|
|
Issue
185 - March 7, 2002
| Update: Court Acquits Florida Disc Jockey
in Cruelty Case |
| On Thursday, February 28th, a Tampa, Florida,
jury acquitted Todd Clem (a.k.a. "Bubba the Love Sponge") of
animal cruelty charges stemming from an on-air radio stunt
last February in which he castrated and then slaughtered a
live, wild pig on the air. Although the WXTB-Tampa disc jockey
was acquitted, the public outcry over the killing was
successful in compelling Clear Channel (the radio conglomerate
that runs WXTB-Tampa) to adopt a zero-tolerance policy
regarding animal abuse, after the company reportedly lost
millions of dollars in advertising
revenue. |
| Keep the Bear Protection Act in the Farm
Bill |
| As the Farm Bill is debated for the final
time in the House-Senate conference committee, it is crucial
that we fight for the retention of the positive animal
protection amendments. Last week we asked you to speak out in
support of the Puppy Protection amendment, to strengthen the
regulation of so-called "Puppy Mills." This week, we need
activists to speak out in support of the Bear Protection
amendment, which was introduced earlier in the year by
Representative Elton Gallegly and Senator Mitch McConnell as
the Bear Protection Act. This amendment will protect American
bears by prohibiting the import, export and interstate trade
in bear viscera, which are widely used in traditional Asian
medicine, despite the availability of synthetic and herbal
substitutes. The Bear Protection amendment was attached to the
Senate version of the Farm Bill, but it was not included in
the House version.
WHAT YOU CAN DO:
Phone calls in support of the Bear
Protection amendment are most needed to these two key members
of the House-Senate Conference Committee:
- Representative Larry Combest (R-TX): 202-225-2171 / fax:
202-225-0917
- Representative Charles Stenholm (D-TX): 202-225-0317/
fax: 202-225-8510
|
| Suarez Seven Become Suarez Six |
| A few days after a Puerto Rican judge failed
to convict the Suarez Bros. Circus of animal cruelty charges,
federal law enforcement officials entered the Suarez Circus
and confiscated Alaska, one of the seven long-suffering polar
bears. Acting on DNA evidence that proves that the circus
presented false documentation to the agency regarding the
identity of at least one of the bears, the U.S. Fish &
Wildlife Service (USFWS) seized Alaska and flew her to the
Baltimore Zoo. While this is great news for Alaska, six polar
bears are still languishing in glaringly inhumane conditions
and are still forced to perform in Puerto Rico. Now, more than
ever, letters are needed urging the USFWS to finish its job
and confiscate the remaining "Suarez Six" for violations of
the Marine Mammal Protection Act and the Lacey Act. Please
write to:
Chief, Permits Division
U.S. Fish & Wildlife
Service
Division of Management Authority
4401 N. Fairfax
Drive, Suite 700
Arlington, VA 22203
Fax: 703-358-2281
|
| "Canned Hunt" Cruelty Exposed |
| The March 11, 2002 issue of Time
magazine exposed the cruelty of "canned hunt"
operations—facilities that allow paying customers to shoot
exotic, often tame, animals in the confines of a fenced
enclosure. Because the animals used in canned hunt operations
are often retired zoo or circus animals, many have no fear of
humans, and shooting them is akin to shooting fish in a
barrel. Participants are guaranteed results under a "no kill,
no pay" arrangement. The Time article (available online
at http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/time/2002/03/11/hunting.html)
offers an excellent opportunity for animal activists to press
their legislators to support legislation to outlaw this cruel
practice. The Captive Exotic Animal Protection Act, introduced
as H.R. 3464 in the House by Representative Sam Farr (D-CA)
and as S. 1655 in the Senate by Senator Joseph Biden (D-DE),
will help put an end to these operations.
WHAT YOU CAN DO:
Contact your U.S. (not state)
Representative to urge him or her to cosponsor H.R. 3464, and
contact your two U.S. Senators (Congressional switchboard:
202-224-3121) to urge them to cosponsor S. 1655. Mention the
Time magazine article. If you need to look up the names
of your legislators, visit vote-smart.org or call
The HSUS at 202-955-3666. | |
|
 |
|
| |
 |
| Search
for a Federal or State
Bill. | | |
 |
 |
 |
 | |
