Wildlife Crime Officer Says Links Between Attacks On Animals And Domestic Abuse

The Scotsman:

Tackling attacks on animals will help prevent abuse of children, according to Scotland’s first national wildlife crime officer.

PC Charles Everitt told The Scotsman one reason he felt it was important to crack down on wildlife crime was due to links between attacks on animals and domestic abuse…

Alaskan Man Faces Jail For Mixing With Bears

Telegraph:

An elderly man who has spent the last 20 years living with bears in Alaska is facing prosecution under strict new rules to stop people feeding wild animals…

New Animal Friendly Party Fighting In European Elections

East London & West Essex Guardian Series:

A new animal-friendly party fighting in the European elections for the first time is to launch its manifesto from the Epping Forest District.

Animals Count has chosen the Kings Oak, in Forest Road, Loughton as the launchpad for its election push and party president, and vet Andrew Knight will host a free dog consultation and animal health care advice session there this Sunday, (May 24) from 12pm to 3pm…

Dominance Training Makes Dogs More Aggressive

Mail:

When Barbara Woodhouse ordered us to bark out ‘sit’ or ‘walkies’, we all obeyed.  But perhaps we shouldn’t have followed her lead so faithfully. Experts now believe that ‘ dominance’ dog training methods championed by Mrs Woodhouse in the 1980s do more harm than good…

Ewe Saved From Abattoir After Giving Birth

Daily Mail:

A pregnant ewe was saved from slaughter after she gave birth to a lamb in an abattoir.

The Cumbrian ewe was penned in on Monday night awaiting slaughter when she unexpectedly gave birth, sparking a bid to save the two animals.

Former reporter Eileen Carr, 58, heard about the birth and contacted the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, (Defra) asking permission to rescue the pair…

My Dog Is A Weapon

RSPCA:

Shocking new statistics show two-thirds of all dog fighting reports received by the RSPCA are now directly connected to youths using their dogs as weapons in streets and parks.

Sixty-six per cent of calls to the RSPCA about dog fighting last year related to instances where youths were mentioned fighting their animals in public places. This compares with 37 per cent in 2007.

The worrying rise in reports of impromptu public scraps and ‘rolls’ saw 188 people contact the RSPCA in 2008, compared with 132 the previous year. In 2004, we received just 24 calls about dog fighting.

The figures tie in with the increasing trend amongst teenagers and young males of using stereotypically macho-type dogs as weapons of intimidation in urban areas of England and Wales.

BBC Three documentary – My Weapon Is A Dog
The figures have been released ahead of BBC Three’s documentary, My Weapon Is A Dog, which will tonight ask whether dogs have become the new weapon of choice on our city streets.

The hour-long programme, showing at 9pm, will highlight our growing concern for the welfare of animals such as bull terrier types and Rottweilers being used by gangs….

Watch My Weapon Is A Dog tonight at 9pm on BBC Three.

Entangled Whale Set Free

Vancouver Sun:

Whales don’t catch many breaks these days. They face a threatened food supply, pesky boat traffic, and the build-up of PCBs and other toxins in their bodies.

So it’s worth noting that one whale received a rare reprieve this week after getting entangled in another man-made hazard — prawn traps in Knight Inlet just east of Port McNeill…

Dog Dials 999

An emergency services operator heard the shouts: “Come out or else, I’m warning you”, and heavy breathing down the phone, fearing a murder she alerted the police.

It was infact Bailey that made the call – a 14 month old Golden Retriever. He grabbed the phone, and dialed 999! His owners where shouting to get him to give them back the phone.

Full story here: BBC News

I feel a story coming on:

One day I was working late and phoned home to check all was well. The phone was answered, then silence, then strange noises. I was worried, then I heard really loud, long howl! My dog, who hates been alone had answered the phone, heard my voice and started bawling!

Celebrity Comedians Stand Up In Aid Of SOS

Celebrity comedians swing by London’s Lyceum Theatre to support the plight of the Sumatran Orangutan.

A selection of the finest cult comedians come together for OrangAid, a very special night of comedy in aid of The Sumatran Orangutan Society. Headlining with fresh new material is SOS Patron Bill Bailey who will be joined by fellow musical virtuoso Tim Minchin. The star studded line up also features Jason Manford, Nina Conti and Alistair Barrie with a special guest appearance on the night from The Mighty Boosh’s Bollo (AKA Dave Brown).

For more information: Sumatran Orangutan Society

Man Sentenced For Dog Fighting

RSPCA:

A Lincolnshire man has been banned from keeping animals indefinitely after he admitted dog fighting charges following an RSPCA investigation.

Appalled RSPCA inspectors found the emaciated carcass of a dead dog stuffed in a rubbish bin at John Knibbs’ home when they investigated last spring.

Inspectors from our Special Operations Unit (SOU) also discovered five pit bull terrier type dogs in the backyard of Knibbs’ home when they searched his property in Grantham on 9 April 2008.

Dog fighting equipment found at Knibbs’ home
At Grantham Magistrates’ Court yesterday (Monday, 18 May), 45-year-old Knibbs was sentenced to 22 weeks in custody and given an indefinite ban on keeping and owning animals.

He cannot appeal against the ban for at least 10 years. He had previously admitted having numerous items in his possession that were designed to be used in connection with dog fighting, contrary to Section 8 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006.

The investigating RSPCA inspectors discovered dog fighting DVDs and paraphernalia, including breaking sticks, weighing scales, medication and an exercise frame used to train dogs, at Knibbs’ home.

He admitted causing unnecessary suffering to dogs
Knibbs also yesterday admitted causing unnecessary suffering to two Presa de Canarias dogs – commonly known as Canary dogs – and to a tan coloured bull terrier bitch, known as Holly. It was Holly’s carcass that was discovered dumped in the rubbish bin.

He also pleaded guilty to having the five pit bull terrier type dogs in his possession, contrary to Section 1 of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991.

In mitigation, Knibbs claimed he knew dog fighters but was not involved in dog fighting himself. When interviewed by RSPCA inspectors he said he had rescued the pit bull type dogs from dog fighters.

Dog fighting ‘is a barbaric activity’
Chief Inspector Mike Butcher of the RSPCA’s Special Operations Unit said: “This man was clearly a dog fighter. It is a barbaric activity and one that many people might think no longer exists in modern society.

“However, this case shows there are still those who pursue dog fighting and, while they continue to do so, the RSPCA will continue to pursue them.”

The RSPCA’s case against Knibbs is part of Operation Cannon, which was launched in 2008 to target dog fighters.