News for Florida animal advocates

Last week the “Python Challenge” wrapped-up without making much of a dent in the population of snakes in the Everglades. The Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) hasn’t said if they’ll hold the event again next year. But unless the agency changes its hands-off approach to the exotic pet trade, there may be a “Tegu Challenge” or “Tarantula Challenge” in Florida’s future.

While Florida struggles with already established populations of reptiles such as pythons and iguanas, pet stores and breeders continue to carelessly sell exotic snakes, lizards and spiders to anyone who wants to buy them. Because of Florida’s subtropical climate, animals like the tegu, a lizard native to South America but popular in the pet trade, are able to thrive in the wilds of Florida after escaping from captivity or being dumped by irresponsible pet owners.

It is clear that the pet trade is at the root of the problem, and any real solution must target the source. It is time to ban the breeding and sale of exotic animals as pets in Florida. The FWC might argue that they could not have foreseen the Burmese python problem, but there is no excuse not to act to prevent future problems.

You Can Help
Please contact Florida’s state wildlife agency and urge them to ban the breeding, sale and private possession of exotic animals– to protect animals and the environment.

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
Email: Commissioners@MyFWC.com
Online comment form

The 2013 Florida Legislative Session will begin in March, but legislators are already beginning to introduce bills that they will support during the session. So far, two bills related to animal protection have been introduced.

Senate Bill 504, introduced by state Senator Jeff Brandes, would strengthen Florida’s animal cruelty laws by: specifying that a person who commits multiple acts of cruelty against one animal or acts of cruelty against multiple animals may be charged with a separate offense for each such act; clarifying the prohibition on animal fighting paraphernalia; making animal fighting punishable under Florida’s anti-racketeering (RICO) law.

House Bill 417, introduced by state Representative Bobby Powell, would require registration and annual inspection of commercial dog or cat breeders. The bill would also require commercial breeders in Florida who sell pets online to meet minimal housing and care standards (currently, a loophole in federal law allows Internet-based puppy mills/dealers to avoid meeting the basic requirements of the Animal Welfare Act).

Have you ever spoken to your state senator or state representative? Now would be a good time to catch them at a district office near you, before they head to Tallahassee. Whether you meet in person, speak on the phone or communicate in writing, you could urge your state legislators to support the above bills and/or simply let them know how important the issue of animal protection is to you.
• To find your elected officials, visit www.flsenate.gov/senators/find
• To win victories for animals, ARFF will need your help during the legislative session. Contact ARFF to be added to our email list to receive legislative alerts and updates.

The 2013 legislative session will begin on March 5. Visit ARFF’s website for updates on animal protection legislation.

On Thursday, WFTX-TV/FOX 4 (Cape Coral) reported on the announcement by United Airlines that it would no longer transport monkeys destined for laboratory experimentation. When contacted by the TV station for comment, the president of Primate Products, Donald Bradford, said, “another airline turning its back to the fight against diseases and the suffering they cause means animals utilized in that fight will endure days and days on trucks instead of a two to three hour trip on airplanes.”

We’re not sure if Mr. Bradford was being intentionally misleading, or if he badly needs a geography refresher (and of course, we disagree with his claim that animal experiments are necessary in the fight against disease)? Primate Products is a Miami-based corporation that imports monkeys from countries such as China, Cambodia and the Phillipines for use in research and testing. Obviously you can’t truck monkeys from China to the U.S., and the trip by air from those countries takes much, much longer than two or three hours. The grueling, long-distance trips can be extremely stressful experiences. It is not uncommon for monkeys to die even before they make it to a laboratory.

We suspect that Bradford is aware of the true significance of United Airlines announcement. There are a dwindling number of airlines that continue to be involved in the cruel primate trade. Without airlines, Primate Products’ import business grinds to a halt.

Air France is one of a small number of passenger airlines willing to transport monkeys destined for research. You can help by contacting Air France and urging them to end their involvement in the transport of monkeys to laboratories.

Jan Krems, Vice President, The Americas
Air France-KLM Cargo
Phone: (877) 247-9247
Email: jan.krems@klmcargo.com
Online comment form

Last week the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus announced the death of Susan, a 61 year-old Asian elephant. Susan was an old elephant (the life span of Asian elephants is about 60 to 70 years). She had not performed since 2005 and was euthanized due to declining health. Ringling Bros. may still have a couple elephants older than 60, although these animals no longer regularly perform with the circus.

The oldest elephant still traveling and performing in the United States may be Cora, an elderly Asian elephant under the control of Bill Morris of Gibsonton, Florida. ARFF believes that Cora is over 60 years old. Cora should be taken off the road and allowed to spend her remaining years free from the stresses of traveling and performing. She deserves a peaceful retirement.

Cora is scheduled to perform at the South Florida Fair, beginning January 18 in West Palm Beach. Ask the fair to reconsider including this act in the 2013 fair.

Richard Vymlatil, CEO
South Florida Fair & Palm Beach County Expositions
Phone: (561) 790-5224
Email: rick@southfloridafair.com, fairnews@southfloridafair.com

On Tuesday night, the Hallandale Beach City Commission approved a ban on the use of bullhooks, electric prods, bucking straps and other cruel devices.

The ban was approved despite heavy lobbying by Feld Entertainment (the corporate parent of the Ringling Bros. circus), Circus Fans Association of America, and rodeo promoter (and FWC Commissioner) Ron Bergeron.

In supporting the ordinance, Commissioner William Julian described bullhooks as “archaic.” Vice Mayor Alexander Lewy stated that he had heard from city residents in support of the ban, but not a single resident defended circuses and rodeo. Commissioner Michele Lazarow explained that without the use of bullhooks or other painful devices, an elephant will not perform unnatural circus tricks on demand. An ARFF representative spoke during the meeting in support of the ban.

Hallandale Beach joins other compassionate cities like Margate, Hollywood, Lauderdale Lakes, Weston and Pompano Beach and will no longer tolerate the abuse of elephants, tigers or other captive circus animals.

It was a great way to end the year! ARFF is confident that 2013 will be another year of victories for animals in Florida.

VegSouthFlorida.com, ARFF’s online vegetarian dining guide, has a bright new look. Check it out and let us know what you think!

The site features dozens of vegetarian- and vegan-friendly restaurants in Palm Beach, Broward, Miami-Dade and Monroe counties, and more are added all the time.

Our hope is that by making it easy to find healthy, delicious and animal-free meals, we will encourage people to try vegetarianism or veganism, and stick with it.

In the weeks ahead, we plan to make VegSouthFlorida.com more friendly for use with mobile devices, and add a resources page (natural food stores, bakeries, caterers and other businesses), among other changes. Let us know if you’ve discovered a veg-friendly restaurant that’s not on the site, or if you have other suggestions for improving the resource.

On Monday a turkey was killed by two men who broke into his pen at a home in Gulf Breeze. “Tom” the turkey had been a much loved member of the family. “He was so friendly,” the homeowner told the Pensacola News Journal. Upon arrest, the suspects told a sheriff’s deputy that they had intended to eat the turkey for the Thanksgiving holiday. The men were charged with cruelty to animals and several other serious charges and remain in the Santa Rosa County Jail.

An estimated 46 million turkeys were killed this year for Thanksgiving. These birds were nameless, but they had the same intelligence, personality and capacity to suffer as the pet turkey who was killed in Gulf Breeze. All turkeys are worth protecting.

We are encouraged by the growing number of families who will not be gathering around a dead bird this year (it’s not too late to make reservations for the vegan Thanksgiving dinner at Sublime in Fort Lauderdale!).

ARFF wishes you a happy, cruelty-free Thanksgiving.

Today the Loomis Bros. Circus began three days of shows in Crestview, in northwest Florida’s Okaloosa County.

The circus features an act during which an 8,000 pound, 40-year-old elephant named Okha is forced to stand with all four feet on a ball and balance in place. In a November 2 article in the Crestview News Bulletin, circus owner Justin Loomis stated, “Okha is the only elephant in North America that can walk on a ball.” The act is obviously unnatural, physically stressful, potentially dangerous, and is in clear violation of City of Crestview ordinances.

The City of Crestview Code of Ordinances (Sec. 10-19) states, in part:
“No person may sponsor, promote or train a wild animal to participate in, contribute to the involvement of a wild animal in, or attend as a spectator any activity or event in which any wild animal engages in unnatural behavior … or displayed in such a way that the animal is abused or stressed mentally or physically.”

In traveling circuses, virtually all of animal’s natural behaviors are thwarted. Elephants, tigers and other wild animals in circuses suffer from constant travel, abusive training and social isolation. There is nothing natural about a circus.

ARFF has contacted the City of Crestview and urged strict enforcement of the city ordinance to prevent elephants from being forced to perform cruel and unnatural tricks. We’ll let you know how the city responds.

The circus is sponsored by the Main Street Crestview Association. Please contact the association and politely ask that they reconsider their support of the circus.

Ellis Conner, President
Main Street Crestview Association
Phone: (850) 689-3722
Email: manager@mainstreetcrestview.org

In June, the Max Planck Florida Institute opened a 100,000 sq. ft. biomedical research facility in Jupiter, created with $188 million in state and local funds. It’s the Germany-based institute’s only facility in the United States.

Less than two months after employees moved into the new labs, a routine inspection by the United States Department of Agriculture found a number of violations of the Animal Welfare Act. The most serious violations most likely occurred in the laboratory of Max Planck CEO and Scientific Director David Fitzpatrick (read more about Dr. Fitzpatrick below).

According to the USDA inspection report, in June 2012, for reasons that are unclear, the attending veterinarian at Max Planck was instructed to perform his duties from “a remote, off site location.” Due to this restriction, the veterinarian was unable to review surgical procedures and oversee the care of animals. The report noted, “At least 2 adverse animal incidents have occurred since the restriction was instituted; a dystocia [abnormal or difficult birth] which resulted in euthanasia of an animal and a severe thermal burn which occurred during a surgical procedure. Neither animal was personally evaluated by the veterinarian.” The burn occurred on July 3; a ferret “sustained a severe thermal burn on the abdomen during surgery” because a heating pad “wasn’t properly insulated.” Max Planck was cited for providing inadequate veterinary care and for animal handling that resulted in physical harm or trauma.

The USDA also found that oversight of studies involving animals continues to be a problem at Max Planck (inadequate review of research protocols was noted during inspections in August and May 2012).

You Can Help
The USDA report indicates serious management problems at Max Planck. Please join ARFF in calling on the Board of Trustees of Max Planck Florida Institute to remove David Fitzpatrick as CEO.

Sample text (it’s best to use your own words):

“Dear Board of Trustees of Max Planck Florida Institute:
In August 2012, the Max Planck Florida Institute was cited by federal regulators for disturbing violations of the Animal Welfare Act. The head veterinarian at Max Planck was prevented from doing his job and animals suffered as a result. The most serious violations occurred in the laboratory of CEO and Scientific Director David Fitzpatrick. I am concerned that Dr. Fitzpatrick may be unable to meet his ethical and legal obligations to ensure the welfare of animals at Max Planck. I urge the Board of Trustees to reconsider the appropriateness of David Fitzpatrick continuing as CEO and Scientific Director.”

Send to:

Dr. Peter Gruss, President of the Max Planck Society
Chairman, Board of Trustees of Max Planck Florida Institute
Email: peter.gruss@gv.mpg.de, post@gv.mpg.de

Please send a copy of your email to Max Planck’s partners in Florida:

Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners
Email: BCC-AllCommissioners@pbcgov.org

Town of Jupiter Council
Email: towncouncil@jupiter.fl.us

Dr. Gary Perry, Dean
Charles E. Schmidt College of Science at Florida Atlantic University
Email: perry@fau.edu

David Fitzpatrick is a neuroscientist who studies brain structure and functions such as vision. Sadly, since the early 1980s, his research has used monkeys, tree shrews and ferrets in invasive tests. A study published in The Journal of Neuroscience in 2011 is typical of research in the Fitzpatrick lab at the Max Planck Florida Institute. The experiment began by placing a ferret in a stereotaxic device and cutting open the animal’s skull to access the brain. The animal was also given a paralyzing drug to prevent eye movements.

The experiment was undoubtedly a terrifying experience for the animal, but the use of muscle relaxants or other paralyzing drugs is of particular concern. An animal may feel pain, but be unable to move. It can be difficult for researchers/technicians to make sure a paralyzed animal is receiving an adequate amount of anesthesia.

The future of neurological research should be noninvasive human studies, NOT invasive animal tests.

We have mixed feelings about yesterday’s capture of the “Mystery Monkey of Tampa Bay.” The monkey, a rhesus macaque, first made headlines in 2009. The suburbs of Tampa/St. Petersburg are not the best place for a wild monkey to live, but he was in good health, local residents enjoyed having him around and, until recently, he didn’t cause any problems (on Oct. 8, a woman in St. Pete reported being bit by the monkey). The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has promised that if the monkey is determined to be disease-free, he will be sent to live at a sanctuary.

The monkey may be a former “pet” or an escapee from one of the facilities in Florida where monkeys are bred for research, but the most common theory is that he had been cast out of the colony of free-ranging monkeys who live along the Silver River in Marion County. If that’s true, his relatives also are in danger of losing their freedom, and worse.

Last Winter, ARFF learned that monkeys who live in Silver River State Park and elsewhere along the river were being trapped by a company that sells animals to be used in experimentation and testing.

You Can Help
It is a tragedy that wild monkeys from Marion County are torn from their families and forest homes and sold to laboratories. Once wild and free, these sensitive and intelligent animals will end their lives in labs where pain and suffering are routine. Please contact the Florida Park Service and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and demand an end to the trapping of monkeys for the research industry at Silver River State Park and other state lands.

Contact:

Donald Forgione, Director
Florida Park Service
Online comment form (select “Silver River State Park” from the drop-down list)

Please copy your comments to the Florida DEP:

Herschel T. Vinyard Jr., Secretary
Florida Department of Environmental Protection
Online comment form (select “Recreation & Parks” from the drop-down list)