepker.

Former pop star charged with animal cruelty

Dale Bozzio, lead singer of the 80's band Missing Persons, has been charged with three counts of animal cruelty and may face another nine charges. Read more in the Associated Press blurb from Vermont's Fox News 44.