The European Union on Wednesday unveiled sweeping new legislation to help meet its pledge to cut emissions of the gases that cause global warming by 55% over this decade.Virginia Mayo/AP
BRUSSELS — The European Union unveiled sweeping new legislation Wednesday to help meet its pledge to cut emissions of the gases that cause global warming by 55% over this decade, including a controversial plan to tax foreign companies for the pollution they cause.
The legislation presented by the EU’s executive branch, the European Commission, encompasses about a dozenmajor proposals, ranging from the de-facto phasing out of gasoline and diesel cars by 2035 to new levies on gases from heating buildings.
They involve a revamp of the bloc’s emissions trading program, under which companies pay for carbon dioxide they emit, and introduce taxes on shipping…
6VIEW ALL PHOTOSAnimal welfare officials have seized 20 horses, along with several dogs, cats, chickens, and other animals, from a farm in Springvale. (Courtesy of Steve St. Pierre)
SPRINGVALE (WGME) — Animal welfare officials have seized 20 horses, along with dogs, cats, chickens, and more, from a farm in Springvale.
Maine Animal Welfare Program Director Liam Hughes said they seized 20 horses, 11 chickens, two pigs, six dogs, six cats, two geckos, three rats, and one bearded dragon from the farm on Deering Neighborhood Road on Wednesday.
Hughes said on Wednesday they followed up on a complaint about a woman gathering animals that she was supposedly rescuing but wasn’t providing proper care. She had already been warned and given the opportunity to make improvements but didn’t.Animal welfare officials have seized 20 horses, along with several dogs, cats, chickens, and other animals, from a farm in Springvale. (Courtesy of Steve St. Pierre)
According to Hughes, the horses’ hooves were destroyed, and they didn’t have proper shelter.
The horses, pigs and chickens were outside, but all the other animals were kept in the house.
The animals are being evaluated at shelters on Thursday.Maine Animal Welfare Program Director Liam Hughes said they seized 20 horses, 11 chickens, two pigs, six dogs, six cats, two geckos, three rats, and one bearded dragon from the farm on Deering Neighborhood Road in Springvale on Wednesday. (WGME)
No charges have been filed against the woman and her name has not been released.
Only 10% of $17tn global bailout directed to cutting greenhouse gas emissions and restoring nature, report finds
Logging in Para state, Brazil. The country’s president, Jair Bolsonaro, has been challenged over the exploitation of the Amazon rainforest.Photograph: Nelson Almeida/AFP/Getty
Trillions of dollars poured into rescuing economies around the world from the Covid-19 crisis have been spent in ways that worsen the climate crisis and harm nature because governments have failed to fulfil promises of a “green recovery” from the pandemic.
Only about a tenth of the $17tn in bailouts provided by governments since the start of the pandemic was spent on activities that reduced greenhouse gas emissions or restored the natural world, according toanalysis from Vivid Economics, published on Thursday.
Of the total spending, most went on emergency measures, such as wage payments, to keep economies afloat. But…
IMAGE:THE ICONIC LANDSCAPE OF YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK IS CHARACTERIZED BY VAST FORESTS THAT HAVE BEEN UNTOUCHED BY MAN BUT ARE THREATENED BY INCREASING NUMBERS OF FOREST FIRES DUE TO CLIMATE…viewmoreCREDIT: R. SEIDL / TUM
Forest fires are already a global threat. “But considering how climate change is progressing, we are probably only at the beginning of a future that will see more and bigger forest fires,” explains Rupert Seidl, Professor of Ecosystem Dynamics and Forest Management in Mountain Landscapes at TUM.
In many places, fire is part of the natural environment, and many tree species have become naturally adapted to recurrent fires. These adaptations range from particularly thick bark, which protects the sensitive cambium in the trunk from the fire, to the cones of certain types of pine…
A sick puppy found during one of our undercover Petland investigations was a Pekingese, one of the types of brachycephalic breeds that experience peril in heatwaves. The HSUS
Recent heatwaves across the U.S. and Canada have proven to be deadly for people and animals. And just a few weeks before these fatal heatwaves, the Westminster Dog Show declared Wasabi, a Pekingese, winner of its “best in show” award at its 145th annual competition in New York. While there was significant media attention paid to the 3-year-old dog’s unusual name and floor-length coat, there has been little mention of the fact that the Pekinese is a brachycephalic (flat-faced) dog breed. These breeds of dogs, which also include bulldogs and pugs, are especially intolerant of heat. They also suffer from lifelong breathing problems and other health-related concerns that can cause heartache and expensive veterinary bills for their families. It’s unfortunate that Wasabi’s fame has not prompted more earnest discussion about how overbreeding puts dogs at risk.
What are brachycephalic breeds?
Brachycephalic dog breeds have shortened snouts and wide, short skulls. These dogs have been selectively bred over the generations to accentuate their flat-faced features, as is the case with Wasabi, who appears to have an almost completely flat snout.
Many consider these flat-faced traits endearing for their babylike appearance. However, the structure of these dogs’ bodies means that they are at risk for numerous serious health problems, such as chronic skin and eye diseases and, most significantly, respiratory problems. This latter issue—known as brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome—impairs quality of life, frequently requires expensive surgeries, and can substantially shorten the lifespan of individual dogs. Respiratory issues also mean that flat-faced dogs are more imperiled during air travel than other types of dogs.
In addition to Pekingese, other brachycephalic breeds include the French bulldog (the second most popular dog in the U.S.), as well as English bulldogs, boxers, Cavalier King Charles spaniels, shih tzus, Boston terriers, mastiffs and pugs.
Consumer demand for these dogs and the unhealthy breed standards that now prevail contribute directly to the misery of animals in America’s puppy mills, where puppies are churned out from exhausted mother dogs in dismal conditions, causing immense suffering. During our Petland investigations, we found breeds like French and English bulldogs shipped to stores during stifling hot weather, and frequently suffering from respiratory problems. Those who survived were sold for thousands of dollars to unsuspecting families, with no warning or discussion regarding their specific needs.
Dr. Barry Kipperman, board chair of the Humane Society Veterinary Medical Association, highlighted why a Pekinese winning the Westminster dog show represents a step backward: “Wasabi’s win might translate into more popularity for this breed when we should really be focusing on the need to address the selective breeding that has created these flat-faced appearances and significantly compromised brachycephalic dogs’ health and welfare.” The win will also encourage puppy mills to churn out the breed to meet public demand, with little or no attention to the dogs’ health or individual needs.
Understanding the risks of these types of breeds is for the sake of both the dogs and the people who care about them: “Dog lovers need to be aware of these risks, including the potentially high medical bills and the heartache of watching their companion suffer, if they acquire one of these breeds,” Kipperman explained, “and we, as veterinary professionals and animal welfare advocates, need to collectively work together to address this growing yet relatively unknown welfare problem.”
globalp/iStock.com
How dog lovers and animal advocates can help
Some ways that dog lovers and animal advocates can help include:
Share information about the brachycephalic issue with family, friends and other animal advocates. Many people find the brachycephalic breeds appealing but are unaware of the health risks for the dogs and the emotional and financial problems prospective adopters may face if they acquire one.
If you already have a brachycephalic breed, make sure to talk to your veterinarian about the health risks and how to keep your dog as healthy as possible, including ensuring your dog maintains a healthy weight, proactively addressing skin, eye and other health problems and minimizing exposure to hot and humid weather conditions.
Avoid traveling with a flat-faced breed during the summer months, especially by air, and never purchase any puppy online; every year, flat-faced dogs die during air transport, especially when puppy mills ship them in large numbers as cargo.
Encourage breeders and breed clubs to help on this issue, including breeding dogs with longer snouts and not breeding any dogs that exhibit brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome or other genetic health problems.
If you’re set on getting a brachycephalic breed, consider adopting from a breed rescue group or shelter. Some brachycephalic dogs end up in rescues or at animal shelters because unsuspecting owners were unable to shoulder the costs or commitment of caring for these dogs as they may have already exhibited health problems. Be sure to ask about the animal’s medical history if you go this route. You can also use this Humane Society of the United States resource to help identify a responsible breeder for brachycephalics or any dog breed.
How to protect pets from heat and humidity
Brachycephalic dogs are particularly susceptible to heat and humidity but, just like people, all companion animals are at risk when temperatures start to rise. Given the extreme weather that much of the U.S. has been facing in recent weeks, pet owners need to take precautions to protect their animal companions. Check out these basic safety tips for pets that apply during the summer or any time your community is experiencing rising temperatures.
TV hunting show star Rod Owen & two prominent outfitters already convicted
OMAHA, Nebraska––Self-promoted online celebrity bowhunters and physical fitness trainers Josh and Sarah Bowmar are expected to be next to go to trial for their roles in the biggest poaching case ever busted in Nebraska.
Exactly when that will be, though, is uncertain. The Bowmars have since September 15, 2020 won three extensions of a deadline to respond to pretrial motions, with the current deadline set for November 12, 2020.
Unlike most of the defendants, the Bowmars have elected to fight charges enumerated in July 2020 by U.S. attorney Joseph P. Kelly in a 20-page grand jury indictment.
Conrad Hueftle.(Facebook photo)
33 suspects already pleaded guilty
The case, five years in development by federal and Nebraska state investigators, has already…
DOYLESTOWN, Pennsylvania––Kenneth Troy Heller, 52, of Warminster Township, Pennsylvania, was on July 7, 2021 sentenced to serve from seven to 20 years in prison for a so-called “hunting accident” that on October 24, 2020 killed 18-year-old Jason Kutt at Nockamixon State Park, Bucks County.
The unusually stiff sentence for a “hunting accident,” in a heavily pro-gun, pro-hunting state where the courts have historically favored hunters over victims, may reflect an ongoing shift away from pro-hunting cultural attitudes, following a multi-decade steep decline in hunting participation.
Jason Kutt, of Sellersville, a Philadelphia suburb, “was watching the sunset with his girlfriend,” reported Leif Greiss of the AllentownMorning Call, when Heller shot him in the back of the head from more…
Cutting emissions more urgent than ever, say scientists, with forest producing more than a billion tonnes of carbon dioxide a year
The study found fires produced about 1.5bn tonnes of CO2 a year, with forest growth removing 0.5bn tonnes. The 1bn tonnes left in the atmosphere is equivalent to the annual emissions of Japan.Photograph: Carl de Souza/AFP/Getty Images
TheAmazon rainforestis now emitting more carbon dioxide than it is able to absorb, scientists have confirmed for the first time.
The emissions amount to a billion tonnes of carbon dioxide a year, according to a study. The giant forest had previously been a carbon sink, absorbing the emissions driving the climate crisis, but is now causing its acceleration, researchers said.
Most of the emissions are caused by fires, many deliberately set to clear land forbeefandsoy…
A federal court has handed down a bit of a mixed ruling ina lawsuit accusing Canada Goose of misleading consumersabout the nature of the trapping methods used to source the fur for its buzzy jackets by claiming that it is dedicated to “the ethical, responsible, and sustainable sourcing and use of real fur.” According to the proposed class action complaint that he filed in November 2020, plaintiff George Lee claimed that when he purchased a fur-trimmed parka from Canada Goose in 2017, he relied on Canada Goose’s representations that the fur was sourced using ethical and humane trapping methods, only to learn that“Canada Goose’s suppliers use cruel methods that cause strangulation and broken bones to coyotes and other animals who are inadvertently trapped and discarded.”
Animal welfare officials have seized 20 horses, along with several dogs, cats, chickens, and other animals, from a farm in Springvale. (Courtesy of Steve St. Pierre)
Maine Animal Welfare Program Director Liam Hughes said they seized 20 horses, 11 chickens, two pigs, six dogs, six cats, two geckos, three rats, and one bearded dragon from the farm on Deering Neighborhood Road in Springvale on Wednesday. (WGME)
