Animal rights advocates sue to stop N.J. bear hunt Animal rights activists on Tuesday mounted a last-ditch legal challenge to stop New Jersey's black bear hunt, which is set to begin Monday. Two anti-hunting groups, the Bear Education and Resource Group and the Animal Protection League of New Jersey, went to court to appeal the state's Comprehensive Black Bear Management Policy, which was adopted on Nov. 15 and authorizes the six-day bear hunt. They say the policy is based on faulty scientific methodology and was adopted illegally, and they hope to convince a state appeals court to block the hunt. Animals harmed at MPI, rights group Stop Animal Exploitation Now says An Ohio-based animal-rights group released documents Tuesday that it says show a “multi-year pattern of serious traumatic injuries” to animals used in testing at MPI Research. The group, Stop Animal Exploitation Now, called for an investigation of MPI Research by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. It is also seeking an internal review of USDA inspection practices by the agency's inspector general. Palin ‘Snuff Film' Draws Controversy Over Animal Rights The Tea Party princess and her daughter Bristol, 20, were shown on a halibut fishing trip filmed for her new reality show, “Sarah Palin's Alaska.” After catching a fish, Sarah is seen beating it with a club and while both laugh, Bristol holds its still-beating heart in her hand. Sarah's display of violence has lead animal rights group, In Defense Of Animals, to speak out against what they deem as “snuff.” A group spokesperson recently told TMZ, “Sarah Palin's complete lack of compassion as demonstrated in this snuff video is disgusting.” Rabbit abuse video highlights animal rights issue Animal rights experts are calling for urgent legislation to stop animal cruelty, following the exposure of an emerging business behind widespread videos of rabbit abuse on the Internet. A woman, who was paid to abuse rabbits to death on a video clip, has reported to the police after angry netizens launched a “human flesh search” on her and found out her identity, Xinhua News Agency reported on Tuesday. The 26-year-old woman, who uses an alias of Huang Xu, appeared on a four-minute video torturing a little rabbit under her high-heeled shoes and then crushing the creature to death by sitting on a thick glass plate placed on it. US: Animal Neglect Case Continues The defense is expected to present evidence today in the case of a Staunton dog breeder who faces dozens of animal-neglect charges. Charlotte Payne raises and sells small-breed dogs at her kennel on National Avenue in Staunton. She was indicted after a state veterinarian toured the operation last June. Most of the charges deal with state regulations, like having too many dogs on the property and failing to keep proper records. Some Concerned About Martin County Plan To Kill Coyotes Some animal rights activists are concerned about Martin County's plan to trap and kill wild coyotes roaming Witham Field. The county has a contract with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Wildlife Services to remove the coyotes. “I'm here this morning to strongly voice my opposition to (the) recent contract with the USDA Wildlife Services for the purpose of killing coyotes who have taken up residence at Witham Field,” Susan Beattie said during a county commission meeting Tuesday. BM
