Wow! that is a big time raid!!  Good for them! Now hope they can  get some long convictions!! 

 [ send green star]

 [ accepted]

Here is some breaking news about what may possibly be the largest dog fighting ring in the U.S. to date.

Largest Dog Fighting Operation in U.S. History Raided by State & Federal Agencies With Assistance From ASPCA

ASPCA Dispatches Forensics, Vet Care and Behavior Evaluation Teams to Sites in Missouri, Illinois

NEW YORK, July 8 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — What is believed to be the largest dog fighting operation in U.S. history was raided early Wednesday in an effort that included federal and state agencies, with the ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) assisting.

At the request of the Humane Society of Missouri, the ASPCA, along with the Missouri State Highway Patrol, United States Department of Agriculture’s Office of the Inspector General, Federal Bureau of Investigation, The U.S. Marshals Service and the United States Attorney, is collaborating in the rescue, veterinary care, and forensics evidence collection of dogs associated with multiple suspected dog fighting operations. The ASPCA will also be assisting in behavior evaluations of the dogs.

The dog fighting operation is believed to have spanned five states and included arrests in Missouri, Illinois, Iowa, Texas and Oklahoma. Dogs are being safely transported to a secure facility under the direction of the Humane Society of Missouri Animal Cruelty Task Force, where they will be cared for until final disposition is determined by the United States District Court.

“The ASPCA is determined to protect its nation’s pets from dog fighting and other forms of brutality,” said ASPCA President and CEO Ed Sayres. “Animal cruelty cannot be tolerated, and we are proud to lend our support to federal and local agencies to ensure that these abusers are brought to justice.”

The ASPCA is collecting evidence for the prosecution of the criminal case, as well as lending the services of its special forensic cruelty investigation team, comprised of disaster animal rescuers, field service investigators, and Dr. Melinda Merck, the nation’s premier forensic veterinarian. More than a dozen responders from the ASPCA’s Disaster Response team are in the field, along with the ASPCA’s “Mobile Animal Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) Unit,” a critical tool in the collection and processing of evidence at crime scenes. The CSI unit brings both state-of-the-art forensics tools and expertise to crime scenes and is outfitted with medical equipment tailored for animal patients.

“The ASPCA’s Mobile Animal CSI unit is an important component in the effort against animal cruelty,” said Laura Maloney, Senior Vice President of Anti-Cruelty Initiatives for the ASPCA. “This technology allows the ASPCA to strengthen cases against animal abusers and seek justice for their victims.”

Stay tuned…..I will continually post updates as more information on this case is released. To read more about the history of dog fighting and what you can do to help go to the ASPCA’swebsite.

 [ send green star]

 [ accepted]

Dear Dusty,

Victory for Great Lakes wolves!

 [ send green star]

 [ accepted]

/>

Free Willy Music Video Michael Jackson RIP   />
Animals  (tags: orcas, free willy, keiko, Michael Jackson, music, tribute )

Teresa
- 1 day ago - youtube.com

 [ send green star]

 [ accepted]

/>

Bark For Life to Raise Funds to Fight Animal Cancer
Animals  (tags: pets, cancers, raising awareness, raising funds, walk-a-thon )

Betty
- 57 seconds ago - blueridgenow.com

 [ send green star]

 [ accepted]

[video at full story link]

Mindi Morris went to the Bastrop County Animal Shelter Saturday to
rescue a Schnauzer.

“I wanted to do what I could to help,” she said.

Betty Taylor wants to rescue one too.

“I just know I want a female mini –Schnauzer-- one that is sweet and
loving and will give me unconditional love,” Taylor said.

But both women will have to wait for a judge to decide if the dogs are
victims of animal cruelty.

The 87 miniature Schnauzers--some with three-day old puppies--are
recovering at the shelter. Bastrop County Animal Control seized the
dogs Thursday night from a home along Highway 95. Betty Wade, Director
of Animal Control, said the dogs were living in filth.

--
full story:
http://www.kvue.com/news/local/stories/060609kvuebastrop-bkm.56ae7b96.html

 [ send green star]

 [ accepted]

In Like A Lamb, Out Like A Food Lion

Posted: 02 Jun 2009 05:48 AM PDT

Dogster member Mozart gave me a bark to share the news about a new way to donate to the North Mecklenburg Animal Rescue, located in NC.

Food Lion grocery stores are donating a small portion of the proceeds of your bill every time you shop using your MVP Card. All you need to do is sign up on the NMAR website, just use the online formfilling our your name and 12  digit MVP number.

Voilá, the North Mecklenburg Animal Rescue starts receiving much needed donations. Easy, safe, and painless.

The NMAR is a wonderful organization who give dogs like Ana, pictured, a chance to have a normal life. Beautiful Ana hasn’t had it easy, she’s lived at the shelter since she was four months old, over 2 1/2 years.

This poor girl has been with us since she was a 4 month old pup, and was feral for all intents and purposes. A kind man was able to trap her and bring her to us with the hope that we might be able to turn her around. We attempted to present her for adoption, thinking that someone with a soft spot for tough cases would take her, but we had no interest from anyone. When she was only 8 months old, the vets discovered that she had extremely bad hips, and we did not expect her to live comfortably for long.

Amazingly, Ana has continued to surprise us. Although still very, very shy, she is sociable on her own terms, in her own time. She will sit for petting and loving as long as the human is also seated. She will often jump up on the couch and initiate the attention, even with people she has never met before. She has NEVER shown any aggression towards humans, she simply runs off when she is frightened. She plays with toys and snuggles with her doggie friends. Ana gets on well with every dog she has ever met, and runs and plays with exuberance despite the conditions of her hips. She has required very little pain medicine up to this point, and if you did not know she had hip issues, you would not be able to tell by watching her play.

Ana is going to require a very special family, preferably with no more than two dogs and parents who will have lots of time and love to give her.  If you think you’re the one please contact NMAR as soon as possible, there are some changes at the shelter and Ana desperately needs to move on to her forever home.

 [ send green star]

 [ accepted]

Such a sad story.....and one that you read alot more about these days Mike.  I believe I saw something about this on facebook as well as a petition  (if anyone has seen it please post)  I will see if I can find it.  

 [ send green star]

 [ accepted]

On May 23rd our beautiful registered Basset Hound Sammy accidentally got out the front door and was gone for maybe 5 minutes. My husband and I were in our front yard talking to our neighbor from across the street. This was between 1700-1730. We heard about 5-6 shots and we thought someone was shooting fireworks at him. My husband said he was going to go get in the car and go get Sammy. He drove up the side street just a little ways to where there is an alley, stopped the car and got out. I was standing in our front yard and as he was walking toward the alley he yelled at me and told me to call the police because someone had killed Sammy. I came in the house to get the phone so I could call the law. My daughter and I ran down the street to where my husband had parked the car and here came my husband carrying Sammy. We were so distraught my daughter started yelling why did you kill our dog, I want to know why. We could see this guy from a distance stomping to his back yard. He almost fell and acted like he was coming after us. When we were all back at the house in the front yard, my husband told us he had found Sammy in the alley behind this guy's house and he yelled and asked who had shot our dog. My husband said this guy came up to the fence in his back yard and this guy acted aggressive like he was looking for a fight. Now, Sammy was found in the alley behind this guy's house and there is a chain link fence that separates the 3 houses on block from the alley. How was it that Sammy was even in his yard? The cop came and asked us our side of the story and then he went around and asked the guy his side. When the cop came back, he said that jerk told him that Sammy came in his yard and was chasing his kid so he whipped out a gun and shot and killed Sammy. The cop told us there is a leash law and he could issue him a ticket for $200 for shooting a firearm inside the city limits, but would have to give us a ticket for $200 for Sammy being at large. We decided why bother, we would be in the same boat as we would to start with. We know how the law works in this piddly town. When my brother got word of this he called for the same officer to come back up here because he wanted to know how a person can just open up fire in a residential area. The cop acted really put out this time and got a little attitude with my brother. He was just plain unprofessional telling us the same old crap about the leash law and how that guy had every right to shoot Sammy if he felt like Sammy was a threat to him or his family. COME ON a Basset Hound??? We know . We heard what we thought was fireworks around 1330. Some of the other neighbors heard it as well. I want justice and peace for Sammy and my family. This was all uncalled for, he did not have to kill him. He's scum in my books. He has a history of domestic violence and abuse according to the Oklahoma public court records. I have been talking to the under sheriff and we'll see where that goes. He agreed it's not right to be shooting like that in a residential area. I have my ideas about this horrible ordeal. That sorry SOB was playing with that gun all day and Sammy was an easy target. I intend to fight this with everything I have, to get the word out to anyone and everyone that will listen to me. I have emailed the newspapers and news channels. Sammy was a wonderful, sweet, loving puppy dog who would never hurt a soul. He would have been 3 on Sept. 28th. He is greatly missed.

Thank you,
Diana Marsh

this was sent to me in facebook form Diana,a friend. Their beloved bassethound Sammy was shot and killed by a violent neighbor,and he lied to the police and nothing was done about it.This is just WRONG.The man that killed and lied to the police,his name is Joe Sherman. This happened in the town of Wagoner,Oklahoma. Is there any way that someone can please help them? This man cannot get away w/murder like this.   Thank you,many blessings

 [ accepted]

Road to Redemption?

 [ send green star]

 [ accepted]

Key votes for animals in Europe

Animal advocates around the world rejoiced May 5^th when the European Parliament voted to ban seal product trade in the European Union. Read more>>

Meanwhile, a vote on animal experiments law brought both hope and disappointment for animals in EU laboratories. Read more>>

Unfortunately, Parliament rejected amendments that would have prohibited cruel killing methods for fur animals. Read more>>

 [ send green star]

 [ accepted]