Saturday, September 29, 2007

How they Live and Die


As with other animals in the fur industry, dogs and cats are bred in dank facilities with inadequate food and water, under conditions that optimize the thickness and length of their fur, but weaken and sicken them in time for slaughter.

To kill a dog, the butcher ties a metal wire around its necks, then stabs the dog in the groin area. The butcher then skins the dog, sometimes while the dog still lives.

Often, cats and dogs are sold in open air markets. Breeders sell dog flesh to restaurants or food operations. Locals then use the cat and dog fur themselves, or sell to dealers in Europe. There, middlemen sell fur in auction houses, or incorporate cat and dog fur into European products. European dealers also use cat and dog skin.


Monday, September 24, 2007

Pit bull dogs discovered in raids

Two illegal pit bull dogs have been seized in an operation by police and animal welfare officers in Edinburgh.

About 14 police officers and Scottish SPCA officers raided two addresses in the Inch area of the city.

One dog was found at each address and examinations confirmed that they were pit bulls - a breed which has been branded illegal in the UK.

The dogs are currently being looked after by the SSPCA and a report will be submitted to the procurator fiscal.

Officers said the report will contain information regarding offences under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991.

The Lothian and Borders Police force said it was carrying out enquiries to find out if the animals had been involved in illegal dog fighting in the area.

Constable Charles Everitt, a police wildlife and environmental crime officer, urged anyone with information about dog fighting to contact the police.

He said: "Dog fighting is a cruel activity which should have died out long ago.

"Any measure that can be taken to stamp it out and to relieve the suffering caused to participating animals is most welcome."

Although not common, dog fighting still occurs throughout the central belt in Scotland.

Welfare officers said the location of these fights can vary and can include isolated woods, farm buildings, warehouses or emptied rooms within houses.

The participating dogs are agitated by their handlers and released to attack each other, inflicting injuries which are often life-threatening.

'Horrific injuries'

Ch Supt Mike Flynn of the SSPCA said: "The dogs used in these illegal fights are worth a lot of money to their owners and their training in aggression starts when they start to mature.

"All the dogs are victims of cruelty that starts long before their first fight and during their fighting 'career' they will inflict and suffer horrific injuries."

The dogs rarely receive professional veterinary treatment as a vet would recognise the wounds as being consistent with dog fighting.

The Scottish Executive recently passed the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006, making it an offence for a person to take part in an animal fight, not to care for their animal's needs and to possess equipment for training dogs to fight.

The discovery of the dogs came as the BBC revealed that it had uncovered a network of criminal gangs who supply illegal pit bull terriers for fighting.

An undercover Panorama team found that the dogs were brought into the country using false documents.

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/edinburgh_and_east/6970865.stm

Published: 2007/08/30 15:48:52 GMT


Sunday, September 23, 2007


The plight of homeless and displaced animals is astronomical. Shelters today are overcrowded. Domestic animals are left on the roadside to fend for themselves. It is up to all of us to make this world a better place for domestic animals. Let us all make others aware of these homeless animals.


Hugs For Homeless Animals - They have a worldwide shelter directory
Dog Rescue Pages - All breed dog-rescue centres and organisation throughout the UK
and Ireland.
Adopt a pet - Find a Animal Shelter in US