The federal Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Steven Guilbeault, is recommending Cabinet issue an emergency order under Canada’s Species at Risk Act to protect the last remaining northern spotted owls in British Columbia (B.C.). The order would give Ottawa the power to step in and make decisions that normally fall to the province, such as whether to allow logging in the owl’s habitat. The spotted owl population has declined to only three individuals in B.C. and urgent action is needed to prevent their extinction. The emergency order has not yet been issued, but if approved, it would be only the third time such an order has been used to protect a species in Canada.
This Week's Spotlights
Legislative Spotlights
Federal Environment Minister Recommends Emergency Order to Protect Last Three Spotted Owls
Litigation Spotlights
Federal Government Being Sued over Single-Use Plastic Ban
The federal government is being sued by a group called the “Responsible Plastic Use Coalition,” made up of Canada’s biggest plastic manufacturers and distributors, over their decision to list plastic manufactured items as “toxic” under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act. Animal Justice, Environmental Defence, and Oceana were all granted intervenor status in the case and will appear to defend the ban and put forward important information about the harm that pollution causes to wildlife. The hearing in Responsible Plastic Use Coalition et al. v. the Minister of the Environment took place in Federal Court in Toronto March 7th to 9th. A rally to draw public attention to the case was organized by the intervenors outside the courthouse on March 7th.
The federal government is being sued by a group called the “Responsible Plastic Use Coalition,” made up of Canada’s biggest plastic manufacturers and distributors, over their decision to list plastic manufactured items as “toxic” under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act. Animal Justice, Environmental Defence, and Oceana were all granted intervenor status in the case and will appear to defend the ban and put forward important information about the harm that pollution causes to wildlife. The hearing in Responsible Plastic Use Coalition et al. v. the Minister of the Environment took place in Federal Court in Toronto March 7th to 9th. A rally to draw public attention to the case was organized by the intervenors outside the courthouse on March 7th.
Enforcement Spotlights
Animal Justice and Coyote Watch Canada File Application for Investigation of Belleville Hunting Contest
Animal Justice and Coyote Watch Canada have filed an application for investigation under Ontario’s Environmental Bill of Rights in relation to a 2023 coyote hunting contest that took place near Belleville, Ontario. The contest is regularly run by Chesher’s Outdoor Store and is expected to award the participants who kill the largest coyotes with thousands of dollars in cash and prizes. In Ontario, it is illegal to hunt for gain or to pay or accept a bounty unless an exception is granted under the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act. Animal Justice, Coyote Watch Canada, and the Fur-Bearers are already suing the province for allowing the 2022 contest to take place in the absence of written authorizations as required under the Act.
Animal Justice and Coyote Watch Canada have filed an application for investigation under Ontario’s Environmental Bill of Rights in relation to a 2023 coyote hunting contest that took place near Belleville, Ontario. The contest is regularly run by Chesher’s Outdoor Store and is expected to award the participants who kill the largest coyotes with thousands of dollars in cash and prizes. In Ontario, it is illegal to hunt for gain or to pay or accept a bounty unless an exception is granted under the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act. Animal Justice, Coyote Watch Canada, and the Fur-Bearers are already suing the province for allowing the 2022 contest to take place in the absence of written authorizations as required under the Act.
Animal Justice Calls for Investigation into Longueuil Police Deer Killing
Animal Justice has filed a complaint with Quebec’s Police Ethics Commissioner, calling for an investigation into the conduct of a Longueuil police officer who shot an injured deer thirteen times over half an hour until the deer eventually died. The complaint alleges that the officer's conduct breached the “Code of Ethics of Quebec Police Officers” by using greater force than was necessary. The police claim the deer had two broken legs and needed to be euthanized, but the repeated shooting with a low-caliber weapon likely caused additional pain and prolonged suffering which was inhumane and avoidable. Causing harm to animals is illegal under provincial and federal animal cruelty laws.
Animal Justice has filed a complaint with Quebec’s Police Ethics Commissioner, calling for an investigation into the conduct of a Longueuil police officer who shot an injured deer thirteen times over half an hour until the deer eventually died. The complaint alleges that the officer's conduct breached the “Code of Ethics of Quebec Police Officers” by using greater force than was necessary. The police claim the deer had two broken legs and needed to be euthanized, but the repeated shooting with a low-caliber weapon likely caused additional pain and prolonged suffering which was inhumane and avoidable. Causing harm to animals is illegal under provincial and federal animal cruelty laws.
Agency Spotlights
Federal Ban on the Use of Strychnine to Kill Ground Squirrels Takes Effect
The Canadian government’s ban on the use of products containing strychnine for use to kill Richardson’s ground squirrels went into effect on March 4th. Health Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency cancelled the registration of products containing strychnine due to its impact on non-target animals, with a three-year phase out period that is now coming to an end. The chemical is highly toxic and has been shown to cause severe suffering in animals, including non-target species such as pets and wildlife. The ban comes after years of advocacy by animal welfare organizations, who have called for safer and more humane alternatives.
The Canadian government’s ban on the use of products containing strychnine for use to kill Richardson’s ground squirrels went into effect on March 4th. Health Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency cancelled the registration of products containing strychnine due to its impact on non-target animals, with a three-year phase out period that is now coming to an end. The chemical is highly toxic and has been shown to cause severe suffering in animals, including non-target species such as pets and wildlife. The ban comes after years of advocacy by animal welfare organizations, who have called for safer and more humane alternatives.
Academic Spotlights
New Academic Article by Maneesha Deckha Considers Psychological Barriers to Animal Law Reform
Maneesha Deckha, “Animalization and Dehumanization Concerns: Another Psychological Barrier to Animal Law Reform” (2023) 2 Psychology of Human-Animal Intergroup Relations 1.
Abstract: Legal systems across the world classify animals as property. There is growing global momentum asking courts in anthropocentric legal systems to revisit this position through test-case litigation. This has resulted in a few discrete victories for animals, but not much more. An ongoing issue is general legal conservatism and the belief in human exceptionalism that judges exhibit in these and related cases. In addition to general human exceptionalism, this article argues that a further psychological block for judges can arise from concerns about exacerbating racism and other intra-human prejudices given histories and legacies of animalizing and dehumanizing certain human groups. The first aim of this study is to illustrate this psychological phenomenon impacting judicial decision-making in relation to race. The article discusses the 2022 decision by the New York Court of Appeals with respect to the ongoing captivity of Happy, an elephant at the Bronx Zoo. This decision is selected given its recent and landmark status in North America. The second aim of the study is to outline why the dissociation of humans from animals is counterproductive to eliminating racism and other intra-human prejudices and inequities. The third aim of the study is to explain why affirming human proximity and kinship to animals—and thus putting a positive spin on animalization—in the legal system would be a more effective anti-racist and decolonizing gesture.
Maneesha Deckha, “Animalization and Dehumanization Concerns: Another Psychological Barrier to Animal Law Reform” (2023) 2 Psychology of Human-Animal Intergroup Relations 1.
Abstract: Legal systems across the world classify animals as property. There is growing global momentum asking courts in anthropocentric legal systems to revisit this position through test-case litigation. This has resulted in a few discrete victories for animals, but not much more. An ongoing issue is general legal conservatism and the belief in human exceptionalism that judges exhibit in these and related cases. In addition to general human exceptionalism, this article argues that a further psychological block for judges can arise from concerns about exacerbating racism and other intra-human prejudices given histories and legacies of animalizing and dehumanizing certain human groups. The first aim of this study is to illustrate this psychological phenomenon impacting judicial decision-making in relation to race. The article discusses the 2022 decision by the New York Court of Appeals with respect to the ongoing captivity of Happy, an elephant at the Bronx Zoo. This decision is selected given its recent and landmark status in North America. The second aim of the study is to outline why the dissociation of humans from animals is counterproductive to eliminating racism and other intra-human prejudices and inequities. The third aim of the study is to explain why affirming human proximity and kinship to animals—and thus putting a positive spin on animalization—in the legal system would be a more effective anti-racist and decolonizing gesture.
New Book by Kendra Coulter Exploring the World of Animal Protection Available for Pre-Order
Kendra Coulter, Defending Animals: Finding Hope on the Front Lines of Animal Protection (US: The MIT Press, 2023).
Summary: An in-depth look at the urgent struggle to protect animals from harm, cruelty, injustice, extinction, and their greatest threat—us.
Beloved dogs and cats. Magnificent horses and mountain gorillas. Curious chickens. What do we actually do to protect animals from harm—and is it enough? This engaging book provides a unique and eye-opening exploration of the world of animal protection as people defend diverse animals from injustice and cruelty. From the streets of major US cities to remote farms and tropical forests, Defending Animals is a gritty and moving portrait of the real work of animal protection that takes place in communities, courtrooms, and boardrooms.
Globally recognized expert Kendra Coulter takes readers across the different landscapes of animal protection to meet people and animals of all kinds, from cruelty investigators to forensic veterinarians, wildlife rehabilitators and conservation leaders to animal lawyers and entrepreneurs, each working in their own ways to defend animals. Bringing unparalleled research and a distinct and nuanced analytical viewpoint, Defending Animals shows that animal protection is not only physical, intellectual, and emotional work but also a labor so rooted in empathy and care that it just might bridge the vast divide between polarized people and help create a more humane future for us all.
This title is now available for pre-order and will be released on September 26th, 2023.
Kendra Coulter, Defending Animals: Finding Hope on the Front Lines of Animal Protection (US: The MIT Press, 2023).
Summary: An in-depth look at the urgent struggle to protect animals from harm, cruelty, injustice, extinction, and their greatest threat—us.
Beloved dogs and cats. Magnificent horses and mountain gorillas. Curious chickens. What do we actually do to protect animals from harm—and is it enough? This engaging book provides a unique and eye-opening exploration of the world of animal protection as people defend diverse animals from injustice and cruelty. From the streets of major US cities to remote farms and tropical forests, Defending Animals is a gritty and moving portrait of the real work of animal protection that takes place in communities, courtrooms, and boardrooms.
Globally recognized expert Kendra Coulter takes readers across the different landscapes of animal protection to meet people and animals of all kinds, from cruelty investigators to forensic veterinarians, wildlife rehabilitators and conservation leaders to animal lawyers and entrepreneurs, each working in their own ways to defend animals. Bringing unparalleled research and a distinct and nuanced analytical viewpoint, Defending Animals shows that animal protection is not only physical, intellectual, and emotional work but also a labor so rooted in empathy and care that it just might bridge the vast divide between polarized people and help create a more humane future for us all.
This title is now available for pre-order and will be released on September 26th, 2023.
New Book Review by Angela Fernandez of Daniel Selmi’s Dawn at Mineral King Valley
Angela Fernandez, “Environmental Law, Standing, and the History of Sierra Club v. Morton” (2023) JOTWELL: The Journal of Things We Like (Lots).
Summary: Daniel P. Selmi’s book Dawn at Mineral King Valley: The Sierra Club, The Disney Company, and the Rise of Environmental Law details the story behind the Mineral King Valley case, revealing how the Sierra Club battled Disney’s ski resort development and launched a new environmental era in America. Selmi’s book recounts the complete history of this revolutionary legal battle and the ramifications that continue today, almost 50 years later.
The review praises the author's detailed analysis of the case and its impact on environmental law, as well as the book's focus on the role of standing in environmental litigation, a topic that is relevant for nonhuman animal legal standing and is connected to the “dogged anthropocentrism” plaguing both animal law and environmental law.
Angela Fernandez, “Environmental Law, Standing, and the History of Sierra Club v. Morton” (2023) JOTWELL: The Journal of Things We Like (Lots).
Summary: Daniel P. Selmi’s book Dawn at Mineral King Valley: The Sierra Club, The Disney Company, and the Rise of Environmental Law details the story behind the Mineral King Valley case, revealing how the Sierra Club battled Disney’s ski resort development and launched a new environmental era in America. Selmi’s book recounts the complete history of this revolutionary legal battle and the ramifications that continue today, almost 50 years later.
The review praises the author's detailed analysis of the case and its impact on environmental law, as well as the book's focus on the role of standing in environmental litigation, a topic that is relevant for nonhuman animal legal standing and is connected to the “dogged anthropocentrism” plaguing both animal law and environmental law.
International Spotlights
Denmark Invests Over 90 Million Euros in Development of Plant-Based Foods
On February 23rd, the Danish Parliament unanimously passed a law to create the Fund for Plant-based Foods. The government has invested over 90 million Euros in the Fund, which will be used to support farmers and businesses in the transition to plant-based production, as well as fund research and development of new plant-based products.
On February 23rd, the Danish Parliament unanimously passed a law to create the Fund for Plant-based Foods. The government has invested over 90 million Euros in the Fund, which will be used to support farmers and businesses in the transition to plant-based production, as well as fund research and development of new plant-based products.
Brazil Introduces Partial Ban on Cosmetic Animal Testing
Brazil’s National Council for the Council for the Control of Animal Experimentation has introduced a partial ban on cosmetic animal testing via regulatory restriction No. 58. The restriction prohibits animal testing for cosmetic ingredients with “known effects” and requires the use of alternative methods for “unknown ingredients.” The ban will not prevent the import and sale of newly animal-tested cosmetics from other countries.
Brazil’s National Council for the Council for the Control of Animal Experimentation has introduced a partial ban on cosmetic animal testing via regulatory restriction No. 58. The restriction prohibits animal testing for cosmetic ingredients with “known effects” and requires the use of alternative methods for “unknown ingredients.” The ban will not prevent the import and sale of newly animal-tested cosmetics from other countries.
Australia Pushes to Phase Out Live Sheep Exports
The Australian Government has appointed a panel to consult on how and when it will phase out the export of live sheep. The panel will report to Agriculture Minister Murray Watt by September 30th, 2023, but the ban will not take effect in this term of parliament.
The Australian Government has appointed a panel to consult on how and when it will phase out the export of live sheep. The panel will report to Agriculture Minister Murray Watt by September 30th, 2023, but the ban will not take effect in this term of parliament.
Other Spotlights
Kiska, the Loneliest Whale in the World, Dies at Marineland
After spending over four decades in a tank, Kiska, the last captive killer whale in Canada, has died at Marineland in Niagara Falls, Ontario. Kiska, also known as "the loneliest whale in the world," spent over a decade in isolation, displaying distressing behavior such as banging her head and gnawing her teeth on the pool's concrete walls. National animal law organization Animal Justice is urging provincial authorities to release the post-mortem results and prosecute Marineland for the unlawful distress Kiska clearly experienced throughout her final years.
After spending over four decades in a tank, Kiska, the last captive killer whale in Canada, has died at Marineland in Niagara Falls, Ontario. Kiska, also known as "the loneliest whale in the world," spent over a decade in isolation, displaying distressing behavior such as banging her head and gnawing her teeth on the pool's concrete walls. National animal law organization Animal Justice is urging provincial authorities to release the post-mortem results and prosecute Marineland for the unlawful distress Kiska clearly experienced throughout her final years.
Legislative Updates
Federal Environment Minister Recommends Emergency Order to Protect Last Three Spotted Owls
The federal Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Steven Guilbeault, is recommending Cabinet issue an emergency order under Canada’s Species at Risk Act to protect the last remaining northern spotted owls in British Columbia (B.C.). The order would give Ottawa the power to step in and make decisions that normally fall to the province, such as whether to allow logging in the owl’s habitat. The spotted owl population has declined to only three individuals in B.C. and urgent action is needed to prevent their extinction. The emergency order has not yet been issued, but if approved, it would be only the third time such an order has been used to protect a species in Canada.
The federal Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Steven Guilbeault, is recommending Cabinet issue an emergency order under Canada’s Species at Risk Act to protect the last remaining northern spotted owls in British Columbia (B.C.). The order would give Ottawa the power to step in and make decisions that normally fall to the province, such as whether to allow logging in the owl’s habitat. The spotted owl population has declined to only three individuals in B.C. and urgent action is needed to prevent their extinction. The emergency order has not yet been issued, but if approved, it would be only the third time such an order has been used to protect a species in Canada.
Debate Continues on Jane Goodall Act
As second reading debates continued in the Senate on March 7th, Senator Dennis Glen Patterson expressed his concerns about Bill S-241, the Jane Goodall Act, sponsored by Senator Marty Klyne. In particular, Senator Patterson questioned the potential impact of a clause that creates an “animal advocate” under section 445.2(1) of the Criminal Code, putting forward various slippery slope arguments about what it could mean to grant rights to animals. Senator Patterson also called for an examination of how the bill encroaches on provincial jurisdiction over animal welfare laws.
As second reading debates continued in the Senate on March 7th, Senator Dennis Glen Patterson expressed his concerns about Bill S-241, the Jane Goodall Act, sponsored by Senator Marty Klyne. In particular, Senator Patterson questioned the potential impact of a clause that creates an “animal advocate” under section 445.2(1) of the Criminal Code, putting forward various slippery slope arguments about what it could mean to grant rights to animals. Senator Patterson also called for an examination of how the bill encroaches on provincial jurisdiction over animal welfare laws.
Litigation Updates
Federal Government Being Sued over Single-Use Plastic Ban
The federal government is being sued by a group called the “Responsible Plastic Use Coalition,” made up of Canada’s biggest plastic manufacturers and distributors, over their decision to list plastic manufactured items as “toxic” under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act. Animal Justice, Environmental Defence, and Oceana were all granted intervenor status in the case and will appear to defend the ban and put forward important information about the harm that pollution causes to wildlife. The hearing in Responsible Plastic Use Coalition et al. v. the Minister of the Environment took place in Federal Court in Toronto March 7th to 9th. A rally to draw public attention to the case was organized by the intervenors outside the courthouse on March 7th.
The federal government is being sued by a group called the “Responsible Plastic Use Coalition,” made up of Canada’s biggest plastic manufacturers and distributors, over their decision to list plastic manufactured items as “toxic” under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act. Animal Justice, Environmental Defence, and Oceana were all granted intervenor status in the case and will appear to defend the ban and put forward important information about the harm that pollution causes to wildlife. The hearing in Responsible Plastic Use Coalition et al. v. the Minister of the Environment took place in Federal Court in Toronto March 7th to 9th. A rally to draw public attention to the case was organized by the intervenors outside the courthouse on March 7th.
Enforcement Updates
Animal Welfare Check Results in Criminal Investigation by Fort Erie Detectives
Thirty-one-year-old Quinby Leland Zachariah-Diaz has been arrested and charged after a welfare check by the Niagara Regional Police Service in Ontario revealed two dogs being kept in poor conditions inside a locked storage unit. Officers seized the dogs after observing they were unable to move about due to overcrowding in the unit, insufficient food, and an unclean water supply. Zachariah-Diaz has been charged with two counts of willfully causing unnecessary pain/suffering or injury to an animal and two counts of causing damage or injury to animals under the Criminal Code.
Thirty-one-year-old Quinby Leland Zachariah-Diaz has been arrested and charged after a welfare check by the Niagara Regional Police Service in Ontario revealed two dogs being kept in poor conditions inside a locked storage unit. Officers seized the dogs after observing they were unable to move about due to overcrowding in the unit, insufficient food, and an unclean water supply. Zachariah-Diaz has been charged with two counts of willfully causing unnecessary pain/suffering or injury to an animal and two counts of causing damage or injury to animals under the Criminal Code.
Animal Justice and Coyote Watch Canada File Application for Investigation of Belleville Hunting Contest
Animal Justice and Coyote Watch Canada have filed an application for investigation under Ontario’s Environmental Bill of Rights in relation to a 2023 coyote hunting contest that took place near Belleville, Ontario. The contest is regularly run by Chesher’s Outdoor Store and is expected to award the participants who kill the largest coyotes with thousands of dollars in cash and prizes. In Ontario, it is illegal to hunt for gain or to pay or accept a bounty unless an exception is granted under the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act. Animal Justice, Coyote Watch Canada, and the Fur-Bearers are already suing the province for allowing the 2022 contest to take place in the absence of written authorizations as required under the Act.
Animal Justice and Coyote Watch Canada have filed an application for investigation under Ontario’s Environmental Bill of Rights in relation to a 2023 coyote hunting contest that took place near Belleville, Ontario. The contest is regularly run by Chesher’s Outdoor Store and is expected to award the participants who kill the largest coyotes with thousands of dollars in cash and prizes. In Ontario, it is illegal to hunt for gain or to pay or accept a bounty unless an exception is granted under the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act. Animal Justice, Coyote Watch Canada, and the Fur-Bearers are already suing the province for allowing the 2022 contest to take place in the absence of written authorizations as required under the Act.
Alberta Rancher Charged with Neglecting Cattle and Illegally Selling Meat
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) have arrested and charged fifty-nine-year-old Peter Wiebe for abusing cattle and illegally selling uninspected meat. Last November, the Alberta Agriculture Inspections and Investigation Section, RCMP Livestock Investigative Unit, and Wheatland County all received complaints about Wiebe slaughtering injured and sick cattle on his farm east of Calgary. He has been charged with allowing animals to be in distress, unlawful disposal of dead cattle, causing unnecessary suffering to animals, dealing with livestock or livestock products without being licensed, selling uninspected meat, and failing to properly label uninspected meat.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) have arrested and charged fifty-nine-year-old Peter Wiebe for abusing cattle and illegally selling uninspected meat. Last November, the Alberta Agriculture Inspections and Investigation Section, RCMP Livestock Investigative Unit, and Wheatland County all received complaints about Wiebe slaughtering injured and sick cattle on his farm east of Calgary. He has been charged with allowing animals to be in distress, unlawful disposal of dead cattle, causing unnecessary suffering to animals, dealing with livestock or livestock products without being licensed, selling uninspected meat, and failing to properly label uninspected meat.
Animal Justice Calls for Investigation into Longueuil Police Deer Killing
Animal Justice has filed a complaint with Quebec’s Police Ethics Commissioner, calling for an investigation into the conduct of a Longueuil police officer who shot an injured deer thirteen times over half an hour until the deer eventually died. The complaint alleges that the officer's conduct breached the “Code of Ethics of Quebec Police Officers” by using greater force than was necessary. The police claim the deer had two broken legs and needed to be euthanized, but the repeated shooting with a low-caliber weapon likely caused additional pain and prolonged suffering which was inhumane and avoidable. Causing harm to animals is illegal under provincial and federal animal cruelty laws.
Animal Justice has filed a complaint with Quebec’s Police Ethics Commissioner, calling for an investigation into the conduct of a Longueuil police officer who shot an injured deer thirteen times over half an hour until the deer eventually died. The complaint alleges that the officer's conduct breached the “Code of Ethics of Quebec Police Officers” by using greater force than was necessary. The police claim the deer had two broken legs and needed to be euthanized, but the repeated shooting with a low-caliber weapon likely caused additional pain and prolonged suffering which was inhumane and avoidable. Causing harm to animals is illegal under provincial and federal animal cruelty laws.
Saskatchewan Animal Protection Services Seize Thirty-Five Cats
Animal Protection Services of Saskatchewan has seized thirty-five cats from a property in Odessa after conducting a search warrant with the assistance of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Officers considered the cats to be in distress as defined under the provincial Animal Protection. An investigation is ongoing and no charges have been laid.
Animal Protection Services of Saskatchewan has seized thirty-five cats from a property in Odessa after conducting a search warrant with the assistance of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Officers considered the cats to be in distress as defined under the provincial Animal Protection. An investigation is ongoing and no charges have been laid.
Agency Updates
Federal Ban on the Use of Strychnine to Kill Ground Squirrels Takes Effect
The Canadian government’s ban on the use of products containing strychnine for use to kill Richardson’s ground squirrels went into effect on March 4th. Health Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency cancelled the registration of products containing strychnine due to its impact on non-target animals, with a three-year phase out period that is now coming to an end. The chemical is highly toxic and has been shown to cause severe suffering in animals, including non-target species such as pets and wildlife. The ban comes after years of advocacy by animal welfare organizations, who have called for safer and more humane alternatives.
The Canadian government’s ban on the use of products containing strychnine for use to kill Richardson’s ground squirrels went into effect on March 4th. Health Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency cancelled the registration of products containing strychnine due to its impact on non-target animals, with a three-year phase out period that is now coming to an end. The chemical is highly toxic and has been shown to cause severe suffering in animals, including non-target species such as pets and wildlife. The ban comes after years of advocacy by animal welfare organizations, who have called for safer and more humane alternatives.
Manitoba Government Announces New Fish and Wildlife Enhancement Fund
The Manitoba government has announced an investment of $780,660 in funding for twenty-one new fish and wildlife improvement projects from the Fish and Wildlife Enhancement Fund (FWEF). The FWEF was established in 2014 to provide funding to projects that support the conservation of critical fish and wildlife habitats in the province.
The Manitoba government has announced an investment of $780,660 in funding for twenty-one new fish and wildlife improvement projects from the Fish and Wildlife Enhancement Fund (FWEF). The FWEF was established in 2014 to provide funding to projects that support the conservation of critical fish and wildlife habitats in the province.
Academic Updates
New Book Considers What Wildlife Recoveries Can Teach Us About Sharing a Planet
Christopher J. Preston, Tenacious Beasts: Wildlife Recoveries That Change How We Think about Animals (US: The MIT Press, 2023).
Summary: An inspiring look at wildlife species that are defying the odds and teaching important lessons about how to share a planet.
The news about wildlife is dire—more than 900 species have been wiped off the planet since industrialization. Against this bleak backdrop, however, there are also glimmers of hope and crucial lessons to be learned from animals that have defied global trends toward extinction: bears in Italy, bison in North America, whales in the Atlantic. These populations are back from the brink, some of them in numbers unimaginable in a century. How has this happened? What shifts in thinking did it demand? In crisp, transporting prose, Christopher Preston reveals the mysteries and challenges at the heart of these resurgences.
Drawing on compelling personal stories from the researchers, Indigenous people, and activists who know the creatures best, Preston weaves together a gripping narrative of how some species are taking back vital, ecological roles. Each section of the book—farms, prairies, rivers, forests, oceans—offers a philosophical shift in how humans ought to think about animals, passionately advocating for the changes in attitude necessary for wildlife recovery.
Christopher J. Preston, Tenacious Beasts: Wildlife Recoveries That Change How We Think about Animals (US: The MIT Press, 2023).
Summary: An inspiring look at wildlife species that are defying the odds and teaching important lessons about how to share a planet.
The news about wildlife is dire—more than 900 species have been wiped off the planet since industrialization. Against this bleak backdrop, however, there are also glimmers of hope and crucial lessons to be learned from animals that have defied global trends toward extinction: bears in Italy, bison in North America, whales in the Atlantic. These populations are back from the brink, some of them in numbers unimaginable in a century. How has this happened? What shifts in thinking did it demand? In crisp, transporting prose, Christopher Preston reveals the mysteries and challenges at the heart of these resurgences.
Drawing on compelling personal stories from the researchers, Indigenous people, and activists who know the creatures best, Preston weaves together a gripping narrative of how some species are taking back vital, ecological roles. Each section of the book—farms, prairies, rivers, forests, oceans—offers a philosophical shift in how humans ought to think about animals, passionately advocating for the changes in attitude necessary for wildlife recovery.
New Academic Article by Maneesha Deckha Considers Psychological Barriers to Animal Law Reform
Maneesha Deckha, “Animalization and Dehumanization Concerns: Another Psychological Barrier to Animal Law Reform” (2023) 2 Psychology of Human-Animal Intergroup Relations 1.
Abstract: Legal systems across the world classify animals as property. There is growing global momentum asking courts in anthropocentric legal systems to revisit this position through test-case litigation. This has resulted in a few discrete victories for animals, but not much more. An ongoing issue is general legal conservatism and the belief in human exceptionalism that judges exhibit in these and related cases. In addition to general human exceptionalism, this article argues that a further psychological block for judges can arise from concerns about exacerbating racism and other intra-human prejudices given histories and legacies of animalizing and dehumanizing certain human groups. The first aim of this study is to illustrate this psychological phenomenon impacting judicial decision-making in relation to race. The article discusses the 2022 decision by the New York Court of Appeals with respect to the ongoing captivity of Happy, an elephant at the Bronx Zoo. This decision is selected given its recent and landmark status in North America. The second aim of the study is to outline why the dissociation of humans from animals is counterproductive to eliminating racism and other intra-human prejudices and inequities. The third aim of the study is to explain why affirming human proximity and kinship to animals—and thus putting a positive spin on animalization—in the legal system would be a more effective anti-racist and decolonizing gesture.
Maneesha Deckha, “Animalization and Dehumanization Concerns: Another Psychological Barrier to Animal Law Reform” (2023) 2 Psychology of Human-Animal Intergroup Relations 1.
Abstract: Legal systems across the world classify animals as property. There is growing global momentum asking courts in anthropocentric legal systems to revisit this position through test-case litigation. This has resulted in a few discrete victories for animals, but not much more. An ongoing issue is general legal conservatism and the belief in human exceptionalism that judges exhibit in these and related cases. In addition to general human exceptionalism, this article argues that a further psychological block for judges can arise from concerns about exacerbating racism and other intra-human prejudices given histories and legacies of animalizing and dehumanizing certain human groups. The first aim of this study is to illustrate this psychological phenomenon impacting judicial decision-making in relation to race. The article discusses the 2022 decision by the New York Court of Appeals with respect to the ongoing captivity of Happy, an elephant at the Bronx Zoo. This decision is selected given its recent and landmark status in North America. The second aim of the study is to outline why the dissociation of humans from animals is counterproductive to eliminating racism and other intra-human prejudices and inequities. The third aim of the study is to explain why affirming human proximity and kinship to animals—and thus putting a positive spin on animalization—in the legal system would be a more effective anti-racist and decolonizing gesture.
Map Reveals “Forever Chemicals” in Animals Around the World
The Environmental Working Group (EWG) has created a first-of-its-kind interactive map that reveals substantial Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) contamination in wildlife across the globe. PFAS are a class of synthetic chemical compounds widely used in industrial and commercial products. They are known as the “forever chemicals” because they can persist in the environment and in the body for hundreds, even thousands, of years. EWG’s map consolidates more than one hundred recent studies that have documented PFAS chemicals in over 330 species of wildlife around the world, including many types of fish, birds, reptiles, frogs and other amphibians, as well as large and small mammals.
The Environmental Working Group (EWG) has created a first-of-its-kind interactive map that reveals substantial Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) contamination in wildlife across the globe. PFAS are a class of synthetic chemical compounds widely used in industrial and commercial products. They are known as the “forever chemicals” because they can persist in the environment and in the body for hundreds, even thousands, of years. EWG’s map consolidates more than one hundred recent studies that have documented PFAS chemicals in over 330 species of wildlife around the world, including many types of fish, birds, reptiles, frogs and other amphibians, as well as large and small mammals.
New Book by Kendra Coulter Exploring the World of Animal Protection Available for Pre-Order
Kendra Coulter, Defending Animals: Finding Hope on the Front Lines of Animal Protection (US: The MIT Press, 2023).
Summary: An in-depth look at the urgent struggle to protect animals from harm, cruelty, injustice, extinction, and their greatest threat—us.
Beloved dogs and cats. Magnificent horses and mountain gorillas. Curious chickens. What do we actually do to protect animals from harm—and is it enough? This engaging book provides a unique and eye-opening exploration of the world of animal protection as people defend diverse animals from injustice and cruelty. From the streets of major US cities to remote farms and tropical forests, Defending Animals is a gritty and moving portrait of the real work of animal protection that takes place in communities, courtrooms, and boardrooms.
Globally recognized expert Kendra Coulter takes readers across the different landscapes of animal protection to meet people and animals of all kinds, from cruelty investigators to forensic veterinarians, wildlife rehabilitators and conservation leaders to animal lawyers and entrepreneurs, each working in their own ways to defend animals. Bringing unparalleled research and a distinct and nuanced analytical viewpoint, Defending Animals shows that animal protection is not only physical, intellectual, and emotional work but also a labor so rooted in empathy and care that it just might bridge the vast divide between polarized people and help create a more humane future for us all.
This title is now available for pre-order and will be released on September 26th, 2023.
Kendra Coulter, Defending Animals: Finding Hope on the Front Lines of Animal Protection (US: The MIT Press, 2023).
Summary: An in-depth look at the urgent struggle to protect animals from harm, cruelty, injustice, extinction, and their greatest threat—us.
Beloved dogs and cats. Magnificent horses and mountain gorillas. Curious chickens. What do we actually do to protect animals from harm—and is it enough? This engaging book provides a unique and eye-opening exploration of the world of animal protection as people defend diverse animals from injustice and cruelty. From the streets of major US cities to remote farms and tropical forests, Defending Animals is a gritty and moving portrait of the real work of animal protection that takes place in communities, courtrooms, and boardrooms.
Globally recognized expert Kendra Coulter takes readers across the different landscapes of animal protection to meet people and animals of all kinds, from cruelty investigators to forensic veterinarians, wildlife rehabilitators and conservation leaders to animal lawyers and entrepreneurs, each working in their own ways to defend animals. Bringing unparalleled research and a distinct and nuanced analytical viewpoint, Defending Animals shows that animal protection is not only physical, intellectual, and emotional work but also a labor so rooted in empathy and care that it just might bridge the vast divide between polarized people and help create a more humane future for us all.
This title is now available for pre-order and will be released on September 26th, 2023.
Report Sheds Light on Animal Welfare Issues Facing Cull Dairy Cows
World Animal Protection’s latest report, “Milking the cow: the fate of Canadian cull dairy cows,” reveals animal welfare issues experienced by cull dairy cows, from painful health conditions to long-distance transport and neglect for long periods of time before slaughter. Cull dairy cows are animals who are removed from the milking herd and sent to slaughter due to health or reproductive problems, or reduced milk production. The report includes recommendations to improve their welfare and calls for a multi-stakeholder approach to address the systemic failures that perpetuate animal suffering for this group of animals.
World Animal Protection’s latest report, “Milking the cow: the fate of Canadian cull dairy cows,” reveals animal welfare issues experienced by cull dairy cows, from painful health conditions to long-distance transport and neglect for long periods of time before slaughter. Cull dairy cows are animals who are removed from the milking herd and sent to slaughter due to health or reproductive problems, or reduced milk production. The report includes recommendations to improve their welfare and calls for a multi-stakeholder approach to address the systemic failures that perpetuate animal suffering for this group of animals.
New Book Offers a Guide for Professionals Working with People and Animals in Abuse Situations
Gilly Ferreira, Joanne Williams (eds.), Understanding Animal Abuse and How to Intervene with Children and Young People: A Practical Guide for Professionals Working With People and Animals (UK: Routledge, 2023).
Summary: Understanding Animal Abuse and How to Intervene with Children and Young People offers a positive, compassion-based and trauma-informed approach to understanding and intervening in animal abuse. It provides an accessible cross-disciplinary synthesis of current international evidence on animal abuse and a toolkit for professionals working with people and/or animals to help them understand, prevent and intervene in cases of animal abuse.
With contributions from experts in the field, this essential text offers ten user-friendly chapters with questions for reflection and key summary points. It offers a definition of animal abuse, synthesises the latest research on children, young people and animal abuse, explores the link between animal abuse and other forms of abuse and outlines legal perspectives on animal abuse. The second half of the book presents a practical toolkit for professionals, offering guidance and strategies for the prevention of and intervention in cases of animal abuse. It provides multidisciplinary perspectives on interventions; from teachers’ and social workers roles in detection and intervention of childhood animal abuse, to the roles of enforcement agencies and veterinarians in legal cases of adult animal abuse.
This title is now available for pre-order and will be published on March 30th, 2023.
Gilly Ferreira, Joanne Williams (eds.), Understanding Animal Abuse and How to Intervene with Children and Young People: A Practical Guide for Professionals Working With People and Animals (UK: Routledge, 2023).
Summary: Understanding Animal Abuse and How to Intervene with Children and Young People offers a positive, compassion-based and trauma-informed approach to understanding and intervening in animal abuse. It provides an accessible cross-disciplinary synthesis of current international evidence on animal abuse and a toolkit for professionals working with people and/or animals to help them understand, prevent and intervene in cases of animal abuse.
With contributions from experts in the field, this essential text offers ten user-friendly chapters with questions for reflection and key summary points. It offers a definition of animal abuse, synthesises the latest research on children, young people and animal abuse, explores the link between animal abuse and other forms of abuse and outlines legal perspectives on animal abuse. The second half of the book presents a practical toolkit for professionals, offering guidance and strategies for the prevention of and intervention in cases of animal abuse. It provides multidisciplinary perspectives on interventions; from teachers’ and social workers roles in detection and intervention of childhood animal abuse, to the roles of enforcement agencies and veterinarians in legal cases of adult animal abuse.
This title is now available for pre-order and will be published on March 30th, 2023.
New Report Explores Links Between Animal Welfare, Environment and Sustainable Development
In 2022, the United Nations Environment Assembly passed the Animal welfare–environment–sustainable development nexus resolution, which recognised that animal welfare can contribute to addressing environmental challenges, promoting the One Health approach, and achieving the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals. A new report by the World Federation for Animals aims to provide the United Nations, Member States, intergovernmental organizations, and other stakeholders with an initial exploration of how improving animal welfare can help tackle the planetary crises and accelerate sustainable development. The report discusses the important links between animal welfare and biodiversity, climate change, pollution, health, food security, and livelihoods.
In 2022, the United Nations Environment Assembly passed the Animal welfare–environment–sustainable development nexus resolution, which recognised that animal welfare can contribute to addressing environmental challenges, promoting the One Health approach, and achieving the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals. A new report by the World Federation for Animals aims to provide the United Nations, Member States, intergovernmental organizations, and other stakeholders with an initial exploration of how improving animal welfare can help tackle the planetary crises and accelerate sustainable development. The report discusses the important links between animal welfare and biodiversity, climate change, pollution, health, food security, and livelihoods.
New Book Review by Angela Fernandez of Daniel Selmi’s Dawn at Mineral King Valley
Angela Fernandez, “Environmental Law, Standing, and the History of Sierra Club v. Morton” (2023) JOTWELL: The Journal of Things We Like (Lots).
Summary: Daniel P. Selmi’s book Dawn at Mineral King Valley: The Sierra Club, The Disney Company, and the Rise of Environmental Law details the story behind the Mineral King Valley case, revealing how the Sierra Club battled Disney’s ski resort development and launched a new environmental era in America. Selmi’s book recounts the complete history of this revolutionary legal battle and the ramifications that continue today, almost 50 years later.
The review praises the author's detailed analysis of the case and its impact on environmental law, as well as the book's focus on the role of standing in environmental litigation, a topic that is relevant for nonhuman animal legal standing and is connected to the “dogged anthropocentrism” plaguing both animal law and environmental law.
Angela Fernandez, “Environmental Law, Standing, and the History of Sierra Club v. Morton” (2023) JOTWELL: The Journal of Things We Like (Lots).
Summary: Daniel P. Selmi’s book Dawn at Mineral King Valley: The Sierra Club, The Disney Company, and the Rise of Environmental Law details the story behind the Mineral King Valley case, revealing how the Sierra Club battled Disney’s ski resort development and launched a new environmental era in America. Selmi’s book recounts the complete history of this revolutionary legal battle and the ramifications that continue today, almost 50 years later.
The review praises the author's detailed analysis of the case and its impact on environmental law, as well as the book's focus on the role of standing in environmental litigation, a topic that is relevant for nonhuman animal legal standing and is connected to the “dogged anthropocentrism” plaguing both animal law and environmental law.
Academic Thesis Analyzes Impact of Breed-Specific Legislation in Windsor
Lauren Joy Sharpley, “Total Pit Bull Shit: Anomie and Breed Specific Legislation in Windsor, Ontario” (2023) Electronic Theses and Dissertations 8923.
Abstract: This study employs Durkheimian sociology, anomie in particular, to examine breed-specific legislation in Windsor, Ontario. This thesis is unique in that it analyses breed-specific legislation (BSL) in a way that has not been done previously, by applying a rigorous, sociological theory perspective. Other than discussions on totemism and limited discussions of animals, previous applications of Durkheim’s theories on anomie, morality and law have not focused on human-animal relationships, especially the relationship between humans and companion dogs. Human animal studies (HAS) and critical animal studies (CAS) literature has not employed the Durkheimian concept of anomie to understand human-animal relationships and BSL specifically. I conceptualize anomie as a social condition resulting from moral derangement and the overabundance of conflicting moral rules, how they are understood and applied that results in a lack of stable moral references. This conceptualization of anomie guides my analysis of the provincial Dog Owners’ Liability Act R.S.O. 1990, CHAPTER D.16 (DOLA) and the municipal By-law 245-2004 (BL-245). I use the DOLA and the BL-245 to analyse how obligations and sanctions are imposed upon humans and animals, while looking for evidence of anomic social relations. The findings of this thesis indicate that there are discrepancies in the collective consciousnesses, law, science, and the general public. It also articulates how risk and responsibility impact human-animal relationships. Finally, this study exemplifies how breed-specific legislation destabilizes the epistemic reference of what makes a dog a dog.
Lauren Joy Sharpley, “Total Pit Bull Shit: Anomie and Breed Specific Legislation in Windsor, Ontario” (2023) Electronic Theses and Dissertations 8923.
Abstract: This study employs Durkheimian sociology, anomie in particular, to examine breed-specific legislation in Windsor, Ontario. This thesis is unique in that it analyses breed-specific legislation (BSL) in a way that has not been done previously, by applying a rigorous, sociological theory perspective. Other than discussions on totemism and limited discussions of animals, previous applications of Durkheim’s theories on anomie, morality and law have not focused on human-animal relationships, especially the relationship between humans and companion dogs. Human animal studies (HAS) and critical animal studies (CAS) literature has not employed the Durkheimian concept of anomie to understand human-animal relationships and BSL specifically. I conceptualize anomie as a social condition resulting from moral derangement and the overabundance of conflicting moral rules, how they are understood and applied that results in a lack of stable moral references. This conceptualization of anomie guides my analysis of the provincial Dog Owners’ Liability Act R.S.O. 1990, CHAPTER D.16 (DOLA) and the municipal By-law 245-2004 (BL-245). I use the DOLA and the BL-245 to analyse how obligations and sanctions are imposed upon humans and animals, while looking for evidence of anomic social relations. The findings of this thesis indicate that there are discrepancies in the collective consciousnesses, law, science, and the general public. It also articulates how risk and responsibility impact human-animal relationships. Finally, this study exemplifies how breed-specific legislation destabilizes the epistemic reference of what makes a dog a dog.
Study Finds Reductions in Meat and Dairy Related Emissions Are Necessary to Meet Climate Target
A new study, published in the journal Nature Climate Change, concludes that tackling emissions from high-methane foods––such as meat, dairy, and rice––is essential to meet climate targets. Methane is a potent greenhouse gas that contributes significantly to the climate crisis. According to the study, a reduction in meat consumption to levels recommended by health experts, along with the adoption of renewable energy in the food sector and the mitigation of emissions from livestock and their manure, has the potential to drastically halt rising temperatures.
A new study, published in the journal Nature Climate Change, concludes that tackling emissions from high-methane foods––such as meat, dairy, and rice––is essential to meet climate targets. Methane is a potent greenhouse gas that contributes significantly to the climate crisis. According to the study, a reduction in meat consumption to levels recommended by health experts, along with the adoption of renewable energy in the food sector and the mitigation of emissions from livestock and their manure, has the potential to drastically halt rising temperatures.
International Updates
Animal Advocacy Organization Sues Maine Over Fish Farms
Animal Outlook, a national animal rights organization based in the United States, is suing the state of Maine over neglect in fish farming. The group alleges that the state has failed to sufficiently protect fish raised in aquaculture facilities and that it does not have proper systems in place to monitor large-scale fish farms. The lawsuit, filed on February 22nd, challenges the state’s decision to reject a citizen petition with 152 signatures from registered Maine voters calling on the agriculture department to adopt new rules and regulations surrounding fish raised by commercial companies. In the lawsuit, Animal Outlook also accuses the state of refusing to set standards for aquaculture facilities, and for failing to enforce existing animal cruelty laws and properly investigate the facilities.
Animal Outlook, a national animal rights organization based in the United States, is suing the state of Maine over neglect in fish farming. The group alleges that the state has failed to sufficiently protect fish raised in aquaculture facilities and that it does not have proper systems in place to monitor large-scale fish farms. The lawsuit, filed on February 22nd, challenges the state’s decision to reject a citizen petition with 152 signatures from registered Maine voters calling on the agriculture department to adopt new rules and regulations surrounding fish raised by commercial companies. In the lawsuit, Animal Outlook also accuses the state of refusing to set standards for aquaculture facilities, and for failing to enforce existing animal cruelty laws and properly investigate the facilities.
Denmark Invests Over 90 Million Euros in Development of Plant-Based Foods
On February 23rd, the Danish Parliament unanimously passed a law to create the Fund for Plant-based Foods. The government has invested over 90 million Euros in the Fund, which will be used to support farmers and businesses in the transition to plant-based production, as well as fund research and development of new plant-based products.
On February 23rd, the Danish Parliament unanimously passed a law to create the Fund for Plant-based Foods. The government has invested over 90 million Euros in the Fund, which will be used to support farmers and businesses in the transition to plant-based production, as well as fund research and development of new plant-based products.
BBC Home Makeover Show Receives Over 1,500 Complaints of Animal Cruelty
A BBC home makeover show, Sort Your Life Out, has received more than 1,500 complaints from viewers concerned about the treatment of animals on a recent episode. The complaints arose after the show aired a scene that depicted a family’s companion rabbits being moved from a large indoor enclosure to an outdoor hutch to free up space within the home. Viewers and animal welfare organizations, including the Rabbit Welfare Association and Trust, took issue with the rabbits being moved to outdoor hutches, which have been identified as unsuitable environments for rabbits. Following complaints, the BBC released the following statement: “The rabbits have full access to a wide, enclosed garden to roam around in, with the hutch being a place to come and go as they please during the day, as well as a safe and secure space for them to sleep in at night.”
A BBC home makeover show, Sort Your Life Out, has received more than 1,500 complaints from viewers concerned about the treatment of animals on a recent episode. The complaints arose after the show aired a scene that depicted a family’s companion rabbits being moved from a large indoor enclosure to an outdoor hutch to free up space within the home. Viewers and animal welfare organizations, including the Rabbit Welfare Association and Trust, took issue with the rabbits being moved to outdoor hutches, which have been identified as unsuitable environments for rabbits. Following complaints, the BBC released the following statement: “The rabbits have full access to a wide, enclosed garden to roam around in, with the hutch being a place to come and go as they please during the day, as well as a safe and secure space for them to sleep in at night.”
Six Individuals Arrested for Smuggling Endangered Species at Brussels Airport
Six individuals were arrested at Brussels Airport in Belgium for attempting to smuggle critically endangered glass eels to Malaysia via Qatar and Vietnam. Customs at the airport discovered the eels hidden inside eighteen identical suitcases that had been covered in plastic wrap. While the purpose of smuggling the eels is not currently known, they are estimated to have been worth approximately €400,000 on the black market. The owners of the luggage were expected to appear before a court in Belgium on March 2nd, 2023. The maximum penalty for smuggling endangered species is five years in prison.
Six individuals were arrested at Brussels Airport in Belgium for attempting to smuggle critically endangered glass eels to Malaysia via Qatar and Vietnam. Customs at the airport discovered the eels hidden inside eighteen identical suitcases that had been covered in plastic wrap. While the purpose of smuggling the eels is not currently known, they are estimated to have been worth approximately €400,000 on the black market. The owners of the luggage were expected to appear before a court in Belgium on March 2nd, 2023. The maximum penalty for smuggling endangered species is five years in prison.
Puerto Rico Closes Only Zoo Following Years of Complaints
Puerto Rico has made the decision to permanently close its only zoo due to alleged mistreatment of its animals. According to U.S. attorney Stephen Muldrow, the Dr. Juan A. Rivero Zoo is being investigated by experts from the Wild Animal Sanctuary in Colorado, who will evaluate the animals and transfer up to fifty percent. Previously, a government-appointed committee expressed concerns about animals found to be underweight, without shelter, injured or unhealthy, and lonely. Activists have also long questioned the conditions of the more than 300 animals at the zoo and have since celebrated its closure while maintaining the need for transparency during transfer. The U.S. territory’s zoo has been temporarily closed since 2017, when hurricanes Irma and Maria impacted the island.
Puerto Rico has made the decision to permanently close its only zoo due to alleged mistreatment of its animals. According to U.S. attorney Stephen Muldrow, the Dr. Juan A. Rivero Zoo is being investigated by experts from the Wild Animal Sanctuary in Colorado, who will evaluate the animals and transfer up to fifty percent. Previously, a government-appointed committee expressed concerns about animals found to be underweight, without shelter, injured or unhealthy, and lonely. Activists have also long questioned the conditions of the more than 300 animals at the zoo and have since celebrated its closure while maintaining the need for transparency during transfer. The U.S. territory’s zoo has been temporarily closed since 2017, when hurricanes Irma and Maria impacted the island.
Brazil Introduces Partial Ban on Cosmetic Animal Testing
Brazil’s National Council for the Council for the Control of Animal Experimentation has introduced a partial ban on cosmetic animal testing via regulatory restriction No. 58. The restriction prohibits animal testing for cosmetic ingredients with “known effects” and requires the use of alternative methods for “unknown ingredients.” The ban will not prevent the import and sale of newly animal-tested cosmetics from other countries.
Brazil’s National Council for the Council for the Control of Animal Experimentation has introduced a partial ban on cosmetic animal testing via regulatory restriction No. 58. The restriction prohibits animal testing for cosmetic ingredients with “known effects” and requires the use of alternative methods for “unknown ingredients.” The ban will not prevent the import and sale of newly animal-tested cosmetics from other countries.
Australia Pushes to Phase Out Live Sheep Exports
The Australian Government has appointed a panel to consult on how and when it will phase out the export of live sheep. The panel will report to Agriculture Minister Murray Watt by September 30th, 2023, but the ban will not take effect in this term of parliament.
The Australian Government has appointed a panel to consult on how and when it will phase out the export of live sheep. The panel will report to Agriculture Minister Murray Watt by September 30th, 2023, but the ban will not take effect in this term of parliament.
Other Updates
Loblaws Drops 2025 Cage-Free Egg Commitment
Loblaw Companies Ltd., otherwise known as major grocery chain Loblaws, has dropped its promise to stop selling eggs from caged hens by 2025. When the company made the commitment in 2016 after immense public pressure, the Retail Council of Canada (which includes Loblaw Co. Ltd.) issued a statement that changes would be contingent on the “availability of supply within the domestic market.” Loblaws has not yet shared a new timeline for the transition to selling only eggs from cage-free hens.
Loblaw Companies Ltd., otherwise known as major grocery chain Loblaws, has dropped its promise to stop selling eggs from caged hens by 2025. When the company made the commitment in 2016 after immense public pressure, the Retail Council of Canada (which includes Loblaw Co. Ltd.) issued a statement that changes would be contingent on the “availability of supply within the domestic market.” Loblaws has not yet shared a new timeline for the transition to selling only eggs from cage-free hens.
Animal Rights Group Takes Responsibility for Hanging Pig Carcasses Under Montreal Overpasses
An animal rights group, Direct Action Everywhere (DxE), has claimed responsibility for hanging frozen pig carcasses under Montreal overpasses in January as part of a protest against animal agriculture with signs reading “you pay, they die” in French. The group said it was attempting to bring attention to the cruel treatment of animals in the food industry and that the stunt was intended to be "symbolic and non-violent."
An animal rights group, Direct Action Everywhere (DxE), has claimed responsibility for hanging frozen pig carcasses under Montreal overpasses in January as part of a protest against animal agriculture with signs reading “you pay, they die” in French. The group said it was attempting to bring attention to the cruel treatment of animals in the food industry and that the stunt was intended to be "symbolic and non-violent."
Alberta Pet Owners Are Falsely Reporting Their Pets as Strays to Animal Shelters
A growing number of pet owners in Alberta are falsely reporting their pets as strays as part of a growing trend of surrender and abandonments to shelters. This trend is believed to be the latest fallout from the pandemic “puppy boom.” Sergeant Brianne Grey, who works at Edmonton’s Animal Care and Control, said she has been issuing tickets to people who are surrendering their pets and saying they are strays, as there is an Edmonton bylaw that makes it illegal to provide false or misleading information to an officer.
A growing number of pet owners in Alberta are falsely reporting their pets as strays as part of a growing trend of surrender and abandonments to shelters. This trend is believed to be the latest fallout from the pandemic “puppy boom.” Sergeant Brianne Grey, who works at Edmonton’s Animal Care and Control, said she has been issuing tickets to people who are surrendering their pets and saying they are strays, as there is an Edmonton bylaw that makes it illegal to provide false or misleading information to an officer.
Kiska, the Loneliest Whale in the World, Dies at Marineland
After spending over four decades in a tank, Kiska, the last captive killer whale in Canada, has died at Marineland in Niagara Falls, Ontario. Kiska, also known as "the loneliest whale in the world," spent over a decade in isolation, displaying distressing behavior such as banging her head and gnawing her teeth on the pool's concrete walls. National animal law organization Animal Justice is urging provincial authorities to release the post-mortem results and prosecute Marineland for the unlawful distress Kiska clearly experienced throughout her final years.
After spending over four decades in a tank, Kiska, the last captive killer whale in Canada, has died at Marineland in Niagara Falls, Ontario. Kiska, also known as "the loneliest whale in the world," spent over a decade in isolation, displaying distressing behavior such as banging her head and gnawing her teeth on the pool's concrete walls. National animal law organization Animal Justice is urging provincial authorities to release the post-mortem results and prosecute Marineland for the unlawful distress Kiska clearly experienced throughout her final years.