Phoenix Greyhound Park in Arizona will run its last race Dec. 19. This follows last week's news that Valley Park in Texas has also suspended its schedule through 2010.
Read the Arizona Republic story on the dog track closing
Pet News: September 2009 Archives
Dr. Allan Kornberg, executive director for Farm Sanctuary, has issued the following statement regarding the sacrificial slaughter of chickens during the Jewish ritual of kapparot:
"Sadly, some members of the Jewish faith who observe the kapparot ritual still commit animal cruelty during this ceremony by swinging chickens over their heads and then slicing their throats with razors. Those who participate in this form of kapparot believe that their sins will be transferred into the chicken's body and extinguished along with the bird's life, but many distinguished rabbis throughout history have argued that treating chickens in this manner violates both kosher food standards and the Torah's teachings on cultivating compassion for animals. In fact, an Israeli court ruled in 2007 that killing chickens for kapparot violates the country's animal welfare laws, codifying in modern law what these sages have been saying for centuries.
"To fully grasp the ethical objections to using chickens for kapparot, it is crucial to understand that swinging and slaughtering is not the beginning but merely the end of the birds' suffering. First, most of these chickens are born and raised in dark, crowded warehouses on factory farms. Then, after being packed tightly together on trucks and driven long distances to large cities, chickens may wait for days in cramped cages before kapparot even begins, often lacking food, water and shelter from inclement weather. Farm Sanctuary, the nation's leading farm animal protection organization, has firsthand experience with the traumatic suffering caused by kapparot, having rescued hundreds of chickens from rituals in New York City over the years and lovingly cared for them at our shelter for abused and neglected farm animals in upstate New York.
"Fortunately, celebrating kapparot need not involve animals at all, because Rabbinical law stipulates that there are humane ways to partake of this sacrament. That is, even the most orthodox among us can spare a chicken's suffering by making a monetary donation to a worthy cause instead of sacrificing a bird, and those wanting to experience an authentic kapparot ceremony can put their material offering in a bag and use it as part of the ritual in the same way they would a live chicken. In contrast to slaughtering innocent animals, practicing kapparot humanely is consistent with the prayers offered up during the high holy days to rachamim (compassion and sensitivity), and is in keeping with the true spirit of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur."
If you would like to speak with Dr. Allan Kornberg, contact Meredith Turner at 646-369-6212 or mturner@farmsanctuary.org.
Pilots N Paws, an online forum that connects animal rescue groups and volunteer pilots, is launching Pilots N Paws 5000, the largest pet airlift ever.
From Sept. 12 to 20, Pilots N Paws volunteers will attempt to transport 5,000 homeless animals in a single week.
With the help of the Pilots N Paws website, rescuers and foster homes in high-kill areas are able to locate no-kill shelters, who then make space for the animals being rescued.
The sending and receiving pair will team up with a volunteer pilot, who will provide transportation during this special rescue week.
Many volunteers are needed to make this life-saving event a success.
Opportunities include:
Pilots - Register online to fly pets from shelters to their foster or forever homes.
Foster homes - Take care of pets for overnight stays en route or for extended periods, while adopters are found.
General volunteers - Local shelters always need help walking dogs, cleaning cages and filing paperwork.
In addition to volunteer roles, there are other ways to help:
Spread the word - Tell your local animal shelter about Pilots N Paws. If there's a small airport nearby, ask the manager to let its pilots know about the event.
Donate - Donations to Pilots N Paws, rescue groups and shelters are usually tax-deductible.
Adopt - Consider taking one of the rescued pets into your own home.
Pilots N Paws is a 501(c)(3) organization, so pilots' expenses relating to transport flights are tax-deductible. For more information, visit www.pilotsnpaws.org.
Hillside SPCA in Pottsville, PA, is on overload with kittens and needs adopters ASAP.
They shelter also has a crisis in regard to food supplies. If you can provide dry kitten food and/or canned adult cat food, please take these items to the Hillside SPCA.
Driving directions are on the website at www.hillsidespca.com.
The PetVet Disease and Condition Finder is now available as an iPhone application.
Using PetVet, you can find answers to pet-health questions, as well as the nearest vet.
For details, visit www.petside.com/health/petvet or www.apple.com/iphone.
Dick's Sporting Goods is refusing to sell the Michael Vick jersey.
To thank them for making this statement, call 877-846-9997, choose option #3, and tell the customer service rep you appreciate the company taking a stand, especially in the current economic climate.
You can also send them an e-mail.
Dick's is keeping track of the calls and will make the number of responses public at a later date.
