Chris's Sharebook 

An estimated 32,000 baby cows have been stranded aboard ships for six weeks at an Egyptian port after arriving from Australia. The Ministry of Agriculture is keeping them quarantined after fears that they were given cancerous treatments before boarding a vessel from Australia to Egypt, where they are planned to be slaughtered.

The cows remain on board their vessels in horrible conditions, waiting for the ministry to decide their fate. According to an al-Shorouk news report, they will likely remain on these ships for weeks as further tests take place.

This is not the first time when cows suffered on ships destined for Egypt. Earlier this year, 3,000 cows died on a ship after the Egyptian government refused to let them dock.

Thousands of animals are suffering and have died because of poor live export practices and lack of communication. Please urge the Ministry of Agricuture to offload the 32,000 stranded cows and take action to prevent similar situations from happening in the future!

SIGN PETITION

Starting in July each year, Namibian license holders start slaughtering Cape Fur seals and don't stop until they reach their quota of 85,000 baby seal pups and 6,000 bulls. This is the largest slaughter of marine life on the planet, surpassing even the Canadian seal hunt.

The cull is driven by one fur trader, Hatem Yavuz, who buys all the pelts and processes them for fashion. Only 107,910 Cape Fur seal pups were born in 2006. Despite this, 85,000 terrified pups are separated from their mothers every year and clubbed to death with clubs that have nails in them. 

Slaughtering seals for fur coats and other fashions is needless and cruel. The Namibian Government could make more of a profit, increase tourism and create more jobs from live seals. Please sign the petition to urge officials to end this annual slaughter.

The first Wisconsin wolf hunt is scheduled for October 15th and is planned to continue through February. Wisconsin is the only state that will allow hunters to use dogs to pursue wolves, and current hunting regulations lack any regulations such as leash and lead requirements. 

Hunters argue that they can use radio collars to tell dogs to stop, but dogs don't always listen to them. Because wolves are known to attack hunting dogs, current hunting regulations create the potential for brutal conflicts between dogs and wolves. Endangering dogs in this way would violate Wisconsin's animal cruelty laws.

DNR agency officials say they don't have time to add dog restrictions before the first October hunt, but such restrictions would save dogs from brutal injury and death. Judge Peter C. Anderson is currently considering humane society groups' requests to add these restrictions. Please sign the petition to stop the use of dogs in Wisconsin wolf hunts!

Chinese scientists are conducting experiments to create genetically modified (GM) cattle designed to produce tastier beef. They have given extra genes to two calf clones in hopes that the genes will increase muscle fat and improve meat flavor. After the calves reach maturity, they will be slaughtered to test the quality of their meat.

Though beef is not a necessary part of the human diet, the best tasting and healthiest beef is traditionally produced by treating cattle well, allowing them to graze and roam free, and feeding them a natural diet. Producing GM cattle might improve beef flavor for less money, but animals must suffer greatly in these experiments. Like all GM foods, GM beef would have unpredictable effects on the health of humans who consume it.

If successful, GM beef will likely end up in European and American markets. Please sign the petition to put a stop to GM cattle!

A House Farm Bill amendment introduced by Congressman Steve King threatens to prevent states from developing independant animal cruelty, food safety and labor standards for agriculture products produced in other states.

The amendment is in response to a California Bill, effective in 2015, that would require eggs sold in the state to be kept in cages large enough to stand and spread their wings. If passed, the amendment would threaten this bill as well as the California foie gras ban that took place earlier in July.

King's amendment would prevent states from enforcing food standards that would protect animals, the environment, workers and public health. Voters should have the right to pass laws regarding food sales in their own states. Please sign the petition to urge the United States Senate to reject King's Farm Bill amendment.

Rhino poaching deaths in South Africa have risen from an average of about 15 in 2008 to 448 in 2011. South African National Parks wildlife veterinary services head Markus Hofmeyr estimates that at current rates, rhinos could go into decline by 2016 and go extinct in the wild by 2050.

Rhino horns are sold to China and Vietnam for use in medicine thought to relieve cancer symptoms. The horns have fetched up to $60,000 on the black market.

The current poaching and illegal trade practices cannot continue at the current rates. Please sign the petition to urge Water and Environmental Affairs Minister Edna Molewa to come to an agreement with China and Vietnam over steps they can take to end rhino slaughter in South Africa.