#Lolita the #Orca #whale belonging to #Seaquarium might soon have her day... - http://clapway.com/2015/07/22/free-lolita-peta-sues-miami-seaquarium-for-orcas-40-year-captivity-126/

The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) helped file a lawsuit on Monday against the Miami Seaquarium, in an effort to free Lolita–the Seaquarium’s orca whale and main attraction for more than 40 years. PETA hopes to see her transferred to a more humane environment, where she would be free to behave as she would in her natural environment.

THE PROSECUTION

PETA plans to free Lolita by suing the Seaquarium on the grounds of violating the Endangered Species Act by keeping an orca whale in captivity. The Seaquarium bought Lolita for $6,000 dollars in 1970, after she was captured at just 4 years old off the coast of Washington in 1970.

PETA claims that ever since, “Lolita has been unable to swim any meaningful distance, dive, forage, or carry out virtually any natural behaviors,” claiming her tank to be one of the smallest orca habitats in the world, measuring only 80 feet long, 60 feet wide, and 20 feet deep–not very much space for a whale measuring nearly 10 feet in length to feel at home. Additionally, Lolita is forced to perform for crowds 7 days a week, and all by herself, as her orca-buddy Hugo passed away in 1980. PETA is requesting for Lolita to be placed in a sea-pen with other orcas, made to mimic a more natural habitat, giving the aging star a much-needed retirement, where she can practice hunting and communicating with other orcas–two activities she has not been able to take part in for more than 40 years.

THE DEFENDANT

The Miami Seaquarium has recently issued statements claiming that it “provides first-class care for Lolita. She remains healthy and thriving after 45 years of residency.” Rejecting PETA’s insistence that she be placed back into a more natural and free environment, the Seaquarium is reluctant to let go of their star attraction, as she draws in the most customers on a daily basis.

The Seaquarium was also quick to fire back on violating the Endangered Species Act, claiming that even if orcas were moved to the endangered species list, there would be no reason for the orca to be moved, as she is placed in excellent care already. Other critics of PETA’s plans claim it would be “cruel and traumatic” to free Lolita at this stage, as after such a long time spent in routine captivity, some believe it would be cruel to place her in such a different environment, expecting her to adapt so quickly and at such an old age.

THE COURT RULES ON FREE LOLITA CASE

This is not the first lawsuit that PETA has tried to file against the Seaquarium in the hopes to free Lolita, with two previous attempts already dismissed by District Courts. In November 2011, PETA joined up with the Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF) to sue the National Marine Fisheries Service in order to get Lolita on the Endangered Species List, hoping that she would then become protected under the Endangered Species Act.

Although NOAA has since added her to the list, courts have ruled that this doesn’t affect her being owned by the Miami Seaquarium. The courts again dismissed charges in 2014 by the ALDF and PETA in 2014, this time claiming that their cruel treatment of Lolita violated the Seaquarium’s Animal Welfare Act License.

PETA hopes for their most recent lawsuit to be taken a bit more seriously this time around, asking for those who support their cause to free Lolita to band together outside of the Seaquarium’s doors, where they petition every day from noon to 2pm.

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Free Lolita: PETA Sues Miami Seaquarium for Orca"s 40 Year Captivity

#AnimalTesting is becoming too #severe to turn a #BlindEye to. - http://clapway.com/2015/07/20/new-revealing-figures-shed-light-on-animal-testing-in-ireland-225/

IRELAND: The Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) has inadvertently shed some light on the nature of animal testing recently, with their annual report logging 225,000 cases in the last year alone. Responsible for for facilitating between the suppliers of these animals and the laboratories they wind up in, as well as the maintaining and inspecting of the practices taken within these labs, the HPRA is coming under fire from animal rights activists worldwide, disgusted by the results shown in their report.shed some light on the issue of animal testing recently, with their latest figures reporting over 225,000 cases of testing in the last year alone.

KINDS OF ANIMALS TESTED

According to the HPRA’s report, over 200,000 of these cases involved the use of mice, making up 90% of the total. Most of the tests done on mice—as well as other rodents, including 10,456 rats, 2,107 guinea pigs, and 1,539 rabbits—were cases are categorized as “regulatory and other routine production—” a requirement under EU law to research the toxicity and general safety of human pharmaceutical drugs.

Of these numbers, 90,000 mice, 1,104 rats and 36 rabbits were reported as having undergone experiments so severe, they became unable to be used again for animal testing.

Thousands of cows, sheep and pigs were also subject to testing, both for pharmaceutical and human cancer research. Figures also show over 1,200 cases of cats and dogs being subject to animal testing, however, they were limited only to veterinary-related medications and procedures. Other animals subjected to testing include horses, domestic fowl, ferrets, and fish.

WHAT’S BEING DONE ABOUT IT

According to the HPRA, there isn’t much we can do about it right now, as there are currently no possible alternatives to test for biological responses to drugs and medical procedures. They are insistent that the EU animal rights laws currently in place holds its own as among the most advanced legislation in the world, made with the goal to ensure the test subjects receive as much care and general well-being as they need.

The legislation currently active claims to reduce the total amount of tests done, seek alternatives to animal testing whenever possible, and fine-tune the methods already used in order to make them more humane.

However, animal rights activists such as John Carmody, representative and spokesman for the Animal Rights Action Network aren’t buying it, finding the new figures “shocking, even to the hardest of hearts.”

ARAN is one of many animal rights organizations pushing for deeper scrutiny into how research is conducted through animal testing, calling for more transparency and stricter laws to prevent the suffering of animals in laboratories across the globe.

The legislation currently active claims to reduce the total amount of tests done, seek alternatives to animal testing whenever possible, and fine-tune the methods already used in order to make them more humane.

Animal rights activists, sick of the same empty promises from the HPRA made year after year with no real results still aren’t buying it. John Carmody, representative and spokesman for the Animal Rights Action Network finds the new figures “shocking, even to the hardest of hearts,” seeking further change and progress than the HPRA has been able to deliver. ARAN is one of many animal rights organizations pushing for deeper scrutiny into how research is conducted through animal testing, calling for more transparency and stricter laws to prevent the suffering of animals in laboratories across the globe.

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New Revealing Figures Shed Light on Animal Testing in Ireland

A huge breach of animal welfare: Drug trafficking using puppies. - http://clapway.com/2015/06/24/spain-drug-smuggling-venezuelan-vet-implanted-heroin-into-live-puppies-arrested-335/

Spanish police have arrested a Venezuelan vet who allegedly implanted bags of liquid heroin inside live puppies in a plan to smuggle the narcotics into the United States. The vet is accused of having surgically implanted a kilogram of heroin into each puppy.

Venezuelan vet surgically implanted heroin in live puppies

In 2005, Colombian police raided a veterinary clinic in the capital city Medellin. Inside Andres Lopez Elorza’s clinic were three puppies each containing a surgically implanted bag of liquid heroin. Each tiny puppy contained a kilogram bag of heroin.

The veterinarian had already implanted the heroin, but he had to wait for the sutures to fully heal before the next phase of his plan. Lopez’s plan was to fly the three puppies into the United States as pets to avoid further inspection by customs authorities. However, the police raid intervened before the puppies were ready for shipping.

Immediately following the raid, Lopez fled the country. His heroin-stuffed puppies were taken into custody in hopes to safely remove the heroin and give proper care to the poorly treated animals.

Drug smuggling vet arrested in Santa Comba, Spain

According to authorities, Lopez was arrested on Saturday in Santa Comba, a town in northwestern Spain on drug smuggling charges. The disgraced veterinarian had been in hiding for a month after a Spanish court approved his extradition back to the United States where he was facing attempted drug trafficking charges from the botched drug smuggling operation.

Lopez had previously fled Colombia in 2005 and was on the run when the United States issued an international arrest warrant for the suspected drug smuggler. It was only after nearly a decade of running that he was detained in December 2013 in Lugo, Spain.

He was released in 2013 while awaiting the decision of his extradition. For two years while he awaited the court’s decision, Lopez continued his work as a veterinarian, working for two separate companies.

Drug trafficking charges awaiting the disgraced Venezuelan vet

Lopez will be extradited to the United States where he is currently facing a number of federal drug charges on the basis of attempted drug smuggling and distribution. His alleged crime is a very serious felony as heroin is a Schedule I drug. Though sentencing varies with each case, with this particular schedule of drugs and amount, Lopez may be facing a minimum mandatory sentence for 10 years imprisonment for each felony count of trafficking.

Lopez may also be facing other charges related to animal cruelty and negligence. Needless to say, he will also be stripped of his veterinarian title.

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Spain: Drug Smuggling Venezuelan Vet Implanted Heroin into Live Puppies, Arrested