Animal News

An investigation into 64 California pet shops, conducted by API in Spring 2007, revealed significant area of animal neglect. In October, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed Assembly Bill 1347, the Pet Store Animal Care Act, which imposes stricter standards for the daily care of all animals sold in stores, not just cats and dogs. As Born Free USA united with API’s Monica Engebretson explains, inspections are “complaint-driven, so it requires concerned citizens to call attention to the stores.”

New state law on pet shops imposes stricter standards of care
Stephanie Hoops
Ventura County Star (Camarillo, CA)

For a £160 fee, Paradise Wildlife Park in Hertfordshire, UK, allows customers to stroke with their fingers Rocky, a 9-year-old Siberian and Bengal tiger cross. The park also permits customers to feed Narnia, a white tiger. Meat is held up to the bars so it can be pulled into the cage. Will Travers, CEO of Born Free USA, said: “These are wild animals. This is an accident waiting to happen.”

Wildlife park lets you pet tiger for £160
Daniel Foggo and Holly Watt
The Sunday Times

Adam Roberts, Senior Vice President of Born Free USA united with API, joins Animal Wise Radio hosts Mike Fry and Beth Nelson for a lively discussion of the exotic pet trade.

Other issues touched upon include the combining of Born Free USA with API, National Bird Day, and Adam's forthcoming participation in the Mount Kenya “10 to 4" Mountain Bike Challenge.

Listen by clicking the control below.

Not every wild bird is free to fly. Avian advocate groups say that while the U.S. has enacted laws to protect our native birds — such as blue jays, cardinals and crows — from commercial exploitation, the bird pet industry is still able to sell and exploit exotic birds and parrots that hail from other countries, says this news story on the bird population in New York City that quickly moves to coverage of National Bird Day.

Giving feathered friends a lift
Amy Sacks
New York Daily News

Among the questions experts are now asking: How high can tigers jump? And have zoos and sanctuaries dangerously underestimated tigers? That is to say: Are the walls high enough? One can see in the accompanying slide show just how barren the tiger enclosure at the San Francisco Zoo is.

Experts Debate Tiger Safety After Fatal SF Mauling
cbs5.com (KPIX-TV, San Francisco)

Tigers are among zoo visitors’ favorite animals. They’re also one reason many people hate zoos. Saddened by the picture of misery presented by the tiger who repetitively paces back and forth, back and forth, some people never go back. “Tigers simply don’t belong in the zoo,” says Adam Roberts, senior vice president of the animal advocacy organization Born Free USA. “Tigers don’t belong on concrete, tigers don’t belong behind bars, and frankly, tigers don’t belong near people.”

Tigers don’t belong in zoos
Susan McCarthy
Salon.com

The Christmas Day tiger mauling at the San Francisco Zoo that killed a 17-year-old boy and severely injured two men has ignited a national debate about whether wild animals should be held in captivity.

Should Animals Be Held in Captivity?
Good Morning America

API members and supporters were among the 150,000 concerned constituents who told the FDA there was an essential need for a more complete assessment of the public health, animal welfare, and economic impacts of cloning animals for food before the agency makes its final decision. Here’s the latest news.

Consumers May Receive Unwelcome Gift This Holiday Season
American Anti-Vivisection Society press release