Princess Irina of Romania charged in Oregon cockfighting ring

Wow, this is a bizarre story.

Link: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2398406/Romanian-princess-served-tacos-beer-eastern-Oregon-cockfight-derbies.html

UW-Madison carnivore expert finds Wisconsin wolf hunt unsustainable, action needed

Associate Professor Adrian Treves, of the UW-Madison's Nelson Institute, is finding that delisting wolves from the endangered species act and encouraging hunting of the animal is unsustainable.

More information about Prof. Treves studies can be found via Milwaukee Public Radio, here: http://www.wuwm.com/post/researcher-state-wolf-hunt-unsustainable

The public has until September 11th to comment on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services' plan to delist the gray wolf from federal protections.  Anyone can comment using the instructions here: http://www.fws.gov/home/feature/2013/pdf/Gray_Wolf_Comment_Period_Bulletin.pdf

Dozens of dolphin deaths on Eastern U.S. seaboard have scientists concerned

The cause of the deaths, which is mostly affecting males and calves, is not known.  But the cause could be related to pollution, which is suppressing the immune systems of the dolphins.

Link: http://www.cnn.com/2013/08/20/us/dolphins-dying/

Lions attack handlers at circus in Ukraine

Several lions attacked their human handlers during a performance in L'viv, Ukraine, in 2010.  Circuses are much loved in the Former Soviet Union (as they are in the U.S.), but there are far fewer safety precautions or laws protecting animals.  In the apartment building where I lived in Ukraine's capital of Kyiv, a neighbor kept a bear and a porcupine in a van downstairs.  The L'viv story is being picked up by U.S. blogs after being found and posted on Reddit.

Many people and organizations, including the Humane Society, are against using animals in circuses.

Warning: the following footage is disturbing.

Link: http://dangerousminds.net/comments/circus_lions_decide_theyre_not_going_to_take_it_anymore and http://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/oct/05/lion-attack-trainers-ukraine-circus

Millions of pounds of meat shipped at 6,500 facilities without proper inspections due to computer glitches

From the New York Times...

A troubled new computer system used by inspectors at the nation’s 6,500 meatpacking and processing plants shut down for two days this month, putting at risk millions of pounds of beef, poultry, pork and lamb that had left the plants before workers could collect samples to check for E. coli bacteria and other contaminants.

Read More: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/18/us/computer-system-failed-at-meatpacking-plants-but-shipping-continued.htmlhttp://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/18/us/computer-system-failed-at-meatpacking-plants-but-shipping-continued.html

Major beef recall in effect for the U.S.

The US Department of Agriculture has forced the National Beef Packing Company recalling 50,000 pounds of processed beef from stores due to e.coli bacteria contamination.  This follows over 20,000 pounds of meat that were recalled in June from the same Kansas-based company.

Link: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/31/beef-recall_n_3685744.html

Armed DNR and Sheriff's Deputies raid no-kill shelter in Kenosha County

Thirteen armed officers raided a no-kill shelter to capture a fawn which was on its way to a sanctuary in Illinois.  The DNR and Kenosha County Sheriff's Department officers put the fawn in a body bag and later euthanized it. The operation also included the taking or aerial photographs. Please call or email the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and tell them you think this was an overreach and waste of money (not to mention being cruel and stupid).

Link:  http://www.wisn.com/news/armed-agents-raid-animal-shelter-for-baby-deer/-/9373668/21272108/-/item/0/-/13d8x2mz/-/index.html