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June 2009 Victory for Puppies Paws Up! To Oregon state legislators for passing a bill that would limit the number of breeding dogs in a facility. In an effort to crack down on large-scale breeding operations, often referred to as puppy mills, the Oregon state senate passed HB 2470. This bill limits the number of breeding dogs to 50 in any one facility. In the past two years, Oregon has closed down six puppy mills and intends to continue shutting down those that do not conform to the law. The bill also sets standards of care for dogs in breeding facilities. The bill has been sent to Governor Kulongoski who is expected to sign it into law. This bill represents a good start in cracking down on cruelty. But while our country continues to produce more sentient beings than there are good homes for, we hope that all guardians will spay and neuter their companion animals and will support their local animal shelters through time, money, talent and, of course, adoption. Take Action: Oregon residents, please send a thank-you note to your legislators. Send another to your governor asking that he sign the bill into law today. The Honorable Ted Kulongoski Governor 160 State Capitol 900 Court Street Salem, OR 97301-4047 Telephone: 503-378-4582 Fax: 503-378-6827 Source: www.animalconcerns.org/external.html?www=http%3A//www.kptv.com/news/19636793/detail.html&itemid=200906030046290.212057 www.courier-journal.com/article/20090603/PETS/90603025/-1/rsslink # Wildlife Protected in Afghanistan Paws Up! To the Afghanistan National Environment Protection Agency (NEPA) for publishing its first list of threatened wildlife. After 30 years of conflict in the region, which adversely affected wildlife, Afghanistan has taken critical steps to provide legal protection to the wild species within its borders. Snow leopards, Marco Polo Sheep, and Asiatic black bears are among more than 30 species of mammals, birds, and plants protected under Afghanistan’s first protected species list. By year-end, NEPA hopes to add an additional 40 species to the list. According to news sources, “NEPA will be responsible for managing Afghanistan’s protected species, including developing recovery plans for species designated as threatened. Species will be re-evaluated every five years to determine whether populations have recovered to the extent where they may be removed from the protected list.” Take Action: Send thank-you letters to Mostapha Zaher, Director General of NEPA, and to the Honorable Said T. Jawad, Ambassador of Afghanistan. Let them know you appreciate the action their country is taking to protect its threatened wildlife. Mostapha Zaher Director General National Environmental Protection Agency Shish Darak Kabul - Afghanistan dg.nepa@nepa.gov.af mobile: + 93 799 400 600 The Honorable Said T. Jawad Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Afghanistan Embassy of Afghanistan 2341 Wyoming Ave., NW Washington, DC 20008 Telephone: 202-483-6410 Fax: 202-483-6488 Source: http://afghanistan.usaid.gov/en/Article.673.aspx www.biologicaldiversity.org/news/center/articles/2009/bbc-news-06-09-2009.html # |