Critter World News

In this week's podcast ending February 20, 2010:  animal rights activists call on the US Secretary of Agriculture to investigate the high number of research animal deaths resulting from negligence; the new director of the Toronto Humane Society is accused of animal welfare violations; five sea lions were shot near Seattle, WA; and 2 PETA members stage a protest at th Westminster Dog Show.

In this week's podcast ending February 13, 2010:  Britain's Ministry of Defense defends its use of pigs as subjects in explosives testing; an elephant expert argues for the closing of the elephant exhibit at the Toronto Zoo; the State of Hawaii seeks to toughen penalties for dog fighting; and animal rights groups protest the Canadian seal hunt in the shadow of the 2010 Olympics.

In this week's podcast ending February 6, 2010: Willet Dairy the subject of a Mercy for Animals undercover investigation suspends a worker shown abusing cows; the Humane Society applauds the Allergan Corporation for progress on the replacement of animal subjects in Botox testing; PETA files a lawsuit to free Lucy the elephant from the Edmonton Zoo; Mexican activists protest bullfights; and Canada steps up its support of seal hunting while hosting a G7 meeting.

In this week's podcast ending January 30, 2010:  a Mercy for Animals video spurs calls for a ban on tail docking in the State of New York; animal rights activists try to stop construction of a bullfighting ring in Beijing; a PETA protestor gets a pie in the face for protesting against the Canadian seal hunt; and legislation is proposed in China to ban the eating of cats and dogs.

In this week's podcast ending January 26, 2010:  animal rescue efforts are underway in disaster-stricken Haiti; a research study involving the burial of live pigs is halted; the blood sport of dogfighting enjoys a revival in Afghanistan; and a report by animal welfare organizations criticize pig farming in the European Union.