Call to Action - Rodeo ban fight not over - saboteurs poised to vote against ban at next vote

Ban the Rodeo Rally 12/5/23

spcaLA Applauds Los Angeles City Council Vote to Ban Rodeos and particularly thanks Councilmember Blumenfield for his efforts and dedication to this reform. I was honored to be asked to speak at both the rally and before the council.

But the fight is not over yet. There will still be a chance to sabotage this effort when the ordinance is actually drafted and presented to the council for another vote. Councilmembers Monica Rodriguez and Kevin De Leon are still vocally against this measure, are still insisting tripping horses etc., is a cultural thing, and will not be satisfied with the exemption language that was adopted at their request. It is possible that they will lead an effort to undo what was passed yesterday. (Exceptions for equestrian and cultural events, as long as riders do not participate in activities that physically “take down” an animal, rope an animal, or attempt to ride a bucking animal, i.e. bareback bronc riding, bull riding, calf roping, and steer wrestling, and or course violation existing laws.)

Look, this is about greed and nothing else. No culture wants to be associated with violence and gratuitous cruelty. What an insulting rationale. Like dogfighters who protest that their pet dogs are treated like royalty, rodeo riders would never subject their own horses to the horrendous treatment of the horse performers. The difference - is the fighting dogs and the rodeo horses are just tools to earn money while providing "entertainment".

    "Racism, economic deprival, dog fighting and cock fighting, bullfighting and RODEOS (emphasis added) are cut from the same fabric:  violence.  Only when we have become nonviolent towards all life will we have learned to live well ourselves."

                --Cesar Chavez, UNITED FARM WORKERS, from a 12/26/90 letter to ACTION FOR ANIMALS

spcaLA asks animal welfare advocates to contact their Council Members, see below,  in support of the ban. A successful rodeo ban would add Los Angeles to a growing list of cities and countries like San Francisco and Pasadena, as well as Germany, the Netherlands and Brazil, where rodeo has been outlawed.

Council District 1 – Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez, Councilmember.Hernandez@lacity.org, 213-473-7001

Council District 2 – Councilmember Paul Krekorian, Councilmember.Krekorian@lacity.org, 213-473-7002 

Council District 3 – Councilmember Bob Blumenfield, Councilmember.Blumenfield@lacity.org, 213-473-7003 

Council District 4 – Councilmember Nithya Raman, Councilmember.Raman@lacity.org, 213-473-7004 

Council District 5 – Councilmember Katy Yaroslavsky, Councilmember.Yaroslavsky@lacity.org, 213-473-7005

Council District 6 – Councilmember Imelda Padilla, Councilmember.Padilla@lacity.org, 213-473-7006 

Council District 7 – Councilmember Monica Rodriguez, Councilmember.Rodriguez@lacity.org, 213-473-7007 

Council District 8 – Councilmember Marqueece Harris-Dawson, Councilmember.Harris-Dawson@lacity.org, 213-473-7008

 Council District 9 – Councilmember Curren D. Price, Jr., Councilmember.Price@lacity.org, 213-473-7009 

Council District 10 – Councilmember Heather Hutt, Councilmember.Hutt@lacity.org, 213-473-7010 

Council District 11 – Councilmember Traci Park, Councilmember.Park@lacity.org, 213-473-7011 

Council District 12 – Councilmember John Lee, Councilmember.Lee@lacity.org, 213-473-7012 

Council District 13 – Councilmember Hugo Soto-Martinez, Councilmember.Soto-Martinez@lacity.org, 213-473-7013 

Council District 14 – Councilmember Kevin de León, councilmember.kevindeleon@lacity.org, 213-473-7014 

Council District 15 – Councilmember Tim McOsker, Councilmember.McOsker@lacity.org, 213-473-7015

 

RIP SHOOTING VICTIMS

optimism

Guns can be both defensive and offensive, used for war or to protect the peace, automatic or a six shooter, and, definitely a thing that must be managed safely, for a purpose, and one that should be placed in the hands of appropriately trained users who understand, respect, and are mindful of their actions. There is no one fix that will prevent mass killings and out of control gun violence, but there are multiple simultaneous approaches that can surround the issue to stop the violence before it starts. First, we must legislate the rules by which guns can be obtained and used. Second, we must provide the training to identify predictor issues, and third, we must offer sufficient resources to intervene effectively and early. It must be a multi-pronged, multidisciplinary solution, with both general mandates and customized provisions as well. 

Besides the enactment of intelligent legislation, it is imperative to examine all the possible factors that can contribute to shooting tragedies and that can provide clues to prevent them from happening at all.

In other words, the answer to the question "why".

Identifying and examining the root causes of violence, whether attributed to mental illness, bullying, random circumstances of nature and nurture, is not enough. We must learn to identify the external manifestations of such a problem so that they may be recognized, studied, and dealt with as early as possible. There are glaring symptoms and tangible early warning signs of future violent behavior that can be detected now and successfully treated with early intervention - sometimes as early as pre-school age.

In other words, the answer to the question "did I miss something"?

 According to the FBI, abnormal behaviors such as pyromania, enuresis (excessive bed-wetting), animal cruelty and other acts demonstrating a lack of empathy, have been credited as precursors to committing future violent acts. Isolation, loneliness, radicalization are other factors.  Some behaviors such as deriving pleasure from causing an animal pain can be seen even in very young children. As most children are not born violent, (true sociopaths notwithstanding) such behavior towards an animal is abnormal and indicative of a problem, which if not addressed can deepen and escalate until the cry out for attention results in a tragedy that can impact many lives. 

In other words "you are not seeing or hearing me".

Both recent mass shooters (the supermarket inBuffalo and the school in Texas) had instances of animal cruelty in their pasts. I would never say animal cruelty is the only factor or manifestation of a serious issue that is the ultimate answer to all the questions. Nor would I suggest that had this one behavior been addressed and examined early on there would be no tragedy. I am saying, that the more signals, clues, acting out, or abnormal behavior that is recognized as problematic, the earlier we can intervene and hopefully help that individual thereby saving others as well. 

Teachers, parents, social workers, friends and others in contact with our youth must be trained to recognize the symptoms. If you see something, say something.

In other words, the answer to the question "could I have done something to stop it"?

I can’t tell you how often I am told by a parent when informed that their son or daughter committed an act of animal cruelty - “It’s just a dog. You should be happy it’s not a person.” "Boys will be boys". "I wish I had known my child was in pain..." I wish my kids told me."

 My response - they just told you. Now let's find help before it is too late.

Again, the earlier the warning signs are recognized, the greater the chances of successful intervention, behavior modification and the abatement of future violent behavior.

In other words, "we did everything we could to protect our community". 

 

spcaLA (not affiliated with any other spca as there is no national/umbrella spca) has a series of core programs designed to intervene and prevent animal abuse as well as to deter violence towards people. They comprise a court mandated alternative sentencing course for juvenile offenders convicted of bullying, animal abuse or other violent crimes, an internationally acclaimed "at risk" youth program where schools target certain students to participate in the program, and one assisting victims of domestic violence and their pets where immediate help is mandated.  Check spcaLA.com for details.

 

 

Ban on bringing elephant parts into U.S. rescinded

courtesy google images 

We were horrified to see that the ban on bringing elephant parts into the United States has been rescinded which would allow trophy hunters, "poachers" and others to bring the heads, tails, tusks, feet, of elephants into this country for bragging rights. 

Your spcaLA has been fighting for the humane treatment of elephants and other endangered and protected species, and against the cowardly, barbaric and uncivilized "sport" of mutilating and torturing animals since our inception in 1877.

We, of course have issued a statement against this action, and urge a reinstatement of the ban.

Also today, California, State Senator Henry Stern announced that he is considering legislative action, in concert with animal welfare advocates, to prevent the possession of elephant trophies in California. Californians can find their representatives to express support at www.govtrack.us/congress/members.

Furthermore, Americans who are concerned about the slaughter of elephants for their parts can contact their members of Congress (www.govtrack.us/congress/members) and the US Fish and Wildlife Service at www.fws.gov to express said concerns.

Is it just me, or does this feel like this came about because a couple of whiny spoiled kids desperately need to show their daddy what they did and make him proud? Are we proud?

Declare independence from FRAUD this 4th!

The July 4th holidays often result in an increase of pets, disoriented and scared by fireworks, becoming lost on the streets and hopefully ending up safely in a shelter. It is also an opportunity for FAKE RESCUES to pick up these pets and deprive both the pets and their humans of a happy reunion. I am already seeing Facebook posts of found pets, some with unregistered microchips begging for funds - for what - to help them with these pets - to do what?

Don't enable this crime by donating, thereby making you a crime victim of fraud as well.

If you find a loose pet it is the law to turn that pet into a shelter unless you have an arrangement of notifying and sending photos to your shelter in lieu of actually relinquishing the pet. This is so the pets' family, who could one day be you, can find him or her.

The existence of an unregistered microchip or lack of a tag does not mean the pet has no family who is frantically searching but rather could mean that the dog got out of his home where he does not wear his collar or is a new pet whose chip has not been registered, or a new owner does not know there is a chip, or someone did not fully understand the way the chips work. The bottom line is that these nefarious "rescuers" might be holding your dog, in substandard conditions, and by violating the law deprives you of an ability to find him. They are not well meaning people but rather con artists who use your pet to raise funds for themselves.

The problem is so bad that the Los Angeles County District Attorney's office issued a FRAUD ALERT about these scammers. They raise funds ostensibly to help care for a pet or to help a shelter care for the pet. Neither is true. The funds are their income!

The best thing that you can do is to safeguard your pets as best as you can, report those you discover on social media to local law enforcement, the IRS and your state Attorney General, and spread the word about this situation that can condemn a pet to cruel treatment, deprive both pet and family of each other, and steal precious funds that are much needed to protect animals. Also - check with your local authorities before donating to determine the legitimacy of the group. Don't enable these criminals.

Finally, in the internet world in which we live, impulse donations to a Facebook post creates many victims - a pet who truly needs help, a shelter whose survival depends on donations, a family who will never see their pet again, and YOU. 

Death by Selfie - Please Stop

coutesy google images

The obsession with selfies has become dangerous to living things.

In China, a peacock died of fright as he was passed around to tourists for selfies. An Argentina crowd did the same with a rare dolphin with the same result. A man dragged a shark out of the water on a Florida beach to take a selfie, also killing the shark. I have seen people, who should know better, attempt to grab a raccoon for a photo, or others in our deserts unable to resist a selfie with a tortoise.

In these instances there is certainly a risk to the photographers, but I must speak up for the risk to the animals. Whether they die on the spot, (how do you explain that to your children) or dehydrate and die slowly as is typical with tortoises, (you miss seeing that) it is an abominable thing to do and most certainly can be a crime. In one car commercial taking a selfie with your dog is used as proof of love and a reason to buy that car.

The craze has evolved from just posting photos of social encounters and meals, to staging weird and dangerous poses. This is not a new problem. Think back to shows about funniest videos or David Letterman's stupid pet tricks. They started out harmless and natural to choreographed daredevil stunts and a dog "trick" that was achieved by breaking the dog's back so he would walk funny.

Whether you are addicted to or apathetic towards selfies, you must agree that killing an animal by shooting a photo is the same as doing so with a gun. Let's think about our animals and not just about our "selfs".

When father does not know best ...

UPDATE:   Although found guilty of animal cruelty, the klansman's son was fined $100.00 despite the fact that the veterinarian testified that the dog would have died in 48 hours if untreated. Worse - the judge would not allow the veterinarian to testify that the dog suffered because she, the veterinarian,  is not a mind reader and that there is really no proof that animals suffer. The judge bemoaned the fact that there are not different standards for city and country kids as he really hated to convict the kid. 

What an outrage. Anybody smell something rotten here??



What should a parent not do when told that their child has been arrested for animal cruelty?

A prosecutor colleague of mine filed a case against a young man for animal cruelty. Rather than recognizing that animal cruelty is often a precursor to violence against people, seeking to identify the underlying reason for this aberrant behavior and interceding on behalf of the psychological wellbeing of his son - this father responded by threatening the life of the prosecutor. What if I told you that this father was a prominent and high ranking Klan member?

Raised in an environment where both the rhetoric and perhaps deeds condone bigotry and gratuitous violence, it is possible that children of these "wizards" will be praised for their sociopathic behavior. In fact, animal cruelty may be the accepted laboratory to destroy empathy in those children. When caught, the youth is taught to threaten the prosecutor with violence to solve the problem! This is particularly awful as mentoring humane behavior is the most efficient and successful way to teach it. What better imprimatur than the participation of parents, teachers, and peers to foster humane treatment of all living things? What chance do these kids have?

Shall we predict the future?

The prosecutor will get protection. The animal will receive care. The father and son will face charges.

But who will protect us all from these future sociopaths?

The OTHER reason the bullhook veto hurts

Courtesy Google Images

In his message vetoing the ban on bullhooks, the governor stated that he did not want "to create a new crime", lamenting that there are so many, and that "our jail and prison population have exploded".

For the most part I agree that we should not criminalize every individual type of behavior when such behavior would be subsumed under a general, elastic, broad statute. The reason is that when there is a list of specific prohibited conduct, and a criminal does something not on the list, the door is opened for the defense to argue that if the legislature intended this to be wrong - it would have added it to the list. Bullhooks however, though instruments of torture, were universally accepted as a necessary training device, a likely defense to the crime of animal cruelty, and therefore needs its own statutory language. But that is NOT the reason for the veto. Prison overcrowding is the reason to the detriment of elephants and the rest us.

Our country uses prisons to house the mentally ill, the homeless, minor drug offenders, and an assortment of others hapless souls. California is already under Federal decree to reduce overcrowding in prisons. Therefore, there is an impetus to avoid the creation of new crimes, reduce sentences and release broad categories of prisoners back into society. Various broad stroke propositions like 109 (which realigns categories of crime) and 47 (which reduces penalties) among other things govern this exodus. The problem, is that these are general, clumsy, thoughtless ways of emptying the jails with no targeted and tailored programs on the other end that will reduce crime, aid re-entry, and prevent recidivism. Additionally, violent offenders who need to be incarcerated squeak out under these "fixes", (Note the increase in crime in this state!) It is analogous to cutting off an arm to treat a splinter!  The splinter is gone but the process, without more, leaves a person in serious peril.

Thus the veto on our bullhook ban. A new crime needed to be created but now won't be because of massive mismanagement of the system.

We can pass city by city bans to help our elephants as we have been doing - but who do I see about fixing the rest of this mess for us all?

Cecil the Lion

Cecil, a beloved lion, known by all for his black mane was lured out of his protected habitat in a Zimbabwean national park by a Minnesota dentist, Walter Palmer, and his guides, and killed. Not just killed - but shot with a bow and arrow and left in pain for 40 hours until put out of his misery via gunshot. 

courtesy google images

The fact that Cecil was used to tourists and trusted them to some extent, relegates this heinous act to that akin to those characteristic of a canned hunt, which is not even considered a sport by other sport hunters, and an act of extreme cowardice and overcompensation. It is certainly not a fair fight.

What is really disturbing is his defense. In a statement to the media, Palmer claimed that he didn't mean to kill Cecil specifically, and that, whoever he killed, he killed legally. As to the latter, not so fast- as his guides were arrested for poaching. As to the former - unbelievable! 

How many prosecutors would release a murderer from culpability because he said "I intended to kill someone, just not the guy I killed". The answer is the precise amount of tolerance and leniency the world should give for such behavior.

Charges Filed Against Holiday Humane Society Fake Veterinarian

UPDATE: CONVICTED!  Menjivar, 52, pled no contest to one count of unlicensed practice of veterinary medicine. Judge Leland Harris sentenced Menjivar to 36 months of probation, 30 days jail, 500 hours of community service and 16 sessions of animal cruelty counseling. Menjivar is scheduled to surrender on October 16, 2015. 

Congratulations City Attorney Mike Feuer and Supervising Attorney Don Cocek for prosecuting the case!

Los Angeles City Attorney Mike Feuer has brought charges against Hector Antonio Menjivar, of Holiday Humane Society, for allegedly posing as a veterinarian and operating an unlicensed after-hours veterinary clinic in Van Nuys. The amount of pain and suffering caused to the pets and their human companions is unimaginable. 


It is particularly despicable, if Mr. Menjivar was using the humane society as a shield to deflect suspicion. My heart goes out to those pets and families who were caused pain by this organization and urge anyone else who may have so been harmed to contact the City Attorney. It is, of course, a good idea to research a veterinarian or clinic before bringing in your pet, especially if you are quoted a price that is too good to be true.

We commend Mike Feuer and Deputy City Attorney Don Cocek, Supervising Attorney of the City Attorney’s Animal Protection Unit, for protecting our animals from harm as well as those of us who love them.

Stop Playing Three Card Monte With Our Pets

this is what no-kill should look like

The term "no-kill" was abandoned years ago by enlightened and legitimate organizations as it became synonymous with horrific and sometimes hoarding conditions, as well as touted  by ignorant politicians, less than savory “rescue” groups and fundraisers to assuage a concerned public that all was well with the animals. After all, it's a catchy, quick concept phrase that achieved its original purpose of sparking an aspirational dialogue which advocated that all animals able to be physically and mentally rehabilitated should be placed into homes. (Even San Francisco, the birthplace of the term ceased its’ use a decade ago.) 

this is often what no-kill looks like

Unfortunately, mayors using the term to set goals, "rescues" promising life to a heartbroken pet owner who can no longer keep a pet, or city pound struggling to reach said no kill goal, are perpetuating a major fraud on the humane, well-meaning public. (Nothing here is intended to criticize those legitimate rescue groups without whose help we would be lost.)

 A major "adoption" festival in Los Angeles, where most of the pets were simply moved to "rescues" and could well be condemned to live out their lives in agony in an airline carrier is disgraceful. These are not adoptions into loving homes but rather a Three Card Monte game with our pets. Un-vetted "rescues", often just hoarders, some who may have already been convicted of animal cruelty, may be holding your former pet in miserable cesspools of anguish while advertising and soliciting funds for their “sanctuaries”. Other "sanctuaries" are simply warehousing our pets in crates in places where they will never be seen by potential adopters and will never find a home. 

The shell game of moving pets from location to location solves nothing - except maybe soothing the collective consciences of the perpetrators and the uninformed public. I don't expect that the public be knowledgeable in the nuances and ins and outs of this business. I do expect that they be told the truth. I am also not talking about legitimate transports such as our Air Chihuahua™   program where our excess of little dogs is sent to a state with no little dogs and is greeted by a line of adopters awaiting their arrival. I am speaking of removing animals from the shelters and stashing them in the dark corners and recesses of our city.

or this - from a no-kill location

Finally, those vestigial clingers to this sham suggest they are the righteous and the rest of us are - what - pro-kill? 

It is time that we expose this for what it is and commit to treating our animals humanely, to finding them forever homes, to educate those who know not what they are saying, and to prosecute those that deceive us and harm our pets.

Ringling Bros. Failed to Train the Public to Come to the Show

Courtesy Google Images

UPDATE: Ringling announced today that it is eliminating elephant acts May of 2016 rather than 2018 citing concerns over public opinion and pesky local ordinances!



Ringling Bros. announced that they are phasing out elephant acts by 2018, Their parent company Feld Entertainment cited public concern for the welfare of elephants and this;

"...  certain cities and counties have passed "anti-circus" and "anti-elephant" ordinances. The company's three shows visit 115 cities throughout the year, and Feld said it's expensive to fight legislation in each jurisdiction. It's also difficult to plan tours amid constantly changing regulations.." (President Kenneth Feld)

We should take note that constant vigilance, intelligent opposition and local legislation can yield powerful results. We must keep this up for the benefit of the tigers, dogs and camels and other animals still asked to perform extreme acts for our entertainment. I would also urge close monitoring of their Center for Elephant Conservation in Florida where their elephants are housed.

Until all the animals are unshackled and released from the forced travel, training and dystopian existence we must watch, speak and legislate their freedom.

The public won't be “bull hooked” into buying tickets.

Can Ray Rice Horror Open Eyes

Notwithstanding the fact that the NFL has been the most hospitable sanctuary for the vulgar and the violent, (animal abuse, domestic violence, bar fights etc.), I am hopeful that some good will come of the latest horror story involving the Raven's Ray Rice.

It is not coincidental that violence against the vulnerable allows for multiple targets in the same setting. In other words spousal abuse and animal abuse, abuse of the disabled and elder abuse and so on and so forth. The crime is the same – the opportunity reveals the victims. These are all parts of one deranged whole.

As early as the mid-nineties spcaLA (not affiliated with any other spca) began a domestic violence program, (Animal Safety Net) designed to provide a safe place for pets of victims of domestic violence thus removing a very significant barrier which often prevented a victim from leaving an unsafe situation. The catalyst for this involved a woman who was repeatedly beaten by her spouse who (the spouse) also tortured the family cat in front of an 8 year old child. The woman killed her spouse and then committed suicide leaving the child and the cat to fend for themselves. Since then we have provided peace for dogs, cats, horses, fish, rats, reptiles and hamsters while their human companions sought shelter and a path to a sane life.

Today, despite the fact that there is more awareness of this cycle of violence, more cross training on the issues, and more mandatory reporters there is still a reluctance to get involved as evidenced by the willingness of both the NFL and a prosecutor to look the other way by handing down de minims sanctions (2 game suspension and a diversionary counseling program) which would have allowed Rice’s record to remain clean. Then, the surfacing of the video showing the actual violence ended his career.

Let us not waste the opportunity offered by this high profile case. Friends, neighbors, social workers and law enforcement need to see the entire crime scene. If called for animal cruelty – look for domestic violence and vice versa.  There could be another victim in front of you,  that blinders built and sustained over centuries of looking the other way, who will finally be seen as a homicide statistic.

I Do Have A Real Job

Courtesy of MSN.com link

When people ask me - "why don't you get a real job" or "why did you give up prosecuting people" or "why should we care about animal abuse" - I show them an article like this -http://news.msn.com/crime-justice/after-5-year-manhunt-fugitive-couple-arrested  Note the treatment of both their children and animals.

I never changed jobs - I changed my primary victim focus. But guess what! The defendants remain the same.  Criminals are criminals, bullies are bullies, and sadists are sadists. The connection between animal abuse and people abuse particularly in the areas of domestic violence and in the development of serial killers is air tight. We must stop the cycle of violence as early as possible, as soon as it is manifested, even as young as a preschooler. spcaLA, alone, has programs to do that which include the only alternative sentencing mandate for qualifying juveniles, a domestic violence safety net, and others targeting youth from at  risk communities. (There is no national/umbrella spca in this country.)

I don't ask people to love animals, but rather to agree with me that it is wrong to gratuitously harm them. I ask people to fund spcaLA as a way to support compassion for our lost and abused animals but also as a way to eliminate violence against people.

Protecting our vulnerable classes against bullies protects us all.

 I think that is a "real job"!

What is Leonardo, Raphael, Michelangelo, Donatello and Salmonella?

not ninjas

Four fictional ninja turtles and one real disease.

I love the ninja turtle movies but I also love turtles. Real turtles are not ninjas, not appropriate pets for youngsters, and not legal to sell if their shells are less than 4 inches in diameter.

not a turtle

Real turtles also carry salmonella which transmits to children and adults when hands are put in mouths, eyes etc without serious washing in between. Salmonella can be fatal to the young, elderly and vulnerable. Turtles also don't provide the type of sustained interaction that children like which often results in their being flushed, illegally dumped in a pond, or accidentally killed. Who needs that?

It is also illegal in California and other places to sell animals on the street. Therefore if you see a vendor selling turtles, large or small, on the street, report it rather than buy one.

Unfortunately, history tells us that whether the featured movie animal is a dalmatian, chihuahua, cat or turtle the ending is always the same. Parents are exploited, pets are harmed, children are left unsatisfied with the wrong lessons learned, while the breeders/vendors laugh all the way to the bank.

Let us not be doomed to relive history. Stick with the toy turtles and enjoy the film!

Please Don't "Rescue" Me

Courtesy spcaLA

There seems to be an epidemic of animal hoarding cases  involving 501(c)(3) not for profit corporations who characterize themselves as “rescues” or “no kill” shelters,  but are in fact the perpetrators of animal cruelty. It is critical that animal shelters, both public and private, screen, physically inspect, and research the reputations of these “rescues” before releasing animals to them or giving them pull privileges. Animal hoarding is defined as keeping higher-than-normal numbers of animals without the ability to properly house or care for them, while at the same time denying this inability.  Part of the problem is the hoarder’s incapability to part with any animal and thus, contrary to their representations will not work to find animals in their care new homes.

  

Pressure by sincere citizens and out-of-state organizations with deep pockets and misguided ideology can lead well-meaning, but ill informed city and county officials to release animals to hoarders in an effort to save them all so that they may create ‘happier’ statistics. However, the reality of releasing animals to such groups is all-too-often condemning a pet to a slow, lingering death sentence. This is particularly heartbreaking as a lot of energy and care was put into these pets by the shelters to ready them for transfer to a group who promises to find them homes. Instead, the animals suffer a fate worse than death.

While “no kill” was a popular phrase 15 years ago in the animal welfare environment, spcaLA, and most other legitimate entities, do not find its use responsible. In fact, the San Francisco animal welfare community that coined the term “no kill” stopped using it as it became more associated with hoarding, statistical acrobatics and deception as it always connotes something that it is not, is fraught with an inchoate vocabulary and provides a false sense that all is well.

In its over 135 year history, spcaLA has investigated, arrested, and worked to convict countless animal hoarders and other animal abusers of felony and misdemeanor animal cruelty. It has become common place and quite daunting to see the defendants, the hoarders, self-identified as animal “rescuers,” often connected to or incorporating as a “no kill” 501(c)(3), with “pull” privileges at local animal care and control facilities or private shelters. 

spcaLA urges shelters to perform regular inspections of rescue-partner facilities and  to investigate the background of the heads of these groups.  Very often, hoarders convicted of animal cruelty will move to a different city or state, adopt a new name, create a new 501(c)(3), and begin their cruel enterprise anew.  Further, spcaLA urges donors to give locally and to do their homework before simply responding to a sad Facebook post or the very convincing pleas of a hoarder.

Make no mistake - there are responsible and heroic partners that provide a real service to overcrowded shelters and to our community who are the real rescue partner deal. For the sake of our pets - we need to ensure that we do our due diligence and only work with such groups.

aspca et al bribed witness which costs us all

Many of you have been sending me this story and asking about it. Many of you also think that aspca and hsus are national/umbrella organizations. They are not. They are not connected in any way to the other spcas and human societies across the country. Your spcaLA has nothing to do with this egregious conduct. 

That said, 14 years ago aspca and others sued Feld for issues regarding the improper treatment of their elephants. As standing is required to be heard in court - a plaintiff was identified and the case was allowed to proceed. When it was learned that there was an issue regarding the legitimacy of this plaintiff, Feld countered under the Rico statute which is a federal criminal racketeering law alleging bad behavior and conspiracy on the part of aspca, hsus et al. This is the result:


aspca,  hsus and others collectively have to pay Feld, the parent company of Ringling Brothers circus almost 25 million dollars (9.2 and 15.5 million respectively) to settle a lawsuit in which, as stated by the Wall Street Journal Law Blog, " the groups and their lawyers bribed a former circus employee to make up allegations that Feld abused Asian elephants in its circus."

This number does not include 14 years of legal fees, trial costs,  and other assets wasted for over a decade, expenses often not covered by insurance as they were the initiators of the suit. (Insurance surely would not cover the almost 300,000 in inappropriate witness payments.)  I say wasted because they knew from the start that they had a tainted witness and continued anyway. I would not be upset if it was a bona fide ethically handled lawsuit to help circus elephants that just was lost. That happens. In a world where Ringling Brothers had to pay the largest exhibitor fine ever to USDA for their treatment of animals and where Sarah the elephant collapsed on stage - the aspca et al had to mess with a witness to allege a problem? 

It is not enough that aspca is criticized for unethical fundraising practices, not disclosing that they are not a national umbrella organization which hurts animals all over the country who suffer from lack of resources, but their unethical behavior in this law suit has hurt  the reputation of animal welfare organizations everywhere who are mistakenly believed to be their "chapters",  the elephants, other circus animals who are slaves to the entertainment industry and trapped in pom-poms and chains, and has set back efforts to help these animals. This is particularly vexing as it hands the bullhook to Ringling Brothers with which to beat us.

That said, here in Los Angeles, without lawsuits, and millions of dollars your spcaLA, PAWS, Voice for the Animals, other local charities and you, the citizens of our city, dealt a blow to the circus by successfully enacting a bullhook ban in the city of Los Angeles, which, according to Ringling Brothers, means they can't come here anymore. 

Of course, this is not enough, but, we didn't have to bribe anyone to do it.

Ugh - so disappointing.

Do Not Leave Children and Pets in Cars -Even For a Minute

Courtesy Google Images

Every year children and pets are left in hot cars - often left to die. Just last week a dog was found dead in a car in Riverside California. The owner was charged with felony animal cruelty.

In warm weather the car heats up quickly and cracking the windows is useless in cooling it down. Furthermore, your shady parking spot can quickly be in the sun as the earth rotates. The shortest of errands can be too long for your loved ones to survive the oven like conditions of the vehicle.

In these cases we see people who love their pets so much that they take them everywhere only to become distracted and realize the horror of what they have done.

Please leave your pets at home and view spcaLA's hot weather tips.

Are There Bugs in My Bangs?

I have been inside more "hoarding houses" than anyone should ever have to. They are scary, dark, smelly and exude
anguish, sorrow and hostility. Junk is piled from floor to ceiling, and, if animals are also hoarded, covered in poop, pee, puss and puke. Dead animals lie in the debris mixed with live pets that are starving, sick and suffering. A "true" hoarder considers this a loving environment and neither seeks nor accepts intervention willingly. They often attack.

Though the A&E Network series has generated awareness of this phenomenon which spans all socioeconomic classes, it has made the problem "cool". Cat lady action figures, board games, art projects and clothing have all populated the market place and people feel comfortable referring to themselves as 'hoarders" if they have a lot of shoes.

It should not ever be "in" or "hip" to be a hoarder. Ironically, "true" hoarders think they are fine and become insulted at the mention of that word. That is why they never ask for help, volunteer to participate in a study or agree to star in an A&E reality show. If they possessed that level of awareness - they could be helped.

Rather, we find them, usually on the receiving end of a warrant. By the time they see me it's a law enforcement matter and too late to fix - even if they ever acknowledged that they needed to.

So please, let's try to locate these souls when intervention is possible. If you see or smell something, say something. Think before you drop an animal with that nice person down the street instead of driving to a shelter. When you notice unusual infestations, piles of junk and nauseating odors, report it to the authorities. Every living thing in that house needs help

After stepping outside one of these houses to talk to someone - I thought I saw something move in my bangs. Don't send me back inside one of those places. It is not entertainment. It is horrible.

Convicted! You Can't Just Beat an Opossum to Death Because She is an Opossum

Courtesy Google Images

It doesn't matter if you think an animal is a nuisance or a pet, gratuitously injuring or killing her is a crime in California.

Jose Chavez, took a wooden stick to a fence outside his apartment where a mother opossum and her babies lay.   Chavez then struck the mom in the head, knocking her from the fence.  She attempted to escape, but Chavez took her, with babies attached to her, to and beat her until he killed her. Then, Chavez placed the dead mom and her live babies in a plastic bag and put them into a dumpster.

Your spcaLA Humane Officers investigated after which Chavez was charged with misdemeanor animal cruelty where he ultimately struck a plea bargain.

It doesn't matter that some animals may be characterized as nuisances, used for food, displayed in circuses or scare you for no reason. It does matter that they be treated humanely. It is simply shameful, particularly, as in this case the opossum was scared, protective of her litter, and tried to escape that this beating occurred. 

Were I able to wave my wand and outlaw all abuses and exploitation of our animals - i would. Until then - show a little respect or expect to be prosecuted.

Healthy Giraffe Killed, Chopped and Fed to Big Cats in Front of Children

Courtesy washingtonpost.com/google images

Zoos are no place for animals.

Copenhagen Zoo killed, dissected and fed a giraffe, Marius, to their big cats while children watched. The zoo asserted that this giraffe, though healthy, possessed genes too common with the other giraffes in the zoo to be used in their breeding program. This was done despite both the posting of online petitions opposing this course of action and the offers of other facilities to take Marius.

The zoo argued that such "culling" occurs in the wild and that they have similarly done this many times with goats, antelope and boar. They further argued that seeing a giraffe this way was educational for youngsters.

I understand that we are always confronted with the constant conflicts of choosing between saving the predator or the prey. Do you let a snake starve because you won't kill a mouse? Such contradictions exist everywhere in our lives. Criminals can behave kindly, pit bull fighters can cherish the family pet dog, and people can kill to protect others. Not every decision is a "Sophie's Choice" but they must all be recognized as the products of a complex world with competing priorities. The mouse and the snake each want to live and will fight to do so.

courtesy abc.com/google images

That said, zoos have educational mandates and responsibilities to treat their animals and visitors humanely. They should not exist to replicate the wars in the wild but rather, if they must exist, to demonstrate compassion, conserve endangered species and teach respect for those with whom we share this planet.

I don't think wild animals should be held captive for our entertainment. I surely don't think they should be massacred for it either.


Originally printed in the Washington Times:  http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/feb/17/letter-to-the-editor-zoos-should-exhibit-compassio/