News of the Humane Society of the United States Volume 13

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HSUS News – Volume 13
Publications - HSUS News
7-1968
News of the Humane Society of the United States
Volume 13, Number 04 - July / August 1968
The Humane Society of the United States
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ot
lit .HUM AlE SOC IEJY
OF THE UNITED STATES
1145 19th St., N.W.
•
Washington, D. C. 20036
VOL. 13, NO. 4
JULY-AUGUST, 1968
Rogers Lab Animal Bill Clears
Budget Bureau; Staggers is
Now Final Step to Hearings
The Rogers bill, H.R. 13168, to regulate and protect animals used in
research laboratories, has gained Administration support and has been
approved by the Bureau of the Budget.
Congressman Harley 0. Staggers, W. Va., Chairman of the House of
Representatives Interstate and Foreign Commerce Committee, is now the
only obstacle standing in the way of public hearings on this critically
important legislation. H.R. 13168
is currently pending before that
v01cmg recognition of the need for a
committee.
laboratory animal law, Bureau spokesEven though Congress is speeding man Wilfred H. Rommel said that the
toward pre-convention recess, the Rogers bill (and its Senate companion, the
J avits bill) continues to pick up new
support. Rep. James M. Hanley of New
York recently introduced an identical
companion bill and thus joined the long
list of co-sponsors. As expressions of
support also continue to come from
other Congressmen, the prospect of enactment of H.R. 13168 remains bright
even if reintroduction in the 91st Congress becomes necessary.
The legislation cleared a major
hurdle in winning approval of the
Bureau of the Budget and accept·
ance by the U.S. Department of
Agriculture and the Department of
Health, Education and Welfare.
Bureau of the Budget approval is
important because it means that funding for the administration and enforcement of the law will be available. In
Bureau had no objection to enactment
of legislation along the lines of the
Rogers bill.
HEW Secretary Wilbur J. Cohen
stated his Department's acceptance in a
letter which voiced agreement with the
objectives of the bill. His letter detailed,
in part, some of the superior features of
the Rogers bill:
" ... it would extend, in at least two
significant respects, the protection to
research laboratory animals now available through the Animal Transportation
Act of 1966, P.L. 89-544. Its provisions
would apply to all warmblooded vertebrate animals used in research, instead
of just the six species covered by P.L.
89-544, and its coverage would apply
throughout the stay of these animals in
the laboratory, whereas existing legislation excludes the period when they
(Continued on page 4)
150,000,000 People
Hear About Major
Animal Cruelties
Humane education, HSUS style,
reached an estimated 150,000,000 people in recent weeks when Society President Mel L. Morse made over 30 radio
and television appearances.
Morse appeared on such major programs as Today, Monitor, the Barry
Gray Show, Personal Close-up with
Mike Wallace, the Ed and Pegeen Fitzgerald Show, and many others. He also
taped interviews for the Voice of America and has been asked to appear on the
Tonight and the M erv Griffin shows. He
has also made a second appearance on
Monitor because of the great interest
aroused by his initial appearance.
The exhausting but far reaching
schedule of appearances, made to promote the book, "Ordeal of the Animals,"
gave The HSUS President an unusual
opportunity to tell millions about the
major cruelties to animals. The exposure is expected to win substantial
new support for the humane cause.
Already hundreds of telephone calls
and letters to radio and television programs illustrate the widespread interest
which has been aroused.
"If in the pursuit of the perfect we
wreck the best that is possible, the
longing for the absolute will be akin
to madness." -Walter Lippmann
HSUS Acts to Protect Abused
Mules as Poor People's March
Reaches the Nation's Capital
The symbolic mule train of the Poor People's Campaign arrived in
Alexandria, Va., a suburb of Washington, D. C., on June 18. The 13wagon train and its 26 mules and 2 horses were shipped by rail from
Atlanta, Ga.
Because of the highly publicized and widely conflicting reports of the
condition of the animals, The HSUS assigned Field Service Director
Frank McMahon to the case. McMahon and local humane society officials met the arriving mule train.
With McMahon were Mrs. Pearl nary treatment, and all of the animals
Twyne, President of the Virginia were fed, watered, and properly bedded
Federation of Humane Societies, Mr.
Arthur Hale, Manager of the Animal
Welfare League of Arlington (Va.), and
Mrs. Edna Cooke, Supervisor of the
Alexandria Animal Welfare League. A
veterinarian was also present.
Earlier reports of some mules and
horses in bad condition turned out to
be correct. A number of them had
harness sores and rope burns. A few
were lame, or nearly so. These unsound
animals were given immediate veteri-
for the night.
After this first inspection, McMahon
criticized earlier reports received from
some humane societies which had stated
the animals were in good shape. He
charged that some of the animals were
unfit to make the trip even by train to
Alexandria. He expressed surprise that
local humane societies along the route
of march did not file cruelty charges in
jurisdictions where the injuries and
sores first became apparent.
A second examination was made by
McMahon and Mrs. Cooke the following
day. Four mules and one horse were in
such poor condition that McMahon notified the wagon master they could not be
worked under any circumstances. After
some discussion, these animals were
turned over to The HSUS. They were
transported to the National Humane Education Center near Waterford, Virginia, where they received further medical treatment. Unfortunately, one of
the mules had such deep sores and rope
burns that it did not respond to treatment and had to be put to sleep. The
remainder are currently enjoying the
lush Virginia pastureland.
Although The HSUS had offered
repeatedly to officials of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference
( SCLC) to pasture all of the animals at
the Center, the offer was not accepted.
Instead, temporary quarters were arranged on land used by the U.S. Park
Police for animals which were not taken
by The HSUS. The feeding and watering was done by Mr. Arthur Hale of the
Animal Welfare League of Arlington
and Mrs. Cooke and other members of
the Alexandria Animal Welfare League.
March organizers decided to use the
animals in a march on Washington the
following day. HSUS Service Department Director Patrick Parkes was assigned to help McMahon, following a
report that organizers intended to kill
the mules on busy streets to stop traffic.
The HSUS representatives followed the
mule train through Washington and
around the Capitol grounds, inspecting
the animals at frequent intervals. The
mules and horses used in this demonstration were physically sound. There
was no evidence of lameness or harness
sores.
Deep neck wound caused by ill-fitting harness and protruding ribs of
mule being examined here by veterinarian, with the assistance of one of
the Center's employees, shows poor condition of animals rescued by
HSUS. All were given intensive veterinary care.
2
The HSUS did complain that some of
the animals were improperly shod for
use on city streets, there was some overloading of wagons, and the drive was
too long for such a hot day. There was
no solid basis, however, for filing
charges of cruelty and no attempt was
(Continued on page 6)
Upsurge of Violence
Shows Need to Affirm
"Reverence for Life"
A GIRL AND
HER DOG
The HSUS is supporting Congressional proposals to classify motion picture and television fare and other measures to reduce violence. The Society
believes that brutality to animals and
all forms of violence are inter-related
and the development of reverence for all
forms of life is the way to root out this
cancer.
In letters to Senator Warren G. Magnuson, Chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee, and Senators Margaret Chase Smith and Norris Cotton
(all very interested in the subject), The
HSUS pointed to the barbaric treatment
of animals in movies like Sadismo and
Mondo Cane and the bullfight programs
which humanitarians have sought for
years to eliminate from television.
The Society condemned the "irresponsibility of the motion picture and television industries in catering to those who
think that crime and violence are good
film fare." It argued that the person
who does not flinch at the sight of a
blood-soaked tormented bull isn't likely
to be moved much by "the mugging of
an old man, or the fallen body of an
assassinated political leader."
HSUS Board Chairman R. J. Chenoweth called upon local humane societies
to do their part. "The concept of kindness goes beyond animals to people," he
said. "We in the humane movement
should always be in the forefront of
campaigns against violence and cruelty.
We should, we must, campaign for reverence for all life."
Have you written your protest to
the Federal Communications Corn·
mission and your local television
station against bullfight programs,
if they are being telecast in your
area? Please do; it is important.
Well known humanitarians Mr. and
Mrs. Edward S. Voss donated this
beautiful, expressive bronze sculpture to the National Humane Education Center. It will be displayed
there as part of the humane educa·
tion materials which will be kept
permanently in the library.
BY-LAWS
REFERENDUM
At the Executive Committee meeting
of The HSUS Board of Directors
meeting in July, it was proposed that
the Society by-laws be amended.
The amendments deal mainly with
the appointment of Nominating and
Elections committees within 60 days
after each annual membership meeting, the nomination of candidates for
election to the Board of Directors
each year, and the appointment of
directors to fill the unexpired terms
of those who may resign or are otherwise unable to serve. A ballot will
be mailed to all HSUS members who
have been in good standing for six
months. Please watch for this special mailing and return the completed ballots promptly.
3
Pet Tattoo Protects
Only When Registered
With National Agency
The tattooing of pets for identification
purposes has been gaining in popularity since the successful campaign for
enactment of the laboratory animal
dealer act, Public Law 89-544. Many
owners of pets have turned to a tattoo
as a protection for their pets and a
means of recovering them, if they are
lost or stolen.
Unfortunately, there is a considerable
percentage of owners who do not realize
that the mere tattooing of an animal
does not, in itself, give the desired protection. It is essential that tattoo markings be registered with a national registry like National Dog Registry, Box
55, Stanton, New Jersey. Failure to
follow through with this renders the
actual tattooing valueless.
The situation has become confused
by the mushroom growth of a large
number and variety of tattoo systems
and registeries. Many are local or regional; some aspire to be national in
scope. They create a problem because
few public or private animal shelters
across the country are knowledgeable
about the various systems and do not
have the time, or wish to take the time,
to get in touch with so many different
possible sources which might know
about a particular animal.
The HSUS Service Department has
made an extensive study of the most
common systems now in effect. It is
clear from the results of this study that
the problem can be solved best through
widespread use of one registry by pet
owners.
It is also clear that at this time the
National Dog Registry offers by far the
best hope for achieving the purpose of
tattooing: the recovery of lost or stolen
pets.
Want to help stop cruelty to cats
and dogs? Write for material on
The HSUS crusade against surplus
animal breeding.
HSUS Goes to Pribilofs to Find
Way to Stop Cruel Seal Clubbing
A team of HSUS experts-Field Serv·
ice Director Frank McMahon and New
Brunswick SPCA (Canada) Executive
Secretary Brian Davies-went to the
Pribilof Islands in mid-July to find a
humane method of dispatching seals
captured in the annual harvest there.
The HSUS team was part of a task
force established by the Society and the
U.S. Department of the Interior to research new methods of conducting the
harvest. The Society and many thousands of humanitarians across the country have been objecting to the clubbing
of seals to death and the long distances
which the animals are driven before
slaughter. The HSUS has also expressed
dissatisfaction with the alleged need for
nical knowledge is very valuable in helping to determine what new techniques
might be effective and feasible.
New Brunswick SPCA's Brian Davies
is an expert on seals and their habits.
He has studied them extensively and has
figured prominently in efforts to stop
cruelty in harvests in the Pribilof Islands and the Gulf of St. Lawrence in
Public Hearings on
Rogers Bill Depend
Upon Rep. Staggers
(Continued from page 1)
4
face
.
t'mg spec"f-iMany
, humanitarians
lt.
.
. a difficult choice in de s1gna
1 c crue les agamst which they want their contrl·b t'
d
In thi N
u wns use .
s e~s, for example, only a fraction of HSUS antilS· touched upon. But even here , th ere
, rs
. a great
th work
d
dcruelty
ep
an vanety of humane endeavor that needs continuin
sulplpotrtd. Here are some programs which you can help specifca y o ay:
th • PT~~.;~lpless seals doomed to a cruel harvest every year in
b ~ n 1_ 0 Islands. More funds can help give them the small
u merciful benefit of a quick humane death
• Th e magmficent
·
'
. and othe
wild mustangs
of Montana
can be hel J?e d '.an d perh aps theu
. elimination preventedr areas
with
more contnbutwns.
'
• Interstate shipment of animals destined for
d' l
sea · h
·11
·
·
me rca reI~ . use Wl contmue, undetected, under cruel and appallin
'(;nditwns unless
have the means of working with the U
epartment of Agnculture to stop it
· ·
• p u b'h? concern for cruelty to research
.
animals and the
d
remedrallegislation will abate rapidly if we d
t
·
tlus crucial form of public education
o no mam am
• The National Humane Educati~n Center th
t .
ta t f T t f ·
·
, e mos rmporf ~ aCI I yo Its lnnd ever conceived, cannot reach its full potenra• except
the continuing· generosity of human·t
.
F d through
.
1 anans.
d
t~n s are needed to solve the complex problems of humane
e. uca wn-d~velopment of a suitable school ro ram
effective audi? visual aids,
ag
pr. gram, productiOn of literature and material for ad lt
ed ucatwn.
u
. ~he gift coupon below has been left blank so that
mdrca~e you~· choices of programs to support. We h;oeu t~an
you w1ll use 1t today with as generous a ao-ift as you can pa ff ord.
at
Herbert N. Martin, of Denver, Colo.,
has been appointed the new Executive Director of The HSUS California Branch.
A highly experienced and dedicated
humane official, Martin brings new
leadership and ability to the Branch.
Already, plans are being made to
strengthen HSUS educational activities
in California and give increased field
service to members, Affiliates, and local
humane organizations throughout the
are actually undergoing experimenta-
. . . . ."
tiOn
The U.S. Department of Agricul·
ture, enforcement agency for P.L.
89-544, also stated its agreement
with the purposes of the Rogers
bill and expressed cooperation with
HEW if that Department is chosen
as the administrative agency. It is
expected, therefore, that there will
be no jurisdictional dispute be·
tween USDA and HEW if the
Rogers bill is enacted.
Except for Congressman Staggers, all
obstacles to public hearings have now
been overcome. There is still time for
hearings if Mr. Staggers is persuaded
Canada.
The HSUS is equally concerned over
the cruel harvesting of seals every year
in the Gulf of St. Lawrence hunt in
Canada. In spite of more stringent hunting rules and regulations issued by the
Canadian government, the method of
taking these seals by gaffing and clubbing is barbaric. Discontinuance of the
hunt entirely seems to be the only
the yearly hunt.
answer, but Canadian authorities have to act.
The task force has tested carbon dioxHearings this year are important
so far refused to consider this step. The
ide, electrical stunning, the penetrating
because
they would almost surely
HSUS feels that pressure upon Canadian
type bolt stunner, and gunfire using the
produce
a favorable committee re·
government officials must be maintained
kind of stunning cartridges used in if this cruel event is to be stopped.
port. This would be enormously in·
many packing plants under humane
It is hoped that the tests made this fluential in getting the bill onto the
slaughter laws. The tests were made year will produce a quick means of floor of the House of Representa·
under actual harvest conditions. Data greatly reducing the suffering that now tives for full vote.
was gathered on breathing rate, heart
A heavy volume of letters and tele·
characterizes seal harvesting.
rate, body temperature, reaction to stimgrams to Mr. Staggers from humanitauli, and other physical factors indicating
rians committed to protection under law
the humaneness of the method.
for laboratory animals, demanding hearIt will be about two months before all
ings for H.R. 13168, would spotlight
this data and the results obtained can
the issue for Mr. Staggers. They must
be collected and properly evaluated.
be sent immediately, however. They
A preliminary report from Field Servmay be addressed: Representative Harice Director Frank McMahon while on
ley 0. Staggers, Chairman, House InSt. Paul Island indicates that the use
terstate and Foreign Commerce Comof carbon dioxide and electricity for
mittee, House Office Bldg., Washington,
humanely killing seals shows promise.
D. C. 20515.
"We will recommend further research on
these methods," McMahon said. "We
Reminder: The book, "Ordeal of
cannot predict a final outcome concernthe Animals," regularly priced at
ing carbon dioxide and electricity be$5.95, is available at a special dis·
cause our equipment was limited, but
count rate when ordered in quan·
preliminary results are encouraging."
tity by animal welfare societies.
The HSUS team was sent not just to White-coated baby seals are main
Rate varies from 35o/o to 43o/o
observe methods now used but to help target of hunters in Canada's Gulf
depending upon quantity ordered.
prevent as much suffering as possible. of St. Lawrence hunt. Like adult
Write The HSUS for further in·
McMahon is an experienced humane ex- seals in Pribilof harvest, they are
formation.
ecutive, an expert on humane methods
clubbed to death.
of slaughter in packing plants. His tech-
•••
Branch Appoints New
Executive Director·
'
Plans Broad Program
J'
state.
Mr. Martin will plan and execute this
br~ad new program while coordinating
~'
fo~
Minnesota Work Gains
State-Wide Support
By Publicity Program
Under the energetic leadership of
Executive Director Dave Davis, The
HSUS Minnesota Branch is extendin""
its influence on behalf of suffering an~
mals to all parts of the state.
Nearly 90 stations are now running
announcements relating to animal welfare. _The Branch has supplied similar
matenals to the major newspapers. It
has operated humane information booths
at a. number of fairs, including the
heavily attended Minnesota State Fair.
Executive Director Davis has made numerous public appearances and speeches
b:f~re women's clubs, kennel clubs, and
CIVIC organizations.
. The extensive program is rapidly winmng new friends for the Branch and
greater protection for animals.
Mailing -address for the Branch is
P. 0. Box 3007, St. Paul, Minn. 5510l.
J
w:
ammal welfare activity on a statewide
basis. He will also provide technical
and consultative services to all humane
societies that request them.
Mr. Martin was formerly manager
of the Denver (Colo.) Dumb Friends
League and is a 12-year veteran in
humane work.
~e~
;~~n o~
organi,in~ nati~:~o~::
r
I
I
I
I
I
I
II
The Humane Society of the U.S.
1145 Nineteenth Street, N.W.
Washington, D. C. 20036
I am enclosing $ ____________________ to be used to help an.
I
f
I Seals
$-.- ····
Humane Educa~:: s$: ollow~:
I Mustangs
Lab Cruelties
$
I ~:::-tion Center $ . - - - Investigations $ ==
I r --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------$----------------NAME __________________________________________________________________________ _
II STREET
------------ $--------------------
1 CITY, s~~~~-::::_·:::_-_-::_~·:_-_-:_-_-_-_-_-:_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-::_-_-:_-_-_-_-_-:::::_-_~-:~----~-~~-;--~~~~-~:::~:~:~~~-~5
made in the arrangements between
SCLC and Mrs. Riviere and her colleagues. The mules were brought i~to
Washington for a July 4 demonstratiOn
which resulted in the arrest of 15 march·
ers who attempted to picnic on a busy
(Continued from page 2)
street just outside the Capitol grounds.
the District of Columbia, had arra~ged These animals, however' had all been
made to kill or otherwise harm any of
with Mrs. Roger Stevens of the A~l~al properly shod with hard rubber shoes
the animals.
Welfare Institute, Mrs. Marilyn Rivwre and only six of the best were used.
As rush hour traffic began to build,
and two other humanitarians to pastu_re After the demonstration, they were transMetropolitan police escorted the mule
the mules at a horse farm in Columbia, ported back to Columbia, Md.
train to a quiet, grassy area where they
As this News goes to press, the fate of
Maryland.
rested until after the peak rush hours.
This arrangement was made, appar- the mules and horses is still undete_rThen the mules were returned to nearby
ently, because The HSUS refused. to mined. It is not expected that th~y will
Virginia to the temporary quarters of
agree to the mules and horses bemg be returned to their Southern pomts _of
the U.S. Park Police. They were left
. "n They are now being kept Ill·
trucked back and forth from the ~ent.er
or1g1 .
t
by the drivers, and police. and humane
at Waterford, Virginia to the DI~tnct definitely at a private farm near Fron
society representatives agam began car·
1 V a · The HSUS has re-affirmed
of Columbia for further demonstratwn~; R oya,
.
l
ing for them.
its offer to care for them at the Natwna
"The animals have been used enough,
Upon promise of The HSUS to t~ke
HSUS Field Service Director Frank Humane Education Center.
the mules and horses if they were liD·
McMahon told Fauntroy. "They h~ve
pounded, the U.S. Park Pol~c~ notified
had more than their share of marchmg
officials of the Southern Chnstlan Leadand abuse. We will gladly pasture all
ership Conference that the animals
of them, give them veterinary care, and
would be impounded if not removed
feed them properly. When all are re·
from federal land by, l l :15 a.m. on
Mrs. Alice Wagner, highly restored to full health, we will place them
June 28.
with needy Virginia farmers. But ':e garded former editor of Popular
The HSUS was preparing to take
do not think they should be used ~n Dogs magazine, was elected to The
possession of the mules that day when more marches on hard city streets m
HSUS Board of Directors at a board
notification was received that Reverend
the humid heat of Washington."
meetinO' held in Washington, D. C.,
Walter E. Fauntroy, a director of the
It seems that this condition was not
in earl; May. She was appointed_to
SCLC campaign and a councilman for
HSUS Affiliate Opens
Big New Animal Shelter
fill a vacancy created by the resignation of Mr. Carl 0. Mar-ty, Three
Lakes, Wise., who is unable to at-
The HSUS-affiliated Animal Charity
League of Youngstown, Ohio, has forced
the closing of Poplar Ridge Kennels in
Bidwell following an investigation of
that operation.
Investigators found 160 dogs, nearly
50 cats, and one pony in indescribable
filth in and around an old farm house
on the property. The animals had insufficient food and were drinking from
a polluted and trash-filled water hole.
Most of the dogs were in an advanced
stage of mange; and many were without hair on their bodies.
The animals were surrendered to the
custody of the League and Gallia County
Prosecutor John Eppling, who worked
on the case. On the advice of attending
veterinarians, all but the pony had to
be put to sleep to prevent further suffering. The pony was placed in a suitable
home for rehabilitation.
Abused Mules Taken by HSUS as
March Train Reaches Washington
The Charleston (W. Va.) Humane
Association, affiliated with The HSUS,
opened its large, new animal shelter on
May 26.
The 72-kennel facility on a 38-acre
tract of land will remedy inadequate
conditions now existing at city and
county shelters. It will enable the society to offer better service to the community, especially in the fields of animal
care, rescue and control work, and humane education. The building is called
the Helen J. Ritz Animal Shelter, in
memory of the founder of the Association whose philanthropy made it
possible.
On opening day the society received
congratulations and praise from West
Virginia Governor Hulett C. Smith and
Charleston Mayor Elmer H. Dodson.
Frank McMahon, HSUS Director of
Field Services, attended the opening
ceremonies.
Former Editor Joins
National HSUS Board
HSUS Affiliate Rescues
Suffering Animals from
Cruel Kennel Operation
tend meetings.
Mrs. Wagner, of Springfield,
N. J., has long been recognized for
her outstanding contributions to national humane work. Her writings
and speeches reflect a true .unde_rstanding of the ethical relatiOnship
between man and animals. She has
been and continues to be an entire
army, in herself, in the humane
cause.
Her effective work was recognized nationally when The HSUS
"A~~~l-.
gave her its highest award,
HSUS animals from the Poor People's ean Humanitarian of the year, m
A month after rescue. by T!:efull :t the National Humane Education
March are shown grazmg P
y
ks of abuse and neglect.
Center. All are recovering after many wee
6
1961.
,L.. '
New animal shelter, located on large wooded acreage, has been carefully
designed to provide maximum facilities for animals and efficiency of
operation. It has been under construction for one year.
Pound Seizure Threat
Killed in New Jersey
As reported earlier this year, a pound
seizure threat loomed in New Jersey
when the state Department of Health
proposed new rules and regulations, one
of which would have allowed animals to
be sold, given away, or otherwise transferred to research facilities approved by
the Department or registered with the
U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Led by The HSUS New Jersey Branch,
this permissive provision was attacked
by humanitarians and humane societies
throughout the state. At a stormy public
meeting in Trenton, Branch spokesmen
called for elimination of this regulation,
and the attorney for the New Jersey
SPCA charged that the Department of
Health lacked authority to promulgate
such a provision. Hundreds of letters of
protest were also received by authorities
considering the new regulations.
Later, the objectionable provision was
eliminated from the new rules. It was
a spectacular victory for the humane
movement in New Jersey. Even Dr.
Oscar Sussman of the Department of
Health, a long time proponent of animal
seizure, admitted that "the protests certainly were a factor in deleting" the
section which would have fed im·
pounded animals into research facilities.
7
Branch Holds Second
Successful Workshop
On Humane Education
The HSUS New Jersey Branch held its
second successful workshop in humane
education within just a few months. The
workshop was again held at St. Hubert's
Giralda, a respected humane organization in Madison. Again, the workshop
was heavily attended.
Branch Executive Director Don Maxfield opened the proceedings and Mrs.
Harry Burlin of the Somerset County
Humane Society delivered an excellent
talk on controlling the animal population explosion. The most effective use
of films and the importance of setting
proper objectives were covered by Mr.
and Mrs. Fred L. Stevenson of the Plainfield Humane Society. Mrs. Thomas
Maxwell, Secretary of The HSUS New
Jersey Branch, spoke eloquently and
instructively on how suitable booklets
and literature can be used to best advantage in humane education.
Do you know someone who would
like to participate in animal welfare
work? Send the name and address
to The HSUS and information on
membership and humane programs
will be forwarded.
Wild Mustangs in Montana Face
Threat of Extermination; BLM
Attitude Considered Arbitrary
The threat of diminishing still further the dwindling herd of wild
mustangs in the United States has again reared its ugly head as the
Bureau of Land Management moved in recent months to reduce a herd
in the Pryor Mountains region of Montana. Some 250 animals are involved, a relatively small number whose importance, however, is increased
enormously because there are only
about 17,000 wild mustangs in the
It was pointed out that, even while
entire country.
public hearings were being held on the
The Bureau of Land Management
(ELM) is responsible for this new
threat which is being fought bitterly by
The HSUS and other humane societies
and conservation organizations. ELM
claims that the range is "worn out" and
that the mustangs will eventually starve
if the herd is not drastically reduced or
eliminated entirely. The Bureau has
held public hearings on thre~ proposals,
two of which would decimate the herd;
the third would eliminate it entirely. A
decision is expected to be reached in
mid or late August.
The HSUS has protested to the Bureau of Land Management, Secretary of
the Interior Stewart L. Udall, Senator
Henry M. Jackson of the Senate Interior
and Insular Affairs Committee, and U.S.
Representative William H. Harrison of
Wyoming. Copies of protests have been
mailed to President Lyndon B. Johnson.
The Society has been working on the
case with Mrs. Velma B. Johnston (of
"Wild Horse Annie" fame) , President
of the International Society for the Protection of Mustangs and Burros. The
Society also supplied information to
ABC News for use in a nationally televised report in early July.
When The HSUS investigated this
case, it became apparent that ELM had
made little attempt to determine the
possibility of saving the herd by rebuilding the range to its effective carrying
capacity. The question of why seeded
hay was not distributed to feed the mustangs while the entire range was being
rebuilt was raised.
issue, the Bureau had quietly gone ahead
and purchased trapping supplies, a clear
indication that there was no intention of
seriously entertaining any suggestions
other than those proposed by ELM. It
was also pointed out that the cost of the
trapping supplies alone would have
given enough money to feed the mustangs for a sixteen-year period or even
longer.
The Society then recommended that
action be delayed, since the mustangs
were in no danger of starving, until an
independent range study could be made.
Dr. Michael J. Pontrelli of the Animal
Biology Department, University of Nevada, and two graduate students are
available to do this study. This study
would quickly determine necessity of the
ELM action and, if another suitable
range were found, the animals could be
relocated.
The recommendation was given no
real consideration by the Bureau and
none of the questions raised were satisfactorily answered. The Society has
condemned the ELM attitude as "arbitrary, capricious, and indifferent to the
wishes of the public."
The Bureau has made efforts to stem
the flow of public protest by picking on
technical points and offering them in
explanation of its plan. At first the
allegation was made that the mustangs
were starving. This was refuted quickly
by on-the-spot observers, residents of the
Pryor Mountains range, and by ABC
television cameras. The Bureau also
claimed that the herd had to have a
8
"sponsor"-some group or organization
that would be responsible for it and
reduce its numbers to acceptable size
each year, if necessary. Fighting "Wild
Horse Annie" Johnston and three other
humanitarians agreed to accept the
sponsorship. Now, ELM is demanding
that the mustangs be branded, a procedure that would no longer qualify
them for protection from airborne and
mechanized roundups under Federal
law.
HSUS President Mel L. Morse has
expressed deep concern over the increasing tendency of ELM to solve all range
or forest problems by slaughtering and
exterminating wildlife.
"There is reason to believe," he said
in Washington, "that ELM is more
susceptible to the influence of minority
groups like hunting interests than to
public demand. The attitude of the
Bureau in this case indicates that its
action may be powerfully influenced by
the Montana Fish and Game Commission, the agency that controls wildlife
in the state and has no state appropriation but exists solely on the proceeds of
hunting licenses and taxes on ammunition. Obviously, such an agency has no
interest in animals other than game
species.
"In this case," Morse asserted, "the
agency is clearly interested in increasing the deer herd at the expense of the
mustangs to provide greater sports hunting. It is a sad commentary on the
democratic process that a minority, special interest group can get its way over
the wishes of a majority of the public."
Protests from humanitarians may still
help. Interested persons are urged to
write to President Lyndon B. Johnson,
White House, Washington, D. C. 20500
and Mr. Harry R. Anderson, Assistant
Secretary, Public Land Management,
U.S. Department of the Interior, Washington, D. C. 20240.
Word to the wise: If poBBible, do
NOT Bend contribution>~ to The
HSUS in caBh. They may become
loBt or Btolen in the mail. Alway>~
uBe checkB or money orderB.
Three Arrested and Convicted in
New Jersey for Cruelty to Dogs
Consigned to Research Facility
Excellent cooperation between national, state, and local humane societies and law enforcement officers led to the arrest of three truckers on
June 15 for cruelly treating 210 dogs in a truck en route to A.M.E.
Associates, a Princeton (N. J.) research laboratory.
Charged with cruelty to animals were two Arkansas men, Martin King
and B~bby Paul Spoon, and an Oklahoma man named Bobby Joe
Standndge. The dogs were being
shipped from Professional Biologi- their case "to the highest court possi.
cal Laboratories of Pocola, Okla. ble." They won a stay of the jail senThe shipment was first noticed by a
motoring couple who suspected "dognapping" and called the police. The
police, in turn, called the Mercer County
SPCA.
) :
The HSUS New Jersey Branch was
notified promptly by the Mercer County
SPCA and Executive Director Donald
Maxfield assisted in the case. Examination of the truck disclosed that the
interior was "rank and filthy." It was
divided into seven small compartments
and the floor was wet with urine and
excreta in which the animals were forced
to lie. Two electric fans which would
have given some relief were not working. One dog was found dead, its body
bloated ..
tences of King and Spoon, pending a
hearing of the appeal on August 8.
Meanwhile, they were released on $2,000
bail each.
In another aspect of the case, the
national HSUS reported the case to the
U.S. Department of Agriculture in
Washington, D. C., and asked for an
investigation into the possibility of a
violation of the Federal Laboratory Animal Welfare Act.
Testimony at the trial revealed that
the dogs had not been fed on their
nearly two-day trip to New Jersey. It
was also revealed that the animals, upon
removal to the humane society shelter,
ate more than 300 pounds of food in a
four-hour period and drank huge quantities of water.
Judge Edward A. Costigan of East
Windsor Township found the three defendants guilty of cruelty to animals.
All drew the maximum fine of $250
each. King and Spoon were sentenced
to 30 days imprisonment. Standridge
was given no jail sentence because he
was temporary help, hired in Oklahoma
to_ drive the vehicle on its New Jersey
tnp.
The defendants appealed their conviction, stating that they would take
Books for Libraries
Helping to Publicize
Ordeals of Animals
Mel L. Morse's eye-opening book,
Ordeal of the Animals, is being placed
by humanitarians in many public and
institutional libraries and churches
throughout the United States. The book
is considered an especially valuable addition to library reference materials on
cruelty to animals in this country.
"Ordeal of the Animals" is a documentary account of the principal ways
in which animals are abused and exploited in science, business, schools, the
entertainment industry, and the U.S.
Government. It is published by PrenticeHall and sells for $5.95 plus 25¢ postage
and handling.
The HSUS will arrange, upon request,
to send a copy to any church or library.
Simply mail a check or money order for
$6.20 to The HSUS with a note giving
the full name and address of the institution.
-'...
'1! : - .
-:111
~umane "?ciety perBonnel begin unloading shipment of dogs stopped
m EaBt Wmdsor Township, N. J, Entire cargo had been necrlected bv
drivers during journey from Oklahoma. All needed food and w:ter bacH;.
9
HOW A RODEO FAILED
By Mrs. Horatio A Spector
lMrs. Spector is a director of the Charleston Humane Association, Charleston,
West Va. The Society is an HSUS affiliate. Her personal account of how a rodeo
can be stopped is given here to help other societies faced with this problem. Another
HSUS Affiliate-the Animal Welfare League of Neenah, Wisc.-has also successfully campaigned to stop rodeos scheduled in its community.)
In October of 1967, five performances of a rodeo were scheduled to be
held in Charleston, W. Va. The show
emanated from Denver, Colo., under the
auspices of the Rodeo· Cowboys of
America, but was sponsored locally, and
was the first event of its kind to take
place in Charleston. Fortunately, the advance publicity was so extensive that
the Charleston Humane Association had
time to plan a course of action to deal
with the situation.
In the absence of any State Law
against rodeos per se, the Charleston
Humane Association looked up the law
in the State Code governing cruelty to
animals and found it to be well-written,
broad in scope, and applicable to rodeo
practices. To quote, in small part:
"If any person shall cruelly, unnecessarily or needlessly beat, torture, torment, mutilate, kill . . . "
Given this, preliminary work in preparing for the arrival of the rodeo consisted of six steps:
( 1) Our officers visited the County
Prosecutor and called his attention to
this law and to the probability that infractions would occur during the upcoming rodeo. He dictated a sample
warrant.
(2) We then went to the local Chief
of Police and asked him (a) to have an
adequate number of warrants printed;
(b) to have officers available at all performances, prepared to serve warrants
at the request of our staff; and (c) to
be prepared to arrest offenders on the
spot. (The experience of other humane
societies with rodeo personnel has shown
this to be essential for successful prosecution.)
(3) The police judge was alerted to
the situation so that he would be available to hear cases immediately and
police would know his whereabouts at
all times during the performances.
(4) A letter was sent to the Mayor to
explain the situation and requesting his
support, if needed. (He replied promptly,
offering his cooperation and expressing
his interest in enforcing the law.)
(5) Three of our staff supervised every
performance at the chutes (this is vital)
with the warrants visible in their pockets.
(6) In an effort to inform the public,
we ran an ad in a newspaper describing
typical abuses that occurred in other
rodeos and challenging local subscribers
and ticket-holders to "Watch this one
and see . . . "
The result of this was that no warrants
were served. In fact, a number of rodeo
enthusiasts complained publicly of the
tameness and lack of thrills at the
Charleston rodeo.
The rodeo people, who had been
scheduled to give performances at several other places in West Virginia, cancelled them and went home.
It is, of course, not possible to assess
accurately how large a part of this failure was due to the threat of prompt and
direct action by a local humane association, backed by the cooperation of public officials and police. It was, however,
a good experience in working with the
laws at hand currently.
Any Openings?
Does your society have career
openings for humane workers, ex·
perienced or inexperienced.? Requests for employment in animal
welfare work are received regularly
by The HSUS and we have com·
piled a list of potential employees.
We would like to put these individuals in touch with organizations
with vacancies. Please, therefore,
write The HSUS if you have an
opening to fill, or when you have
an opening to fill. Indicate the type
of job (clerical, kennel worker,
driver, or other) and salary range.
It may he the best way to solve your
employment problems.
10
USLSA Drafting Model
State Law to Protect
Many Kinds of Animals
The first meeting of the Committee
on Animal Welfare of the United Livestock Sanitary Association (USLSA)
was held in Boston, Mass., on July 22.
Dr. John F. Quinn, President of USLSA
and state veterinarian with the Michigan Department of Agriculture, charged
the committee with the responsibility of
developing a model state law to protect
all warm-blooded vertebrate animals
kept in pet shops, pounds, and animal
shelters.
Representatives of The HSUS, the
American Humane Association, and the
Animal Welfare Institute were among
the participants.
The meeting was chaired by Dr. F. J.
Mulhern, Deputy Administrator, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture. Dr. Earl Jones,
also of Agricultural Research Service,
USDA and chief enforcer of the petnapping law, Public Law 89-544, gave
a report on its present status.
Participants agreed generally that
stronger state laws are needed to protect animals used in biomedical research
and kept for any purpose in pet shops,.
pounds, and animal shelters. It was decided to draft legislation which would
close loopholes uncovered through experience with P.L. 89-544 and, at the
same time, regulate the handling of animals for commercial purposes to assure
their humane treatment.
The model law will also include the
so-called "bunchers" who traffic in animals, intra-state, selling to larger dealers for resale to research laboratories.
Committee members agreed that the
stealing of pets for resale is greatest at
this level. USDA experience with Public Law 89-544 confirmed this: not a
single case of a stolen animal could be
proven in the Department's investigation
of 861 complaints.
A proposed model law is expected to
be in final form for the next meeting on
October 9.
BLOOD AND BRUTALITY IN TEXAS
Handlers struggle to separate savagely biting dog and
tortured coon in brutal "coon-in-a-hole" contest. Dog
has just dragged the coon from hole in ground (right
foreground).
Tethered coon is tossed from swinging barrel into the
jaws of snarling, snapping dog in coon contest, Texas
style. Coons are used continuously until they are
killed.
Texas Coon Contests
Continue; Officials
Look the Other Way
Despite intensive efforts by the Texas
Council for Wildlife Protection, The
HSUS and other animal welfare organizations, the bloody and cruel "coonon-a-log" contests and their variations
are still going strong in Texas. Protests
to state and local authorities, demands
for enforcement of the anti-cruelty law
which prohibits "matching or causing a
fight" between animals, and extensive
publicity have so far failed to stir the
conscience of a state that seems bogged
down in violence and brutality to animals.
The efforts are not succeeding because
authorities seem determined to look the
other way whenever illegal coon contests
are scheduled in a community.
Time after time, the Texas Council for
Wildlife Protection and other organizations have called official attention to
scheduled events and no action has been
taken. It is as if the authorities are trying to preserve this illegal cruelty as
some kind of precious heritage. It is
also, of course, impossible for humane
officers to obtain arrest warrants without cooperation of the law enforcement
agencies.
One of the most recent of these series
of events took place in July in Gatesville,
Texas. When humanitarian efforts to
stop it were unsuccessful, the Texas
Council for Wildlife Protection arranged
for photographs of the events to show
how cruel and brutal they are. Some of
these pictures are reproduced here, not
to shock humanitarians, but as a means
of educating an unknowing public to
the terrible suffering and fear that is
involved. Perhaps, in this way, enough
public indignation and protest can be
aroused to force Texas law enforcement
officials to act.
Gatesville, where these events took
place, is about 90 miles from Johnson
City, home of President Lyndon B.
Johnson.
New Jersey May Outlaw
Release of Impounded
Animals to Research
If your society is having difficulty
with any problem relating to ani·
mal welfare, seek help from The
HSUS. Expert advice is available
on all aspects of society and shelter
management. Write The HSUS
Service Department, Washington,
Humanitarians in New Jersey may
wish to make their wishes known to
their state Senators and Assemblymen
and to Assemblyman John F. Brown,
Chairman of the Committee on County
and Municipal Government. All may be
addressed at the State House, Trenton,
New Jersey.
D. C. 20036.
11
Before recessing on June 24, the New
Jersey Assembly passed a bill, A.B. 693,
specifically prohibiting the release of
impounded animals to research laboratories. Unfortunately, the bill did not
reach a vote in the Senate. Senate action
is expected, however, when the legislature reconvenes in November.
Passage of A.B. 693 is important because persistent efforts have been made
by the state Department of Health to
require release of animals to research
institutions. The HSUS New Jersey
Branch and other humane organizations
have consistently, and so far successfully, opposed these attempts. The danger continues to exist, however.
Have you made your reservation for the 1968 HSUS National Leadership Conference?
If not, it is time to do so now. The dates are October 4-6. The place is the Marriott Motor
Hotel, Saddle Brook, New Jersey.
All parts of the conference program are planned to be deeply interesting to every humanitarian
and to achieve progress in reducing suffering. Problems that mean the most currently to the
American humane movement will be the meat of this year's meeting.
What local humane societies can do to protect livestock in their areas will be a prominent
subject. Equal attention will be given to the operation of Public Law 89-544, the Laboratory
Animal Welfare Act, and how societies can work with the U.S. Department of Agriculture against
laboratory suppliers who are violating the law.
An interesting and important seminar on humane education in American classrooms is planned.
Valuable recommendations will be made on how societies can work toward the introduction of
humane education in schools. Also included will be discussion of a new junior humane education
program prepared by The HSUS and the National Humane Education Center.
The progress of laboratory animal legislation will be reported and an analysis made of the
steps that remain to be taken to achieve this important objective.
Protection and preservation of wildlife and the role of humane organizations in this area will
also be examined in depth.
Saturday night, October 5, will be the big night of the conference. This is the time of the
annual awards banquet when outstanding humanitarians are honored for their work.
There is a registration fee of $5 per person for individuals attending any or all daily
sessions even if not staying at the hotel. This fee is, however, included in the $15 banquet and
registration fee.
Please, therefore, plan to attend this interesting and exciting meeting. Remember that everyone is cordially invited. You need not be a member of The HSUS to attend. But don't delay;
use the coupon below today!
The Humane Society of the United States
1145 Nineteenth Street, N.W.
Washington, D. C. 20036
Please reserve for me for the 1968 HSUS National Leadership Conference the type room
I have checked below.
I enclose my banquet and registration fee, $15. (NOTE: Send no other money. You pay
the hotel for room accommodations and other charges when you check out. The room rates
below are given here only for your information.)
SINGLE OCCUPANCY BEDROOM, per day, per person, $16
TWIN OCCUPANCY BEDROOM, per day, per person, $11
0
0
(In requesting any of these accommodations, give time of arrival, date, and length of stay.)
NAME ....
STREET
.......... ZIP CODE .................. .
CITY, STATE ........... .
12