Feature Archives

After numerous reports from citizens and former employees of abuse such as leaving live dogs in freezers with dead dogs, wrongful euthanasia, and other problems at the city's Animal Shelter, Oakland City Council President Ignacio De La Fuente announced that he will be holding a special Town Hall Meeting on hiring a new Director of the Shelter. The former directory left the position last June and a replacement has yet to be found. Lori Barnabe, a veterinary technician and animal control officer with Oakland from 1999 through 2004, detailed her concerns about shelter management to Oakland city officials last month. “We’re taking these charges very seriously,” said Oakland Deputy City Administrator Niccolo De Luca. In his call for the public meeting, De La Fuente stated, "I have received very troubling reports of animal cruelty, questionable euthanasia practices, disrespect of pet owner rights, and a lack of accountability at the Oakland Animal Shelter. We want citizens to share their vision of how this Shelter should be run effectively, respectfully and humanely."

Reports on Abuse: 1 | 2 | 3
Notice of Meeting on the Future of the Oakland Animal Shelter
Follow-up Report on Meeting at City Hall 2/17/05

Over 100 activists descended upon the KFC at Eddy and Polk in San Francisco Sunday February 5th for what normally would have been the noontime lunch rush. It was enough to cover all four corners of the intersection. Many long-time animal activists remarked that this was the largest animal rights demonstration that they had ever attended. High turnout was largely due to the fact that this weekend PETA held the first of eight 2005 "Helping Animals 101" two-day conferences just a few blocks away. It was the first demo ever for approximately half of those out there, and organizers hope that these newly-minted activists will help strengthen the ongoing PETA-initiated KFC demos around the Bay Area which are sponsored locally by grassroots groups such as Bay Area Vegetarians, Animal Rights Alliance, and East Bay Animal Advocates. More Photos | Video

Notes and Photos from "Helping Animals 101" Conference 1 | 2 | 3

Upcoming Demo in Oakland and Monthly Demos in SF and Santa Cruz
Related info from Santa Cruz IMC: 1 | 2 · PETA's Kentucky Fried Cruelty Campaign

Even with the recently passed legislation in California outlawing production and selling of foie gras in 2012, animal rights activists are not waiting idly by for the new law to take effect. Restaurants that continue to sell the supposed delicacy are being targeted in a variety of ways, in California, coast to coast, and internationally. A growing number are heeding the call to stop serving the bird livers enlarged by forced-feeding, sometimes simply by being informed of the cruelty inherent in the production process without any activist demonstrations whatsoever. Locally, restaurants in Marin and Walnut Creek recently dropped or are seriously considering dropping foie gras. New laws are being passed in other countries. And while numerous businesses are so far refusing to change, and some "victories" as tenuous at this point, it appears the tide is turning on foie gras slowly but surely.

Recent Activist Victories Locally: 1 | 2 | 3
Victories Elsewhere: U.S. | Europe | Israel
Ongoing Struggles: S.F., L.A. & Portland 1 | 2
More Info on Foie Gras: www.stopforcefeeding.com

In the early morning hours of January 18, members of the Animal Liberation Front liberated the entire imprisoned deer population of GNK Deer Farm in Monterey County, California. These deer were doomed to certain death at the early age of 18 months at the hand of owner Gerd Konieczny, a former butcher and LA cop who raises the deer for profit and fun, by his own admission. GNK is one of the 3 largest deer farms in California and hosts an on-site slaughterhouse. Read More

ALF Press Office | www.animalliberationfront.com

Quantum Analytics — based in the Bay Area — has been leasing analytical instrumentation that Huntingdon Life Sciences (a vivisection firm that kills over 500 animals a day, testing chemicals, medical drugs like Viagra, and household products) needs to perform basic lab services. Leaked documents show not only what has been rented by HLS, but the increasingly tumultuous relationship between HLS and Quantum as the lab cannot pay its bills. Emails shooting back and forth between the US and the UK document the tardiness by HLS and the frustration of Quantum. On several occasions Quantum has threatened to pull the plug on their agreement, and now Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty (SHAC) activists are seeking to convince Quantum to follow through on the threats and sever their relationship with HLS. Read More

While mainstream medical and health professionals have acknowledged for decades the benefits of increasing vegetable intake and decreasing consumption of meat products, they generally refuse to endorse vegetarianism and as such there are still strong cultural taboos in America associated with a vegetarian or vegan diet and misconceptions continue to run deep about the need for meat or dairy for good health. Recent headlines, such as "McDonald's Ex-CEO Dies From Colorectal Cancer At Age 44" and others, atest that their mixed message is not getting through to prevent poor health. Going against this grain in American dietary culture, a growing number of vegan and vegetarian doctors are speaking out clearly about the benefits of entirely plant-based diets, attempting to educate the public about general nutrition and the healthful effects of a well-balanced vegetarian diet. Others are involved in long-term studies exploring the often ignored benefits, and potential risks, of animal-free nutrition, to better serve those who have chosen to forgo animal-based foods for various reasons.

Doctors and Nutrionists Speaking Out: John McDougall, MD in Marin Jan 20 | Dr. T Colin Campbell of "The China Study" in Palo Alto Feb 14 | Michael Greger of VeganMD.org Talks On-line | Jack Norris, RD Writes for VeganHealth.org

Recent Studies Related to Meat and/or Vegetarianism: Red Meat and Cancers of the Colon and Rectum | Antibiotic Overuse in Food Animals | Vegetarians, Meat Eaters and High Blood Pressure | Ongoing Long-term Vegan Health Study

Over 750,000,000 chickens raised for KFC every year endure egregious and unnecessary abuses. Undercover investigators and former employees have documented numerous such abuses in KFC supplier slaughterhouses and other facilities. KFC has so far refused to implement comprehensive guidelines developed by its own animal welfare panelists to prevent these and other abuses. In response, organizations such as Bay Area Vegetarians and others throughout the United States and abroad are supporting People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals' campaign against KFC's inhumane practices and calling for welfare reforms. Locally, regular monthly demonstrations have occurred in front of KFCs in San Francisco, San Jose, Pacifica, and Santa Cruz, with plans to expand the actions to Santa Clara, Sunnyvale, Cupertino and more. Reports and Photos: San Jose | Santa Cruz