Cats Will Be Trapped and Killed "On The Spot" by U.S Navy

I am enraged at an article I read recently.  I am appalled at the ignorance behind these proposed and current actions.  They are killing one species to save another.  

Apparently, in the 1950's, people brought cats to San Nicolas Island, a small island (the island is 9 miles long and about 3.5 miles wide) off the coast of California, to help control rat populations and as personal pets.  Now, because the seabirds and shorebirds are declining, the Navy has decided it is time to kill all the feral cats on the island because they say that cats are killing the birds.  The primary method of capturing these feral cats will be through padded leg traps or being shot!

Those not deemed healthy will be trapped and killed "on the spot".  What is just as appalling is that the Navy went to the Humane Society of the U.S for advice and the HSUS will take custody of any healthy cats.  The HSUS, does not have a shelter and are not affiliated with any shelter or other organization.  They have no facilities for taking care of cats or any animal for that matter.  They are also known for promoting killing dogs from dog fighting rings, killing feral cats, they do not agree with the No Kill philosophy and they are "friends" with PeTA.

Why wouldn't the Navy contact an actual feral cat organization such as Alley Cat Allies to deal with a feral cat issue?  The island has an estimated 100-200 feral cats on the island and the Navy does not want to get these cats fixed and wait for their natural decline.  They also claim there is no way to identify cats who are fixed and cite that as one reason why they do not want to do TNR. (What is TNR?) Obviously, they are not familiar with the process because all feral cats who are fixed are "eartipped".  They must not have done too much investigating into it if they don't know that.

Currently, they are already shooting feral cats (which might be a crime) as a "necessary management action".  In the news articles, they leave out some important information that I have copied verbatim and provided the sources for.  They will use dogs to "hunt" the cats, causing them to run up trees and cliffs where experienced hunters will shoot them.  The cats who run into fox holes will be surprised with a padded leg trap at their only exit.  Other cats will be trapped in padded leg traps put randomly on the island with a few traditional "cage" traps being set.

During a 30-day public opinion period, they received 5,788 total comments.  Of those, 4,323 were basically dismissed because they were form letters emailed to them with identical text.  

They understand that their local shelter on the mainland is a high kill shelter and they even admit that healthy, adoptable animals were killed and that basically, feral cats won't have a chance. 

They have had these birds die for years, supposedly because the cats are killing them.  They know that the cats will not live very long.  Why wouldn't they do the more humane thing?  Spay and neuter the cats, return them and wait for them to die a natural death?  The ways in which they are going to trap the cats sound horrendous.   

What I want to know is how do they justify killing one species to save another?!

Be sure to contact:

Jane Hendron 

Public Affairs Division Chief 

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 

6010 Hidden Valley Road 

Carlsbad, CA 92011 

760-431-9440 

Jane_Hendron@fws.gov 

**********

Please read all of the information below and visit the source if you doubt it's authenticity.  When available, I have provided information to locate the specific quote.  

Currently, feral cats on San Nicolas Island are subject to periodic population control through trapping and hunting, a necessary management action undertaken by the Navy as part of their commitment to protecting wildlife on the island. (Q11- http://www.darrp.noaa.gov/southwest/montrose/pdf/San_Nic_FAQs_seabirds.pdf)

Once the cats are trapped, many will be euthanized on the spot. However, some of the kittens will be taken out and put up for adoption, and some of the healthy cats will be taken by the humane society. --U.S. Navy!

“Specially trained dogs will be used to track the scent of the feral cats in order to find their dens,” Hendron (Jane Hendron, spokeswoman for the U.S. Fish & Wildlife office in Carlsbad) said. “However, the dogs will never come in contact with the cats.”

Although the complete removal of the cats may appear to be a drastic measure, Hendron said it is imperative that the FWS remove every cat from the island, or the problem will just reoccur in the future.

“I myself have three cats,” Hendron said. “Sometimes difficult decisions must be made.”  http://www.dailynexus.com/article.php?a=18738 

Predation by feral cats is responsible for the extinction of at least 33 bird species (Lever 1994), including the Stephen Island wren (Traversia lyalli, New Zealand), Socorro dove (Zenaida graysoni, Mexico), and Guadalupe storm-petrel (Oceanodrama macrodactyla, Mexico). (D3.2 http://www.darrp.noaa.gov/southwest/montrose/pdf/msrp_rp_appendixd3.pdf)

Although the FWS has attempted to remove cats from San Nicholas in the past, cats that were not trapped or killed reproduced and the problem returned.

The plan entails the use of live traps, padded leg traps and hunters, as well as tracking dogs,  to remove what are believed to be between 100 and 200 feral cats.

The wild cats came from domestic cats that escaped from their owners or were brought to hunt mice decades ago. There are records of feral cat populations back to the 1950s.  Another source says, cats were first introduced to San Nicolas Island during the 1800s and later by Navy personnel. (D3.2.6 http://www.darrp.noaa.gov/southwest/montrose/pdf/msrp_rp_appendixd3.pdf)

Padded leg-hold live trapping is an effective technique for capturing feral cats on San Nicolas Island and will [be the] primary method used as part of the Proposed Action.  -From an internal document from the Department of the Navy

After a short stay on-island, the cats may be transported to the mainland into the custody of HSUS and/or a similar USFWS-approved party if HSUS or other approved party provide adequate assurance that the cats would be cared for in an enclosed facility or other secure indoor location for the remainder of their lives.  The enclosed facility or facilities would be required to maintain humane conditions and to prevent the cats from being able to adversely affect birds or other native wildlife.  -From an internal document from the Department of the Navy

On June 17, 2008, the 30-day public comment period closed.  The Service received approximately 5,788 comments from individuals, conservation groups, and other organizations in response to the Draft EA.  Out of the 5,788 comments, a total of 1,465 represented unique comments.  The remaining 4,323 comments were generic electronic form letter submissions that all contained identical statements regarding the proposed project. (p. 2 

http://www.darrp.noaa.gov/southwest/montrose/pdf/Navy_Signed_FONSI.pdf)

 Feral cats may also carry diseases such as toxoplasmosis and rabies that can be transferred to the island fox and southern sea otter. Removal of the feral cat may potentially reduce the risk of disease to native wildlife. (Q3 http://www.darrp.noaa.gov/southwest/montrose/pdf/San_Nic_FAQs_seabirds.pdf )

The primary methods of euthanasia that would be used on San Nicolas Island are noninhalant pharmaceutical agents, such as potassium chloride combined with a general anesthetic, and physical methods, specifically an accurately placed gunshot. All persons implementing euthanasia would be appropriately trained in the technique used. (3.1.1.4 http://www.darrp.noaa.gov/southwest/montrose/pdf/San_Nicolas_Final_EA.pdf )

Dogs would be trained to find feral cats by following ground and / or wind-borne scents.  Dogs would not attack the feral cats, but would “bail them”, that is drive them by barking, into holes, rocky features, or trees.  The dog handler would shoot the feral cat when a clear, fatal shot can be delivered.  In some instances, feral cats may be deep in holes.  If this occurs, a live trap will be set at the entrance to the hole. (3.1.3 http://www.darrp.noaa.gov/southwest/montrose/pdf/San_Nicolas_Final_EA.pdf)

In order to protect native wildlife, Navy policy prohibits Trap-Neuter-Release (TNR) on their property; therefore, TNR is not an option on San Nicolas Island.  Moving captured feral cats and releasing them into feral colonies on the mainland is not an appropriate option for this project. Given the negative impacts of feral cats on wildlife, the USFWS does not consider the addition of feral cats from San Nicolas Island to the existing free-roaming cat population on the mainland to be consistent with our obligations to protect wildlife. (Q9 http://www.darrp.noaa.gov/southwest/montrose/pdf/San_Nic_FAQs_seabirds.pdf )

Currently, feral cats on San Nicolas Island are subject to periodic population control through trapping and hunting, a necessary management action undertaken by the Navy as part of their commitment to protecting wildlife on the island. (Q11 http://www.darrp.noaa.gov/southwest/montrose/pdf/San_Nic_FAQs_seabirds.pdf )

The presence of neutered and re-abandoned feral cats on San Nicolas Island would greatly decrease the ability to trap the remaining un-neutered feral cats because of an inability to determine through traditional methods (sign, dog tracking, etc.) between feral cats that had already been neutered and re-abandoned and new or not previously trapped feral cats.  (4.3.6 http://www.darrp.noaa.gov/southwest/montrose/pdf/San_Nicolas_Final_EA.pdf)

Between 2003 and 2007, as part of island fox population studies, box traps were set for a total of 4,292 trap nights.  A total of four cats were caught in box traps during that time period.  During the Pilot Program with HSUS in 2008, box traps were set for a total of 1,176 trap nights during which four cats were caught.  The average capture success for box traps was 0.37 percent, with a low of 0.34 and a high of .40 percent (Garcelon 2009).  During the Pilot Program, padded leg-hold traps were set for 71 trap nights during which three cats were caught.  The average capture success for padded leg-hold traps was 5 percent, with a low of 4.2 and a high of 6.2 percent (Garcelon 2009).  Overall, the capture success was 12-15 times greater for padded leg- hold traps over cage traps (Garcelon 2009). Comment #2 http://www.darrp.noaa.gov/southwest/montrose/pdf/San_Nicolas_Final_EA.pdf 

Comment #1: Several commenters recommended that feeding stations be set up on San 

Nicolas Island so the feral cats would not prey on native species. 

Response: Cats are natural hunters and will instinctively continue to hunt even when other food is available.  Due to rough topography and large roadless areas, maintaining feeding stations throughout the 14,230-acre island would be impractical.  Any artificial food sources would also be taken advantage of by the island fox, thereby creating an unnatural situation for this species. (p. 85 http://www.darrp.noaa.gov/southwest/montrose/pdf/San_Nicolas_Final_EA.pdf 

It is important to balance this challenge against difficult realities regarding the existing domesticated pet overpopulation, which poses an additional hurdle for these feral cats.  Statistics from the local shelter on the mainland, Ventura County Animal Shelter, indicate that in 2006-2007, out of 3,608 cats in their care, 1,256 were adopted, 148 were reclaimed, and 2,157 were euthanized.  Most of the animals euthanized were healthy, domestic adoptable cats (http://www.countyofventura.org/animalreg/ 2008).  When viewed against these statistics, a feral cat has little chance of adoption. 

(p. 94 http://www.darrp.noaa.gov/southwest/montrose/pdf/San_Nicolas_Final_EA.pdf )

HSUS Position Statement: Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) 

Kill Statistics at Proposed Shelter Where "Adoptable" Cats Might Go (pdf)

For more information, contact:

Jane Hendron 

Public Affairs Division Chief 

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 

6010 Hidden Valley Road 

Carlsbad, CA 92011 

760-431-9440 

Jane_Hendron@fws.gov 

Sources:

http://www.catchannel.com/news/2009/04/14/feral-cats-to-be-eliminated-from-san-nicolas-island.aspx

http://www.venturacountystar.com/news/2009/apr/10/feral-cats-to-be-eliminated-from-island/

http://www.dailynexus.com/article.php?a=18738 

Environmental Assessment for the Restoration and Protection of San Nicolas Island’s Native Fauna March 2009   

http://www.darrp.noaa.gov/southwest/montrose/pdf/San_Nic_FAQs_seabirds.pdf

http://www.darrp.noaa.gov/southwest/montrose/pdf/Navy_Signed_FONSI.pdf 

http://www.darrp.noaa.gov/southwest/montrose/pdf/msrp_rp_appendixd3.pdf

16 year old drowned friend's kitten because she didn't want to go back to her foster home

In Vineland, NJ, a woman is mourning the loss of one of her kittens.  She started out with a litter of four.  

“I think she’s a monster,” Rodriguez, 15, told NBC 10 News.

The 16-year-old girl stole the kitten, named Princess, Sunday afternoon while visiting Rodriguez at her home on North 7th Street, investigators said.

“(The friend) said she took the kitten to her own house and drowned it in the bathroom sink,” said Bev Greco, executive director of the Cumberland CountySPCA.

The kitten was found on the ground outside the Vineland home of the girl’s foster parents, Greco said. No one answered the door when NBC10 went to the house Monday afternoon.

Police charged the teen, whose name is not being made public because she’s a juvenile, with theft and animal cruelty. SPCA officials said she confessed to the crime.

The only explanation the teen gave for killing the kitten was that she did not want to go back to the foster home, Greco explained. The girl was being evaluated at a mental health facility.

So, she killed this poor kitten then threw it in the yard like it was trash.  She didn't even have remorse after she had realized what she had done.  I hope she gets the help that she needs.

Source:

http://www.nj.com/south/index.ssf/2009/03/vineland_teen_accused_of_drown.html

Rampaging Chimpanzee Killed, Dead Puppies and Disappearing Puppy Mill - all on the same property!

The Sheriff's Department had responded to a call Monday night on a request to help capture an angry chimp running loose on a highway outside Winston in northwest Missouri. When officers arrived, the 9-year-old chimp opened the patrol car door and grabbed the leg of a deputy, who fatally shot it, Chief Deputy Todd Watson said.

When Watson went to talk to the owners, he smelled a strong odor and heard barking from an estimated 100-200 small breed dogs.  The owners said they also had three other primates.

Watson returned with a search warrant the next day but only found 13 dogs and 2 cats, who appeared to be neglected and abused.  He also found nine dead puppies in the yard.  He did not find the dogs he smelled and heard the day before. 

Brent Hudson, 49; his wife, Cherace Hudson, 41; and their friend Mary Overton, 52, were jailed on $5,000 bond. They did not have attorneys, Watson said.

The three other primates have been recovered. The Humane Society of Missouri is offering a reward for information on the dogs that were seen Monday but gone from the property by the time officials returned Tuesday.

State Agriculture Department spokeswoman Misti Preston said the breeder never had a state license. The home was in a remote location, with no neighbors nearby.

Missouri Agriculture Director Jon Hagler, who has said he wants to put bad breeders out of business, said in a statement that such operators put the health and welfare of animals at risk and place legitimate pet breeders at a competitive disadvantage.

Source:

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ 

*Update-April 3*


91 of the approximately 200 dogs have been found and custody has been transferred to the Humane Society.  


The Humane Society said that the breeds of the dogs include Yorkshire Terrier, Pekingese, Chihuahua, Maltese, Miniature Pinscher and Miniature Poodle.

Associate circuit court arraignments for the three people charged in the case - Daniel Hudson, 49; Cherace E. Hudson, 41; and Mary C. Overton, 52, all of Winston - will be Monday. All three are being held in the Daviess-DeKalb Regional Jail in Pattonsburg, with $5,000 bonds.



The three people involved were charged at that point with numerous counts of animal neglect and abuse, and with owning exotic animals without a license. After the discovery of the dogs on Thursday, improper disposal of dead animals charges were also added against the three accused.


Source:
http://www.citizen-observer.com/articles/2009/04/03/news/news15.txt

Man Accused Of Feeding Cats To Pit Bulls

Warning: This story may disturb some readers.

A Georgia man has been charged with aggravated cruelty to animals for capturing neighborhood kittens and cats and feeding them to his pit bulls.

The warrant charges that Tye Hilmo “did give injured live cats and kittens to his pit bull dogs and let the pit bulls kill the already injured cats and kittens. Hilmo would capture and injure neighborhood cats for this purpose.”

Authorities acted after receiving an anonymous tip that Hilmo had been capturing cats for his dogs to kill. The tipster also said Hilmo was preparing his pit bulls for dog fighting. Investigators said they do not have enough evidence to charge Hilmo with dog fighting.

Investigators found the bodies of two kittens near Hilmo’s house. They also found evidence on his cell phone: a picture of one of his pit bulls and a dead kitten, and beneath the picture, a caption that says “Good Dog.”

Aggravated cruelty to animals is a felony, and if convicted, Hilmo can face one to five years in prison and a fine of up to $15,000.

Hilmo was already in jail on drug, firearm and probation violation charges.


Source:
www.postchronicle.com

Did Flo Rida brutally kill a rabbit?

Flo Rida is being sought by police after he and his entourage allegedly brutally killed a rabbit beside his bus in Kentucky. Lexington police aren't sure if Flo was directly involved, but they are searching for his tour bus after witnesses saw a group of men walk off the bus with a rabbit in hand, kill it, and then leave. Police are expected to catch up with Flo Rida in Columbus, OH, as he is currently on tour behind his upcoming album, R.O.O.T.S.


Source:
http://www.prefixmag.com/news/flo-rida-accused-of-animal-cruelty/27189/

Justice for 4 month old kitten stomped to death

A 33-year-old man was sentenced in San Mateo County Superior Court Friday morning to one year in county jail for stomping his roommate's daughter's kitten to death last November.

Jesus Calderon-Franco, who initially denied killing the animal, pleaded no contest to charges of felony animal abuse for killing the 4-month-old kitten, named "Pucci," on Nov. 30.

At the sentencing this morning, Deputy District Attorney Sean Dabel called the crime "vicious" and asked Judge Clifford Cretan to impose a prison sentence.

Defense attorney Edward Rojas, however, argued that although the incident was "cruel" and "inexcusable," Calderon-Franco had no previous criminal record.

"Sending him to prison is not going to bring back the kitten," Rojas said.
 
Calderon-Franco killed the kitten allegedly because he was angry with his roommate's 4-year-old daughter for drawing on the bathroom door.

Dabel said Calderon-Franco was under the influence of alcohol and methamphetamine when he saw the drawings, and threw the girl's cat off a second-floor balcony as a punishment.

Calderon-Franco then went downstairs and stomped on the kitten, fracturing its body in several places until it died, Dabel said.

The girl and Calderon-Franco's roommate were not home at the time, but the roommate's brother was home and allegedly witnessed the attack.

The roommate's brother called the roommate, who returned home and confronted Calderon-Franco. He denied attacking the animal, Dabel said.

But Calderon-Franco's roommate saw blood on the sidewalk and followed the trail to find his daughter's kitten dead in a nearby trashcan.

"The brother said (Calderon-Franco) was laughing as he did this, and he took no responsibility after," Dabel said. "The family has been traumatized by this attack."

In addition to a year in county jail, Calderon-Franco was sentenced to three years probation and was ordered not to make contact with the family who owned the kitten.


Read more... 

17 year old arrested in case of kittens set on fire and killed by fireworks, one with broken legs.

Brooks County Sheriff Mike Dewey announced today the arrest of Cory Ward, 17, of Brooks County for Aggravated Cruelty to Animals in the death of two cats and the disfiguration of a third cat in the area of Eagle Run Trailer Park. Ward was taken into custody at approximately 12:30 p.m. today and is to appear before Brooks County Magistrate Judge Joyce Miskiel this afternoon for arraignment.

On December 20, 2008, Jim Ragan found two cats that were severely burned. Both cats were taken to Baytree Animal Hospital. On December 22, 2008, Mr. Ragan found a third cat that had also been burned and had two broken legs.

Two of the cats – "Fluffy" and "Little Jim" were taken to the University of Florida Veterinary Hospital where they later died. Blackie continues to improve at home with surgery scheduled in the next few weeks.

"After extensive investigation and follow-up on leads provided to us by concerned citizens we were able to solve this case," stated Sheriff Mike Dewey. "We appreciate the many individuals who came forward with information and offers to help with the medical costs and the reward money," the Sheriff continued.

"Individuals who commit such heinous acts as the burning of these innocent animals, if not caught and held accountable for these acts may go on to commit more serious crimes in the future." Dewey further stated.

Aggravated Animal Cruelty is a felony and carries a penalty of 1 – 5 years and a maximum fine of $15,000 plus restitution. Currently medical costs for the treatment of "Fluffy", "Little Jim" and "Blackie" is approximately $16,000.


Read more here... 

Six-Month Old Puppy Killed By Assistant Fire Chief In Riverside, California Has Not Been Arrested!

Six-Month Old Puppy Killed By Assistant Fire Chief In Riverside, California

Los Angeles Assistant Fire Chief Glynn Johnson has been placed on administrative leave following his fatal beating of a neighbor's 6-month old dog. Read about this case in the Los Angeles Times here. Watch the news Video on Youtube.

Johnson remains un-arrested, in his Riverside County home on paid administrative leave while the brutal beating of his neighbor's 6-month-old puppy, Karley - which resulted in a crushed skull, dislocated eye, broken jaw, and broken nose - is being investigated.

The puppy had to be euthanized because of the degree of her suffering and the fact that she sustained permanent brain damage.

Johnson admitted to the horrific crime which occurred on Monday, November 3, 2008 but is claiming he acted in self-defense. He placed his hands inside Karley's mouth to break her jaw and nose, in addition to crushing her skull via repeated blows to the head with an 11-inch rock. The puppy was so severely injured that she had to be put down just hours after the brutal attack.

Listed below are the addresses and telephone numbers of the Los Angeles County Fire Department Headquarters, Riverside County District Attorney's Office, and Riverside County Sheriff's Office. Please call or write to these officials to demand accountability and justice for this felony to the fullest extent allowed by law.

Talking Points:

1. Karley deserves justice for her suffering and death.

2. Karley's family deserves recognition for their emotional pain and loss.

3. The perpetrator needs to pay for his crime.

4. Animal abuse should not be tolerated in a civilized society - especially by persons in high-ranking positions of public trust - and especially by those who may be called upon to help animals at their job.

5. The FBI and behavioral scientists recognize (and have documented) that animal abuse, especially when it goes unpunished, often leads to (or occurs at the same time as) violence against people.

Los Angeles County Fire Department Headquarters

Chief P. Michael Freeman

1320 N. Eastern Ave.

Los Angeles, CA 90063

(323) 881-2401

Riverside County District Attorney's Office

4075 Main Street

Riverside, CA 92501

(951) 955-5400

Riverside County Sheriff's Office

Perris Station

137 N. Perris

Perris, CA 92570

(951) 210-1000

Ask for, or write attention to, Investigator Cherie Blossfield

Thank you for speaking up for Karley, and all other animals who suffer at the hands of criminals.

***Update*** Click here

Fur Free Friday is November 28, 2008

To promote awareness of the horrors of the fur industry, several animal welfare organizations are sponsoring a Fur Free Friday. I have never worn fur or even fake fur because I didn't want people thinking I was wearing real fur. I have always been disgusted at the thought of wearing an animal's skin-even when I was a child.

Usually, the animals are kept in small cages, sporadically fed, abused, then skinned alive. The worst thing I ever saw regarding fur was (a video of) someone standing on a fox's throat and stomping on it as you would put out a cigarette, with blood coming out of his nose. That is not my idea of fashion. Just typing that, it is turning my stomach and depressing me. I know it goes on but the only thing I can do about it is to not buy it. I do not want my money paying for cruelty.

If you'd like to participate in the Fur Free Friday, click here.
For more on the fur industry, visit www.infurmation.com

7 year old breaks into zoo and feeds animals to a crocodile and kills large lizards with a rock.

The Associated Press

SYDNEY, Australia – A 7-year-old boy broke into a popular Outback zoo, fed a string of animals to the resident crocodile and bashed several lizards to death with a rock, the zoo's director said Friday.

RAMPAGE

The 30-minute rampage, caught on the zoo's security camera, happened early Wednesday at the Alice Springs Reptile Centre in central Australia.

KILLING SPREE

Three lizards were bashed to death with a rock, including the zoo's beloved, 20-year-old goanna, which was fed, along with several other live animals, to "Terry," an 11-foot, 440-pound saltwater crocodile.

EMOTIONLESS

In the footage, the boy's face remains largely blank, zoo director Rex Neindorf said: "It was like he was playing a game."

NO CHARGES

Police say they can't charge the boy because he's under 10, but Mr. Neindorf said he plans to sue the boy's parents for the $5,500 value of the animals killed.

I cannot believe the police say they cannot charge him. What if he killed a person? Could they not charge him then? I think this sounds like a cop-out, pardon the pun. This is a seven year old boy, who broke into a zoo and not only killed animals, but did it in a very disturbing way.

Who else thinks this is something that is so serious that they must charge this boy? He needs psychological help.

Adelanto animal control official accused of drowning kittens

The head of Adelanto's animal control office has been charged with multiple counts of animal cruelty after investigators said he systematically drowned dozens of kittens over four months last year.

Kevin Murphy, 36, was charged Monday with six counts of killing, maiming and abusing animals and faces up to six years in prison if he is convicted.

"The charges allege that he killed in the neighborhood of 50 kittens while working as head of animal control in Adelanto," said James Hill, San Bernardino County supervising deputy district attorney.

More...

Indian Kashmir to Poison 100,000 Stray Dogs

RINAGAR — Officials in Indian-Kashmir have poisoned hundreds of dogs and aim to kill all 100,000 strays in the region's main city — saying the animals pose a risk to humans and make urban life unbearable.

With the world's highest rabies fatality rate, India has long struggled to control its millions of stray dogs, a problem exacerbated by rapidly growing cities and slums.

Animal rights activists vowed Thursday to go to court to stop the slaughter planned by Srinagar city, saying it is an illegal and cruel solution to a problem that could be addressed in other ways.

City officials, however, said they would press ahead.

"These dogs have become a big nuisance and they are threatening humans," said Dr. Riyaz Ahmad, the Srinagar city health officer who is organizing the killings.

"We have placed orders for the poison and then we will launch a large-scale drive. For the time being we are doing it with stocks we have," he told The Associated Press.

Ahmad said so far some 500 dogs have been killed. Asked if officials plan to kill all the city's strays — estimated at more than 100,000 — he said, "that's the target."

While officials have touted the program as an anti-rabies drive, Ahmad acknowledged that with only two deaths from 1,341 dog bites reported in Srinagar last year, it was more about appeasing the public.

"They should have done it earlier; these dogs have made our lives hell," said Shabir Ahmad, a construction worker.

"My son often asks when will I get these dogs killed because he is afraid to leave the house," said Muhammad Hayat Jeelani, a government worker.

Animal activists said they would try to stop the killings.

"We are going to file a suit against the municipal corporation if they go ahead with this, because this poisoning drive will be against the prevention of cruelty act," said Javaid Iqbal Shah, the deputy head of the Srinagar Society to Prevent Cruelty to Animals.

Shah said the poison used, strychnine, was particularly cruel, causing terrible suffering to the dogs.

"It cripples the nervous system and then chokes the animal. It is not a good sight to see these animals die by the roadside. I have seen children cry when they pass by these dying dogs," he said.

The poison, which is left in garbage dumps in pieces of offal, also inadvertently kills other animals, like cows, Shah said.

Shah said he had proposed the city carry out a sterilization program instead but acknowledged that his organization had only managed to sterilize 400 dogs in the last two years.

India accounts for more than 60 percent of the estimated 35,000 annual global rabies deaths, according to the World Health Organization, and stray dogs are often blamed.

In some areas, dogs form feral packs that have attacked people. However, other strays are "community pets," semi-tame animals who are cared for and fed by residents.

Other Indian cities have struggled unsuccessfully to curb the stray problem.

India's high-tech hub of Bangalore called off a drive to slaughter strays last year following allegations that untrained workers were stoning, strangling and beating the dogs to death.

In New Delhi, one city councilor suggested shipping the country's strays to Korea, where dog meat is considered a delicacy.

Other health officials in Srinagar said the city was exaggerating the danger posed by the dogs and could better spend the money on treatment.

"The real problem is that hospitals are poorly equipped to deal with dog bites," said Dr. Saleem Khan, who runs a state rabies clinic in Srinagar.

Khan noted that only one out of five rabies vaccinations needed after a bite were paid for by the hospital. The rest had to be bought privately for about $8.50 — more than a week's wages for many — and with most victims poor children, that was nearly impossible, he said.

China has also grappled with rabies outbreaks that kill more than 2,000 people each year, prompting officials throughout that country to order periodic dog killings.

Man who fatally mutilated dog he stole from a vehicle is sentenced in York County, Maine

Michael Morin is accused of breaking into a truck’s passenger compartment and stealing Bandit, a Jack Russell Terrier and later slitting his throat, resulting in his death. Morin had apparently been a dating a woman who lived near the bar, and he thought that the dog’s owner had been visiting her, said York County Sheriff Maurice Ouellette. Morin allegedly slit the dog’s throat, leaving it to bleed to death in the bed of the truck.

In addition 8 months of jail time, Morin was ordered by the court to pay the dog's owner, Ron Pelletier of Kennebunk, restitution in the amount of $875. Morin will also be on probation for two years following the completion of his sentence.


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Cat found with crushed neck, skull (Hearing 1/25/08)

**Important** There is a hearing Friday, Jan 25, 2008!!!
Here is the judge and the address:

Hon. Douglas C. Boyack
60 North Washington Street, Sonora, CA 95370
Phone: 209-533-5563
Case # CRF-25456 (<-- be sure to include this case number if writing a letter or calling!)



A man facing charges for allegedly killing a cat with his bare hands in October will go for psychological evaluation before criminal proceedings continue.

Steven Bruce Tippett, 51, was arrested Oct. 29 on suspicion of felony animal cruelty and appeared in court for a preliminary hearing Wednesday.

The hearing was continued until a psychologist can evaluate Tippett to determine if he is mentally fit enough to understand the proceedings and assist his attorney in his defense.

"At this point, we have a serious concern about it," said Deputy Public Defender Carolyn Woodall, who was standing in for Tippett's attorney Deputy Public Defender Clay Bedford.

If a psychologist finds he is not mentally competent, Tippett will undergo counseling, treatment or education before proceedings resume.

Five members of Sonora Cat Rescue, a nonprofit group that works to spay and neuter feral cats and place some cats in homes, appeared to watch the proceedings.

As Tippett, who was released from jail Oct. 31 on the promise to appear in court, passed the group on the way into the courtroom, he meowed at them, the members said.

The group members said they wanted to follow the proceedings after they heard of the allegations.

Upon evaluation, the cat's neck and skull were crushed.

Deputy District Attorney Dee Shepherd is the attorney for the prosecution in the case.

Tuolumne County Superior Court Judge Doug Boyack set a hearing to evaluate the psychologist's report for 1:15 p.m. Jan. 2 in Department 4.

Woman fears her cats being killed

Mikkelsen, who rents a home on 32 acres in the county, said that when her first cat died three years ago, she didn't suspect foul play. But after four died since Thanksgiving, she recruited a friend to help figure out what was going on.

A veterinarian's report and a Caroline animal control investigation shows that at least two of the cats weren't hit by cars; they were cut vertically along their abdomens and gutted.

Two Dogs Brutally Tortured and Killed

BAINBRIDGE, Ohio - Investigators said two dogs who had been missing for days were abused and killed before their owners found them in the woods on Tuesday.

Barbara Hatfield and Steve McGlonn said their dogs, Mack and Flash, roamed their 56-acre farm, but always returned home, 10TV News reported.

After the dogs did not come home on Friday, the couple started searching for them.

SLIDESHOW: Images From Report

Hatfield and McGlonn discovered their dogs' bodies on nearby property.

"You couldn't believe someone would do that to your dogs," Hatfield said.

"I just wanted to lay down with them and she kept pulling me away," McGlonn said.

Pike County Humane Society investigators said the dogs had been brutally abused.

"These dogs were tortured and brutalized and had massive bone damage," said Humane Society Director John Owens. "They were in plain view of the owner's place of residence. It goes beyond words, there is not enough I can say about it."

Next to the dogs, investigators found a fawn in a garbage bag and another butchered deer, 10TV News reported.

Agents also discovered a wire that they believed was used to tie the dogs down.

"Who would do something like that to an innocent dog?" Hatfield said.

The couple hoped that an investigation could help save another pet from the same fate.

The Humane Society said they have evidence that dogs had been tortured on that property before.

Investigators said the person responsible could face multiple misdemeanor charges of animal cruelty.

The animals' bodies were being tested for an exact cause of death.