Archive: Companion Animals

The Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) commends the Honorable Thomas Cooper of the Richland County Fifth Judicial Circuit for sentencing 28-year old Adan Gonzalez to three years in prison for throwing Lady, a 12-week-old boxer puppy, on the burning hot coals of a grill last October. Lady was treated for severe burns on over sixty percent of her body but died a few days later.

Mr. Gonzalez, who lived in the same mobile home park as Lady and her guardian, pled guilty to one felony count of animal cruelty this week. He faced up to five years in prison along with a $5,000 fine under South Carolina law. In a letter, AWI urged the Attorney General’s Office to request that Judge Cooper hand down the maximum sentence.

“We appreciate the efforts of Attorney General McMaster and his staff in aggressively pursuing the prosecution of Mr. Gonzalez,” said Tracy Silverman, an attorney for AWI. “There is absolutely no justification for cruelty to animals and heinous acts such as the one Mr. Gonzalez committed against Lady in this case must be prosecuted to the fullest extent under the law.”

The sentence against Mr. Gonzalez sends a clear message to both citizens and prosecutors that animal cruelty should and will not be tolerated. AWI will continue to expose cases such as this to advocate better treatment of animals and stricter penalties for animal abusers across the country.

“Barbaric, Barbaric, Barbaric!” This is the phrase recently opined by Robert C. Byrd of West Virginia, our nation’s longest-serving US Senator and last great political orator. Following news of charges leveled against Atlanta Falcons star quarterback Michael Vick, Senator Byrd described the tragic and gruesome practice of dog fighting in a heartfelt speech on the Senate floor.

Senator Byrd wiped tears from his eyes during his speech, symbolizing the revulsion felt by the majority of Americans regarding the allegations made against a supposed “role model.” The public is clearly opposed to animal abuse, and every state in this country has laws against animal cruelty. Yet, from the beginning of recorded history, some humans have treated animals as disposable pieces of property to use, abuse and kill at will.

When asked about the Vick case, Washington Redskins player Clinton Portis said, “I don’t know if he was fighting dogs or not, but it’s his property, it’s his dog. If that’s what he wants to do, do it. I think people should mind their own business.” This mindset of animals as “private property” may sound abhorrent, but sadly, it is used all-too-commonly by elected officials.

In fact, during a Congressional hearing just last week, a US Representative from Georgia derided a ban on horse slaughter as infringing on owner’s rights because horses are “private property.” And in a debate on the floor of the House of Representatives last year on the same subject, a Congressman from Utah dedicated his entire speech opposing the bill to the premise of protecting “private rights.”

The American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act has come close to enactment in the US Congress, but it continues to languish on Capitol Hill due to a few individuals who misuse the democratic process and tout the private property argument. However, private property does not confer a right on anyone to mistreat animals. People who mistreat animals must be held accountable for their actions without being able to rely on this supposed justification.

The Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) calls on federal authorities to aggressively pursue the charges against Michael Vick and his three cohorts. Further, AWI encourages the National Football League to suspend Vick. AWI also urges the US Congress to reject antiquated and clearly out of step arguments regarding the most basic animal protective measures. Our legislators must set an example by leading efforts to reduce animal cruelty whenever possible.

In light of his recent indictment and guilty plea for charges related to dog fighting, the Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) calls on National Football League (NFL) quarterback Michael Vick to immediately surrender $22 million of his signing bonus back to the Atlanta Falcons. The organization in turn urges the Falcons to commit at least $10 million to an independent, self-operating charity overseen by AWI.

“These funds would not be paid to AWI or other national organizations. They would help establish a nationwide humane education and rehabilitation program for children and adults so we can lessen the likelihood that others will commit violence against animals,” said Chris Heyde, AWI deputy legislative director. “In addition to educating people about respect for animals, such funds would also be used toward local humane societies, SPCAs and other organizations that take in, care for and rehabilitate animals in need.”

Despite the majority of America’s outrage over this incident, little attention has been given to the actual crimes perpetrated upon the dogs in Vick’s “care.”  More discussion has occurred over whether Vick will play football again, or whether the Falcons can recoup money from his signing bonus to be applied to the team’s salary cap this season.  As one CNN reporter noted at the close of a recent Falcons press conference, “it sounded like businessmen talking about a business plan.”

Others have raised concern over why there has been so much outrage over Vick’s charges, while many NFL players have faced a litany of criminal charges, including murder, spousal abuse, and drug and alcohol addiction. While such a worry is valid, it is not a reason to overlook the brutal actions Vick committed.

“The public should hold the NFL accountable for its practices,” Heyde said. “Something is clearly wrong with our sporting industry when it is more of a crime to bet on a game than it is to murder one’s wife or pit innocent animals against each other for entertainment.”

Young people are exposed to an array of cruelty and it is well-documented that children exposed to animal abuse tend to become desensitized and commit crimes against animals and ultimately people. Fortunately, because of the current heightened public awareness, the humane community and the American public have been presented with an opportunity to take a positive step toward ending this cycle of brutality.

The dogs who suffered and perished as a result of Vick’s actions cannot be brought back to life, nor will Vick ever be able to fully redeem himself. However, he can do something that will have a positive impact on those who once looked up to him as a role model. Likewise, the NFL and Atlanta Falcons can begin to promote and foster humanity toward animals.  By doing what is right versus what is profitable, both animals and our society will benefit.

Project Coyote and the Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) declared a victory for wildlife, after the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) voted unanimously today to ban coyote and fox pens statewide. Penning involves sending packs of domestic dogs into a fenced-off enclosure to chase to exhaustion and often tear apart a captive coyote or fox.

Testifying before the FWC today on behalf of Project Coyote and AWI, Becky Pomponio, stated, “Cruelty can occur when no one is looking. But for Florida, the blinders are off. No one can say we don’t know what is going on in these pens. Please, don’t try to regulate this cruelty. Put an end to it now.”

The FWC had three options before them: regulate the practice, phase it out over two years, or ban it immediately. A groundswell of public outcry against the practice and media attention- including ten newspaper editorials taking a firm stand against penning and in support of an immediate ban—put the spotlight on Florida and the FWC to take swift action and ban this practice.

A FWC investigation last year of penning operations led to the arrest of 12 people and the issuance of 46 citations for various violations related to the illicit trade in live foxes and coyotes for penning purposes.

“We commend the FWC for this decision,” said Camilla Fox, Executive Director of Project Coyote and Wildlife Consultant for the Animal Welfare Institute. “The Commission was under a lot of pressure from a small, vocal minority of pen operators to sanction this activity. But they made the right decision today by banning a practice that should be relegated to the recesses of America’s dark past. Florida’s commendable stand on this issue sends a clear message to the other states that sanctioning such brutal killing of wildlife is unacceptable. As a nation we have banned both dog fighting and cockfighting and it’s time we do the same for penning.”

The Animal Welfare Institute mourns the passing of Senator Robert C. Byrd (D-WV) and praises his long history of staunch support of animal protection legislation and the numerous impassioned speeches he delivered on the Senate floor on behalf of animals. From his forceful condemnation of dog fighting as brought to light by the case of Michael Vick, to his call for increased enforcement of humane slaughter laws, Senator Byrd was perhaps the most eloquent voice for animals in the US Senate. He will be sorely missed.

An enormous victory was achieved for animals this week when nearly 200 dogs and 54 cats were rescued from a North Carolina animal testing facility that closed its doors after an undercover investigation revealed apparent abuse of the animals by workers at the facility. Quick work on the part of the Animal Welfare Institute (AWI), in partnership with the Humane Society of the US and more than a dozen animal shelters and rescues (see list below) succeeded in placing all of the rescued animals, offering hope that they will find loving homes and solace after their ordeal.

“This event serves as dramatic testament to what can happen when the humane community comes together to oppose cruelty,” says AWI President, Cathy Liss. “We applaud the dedicated efforts of animal welfare advocates who stepped up to take in these animals, and hope that the exposure of this situation will underscore the need for stricter enforcement to protect animals in research facilities.”

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) conducted the initial investigation [1] that exposed the apparent cruelty at Professional Laboratory and Research Services, an inconspicuous rural lab funded by large pharmaceutical companies to test insecticides and other chemicals used in companion animal products. For nine months, a PETA investigator worked undercover at the facility, and shot video showing animals in excruciating pain from procedures, as well as employees kicking, throwing, and dragging petrified dogs, violently slamming cats into cages, and screaming obscenities at the animals for showing fear and being uncooperative.

Following its investigation, PETA filed formal complaints with federal and state agencies, including the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and submitted evidence to the local prosecutor’s office. Soon thereafter, the USDA inspected the facility and instigated a formal investigation. In the meantime, the lab agreed to surrender voluntarily all its dogs and cats, and to cease research at the facility.

The deadline for placing the released animals was Friday, September 17, and AWI was alerted to the need to find shelter for the animals only three days earlier. AWI scrambled to place the hundreds of animals in shelters to avoid the possibility that they would be euthanized.

For several days, AWI staff members frantically worked the phones, calling on its vast network and succeeding in getting all the animals placed. Over a dozen shelters and rescues groups from New Jersey to Florida were enlisted to take them in.

“AWI is extremely grateful to PETA for its initial investigation, to enforcement personnel at the USDA for taking swift action once the situation was revealed, and to the all the animal advocates who worked overtime to get these animals placed in shelters,” added Liss. “Through the actions of many, hundreds of animals were rescued and given the chance to receive the care and compassion all animals deserve.”

If you are interested in contributing towards the care of the rescued dogs and cats, please send a donation to AWI marked “PLRS Rescue” or note this in the “Name and Address of Honoree” box when you contribute online. All donations marked for this purpose will be passed on to the animal shelters and rescue organizations that have received the dogs and cats.

The Animal Welfare Institute is pleased that the Illinois State House of Representatives passed HB 1907, a bill making dog fighting an offense under the Illinois Street Gang and Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) statute.

AWI Deputy Director of Government and Legal Affairs Chris Heyde praised the bill’s sponsor, Rep. Michael J. Zalewski (D-21), and Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez for initiating this aggressive step to give prosecutors enhanced tools for dealing with dog fighting and, most especially, with the leaders of dog fighting networks. Under RICO, higher fines and stiffer jail sentences are available, the state has more comprehensive investigatory powers, and a longer statute of limitation applies.

Heyde said, “Dog fighting causes immense suffering to countless numbers of innocent animals. It is also often accompanied by other crimes, and its very presence threatens the safety of the entire community. It makes sense to give law enforcement the most powerful tools possible to eradicate it.”

AWI urges the Senate to take swift action on this measure so the Governor can sign this important bill into law as soon as possible.