Animal welfare groups condemn Barrow driver for killing geese

11th May

By Michael Thomas Barrow and Ormsgill reporter

A MOTORIST has been blasted for the ‘cold-blooded murder’ of a family of geese.

Wildlife charities and witnesses have blasted the driver of a yellow VW Golf, who was seen mowing down goslings near the Soccer Bar on Holker Street, Barrow.

Mike Cape witnessed the incident and described how the driver of the car slowed down to a halt as they approached the geese, and the moment they quickly sped up and drove into them.

He said: “I think this was such a heartless and cold thing for someone to do.

“They clearly recognised what was in the road otherwise they wouldn’t have slowed down.

“So to think they decided to go through the geese anyway, I don’t know what kind of person would do something like that.”

He said it was difficult to watch as the injured adult goose returned to the road and stood over its dead goslings.

Continued

Man sparks outrage after posting footage of him attacking a federally protected pelican - which could see him charged with animal cruelty

Hunter Hardesty appeared to attack a federally protected pelican in Key West

Hardesty posted footage on his Facebook page with many condemning him

He jumps into water on top of the pelican and is seen holding him and laughing

The pelican then snaps at his face, manages to break free and then flies away

The Davidsonville, Maryland man could now face animal cruelty charges

By LEAH MCDONALD FOR DAILYMAIL.COM

PUBLISHED: 13:51, 10 March 2019 | UPDATED: 21:52, 10 March 2019

A man could be charged after a video showed him attacking a protected pelican in Key West, Florida. 

Hunter Hardesty from Davidsonville, Maryland posted footage on his Facebook page with many people condemning him for his actions. 

The video, posted on March 7,  starts and shows Hardesty appearing to lean over a harbor’s edge holding out something in his hand. 

The pelican floats closer and Hardesty appears to jump into the water on top of the pelican, causing both to sink beneath the water’s surface.

Hardesty then grabs the large bird with two hands while others not pictured on camera can be heard laughing.

 A woman in the background tells him: 'If you don't get out of there right now I'm going to call security. Knock this party off right now.'

The bird appears visibly distressed and as Hardesty holds on to him, as his friends laugh from a jetty.

The pelican then snaps at the man with is beak before flying off to another area.  

Social media users Many blasted at the stunt on Hardesty’s Facebook page, branding it cruel and stating they had reported him to Florida law enforcement.

A post from Hardesty on Friday read:  'The book blowin up on a Friday !! Sheesh.'

Dennis John Deevy Jr wrote:  'We need to get a petition to have this MF charged.'

Read on

Man smashed gull into wall, killing it, for stealing his chips

"This was an unthinkable and despicable way to treat an animal"

Neil Shaw  PlymouthLive, DevonLive And CornwallLive

11:33, 13 MAR 2019

A man brutally killed a gull in an act branded "unthinkable and despicable" because the bird knocked chips out of his hand.

John Llewellyn Jones, 64, killed the gull during a day trip to Weston Super Mare on July 17, 2018.

The lesser black backed gull flew around the defendant trying to reach his chips, and subsequently knocked his snack from his hand.

Jones' reaction "shocked by-standers, including children" - as witnesses observed him catch the gull by the leg and smash the animal into a wall, killing it.

Jones, from Bishopston Road, Cardiff, was found guilty of a Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 offence at North Somerset Magistrates' Court in Weston-Super-Mare yesterday. Jones had pleaded not guilty, but magistrates listened to two witnesses, and said their accounts were "credible and compelling", before finding the man guilty of the offence.

He was sentenced to a 12-week curfew, applicable between the hours of 8pm and 8am, which began immediately. Jones was also ordered to pay £750 in costs, and a £85 victim surcharge.

Gulls are protected under section 1 of the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981 - and Jones committed an offence by killing the wild bird.

The RSPCA say the man showed "blatant disregard for animal welfare" and "cared more for his chips than what his actions did to the poor gull".

Simon Evans, RSPCA inspector, said: "This was an unthinkable and despicable way to treat an animal - with this gull smashed against a wall by the man, solely because it knocked chips from his hand.

"This was deliberate cruelty, borne from the fact that this man cared more for his chips than what his actions did to the poor gull. Simply, the man showed blatant disregard for an animal because he was annoyed about his chips.

"Witnesses saw the attack - and shocked by-standers, including children, had to look on as the man killed the gull."

Source

CRUELTY TO BIRDS: Kitchener-based turkey producer denies bird abuse widespread

TORONTO -- Disturbing video showing employees of one of the world's leading turkey producers clubbing, kicking and otherwise abusing the hapless birds is evidence of a culture of cruelty and neglect at the factory farm, an animal-rights group said Friday.

The company in question, Hybrid Turkeys, said it had suspended four employees and called the abuse depicted in the video an isolated incident.

The video was shot at a Hybrid plant in Bright, Ont., by a member of the animal rights group, Mercy for Animals Canada.

Footage also shows workers apparently crushing the spines of birds while others are left to die from festering and bloody wounds.

"This investigation graphically illustrates that the hidden price of Canadian turkey meat is horrific animal abuse," said Twyla Francois, a spokeswoman for Mercy For Animals.

Read more:

Baby chicken has both legs broken by cruel skateboarders who run over it on purpose

• The baby chick was rescued by a passerby and taken to a clinic.
• Staff put its fractured legs in splints and handed it to the Humane Society
• Carers say the chick named Nan is making progress and taking small steps
• Humane Society has promised to canvass to find the boys responsible

Two young skateboarders have been blamed for a sick attack that left a defencless chick with two broken legs.

An eyewitness is alleged to have seen the two male youths running over the baby chicken on purpose in Eastern New Orleans earlier this month.

The baby bird was rescued by a passerby near Independence Street and Marais Street, who took it to the Metairie Small Animal Clinic, where it was treated for a non-displaced fracture in the right leg and compound fracture in the left leg.

The bird's legs were placed in miniature splints and it was then taken to the Humane Society of Louisiana for extra care. It has been named Nan.

Director of the Louisiana branch, Jeff Dorson, told NBC33: 'People may laugh at the implausibility of trying to help a baby chicken with two broken legs, but that is what humane societies do.

'Our mission is to render aid to those that need it the most, and there is nothing more vulnerable than a baby bird.'

He added: 'We are deeply concerned that the young boys responsible for this bird's suffering are still out there and we believe that this callous act of cruelty to a miniature creature is just a precursor of things to come.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2417913/Skateboarders-break-baby-chickens-legs-running-purpose.html#ixzz2emvWScxh

Pelicans used as target practice in WA

WILDLIFE officers believe pelicans are being used as target practice, after two birds were found shot with arrows in separate incidents in Western Australia.

WA's Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) is appealing for information from the public following the shocking attacks on the pelicans over the past week near Mandurah.

Last Monday, an adult pelican was found at Soldiers Cove, near the Mandurah estuary bridge, with a target arrow through its chest.

A volunteer retrieved the bird, which had to be put down because of severe internal injuries.

Less than a week later, an adult pelican was shot through both wings with a hunting arrow at nearby Samphire Cove. Another volunteer retrieved this bird, which is being rehabilitated.

DEC wildlife officer Cameron Craigie said the attacks were being investigated by DEC, WA Police and RSPCA.

"Using animals like pelicans for target practice or hunting is something that is not only illegal, it is inhumane and cruel," Mr Craigie said.

"The pelican shot on Sunday is extremely lucky to have survived as the arrow has not caused significant damage to any bones or vital organs."

A maximum penalty of $4,000 applies for injuring or killing pelicans in WA.

Anyone with information about the attacks can contact DEC's Wildcare Helpline on 9474 9055 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/breaking-news/pelicans-used-as-target-practice-in-wa/story-fni0xqi4-1226652153771