Toronto Humane Society officials arrested for cruelty to animals

Kate Hammer

Toronto — Globe and Mail UpdatePublished on Thursday, Nov. 26, 2009 3:19PM ESTLast updated on Thursday, Nov. 26, 2009 6:53PM EST

Police have arrested the Toronto Humane Society's president, chief veterinarian and three other senior staff members and charged them with animal cruelty, six months after a Globe and Mail investigation revealed widespread troubles at the shelter.

At the same time, the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals executed a search warrant at the shelter's River Street facility late Thursday afternoon.

Humane Society president Tim Trow is facing Criminal Code charges of animal cruelty, conspiracy to commit cruelty to animals and obstruction of a peace officer. If convicted, Mr. Trow faces a maximum penalty of $2,000 and six months in jail for the animal cruelty charges, and two years in jail for the obstruction charges.

Head veterinarian Steve Sheridan, shelter manager Gary McCracken, manager Romeo Bernadino and shelter supervisor Andy Bechtel have also been arrested and face animal cruelty charges under the criminal code.

All of the above, as well as the Society's board of directors, are also being charged with five counts of animal cruelty, a provincial offence under the Ontario SPCA Act (as opposed to criminal charges).

See full article: http://tinyurl.com/ycwtysl

See Photos:  http://tiny.cc/blPrS 

House of Commons passed animal welfare motion!

Nov 6th 2009, The House of Commons passed the motion for a Universal Declaration on Animal Welfare, and to everyones suprise.. it passed with unanimously with all-party support!

At 2:03pm that day the house was adjourned untill Monday November 16, 2009 at 11 a.m. 

Here are some notes from the transcript:

"That said, I believe that the House of Commons' adoption of the spirit, values and beliefs outlined in Motion No. 354 supercedes debating forums in which it is delivered. I therefore agreed to the hon. member's amendment. I also believe this amendment and subsequent debate demonstrates a healthy cooperation among all parties in the House. Such cooperation is increasingly less frequent these days. However, I am very pleased that the motion may serve as a small example of what a spirit of cooperation can achieve in our collective support for a universal declaration on animal welfare.

    Animal welfare is a sensitive issue. Not all of us in the House may agree on the best way to go about enacting laws to properly protect animals, but we all believe they should be protected. There are competing points of view, those of pet owners, farmers, developing nations and the rights of our native peoples. At the heart of it, the universal declaration on animal welfare is a start as it demonstrates our belief that animal welfare is essential.

    As I mentioned in my previous speech, the declaration is an agreement among people and nations to recognize that animals are sentient, suffer, have welfare needs, and to ultimately end animal cruelty worldwide. The declaration will be structured as a set of general principles that acknowledge and emphasize the importance of animal welfare. The purpose of these principles is to encourage all nations to put in place or enhance existing animal welfare laws in standards.

    The declaration is supported by a growing list of governments from countries around the world including all 27 members of the European Union. There is also a great deal of support from the public. Thousands of Canadians have signed petitions in support of a UDAW. Many of these petitions have been introduced in the House of Commons. The declaration is actively supported by Canada's foremost animal protection organizations including the World Society for the Protection of Animals.

    The implementation of the declaration is an important step and will act as a catalyst for change in the following ways: by raising the status of animal welfare as an international issue; by encouraging those in industries which utilize animals to keep their welfare at the forefront of their policies and practices; and by inspiring positive change in public attitudes and actions toward animals.

     I am heartened by the tone of the debate that has transpired. The declaration will be a key toward improved animal welfare legislation worldwide and a step closer to ending cruelty to animals globally. This first step is only one of many in a long road, but it is a critical one, one we must take for this extremely important cause."

Eleven Eleven Animal Rescue in the Concordia news letter "The Link"

Eleven Eleven Animal Rescue in the Concordia news letter "The Link" - September 8th

Coppies available at any Concordia campus.

Rabbits Drowned at Petland

"This photo was taken in the back room of a Petland store in Akron, Ohio, and posted on Facebook by Elizabeth Carlisle, who can be seen grinning as she holds two dead, soaking-wet rabbits by the scruff of the neck—rabbits she just drowned while on Petland's time clock. On Carlisle's Facebook page, she confirmed a friend's guess that she had drowned these two rabbits and wrote, "[T]he manager took the pic for me. [S]he reminded me that there were people outside as [I] was swearing at them to just hurry up and die but then she was so kind as to take this picture."

These horrific deaths followed what was apparently an equally horrifying life for these rabbits. Other comments Carlisle posted made it clear that the rabbits were drowned after sustaining agonizing injuries when they were allowed to "attack and eat each other." The rabbits suffered from "deep wounds all over," "an eye missing," what Petland staff "suspected was a broken jaw," and paralysis from the waist down—injuries that would not have occurred had these animals been provided with proper care and supervision."

See entire article HERE

Pet Airways

I guess it's about time some people realized animals are not objects. After many airlines killed.. many dogs between the lack of climatization during flight at the hours on the tarmac in dead heat. Airlines then after god knows how many dead dogs, or i guess after being sued god knows how many time. They decided to change the rules, which then made it next to impossible to travel with your pet. One of the rules being; making sure the temperature is a certain degree before you can board with the dog, which in my case meant i had to wait the 30 minute line up four times to simply ask if we can board yet and her to say no. Until i almost even completely missed my flight. As i come from a family who has traveled many pets from many country's; our family dog coming on vacation with us every summer.. moving a rabbit from England to the cayman islands, a horse from the cayman islands to Canada, along with 2 cats. I very much appreciate the idea of a pet airline. Although that doesn't mean i will be able to afford it!