300 pit bulls saved from Philippine dogfighting arena

Philippines said it helped police bust a South Korean syndicate operating a massive dog fighting ring and rescue 300 pitbulls.

Two South Korean nationals and several Filipinos were arrested in the Friday raid at a two-hectare farm in the city of San Pablo just south of the capital Manila, the Philippine Animal Welfare Society said.

Many of the dogs were severely injured, with ripped ears and tongues, including 20 that needed to be euthanized, it said.

"This appears to be a large operation and these South Koreans need to be punished," PAWS program director Anna Cabrera said.

Those arrested were part of the same South Korean group whose operations were busted in December in a nearby province and who later posted bail, PAWS said. About 240 dogs were also rescued in that raid.

"Too many animals have already suffered, and criminals are becoming bolder, taking only two months after arrest to get back into their illegal operations once they have posted bail," the group said as it urged tougher laws to protect animals.

Those found guilty of animal cruelty can be jailed for between six months and two years, but suspects can go free on bail as the often-lengthy legal process continues.

PAWS said many of the dogs in the latest bust were not properly fed and sheltered, and showed scars and wounds from recent fights. The contests are broadcast online to a betting audience.

A picture released by PAWS on its Facebook page showed one emaciated dog chained to a tree in open grounds. In the background, steel drums were used as dog kennels.

Police were not immediately available for comment.

Copyright 2012 AFP Global Edition

Tell United Airlines not to discriminate against 9 dog breeds

United Airlines -- of the famous "Fly the Friendly Skies" slogan -- just got a lot less dog-friendly. The biggest air carrier in the world recently decided that some dogs can’t fly with their families, because United doesn’t like the way they look.

United is now the only airline in the U.S. to have singled out nine different breeds of dog as "dangerous" based on their appearance, barring them from flying.

Jessie Huart discovered the policy when she was trying to book a ticket to travel with her family's dog, a 10-year-old pit bull named Slaw. She was told by the airline that because he's a pit bull, Slaw couldn’t travel. But Slaw isn't just a pet -- he's a member of the family, so Jessie started a petition on Change.org to ask United to treat all dogs equally, regardless of breed. Click here to add your name to Jessie’s petition.

Misconceptions and dangerous legislation banning some breeds of dog are being challenged -- and overturned -- all across the U.S. Public officials are starting to listen to the outcry for more effective, breed-neutral policies, knowing that breed bans result in the deaths of thousands of innocent dogs. Just last month, the country’s only statewide breed discriminatory law was repealed in Ohio.

But since Jessie's petition launched -- now signed by more than 30,000 people -- United's only response has been to remove the word "dangerous" when describing dog breeds on its website, but those breeds are still unfairly singled out. And canine profiling in a major company like United could turn that tide back against the dogs.

If thousands of dog-loving United customers sign Jessie’s petition, the airline will have to listen -- sending a strong message to other companies and lawmakers that breed discrimination isn’t the way to go.

Sign Jessie’s Change.org petition asking United to make the skies dog-friendly by dropping its breed-discriminatory policy.

Thanks for being a change-maker,
- Stephanie and the Change.org Team

Sparta Police Officer Arrested for Dog Fighting

SPARTA, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) –Sparta Police Officer Travis Edwards is in jail, charged with dogfighting and cruelty to animals.

The GBI made the arrest Monday after getting a tip from the public and information from the district attorney's office.

When investigators searched his home in Hancock County, they found and confiscated several pit-bulls.

42-year old Reginald Shivers of Milledgeville was also arrested and faces the same charges.

Both men were taken to the Hancock County Jail, but Edwards was moved to an undisclosed jail for his protection.

Innocent dog seized, held for execution in Virginia

She is the eyes of the blind, the healer of suffering, abused children; yet her own life now hangs in the balance. The story of Lady Marie Bear as tragic as it is infuriating. In November, an officer from the Nelson County Animal Control (http://nelsoncounty.com/animalcontrol/) of Lovingston, VA, seized Lady Marie Bear, a rescued dog who had been assisting in healing work benefiting abused children, and put the dog on death row.

Months prior, Lady was homeless and abused, escaping the traps of the Nelson County Animal Control in search of a loving and caring home. That she found with Glen Marie Friend, street missionary at Messiah’s Embassy in Lovingston, and her other pets. Not only did Lady become a loving part of this family: she also proved to be a healer to the suffering children and people helped by her owner’s missionary work.

For reasons unknown, a female officer from the Nelson County Animal Control of Lovingston suddenly raided Friend’s residence on Thanksgiving Day and demanded that Lady Marie Bear be handed over to her because she had reportedly bitten a person. When Friend demanded evidence of this, or a warrant to take the dog, the officer had none.
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Click ==>here<== to sign the Save Lady Marie Bear petition.

Rescue Group Coordinator Position with HSUS in Gaithersburg, MD

We are happy to share this posting for an open position on behalf of our friends at The Humane Society of the United States:

Rescue Group Coordinator

The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), the largest animal protection organization in the nation, seeks to fill a newly created position, Rescue Group Coordinator, to serve as a liaison between The HSUS and the all-pet and breed-specific rescue group communities and to enhance ability of HSUS to meet the unique needs of rescue groups.

The general responsibilities of the new Rescue Group Coordinator will include creating new tools and programs to assist rescue groups in their work, improve relationships and collaboration between rescue organizations and traditional brick-and-mortar shelters, and assess existing HSUS programs to enhance rescue group participation and support to ultimately increase pet adoption and rescue. Candidates for the position must not only have a Bachelor’s degree or equivalent and 4-6 years personal experience with rescue groups, they must demonstrate a strong history of coalition building, community activism, and program implementation and development.

Candidates must also have excellent writing, research and verbal communication skills, a willingness to travel, and media savvy. Salary range for this position is in the low $40s, based on qualifications and experience. Please submit a cover letter and resume via The HSUS website at www.humanesociety.org/about/ by following the directions within the Rescue Group Coordinator job description or fax to 301-548-7701. This position is based in Gaithersburg, MD (candidates must be willing and able to relocate upon hiring).

Crackdown on Spectators at Animal Fights

Bipartisan legislation, S. 1947/H.R. 2492, has been introduced by U.S. Reps. Tom Marino, R-Pa., and Betty Sutton, D-Ohio, and by Senators Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., Mark Kirk, R-Ill., Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., and Scott Brown, R-Mass., that would prohibit knowing attendance at organized animal fights and impose additional penalties for causing a minor to attend such events.

Over the past decade, Congress has strengthened the penalties for and closed major loopholes in the federal animal fighting law, but has left the issue of spectators unaddressed. The legislation will correct this remaining gap in federal law to allow for a more comprehensive crackdown on this barbaric activity.

TAKE ACTION

Please make a brief, polite phone call to your two U.S. Senators and U.S. Representative to urge co-sponsorship of S. 1947/H.R. 2492. Look up your legislators' phone numbers. You can say: "I would like you to please co-sponsor S. 1947/H.R. 2492 to prohibit knowing attendance at an animal fighting event and bringing a minor to such a cruel event. Spectators fuel the dogfighting and cockfighting industries, making them profitable."

After making your phone call (please do not skip that crucial step!), fill in and submit the form here to automatically send a follow-up message to your two U.S. Senators and U.S. Representative. Congress receives a lot of email, so be sure to edit your message so it stands out.

MRPS Adopt-A-Thon this Saturday, the 11th!