Mary Cummins Wildlife Rehabilitation Animal Advocates News Los Angeles California: sanctuary

Showing posts with label sanctuary. Show all posts

Sunday, August 25, 2024

60 Fighting Cocks Killed After Rescue Offer by Mary Cummins of Animal Advocates

This photo is from 2010 cockfighting raid in San Luis Obispo, California. I'm on the left back facing camera. That's Rowdy Shaw and Eric Sakach from HSUS. Michelle is on the right. heartwood haven,cockfighting,animal advocates,rooster,sanctuary,mary cummins,hsus,california,cockfight,los angeles,fighting cocks,rescue,

I read the Mercy for Animals story about 64 former cockfighting birds being euthanized after rescue groups offered to take them. As someone who was involved in a cockfighting raid with the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) National Disaster Animal Rescue Team (NDART) this is a complex issue. Below is from Mercy for Animals an organization which I generally support.

"A plan to move former cockfighting roosters to animal sanctuaries was foiled when deputies in Yakima County, Washington, shot 64 birds awaiting rescue. Authorities reportedly feared that the birds might be moved without authorization if they were left on the property.

Before this horrific killing, Heartwood Haven animal sanctuary co-founder Kate Tsyrklevich and her team worked tirelessly to find the roosters suitable homes. They managed to save more than 40 of the birds and were clearing space on their property for the remaining ones. While waiting for a call from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to proceed with their plans, they were informed that the roosters had been shot and killed."

https://mercyforanimals.org/blog/cockfighting-roosters-shot/

I don't know the full issue but I know cockfighting birds a little. When I was involved in a raid of over 600 birds then told us they would euthanize them all after the owner relinquished them. All of us volunteers were animal lovers.We all said "can't we rescue them, take them to bird sanctuaries?" They said okay but told us sanctuaries probably would not want them because they will fight for life. In fact while we were logging in the evidence birds one of the sheriff officers accidentally let one go. We started to run after it and HSUS guy said "don't bother. He's not going anywhere." Instantly the bird flew back around and started trying to fight other birds in their enclosures. We easily grabbed him and put him back in his enclosure. Here this bird had a chance to escape to freedom and instead it chose to stay and fight. That's how strong the desire to fight is in these birds. Below is photo of the birds in their enclosures.

heartwood haven,cockfighting,animal advocates,rooster,sanctuary,mary cummins,hsus,california,cockfight,los angeles,fighting cocks,rescue,

They told us when they would euth them which gave us two days to find homes. We all called all the bird and farm rescues in California for 24 hours. They all said they didn't want them because cockfighting birds are very different than regular farm chickens due to years of selective breeding for the fighting trait. They are selectively bred to be perpetually combative. That's all they want to do besides eat. The males will fight for life unless they are in their own separate enclosure. That's why the fighters house them separately, see photos of raid linked above. The females are also more aggressive and have to be separated from regular chickens. Regular chickens are frightened of them. The babies would have to be separated when they come of age.

Two day time limit was up and no one could find a home for a single bird. We're talking experienced rescuers with contacts. I actually had one woman who agreed to take some but she called back and said no after talking to other chicken experts. I'm amazed anyone offered to take the birds. In fact Heartwood Haven who did take 40 birds in this recent situation is now offering them up for adoption. They don't want to keep them because they learned how difficult it is to house them separately. They even stated what I just stated "Heartwood Haven says there is a misconception that fighting roosters might be aggressive, but that is not true. The only caveat being that they can’t be placed with each other or other roosters." This is true. All the cockfighting birds were fine with humans. They just can't be with other birds. That's a big issue on a farm where chickens are generally all housed together. Heartwood Haven's statement proves my point. They said they'd keep the birds in sanctuary and instead are trying to get rid of them. I personally feel they shared this story with the media to get donations and media attention for their nonprofit. I understand as raising funds for nonprofits is difficult but still. I doubt they knew the true nature of fighting cocks when they agreed to take them originally.

Is it humane to house a cockfighting bird for life by itself? It still wants to fight all other birds it sees. It can never run free in a large enclosure. The females must be housed together and not with regular chickens. Regular chickens are frightened of the female cockfighting bred birds. The babies grow up and males will have to be housed alone.

Obviously after the two days we were given to find homes they euthanized all the cockfighting birds. They didn't shoot them which is dangerous for people. The Sheriff officers broke their necks instantly and painlessly. The birds may have had drugs in their systems so they couldn't even be given away for food. I saw the officers afterwards and they all looked pretty sad. No one wants to do that. They actually said we could do it if we wanted to and all the rescuers said NO. Maybe they thought we wanted to make sure it was instant and painless? It wasn't a cruel offer on their part. The Sheriff Officers were nice to us and grateful for our help.

Cockfighting is horribly cruel for so many reasons. It's a difficult situation for officers who have to deal with the birds after the raids. The birds can't be given back to the fighters. They can't go to a regular farm sanctuary and live free. They must be kept for life in solitary confinement while still wanting to fight and kill other birds every day. I personally feel euthanasia is the best option for cockfighting birds unless someone just wants one pet chicken which will be by itself in a huge locked enclosure.

Mary Cummins of Animal Advocates is a wildlife rehabilitator licensed by the California Department of Fish and Game and the USDA. Mary Cummins is also a licensed real estate appraiser in Los Angeles, California.

Google+ Mary Cummins, Mary K. Cummins, Mary Katherine Cummins, Mary Cummins-Cobb, Mary, Cummins, Cobb, wildlife, wild, animal, rescue, wildlife rehabilitation, wildlife rehabilitator, fish, game, los angeles, california, united states, squirrel, raccoon, fox, skunk, opossum, coyote, bobcat, manual, instructor, speaker, humane, nuisance, control, pest, trap, exclude, deter, green, non-profit, nonprofit, non, profit, ill, injured, orphaned, exhibit, exhibitor, usda, united states department of agriculture, hsus, humane society, peta, ndart, humane academy, humane officer, animal legal defense fund, animal cruelty, investigation, peace officer, animal, cruelty, abuse, neglect #marycummins #animaladvocates #losangeles #california #wildlife #wildliferehabilitation #wildliferehabilitator #realestate #realestateappraiser #realestateappraisal #lawsuit

Mary Cummins

Mary Cummins of Cummins Real Estate Services has been in real estate since 1983, over 35 years. She is licensed by the Bureau of Real Estate Appraisers. Mary Cummins was an agent and broker licensed with the California Department of Real Estate selling residential income, commercial buildings, raw land and homes for Merrill Lynch Realty in Beverly Hills and Westside Properties in Los Angeles before concentrating on appraisals. Mary Cummins currently provides real estate appraisals, expert witness testimony, historical research, legal real estate research for mortgage brokers, banks, lawyers, factors, insurance companies, financial consultants and private individuals. Mary Cummins was born and raised in Southern California. Cummins attended Beverly Hills Good Shepherd Catholic School and Beverly Hills High School. Besides being on the Dean's list, Mary Cummins was a top ten national swimmer and competed on the men's water polo team. Mary Cummins began college at the age of 15 attending the University of Southern California on scholarship, majoring in Psychology/Sociology. http://www.animaladvocates.us http://www.facebook.com/AnimalAdvocatesUSA

Monday, July 15, 2019

Liberty Canyon Wildlife Crossing over 101 freeway Los Angeles by Mary Cummins Animal Advocates

Bringing the Wildlife Crossing at Liberty Canyon to Life

The RCD of the Santa Monica Mountains has been working in collaboration with partners to bring the Wildlife Crossing at Liberty Canyon to life. The crossing would knit together two crucial habitats, which are currently split by Highway 101, and will be crucial for preventing the extinction of the native cougar population.

Although mountain lions (or cougars) in California are not endangered as a whole, sub-sets of their population in southern California face risk of extinction due to urban encroachment, vehicle strikes, inbreeding, and other risks associated with being separated by lethal traffic and freeways like Highway 101. Cougars living in the Santa Monica Mountains face a genetic diversity problem with a 99.7 percent chance of extinction in the next 50 years unless the gene pool is increased, based on a 2016 University of California, Los Angeles study. The Resource Conservation District of Santa Monica Mountains (RCDSMM) and their partners hope to fix this problem with a thoughtfully constructed and innovative wildlife crossing.

The 165-foot-wide, 200-foot-long Wildlife Crossing at Liberty Canyon will span Highway 101 and connect two major cougar habitats. Liberty Canyon was identified as an ideal location for the project after a cougar attempted to cross in October 2013. The young male would have been a prime candidate for increasing genetic diversity in the southern population. It successfully crossed eight lanes of Highway 101, but was trapped by a retaining wall, struck, and killed.

After the cougar death, state senators representing the area called a meeting to see what the options were to help the cougars. Representatives from CalTrans, the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, the National Park Service’s Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area Unit, and the RCD of Santa Monica Mountains came together to propose the crossing as the most viable solution.

The RCD received funding from the National Wildlife Federation to design the crossing, and final plans were created by Clark Stevens, RCDSMM’s Executive Officer, who is also an architect.

Wildlife Crossing at Liberty Canyon map and infographic

Design and illustration by Clark Stevens, Executive Officer, the RCD of the Santa Monica Mountains

The crossing is not just a bridge, but also includes a larger habitat area to promote use by wildlife. Through a separate grant from the Wildlife Conservation Board, the RCD of the Santa Monica Mountains created a habitat thread down to the crossing zone, improved a man-made drainage ditch, and added a bio swale and a long thin riparian area. The project was badly impacted by the Woolsey Fire in 2018, but the RCD is planning on restoring the habitat. In addition to cougars, there are other species that have genetic problems and will benefit from connectivity of habitats. For example, wrentits, small native birds, need continuously connected trees to travel and would benefit from restored habitat and at the crossing.

The project has many agencies involved to ensure a crossing that is durable and functional for humans, wildlife, and the landscape. Along with the RCD, lead partners include Caltrans, the National Park Service, the National Wildlife Federation, the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, and the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority.

Unlike many other communities in the United States where large predators are at odds with farming and ranching operations, the Santa Monica Mountains have little to no agriculture production and the community is largely supportive of the wildcats. A Malibu Times article stated that “in terms of written public comments received, nearly 8,000 residents have expressed support for the project, while only 15 expressed opposition.” The regional relationship with cougars truly is unique—the only other city in the world that has big cats living within city limits is Mumbai.

The Wildlife Crossing at Liberty Canyon project is still in its fundraising phase. For more information, please contact the RCD of the Santa Monica Mountains.

Mary Cummins

Tuesday, August 1, 2017

Rowdy Girl Rescue loses lawsuits is sanctioned by Judge in Texas

This case is identical to my case except in my case they forged their exhibits and perjured their statements on top of this. Hopefully I will have the same result with my appeal

"A Harris County District Judge has ordered the owners of an Angleton animal sanctuary to pay nearly $29,000 in sanctions for filing a frivolous, harassing lawsuit against critics of the sanctuary who called the operation a "scam" on Facebook.

Renee King-Sonnen and her husband Tommy Sonnen, who run Rowdy Girl, described as a "vegan" farm animal sanctuary, were also ordered to pay nearly $29,000 in defendants' attorneys' fees. The couple had sued the critics in February for $1 million, accusing them conspiring for nearly two years to disparage the sanctuary's reputation. (Tommy Sonnen is also a sanctuary board member).

The critics — which included former volunteers and donors who questioned the nonprofit sanctuary's finances — raised questions on a Facebook page called The Real Rowdy Girl Revealed.

The defendants, which include Dallas child psychiatrist and former sanctuary donor Sujatha Ramakrishna, successfully sought to have the lawsuit dismissed with prejudice under the Texas anti-SLAPP statute, which is meant to safeguard against meritless defamation lawsuits.

In his lengthy reply, the critics' attorney, Adam Milasincic wrote, "There is no doubt what this lawsuit is designed to achieve — stopping the public debate about Rowdy Girl, and silencing critics who raise questions about Rowdy Gir's less-than-stellar fundraising and animal-welfare records."

A presiding judge agreed, ordering the plaintiffs on July 26 to pay $28,750 in sanctions, noting that "The Court considered lesser sanctions, but determined that [the amount] is necessary to achieve the [anti-SLAPP's] deterrent purpose. The Court concludes that, absent the sanction awarded, there is a material risk that Plaintiffs will continue to bring similarly unsuitable claims in the future."

http://www.houstonpress.com/news/judge-sanctions-vegan-animal-sanctuary-for-frivolous-lawsuit-9659025

Mary Cummins of Animal Advocates is a wildlife rehabilitator licensed by the California Department of Fish and Game and the USDA. Mary Cummins is also a licensed real estate appraiser in Los Angeles, California.

Mary Cummins

Friday, February 3, 2017

Animal Advocates starts the #USDAchallenge as USDA removed all inspection, permit info from website

USDA AWA Animal Welfare Act APHIS Donald Trump removes all permit and inspection reports Mary Cummins Animal Advocates #USDAchallenge

UPDATE: 02/22/2017 USDA returned some documents 02/17/2017. They are here.

https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/animalwelfare/sa_obtain_research_facility_annual_report

Here is the notice that some documents have been returned.

https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/newsroom/news/!ut/p/z1/vVLLbsIwEPwajpadR_M4hooGEIVKECC-RJvYFBdih8SQ8vd1UC9QQdVLfdrVznh3dhZTvMZUwkm8gxZKwt7kKfWyycx9tvpzMolf3gYkSmbj_mhKbDJ9wqtrwGw59Eg0WCSLaWD1R6GD6WP-ElNMC6krvcUpVFvRZIWSmkud7UVeQ33ukQYyydumVqq8JI2GHd-qPeN1BlKqoyx4aRjNpZqfMwaadzGyieVfAmL3CLSAWp43QnN0rDpM17sqBMOpwyAgIWfICmwfuX5OULhxCuR6PnMs2LAQ4FbrTzGdVnLnRcTw6fU6brdlfwMe_JGaGfx7M8Sxh1cnwVucSFWXxr_5HyUOCR7_Zpm5CfFxONDIGNdZ9anx-t-dq8qkDJwz2m1eB45L0y8kEbZR/dz/d5/L2dBISEvZ0FBIS9nQSEh/?urile=wcm%3Apath%3A%2Faphis_content_library%2Fsa_newsroom%2Fsa_stakeholder_announcements%2Fsa_by_date%2Fsa-2017%2Fsa-02%2Fawa-website-update

02/08/2017 We uploaded some of the missing USDA files here.

https://archive.org/details/USDA_files

More files here

http://thememoryhole2.org/blog/aphis-annual-reports

We filed a FOIA request for all correspondence, email, faxes, voicemail in regard to the removal of the information from the USDA website. We also requested access to or a digital copy of all the items removed. Here is our FOIA request. We'll update this page with any responses to our request.

http://animaladvocates.us/foia_usda_02032017.pdf

Today the USDA just removed all permit information and inspection reports from their website. If you try to search for them, you get this message.

https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/animalwelfare/enforcementactions

"Last Modified: Feb 3, 2017 Print
Courts are continuously issuing decisions that provide agencies with guidance on interpreting and applying laws applicable to the release of information to the public by the Federal government, including the Privacy Act and Freedom of Information Act. In addition, the U.S. Department of Justice maintains comprehensive guidance involving the Privacy Act, Freedom of Information Act, and other laws, and updates such guidance based on legal developments. APHIS, with the support from the Office of the General Counsel, continuously monitors these sources of information and makes refinements to APHIS’ practices, as needed.

Based on our commitment to being transparent, remaining responsive to our stakeholders’ informational needs, and maintaining the privacy rights of individuals, APHIS is implementing actions to remove documents it posts on APHIS’ website involving the Horse Protection Act (HPA) and the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) that contain personal information. These documents include inspection reports, research facility annual reports, regulatory correspondence (such as official warnings), lists of regulated entities, and enforcement records (such as pre-litigation settlement agreements and administrative complaints) that have not received final adjudication. In addition, APHIS will review and redact, as necessary, the lists of licensees and registrants under the AWA, as well as lists of designated qualified persons (DQPs) licensed by USDA-certified horse industry organizations to ensure personal information is not released to the general public.

Those seeking information from APHIS regarding inspection reports, research facility annual reports, regulatory correspondence, and enforcement records should submit Freedom of Information Act requests for that information. Records will be released when authorized and in a manner consistent with the FOIA and Privacy Act. If the same records are frequently requested via the Freedom of Information Act process, APHIS may post the appropriately redacted versions to its website. In addition, some enforcement records (such as initial decision and orders, default decisions, and consent decisions) are available on the USDA’s Office of Administrative Law Judge’s website (https://www.oaljdecisions.dm.usda.gov). For more information on preparing and submitting Freedom of Information Act requests, please visit https://efoia-pal.usda.gov/palMain.aspx."

This is most likely related to Donald Trump. He told all federal agencies such as the USDA not to give out any information. The USDA permit search is also down. It was here.

https://acissearch.aphis.usda.gov/LPASearch/faces/Warning.jspx;jsessionid=7f00000130d877a4b47a2b9d4b9ca181bc36536f1dce.e38Obx8Sb3yQby0Obh0Qe0

We have a USDA Class C exhibitor permit in order to keep sanctuary animals. We always post our permits and inspection reports as we've never had a violation ever since we first had the permit in 2003 14 years ago. We will continue to do so. Any organization that doesn't post their own USDA permits and inspection reports should be suspect. People shouldn't donate or give money to any organization, sanctuary or zoo that doesn't post their permits. Our permits and inspection reports are posted below. All of the documents online were redacted. Here is one such document. They never included our home address, any personal information or even copies of the signatures.

Animal Advocates hereby challenges all over USDA permit holders to post all of their permits and inspection reports. Please, share this post. #USDAchallenge #PostYourInspectionReports

For those that need permit or inspection report information, here is a sample Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request letter I sent. Edit this to suit your needs then email it to FOIA.Officer@aphis.usda.gov. Not having that information online is going to cause USDA to get bogged down with FOIA requests. That's why they put the information online in the first place.

December 1, 2014

USDA, APHIS, Animal Care
FOIA REQUEST
Tonya Woods, FOIA Director
Legislative and Public Affairs
Freedom of Information Act
4700 River Road, Unit 50
Riverdale, MD 20737

Dear FOIA Officer:

Pursuant to the federal Freedom of Information Act, 5 U.S.C. § 552, I request access to and copies of All emails, letters and faxes to/from/within the USDA which mention Tawni Angel, Jason Nester, Tawnis Ponies and Petting Farm, any other business name they have used for anything related to her cancelled USDA permit, current permit or any complaints. I specifically want to see her exhibiting, dealer, breeding and transport permits.

I would like to receive the information in electronic format. (Via email to ***.) I agree to pay reasonable duplication fees for the processing of this request.

If my request is denied in whole or part, I ask that you justify all deletions by reference to specific exemptions of the act. I will also expect you to release all segregable portions of otherwise exempt material.

I of course reserve the right to appeal your decision to withhold any information or to deny a waiver of fees.

I look forward to your reply within 20 business days, as the statute requires. Thank you for your assistance.

Sincerely,

Mary Cummins

USDA Animal Advocates permit inspection reports #USDAchallenge Los Angeles, California Mary Cummins

Mary Cummins

Tuesday, January 6, 2015

The lady and her tiger by Pat Derby - Book review by Mary Cummins of Animal Advocates

Pat Derby, The lady and her tiger, PAWS, Mary Cummins, Animal Advocates, California

A year before Pat Derby passed away Patty Shenker gave me a copy of Pat's book "A lady and her tiger." I misplaced it but found it yesterday and finally read it. It's a very good read about what animal training was like pre 1970.

Back in the day animal trainers made animals perform out of fear and fright. They considered the animals as merely something to be used to make money. They did not provide them with the best enclosures, nutrition or care. When they were no longer useful they sold them for canned hunts, to become taxidermy mounts or merely euthanized them. They did not treat them the way we do our beloved pets.

Pat Derby felt that animals should be given the best nutrition, care, enclosures and enrichment. She believed that it is better to raise them with love and encourage them to do certain behaviors for food and praise as rewards. She did not believe in declawing, defanging, forcing an animal to work, frightening an animal to act or negative reinforcement. Over time other animal trainers came to see the light though some such as Have Trunk Will Travel still use bull hooks, hot sticks and negative training techniques.

The book "A lady and her tiger" takes you through Pat's upbringing in England to her becoming an animal trainer in California. She shares her experience working with different animals and animal training companies. She calls it as she sees it and admits early on she was not the most enlightened person when it came to animal training in her early years. Today of course her sanctuary Performing Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) cares for ex-exhibit animals in a sanctuary environment.

Pat Derby, The lady and her tiger, PAWS, Mary Cummins, Animal Advocates, California

Patricia Bysshe Shelley Derby (June 7, 1942 - February 15, 2013) was a British-born American animal trainer for American television series, commercials during the 1960s and 1970s and later became a crusader for animal rights. Father was Charles Boswell Shelley (1897-1954) a Cambridge professor, Mother Mary (1900-1977), older brother Derek (1920-1947), husband Theodore Ralph Ball Derby (1934 - 1976) and partner Edward Stewart.

Hardcover: 284 pages
Publisher: Dutton; 1st edition (1976)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0525142754
ISBN-13: 978-0525142751

Mary Cummins of Animal Advocates is a wildlife rehabilitator licensed by the California Department of Fish and Game and the USDA. Mary Cummins is also a licensed real estate appraiser in Los Angeles, California.

Mary Cummins

Friday, November 7, 2014

R.I.P. Chompers the wolf from LARC Sanctuary. Mary Cummins, Animal Advocates

CHOMPERS - R.I.P.

It is with a very heavy heart that we inform all of our supporters that Chompers (aka Compass) died after surgery on October 24th. Chompers was taken to the Vet after our staff noticed he was not moving around the enclosure normally. His bloodwork was abnormal, his breathing was shallow, and he had a cut on his front leg and shoulder. Chompers received six stitches for a “non life-threatening wound” according to our vet, but never awoke from his procedure.

Both of our veterinarians are carefully reviewing and re-testing his bloodwork to try to find an answer to his untimely passing. A special “howl” is being sent out to Matthew McDonald, a one-time volunteer and a close companion of Chompers who feels this loss as much as anyone.

We are so grateful to Mike from Wolfdog Rescue Resources and PamelaJo from Lake Tahoe Wolf Rescue for bringing this wonderful being into our lives by alerting us to his plight. We rushed down to the Rancho Cucamonga Animal Shelter on a cold October night in 2009 and whisked him away from the shelter – he was an owner relinquishment at only five months old.

Chompers lived at LARC for exactly five years and was the favorite of our staff and of Lorin and Matthew’s who have been “loving up” his packmates who miss him more than we will know.

I stood by your bed last night, I came to have a peep. I could see that you were crying, You found it hard to sleep. I whined to you softly as you brushed away a tear, "It's me, I haven't left you, I'm well, I'm fine, I'm here."

I was close to you at breakfast, I watched you pour the tea, You were thinking of the many times, your hands reached down to me. I was with you at the shops today, Your arms were getting sore. I longed to take your parcels, I wish I could do more.

I was with you at my grave today, You tend it with such care. I want to re-assure you, that I'm not lying there. I walked with you towards the house, as you fumbled for your key. I gently put my paw on you, I smiled and said " it's me."

You looked so very tired, and sank into a chair. I tried so hard to let you know, that I was standing there. It's possible for me, to be so near you everyday. To say to you with certainty, "I never went away." You sat there very quietly, then smiled, I think you knew... In the stillness of that evening, I was very close to you.

The day is over... I smile and watch you yawning and say "good-night, I'll see you in the morning." And when the time is right for you to cross the brief divide, I'll rush across to greet you and we'll stand, side by side. I have so many things to show you, there is so much for you to see.

Be patient, live your journey out...then come home to be with me.
Author ~ Unknown \

Chompers and I few years ago

Sirhan and I at LARC sanctuary

Mary Cummins

Mary Cummins Animal Advocates Los Angeles California Wildlife Rehabilitation Real Estate

Sunday, August 25, 2024

Monday, July 15, 2019

Tuesday, August 1, 2017

Friday, February 3, 2017

Tuesday, January 6, 2015

Friday, November 7, 2014