KHOU on horse slaughter and elephant abuse 10/4/07

October 6, 2007

Wonderful KHOU reporter Brad Woodard is at it again. Last night, Thursday October 4, he brought us two strong animal stories that appeared on the CBS affiliate, KHOU, Channel 11 in Houston, and on various other stations across the state of Texas. They are now on the web for everybody to see. The first covers an issue we looked at earlier this week -- the transport of U.S. horses to Mexico for slaughter. You can watch the story on line, or read most of the transcript and avoid the gory images, at http://tinyurl.com/39mfxg(The American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act would ban the transport of horses to slaughter. Please go to https://community.hsus.org/campaign/FED_2007_horse_slaughter3 to support it.)On the 10pm news, Woodard covered captive elephant abuse. We learn about Tina and Jewel, Asian elephants living in Texas. Handler Will

Davenport keeps them for fairs, parades, circuses, weddings and parties. As we watch the huge animals being led around in small circles with children loaded onto their backs, Woodard comments on the events: "They are human celebrations, which according to some translate into a lifetime of misery for one of the most intelligent mammals walking the earth."We learn that the USDA had cited Davenport for keeping the elephants in a 20-by-space with inadequate food and shelter. He has now brought their environment up to match legal standards, but those standards are paltry. Davenport explains that handling elephants is a family tradition. Woodard tells us:"It's a skill, he said, thatï¿½s handed down in the family, which some find disturbing considering the fact that Davenportï¿½s father was barred from the exotic animal business several years ago and fined $200,000 after one of his elephants, a baby named Heather, was found dead in the back

of a poorly ventilated truck in Albuquerque."Woodard also shares video from elephant training at circuses, letting viewers see the abuse that goes on behind the scenes. You can watch Woodard's wonderful piece at http://tinyurl.com/2nk9ud and you can learn even more about the plight of elephants in circuses at www.Circuses.com where you'll see shocking video, or you can read about circuses at http://www.idausa.org/facts/circusfacts.htmlPlease make sure those at KHOU learn how much their coverage of animal issues is appreciated. Positive feedback will encourage follow-ups and coverage of more animal issues. It takes just a moment to send a comment and do so much good for the animals. The station takes comments at:http://www.khou.com/customerservice/HelpCenter.doYours and the animals',Karen Dawn(DawnWatch is an animal advocacy media watch that looks at animal issues in the media and facilitates one-click responses to the relevant media outlets. You can learn more about it, and sign up for alerts at http://www.DawnWatch.com. You may forward or reprint DawnWatch alerts if you do so unedited -- leave DawnWatch in the title and include this parenthesized tag line. If somebody forwards DawnWatch alerts to you, which you enjoy, please help the list grow by signing up. It is free.)To discontinue DawnWatch alerts go to http://www.DawnWatch.com/nothanks.php-------You are d to DawnWatch using the following address: dogs_goodDate: Fri Oct 5 17:12:51

2007

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