McCartney Backs Anti-Hunt Campaign

Belfast Telegraph:

Sir Paul McCartney has backed efforts by animal welfare campaigners to keep the hunting ban, which could be repealed if the Tories win the next election.

In a report from Ifaw in Action, The former Beatle said: “When the cruel and unnecessary ‘sport’ of hunting with dogs was banned, I, along with the majority of the British public, backed this historic victory for wildlife… 

Celebrities Shocked In New Video For League Against Cruel Sports

Former Hollyoaks star Gemma Atkinson is reduced to tears as she watches horror clips of fox hunting in a new film released today to coincide with the fifth anniversary of the ban on hunting with dogs. The hard-hitting film, by the League Against Cruel Sports, records the reactions of a number of celebrities including former Doctor Who Colin Baker; actress Annette Crosbie; Time Team presenter Tony Robinson; and naturalist Bill Oddie; as they watch footage of traditional hunting. League chief executive, Douglas Batchelor, said that the backing of major celebs like Gemma shows just how popular the ban on hunting is with the public. Polls published today show that public support hasn’t changed in the last six months and roughly two-thirds of people back the ban. “Gemma, Bill, Annette, Tony and all the other celebrities are just hammering another nail into the hunter’s coffin. Their bloodsport is a thing of history just like bear baiting”, said Mr Batchelor. Over 100 people have been successfully prosecuted under the Hunting Act, including celebrity chef Clarissa Dickson Wright.

The film can be viewed at: You Tube

Hoorah For Hollywood!

Let’s hope councils worldwide follow in their footsteps:

West Hollywood City Council has voted to ban stores from selling cats and dogs. The move has been made to stop puppy and kitten farms.

Once the law is in effect (from September) stores will be able to offer animals from sanctuaries.

Full story here: Associated Press

Italian TV Chef Suspended Over Praising Cat Meat

Daily Mail:

An Italian TV chef has been suspended after he horrified animal lovers and station chiefs by praising the delights of cat meat during a show.

Beppe Bigazzi, enraged animal rights experts around the country when he gave advice on preparing ‘tender, white cat meat’ in a section of the show usually reserved for advice about nutrition…

RSPB: Help Us Halt Illegal Bird Killing

RSPB:

Every spring, thousands of birds make astonishing journeys from their African wintering grounds to nest and breed in northern Europe.

Malta is a vital stepping stone for many of them on this journey, where they stop to rest and feed to build up their strength for the last leg of their journey. Sadly, many never leave the island – instead they are gunned down by Maltese hunters.

While there are law-abiding hunters in Malta, many just don’t care. And now, Maltese hunters are waiting for their government to defy European Law once again and allow shooting in spring – despite the EU’s conservation law that bans spring hunting.

Worringly, this stance could encourage hunters in other European countries to try to engineer similar situations, which could have terrible consequences for endangered and protected birds throughout the European Community, including, swallows, swifts, nightingales, skylarks, and ospreys.

Please sign our petition to the Maltese Prime Minister Dr Lawrence Gonzi, asking him to take a stand against illegal hunting in all its forms and enforce the law…

Happy Hens Make Perfect Pancakes

The RSPCA are urging people not to forget about animals when they are mixing up the pancake batter today.Find out more: RSPCA

Endangered Songbird’s Numbers Rise

Guardian:

Wildlife friendly farming has helped the population of one Britain’s most threatened songbirds increase by 25% in the last seven years, it was announced today…

Cat Wanders Into Rescue Centre With Can Stuck On Its Head

BBC News:

A cat that wandered into a Fife rescue centre with a can stuck on its head has left staff wondering how it reached them without being knocked down.

The female cat walked into the Scottish SPCA’s Wildlife Rescue Centre in Middlebank on Sunday with her head wedged in an empty pet food tin…

Giant Hamster: Pictures Of Caplin Rous The Pet Capybara At Home In Texas

Is it a cat? Is it a dog? Is it a hamster?

Click here to see image

Pride Of Lions Rescued From Eastern European Zoo Touch Down In Britain

Telegraph:

The organisers of the operations at the Yorkshire Wildlife Park near Doncaster said the attraction will be a welcome relief from the conditions the big cats have endured in Romania.

The converted Jet2.com Boeing 737 carrying the lions touched down at Robin Hood Airport, near Doncaster, at lunchtime and the 13 well packed animals were then carefully loaded on to a specialist £700,000 elephant-carrying lorry borrowed for the day from Woburn Safari Park…