Lichte straf voor Schotse die twee prijswinnende Abessijnen van buren dodelijk vergiftigde met antivries in tonijn - Katten plasten over aardbeien

Gardener poisoned neighbour's prize cats for

urinating on strawberry patch

A gardener poisoned her neighbour's rare cats by putting out bowls of tuna laced with anti-freeze because she did not like them urinating on her strawberries, a court heard yesterday.

29-10-2009 By Auslan Cramb, Scottish Correspondent, The Daily Telegraph, UK


Katherine Hall, 57, claimed she just wanted to scare the twin Abyssinians, named Nush and Mr Baz, but they died "in agony" days later. When police were called to the scene they found the deadly tuna, and a cat-scaring machine, in her garden in the village of Airth in Stirlingshire.

Andrew Boyds' Abyssinian cat Nush who was poisoned with anti freeze Photo: CENTRAL SCOTLAND NEWS AGENCY

She told Falkirk sheriff court: "I just wanted to scare them. I thought that, like having a bad meal at a restaurant, they wouldn't come back afterwards."

Andrew Boyd, 51, said he and his wife Wilma has been extremely upset by the deaths of their five-year-old pets.

The court heard that Mr Baz had been touted as a future champion Abyssinian, and Mr Boyd, who also has three cocker spaniels, paid £23 to his vet in an attempt to save him.

The cat died in October last year and his twin was put down four days later. Mr Boyd, a wedding photographer, told the court: "Mr Baz came through the cat flap into the home and was sick in the utility room.

"He was then sick later on that day another couple of times and was yowling with stress. He was wobbly and kept falling over.
"He was taken to the local vets, where he was put down at 5am the next morning, and they suspected he'd been poisoned.

"Nush was in bed for most of the time after her brother died, and we assumed it was because she was heartbroken, but when she finally came out on October 4, she wasn't eating or drinking much.
"She was miaowing in pain and couldn't get up. Then her legs went, and she was shivering.
"We took her to the vet's in Stirling, but they quickly noticed how serious the situation was, and said she would have to be put to sleep. I was bawling my eyes out when we were told the news."

After being told of the vet's suspicions he went round the neighbourhood and noticed a selection of tubs filled with tuna in Mrs Hall's garden.

Sgt Michael Matheson said she was initially evasive, but then admitted: "It was me. We've spent a lot of money on the garden. I wanted to stop them leaving nasty smells and poo-ing. They did it continuously.

"Our grandchildren liked to eat the fruit, but we had to be careful because of the cats."

Mrs Hall, who worked for 30 years for her husband's double glazing company, was found guilty of causing unnecessary suffering and giving the cats poison.

Sheriff Craig Caldwell ordered her to pay £1,500 compensation but stopped short of imposing a fine or considering community service or a jail sentence. He told her: "I take a dim view of cruelty to animals."

Mr Boyd said the sentence was too lenient, adding: "I don't want to see anyone going to jail, but she should have been banned from having animals, and given community service at least."

(Bron: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/)
(Bron foto: Daily Telegraph)

Varkenstransport uit Beltrum verongelukt in Duitse Weeze - Vrachtwagen kantelt: 26 biggen gedood - In totaal 530 varkens in truck

Beltrumse biggen komen om bij ongeluk

29-10-2009 Berkelstream


WEEZE/BELTRUM - Bij een verkeersongeluk in het Duitse Weeze zijn woensdagmiddag zeker 26 biggen om het leven gekomen. De dieren zaten in een veetransport, dat omkiepte bij een afrit van de A57 naar de B9 richting Goch. De combinatie werd bestuurd door een 22-jarige man uit Beltrum.

In totaal zaten er zo'n 530 varkens in de vrachtwagen. In het omgekiepte deel zaten ongeveer 250 dieren. De helft daarvan kon na het ongeluk ontsnappen uit het voertuig en liep de straat op. Met behulp van de brandweer en omstanders konden de varkens worden gevangen.

In de omgekiepte aanhanger zijn een aantal varkens om het leven gekomen. Enkele anderen waren zo zwaar gewond geraakt, dat ze gedood moesten worden. In totaal zijn 26 varkens omgekomen bij het ongeluk.

De aanhanger raakte zwaarbeschadigd en moest worden afgesleept. De Beltrumse bestuurder bleef ongedeerd. De B9 in Duitsland is enkele uren afgesloten geweest voor bergingswerkzaamheden.

(Bron: http://www.berkelstream.nl/)
(Bron foto: Berkelstream)

Van 4.200 bevrijdde nertsen in Franse Dordogne lopen er nog steeds honderden vrij rond in de natuur...

4 200 visons "libérés": "Il en reste encore des

centaines dans la nature"

28-10-2009 Par La rédaction du Post, Le Post, France


Sur Le Post, le sous-préfet de Sarlat explique que c'est le Front de libération des animaux qui a réalisé l'opération.

Dans la nuit du 15 au 16 octobre, Thierry Agraffel, un éleveur de visons d'Amérique de Saint-Cybranet (Dordogne) a été victime d'une opération de libération de ses animaux.

Environ 4200 visons se seraient donc retrouvés dans la nature, au nom du droit des animaux: "Ce serait le Front de libération des animaux qui aurait revendiqué cet acte. La même organisation qui a libéré 17 000 visons en Espagne le 19 octobre", explique Bernard Musset, sous-préfet de Sarlat contacté par Le Post.

Pour Thierry Agraffel, le manque a gagner est énorme: "Il va devoir abattre tous ses animaux, car il ne sait plus qui il doit accoupler avec qui. Cela fait des années qu'il travaille là-dessus...", indique le magistrat.

Risque de catastrophe écologique, drame économique pour l'éleveur: l'événement a mobilisé tout un département.

Contacté par Le Post, Bernard Musset, sous-préfet de Dordogne à Sarlat, explique qu'une "opération de capture de plusieurs mois va être financée".

Est-ce que l'on sait qui a fait ça?
"Dès le lendemain, cela a été revendiqué par le même groupe qui a fait s'échapper plus de 17 000 visons en Espagne le 19 octobre sur un site Internet. Ce serait le Front de libération des animaux."

"Comment s'est passé la "libération" des animaux?"
Le "commando" a fracturé la cloture autour des cages et l'a ouverte très largement. Les visons étaient dans des sortes de hangars, 3 grands 'tunnels'. En tout, il y avait 2100 cages dedans, verrouillées par une agrafe. Elles ont été ouvertes une par une avec des pinces.

"Une battue a été organisée?"
Une fois que l'alerte a été donnée, les pompiers, l'office national de la chasse et de la faune sauvage, les pompiers et des volontaires des alentours ont tenté de récupérer le plus de visons possible. Il en restait plusieurs centaines qui ne s'étaient pas échappés, mais dehors il y en avait plusieurs milliers. La battue a eu lieu sur un périmètre assez petit, environ 5 hectares. Mais on en a quand même retrouvé jusqu'à 5 kilomètres.

"Et maintenant?"
L'opération continue même deux semaines après. On continue de les piéger avec 220 cages. C'est assez facile, car les animaux ne sont pas habitués à se nourrir seuls. Mais ils deviennent très vite de plus en plus sauvages.Nous allons financer une opération de capture. La semaine prochaine on aura donc une entreprise spécialisée, qui pourra commencer directement, pour une opération de plusieurs mois, certainement jusqu'en février.

"Combien sont encore en liberté?"
Il doit en rester encore plusieurs centaines: 500, 600, 700? Difficile à savoir, car la comptabilité de l'éleveur n'était pas très précise.On a fait un comptage très précis, des visons de retour, et des visons morts, car le propriétaire les place dans une chambre froide. On estime qu'il y a environ 3 800 visons qui ont été récupérés en tout. Moins d'une centaine ont été abattus. Certains sont morts de stress également."

Comment va l'éleveur?
"Il n'était pas assuré, donc il ne va pas avoir de remboursement ou de dédommagement. Son travail est axé sur la remise en état de son exploitation. Il a peur que le vison d'Amérique soit déclaré comme animal nuisible, ce qui pourrait arriver dans les semaines prochaines pour faciliter administrativement la chasse du vison. C'est vrai que les chasseurs peuvent abimer la fourure. Les opérations d'abattage sont du dernier recours

"Alors, le but de ce "commando" est-il atteint? Ou est-ce que le risque encourru par les visons et l'écosystème est en contradiction avec les motivations de ces activistes?

Contactés par emails cet après-midi par Le Post, des responsables du Front de libération des animaux ne nous ont pas répondu.

(Bron: http://www.lepost.fr/)
(Bron foto: Le Post)

Stijgend aantal conflicten in Atjeh (Indonesië) tussen mens en dier - Illegale houtkap drijft tijgers en olifanten naar bewoond gebied

Human-Animal Conflicts As Aceh Forests Cut Down

28-10-2009 Jakarta Globe, Indonesia


Banda Aceh. Wild animal attacks in Aceh, particularly by elephants and Sumatran tigers, are highlighting the worsening conflict between wildlife and humans owing to the increasing destruction of natural habitat caused by illegal logging.

On Tuesday evening, about 17 elephants in a remote area in Geumpang, Pidie district, destroyed three houses and ate the owners’ rice stocks.

“In the last few days, the elephants have also destroyed tens of hectares of rice fields which were ready to harvest, not to mention other crops like cacao and coconut,” said Muhammad Gapi, a local resident.

Muhammad said the three families whose houses were destroyed had moved to the homes of relatives.
“We cannot do anything about the elephant attacks. They even chase people that they come across on the street,” he said.

Muhammad Sabi Basyah, a local public figure, said the locals had reported the problem to the Pidie district administration but no action had been taken. The elephants have been attacking residences in the area for the last two months.

In January, two girls were killed when wild elephants entered their plantation in Seulawan Montain, Laweueng, Pidie district.

Elephant attacks have also occurred in other regions like Aceh Jaya, West Aceh, East Aceh, and South Aceh. There have also been tiger attacks in Aceh, including an incident in South Aceh last week.

Munawar Kholis, a veterinarian from the Wildlife Conservation Society in Banda Aceh, said that in the last three years there have been at least 17 incidents between animals and humans.

The attacks have been blamed on the shrinking forest cover, despite the logging moratorium issued by the Aceh government in the middle of 2007.
And the problem is not only being seen in the province but in other parts of the country as well, as wild animals lose their shelter and sources of food.

According to data from Greenomics Indonesia, a policy development institute, between 2006 and 2009, more than 200,000 hectares of forest were cut down to supply the wood needed for post-tsunami reconstruction.

“It’s no wonder there are so many natural disasters like floods and droughts,” Vanda Meutia Dewi, Greenomics coordinator, said on Sunday in Banda Aceh.

Although Governor Irwandi Yusuf introduced a moratorium more than two years ago, illegal logging remains rampant.

Temporary leader of the Aceh Legislative Council, Hasbi Abdullah, said: “Aceh’s legislature is committed to saving the forest by establishing a special environmental commission to handle forestry and environmental issues. If we fail, then in the next four years, Aceh will enter an ecological emergency, threatening economic activity.”

However, Irwandi claimed the logging moratorium hadn’t failed because some 500,000 hectares of forest had been saved through the rejection of felling licenses.

(Bron: http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/)

Taxichauffeur in Aflao (Ghana) rijdt rond met vijf gestolen zwangere geiten in zijn auto

Taxi driver arrested over stolen pregnant goats

28-10-2009 Ghana News Agency, Ghana


Aflao, Oct. 28, GNA - The Aflao Police last Wednesday intercepted a Taxi cab at Denu with five pregnant goats alleged to have been stolen from Keta.

The driver, Adotevi Addovi, 32, and Edo Atikpo 35, who was also on the taxi cab have been arrested.

Mr Ahmed Issah Yakubu, Aflao District Police Commander said police were informed about the taxicab which was travelling from Keta towards Denu with some stolen goats.

He said when the cab pulled up at Denu at about 1530 hours, it was searched by the police and the goats were found on it.

Mr Yakubu said Addovi claimed that the animals were handed over to him at Anlo-Afiadenyigba by his brother-in-law whose name he could not give.

(Bron: http://www.ghananewsagency.org/)

Onbekenden dumpen kat bij klooster in Beuningen

Kat te vondeling gelegd bij klooster

28-10-2009 De Gelderlander


BEUNINGEN - Zoals vroeger ongetwijfeld wel eens een zuigeling ingepakt in dekens, bij het Beuningse klooster te vondeling is gelegd, troffen de broeders van de dierenambulance dinsdag een kat aan in de Kloosterstraat.

Het ambulancepersoneel was gewaarschuwd door medewerkers van de gemeentewerf die de kat in een kooi hadden gevonden in de droge sloot tegenover het voormalige klooster.

De roodwitte kat werd vergezeld door zijn speeltjes, waaronder een speelgoedmuisje. "Die heeft hij echt niet zelf erin gezet. De kat is gedumpt", zegt Jacqueline Bouwhuisen van de Dierenambulance Nijmegen. " Er kan een heel drama achter zitten", vervolgt Bouwhuisen. "Zoiets als 'de kat eruit of ik eruit'. Maar er zijn voldoende manieren om een dier op een nette manier af te staan."

Bouwhuisen roept mensen die de kat herkennen op zich, eventueel anoniem, bij haar te melden. "Het is prettig wat over het verleden van de kat te weten en eventueel kan zo'n persoon aangepakt worden door de dierenbescherming."

Volgens Bouwhuisen worden jaarlijks veel dieren gedumpt, vooral ratten en konijnen. Maar ook katten en honden. De roodwitte kater uit Beuningen is naar Dierentehuis De Mère in Balgoij gebracht.

(Bron: http://www.gelderlander.nl/)
(Bron foto: Gelderlander)

Controverse in Engeland over brandmerken pony's in Exmoor (Devon en Somerset) - Brandmerken verboden bij schapen en koeien

Row over pony branding heats up

28-10-2009 BBC News, UK


People trying to care for ponies living on Exmoor in Devon and Somerset, are arguing about the best way to do it. Lots of groups try to help the horses, but they can't agree on the best way to make sure they look after them.

Farmers say they need to identify the animals, so use very hot pieces of metal to burn permanent numbers onto the horses, called branding.

But other groups think branding is painful and should be stopped, and want other methods of identification used.
They say now horses can be microchipped in the same way vets work with pets, branding is no longer required.

Paul King from People 4 Ponies said: "It is just barbaric in this day and age for human beings to be doing such terrible things."

Hot branding is banned in the UK for cows and sheep, but is still allowed for ponies.

However others say microchips aren't as good as branding because you need to be really close to an animal to scan the chip, and the horses don't stand still for long enough when people go near them.

Although the horses are wild and live on the moor, farmers look after them to help them when they're sick.
They also make sure that the correct numbers of male and female ponies live in the wild so the herds continue to grow in a controlled way.

Freeze branding

Farmers say the branded numbers help them locate a sick or injured animal if a member of the public spots one. At the moment microchipping technology isn't good enough to identify an animal from a distance.

Hot branding isn't the only way to mark animals - some people think another method called freeze branding may be better because it causes less physical painful.

Freeze branding takes longer than hot branding, and for wild animals any contact with people can be distressing, so that may not be a perfect solution either.

(Bron: http://news.bbc.co.uk/)
(Bron foto: http://www.pigstystudio.co.uk/exmoor.html)