'Help needed': our NJ bears, a DC dog & horses everywhere

It took high-level lying and false numbers for both bear population and bear incidents, as well as a Fish and Game Council with hunters in 6 of its 11 seats, establishing public policy for New Jersey!  No wonder bear hunts have resumed here, despite the great majority of residents against it.

Continuously fighting against bear hunts, the Animal Protection League of NJ (APLNJ) gets anti-hunt and pro-wildlife information out to people through banner protests, billboards and outreach events like tabling.  And two pending lawsuits call for reforming the makeup of the Fish and Game Council and challenging the emergency rule used in the 2022 bear hunt.

Right whale

However, the Murphy administration has acted in bad faith by not trying a single nonlethal method APL has suggested.  Even worse, the governor continues to lie about this issue on his “Ask the Governor” show.   

Major APL efforts, as well, have gone into saving endangered right whales off NJ’s coast, with pitifully little positive response from our elected federal officials.  Given the current political climate, among other obstacles, legislators appear more sympathetic toward fishermen than toward the imperiled right whale – ignoring the Endangered Species Act in the process.

Canada goose

The organization is also winding down on its geese site visits around the state – working, with some success, to win approval for non-lethal methods of dealing with the birds.  APL plans a publication with cutting-edge methods to reduce conflicts and deter geese from nesting.  (More on that valuable guide to follow as it comes closer to reality.)

Helping a dog succeed

For a long time, I’ve read the work of columnist Frank Bruni, appreciating his responses to political and other issues.  But after he adopted Regan, a lovely and loved black and white dog, I grew even more attentive because then Bruni often included her in whatever he wrote.

His take on Regan, their happy relationship and sometimes on dogs in general has been both warm andinformed.  That’s why I paid special attention to his thoughts on President Joe Biden and his latest pet dog in the White House: Commander, a German shepherd who bit at least 11 people before being moved to another address.

Commander

Here’s Bruni’s reaction to the story’s sad ending, including his thoughts on how a happy ending could have happened.          https://tinyurl.com/2skzhy3z       

More horse abuse

Beyond the myriad cruelties horses already endure (don't even think about race horses!), here are two equine abuses that frequently lack enough publicity and protests to be halted. 

Remember those Budweiser Clydesdale horses featured in Anheuser-Busch ad campaigns?  For unknown reasons, the company had long practiced docking (think “amputating”) their tails.

Now, though, that practice has ended, apparently because of criticism leveled at A-B by PETA and other animal welfare organizations.  Obviously, horses’ tails serve a couple of important purposes.  Further, the docking process causes physical pain to the draft horses and Clydesdales involved. 

With the end of horse tail-docking, Anheuser-Busch is claiming that the safety and welfare of its “beloved Clydesdales” is its top priority . . . now.            https://tinyurl.com/yckbdwhs

Walking's a pain

                     A soring step                              HSUS pic

What if this regularly happened to your feet: First, your lower legs would be covered with caustic chemicals, then plastic-wrapped to "cook" into your flesh.  Next, you'd have to weat heavy high-heeled shoes to hide the hard objects jammed into your tender soles, along with metal chains that keep knocking against your sored ankles. 

Your walk would become an artificial high-stepping gait, with every step painful.

This is what happens to horses who are involuntarily part of show circuits for Tennessee Walking Horses and related breeds.  Efforts to halt the practice have been insufficient and intermittent, although lately hope for reform has grown. 

With proven failure by the industry’s self-policing, the USDA may now appoint trained, objective inspectors who should make a significant difference for horses.  We’ll see.   https://tinyurl.com/4225mau3 & https://tinyurl.com/45fucm52

Newbie no more

Jersey

Jersey Summers marked his first anniversary last Sunday: for this 2nd cat in the family, it's been one year since adoption day, when he was estimated to be 9 years old.  So his anniversary also became his 10th birthday.  Congratulations to all of us!   

Elephants in your heart?

If you care about keeping elephants in our world, here’s a wonderful short video thanking you for that belief and for any help you’ve given.  It will warm your elephant-loving heart!      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Belw3YGKyqo

                                                                                    AMNH image

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