by: AP

Posted: Aug 31, 2023 / 06:55 PM CDT

Updated: Aug 31, 2023 / 06:55 PM CDT

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CROWN POINT, Ind. (AP) — Prosecutors have asked Indiana State Police to investigate the recent deaths of at least eight dogs from heat-related injuries while being transported in the back of an uncooled box truck.

The dead dogs were discovered July 27 in Lake Station while the truck traveled from O’Hare International Airport in Chicago to a training facility in Michigan.

The animal rights group People for Ethical Treatment of Animals had called for a state police investigation, and the Lake County Prosecutor’s Office formally requested one Wednesday.

The dogs that died were among 18 shepherds in the truck.

The driver, whom police have not named, said he was unaware that the air conditioning in the cargo area of the truck had failed until he heard dogs barking. He pulled off Interstate 94 at a convenience store and gas station in Lake Station. When he opened the back, he found several dogs dead and others suffering. Several store employees and passersby stepped in to aid the dogs.

Jennifer Webber, executive director of the Humane Society of Hobart, responded to the scene and said the dogs displayed signs of heatstroke: salivating heavily, wobbling, vomiting and convulsing.

“There were already several dogs dead on the scene, and multiple failing fast,” Webber said at the time. “Their crates inside the truck were completely trashed on the inside, and the little water bowls were the size you’d give a parrot. And they were empty and torn up as if the dogs were exasperated.”

Webber said she encountered resistance when attempting to gather facts for her investigation. The police officer in charge of the scene told her she could leave because the deaths were an accident that “the owner will take care of.”

The owner, who was driving the vehicle, used abusive language, cursed at her and refused to produce health certificates, Webber said. Such paperwork is typically signed by veterinarians in each state involved and required to move dogs across borders for commerce.

Webber said she doubted a veterinarian would have approved travel that day when heat indices exceeded 100 degrees Fahrenheit (37.8 Celsius).

BY WHATCOM NEWS ON AUGUST 31, 2023 9:37AM

FERNDALE, Wash. — Residents in Ferndale neighborhoods east of I-5 between W Smith and W Axton Roads report sightings of what appears to be a female black bear with 2 cubs.

Officials with the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife confirmed they have received a report of bears in the area and regional officers are currently planning to make attempts to trap the animals.

There have been no human-bear conflicts or depredations reported in the area. Unfortunately, once bears know about a non-natural food source they keep coming back and can lose their fear of humans. The most important action we can take is to remove food and other bear attractants. Whether relocation or lethal removal, removing the bear is not a long-term solution — if there’s food available other black bears will show up.

Some people are tempted to feed bears they find in their backyard or allow them to forage on their lawn or landscaping, thinking they are helping the bears. The truth is, feeding wildlife can cause more harm than good. Never attempt to provide food for black bears or allow them to be comfortable around people — this can lead to problems for both bears and people down the line (not to mention, it’s against the law).

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Bears are naturally wary of humans but can overcome their fear when people reward them (intentionally or unintentionally!) with high-calorie food sources. Did you know they can smell food from over a mile away? With both temperatures and bear activity increasing, we’re asking for your help to secure unnatural food sources and reduce potential bear encounters.

Please take a moment to survey the outside of your home and remove common black bear attractants. Follow these tips to prevent attracting bears to your home and to avoid negative bear interactions this spring:

· Never intentionally feed bears or other backyard wildlife.

· Always keep garbage cans in a garage or a sturdy building until collection day.

· Take down seed, suet, and hummingbird feeders until late fall.

· Clean up fallen fruit or other possible attractants around your home.

· Remove pet food from wildlife-accessible areas and feed your pets inside.

· Thoroughly clean barbecue grills after each use and store them in a secure building.

· Cage and electric fence your domestic fowl and livestock pens.

· Avoid storing food in your car.

· If you see a bear on your property, please clap your hands loudly and shoo it away.

Dial 911 to report emergency predatory wildlife incidents.

For non-emergency poaching or violation reporting, or non-emergency predatory wildlife incidents, call 877-933-9847, or submit an online report. You can also text tips to 847411 (TIP411).Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife (August 31, 2023)

Wayne Ford, Athens Banner-Herald

Thu, August 31, 2023 at 1:06 AM PDT·2 min read

https://news.yahoo.com/man-allegedly-endangered-200-000-080630435.html

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A man hired to tend to thousand of chickens at a Madison County farm was arrested recently after authorities alleged he turned off the water supply to the chicken houses in an act that could have killed the birds.

More than 200,000 chickens’ lives were at stake when the disgruntled worker turned off the power, according to Madison County sheriff’s Capt. Jimmy Patton.

“The birds didn’t die because they caught it on time. The service provider got an alert on it, but the birds were in distress,” Patton said about the incident that occurred in early August.

The suspect, Huy Dang Nguyen, 32, was arrested Aug. 21 on charges of felony aggravated cruelty to animals and cruelty to animals. Nguyen had been living on the farm of six large poultry houses off Georgia Highway 191 a few miles north of Comer, but he was arrested at his mother’s home in Dallas in Paulding County, according to the sheriff’s report.

Sheriff’s investigator Chris Guest began looking into the matter after Pilgrim’s Pride and the owners of the farm reported problems with Nguyen.

The owners fired Nguyen and ordered him off the property. Nguyen became upset, but he did leave the property, according to Guest.

However, later a Pilgrim’s Pride supervisor reported he received a signal on his computer that the temperature in the poultry houses was rising significantly, the report notes.

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Pilgrims Pride did not want to send anyone to the farm due to safety issues and the owners as well reported they were fearful of Nguyen.

The owners did check on the houses and found the water supply to all six houses was turned off. The officer reported the water provided not only drinking water, but water for the cooling system to protect the birds from the summer heat.

The owner reported to Guest that if the situation had not been noticed “then the chickens could have easily died due the increasing heat and not being able to consume water.”

The owner reported that the suspect “was mad at him and wanted to kill the chickens.”

Sheriff’s deputies in Paulding County arrested Nguyen on warrants and upon transfer to Madison County, the suspect spoke to Guest telling the investigator that he had a drug problem, but he denied turning the water off.

Pilgrims Pride transferred the chickens to another farm and have suspended the broiler contract with the owners pending an investigation, according to the report.

The owners understood the company’s stance and are being cooperative, according to Guest.

This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Farm worker charged with felony cruelty at Madison County poultry farm