Poop City

P-O-R: Good Government Edition

NO CLASS: Democrats in the House and Senate have proposed federal legislation to prevent "Class B" animal dealers and unlicensed dealers from selling dogs and cats to research labs. "This bill," writes the ASPCA, "would eliminate the incentive for 'bunchers' - people who collect animals from random sources and sell them to Class B Dealers - to obtain dogs and cats through illegal [i.e. theft] or unethical [i.e. 'Free to Good Home' ads] means, as there would be no profit in doing so." Read the ASPCA endorsement for more details about S. 714/H.R. 1280, the Pet Safety and Protection Act. And, most important, be sure to contact your Senators and Representative (click here if you aren't sure how or who).

PROPERTY RIGHTS: New Jersey lawmakers are looking to crack down on pet food makers who release contaminated food into the marketplace. One bill, proposed by Assemblyman Reed Gusciora, would require food makers to certify that their products are safe, and would hold them liable for damages if proved otherwise. Another legislator wants tighter controls on the retail level in order to ensure that recalled food doesn't remain available for sale. The New Jersey Animal Rights Alliance, while applauding those efforts, believes the state should take a more holistic approach by elevating pets above "property" status.

IMBY: Support New York's own animal-defending government watchdogs by attending the League of Humane Voters of New York City spring membership meeting, tomorrow (Wednesday) at the LGBT Center (208 W. 13th St., Rm. 101, 6:30 p.m.). Come for the animals, stay for the animal-free pizza.

Ban "tethering," not pit bulls

District 22 Councilman Peter Vallone Jr. (D-Astoria) was already causing a stir with his proposed ban on pit bulls, and understandably so. But opposition to his latest proposed pet legislation - restrictions on outdoor "tethering" - is as hard to parse as the proposal itself.

Under Vallone's proposal, Newsday reports, pet guardians who leave a dog tied outside for more than three hours during a 12-hour period would be subject to a warning, followed by a $250 fine for a second offense. Vallone is also considering a ban on outdoor "tethering" between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m.

What could be wrong with that? Plenty, say some. According to the Dog Federation of New York - which is organizing against both the pit bull ban and tethering regs - such restrictions would punish "responsible" caretakers, including poor and minority pet parents.

Maybe I'm missing something, but what responsible pet guardian of any income level or background would leave his or her dog chained up for more than three hours in a day - much less leave a dog chained outside overnight? Considering just two very recent cases of dogs tied or caged outside and left to freeze or starve to death, it's high time for an anti-"tethering" law.

That said, suspicion of Vallone's motivation is warranted. Though he calls himself an "animal rights activist" and "animal lover," his record doesn't completely bear that out.

In addition to his maliciously ignorant assault on an entire breed of dog, Vallone hasn't always come to the aid of animals - even domestic animals - when presented the opportunity to do so. The councilman scored 60 out of 100 on the latest scorecard from the League of Humane Voters of New York City. Though certainly not the worst on the council - Speaker Christine Quinn rates a shameful zero - Vallone has yet to get behind what is possibly the LOHV's highest local legislative priority: the Pets in Housing Bill, which would save animals' lives by ensuring that no-pet lease clauses, once waived, can not be reinstated during a tenant's residency.

Backing such a rule would seem a no-brainer for someone who calls himself an "animal lover," much less an "activist," but the fact that Vallone is not a sponsor of the languishing Pets in Housing law casts doubt on the purity of his intentions.

No more so, however, than the opposition by a group of "caring" pet "owners" to another law that would dramatically improve, not to mention save, the lives of countless dogs, shackled all day every day, who can only watch in longing as the world passes them by.

Photo: UnchainYourDog.org

Poop-O-Rama: Non-recall edition

CRACK & CLAM JUICE: Slope Street Cats has relocated the last of the feral colony endangered by the Atlantic Yards project in Brooklyn. The effort gained attention via coverage in the Brooklyn Paper and even the Times, but in the end it was a Meow Mix-clam juice combo what done the trick. Says SSC's Laura Brahm: "When you're working on a trapping project, sometimes nabbing that last cat is better than crack!"

RESCUE (ES)ME: In other SSC news, Esme (pictured) needs a home.

SOMEONE SAY PIZZA?: The League of Humane Voters of New York City (LOHV) will hold its spring membership meeting on Wednesday, April 11 at the LGBT Center (208 W. 13th St., Rm. 101, 6:30 p.m.). Featured speakers are to include City Council Member Rosie Mendez, state Assembly candidate Micah Kellner, and George Bliss, who brought the besieged pedicab industry to the city. Also starring: vegan pizza.

WABBIT SEASON: Easter is almost upon us, which means scores of rabbits will soon be sprung on unprepared kids and significant others, only to be surrendered to shelters or, worse, tossed outside to fend for themselves once the novelty wears off. If you find yourself the unwitting (or witting, even) guardian of a bunny this year, House Rabbit Society is a great resource for caretaking tips. To help HRS spread the word about the toll Easter takes on rabbits who are purchased on a whim and cast aside like forgotten toys, join the "Make Mine Chocolate" campaign.

Photo: Slope Street Cats

Still undecided in the 40th

Strange doings in Brooklyn’s City Council District 40.

A special election held last month to replace Yvette Clarke, now a congresswoman, saw Clarke endorsee Mathieu Eugene walk away with the seat. Then questions about Eugene’s residency cropped up - i.e. there were (and are) doubts as to whether he even lived in the district at the time of the election. These doubts are serious enough that his swearing in has been delayed, yet the Eugene camp is refusing to provide proof of residency, claiming their man is being singled out due to his Haitian heritage.

All this is relevant in Poop City due to the fact that another District 40 candidate, Zenobia McNally, was endorsed by the League of Humane Voters as an advocate on animal welfare issues, including Intro. 13, which continues to languish (hello Mr. Mayor). Perhaps more relevant, since McNally was not one of the top finishers on election day: Eugene was the only candidate to blow off the LOHV, declining to be interviewed or even return its questionnaire. And that’s just rude.

The Daily Gotham - which, as it happens, also endorsed McNally - is all over this developing story. Read the latest here.

UPDATE 3/9:
- Eugene calls for second election. [NY1]

Key BK council election tomorrow

On Tuesday, voters in Brooklyn's District 40 (Kensington, Prospect-Lefferts, Ditmas Park, parts of Crown Heights, Flatbush, and East Flatbush) will have the opportunity to elect a pro-companion animal candidate to City Council.

Community organizer and advocate Zenobia McNally is running for the seat vacated by Yvette Clarke, who was elected to Congress. If elected, McNally has promised to support Intro 13, the Pets in Housing Bill, which would ensure that no-pet lease clauses, once waived, can not be reinstated during a tenant's residency. She also favors the foie gras ban opposed by Governor Spitzer, as well as humane education and awareness programs.

McNally has been endorsed by the League of Humane Voters, and received a thumbs-up from SuperVegan, which has a video of a recent McNally speech. As always, vote early and often.

Related:
- Education chair signs on to humane ed. resolution. [LOHV]

In other news:
- Eyes opened to deaf dogs. [NYT]
- Slope Street Cats TNR 225 in two years. [TGL]
- BARC ponders guerrilla marketing. [BARC Blog]
- Pets preferred to potential mates. [Gothamist] 

Photo: Zenobia McNally and Savannah

Why the pedicab crackdown matters

At first blush, it doesn't seem that the city's current offensive against pedicabs would mean much to animal welfare watchdogs. But the League of Humane Voters is opposing some of the planned restrictions (while supporting regulation in general), on the grounds that pedicabs offer a humane alternative to Central Park's ubiquitous horse-drawn carriages - an issue in which the LOHV definitely has a stake.

While one could certainly argue that pedicabs themselves are inhumane, one of the city's aims is to outlaw electrically assisted rigs - which would make the job more difficult and, according to its backers, hobble NYC's fledgling pedicab industry.

And that, apparently, is the point. However you come down on humans vs. horses, the city's case against pedicabs is nothing less than punitive. For example, according to the city, pedicabs increase pollution by tying up traffic. Pedicab Owners Association prez George Bliss (in the video) cited other gems at the recent LOHV winter meeting.

Pedicab supporters say the city wants to eliminate budding competition to horse-drawn carriages, as well as cabs of the fossil-fueled variety - which, apparently, are responsible for neither gridlock nor pollution.

In other news:
- Coldest night of the season ahead. (Also: Post headline writers need some time off.) [NYP]
- Artists help animals, and vice versa. [NYCityPets.com]

Video: League of Humane Voters of New York City

ASPCA makes first 2007 arrest; puppy killer could walk

Earlier this week the ASPCA made its first arrest for animal cruelty of 2007. Oswald Joudan of Queens was charged with one count of misdemeanor cruelty for neglecting three-year-old Chow Chow (pictured) "so badly that the dog was being strangled by a collar that had grown into her neck." If convicted Joudan could get up to a year in prison and a fine of $2000, max.

And yesterday, Oleg Zhdanov of Manhattan was sentenced to 45 days for beating Lelu, a five-month-old Labrador, to death in 2005. But Zhdanov may not do one day behind bars, as Justice Edward McLaughlin agreed to consider letting him off with probation due to physical disabilities and his wife's mental illness. McLaughlin also allowed Zhdanov to keep fish in his aquarium, ruling that fish are not companion animals.

In other news:

League of Humane Voters releases 06 City Council Scorecard [LOHV]
Brooklynites beware "mean" dog walker   [Brooklyn Heights Blog]

Photo: ASPCA