Time for this week’s edition of Hisses and Purrs. Each week we run down the good, and the not-so-good, news in the world of animal welfare.
First up, as always, is our own Hissy Fit Jones, and Dog! does he have some powerful hisses to dole out this week!
Hisses to the Copenhagen Zoo for killing a “surplus” male giraffe named Marius. Marius was killed with a bolt gun so as to not contaminate the meat, which was to be fed to carnivores after the publicly viewed autopsy. Other zoos and sanctuaries offered to take the giraffe in, but Copenhagen Zoo seemed intent on killing Marius.
Hisses to the Longleat Safari Park in the UK for killing an adult male lion, a lioness, and 4 cubs last month because of “health risks.” Authorities at the park claim they killed the lions because the birth of the cubs has led to violent behavior among the lions.
Hisses to Biodia, a monkey farm on Mauritius that breeds animals for use in U.S. laboratories. Investigators uncovered horrific treatment of the animals there, including workers swinging monkeys by their tails, tattooing upset infants without anesthetic, and slamming monkeys on the ground. Approximately 20,000 monkeys are imported each year for use in laboratory experiments, and approximately 300 of those come from the Biodia monkey farm.
ACK! What is it with these crazy people? June Buggie! HELP!
Purrs to New York State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman and his Organized Crime Task Force for busting up a huge cockfighting ring in New York. The investigation, called “Operation Angry Birds,” resulted in the arrest of 7 people involved in the well-organized ring, as well as 70 spectators. Rescued were 3000 birds.
Purrs to the Marseille court that convicted 24-year-old Farid Ghilas of animal cruelty. Ghilas uploaded to Facebook a video of him throwing a 5 month old kitten up against a wall. He has been sentenced to a year in prison and forbidden to own animals. The kitten suffered a broken foot and a stomach injury but is recovering.
Purrs to France for joining the list of countries who have destroyed stockpiles of confiscated ivory. France destroyed over 3 tons of elephant tusks and carved items at the base of the Eiffel Tower.
And Purrs to twin sisters Sydney and Alexandria Cohen of Davie, Florida, who were honored as Animal Kid Heroes for the work they do to help animals. The 10 year olds foster abandoned animals and raise money for rescue groups. You go, girls!
Awesome! Thanks June Buggie! That’s some great news this week!
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And yet another hoarder pretending to be a sanctuary has been discovered, this time in Bradenton, Florida, which is near St. Petersburg. Over 300 animals, including dogs, cats, horses, geese, hogs and goats were rescued. Remains of 20 animals were found on site, and 12 animals found were in such bad shape they were euthanized. I DO hope you vet groups BEFORE you support them financially!
Dogpaddling Through Life 
Great post!
BTW the French dope-head who threw the kitten:
Where we live he would have had ‘Jungle Justice as punishment, at least from me.
Where I live he would have been severely punished if he got probation. *sigh*
I’ve heard about Marius yesterday . I’m so sad and so angry. But I’m glad the justice really send this idiot from Marseille to jail. The people here wish him the same as he has done with the cat.
I am glad that justice is being served.
Great news to hear about those twin sisters known as “Animal Kid Heroes”! I think that it’s very important to be educated what is right and wrong when humans are still young. When they become adult, they will give more help for animals, I hope!
I think they will Kevin. When asked what they thought was most important to know about animal welfare, one said never buy from puppy mills, and the other said to spay/ neuter your pets!
The purrs are good this week.
Gotta have some good news too!
There are so many horrific stories of humans behaving badly in the news. I really enjoyed the purrs.
It’s not all bad, and we have to remember that!
Wow on that supposed sanctuary in Davie…scary. 300 animals?? Seeing the cats at the rescue breaks my heart but I can imagine trying to support 300 holy cow. Hopefully the animals can be vetted and saved and those.people face a stiff penalty. I know in Florida they count each case of animal cruelty separately. So crossing my fingers there will be justice.
One can only hope…..
wow….the horrendous acts of some people are just beyond words!
Loving all the purrs though, it’s nice to know people are still doing good in the world!
BTW if you have a chance to stop by my blog today, pls do because I am passing on some awards and 2 of them are going your way 🙂 Thx so much!
((husky hugz))
Frum our pack at Love is being owned by a husky
Whoa! What an honor!
We were hoping you would give a Purr or France for destroying the ivory, thanks! Play bows,
RA
They earned it!!!!
Longleat have released a statement explaining that the male lion was injured and not getting better. Louisa, the lioness had neurological issues and the four cubs were showing the same symptoms as her meaning they were all unwell (I believe it said they had head tilts and one was supposed to have had a seizure) They would not have been suitable for future breeding and the pride could have turned on them. I’m not saying I agree with them but it does go some way to explaining it rather than the whole Marius thing which doesn’t make one bit of sense.
Have you heard about Michael Vicks? He is some sports persons involved in dog fighting apparently. I just heard it on twitter
~ Amy
I think the Vick thing is a hoax. As for the lion story, I don’t believe it. I think that’s a front because they saw the backlash from the giraffe murder and wanted to prevent the same thing from happening to them.
And I was right. Here’s the story about the Vick hoax at the urbanlegends web site. http://urbanlegends.about.com/od/Fake-News/ss/Michael-Vick-Hospitalized-in-Pit-Bull-Attack.htm
We could not believe that story about the poor giraffe when we saw it on the news – how cruel and idiotic!!!
Woos – Phantom, Ciara, and Lightning
I think the one about the lions is just as idiotic. 😦
Can people be so stupid and mean? The hisses just leave me speechless. There is no sanctity of life, no feelings for fellow beings, it’s just so upsetting. I truly hope there is justice for these people somewhere in this universe.
!!!!!!!!!!! That’s all of us screaming! Thank you once again.
Woof! Woof!
Vive la France! I am proud to say that I am a citizen. History buffs out there, read “Citizen,” by Simon Schama. It’s a fascinating chronicle of the French Revolution. Thank you France for creating the United States of America!