Humane Society: April 2011 Archives
Advocates are meeting with lawmakers to urge support of legislation to "protect sharks, combat illegal animal fighting and to prevent animal abuse and neglect." You can find out more here.
Among the bills being discussed:
- AB 376, authored by Assemblymembers Paul Fong, D-Cupertino and Jared Huffman, D-San Rafael. Prohibits the possession, sale, trade and distribution of shark fins.
- SB 425, authored by Sen. Ron Calderon, D-Montebello. Establishes minimum fines for animal fighting and adds cockfighting to the profiteering statute.
- SB 917, authored by Sen. Ted Lieu, D-Torrance. Prohibits the roadside sale of animals and increases animal neglect criminal penalties
- AB 1117, authored by Assemblymember Cameron Smyth, R-Santa Clarita. Would clarify animal seizure process and require judges to prohibit ownership of animals by those convicted of animal cruelty for a period of time.
Wayne Pacelle, the president of the Humane Society of the United States, has written a new
book (being released today) that looks at the compassionate bond people have with animals and, on the other hand, the institutionalized or systematic cruelty -- seen in trends such as proliferation of puppy mills -- that seem to be tolerated in our society.
From the publisher:
The Bond: Our Kinship with Animals, Our Call to Defend Them (William Morrow; On Sale April 5, 2011; $26.99) is Wayne Pacelle's first book. It is a compassionate, insightful, and comprehensive examination of our special connection to all creatures, written by one of America's most important champions of animal welfare.
In the book, Pacelle unveils the deep links of the human-animal bond, as well as the conflicting impulses that have led us to betray this bond through widespread and systematic cruelty to animals. During a quarter-century of leadership, most of it at the HSUS, Pacelle has become America's foremost voice for those who cannot speak in their own defense, and has helped to bring animal protection from the margins to the mainstream.
***Pacelle is embarking on a nationwide tour to promote the book and he'll be at the Borders Book Store, 3700 Torrance Blvd., Torrance, at 7 p.m. April 12 (Tuesday).
Here's a clip of a televised interview with the author:
New Book By Humane Society President Looks At Human - Animal Bond: MyFoxDC.com
About the Bloggers
Daily Breeze reporter Donna Littlejohn has shared her homes with a succession of wonderful, funny, and occasionally difficult canines -- Muffin, Fritz, Ellie, Mercy, Pilgrim and now Cowboy, an Australian shepherd-border collie, and Tess, a border collie. From strong-willed terriers to weirdly obsessed Australian shepherds, they've invaded her world with boundless energy, wet noses, muddy paws and soggy tennis balls. But they've really brought so much more than that -- like laughter and joy, some unexpected life lessons, and more than a few tears along the way.
E-mail Donna at donna.littlejohn@dailybreeze.com.
Josh Grossberg grew up with the usual array of animals: goldfish, dogs, hamsters, parakeets and turtles. He now owns the loudest dog in the South Bay(Video: Rocket the Dog) and is the least popular person on his block. He spends his free time in dog parks, pet shops and always has an extra plastic bag in his pocket just in case. He also has a cat.
E-mail Josh at josh.grossberg@dailybreeze.com.