Lawsuit: Google fails to remove YouTube cruelty videos

News and headlines for August 7 - August 12, 2022

A lawsuit against Google to force it “to do more to keep videos of animal abuse off its YouTube streaming platform” failed. According to the complaint, even though animal abuse is illegal, Google profits from animal abuse videos by placing ads alongside them. In dismissing the case, the court ruled that Google is protected by a federal law “that shields internet platforms from lawsuits based on content posted by their users.”

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

More animals are being killed at the pound in Orange County, CA, because the shelter is closed to adopters without an appointment. Shelter managers implemented the policy in 2019 during the pandemic. Even though it resulted in fewer adoptions, they decided to make the closure without an appointment permanent, a growing practice promoted by Best Friends Animal Society.

In addition to more killing, it is leading potential adopters into the arms of breeders and puppy mills. Volunteers have “witnessed the public walking into our lobby to visit our beautiful facility, and instead they are being turned away because they do not have an appointment.” Recent data suggests that because of these practices, shelters “are losing the next generation of pet parents to other sources.”

In response to complaints about the needless killing, “The agency’s assistant director, Monica Schmidt, said they don’t claim to be a no-kill shelter.” They can be. They should be. They’ll certainly kill less if they are fully open to the public. But regardless, it doesn’t mean they have to kill indiscriminately.

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As previously reported, an employee of ACCT Philly — the Philadelphia, PA, animal shelter — “was charged with aggravated animal cruelty [a felony] and a misdemeanor count of animal cruelty.” A police officer testified that the employee caused injuries to Saint, a dog he was transporting. When Saint got to the shelter, he had “a jaw broken so badly that [he] couldn't close his mouth.”

The Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office now says they are investigating “a second employee [who] prevented that officer from coming into the ACCT building” to continue his investigation. That employee has not yet been identified or charged.