Latest news with #animalwelfare
CBS News
28 minutes ago
- Health
- CBS News
Vet testifies NYC carriage horse "never should have been working" on day it collapsed
The prosecution rested and the defense began its case Thursday in the animal cruelty trial of a man whose carriage horse collapsed in Hell's Kitchen nearly three years ago. Video of a carriage horse named Ryder on the ground at 45th Street and Ninth Avenue on Aug. 10, 2022, went viral. The horse's handler, 56-year-old Ian McKeever, has pleaded not guilty to overdriving, torturing and injuring animals, and failure to provide proper sustenance, a misdemeanor. The Manhattan district attorney's office alleges Ryder the horse collapsed after working a full day in 84-degree weather and that McKeever repeatedly tried to force the animal to stand, never offering water and ignoring signs he was in distress. A forensic veterinarian who examined Ryder nearly two months after the fall was called as a witness by the prosecution and testified the horse "never should have been working on that day." Ryder retired to an upstate farm, but was euthanized in October of that year. A necropsy was done. The veterinarian said cancer was found in multiple organs and the final diagnosis was T-cell leukemia. The effects of the leukemia likely were a contributing factor in the animal's collapse, the vet testified, but not the sole cause, adding Ryder not having enough fat and muscle, the heat, and a long day as other contributing factors. "He was pushed beyond his limit," the vet testified. The defense argues the horse tripped and fell, and was well taken care of. They called the director of Veterinary Public Health Services for New York City to the stand. She testified before they sign off on horse licenses, a vet has to submit a certificate of health. Christina Hansen, the chief shop steward for Central Park Carriages TWU Local 100, testified Ryder was in the stall next to her horse. Hansen said she saw Ryder most days, calling him bright and alert. "[He] never struck me as being an unhealthy horse," she testified. The defense called the current equine veterinarian for the NYPD as an expert witness. Prosecutors pointed out the doctor, a former horse racing vet, has been repeatedly fined with the state's gaming commission and faced other suspensions. He examined Ryder after the collapse and says he appeared responsive, but right away thought the horse had neurologic issues and was underweight. McKeever is expected to take the stand in his own defense before both sides make their closing arguments. If convicted, he faces up to one year behind bars.
CTV News
2 hours ago
- Health
- CTV News
Ottawa TikTok cat that lost 16 lbs inspires overweight cat sanctuary
Biggie Smalls lounging around 'The Big House' - "He's still got about another 8 to 10 lbs. to go. But we're getting there,' says Kristine Seguin. An Ottawa cat who has morphed into a social media star after slimming down from 43 pounds has inspired a rescue and sanctuary for other overweight felines. Axel Biggie Smalls, now known as Biggie Smalls, has lost around 16 lbs. (about 6.8 kg) since Kristine Seguin first rescued him earlier last year. 'He was four times the average size of cat,' she told CTV News Ottawa. 'I was initially fostering him, and he could not walk out the bathroom door. He could not walk barely to his litter box. All of his food and things had to be brought to him. He was just in rough shape. He was in a lot of pain.' The Big House 'Axel Biggie Smalls,' now known just as Biggie Smalls, when he weighed 43 lbs. (Courtesy: Kristine Seguin) She eventually adopted him and through diet and exercise, she has helped him shed weight – down to just over 26 lbs. (about 12 kg) over a period of about a year and half. 'And he's still got about another eight to 10 to go. But we're getting there,' she says. His weight loss journey has not only gotten attention but has also inspired Seguin to create the Big House Sanctuary and Rehab, a not-for-profit animal rescue for 'extremely overweight cats,' located in rural west Ottawa. 'So many shelters reached out saying, 'do you know any rescues or places that we can send these severely, like, extremely overweight cats?' And there was nothing in the world I could find. And then I thought, why not try to create something like this?' she says. Expand Autoplay 1 of 9 The Big House - Rescue and sanctuary for overweight felines Biggie Smalls in the arms of Kristine Seguin who rescued him earlier last year. The Big House 'Axel Biggie Smalls,' now known just as Biggie Smalls, when he weighed 43 lbs. (Courtesy: Kristine Seguin) The Big House - Rescue and sanctuary for overweight felines Through diet and exercise, Kristine has helped him shed weight – down to just over 26lbs over a period of about a year and half. The Big House - Rescue and sanctuary for overweight felines Biggie Smalls getting weighed on a scale. He has lost around 16lbs since Kristine Seguin first rescued him earlier last year. The Big House - Rescue and sanctuary for overweight felines Biggie Smalls lounging around 'The Big House' - "He's still got about another 8 to 10 to go. But we're getting there,' Kristine says. The Big House - Rescue and sanctuary for overweight felines Kristine built the sanctuary, which currently houses five cats, including Maple. The Big House - Rescue and sanctuary for overweight felines Cookie is one of five cats currently in care at 'The Big House'. 'A lot of these cats get euthanized in shelters because it's cumbersome; It's a lot for somebody to take on a cat like this," says Kristine Seguin. The Big House - Rescue and sanctuary for overweight felines Kristine Seguin's goal for the sanctuary is 'Just to help those ones that don't get the opportunity to be helped. I love chunky cats and seeing them get healthy.' The Big House - Rescue and sanctuary for overweight felines 'The Big House Sanctuary and Rehab' is a non-for-profit animal rescue for 'extremely overweight cats' located in rural west Ottawa. Seguin built the sanctuary, which currently houses five cats. 'What we do is we just take them in, we help get them on a weight loss journey, we meet all of their medical needs,' she says. 'A lot of these cats get euthanized in shelters because it's cumbersome. It's a lot for somebody to take on a cat like this, so we remove those barriers by getting them on a successful diet plan. We meet all their medical needs, what medications, surgeries, things they need, and then they're ready for adoption and those barriers are dropped. So, people are more open to taking on one of these cats.' Funding for the Sanctuary comes from donations, according to Seguin. She says her goal for the sanctuary is 'Just to help those ones that don't get the opportunity to be helped. I love chunky cats and seeing them get healthy.'
BBC News
3 hours ago
- Science
- BBC News
Headbutting goats wrecking dairy researchers' study
BBC Researchers at a university hope that ear tags that track movement and behaviour will help to improve the welfare of dairy goats, however the animals are doing their best to thwart the project. The study is led by Harper Adams University in Shropshire, alongside Reading University and technology company SmartBell. The tags are already used in calves across the agricultural industry to provide early detection of health issues. But Dr Holly Vickery admitted the technology support team were struggling to understand why the tags kept on resetting and think it could be "because the goats are headbutting each other". "I'm surprised that the goats haven't eaten them," she said. The tags are orange and oblong shaped, and sit in the animals' ear with their normal numbered tag. "It's a bit like a Fitbit... it's got an accelerometer in it, and what it's doing is... it's tracking movement," said Dr Vickery. Behaviours that can be detected include lying down time, rumination, eating behaviours and general activity. The tags could also be used for the early detection of health issues and better responses to environmental factors like extreme heat. In cows, more "lying time" could signal that the animal is lame. "The goats are very different to work with, but broadly the behaviours that we want to look at are the same," said Dr Vickery. "The algorithms have to be tweaked because the goats display the behaviours in a slightly different way." This project involves a trial with 40 of the ear tags fitted to goats on a farm in Somerset. Dr Vickery said she would like to see the technology incorporated into animal welfare assessments in the future. "It would give much clearer data to consumers who want to make really informed decisions," she said. Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram. Agriculture Goats
Irish Times
3 hours ago
- Health
- Irish Times
TD blames greyhound industry ‘greed' for ‘barbaric' surgery on dogs
The 'greed' of the greyhound industry is the reason for a 'barbaric and invasive' surgery, a TD has claimed. Sinn Féin's Dessie Ellis has called for a ban on surgical artificial insemination of greyhounds, which he said is already banned in countries like the UK, Sweden and the Netherlands. The Dublin North-West TD said it was 'not an isolated practice' and figures for the 10 years up to 2023 showed almost 5,000 greyhound litters were born in Ireland following this procedure. He added that 'in the last four years alone, over 500 surgical artificial inseminations were performed on racing and coursing greyhounds'. Raising the issue in the Dáil on Wednesday he said the procedure involves 'anaesthetising the female greyhound and making a small incision in her abdomen in order to lift the uterus out and inject semen directly into the uterus. READ MORE 'The uterus is then placed back into the body of the greyhound, and the wound is stitched up.' Mr Ellis pointed to the view of the British Veterinary Association that 'this practice is highly unethical' and very painful for greyhounds 'because the subsequent pregnancy will put additional pressure on the abdominal wounds'. He also welcomed the updating by the Veterinary Council of Ireland last year of its code of professional conduct to prohibit vets from carrying out the procedure. Greyhounds' lives are being put at risk by 'this non-vital surgical procedure' Mr Ellis added. 'It is well known that greyhounds are prone to certain complications like blood clotting, which can be exacerbated by this unnecessary surgical procedure,' he added. It causes unnecessary pain and stress and 'is nothing to do with the welfare of the dog, but everything to do with making money for their owners.' It is about 'the greed of the greyhound industry, and the money earned in winnings at the local dog track'. The Department of Agriculture held a public consultation on whether the practice should be banned. The submission deadline was July 26th 2024, but almost a year later the department has not published its conclusions. Minister of State Robert Troy, replying on behalf of Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon said the results will be published 'in due course' and 'will contribute to the legislative process'. Mr Ellis said this is a 'question of cruelty to animals, animal rights' and it is 'just not good enough to allow it drag on'. Mr Troy said the department 'is closely examining this issue and will be providing advice on the appropriate course of action in the near future'. The Minister added that the department takes its responsibility for animal welfare 'most seriously'. The Cabinet in March 2023 approved the report of a working group on the control of dogs recommending the prohibition of the practice in all breeds of dogs, he said. The Government's support for the greyhound industry is contingent on a guarantee of welfare standards being upheld by Rásaíocht Con Éireann (Greyhound Racing Ireland), he added. A minimum of 10 per cent of State funding for the agency, which has responsibility for the greyhound industry, is ring-fenced for animal welfare. Since 2019, it has spent €19.3 million on traceability care and welfare and a traceability system came into operation in January last year. 'The system provides a mechanism to ensure racing greyhounds are properly registered and traceable throughout their lives,' Mr Troy said.
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Carrying chickens by legs causes them pain, Green Party leader warns
Carrying chickens by their legs 'causes injury, pain and unnecessary distress', Adrian Ramsay has warned in a bid to block a law change. The Government has planned to overturn an EU ban on catching and carrying poultry by their legs. But Green Party co-leader Mr Ramsay has called for animal welfare standards to be 'improved, not stripped back', as he urged ministers to halt their plans. He has tabled a 'prayer motion', calling for the Welfare of Animals (Transport) (Amendment) Regulations 2025 to be 'annulled' before they come into force next week. The regulations set out that farmers will be able to catch and carry turkeys weighing 5kg or less and chickens by both legs, but not by one leg. The existing ban 'does not reflect long-standing policy on appropriate methods of 'catching' chickens set out in GB statutory guidance', according to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). Ministers' decision to change the law followed a consultation throughout Great Britain, which found 40% of respondents supported two-leg catching. The majority of these were 'poultry industry stakeholders' who 'did not consider two-leg catching to be directly detrimental to bird welfare'. Some industry stakeholders also 'confirmed that young turkeys (weighing 5kg or less) are routinely caught by two legs, while older heavier turkeys (weighing more than 5kg) are routinely caught upright, by a range of different methods'. But Mr Ramsay told the PA news agency: 'The Government's attempt to quietly weaken animal welfare standards for poultry is deeply troubling. 'After Defra cited this practice in its guidance, ministers are now attempting to restore outdated industry practices in law. 'Allowing chickens to be carried upside down by their legs causes injury, pain and unnecessary distress. 'I want our animal protection laws to be improved, not stripped back further. 'If handling methods widely used on farms don't meet welfare standards, then they need to be improved, not made legal because enforcement has failed.' His motion has received cross-party backing, including from Conservative MP for Brigg and Immingham Martin Vickers, his running mate in this year's Green Party leadership election Ellie Chowns, and Labour MP for North Ayrshire and Arran Irene Campbell.
