Delaware people: Stray animals have a faithful friend in Pierantozzi When Jane Pierantozzi first walked into an SPCA shelter 11 years ago, she saw dogs and cats sleeping without bedding in crowded cages. They had no names and were known only by their numbers. Many were destined to be put down. At that time, the kill rate in Delaware's animal shelters was about 90 percent, creating a negative attitude among workers that was directed not only at visitors but at their work, she said. Pierantozzi has become what some consider one of the foremost animal welfare workers in Delaware, if not the nation. Female activists held for near-naked protest near G20 venue Two female animal rights activists were detained on Tuesday for staging a near-naked protest near the heavily-guarded venue of this week's G20 summit, South Korean police said. The two members of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) staged a brief demonstration outside the Convention and Exhibition Centre in southern Seoul, which is guarded by heavily-armed police and troops. Cape Town's animal carcass waste costs millions Cape Town animal rights groups say that sterilization initiatives are a better solution than spending millions of rands disposing of euthanized animals' carcasses. The Cape Argus notes that more than 600 tons of dead animals are dumped annually at the Vissershok landfill site – about 36 000 unwanted or stray animals. But the cost of sterilizations has become a major obstacle, according to Lesley Jones, of Shine The Way 313cc, a company charged with the burial of euthanized pets and those killed on the roads. Armenia: Animal Rights Debate Building in Yerevan An animal rights debate is building in Armenia, centering on plans to open a dolphinarium in Yerevan. Local environmental activists and some city residents contend that the project's owner, who remains anonymous, is prepared to sacrifice marine mammal welfare and environmental sustainability for the sake of commercial gain. The dolphinarium, which will come with four dolphins, two fur seals and one sea lion, is expected to open on December 15 in Yerevan's Komitas Park. Able to handle 900 guests, it will be open-air in summer and covered with a glass dome when the weather becomes cooler. Northern Ireland: 33 Pilot Whales Found Dead On Donegal Beach Thirty-three whales have died in a mass beaching off the coast of County Donegal, in Northern Ireland, according to the BBC News. Most of them were females and their calves. (There is also a video at this link.) Scientists are trying to understand how the group of long-finned pilot whales got stranded on Rutland Island, near Burtonport. They believe this is the same pod that was spotted in the Outer Hebrides just a week ago, at the end of October. New Zealand: Government could ban the use of sow stalls on pig farms About 29% of New Zealand pig farmers use the stalls, which have been criticized by animal rights lobbyists as too small for pigs to move about in. Mr Key says animal welfare in the pork industry is being taken very seriously and a report from the National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee is being considered by Agriculture Minister David Carter. The committee recommended phasing out farrowing crates and sow stalls by the end of 2017. BM
