A Chicken Liberation Manifesto

Kathleen Stachowski  Other Nations “Yo, birdbrain!” “Hey, what are ya, a chicken?” Rather than taking offense to these common put-downs, I’m going to take them as compliments. Birds–let’s focus on chickens here–are smart. Social. Brave. They think and feel. In a lot of ways, they’re a lot like us. But it’s easy to forget that–if, indeed, [...]

“Now where did I put my animal cruelty laws….” Selling live animals as keychains

Margaret Maigret An earlier post about fur farming in China reminded me of the heinous animal offenses that people will overlook to possess something as silly as a rabbit’s foot keychain. I remember reading the post and thinking, Wow—could there possibly be a more constant reminder of animal cruelty than a rabbit’s foot keychain?” Well, [...]

Horse-Drawn Carriages Are Wrong

Margaret Maigret Maybe it is the ridiculous outfits that they have no idea they’re wearing.  Maybe it is the fact that I live near one of their “stables” by the West Side Highway– that location is unnatural enough for me, let alone an animal. Or maybe it’s because whenever you see them, they’re walking, walking, [...]

Wolf Delisting Op-ed

David Cassuto Between Kathleen and me, we’ve taken up a lot of blawgwidth on the wolf issue and yet there’s so much more to be said.  Here’s my bid to bring it into the mainstream media.

Circuses: Quit clowning with animals’ lives!

Kathleen Stachowski Other Nations Running away to join the circus! What a call to liberation–beckoning kids for generations. An escape to freedom from nagging parents, onerous chores, meaningless homework. Restless adults still hear that siren song—now merely an escape fantasy—and imagine leaving the past behind and starting over as someone new. While the human version [...]

U.S. Senate passes wolf delisting rider

Wolf advocates accuse Sen. Tester (D-MT) of politically intervening in a scientific decision From this morning’s local paper: “Our provision does not undermine the Endangered Species Act,” said Montana Sen. Jon Tester, who led the effort to delist the wolf in Congress. “It recognizes the ESA as a success.”… “Wolves in Washington, Oregon and Utah [...]

Animal abuse–what’s going on?

Kathleen Stachowski    Other Nations It keeps running through my head–the great Marvin Gaye asking, “What’s going on?” This was a 1971 antiwar and social justice song, but the question applies to the war on animals, as well. “Don’t punish me…with brutality…what’s going on?” If you know the song, chances are good it’s in your [...]

Mass Animal Deaths: Nature, Nurture, Conspiracy, or Apocalyspe?

Rosana Escobar Brown The Red-winged Blackbird deaths on New Year’s Eve 2011 sparked an international debate over trends in mass animal deaths around the globe.  That night, 5,000 birds plummeted to their demise over the Beebe, Arkansas, with low-flying and fireworks cited as the cause.  One report assumed the birds just began “colliding with things” [...]

Endangered Species Act in peril

Here in the Northern Rockies, it’s all wolf, all the time. But larger implications loom for all imperiled species. “Wolves at a Crossroads: 2011 – The Endangered Species Act in Peril” is a comprehensive document on wolves and the concurrent threat to the integrity of the ESA. Congressional interference stands to weaken the Endangered Species [...]

And Another NYSBA-Related Thing

David Cassuto From the email (h/t Cari Rinker): The Committee on Animals and the Law is always looking for law students who are interested in making a difference for animals and people. Students can help coordinate our student activities, and actively participate, like our members and volunteers, in our important work. We need assistance with [...]

NY State Bar Assn. Animal Law Writing Competition

David Cassuto Look alive, law students! 2011 NEW YORK STATE BAR ASSOCIATION COMMITTEE ON ANIMALS, LAW STUDENT WRITING COMPETITION. Get the full 411 here.

Idaho wolf “disaster emergency” bill introduced

Kathleen Stachowski Other Nations Purple prose…melodrama…not what you expect to find in legislation these days UNLESS it comes from the Northern Rockies and deals with “imported Canadian wolves.” To wit: Idaho’s House Bill 343, introduced to the House for its first reading on 4/4. The  uncontrolled proliferation of imported wolves on private land has produced [...]

Miscellaneous for Monday morning

Britain to ban animals from circuses: “Animal Welfare Minister Jim Paice recently told MPs that a new policy was ‘close to completion.’” Greece follows suit: “The government has suggested an amendment in the law on animal rights that will increase the criminal liability for torturing animals, a media report said. Violators will be jailed.” This [...]