Animal Law News
What would you expect a veterinarian to do? (Wisconsin, USA)
Wisconsin is one of 39 states in the United States of America that doesn't require licensed veterinarians to report suspected animal abuse. The issue of an attending veterinarian's responsibilities in reporting cases of suspected abuse has been highlighted recently after charges were filed in Marathon County against a 20-year-old Wausau woman accused of killing her boyfriend's dog in June. The Labrador-shepherd mix had been treated at the VCA Companion Care Veterinary Services in Wausau for previous injuries.
Veterinary conference discusses animal welfare (China)
Officials, academics and professionals gathered for the third Chinese Veterinary Conference in Suzhou, Jiangsu province, recently to discuss animal welfare and legislation.It was the first time the conference held a forum on animal welfare, hosted by the Chinese Veterinary Medical Association, Jeanne Marchig International Centre for Animal Welfare Education and the Asian Animal Foundation.
The forum reportedly gave an overview of animal welfare from an international perspective, the role of veterinarians and the challenges China faces.
Read more at ...more >>
Agriculture, Animal Welfare and Climate Change
Summary: In the second half of the twentieth century, agricultural production in the UK intensified, first for food security and then for economic reasons. Since the 1960s and 1970s, both animal welfare and environmental advocates have criticised intensive systems of agriculture. Intensive livestock farming methods translate to confinement, high stocking densities and rapid growth rates, which can cause poor welfare.
Philippine court stops Solomon dolphins export
A Manila court has issued a 72-hour temporary protection order to stop 25 dolphins, originally from Solomon Islands, from being exported to Singapore. The court has also banned the importation of more dolphins, saying the journey would harm them. A petition was filed by environmental and animal welfare groups against the Philippines Fisheries Bureau and Agriculture Department. They argued exporting the dolphins would be a violation of wildlife laws.
The 25 dolphins were being imported by Resorts World Singapore from the Solomon Islands, and were being held in a Philippines marine...more >>
California Law Blocks Mandatory Declawing of Pets
Landlords in California can no longer force tenants to declaw or devocalize their pets as a condition of renting a property, thanks to a new anti-cruelty law. Property owners can still ban animals from a dwelling outright; however the days of allowing only clawless cats and barkless dogs are over.
John Ralph Essay Competition 2012
In 2010, the Australian Farm Institute established an annual Essay Competition. John Ralph was the inaugural chairman of the Institute and argued strongly for comprehensive and objective research as the basis for sound policy decision-making, particularly for the agriculture sector. This competition was established to recognise John Ralph's contribution.
In 2010, the John Ralph Essay Competition was won by Daniel James Gibbons for his essay, Australia's Primary Industries - A Bulwark Against External Shocks.
In 2011 the Competition was won by Miss Nicolette Cameron, student,...more >>
An alternative perspective on live exports (Australia)
Ban on live exports will increase cruelty.
A recent article argues that, amid the emotion and the growing number of opportunistic MPs who see the subject of live exports as an issue to make some hay ("while the sun shines"), there is a serious lack of rational explanation as to why this trade exists - and why Australia must remain involved. "The basic reason we trade live animals is this - demand".
Why do other countries want live animals? There are two main reasons.
Religion: Even the most religious in...more >>
Revoking licence would harm New Zealand’s international reputation
Fears of an international backlash deterred the then Ministry of Agriculture from considering closing down Whangarei’s Zion Wildlife Gardens, despite six attacks by the big cats in the park, a court has heard.
Dr Barry Wards, a specialist adviser to the ministry, yesterday told an inquest into the death of Clifford (Dalu) MnCube that the political backlash from supporters of Lion Man Craig Busch after he was sacked from the park reached the very top of Government, including Prime Minister John Key. The ministry determined that based on the level of support Mr Busch...more >>
Animal welfare law in Japan reportedly "has no backbone"
"The friction between competing political parties no longer fortifies the effectiveness of lawmaking. If anything it confounds the process. The opposition Liberal Democratic Party has openly vowed to be legislatively uncooperative until the ruling Democratic Party of Japan calls an election, so in order to give the appearance of actually doing something, the DPJ passes any bill it can regardless of its value".
That's hardly reassuring for animal protection advocates.
The article goes on to report that:
- A revision to the Animal Welfare Law has been...more >>
Are the SPCA "out of control"? (Canada)
“Believe it or not, there are some people who believe they are out of control,” Craitor said. “So it just shows you there are two strong points of view out there.” That was one of the reported comments concerning an investigation into animal neglect allegations at Marineland at the Niagara Falls theme park in Ontario, Canada.