All articles tagged with #humane society
A Pasadena mail carrier is accused in a viral video of attacking a white peacock, leaving the bird badly injured as neighbors rally for accountability; the Humane Society has opened an investigation, and local wildlife cruelty laws—and possibly federal protections—could apply if the allegations are substantiated.
Tacoma police and animal-control removed 60 cats from a sailboat anchored near Point Defiance Park after a welfare check found no humans aboard but a large feline population. Over several days they located and removed cats, including some found by drilling into the hull; a bystander illegally boarded the boat and took two cats. All cats were taken to the Humane Society for health evaluations, with owner identification and potential charges to be determined. The boat remains a crime scene while authorities plan to remove it.
A mother dog in 15-degree weather protected her puppies by sitting over them on a porch in Kansas City, Kansas. The Heart of America Humane Society intervened, taking the dogs after the owner surrendered them; one puppy was nearly hypothermic but recovered with warmth and milk. After vaccinations and deworming, the puppies were placed in foster care and all were adopted, while the mom awaits her own permanent home.
Donald Trump's nominee for the IRS, former Missouri Rep. Billy Long, reportedly pressured the agency to investigate the Humane Society after it backed a dog protection initiative. If confirmed, Long could potentially strip tax-exempt status from nonprofits he opposes, especially if a pending bill granting the Trump administration more power to rescind tax statuses is enacted.
The parent company of a Virginia facility that bred beagles for drug experiments has been fined over $35 million, the largest ever in an Animal Welfare Act case. About 4,000 beagles were rescued in 2022, and the company pleaded guilty to multiple violations, including inhumane euthanasia practices and inadequate veterinary care. The Humane Society helped facilitate the adoption of the rescued dogs.
Over 120 dogs were rescued from a suspected dogfighting ring in New Jersey, with some found living in poor conditions and suffering from untreated wounds and emaciation. Eight people have been arrested and charged in connection with the search, and the dogs are receiving medical care at a safe location. Dogfighting, a brutal and cruel practice, has gained attention in recent years, with federal officials seizing a significant number of dogs from suspected rings in 2022.
The CEO of the Humane Society of Southern Arizona (HSSAZ), Steve Farley, has been fired and the chief programs officer, Christian Gonzalez, had his resignation accepted after more than 250 small animals went missing following a transfer from the San Diego Humane Society. The animals were sent to a group associated with a reptile farm in Maricopa County, and their fates are still unknown. The HSSAZ board of directors will continue their investigation and will make a public report. The San Diego Humane Society is demanding accountability and definitive proof about the missing animals. Farley denies involvement in the transportation of the animals and claims misinformation has been circulating. The controversy has affected donations to the HSSAZ, and efforts are being made to regain community trust.
Over 15 dogs at the Humane Society for Tacoma & Pierce County have shown signs of upper respiratory illness since mid-May, with symptoms ranging from mild kennel cough to severe canine pneumovirus. The shelter is quarantining affected dogs and following proper procedures outlined by their veterinary team. The shelter is also facing limited space, which is impacting the respiratory illnesses and making it difficult to control. The shelter is asking for help from the community to adopt, foster, and donate to the shelter.
Two people were arrested in Richland County after officials seized 80 animals, mostly dogs, along with two monkeys and some fish, from a home where they also found four children and numerous firearms, marijuana, and syringes. The suspects have been charged with child endangering due to the conditions of the home and their close proximity to animal abuse. The animals were discovered by a deputy who heard several canines barking and found them in small cages stacked to the top. The Humane Society is pursuing felony charges against the suspects.
Eight Pennsylvania dog breeders, seven of which are in the Susquehanna Valley, have been named in the Humane Society of the United States' "Horrible Hundred" report, citing violations ranging from unsanitary conditions to disease and untreated injuries. Most recent inspections show that five of the seven breeders have corrected any issues and are now in compliance, but the Humane Society continues to monitor these businesses. The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture provides a Kennel Inspection Database to check a breeder's license and inspection history before adopting a dog.