Latest news with #AnimalWellnessAction
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Mass balloon releases not harmless. Wisconsin bill good start on limits.
On July 13, approximately 2,000 customers in Milwaukee lost power due to the release of balloons and their subsequent entanglement in WE Energies equipment. This alone is highly concerning for those affected, but there are often far more unknown victims of these balloons and their deadly effects. Animals, both wild and domestic, can become entangled and often choke on these balloons. What is a celebration or memorial for you is often a death sentence for countless birds, reptiles, and mammals. When balloons are released, they must come down somewhere, and that somewhere is often in bodies of water, farm fields, backyards and in wildlife habitat. There are countless other ways to celebrate achievements or to remember those lost without releasing objects that can cause pain and death for other beings. Opinion: A Fourth of July list of grievances from overworked, unrepresented America Because of this, we were heartened to see Senate Bill 360 introduced in the Wisconsin Legislature by Sen. Tim Carpenter, D-Milwaukee. This bill would make the release of 10 or more balloons illegal into the atmosphere. While we view 10 to still be too many, this is a very good start to addressing the issue. Paul Collins, Wisconsin State Director, Animal Wellness Action, Stoughton Letters: If you're going to display the American flag, please do it right way Opinion: A small Whitefish Bay wetland provides recreation and benefits worth preserving Tips for getting your letter to the editor published Here are some tips to get your views shared with your friends, family, neighbors and across our state: Please include your name, street address and daytime phone. Generally, we limit letters to 200 words. Cite sources of where you found information or the article that prompted your letter. Be civil and constructive, especially when criticizing. Avoid ad hominem attacks, take issue with a position, not a person. We cannot acknowledge receipt of submissions. We don't publish poetry, anonymous or open letters. Each writer is limited to one published letter every two months. All letters are subject to editing. Write: Letters to the editor, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 330 E. Kilbourn Avenue, Suite 500, Milwaukee, WI, 53202. Fax: (414)-223-5444. E-mail: jsedit@ or submit using the form that can be found on the on the bottom of this page. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee power outage from balloons shows hidden danger | Letters Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Yahoo
McIntosh Co. illegal cockfighting investigation yields no arrests, investigation continues
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) – The Animal Wellness Action organization this week unveileda bombshell video alleging the Oklahoma GameFowl Commission leaders participating in illegal cockfighting events held in McIntosh County, Oklahoma. The Animal Wellness Action, a animal right non-profit organization is known for conducting undercover investigations into cockfighting in Oklahoma in seeking to bring awareness and highlight the industry bad actors saying, 'They're trying to hurt animals just for human amusement and illegal gambling. The whole apparatus is a criminal enterprise,' said Wayne Pacelle, the President of Animal Wellness Action. Investigators with Animal Wellness Action, acting undercover say, video evidence confirms the identity of leaders Anthony Devore and Blake Pearce co-founders of the Oklahoma GameFowl Commission at a allegedly illegal cockfighting event on May 31 and the second on June 7 on Cherokee Tribal land. Both men are currently two of the leading proponents of the loosening on the ban of cockfighting. Warr Acres woman charged after allegedly drugging grandchildren, locking them in dog cage for hours The video released allegedly shows nearly 100 participants, children in attendance and cockfighting weapons for sale. says Pacelle. Leaders of Animal Rights Organization say, Anthony Devore and Blake Pearce have raised money from other cockfighters across the nation to donate totaling $70,000 to politicians in an attempt to decriminalize staged animal fights According to JJ Humphrey when asked about campaign donations given from the Oklahoma GameFowl Commission he replied he is on their side: 'I'm very glad to take their money because I'm way more on their side than I am on these crazy, crazy animal activists what I am hearing you say is that you would rather accept donations from criminal activity than extremist views you don't agree with. I'm not going to accept from criminal activity. The Oklahoma Game Fowl is legal now. If they catch one of those people out there breaking the law then fine.' Currently, cockfighting is illegal in Oklahoma and considered a felony with up to 10 years in prison and at most, a $25K fine. No arrests or charges have been made as the investigation continues. If you see a cockfight happening you contact the tip line at 800-722-3998 or you can email OKcrueltytips@ If it leads to an arrest, they offer cash rewards up to $2,500. *This story is developing Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
New York Post
02-05-2025
- New York Post
Sickos film live opossum they set on fire — while laughing with delight: ‘One of the most heinous cases'
A group of sickos filmed themselves lighting a helpless opossum on fire and then giggling with delight as it burned — with cops teasing an update Friday after being flooded with tips. The distressing video shows them dousing the terrified creature with fuel and lighting it on fire as it's pinned against a fence in Charlotte, North Carolina. They scream and laugh as the opossum, engulfed in flames, writhes in pain for over a minute before keeling over, seemingly dead, the video shows. Advertisement 4 A video of a opossum being set on fire while a group of people watched it burn has gone viral. WCNC 4 The opossum writhed in pain for over a minute before keeling over, seemingly dead. WCNC 'It was one of the most heinous cases we've heard of recently,' Kevin Chambers from Animal Wellness Action told WCNC while offering a $5,000 reward. Advertisement Authorities have scheduled an update on the case for 1:30 p.m. Friday, having earlier said the disturbing attack could lead to felony charges. They have yet to confirm the poor opossum died. The horrific video went viral locally after being posted last week on Facebook, with local law enforcement agencies saying they were swamped with tips — saying they no longer needed more and had enough 'to move forward.' 4 The animal was doused with fuel and and lit on fire while pinned against a fence in Charlotte, North Carolina. WCNC Advertisement 4 According to Kristofer Blankenship, a senior officer with the North Carolina Wildlife Resource Commission, the incident is 'under investigation, but this is looking like it's going to be a felony matter of animal cruelty.' WCNC At least three people appear to be involved in the torture, authorities said. 'It's under investigation, but this is looking like it's going to be a felony matter of animal cruelty,' Kristofer Blankenship, a senior officer with the North Carolina Wildlife Resource Commission, told WCNC.
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Yahoo
Animal welfare groups aid in cockfighting raid
HUNT COUNTY – Sunday's raid of a live cockfighting operation north of Greenville that resulted in multiple arrests and the seizure of more than five dozen live roosters began with a tip from concerned citizens made through a pair of Washington-based groups – Animal Wellness Action and Showing Animals Respect and Kindness. It was the fourth time in the last month that the two organizations had been on site to document illegal cockfighting in North Texas. In Sunday's case, the groups alerted the Hunt County Sheriffs' Office to the staged animal battles in real time. Hunt County sheriffs' deputies responded in force, arrested 21 individuals and seized 67 birds at a major event with approximately 100 attendees. The HCSO received the call about cockfighting at a residence in the 600 block of Hunt County Road 1006 at approximately 1:40 p.m. on Sunday. Deputies and investigators from the SPCA of Texas arrived on the scene and a search warrant was obtained to investigate further. The ensuing search uncovered fighting rings and paraphernalia commonly used in cockfighting operations. An order of seizure was obtained to seize the live roosters, along with 10 dead ones. 'We applaud the Hunt County Sheriff's office and his team for responding to our urgent call that there was a cockfight in progress – breaking up the fight, causing cockfighters to scatter and apprehending nearly two dozen perpetrators,' said Kevin Chambers, a senior investigator for Animal Wellness Action and the Center for a Humane Economy. 'No county should tolerate this malicious animal cruelty, which is a felony under state and federal law.' Roosters were found in individual pens and transport boxes throughout the property. Other birds were found inside vehicles in transport boxes. Paraphernalia – including short knives and gaffs, scales, a training dummy, syringes, first aid supplies, antibiotics and various performance-enhancing supplements – also were found. An indoor arena containing a makeshift fighting ring and holding pens was splashed with blood and littered with feathers. A concession stand and a merchandise table were inside the building. 'We received a credible tip of a fight in Hunt County and we are grateful to the sheriff and his deputies for responding with urgency to stop more bloodletting,' said Steve Hindi, president of SHARK. Several of the roosters appeared to be lethargic and severely injured with multiple wounds and after veterinary evaluation, 12 of the roosters were euthanized at the SPCA of Texas' facility in Dallas due to traumatic fighting wounds. A civil custody hearing takes place at 10 a.m. Wednesday at the Hunt County Precinct 1, Place 2 Court in Greenville. According to the HCSO, the investigation remains active and deputies continue to pursue potential charges in the case. Anyone with information, should call the Hunt County Sheriff's Office at (903) 453-6800. Cockfighting is a crime in all 50 states, including Texas where it is a felony to cause birds to fight with one another and/or to use property for cockfighting. The offense is punishable by up to two years in a state jail and/or a fine up to $10,000. In Texas, it is a Class A misdemeanor to possess, manufacture or sell cockfighting paraphernalia, a Class A misdemeanor to own or train a rooster with the intent to fight the bird and a Class C misdemeanor to be a spectator at a cockfight. Federal law also prohibits any interstate or foreign transport of fighting animals.
