Russia has killed hundreds of thousands of animals in Ukraine

News and headlines for July 14 - 26, 2024

Yampil, one of only seven animals that survived the bombardment of a Ukrainian zoo, has died. The number of animals killed by Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine is in the hundreds of thousands, including animals in zoos, shelters, community pets, wild animals, and animal companions. Russian forces are intentionally targeting animals, including pet dogs and horses. By killing animals, “the Russians have identified yet another way to inflict pain on the Ukrainian people — not by starving them but by breaking their hearts.” 

In other news: A crisis of “shelter” managers’ own making. Do you have what it takes to save lives? Understanding cat burglars. That’s some pig. The CDC revises rabies rules about importing dogs from low-risk countries. You might be bumming out your dog. Boston takes responsibility for its own mess. Massachusetts Supreme Court: Failure to euthanize a terminally ill pet is not cruelty. Communication involves “stop, look, and listen” for both chimps and humans. We will soon speak whale. Horse abuser booted from Olympics. Ohio Court takes a step backward into the 19th century.

These are some of the stories making headlines in animal protection:

A crisis of “shelter” managers’ own making

Intakes are down nationally, but killing is up. If there is a crisis in sheltering, it is a crisis of shelter managers’ own creation. To combat this, The No Kill Advocacy Center calls on communities to comprehensively implement the programs and services of the No Kill Equation and for legislators to force them to do so by codifying these procedures into law. If this happens, dogcatchers would become humane officers, pounds would become shelters, and animals would live instead of die. Unfortunately, regressive national groups oppose those efforts.

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Do you have what it takes to save lives?

Kai is available for adoption at the Scituate Animal Shelter.

The following communities are looking for someone to run or help run their animal shelters:

• Colorado Springs, CO.

• Longview, TX.

• Philadelphia, PA.

• San Antonio, TX.

• Sante Fe, NM.

• Scituate, MA.

The successful candidates with a “can do” attitude, a passion for saving lives, and a commitment to getting results will have the community’s support.

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Understanding cat burglars

Daisy, Dora, and Manchita steal about 100 items every month: socks, toys, gloves, and more socks. Lots and lots of socks. Why they do so is unknown. “Researchers suspect a number of causes, but tend to agree on one point: the pilfered items are not presents.”