Category Archives: Euthanasia

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich.Every single dog deserves to have a name. They deserve to not be a number. They deserve to have a couch to sit on and people to love them and grass to walk on, Brianna Shahly, marketing and communications coordinator for Humane Society of West Michigan told FOX 17.

4,000 beagles were rescued from a testing facility in Virginia, and now, more than two dozen of them are heading to west Michigan.

READ MORE: Beagles rescued from 'prison-like conditions' coming to west Michigan

Seeing the articles was really hard. Seeing the pictures was even harder, but knowing that we could do something to help, thats obviously our goal. We always want to help these animals as much as we can, Shahly said.

Humane Society of the United States partnered with Humane Society of West Michigan to help find permanent homes for the beagles.

They were being kept in really horrible conditions, prison-like cells, very unclean, filthy. A lot of these animals were sick. They were all under-socialized and some, when they were actually able to get law enforcement into the facility to get the animals out of the situation they were in, some of them were even deceased, Shahly added.

Weve been familiar with this facility in Virginia for a long time and, theres no other way to put it other than its essentially a dog factory farm. I mean, at any given point, this facility houses thousands of dogs, all of whom are destined to use in often painful and often deadly experiments, added Ryan Merkley, director of research advocacy at Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine.

Just to put a fine point on some of the things that they found in this facility, you know, over the course of months, they found more than 300 puppies who had died for unknown reasons, quote on quote, unknown reasons. There were staff who werent veterinarians or veterinary technicians injecting euthanasia solution, with a needle, directly into the heart of young puppies, and these animals were fully conscious, able to feel that needle penetrate their chest cavity. They found maggots and rotten food in their food. They found other insects in their food. The dogs were so cramped in these cages that there were instances of mothers actually rolling over and suffocating their puppies inadvertently because their cages were so cramped, Merkley explained to FOX 17.

Merkley added that the facility has since been shut down, but he says this shouldnt have happened in the first place.

What wed love to see is for these facilities to never even get to that point. Meaning, we need stronger laws that prohibit the kinds of experiments these dogs are bred for and thats one thing were working on in Michigan. We need better enforcement by the US Department of Agriculture, and we need a stronger federal Animal Welfare Act so that these kinds of things dont happen in the first place, he said.

The Humane Society of West Michigan told FOX 17 that the beagles will arrive within the next few weeks.

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They deserve to not be a number: West Michigan shelter takes in rescued beagles - FOX 17 West Michigan News

SHERIDAN Wyoming Game and Fish Department wildlife managers euthanized a young male black bear July 4 after responding to a call on Presbyterian Road where it had accessed unsecured garbage.

Personnel had responded to multiple reports of the blond-colored bear in several areas of Story over the past two weeks and had tried unsuccessfully to trap it. The bear received multiple food rewards, including trash and bird feed, and more than one resident witnessed or captured security camera footage of the bear on their porches. Because it had repeatedly accessed attractants for many days, the decision was made to euthanize rather than relocate the bear.

Euthanizing a bear is the last resort for wildlife managers. But after a bear has repeatedly received food rewards, the bears behavior changes and it seeks out areas with humans, knowing that food can be found there, creating a human safety concern.

We first received calls about bears causing conflicts in Story on June 17, said Sheridan Wildlife Biologist Tim Thomas. We responded to investigate incidents on Mountain Home Road and on Buck Trail Road. We saw many residences with bird feeders accessible to bears, including one home that had eight feeders within reach of a bear. Despite years of Bear Wise education in the Sheridan region, there continues to be bear conflicts, as demonstrated by recent events. Unfortunately, given the proximity of our communities to native bear habitats, these types of conflicts will continue to occur unless bear attractants are secured.

Bears can be attracted by trash, livestock feed, pet food, barbecue grills, fruit trees, backyard livestock, beehives and bird feeders both seeds and hummingbird feeders. There are no municipal or county ordinances in Sheridan or Johnson counties requiring residents to secure attractants. However, when residents voluntarily secure or contain bear attractants, it has been proven to reduce bear conflicts and conflict-related euthanasia.

To be successful in preventing bears from becoming food-conditioned, we need more people doing the right thing, Thomas said.

The euthanasia of this bear is not the end of the bear-conflict story in the Sheridan region. Additional bear conflicts have been reported in recent weeks in several locations, emphasizing the need for residents throughout Sheridan and Johnson counties to secure attractants.

The following are other examples:

June 22 A bear accessed unsecured fish food at a residence outside Dayton. WGFD personnel responded and spoke with the owners about securing attractants.

June 24 A bear was reported in Dayton. WGFD personnel responded but did not find the bear.

July 2 A bear accessed unsecured trash, livestock feed and a bird feeder at a residence on Wolf Creek Road. WGFD personnel responded and set a trap. The bear did not return and the trap was removed.

July 2 A bear was reported accessing garbage at a cabin west of Buffalo. WGFD personnel responded. The cabin owner secured the trash and no further reports have been received.

July 3 A bear accessed unsecured chicken feed at a residence outside Ranchester. WGFD personnel were not called until a day later and when they responded, the bear was gone.

July 5 A bear was trapped in Story on Buck Lane and relocated to the Bighorn National Forest.

For residents who were unable to attend one of the Living in Bear and Lion Country workshops held last month in Dayton and Story, much of the same information that is presented at the workshops can be found on the Bear Wise page of the WGFD website at wgfd.wyo.gov.

Any sightings of a bear in residential or developed areas should be reported as soon as possible to the Game and Fish Regional Office at 307-672-7418 during regular business hours or to a local law enforcement agency.

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Black bear euthanized in Story | Outdoors | thesheridanpress.com - The Sheridan Press

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF)A summer national event called "Empty the Shelters" is running from July 11-31, and it seeks to help promote pet adoptions through reduced fees of $50 or less at participating shelters.

The event is sponsored by BISSELL Pet Foundation and will be hosted at over 250 organizations in 42 states.

Shelters are calling me daily, and BISSELL Pet Foundation is feeling the burden of overcrowding," said Cathy Bissell, Founder of BISSELL Pet Foundation. "With the euthanasia of homeless dogs up 22% in just the first quarter of 2022 alone, we knew we had to act quickly to help at-risk pets. Empty the Shelters is the largest funded adoption event in the country, and by extending the event to three weeks, we can help meet the immediate need to save lives.

Recently, pet shelters have been experiencing a higher than usual intake of animals, with a slower adoption rate than normal.

The Fayetteville animal shelter, which was run by the Humane Society for nearly three decades, is no longer receiving funding. All of the animals sheltered there must find new homes by August 13 or they will be euthanized.

Participating Tennessee shelters include:

More information is available at the Empty the Shelters website.

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'Empty the Shelters' event reduces adoption fees to help pets find homes during overcrowding period - News Channel 5 Nashville

MOKENA, IL Meet Lillibeth, a 6-year-old gorgeous, long-haired female who was rescued from a high-kill shelter in southern Illinois where she was on the euthanasia list.

Lillibeth is curious, friendly and interactive. She greets visitors and looks for pets and attention.

She can be a bit sassy at times and knows what she likes. An experienced cat person is recommended. Lillibeth prefers pets near her head and neck rather than down her back.

When Lillibeth arrived at NAWS, she had some wounds/skin irritation on her back. After extensive testing, it was determined she likely has food allergies. After being placed on a hypoallergenic diet, her skin has healed and improved greatly. It is recommended she be kept on a diet of this type of food for the long term to prevent further issues.

Email Catadoptions@nawsus.org with any questions or to meet her.

Submitted by NAWS Illinois Humane Society, 9981 W. 190th St. in Mokena.

Original post:

NAWS Pet Of The Week: Lillibeth - Patch

Mississippi ranks seventh in the nation for pet ownership, according to the World Population Review.

Given what we continue to see at local human societies, our state probably ranks even higher in the number of irresponsible pet owners.

Last month, both the Columbus Lowndes Humane Society and the Oktibbeha County Humane Society took in about 200 unwanted pets each, putting enormous pressure on their space and resources.

In the first week of July alone, the Columbus facility has taken in more than 50 pets. Some pets are surrendered because their owners are no longer able to care for them, but the majority are strays. While neither facilities are no-kill shelters, both work hard to avoid euthanasia by placing a heavy emphasis on adoption. Depending on the shelter and whether it is a dog or cat, adoption fees typically run from as little as $30 to $170. The fee includes shots and spay/neuter, which is one of the very best reasons to adopt a pet from these facilities.

The proliferation of unwanted pets is particularly high in the South and Southwest. In fact, in the Northeast, adoptable pets are in such high demand that many shelters there bring adoptable pets in from the South. For 11 years now, Macon resident Jeanette Unruh has been working with a Massachusetts shelter to provide pets to New Englanders, transporting hundreds and hundreds of pets to Massachusetts.

Locally, the stubborn refusal to have pets spayed/neutered has created a crisis of unwanted pets. Thats beyond unfortunate. Having your pet spayed and neutered should be considered a basic responsibility for pet owners, just like food, water and shelter.

That so many pet owners refuse to accept that responsibility is disheartening. It borders on animal abuse when a pet is simply abandoned or dumped off at a shelter.

So, please, have your pet spayed/neutered. Not only will it help curb overpopulation, but studies show animals that have been spayed/neutered lead healthier, happier lives.

Also, if youre in the market for a pet, please consider adopting from our shelters, which will provide you a healthy pet that has been spayed/neutered and support their mission.

The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.

Originally posted here:

Our View: Humane societies need us to be humane too - The Dispatch - The Commercial Dispatch

BEAVER TWP., Ohio (WKBN) Its a problem that has been plaguing animal shelters all around the area.

We dont usually see this kind of a wave until later in the year, usually hitting the end of June, first of July, said Diane Less with Angels for Animals.

But Less says Angels for Animals has been seeing a steady increase in surrendered cats and kittens since March 426 last month alone.

Ironically, this increase in surrendered cats and kittens comes at a time when donations to Angels for Animals have been falling off.

People are cant send us their $25 or $50 because they gotta put it in the gas tank. We understand that. In the meantime, our problems getting worse, Less said.

Right now, Angels for Animals houses about 400 cats at its facility in Beaver Township, with another 300-400 in foster care. But with dozens more coming in each day and many of them sick workers are forced to decide which will ultimately be euthanized.

I would say its probably like a 60/40 thing. We get a lot of feral cats so feral cats arent adoptable. But we truly try to give everybody the best shot that we can, said Aynnalise Moore with Angels for Animals.

Directors say the best solution would be to have these cats fostered or adopted, but short of that is for owners to have their animals neutered, even offering to spay adults and their kittens.

You can come out here and buy vouchers. You can get the whole litter fixed for less than youd pay to have one cat fixed at a private vet, Less said.

In the meantime, Angels for Animals workers fear the problem will only get worse.

Read the rest here:

Euthanasia on the table as local animal shelters inundated with cats - WKBN.com

MPs from the ruling liberal parties VVD and D66 are working on new legislation which would make it possible to carry out more research on human embryos.

However, the legislation will not be presented to parliament until after the coming cabinet period to avoid potential confrontation with the two other Christian coalition parties, the two parties parliamentary leaders said in Mondays Trouw.

VVD leader Sophie Hermans and D66s Jan Paternotte say they want to use the coming period for a wider discussion on the issues with the general public. Embryo research is a controversial issue within Christian political circles, alongside abortion and euthanasia.

The two MPs want to make it possible to create embryos for some scientific research and to allow embryo selection, so that couples can eliminate the risk of their child passing on serious genetic diseases such as Huntingdon or Duchenne.

Currently parents can ask for a pre-implant genetic test on embryos created via IVF to see if the embryo itself has the illness, but not to see if there is a risk the embryo could pass it on to future generations.

The two MPs also hope to allow scientists to create embryos for research on improving the quality of IVF care and to increase the success ratings. Our proposal is aimed at helping more people have a healthy child, Hermans told Trouw.

Current law

The current coalition agreement states that the parties may work on embryo-related legislation but that it should not be submitted to parliament.

Whether such legislation would be accepted by the next government will depend on the outcome of the next general election, currently scheduled for March 2025.

Dutch laws on embryo research in the Netherlands are currently much stricter than in many other EU countries, the two party leaders say. Currently, embryos can be used for research purposes if they are left over after fertility treatment but they cannot be created specifically for use in science.

Efforts to widen the scope of the legislation in 2016 were dropped by the previous coalition, despite national health council backing.

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VVD, D66 work on embryo research bill, but won't put it to parliament - DutchNews.nl - DutchNews.nl

This story is part of Amy Bell'sParental Guidancecolumn, which airs on CBC Radio One'sThe Early Edition.

My children were aware of abortions long before recent news regarding the push against reproductive rights in places such as Texas and Oklahoma started coming through their social media feeds.

They knew some people were very much against them, but I don't think they fully grasped that the right for safe and easily accessible abortions was still something anyone would have to fight for.

So I've used the past few weeks as a launch pad for some more in-depth explanations about how the right to choose abortions is still very much something we all need to support.

It's one of those discussions that can be uncomfortable, and it can mean that some parents will have to choose whether to be honest or not about their personal experiences.

Elyse DeBelser was in her last year of university in the 1970s when she was raped and became pregnant.

She lived in California at the time; Roe v. Wade had just been decided in the court and while she knew that legally she could have an abortion, the procedure was still clouded in secrecy, shame and performed under less than safe conditions.

This spurred her to become a lifelong activist for women's reproductive rights.Her two daughters were very aware of her involvement with that cause. As they became teenagers, she shared her story in the hopes they would further understand the importance of having a choice and support, and continue to fight for that.

"I wanted them to know the full range of what their bodies didand that they had control over the bodies," says DeBelser.

"They could make the choices that were right for them and I would talk them through anything they wanted to discuss. They had to know they had choices."

But there is still much work to be done. While what's happening in the U.S. will likely never happen in Canada, access to safe abortions can still be difficult for people here.

There is still a lack of providers outside of major cities, adding immense travel costs and time to the process;different provinces have different rules surrounding medical coverage;and many of those who provide abortions still hide their services out of fear of stigma ofhow they and their families might be treated.

Tammi Heimstra knows all too well that abortions are sometimes the only viable end to a much wanted pregnancy.

At 26 weeks into her pregnancy, Tammi and her husband made the heartbreaking decisionto have a late-stage abortion when their son was shown to haveno chance of survival.

She said the care she was shown during the diagnosis and procedure was outstanding, but medical staff still warned her she might want to keep the procedure quiet to avoid judgment from others.

She would later have twins, a boy and girl, who are now 19.Heimstrasays she was always very open with them about what she went throughand how she and her husband made such a difficult decision.

"I showed them pictures of a developing fetus. And I said: 'We chose what some people would call a later term abortion, but what we call euthanasia.'Because we don't know how much he was suffering, if he was in any pain. And he was going to die," she says.

So many people still make these heartbreaking decisions in secret. But abortions are part of health careand they need to be openly accepted just like any other medical procedure.

Tasia Alexopolous, who works with the Abortion Rights Coalition of Canada, says they also need to be included in any discussions around sexual education.

"When we are talking about abortion, it's just one piece of the puzzle," says Alexopolous. "It's on thatspectrum of sex, sexual health, consent and reproductive health education that kids should be receiving anyway. I think abortion can fit into that really comfortably."

Alexopoulos also stresses that as we hear news of threats to abortion access, we should also remember how many people continue to uphold the importance of this issue.

"We don't see the activist on the ground every day, we don't see the medical providers and the nurses doing all this incredible work. There have always been folks fighting for these rights, there always will be," he says.

As long as there are pregnancies, there will be abortions. Avoiding the topic with your children won't change that fact, but it could make it harder for them to make an informed decision in future regarding an unwanted pregnancyor accessing a safe procedure.

Abortion can be an incredibly emotional choice, but shame and embarrassment should not be feelings we associate with it.Half of our population could get pregnant, and we need to make sure all of our kids understand the importance of having the right to end that pregnancy safely, and know to fully support and respect anyone who makes that decision.

See the rest here:

Reproductive rights should be a vital part of sex ed and that means talking to your kids about abortion - CBC.ca

Our featured pet is Fisher, a good-looking mixed-breed dog with big ol awesome ears! Fisher came to us as a stray, so we only know what we have observed during his time at the shelter and what we know we adore. We estimate that this russet-colored pup with golden eyes is around a year old, with lots of life left to live.

Fisher is a lover, eager to meet new people and get pets and snuggles. He has plenty of energy but isnt overwhelming. Fisher is food motivated and can already sit for a treat, which he takes gently from your hand. This bodes well for future training; you will be able to teach him to stay, lay down, and more with a bit of effort.

Fisher recently got neutered and has been a champ; he hasnt messed with his sutures. Because of his stitches, he hasnt been able to join doggy playgroups, so we dont know how he does with other dogs. Given his laid-back attitude, I bet he would do nicely!

No matter what, this big-eared charmer will make an excellent pet for someone who is looking for a happy, fun, and loving dog.

Fisher is fixed, vaccinated, and microchipped. Please bring your family and dog for a meet and greet Monday Friday between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. Before visiting, complete an online application: https://bit.ly/2Qo4EfE. Cant make it to the shelter during open hours? Email me at karikuh@dbchs.org to make an appointment.

Did you know? Shelter euthanasia is likely the most common cause of death of companion animals in the U.S., and that was previously true in Boyle County. The traditional model of sheltering leads to high rates of euthanasia for various reasons: illness, overcrowding, and lack of available homes.

Thanks to a professional shelter assessment funded by the Bluegrass Area Development District (2018) and continued support from leading animal welfare experts, Danville-Boyle County Humane Society (DBCHS) and Boyle County Animal Control put in place evidence-based practices to save more lives.

We learned that the best way to increase live outcomes (the number of dogs and cats leaving the shelter alive through return to home, transfer to rescue, or adoption) is by proactively helping people and their pets.

In the last three years, weve developed a series of safety nets to help care for animals beyond shelter walls: securing foster homes for medically fragile and very young animals, providing pet food for folks in need, helping people find new, loving homes for their pets using technology (dbchs.home-home.org), and implementing Trap/Neuter/Vaccinate/Return (TNVR) for healthy outdoor cats.

These programs dramatically reduce intake, which reserves shelter space for victims of cruelty or neglect and sick, injured, or abandoned animals, like Fisher.

The Danville-Boyle County Humane Society is a non-profit 501 (c)(3) established in 1972 that promotes the humane treatment of animals through compassionate care, engagement, and support. To donate, please visit DBCHS.org/give or mail a check to DBCHS P.O. Box 487, Danville, KY 40423-0487. Were grateful for every gift!

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Pet of the Week - May 26 - The Advocate-Messenger - Danville Advocate

A 31-year-old Toronto woman going by the pseudonym "Denise" is confined to a wheelchair and awaitingfinal approval for a medically-assisted suicide request after she was unable to find an affordable apartment that won't exacerbate her chronic illnesses. With a medical condition that makes her susceptible to anaphylactic shock if exposed to cigarette smoke, laundry chemicals, and air fresheners, finding safe living quarters on her limited budget has been so difficult that she prefers death to persevering. According to Denise, the reason she wants help in ending her life is her "abject poverty."

I hesitate to say this woman is "lucky" that the Canadian government will allow a physician to end her short life, when the alternative is for the government to find her a humble place to live at, at the very least, a subsistence level. How hard can that be for the nation whose citizens are always touting their government's concern for the common good by comparing it to their Southern neighbor's laissez-faire, uncaring individualism?

Denise said she and her supporters have called 10 different agencies in Toronto to locate suitable housing, but none of them were able to even find temporary housing or emergency funds for her. On the other hand, she found that applying to be euthanized was a much easier process. The price of life in Canada can now be calculated with some simple math. Just add up this woman's modest monthly financial requirements and subtract the $1200 in government assistance she's now receiving, and you have the number.

Denises plan was made possible under Canada's MAID (medical assistance in dying) law, passed in 2016. Previously, that legislation covered those whose death was already inevitable, but the law was expanded last year to include those in other categories than the soon-to-be dead. Denise doesn't really want to die, but she sees no financial path to avoid life on the streets in a wheelchair.

Denise is in a different category than another person CTV reported onCheryl Romaire, suffers from chronic inflammation in her spinal cord, and now feels "constant burning, electrical, icy pain" in her back. Romaire's also eligible for euthanasia, but that's because her suffering's unbearable. A few extra bucks a month isn't going to alleviate that. The ethics of promoting assisted suicide are thorny, but the morality of healthy people insisting that those in Romaire's situation must bear their pain for a lifetime must be scrutinized as well.

Canada's Maclean's has reportedon a woman who said, "An increase [in income support] is the only thing that could save my life. I have no other reason to want to apply for assisted suicide, other than I simply cannot afford to keep on living." Canada's getting into tricky moral territory when it facilitates the deaths of people who only want to die because they can't afford to stay alive. An official Canadian government document published in 2020 estimated the cost savings resulting from the original 2016 MAID law and the amendment to that legislationBill C-7. Given the cold-blooded nature of this analysis, it's not too dystopian to imagine that the government might succumb to its baser instincts and find a way to justify ridding itself of a costly group that's no longer able to contribute to society. As MAID applicants become younger, which is inevitable, the potential government savings over their longer lifetimes will provide an added economic incentive to help them check out. The government would find a way to explain that such a culling of the herd was based on the most humanitarian of motivations.

In March of next year, Canada will become one of the few nations in the world to permit euthanasia for those whose sole underlying condition is mental illness. Doctors will soon be able to kill patients suffering from depression, which is depressing.

What's going to happen is that those who cant afford needed therapy, medications, or crucial medical care will seek the MAID option. In the event of another pandemic, the scenario of the government participating in opt-in euthanasia is frightening. My calculation of the dollar figure Canada places on a human life is approximately $1000 per month. Denise currently receives $1200 in government assistance, and I believe that she could live on $2200. Life's becoming cheap in Canada.

Denise ought to make her name public. Through charitable organizations and crowd-funding, she could certainly make up the difference. That might embarrass the Canadian government enough so that it will rethink its facilitation of suicides of people too poor to live.

It probably won't.

Go here to read the rest:

Euthanasia's a Possibility For Those Too Poor to Live In Canada - Splice Today