News for Florida animal advocates

Last month on this blog (here) we told you that Primate Products, a Miami-based importer of monkeys for use in experimentation and testing, had been awarded five contracts under the federal stimulus program to provide monkeys to researchers at the National Institutes of Health.
This week WFTX Fox 4 reported that the contracts have not created […]

ARFF has sent a letter to Governor Rick Scott urging him to appoint a birdwatcher to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) as a replacement for Commissioner Rodney Barreto whose term expires August 1.

The FWC manages all of Florida’s fish and wildlife. Its decisions affect black bears and panthers, manatees and sea turtles, […]

This week, the Port Orange City Council agreed to move forward with a draft spay/neuter ordinance.
If adopted, Port Orange would join Volusia County and the neighboring communities of Daytona Beach, Holly Hill, South Daytona, DeLand, Ponce Inlet and Ormond Beach in having ordinances encouraging owners of dogs and cats to spay or neuter their animals.
The […]

In March 2011, Palm Beach County commissioners approved several important changes to the county’s animal control ordinance. The new rules included a total ban on chaining or tethering animals, protections for guard dogs and increased standards for pet stores.
Under the revised ordinance, pet stores must prominently display the origin of each puppy and kitten offered […]

This summer there have been numerous sightings of free-ranging Nile monitor lizards in Broward and Palm Beach counties. In response, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) recently issued a news release calling on people to report sightings. A hotline (888-IVE-GOT1) and a website (www.IveGot1.org) have been set up to make it easy for […]

Today the British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection (BUAV) announced that American Airlines has joined the growing list of airlines that do not transport primates for the research industry.
American Airline’s policy is made clear on its website:
“Note: AA Cargo will not accept primates used for laboratory research, experimentation, and exploitation purposes.”

Caribbean Airlines is one […]

“Death” makes an appearance at dog track.
Wednesday’s Seminole Chronicle included an article about ARFF’s protest at the Sanford Orlando Kennel Club in Longwood. The protest featured an activist dressed as the Grim Reaper. Protest organizer Carla Wilson told the paper, “Death visits Sanford Orlando Kennel Club and every track throughout the United States.” Click […]

Laws restricting the chaining/tethering of dogs are being considered, or are already in effect, in communities across Florida.
Efforts to enact an anti-tethering ordinance in Lake County got a boost on July 4th when two activists spent the day chained to a doghouse in a city park in Groveland. The “chain off” event was covered by […]