Inside This Issue:
- Former Humane Society Executive Director Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison
- Sea Pod Greets Space Pod
- "Bullfighting Without Violence" Initiative Transforms Bullfighting in Mexico
- News Bites: Beautiful Blobs, Horrific Crime, City Spiders & Country Spiders
Former Humane Society Executive Director Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison
Fifteen years, minus 23 days.
In Ohio, a former top humane agent was sentenced to 15 years in prison on several charges stemming from the deaths of at least 18 dogs. Steffen Baldwin was, at one time, the Union County Humane Society’s executive director, and a respected voice in the humane community. Sadly, he used his position of authority and respect to falsely present himself as a kind of “rehabilitation wizard” who could save behaviorally challenged dogs… for a price.
Emotionally vulnerable dog owners and misguided rescues took Baldwin at his word and lined up to send him their dogs and money. The dog owners were given glowing progress reports – their dogs were alive and well, happy, perhaps thriving in new “forever homes” and such – but in reality, Baldwin was just taking the money and having their dogs euthanized.
The ethics and wisdom of spending thousands of dollars to rehabilitate dogs with serious bite histories and to remove “dangerous dog” designations is a topic for another article. Obviously, this practice raises some serious questions in and of itself. But our main takeaway here is just how far people are willing to go in order to salvage hope that their troubled dog can be miraculously “saved” – and how cruelly those hopes (and bank accounts) can be preyed upon by charlatans. It is hard to imagine the level of betrayal Baldwin's victims must have felt.
We always urge pet owners to meet the person who is caring for their animals, and to make sure that person has proper credentials and good references. This solves a lot of problems before they have a chance to start. But as this case demonstrates, sometimes the bad guy has pretty much everything in order, and you learn too late that this "angel" was too good to have been true.
Source: Former Union County Humane Society director sent to prison for euthanizing dogs, stealing
Sea Pod, Meet Space Pod
Stenella dolphin.
Nature staged the perfect homecoming celebration for SpaceX's returning astronauts this week, as a pod of dolphins danced through the brilliant blue waters to welcome Crew-9 back to Earth. This wasn't just a chance encounter – it was a moment that connected modern space exploration with thousands of years of maritime history.
For millennia, dolphins have been considered sacred guardians of seafarers. Ancient Greek and Roman sailors saw these playful creatures as divine messengers, while the Minoans of ancient Crete were so moved by dolphins that they immortalized them in their stunning palace frescoes dating back to the 15th and 16th centuries BC.
These marine escorts have long been viewed as harbingers of good fortune and safe passage. Perhaps the most famous dolphin guide was Pelorus Jack, a Risso's dolphin who spent 24 years escorting ships through New Zealand's treacherous Cook Strait. From 1888 until 1912, this remarkable creature became so beloved for saving countless lives that he was the first dolphin ever to be protected by law.
So, when these intelligent cetaceans appeared alongside the SpaceX capsule, they were doing more than just satisfying their curiosity: from our perspective, they were continuing an ancient tradition of welcoming weary travelers home. The surprise welcome committee turned what could have been a routine splashdown into a magical moment that captured hearts across social media, reminding us that even in our age of spacecraft and satellites, nature still has the power to fill us with wonder.
Source: Flipping for joy! Dolphins greet NASA astronauts back to Earth after splashdown
"Bullfighting Without Violence" Initiative Transforms Bullfighting in Mexico
Bull and matador.
In a landmark decision that marks a major shift in Mexico's centuries-old relationship with bullfighting, Mexico City lawmakers have voted 61-1 to fundamentally transform the practice. This new "bullfighting without violence" initiative prohibits the killing of bulls and the use of sharp weapons, while imposing strict time limits on the animals' presence in the ring.
The practice of bullfighting arrived in Mexico with the Spanish conquistadors over 500 years ago, and became deeply embedded in the nation's cultural fabric. The tradition's roots stretch back even further, to ancient Mesopotamia and the Mediterranean, where bulls held profound religious and cultural significance. This veneration of bulls transcended multiple ancient societies, where they symbolized power, fertility, and divine connection – a far cry from their later role in the spectacle of the arena.
During Mexico's golden age, bullfighting flourished alongside the country's economic growth and urbanization, with grand arenas built to accommodate the spectacle's growing popularity. The vote represents a delicate compromise between tradition and evolving social values. Animal rights organizations have gained significant influence in Mexican politics, with groups like Culture Without Torture leading the charge for reform. The economic stakes are considerable. The National Association of Breeders of Fighting Bulls reports that bullfighting generates 80,000 direct jobs and 146,000 indirect jobs across Mexico, with an annual economic impact of approximately $400 million. This reality has complicated efforts to completely ban the practice, leading to the current compromise solution. The reaction to the vote has been polarizing. Protesters on both sides gathered outside Congress—bullfighting supporters carrying signs declaring "Being a fan of la fiesta brava is not a crime, it's a point of pride," while animal rights advocates celebrated with stuffed bull dolls, protected by police in riot gear. Mexico City Mayor Clara Brugada framed the decision as transforming the capital into a place "that respects the rights of animals."
This vote follows a complex legal journey. In 2022, a judge temporarily banned bullfighting in Mexico City, citing residents' rights to an environment free from violence. While the Supreme Court later overturned this ban, the pressure for reform continued to mount, leading to today's compromise legislation. Green Party lawmaker Jesús Sesma addressed concerns about economic impact, stating, "To those families who feel frustrated today, we're here to say that no one lost their job. There was a middle ground to continue with these bullfighting spectacles, but now without violence." This transformation of bullfighting in Mexico City reflects a broader cultural shift—a reexamination of traditions in light of contemporary shifts in values and public entertainment. While the practice continues, its evolution marks a significant departure from its origins, suggesting a future where preserving cultural heritage coexists with the prevailing societal feelings toward the animals in our lives.
Source: Lawmakers in Mexico City ban violent bullfighting, prompting fury and celebration
News Bites: Beautiful Blobs, Horrific Crime, City Spiders & Country Spiders
Rural spider out in the beautiful (and blissfully quiet) countryside.
Talk about a makeover! The blobfish – the famously mocked, memed, and misshapen mascot of the Ugly Animal Preservation Society, just won “Fish of the Year!” This annual award, handed out by New Zealand’s Mountain to Sea Conservation Trust, is about raising environmental awareness and public outreach – and you can’t deny this unconventional beauty is going to be a real attention-getter!
In truly ghastly animal news, a Florida woman is accused of drowning her dog in an airport bathroom after being told she couldn’t take the dog on her flight. She faces aggravated animal cruelty charges. This crime was not only brutal and cruel, it was carried out in an astoundingly incompetent manner: the poor drowned dog was found in a garbage can along with his accessories – including a dog tag containing the woman’s identifying information.
This story is from a few weeks ago but deserves a mention. Everyone knows Lassie is ready to rescue Timmy when he falls down a well, but are we ready to do the same for Lassie? Bobby Jumper, a Texas animal control officer, certainly will – and he has! After receiving a call about barking and whimpering that seemed to be coming from underneath a local home, Jumper investigated beneath the residence and discovered a 12’ deep open well with a frightened dog trapped at the bottom. Backup from animal control and the fire department arrived, and they managed to improvise some harnesses and slings to pull the dog out. The well had a protective covering placed over it, and the dog, a stray Basset hound mix cheekily named “Timmy,” has been adopted into a delighted and loving home. So I guess that emphatically answers our question! (And yes, we know that Lassie never actually rescued Timmy from a well in the TV series.)
A spider’s web doesn’t just trap flies, it helps the spider navigate its world by providing a wide array of valuable sensory input. It’s really cool stuff. And even cooler, new research out of Nebraska suggests that spiders are able to intentionally customize their webs, depending on their environment! Industrialized society is notoriously noisy, and urban spiders have learned how to create noise-canceling webs. These webs are a little more vibration resistant, and help the spider avoid overstimulation, but at the same time, they’re sensitive enough that the spider can still detect its prey. Rural spiders exposed to noisy environments for the first time try a different tactic – they “tune” their webs to amplify the frequencies they are interested in. As an analogy, imagine someone from a quiet area moving into an apartment on a noisy street. During the first few nights, much like the rural spider, they might crank up the volume on their television or radio to hear those signals above the din. But after a while, like the urban spider, the apartment dweller might try other options, like better sealing on the doors and windows or noise-reducing curtains and panels, etc. to somewhat curtail the ambient noise, so they can enjoy the signals they actually want to hear at a lower volume.
Also in the News...
★ An 'Internet of Animals': How marine life can help solve ocean issues (Biologging & Open Access)
★ Woman cited with 11 counts of ‘over-possession of animals’ (Euphemisms for Hoarding and Irresponsible Pet Ownership)
★ Austin's chief animal services officer has been on paid administrative leave since March 7 (Shelter & Rescue Strife)
★ New bill could criminalize misrepresentation of service animals in Oklahoma (Service Fraud)
★ John Ball Zoo opening for 2025 with new animals, fresh attractions (Zoo Life; Activities & Exhibits)
★ Montgomery Co. shortens time from impoundment to adoption for animals at local shelter (Shelter & Rescue Policy)
★ Humans aren’t the only animals with complex culture − but researchers point to one feature that makes ours unique (Cumulative Culture; Open-Ended Culture)
★ Pythons, iguanas, agama lizards: Exotic animals sightings around Florida's Treasure Coast (Cute, yet Highly Invasive Lists)
Click here to see what is happening legislatively
