China Outcry Shows Changing Attitudes To Animals

Public outrage in China over photographs of laboratory dogs lying muzzled and abandoned on the roof of a medical school building spotlights changing attitudes to animal rights, animal welfare groups say. The pictures and video, taken by animal rights activists in the central city of Xi'an, went viral on social media platforms this week, sparking widespread revulsion at the treatment of the animals.

http://tinyurl.com/grx6dsb

Will SeaWorld’s Financial Woes Force It to Free Whales?

The business of owning and training captive killer whales in the United States just became a lot less profitable.  SeaWorld rocked the financial world and thrilled animal rights activists on Wednesday when its stock price dropped by 35 percent to a record low after the company announced that attendance at its water parks this year has fallen 4.3 percent.

http://tinyurl.com/pmzvgce

Los Angeles Bans Use of Painful Tools on Circus Elephants

The Los Angeles City Council voted unanimously to ban the use of bullhooks, pitchforks, baseball bats and other tools “designed to inflict pain” on circus elephants and other exotic animals. It’s being heralded as a major victory by animal rights activists, the Los Angeles Times reports:  Animal rights activists argue that bullhooks are cruel and abusive. Circus producers have countered that such tools are needed to exhibit the animals safely and that banning them means banning the circus entirely.

 http://tinyurl.com/nwp5cdk

-Igor Purlantov