L.A. County's new dogfighting tip line is unveiled

Earlier this week, the Los Angeles County district attorney's office and the Humane Society of the United States announced plans for a novel new approach to combating animal cruelty in L.A. County: A 24-hour tip line, manned by both English and Spanish speakers, for citizens to report incidents of dogfighting.  

The tip line was officially unveiled at a press conference Tuesday at the office of L.A. County Dist. Atty. Steve Cooley.  Those with information about a dogfighting ring, an upcoming dogfight or an individual who is involved in dogfighting are urged to call 1-877-NO2FITE; those reporting information that leads to an arrest or conviction will be rewarded with up to $5,000.  (Cooley noted that anyone reporting a dogfight in progress should call 911 rather than the tip line.)

"Our goal is to encourage citizens to help law enforcement root out a brutal crime that often goes unreported and occurs in the shadows," Cooley said during Tuesday's press conference.  Also present Tuesday was the Humane Society's senior state director for California, Jennifer Fearing, who called Cooley "a true champion for animals." 

Santa Monica, San Francisco ban cat declawing; L.A., Beverly Hills, Berkeley to have final votes this week

With a state-imposed deadline drawing closer, California cities are in the midst of making final decisions on whether to ban cat declawing within their borders.

The Los Angeles, Beverly Hills and Berkeley city councils are scheduled to have final votes at their Tuesday meetings on ordinances that would ban animal declawing. All three had voted unanimously in favor of bans on first readings of the measures.

The Santa Monica City Council voted last week 5 to 1 to adopt an ordinance banning cat declawing. Under the new ordinance, which takes effect Dec. 10, onychectomy (declawing) or flexor tendonectomy may be performed only to address a medical condition of the cat. Violations would be a misdemeanor punishable by a $500 fine, six months in jail, or both.

Santa Monica City Councilman Kevin McKeown, in an earlier interview, said there had been an "outpouring of support" in favor of the ban, and added, "I think it's important that the council try to make our laws reflect the values of our community."

In the Bay Area, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors last Tuesday gave its final approval to a similar ban. The Berkeley City Council had its first vote Tuesday to ban animal declawing except for therapeutic purposes. 

Los Angeles, Beverly Hills city councils take big steps toward enacting bans on cat declawing

Call it a victory for scratching-post manufacturers: In preliminary actions, the Los Angeles City Council and the Beverly Hills City Council have voted unanimously to approve a ban on cat declawing in their respective cities. 

As we've reported previously, the issue of declawing -- though long a controversial one -- has come to a head in California in recent months because of a pending law that gives the state authority over medical scope-of-practice issues. That law, which goes into effect Jan. 1, will prevent cities and counties from banning procedures like declawing. 

So, if a city in California wishes to ban the practice, as West Hollywood did a few years back, it needs to act fast. A number of California cities are attempting to do just that; beyond L.A. and Beverly Hills, the Santa Monica City Council took a big step toward banning declawing late last month and is expected to revisit the issue next week. Up north, San Francisco and Berkeley are weighing similar actions.

San Francisco supervisors support cat declawing ban

San Francisco's Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday in favor of an ordinance to ban cat declawing within the city and county. Supervisors are due to have a final vote on the issue next week, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.

The measure had been introduced by Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi, who called the practice torture and a form of animal cruelty.

Supervisor Michela Alioto-Pier, who voted against the measure, told the San Francisco Examiner: "I don't support the board making those types of medical decisions."

In Southern California, the Beverly Hills City Council will look at the issue at its meeting Thursday night. Los Angeles also is considering an ordinance banning cat declawing within city limits. 

Starting Jan. 1, a state law will prevent municipalities from banning such procedures.

RELATED:
L.A. Council committee favors law against declawing cats
Several California cities to look at cat declawing bans this week
Santa Monica moves closer to cat declawing ban

-- Anne Colby

Photo: Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times

Vermont slaughterhouse closed amid animal cruelty allegations

A Vermont slaughterhouse ordered closed Friday after video showed calves kicked, shocked and cut while conscious had its operating license suspended three times earlier this year for similar conduct.

U.S. Department of Agriculture records show Bushway Packing Inc. of Grand Isle was shut down for a day in May, again in June and again in July after an inspector cited it for inhumane treatment of animals.

The revelation came Monday as the Humane Society of the United States released more video footage taken with a hidden camera this summer. The video shows days-old male calves culled from dairy herds being dragged, kicked, repeatedly shocked with electric prods and apparently cut while still conscious.

"We found even two calves who appeared to be skinned alive while they were still conscious," said Michael Markarian, the Humane Society's chief operating officer.

The video also appeared to back up a Friday statement in which U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack described the conduct of a USDA inspector at the slaughterhouse as "inexcusable."

L.A. City Council committee asks for ordinance banning cat declawing

The Los Angeles City Council's Public Safety Committee voted unanimously Monday to recommend that City Atty. Carmen Trutanich draft an ordinance banning cat declawing within city limits. 

The proposal was put forth by Councilmen Bill Rosendahl and Paul Koretz, who said the procedure caused "unnecessary pain, anguish and permanent disability" to cats, according to the report from the L.A. Times' David Zahniser. 

The California Veterinary Medical Assn. is opposed to local cat declawing bans and says they could lead to increases in owners relinquishing, abandoning and euthanizing their cats.

Read Zahniser's post on the L.A. Now blog, and check back at L.A. Unleashed for more updates on the issue.

-- Anne Colby

Photo: Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times

Several California cities to look at cat declawing bans this week

The next couple of weeks will be busy for those interested in the issue of cat declawing in California. Several cities are weighing proposals that would ban declawing or affirm opposition to the practice within their city limits.

• The city of Los Angeles' Public Safety Committee will look at the issue Monday at its 9:30 a.m. meeting.
• On Tuesday afternoon, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors will consider an ordinance that would prohibit onychectomy (declawing) and flexor tendonectomy procedures on cats except when necessary for a therapeutic purpose.
• The Beverly Hills City Council is slated to discuss a ban on nontherapeutic animal declawing at its meeting Thursday night.
• The Malibu City Council will consider a resolution opposing cat declawing in the city at its Nov. 9 meeting.
• On Nov. 10, the Santa Monica City Council is expected to have a second reading of a measure that would ban onychectomy and tendonectomy except for the medical necessity of the cat.

The issue has gained urgency because of a pending California law that gives the state authority over medical scope-of-practice issues and prevents cities and counties from passing ordinances banning medical procedures starting Jan. 1.

-- Anne Colby

Photo: Al Seib / Los Angeles Times

Humane Society Legislative Fund announces 'There Oughta Be a Law' contest winner

A few months back, we told you about a first-time-ever contest launched by the Humane Society Legislative Fund, an affiliate of the Humane Society of the United States, called "There Oughta Be a Law."  The contest was just what it sounds like: Animal advocates were encouraged to submit their proposals for animal-protection legislation that should be on the books (but isn't).  

Folks had until Oct. 5 to submit their ideas.  A panel of judges -- Legislative Fund president Michael Markarian and an ideologically diverse duo of congressmen, Republican John Campbell of California's 48th District, who represents Orange County, and Democrat Jim Moran of Virginia -- had more than 3,500 entries to choose from. 

The winning entry, submitted by North Dakota resident Cheryl Woodcock, was announced Sunday at the Legislative Fund's Party Animal event (a network of house parties held around the country to further animal-friendly causes).  Woodcock's idea: To offer tax credits to pet owners in exchange for spaying and neutering their animals. 

In an interview with Markarian, Woodcock -- who shares an 80-acre ranch with dogs, cats, birds, sheep, horses and other animals in addition to her human family -- explained that her work fostering neonate kittens through her local animal shelter led her to develop the tax-credit idea. 

Santa Monica moves closer to cat declawing ban [Updated]

After more than 2 1/2 hours of public discussion, the Santa Monica City Council voted 6-1 Tuesday night in favor of an ordinance that would ban cat declawing in the city. The proposed measure will have a second reading before a final vote is taken.

The ordinance, which is modeled on a similar ban in West Hollywood, would prohibit procuring, performing or assisting in performing onychectomy (declawing) or flexor tendonectomy except when necessary to address a medical condition of the cat.

Any person who violated the ordinance would be guilty of a misdemeanor and be fined $500 or less or be imprisoned for six months, or both.

The council rejected proposed amendments by Councilman Richard Bloom that would have allowed exceptions to the ban in cases where veterinarians determined the procedures to be a last-resort option to prevent abandonment, relinquishment or euthanasia, and after pet owners had been advised of nonsurgical alternatives. His amendments also would have prohibited declawing to be offered as a promotional or discounted service.

U.S. seeks tougher protections for polar bear

With global warming shrinking Arctic sea ice that polar bears depend upon for survival, the United States is seeking to remove another major threat: international trade in the bears' fur and other parts.

In a proposal filed this week, the Interior Department asked other countries to support a ban on the commercial trade of polar bears and to strictly regulate trophy hunting. The request, if approved, would give the bear the most stringent protection afforded under an international convention to protect endangered species.

It would also upgrade protections for the bear internationally for the first time since 1975, when the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, or CITES, required export permits for the polar bear.

Since then, mounting scientific evidence has shown that Arctic sea ice is melting and suggests that global warming may cause the disappearance of summer sea ice in 30 years.