Free Republic

Cleveland Amory was a popular author and TV personality who was known for writing about the foibles of wealthy families and individuals from the 1950s through the 1980s. He came from the Boston Brahmin "Amory" clan and there are a number of semi-famous Massachusetts "industry pioneers" and town founders in his family tree. His Wikipedia biography, however, does not mention that his brother Robert Amory Jr. was the CIA Director of Intelligence from 1953 to 1962. Robert Amory was a member of the CIA's executive suite when the Bay of Pigs invasion failed, along with Allen Dulles, Gen. Cabell, and...

President Trump signed a bipartisan bill on Monday that makes certain acts of animal cruelty a federal felony, saying it’s important for the nation to combat “heinous and sadistic acts of cruelty." The Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture Act (PACT) prohibits extreme acts of cruelty, including intentional crushing, burning, drowning, suffocating, impalement, carried out against "living non-human mammals, birds, reptiles, or amphibians." “Aaaw isn’t this wonderfully heart-warming!” respond some amigos. “Especially as President Trump cited the hero military dog Conan during the signing ceremony!”Perhaps. But let’s look more closely at the issue—especially at some of this legislation’s most fervent sponsors:“The...

Gov. Jerry Brown on Sunday scuttled a bill that would have pre-empted federal conservation efforts by going after African species trophies. Brown, a Democrat, vetoed SB 1487, which would have prohibited the possession of various parts or products of a wide range of animals including the African elephant and black rhinoceros by any individual or association in California. The bill passed the state Senate 27-11 and the Assembly 55-20 with a thin measure of bipartisan support in August. Writing in his veto message to lawmakers, Brown said that, “Even though I share the sentiments of the author, this bill, if...

An October 5 Humane Society ad warns that a Donald Trump presidency would be bad for animals because Trump’s sons hunt and his agricultural advisers allegedly support confining pigs to close quarters when raised for slaughter. The ad opens with a photo of Trump’s sons holding a big cat while a narrator says, “Trump’s sons, they’re trophy hunters of elephants and rare species. Don Jr. is floated to be Interior Secretary.”

President Obama's mid-December move to protect African lions as endangered species will effectively end "canned" hunts for the king of the forest since nearly nine of every 10 killed is taken by an American, according to new data released by the Humane Society of the United States. The analysis found the trophies of 719 African lions were imported into the United States in 2014. Of those, 620 came from South Africa, and of those, well more than half, 366, were killed in captive hunts. Overall, HSUS said, 425 trophies from captive hunts were taken in 2014, meaning nearly 90 percent...

If eggs are a staple in your family’s diet and you’d like to keep it that way, now would be a good time to get a few laying hens. Next month, beginning January 1, 2015, the chicken-and-egg production in the United States is in for a big shock. That’s when California’s new regulations on egg-laying hens goes into effect. And the effects of those regs on eggs will be felt nationally, even globally. The incredible, edible, prolate spheroid-shaped poultry product, which has long been one of the most affordable sources of high-quality protein, is certain to become significantly more expensive.In...

A prominent animal-rights charity is not a friend of the furry kingdom. Americans love animals, even cats. Eight million stray dogs and cats find their way into animal shelters every year, and the lucky ones are adopted into a warm home with a loving family. Shelters are operated by small charities usually called “humane societies,” whose good deeds are funded by private generosity. The Humane Society of the United States trades on the good of others to finance a radical agenda. In May, the Humane Society and a handful of other radical animal-rights groups had to write a $15.8 million...

Bundy ranch family members and friends spent much of their weekend moving cattle shot or run to death during the BLM standoff earlier this month. The graphic images have gone viral online, shocking both rancher and animal advocates alike.

When it came time to pick a little puppy pal for White House dog, Bo, the Obama family seems to have made the politically incorrect choice of purchasing a pure-bred instead of adopting a rescue dog from one of the many shelters that become the last stop for millions of dogs before they are euthanized.

Eleven months ago, the old Battle Mountain Humane Society building north of Hot Springs on Highway 385, was consumed by fire. A faulty fluorescent light fixture was the cause of the catastrophe that killed 11 dogs and rendered Wagoner, who had an apartment in the building, homeless. Volunteers sprang into action, donations poured in from the area, state, nation and even from international donors. Celebrities such as NASCAR driver Ryan Newman stepped up through his foundation to lend a hand. Immediately next to the cement pad where the original building - a converted riding stable - stood last year, a...

The deceptively named “Cancer Project” animal-rights group is at it again. This time its target isn’t hot dog makers, but grilled-chicken servers. The group, a branch of the PETA-linked Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM), filed a lawsuit in Connecticut yesterday against three restaurant chains demanding warnings about a supposed link between grilled chicken and cancer. As we told the media, PCRM is nothing more than an animal rights front for pushing vegan activism, which is funded primarily by a single rich donor. Since 2003, PCRM and the Cancer Project have derived 60 percent of their budgets from a...

PITTSBURGH — An organization wants attorneys general in Pennsylvania and 11 other states to investigate whether advertisements by the Humane Society of the United States violate laws by implying that money from donors supports animal shelters. HumaneWatch, a nonprofit project of the Washington-based Center for Consumer Freedom, released a report on Thursday claiming that the Humane Society gives 1 percent or less of its income to local animal shelters, despite ads showing animals in shelters. “Consistently, there is a disconnect between what they use to raise money and what they spend that money on,” said Justin Wilson, senior research analyst...

Local breaking news; no linkable sources yet. The Battle Mountain Humane Society animal shelter in Hot Springs, South Dakota burned to the ground this afternoon. No human injuries involved; one known animal death . At last word, a full accounting of the animals was on-going.

The owner of a pit bull and a boxer involved in a fatal dog shooting Thursday was cited Friday on suspicion of two counts of unlawful ownership of a dangerous animal, said Erica Meyer a Humane Society spokeswoman. The incident happened around 4 p.m. Thursday at a house on Portrait Place in northeast Colorado Springs. Bud Linton, who owns a german shepherd, said the two dogs had jumped his 6-foot fence and were fighting with his dog, Max. Linton said he coaxed max into the house when the boxer and pit bull chased after a neighbor and her two small...

Time for your weekend break from politics. Most of us are, by now, familiar with the idea of “seizure dogs” and “therapy dogs” who assist owners with special medical needs. But a seizure cat? Keep this in mind if you’re ever considering rescuing a feline from the local shelter. From Wisconsin. Amy Jung and her son, Ethan Jung, originally went to the Door County Humane Society on Feb. 8 to play with the cats, not to bring one home. Then Jung, 36, saw Pudding lying on a counter. She made a quick decision to adopt Pudding and his pal Wimsy....

<p>PHOENIX (AP) — Some outraged donors are threatening to pull their support for the Humane Society after it euthanized the beloved cat of a former heroin addict hours after he brought it in for medical treatment.</p> <p>The Arizona Republic reports (http://bit.ly/tNzWqN ) that Daniel Dockery's 9-month-old cat, Scruffy, was put down not because of cuts it got from a fence but because the 49-year-old Phoenix man couldn't immediately pay $400 for its care.</p>

Hatched over the last few weeks by Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) with backing from House Democratic leaders and the White House, it was a legislative maneuver rich with the kind of irony that often goes unremarked in Washington — a classic backroom special interest deal to help pass a bill that would require heightened disclosure of special interest spending on campaign ads. The idea was to neutralize opposition to tough new campaign spending rules from one particularly powerful special interest group, the National Rifle Association, by exempting it as well as the left-leaning Sierra Club and the ecumenical Humane...

Factory farming, green living among topics sparking discussion Animal advocates gain ground in religious circles In Genesis, the Lord created animals, said they were good and then gave man permission to eat them. While not a universal belief, many Christians traditionally have embraced a biblical stance on animals as a source of companionship, food and labor, but not much else. "We know from the Bible that God created animals, he cares about them intimately and he wants us to care about them," said Ben DeVries, 30, of Kenosha, Wis., who started a blog, "Not One Sparrow," to encourage his conservative...

SPRINGFIELD — The GOP’s likely nominee for governor, state Sen. Bill Brady, came under fire Wednesday from a leading animal-rights group for pushing legislation to allow the mass killing of stray shelter animals in gas chambers. Brady (R-Bloomington) introduced the legislation sought by an animal-control facility in his district on Feb. 2, two days after the GOP gubernatorial primary that he now leads.....

Workers at the Lawrence Humane Society animal shelter in Kansas have started arming themselves under that state's concealed carry laws. The impetus for ensuring workers are able to defend themselves were numerous violent attacks on the workers in past years. This shelter is also responsible for investigating claims of animal cruelty and workers have been attacked during or after pet confiscations resulting from the investigations. “We’re dealing with people that might not be in the best position in their lives and we might have to take their animals, or we might have to ask them questions that would make them...