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Farmed animals might be the hardest-working Americans

Pigs, cows, chickens and other animals used for food might be the hardest working Americans. Most of them are on the job every day and don’t get time off or holidays. / Photo: USDA

Today, while the U.S.A. pays tribute to “the social and economic achievements of American workers,” as this federal holiday is described by the United States Department of Labor, there might be some irony in the fact that many citizens will celebrate the occasion by eating such items as hot dogs, hamburgers, chicken fajitas, and egg salad sandwiches.

Those Labor Day barbecue and picnic foods come from animals who, in light of the following quotes, might be considered to be the hardest-working Americans ever. Continue reading →

Successful Facebooking for animal adoptions: Dutch shelter gets creative

‘Benchwarmer’ Fred van Persie, successfully adopted thanks to the creative efforts of Animal Shelter Amsterdam. / Photo: Animal Shelter Amsterdam

Animal Issues Reporter.org is back! Chief editor’s fried laptop forced us into a 9-day hiatus, but now we’re up and at ‘em again, starting with this fun look at a Dutch animal shelter by AIR’s European correspondent Anneloes Wagenaar Hummelinck.

By Anneloes Wagenaar Hummelinck

Every other year, the streets here in Holland turn orange—our national color. Time for Holland to try to score the World Cup/European Cup in soccer. Although we’ve only won the European Cup once, sometime long ago in the seventies, we keep hoping each new year will be the year.

Every company knows that the Dutch go crazy over orange soccer goodies, so they all try to get in on the orange action and introduce an orange variety of something: orange milkshakes by McDonald’s, an orange shirt with your name on it from Heineken, orange dresses by Bavaria.

You might think that all this orange, soccer-related craziness only interests commercial companies trying to make a profit. Think again. This year the Animal Shelter Amsterdam (ASA) took the opportunity to shine the spotlight on cats who have been in the shelter for a long, long time. And they did so creatively. Continue reading →

Is slaughterhouse abuse of cows surprising? Government agency has complained about it for years

Compassion Over Killing said their undercover video shows workers at Central Valley Meat Co.in California committing numerous violations of the Animal Welfare Act such as repeatedly shocking, shooting, and scalding sick and injured former dairy cows. Photo: Compassion Over Killing

By Katerina Lorenzatos Makris

An undercover video recently released by animal protection group Compassion Over Killing is difficult to watch, revealing horrific abuses of former dairy cows in a California slaughterhouse, such as killing them slowly and painfully, dousing them with scalding hot water, and using electric prods to repeatedly shock animals who appear to be ill or injured—one animal, the narrator says, more than 40 times. But these inhumane and illegal practices might not come as much of a surprise to some observers. Continue reading →

‘He will be loved’: Starved, nerve-damaged, mange-ravaged street dog fights for life in rescuers’ arms

Starving and alone on Houston’s inner city streets, Daniel managed to survive distemper, but the disease left him with severe neurological damage–jerking and twitching. When he tries to drink, water goes up his nose. When he tries to eat, his snout bangs against the bowl. Photo: Forgotten Dogs of the Fifth Ward Project

By Katerina Lorenzatos Makris

“This is Daniel,” wrote Kelle Mann Davis in a Facebook post yesterday under the photo of a wretchedly emaciated, nearly bald young hound-shepherd mix.

“Shelly Smith and I came across him while out in the field last night,” she went on. “He is starved, almost to the point of death. But this boy has something I have never seen out there: severe, constant jerking of his head and body.” Continue reading →

How to get lawmakers to protect animals? Tips from a Washington lobbyist

‘Logic doesn’t work in Washington or any legislative environment. You need to understand why your audience would want what you want.’ – Stephanie Vance / Photo: Katerina Lorenzatos Makris

Want to influence influential people on behalf of animals? While covering The Humane Society of the United States Taking Action for Animals (TAFA) conference recently, Animal Issues Reporter.org’s correspondent Catherine Cowan picked up the following tips.

By Catherine Cowan

You don’t have to spend a lot of money to ethically influence policymakers.  But you do need a message that resonates with your audience.

That was one of the key takeaway tips from Stephanie Vance, closing plenary speaker at Taking Action for Animals, a conference organized by the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS).

Vance is a veteran Washington lobbyist, author of The Influence Game: 50 Insider Tactics from the Washington D.C. Lobbying World that Will Get You to Yes and founder of the website Advocacy Guru.

How can you find out what messages will resonate with your legislators?  Vance had two suggestions: Continue reading →