Tails in the News
Area woman recovering after Pit Bull attack
Swisher, the Pit Bull who attacked a Fremont woman as she protected her 4-month-old son from harm, has been turned into local police and will probably be euthanized, according to authorities. On Sept. 4, the dog lunged at Angela Silva’s son, Tom Jr., near their home. Silva threw herself in front of him as she tried to fight the dog. After being rescued by nearby construction workers, she was sent to the emergency room, where she received staples and stitches in both arms. Her son escaped with only a few minor scratches.
Swisher was most recently registered to Kristi Willis, who turned the dog into animal control services and says she no longer wants to keep him. Silva, who does not have health insurance, has an account set up at the Warm Springs branch of Fremont Bank, where donations for her emergency room visit are being accepted. Mail donations in Silva’s name to: Fremont Bank, Warm Springs Branch, 46635 Mission Blvd, Fremont, CA 94539.
Animal welfare groups benefit from duck slaughter reward money
Five local animal welfare organizations have been awarded with a total of more than $17,000 from Delta Queen Classic Car Wash in Campbell. The money, donated by several members of the community, was originally intended to be a cash reward for anyone with information about a man who killed several ducks at the car wash in 2005. He was captured on surveillance driving a red Acura Integra and intentionally running over ducks and killing others with his bare hands. Local police are still investigating the case, but after two years, they still don’t have a suspect.
In order to put the money to good use, the car wash presented the funds to the Humane Society of Silicon Valley, the Central Animal Hospital Angel Fund of Campbell, the Wildlife Center of Silicon Valley, Wildlife Rescue of Palo Alto, and the American Bird Conservancy. Police say the investigation will remain open, even though the reward money has been distributed.
Area Chihuahua places sixth in national race
Clarabelle, a speedy Chihuahua from Boulder Creek, raced for the title of Fastest Chihuahua at the Petco Unleashed Third Annual Chihuahua Race on Sept. 2. However, a mid-race collision with former winner Chalupa from Hammond, Indiana, cost her the top spot. She placed sixth, well behind Maddy from New York, who won the competition in slightly more than two seconds. The race showcased 15 regional winners on a 35-foot-long track at Petco Park in San Diego. Maddy, a first-time winner, was awarded with a trophy, a one-year supply of Royal Canine Chihuahua dog food, and a $300 Petco gift card.
As for Clarabelle, her guardian Travis Krepelka says she will be competing in next year’s Bay Area regional race for another shot at the national competition.
Ban on animals proposed in Belmont city buildings
Belmont Mayor Coralin Feierbach is working with the city council to introduce a ban on animals from all city buildings. Only service dogs and police K-9 units would be exempt from this proposed law. She said there are currently no laws banning animals from city buildings, but people have been bringing their pets into City Hall, which has resulted in stains on the floor. Feierbach says she is not aware of any problems in other city buildings.
Endangered condors further protected with new legislation
The California State Senate has approved Assembly Bill 821, also known as the Ridley-Tree
Condor Preservation Act, which will require hunters to use non-lead ammunition for hunting big game and coyotes in the central and southern regions of the state. The bill is a protection measure for the endangered California Condors, several of whom have died of poisoning in the past few years after feeding on carcasses of game killed with lead bullets. Most recently, Condor No. 245 died from lead poisoning at the Los Angeles Zoo. The zoo says it has treated nine condors for dangerously high levels of lead this year.
There are currently only 127 of the birds flying free in the wild, and 70 of them live in California. Lead poisoning has been the leading cause of death for reintroduced condors, according to the Center for Biological Diversity.
The bill will go back to the Assembly for concurrence in amendments and is slated to take effect July 1, 2008. For more information visit Sen.CA.gov.
State Senate approves bill to allow sale of kangaroo leather
Senate Bill 880 which would end California’s ban on importing or selling kangaroo skin products is currently awaiting Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s signature. Imported kangaroo hides were previously banned under federal law between 1975 and 1995, and the restrictions were lifted after the Australian government said the animal was no longer threatened. However, California continued to prohibit the sale of kangaroo products and attached a penalty of up to six months in jail for selling items. The current bill, which was approved in the state Senate, would continue to restrict the sale of skin products made from protected kangaroo species but allow the use of leather from other species.
Those who support the bill say the kangaroo trade is strictly regulated by the Australian government, while animal rights groups who oppose the bill say that hunters still mistakenly shoot endangered kangaroos. California is the only state with a ban on all kangaroo products. For more information visit SenCA.gov.
