Ban Puppy Mills

HB 3614—Felony Penalty for Animal/Cockfighting
Sponsor(s): Rep. Elizabeth Coulson
ASPCA Position: Support
Action Needed: Ask your state representative to vote for HB 3614.

Update, 3/21/07: Thanks to the hard work and testimony of the ASPCA’s own Ledy VanKavage, Senior Director of Legal Training & Legislation, HB 3614 passed the House Judiciary II-Criminal Law Committee yesterday without a problem. The bill now awaits a vote by the full House!

HB 3614 will increase the penalty of animal fighting to a felony. Dog fighting is already a felony under state law, but other forms of animal fighting, including cockfighting, are only misdemeanors—and misdemeanor penalties are ineffective for deterring animal fighting ventures. The minimal fines and fees associated with misdemeanors are inconsequential, as the payoff for a successful fight far outweighs the risk of having to pay a meager fine. These fines are viewed by animal fighters merely as a “cost of doing business.”
Animal fighting negatively impacts public safety. The environments surrounding these activities have proven to promote organized crime, juvenile crime, gang activity, trafficking of illegal drugs and narcotics, illegal wagering and gambling, and child endangerment. Animal fighting fosters a generally pervasive attitude that violence is not only acceptable, but a means of entertainment. It is also a fact that violence toward animals is a precursor to violence toward humans.

This bill is currently pending a vote by the entire Illinois House of Representatives. Please call your state representative to ask that they support felony provisions for animal fighting.

Visit www.aspca.org</p>

25% of pets in shelters are purebred.

Over 7 million pets are put to sleep each year due to overpopulation.

Adopting from a shelter or rescue group saves a life!

HB 1711—Ban on Horse Slaughter for Human Consumption
Sponsor(s): Rep. Robert Molaro
ASPCA Position: Support
Introduced: 2-22-07
Action Needed: Send a letter to your state representative urging support for HB 1711.

Update 3/13/07: HB 1711 will be heard by the House Executive Committee on March 21 at 4:00 P.M. The hearing will take place in Room 118 of the Capitol Building. If you can, please attend to show your support for banning horse slaughter.

The bill would prohibit the possessing, importing or exporting, buying, selling, holding or donation of any horse meat if the person knows or should know that the horse meat will be used for human consumption. Any person who slaughters a horse for human consumption would be guilty of a Class C misdemeanor.

Last year, over 100,000 American horses were killed in the United States and shipped to Europe and Japan for human consumption. A Belgian company, Cavel International, runs one of our country’s few remaining horse slaughter plants near DeKalb, IL. The other two main plants are in Texas, and Texas has already taken action to shut them down.

The transport of horses to slaughterhouses is often inhumane, and many horses are injured even before reaching the slaughter plant due to overcrowded conditions. Some are shipped for more than 24 hours at a time without food, water or rest. In addition, the methods used to slaughter these horses once they arrive at the plant often do not result in a quick death. The horses are often forced to endure repeated stuns or blows, and often remain conscious during their slaughter.

Please help us advance this important legislation. Contact your representative now and urge your legislator to support and co-sponsor HB 1711.

Visit www.aspca.org to send a letter

COMING UP: SUPER PET EXPO HITS VIRGINIA, 3/23-25
Got kids who can’t get enough of animals? Gather up the crew and head on down to the Super Pet Expo in Chantilly, VA, this March 23-25. The event features 200-plus vendors selling cool pet products and a performance by “the ultimate air dogs.” Leashed pets are also welcome, and you can take your four-legged family members on a play date at the Puppy Playground. For more information, and to get you a special free kids’ admission coupon, please visit Super Pet Expo online.

http://www.superpetexpo.com/aspcava/

March 16, 2007, 5:53PM
Pet Deaths Prompt Recall of Pet Food


By ANDREW BRIDGES Associated Press Writer
© 2007 The Associated Press

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WASHINGTON — A major manufacturer of dog and cat food sold under Wal-Mart, Safeway, Kroger and other store brands recalled 60 million containers of wet pet food Friday after reports of kidney failure and deaths.

An unknown number of cats and dogs suffered kidney failure and about 10 died after eating the affected pet food, Menu Foods said in announcing the North American recall. Product testing has not revealed a link explaining the reported cases of illness and death, the company said.

"At this juncture, we're not 100 percent sure what's happened," said Paul Henderson, the company's president and chief executive officer. However, the recalled products were made using wheat gluten purchased from a new supplier, since dropped for another source, spokeswoman Sarah Tuite said. Wheat gluten is a source of protein.

The recall covers the company's "cuts and gravy" style food, which consists of chunks of meat in gravy, sold in cans and small foil pouches between Dec. 3 and March 6 throughout the U.S., Canada and Mexico.

The pet food was sold by stores operated by the Kroger Company, Safeway Inc., Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and PetSmart Inc., among others, Henderson said.

Menu Foods did not immediately provide a full list of brand names and lot numbers covered by the recall, saying they would be posted on its Web site _ http://www.menufoods.com/recall _ early Saturday. Consumers with questions can call (866) 463-6738.

The company said it manufacturers for 17 of the top 20 North American retailers. It is also a contract manufacturer for the top branded pet food companies, including Procter & Gamble Co.

P&G announced Friday the recall of specific 3 oz., 5.5 oz., 6 oz. and 13.2 oz. canned and 3 oz. and 5.3 oz. foil pouch cat and dog wet food products made by Menu Foods but sold under the Iams and Eukanuba brands. The recalled products bear the code dates of 6339 through 7073 followed by the plant code 4197, P&G said.

Menu Foods' three U.S. and one Canadian factory produce more than 1 billion containers of wet pet food a year. The recall covers pet food made at company plants in Emporia, Kan., and Pennsauken, N.J., Henderson said.

Henderson said the company received an undisclosed number of owner complaints of vomiting and kidney failure in dogs and cats after they had been fed its products. It has tested its products but not found a cause for the sickness.

"To date, the tests have not indicated any problems with the product," Henderson said.

The company alerted the Food and Drug Administration, which already has inspectors in one of the two plants, Henderson said. The FDA was working to nail down brand names covered by the recall, agency spokesman Mike Herndon said.

Menu Foods is majority owned by the Menu Foods Income Fund, based in Ontario, Canada.

Henderson said the recall would cost the company the Canadian equivalent of $26 million to $34 million.

___

On the Net:

Food and Drug Administration: http://www.fda.gov/