Welcome into the big embroidery world !
“If this were a movie,” said Geordie Duckler, a Portland attorney specializing in animal law, “people would say it is too strange to be true. But this is not terribly unusual. Animal disputes engender a huge amount of animosity.”
Read about how a dispute over a cat left the cat bloody and two men dead in this Oregonian article by Lori Tobias.
The first case under that state’s new, stiffer animal cruelty law will go to court next week. According to KRC-TV Local News 12, “Russell Swigart was indicted yesterday for burglary and two counts of torture of a cat… a new offense.” Read more here…
A shout-out to blog reader Bruce Korol for the heads-up on this BBC News article about Britain’s 2006 Animal Welfare Act. Writes the BBC:
Cat and dog owners are to be told to provide “entertainment” and “mental stimulation” for their pets under new government advice.
The code of practice also includes advice on diet and providing “somewhere suitable to go to the toilet”.
It says owners should watch for signs of stress and advises on introducing cats to dogs without the fur flying.
Owners will not be fined for breaking the rules but failure to comply may be used in animal cruelty prosecutions.
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said it wanted to remind pet owners of their responsibilities under the 2006 Animal Welfare Act.
Read more about the 26-page document on cat welfare here…
Read all about it in this LA Times article by Carla Hall!
Unfortunately, California’s Prop 8, banning gay marriage, also passed. Read more in this Wall Street Journal article here.
Ok, I’m a Democrat (no surprise there) so I was really happy when Obama was declared the winner in the presidential election just over an hour ago. Props to John McCain for what was probably the most gracious - and genuine - concession speech as has ever been given.
Congratulations to Barack Obama! May his presidency live up to the promise of hope and change that his campaign envisioned. And in case any of his aides or staff happens across this blog post, here’s an open message to the next administration:
As you look across this vast nation of ours - all of the different demographics of race, ethnity, gender, sexual orientation, age, religious beliefs and more - please find the compassion in your hearts and perceptive-thinking in your minds to consider, protect and improve the lots of the most vulnerable members of our society: animals.
And President-Elect Obama - you know that [...]
