Latest news with #animalrights
BBC News
a day ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Peta calls for Skegness mascot Jolly Fisherman to be replaced
An animal rights group is calling for a seaside town's century-old mascot to be for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (Peta) said it was calling for the Jolly Fisherman in Skegness to be replaced with a "Happy Plaice"."There's absolutely nothing jolly about killing fish," Jennifer White, from the group local councillor and former mayor Steve Kirk described the campaign as "nonsense". The original Jolly Fisherman poster, which features the slogan "Skegness is so bracing" was commissioned by the Great Northern Railway to encourage visitors to take the train on their seaside breaks to was commissioned in 1908 for 12 guineas and has become synonymous with the Lincolnshire is also represented by a statue in the White said the best thing would be for the statue to be replaced with a "happy fish" to remind people that fish have a "desire to live and can feel pain and love and joy just as any other animal".She said: "We have sent a letter to the mayor offering to contribute to the cost of a new statue that would replace the so-called Jolly Fisherman."We can all be kind to fish and other animals by simply eating vegan foods and that's really what this statue would represent." In response, Kirk said the Jolly Fisherman was loved throughout the world and was an integral part of Skegness."Anyone who has been around for a while will realise that around once every ten years or so, when they are desperate to raise their profile they [Peta] pick on the poor Jolly Fisherman."It's publicity for them," he week, an appeal was made to find people to don a Jolly costume to go out and about in the resort to meet Kirk said they now had several potential candidates for the has previously been in the news when he was redrawn by New European with the slogan Skegness is so mascot also appeared on the cover of Bill Bryson's book The Road to Little Dribbling. Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here. Download the BBC News app from the App Store for iPhone and iPad or Google Play for Android devices
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- General
- Daily Mail
Blue Angels jets killed my beloved pet cat Layla...then did something that tipped me over the edge
A Seattle woman has accused the US Navy's Blue Angels of 'terrorizing' her elderly cat before its death, then violating her rights after they blocked her on social media for complaining, according to a new lawsuit. Lauren Ann Lombardi's 14-year-old cat Layla died on August 11 after suffering from congestive heart disease, which the cat mom claims was worsened by noise from the Blue Angels. 'Layla's final days on Earth were marred by sadistic suffering - cowering in terror beneath furniture while her ailing heart struggled against the Blue Angels' relentless noise pollution,' her federal lawsuit said. Lombardi's lawsuit filed in the Western District Court of Washington on Monday alleged that one year before Layla's death, she messaged the Blue Angels on Instagram to complain about the sound, but was blocked by their account. The lawsuit claims, 'Every August, a squadron of F/A-18E/F Super Hornets multirole fighter aircraft descend upon the Puget Sound with the subtlety of a military occupation, conducting screeching low altitude flights with their twin jet engines reaching speeds of over 700 mph.' In August 2023, one year before Layla's passing, Lombardi sent the Blue Angles explicit messages which stated: 'Stop with your f*****g b******t you are terrorizing my cat and all the other animals and wildlife. F**k off' and 'Nobody gives a f**k about your stupid little planes.' A few days later, she attempted to send them another message calling them 'cowards,' but it was never delivered 'due to the blocking,' the lawsuit claims. 'An American citizen exercised her Constitutional right to criticize her government's role in her daughter's suffering,' the filing said. 'In response, a cadre of emotionally fragile snowflakes masquerading as naval officers chose the coward's path: they silenced this citizen's speech, violated their oath to the Constitution, and brought disgrace upon the uniform they claim to honor.' In the summer of 2024, Layla's heart condition worsened and Lombardi said that despite her efforts to block the noise, the Blue Angels' 'sonic barrage' tortured her cat in her final days. 'Even through the narcotic fog of sedation and her weakened state, Layla's primitive limbic system overruled her medication and she fled in primal panic beneath furniture, her labored breathing escalating to clinically dangerous levels,' the lawsuit said. 'Whatever bandwidth Layla's walnut-sized brain could previously gorge upon had been narrowed to a single overwhelming frequency: pure debilitating terror.' Lombardi is seeking to have the Blue Angels unblock her account and told KIRO Newsradio she is willing to do whatever it takes. 'They will never be able to wait me out,' she said. 'I'm a very spiteful, vengeful person. I have nothing but time on my hands.' The lawsuit also states that she is seeking to have her attorney fees covered and 'any additional relief as may be just and proper.' Notably, her attorney is also her husband, Nacim Bouchtia, who is listed as Layla's cat father in her obituary. '[The Blue Angels] continued blocking prevented her from expressing her grief and renewed criticism of the government actions that contributed to her beloved companion's death and suffering, compounding her Constitutional injury during a time when her need for expressive speech was most relevant,' the lawsuit said. 'A year later, when that same vulnerable creature died after enduring yet another sonic assault during her final days on Earth, the Navy's Constitutional betrayal compounded the tragedy — an American remained silenced, unable to voice her grief or otherwise hold her government accountable for its role in her family's suffering.' The Blue Angels next show in Seattle is scheduled for August 2 and August 3 at the Boeing Seafair Air Show, according to their website. On social media, many locals were sympathetic to Lombardi and agreed the noise is less than desirable, but felt the lawsuit was taking it too far. 'It's not the Blue Angels, I'm sorry about your cat but I think it had something going on prior to the show,' one person said. 'I certainly can understand a cat having panic attacks from the noise. I have a cat that is very stressed by fireworks. I think a lawsuit is ridiculous though,' said another. 'I'm a cat person. I feel bad for her cat… but this is… a bit much,' said a third.
CTV News
6 days ago
- CTV News
Woman sentenced following death of two dogs in Freeport, N.S.
A Nova Scotia woman has been given a lifetime ban of owning animals following the death of two dogs. The Nova Scotia SPCA said Alicia Hall, 31, from Freeport, N.S., has been sentenced to two counts of causing unnecessary pain, suffering or injury to an animal or bird. In March 2024, the SPCA said it received a report of two deceased dogs in a house in Freeport. Hall was then charged with two counts of causing unnecessary suffering for two dogs and two counts of abandoning two dogs in distress. The SPCA said Hall has now been sentenced to a lifetime prohibition of having care, custody or control of or residing in the same premises as an animal or bird, and 18 months imprisonment in the community. For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
CNA
6 days ago
- CNA
CNA938 Rewind - #TalkBack: Loving your animal is one thing, but when is owning too many harmful to them?
A woman is facing 82 charges for keeping at least 79 dogs in a house - many of them miniature poodles - without proper licences or microchipping. When does pet ownership go too far? Lance Alexander and Daniel Martin speak with Ricky Yeo, President of animal welfare group Action For Singapore Dogs.
Fox News
6 days ago
- Politics
- Fox News
House DOGE leader pushes tougher penalties for assaults on police K9s, horses amid anti-ICE violence
Following violent incidents in Los Angeles and other cities targeting ICE officers – including assaults on K9s and mounted units – Rep. Aaron Bean introduced legislation to strengthen penalties for those who harm law enforcement animals and their handlers. The news comes after the Department of Homeland Security released new data showing immigration officers collectively are experiencing a 690% increase in assaults against them, as such data tacitly includes animal officers. "Our police dogs and horses serve on the front lines, protecting officers and communities alike," Bean, R-Fla., who chairs the DOGE caucus, told Fox News Digital on Wednesday. "They deserve real protection, not just praise – and the 'Leo K9 Protection Act' will deliver tougher penalties against those who harm these heroic animals in the line of duty." The bill, announced late Tuesday at a ceremony outside the Capitol, implements sentences as high as 15 years – and is named for Marion County, Florida, Sheriff's Deputy K9 Leo, who was killed in the line of duty. In February, Leo and his handler responded to a report of battery-by-strangulation at a home in Silver Springs, outside Ocala. When Leo charged the armed suspect, he was shot and died days later. The suspect was killed by return fire from human officers. "Leo did exactly what he was trained to do, and that is to fearlessly defend and protect those deputies – to charge directly at danger," Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods told the Ocala News at the time. Leo's handler, Sgt. Justin Tortora, joined Bean and others on Tuesday, calling the K9 "more than a partner – he was family." "By supporting this bill, we can guarantee that federal working K9s receive the urgent care they deserve and help prevent more handlers from experiencing the heartbreak of losing their partners in the line of duty," Tortora told Fox News Digital. Bean's bill expands federal statutes protecting human officers to apply to local, state or federal police animals assisting federal agencies. It also directs the Department of Transportation to give a "safe harbor" exception to people rushing injured police animals for veterinary care. During violent anti-ICE riots in California, at least two suspects were arrested for assaults on non-human police officers. Dana Whitson of Oro Valley, Arizona, was charged in Los Angeles on several felony counts, including assault upon a peace officer and animal cruelty, after he allegedly assaulted a police horse. Whitson allegedly shoved the horse and struck its muzzle in June, according to local reports. Another man, Iran Castro of El Monte, California, was similarly charged for allegedly yanking the reins of police horses after police had given an order for the protesters to disperse, according to Los Angeles' NBC affiliate. Debbie Johnson, founder of K9s United, which supports and advocates for police animals, celebrated the bill, calling its introduction a "defining moment in the fight to protect federal working K9s who defend our nation every day." "[This] is the result of years of tireless advocacy and we are proud to carry this mission forward. We are deeply grateful to Congressman Bean for standing with us to honor and protect our nation's four-legged heroes," she said.
