Posts tagged "animal rights"

Animal lovers won some big victories on Tuesday as voters went to the polls to protect the rights of animals large and small.

Fighting the War Against Puppy Mills
In the so-called "puppy-mill capital of the world," Missouri voters passed the nation's first statewide ballot measure to protect dogs from the worst abuses at puppy mills. The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) campaigned for this legislation because at puppy mills in Missouri, dogs are typically crammed into small and filthy cages, denied veterinary care, exposed to extremes of heat and cold, and given no exercise or human affection. The proposition requires large-scale dog breeding operations to provide each dog under their care with sufficient food; clean water, housing and space; necessary veterinary care; regular exercise; and adequate rest between breeding cycles. The measure also prohibits any breeder from having more than 50 breeding dogs for the purpose of selling their puppies as pets, and creates a misdemeanor crime of "puppy-mill cruelty" for any violations.

"It is hard to overestimate the importance of this victory for the national effort to protect dogs from abuse and neglect and to reduce euthanasia of dogs throughout the nation," said Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of HSUS. "We won in the state where the puppy mill industry is strongest, and now it is time for the mills to begin to conduct animal care in a fundamentally different way."

One part service dog, one part best friend, Ruger the yellow Lab not only helped guide his owner Kevin Coughlin through the streets of Manhattan, but he became an unofficial mascot for guide-dog rights.

Ruger carved out his place in history when he served as Exhibit A in a series of court cases in which Kevin fought (and won) discrimination suits against businesses that refused to allow his service dog through their doors. Terms like "trailblazer" and "pioneer" are rarely bestowed upon members of the canine family, but in Ruger's case, they seem quite fitting.

After winning high-profile case after high-profile case, Ruger became a darling of the news media and was recognized by strangers who would reportedly stop and introduce themselves on the street. Ruger died Wednesday of natural causes at the age of 13.

When owner Kevin Coughlin lost his vision in 1997, he felt that he would never find true happiness again. When he met Ruger, Kevin tells the New York Times, "It was this in-your-face, all encompassing feeling. That was the biggest gift. He allowed me once again to experience joy."

Ruger accompanied Kevin on his travels for 10 years, even bouncing back after having a cancerous tumor removed from his leg. Obviously, this dog was something special, and people in his neighborhood could see it. Ruger was reportedly a regular at Third Avenue's Imperial Pizza, where workers would happily slip him tasty scraps.

The famous guide dog even had his own retirement party in 2008, when Ruger left the city to enjoy his remaining years in Warwick, N.Y.

Remember how Bob Barker used to end every episode of "The Price is Right" by reminding viewers to spay and neuter their pets? His devotion to animals didn't stop there. Now he's donated $1 million to his alma mater, Drury University, to establish a professorship on animal rights. According to the Associated Press, Barker "hopes the school will eventually be able to offer a program of studies that would train them to be animal rights activists and to respect animals."

The new professorship, named for Barker's late wife Dorothy Jo Barker, went to Patricia McEachern, who will work to develop the nation's first undergraduate program in animal rights. McEachern told Paw Nation, "The student interest in the Animal Ethics class has been outstanding. The course filled up almost immediately and we started a waiting list. The goal of the Animal Ethics course is to make students aware of issues regarding animals." Her long-term goals include establishing a minor. She added, "If you spend any time at all with Bob Barker, he is going to make you laugh. I hesitate to share a specific story because I could never do him justice. Bob Barker is an American treasure."

Animal-rights enthusiasts, come on down!