This happened in my own State of Washington. Tags: seattle State of Washington gall bladders poaching bears asia We allow hunters to shoot bears, but not to sell their parts. Note the Asia connection again. MORE

The National No-Kill Conference scheduled for May 2-3 in Washington, DC is ALREADY sold out. Amazing. MORE

It's basically an interview with University of Washington Professor Peter Ward, whose book the End of Evolution I read over a decade ago. Sorry to be a downer, but here's an article that appeared in the Huffington Post. It discussed the mass extinction going on at the time. Unfortunately, nothing has changed. extinction MORE

Remember how we posted about the raids on puppy mills in Mount Vernon and Gold Bar, Washington? Here's a blog for people who are trying to help them. About 600 dogs were seized from horrible puppy mill conditions. Our pet sitter alerted us to the site. MORE

animal research University of Washington primates PETAI live in Seattle and, while I don't always agree with PETA, I hate the UW's animal research practices. I don't believe these animals get the quality of care they deserve for the suffering they undergo. If you "humanize" the animal and grow attached, how can you conduct experiments on it? You have to objectify them and they suffer for it. I'm glad PETA is drawing attention to this issue. MORE

The story, by author and animal rights activist Ernest Dempsey calls Stanwood, Washington “Death Row for horses” because of the location not far away of a “major buying station, collection point and feedlot for U.S. pigs peace animal sancturay State of Washington horses horse slaughter agriculture meatpackingStanwood is right near where we live in Seattle and, sadly, home to Pigs Peace Animal Sanctuary which rescues all kinds of animals. I can only imagine how they feel. MORE

State of Washington whales endangered speciesThis is really sad. Full story at mynorthwest.com. A severely injured whale off the shores of Olympia has little chance of survival, an expert said Thursday. The animal is either a sei or Bryde's whale, said biologist John Calambokidis with Cascadia Research. Both would be extremely rare. The sei is endangered and is rarely seen off the West Coast. The Bryde's is a more tropical species not usually seen north of southern California." MORE

According to the Washington Post , PETA was one of many groups the Maryland State Police considered a security threat. PETA was labeled a "security threat group" in April 2005, and by July police were looking into a tip that the group had learned about a failing chicken farm in Kent County and planned on "protesting or stealing the chickens." MORE

This is a good article about the puppy mills operated by a Western Washington woman and her parents. She kept being given "one more chance" with the end result of about 600 dogs finally being seized from the establishments. This is definitely a situation that could have been stopped early on. How much suffering and death resulted from this family's practices? The article is particularly thorough and damning. MORE

Tags: chimpanzees seattle State of Washington animal sanctuary MORE

According to Dr. Ashley Gallagher, of Friendship Hospital for Animals in Washington, D.C., What makes a healthy pet? Regular exercise, good food, and yes, regular visits with your veterinarian! MORE

Washington State, where I currently live, is #6! Here's a way to find out how your state ranks. California is #1 again.yay! At the bottom.(drum drum roll please) South Dakota!!! humane society animal welfare MORE

So, it's not just rednecks in Washington State who are doing this. In charging documents filed in King County Superior Court, prosecutors contend Dr. Tohru Shigemura made repeated trips to Washington to hunt bear, taking animals out of season and on tribal lands. From the Seattle P-I: A Japanese psychiatrist with a home in Seattle is facing poaching and gun-possession charges following allegations that he poached several black bears and tried to smuggle gallbladders back to Japan. MORE

A new National Geographic movie, The Last Lions, opened this past weekend in Washington, DC. The movie is about saving lions, and they are doing some really fun promotions to help spread the movie around the country. MORE

In Washington State, Adam Karp is your man. But, he also has a list of referrals for lawyers in other states that do this kind of thing. MORE

More than 100 employees at the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife could lose their jobs. I expect we'll see this in a lot of other agencies as well. Fish and Wildlife managers will tell employees this week that their jobs may be eliminated to meet an expected multi-million-dollar budget shortfall MORE

The winner will get a trip to Washington DC to lobby for it with HSLF staff. The Humane Society Legislative Fund is having a contest where you can submit your idea for a new law protecting animals. MORE

Cesar Millan, and Scooby-Doo have partnered again for the Second Annual National Family Pack Walk on September 29 in Washington, D.C. The movement culminates in Washington D.C. The national movement will conclude in Washington, D.C. MORE

A national physicians group has filed a federal complaint against the University of Washington, saying its use of ferrets to train medical residents in emergency procedures on babies and children violates a federal animal-welfare law. The complaining group, Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, based in Washington, D.C., animal research University of Washington ferretsI live in Seattle and I am always skeptical of how the UW treats its lab animals. MORE

She says that northwest Washington is a refuge for puppy mills because regulation up there is particularly lax. What a mess. We live in Seattle, which is part of King County. Up north are Snohomish County and Skagit County where two puppy mill raids have led to the rescue of almost 600 pregnant dogs, about 80 percent of whom are pregnant. (We We blogged about the Gold Bar, Snohomish County, raid last week). MORE

I went to graduate school at the University of Washington here in Seattle. Tags: animal research University of Washington USDA I've been hearing nightmare stories about the Primate Center for years. The ineptness and cruelty continues, but all in the name of "putting people first." Eff that. This is why I avoid Games Night at some acquaintances.' They have a friend that works at this vile place. From the student newspaper The Daily. MORE

Today is George Washington’s birthday! First Pet, 1789-1791): In addition to horses and hound dogs, George Washington owned a parrot. Polly actually belonged to Martha Washington. It’s said the George Washington and the parrot didn’t get along! So in celebration, here is a fun list of Five Famous First Pets. Socks the cat. First Cat from 1993-2001): Socks was a black and white “tuxedo” American Shorthair cat belonging to Bill Clinton. MORE

Read the full article in the Washington Post. A group of animal rights activists sued the U.S. government Thursday to challenge the constitutionality of a rarely used law they say treats them like terrorists if they cause a loss in profits for businesses that use or sell animal products. MORE

Full story here in Washington Post. oceans whale State of Washington marine life marine animals pollutionIt's just another sign of the garbage we throw into the oceans. There was also some plastic and pieces of rope, but there's no determination of what may have actually killed it. It was not emaciated so it's still a mystery as to whether what it consumed played a factor in its death. MORE

After all the brewhaha about improving the conditions at the King County animal shelters in Washington State (where we live), I'm still seeing this kind of stuff. Tags: animal shelter management seattle State of Washington King county A group of veterinarians that volunteered this year to treat sick animals at King County's two animal shelters has quit, citing a lack of accountability and a reluctance from shelter staff to fix a broken system. MORE

It's a Washington State organization, but the information is still useful anywhere. Here is a link to a PAWS (Progressive Animal Welfare Society) web page with signs of what to look for. MORE

Just in time for the start of summer, it’s the First Annual Week for the Animals in Washington DC! Washington, DC) Animal World USA is pleased to announce exciting news about the 1st Annual Washington DC Week for the Animals, which will kick off Saturday, May 30th and run through Sunday, June 7th, 2009. 1st Annual Washington, DC Week for the Animals will build new relationships for the animals and people in a history-making manner. MORE

This is a nice story about the care of abused birds at a Washington, DC, Buddhist temple. MORE

Tags: elk wildlife crime State of Washington poaching national parks MORE

Tags: chimpanzees State of Washington animal sanctuary primates MORE

This story comes out of Gold Bar in Snohomish County, north of Seattle (where we latte-sucking liberals live.) Officers rescued 155 dogs and several other animals found living under ghastly conditions in a puppy mill operation so horrific that it shocked even veteran animal control officials.After obtaining a search warrant, deputies and officers raided the property, where they found many of the dogs stuffed inside small crates and pens overflowing with urine and feces. MORE

I wish the Seattle weeklies would at least try to cover the University of Washington's Primate Center. Sounds like there can be a whole lot of drama surrounding the Willamette Week's attempts to report about this place. Here's an example. MORE

cull State of Washington salmon california columbia river sea lionsThe Federal government has approved the killing of California Sea Lions in the Columbia River, blaming them for killing and eating endangered salmon. Never mind the main reasons for the problems with the salmon: hatcheries, human harvest, hydropower and the destruction of habitat. MORE

This man is a meat-cutter from our home state of Washington. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife says Wednesday that William A. Tags: wildlife trafficking State of Washington bears I'm not sure the sentencing is strict enough to keep him from doing it again. I hope he serves out his whole sentence though. MORE

An animal-rights group that watchdogs research facilities across the country has filed a federal complaint against the University of Washington, citing multiple incidents in which animals were injured, escaped from their cages or were found dead. animal abuse animal research Stop Animal Exploitation Now medical ethics animal welfare act University of Washington medical research animal laboratoriesFrom the normantranscript.com. MORE

She is a US Senator from our home state of Washington. Tags: State of Washington legislation humane society congress us My husband worked for her years and years ago, when she was just a State representative. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) received the Humane Society’s Legislative Leader award for her leadership in protecting animals. MORE

From The Washington Post. As I've often said, Bob Barker is a good man. Retired game-show host and animal rights advocate Bob Barker is opening a new area for five HIV-infected chimpanzees at a sanctuary in northwestern Louisiana. The former host of “The Price Is Right” donated $380,000 to create space at the Chimp Haven near Shreveport. louisiana chimpanzees Bob Barker chimp haven animal sanctuary primates medical research MORE

Sorry, another Washington State story. Tags: State of Washington salmon Stupid sea lions dams endangered species Sea lions are killed here for eating salmon. About 60 have already been identified as nuisance animals with the possibility of future trapping and euthanization. It really makes me angry. We all know that it's not the sea lions' fault that the salmon runs are either threatened or endangered. MORE

The long-running dispute between the US and Mexico over Washington’s ‘dolphin safe’ labelling practice for tuna products is likely to see a WTO appeal, after the two parties together asked for an extension of the appeals deadline. Meanwhile, animal welfare and consumer advocacy groups in Washington are urging the US to look into options outside the global trade body for resolving the trade row. From the Bridges Weekly Trade News Digest. MORE

Here's the whole story from the Washington Post National. Washington wildlife officials say eight sea lions have been found dead in the Puget Sound region in recent weeks — all apparently shot. seattle State of Washington marine life marine animals sea lions puget soundThis has happened before. I don't know whether these are disgruntled fishermen or regular jerks. MORE

The conference is to be held from July 23-26 in Washington, DC. I recently received this email announcement. Someday, I hope to attend one of these conferences. It looks like they have some great workshops with people like Gene Bauer from Farm Sanctuary and Nicole Pollata from the Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF.). MORE

whale State of Washington marine animalsWe'd posted last week that the injuries would probably be fatal and they were. It appears that it was hit by boat propellers. Horrible. MORE

This week's stories: PETA demands that the National Institutes of Health take back grant money awarded to the University of Kansas; The Canadian Association of Zoos and Aquariums prepares to investigate the Calgary Zoo next year; Convicted dog fighter Michael Vick receives an award in courage from the Philadelphia Eagles; Canada tries to find a public relations firm to counter anti-seal coverage; and a Washington State man is convicted of selling bear gall bladders. MORE