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News for Florida animal advocates (1 unread)

• Wild pigs were among Florida’s earliest visitors

  This week there will be speeches, unveilings of statues and a commemorative stamp, historical re-enactments and other events to mark Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de León’s arrival in Florida on April 2, 1513. The Florida Department of Agriculture is celebrating the introduction by the Spanish of horses, cattle and oranges [...]

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• Disappointing news for circus elephant

  This week it was announced that circus owner Hugo Liebel had agreed to pay $7,500 to settle charges that he repeatedly violated the Animal Welfare Act in his treatment and handling of animals, including an elephant named Nosey. It was a case that ARFF had been closely following. It’s [...]

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• Don’t shop, Adopt!

  Last October, the monkey known as the “Mystery Monkey of Tampa Bay” was captured after at least three years living free in the suburbs of Tampa/St. Petersburg. At ARFF we had mixed feelings about his capture, and we weren’t thrilled when the state wildlife agency turned him over to [...]

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• Orlando’s Lake Eola Park: a bad place to be a swan

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  In 2008, ARFF objected when the City of Orlando announced plans to import a group of swans to Lake Eola Park to be added to the already large number of swans on the lake. ARFF criticized the plan as irresponsible, primarily because Lake Eola is a busy, urban park [...]

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• Florida’s next exotic animal “Challenge”

  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 [...]

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• Now is the time to get to know your elected officials

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  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: [...]

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• Is Primate Products confused about geography?

  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 [...]

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• Cora the elephant still on the road

  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 [...]

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• Hallandale Beach stands up for elephants!

  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 [...]

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• There’s never been a better time to eat vegetarian or vegan in south 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 [...]

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