Express News Service

MYSURU: A cow which suffered severe injuries in the mouth after eating food stuffed with firecrackers at GB Sarguru gram panchayat in HD Kote taluk in Mysuru was euthanised on Monday.

Dr Amardeep Singh, veterinary doctor of People for Animals (PFA), said, "The cow's tongue along with the jaw had been blown into pieces and the whole of the larynx was severely damaged. The prognosis for the cow's survival was very low and dogs were attacking it. Thus, euthanasia was done and the cow was buried."

Savitha Nagabhushan, managing trustee of PFA, said, Our team rushed to the spot along with an ambulance to treat the cow and injected painkillers into it. Several animals have sustained injuries and succumbed due to explosives. We will create awareness among villagers about the harm to animals by placing explosives and educate them about animal protection. Gram panchayats will be roped in for the programme."

According to villagers, it is common in forest fringes to stuff food with 'Natti Sidimaddu' (local explosives). The explosives are planted for two reasons -- mainly to hunt wild boars for meat and also to prevent them from entering agricultural fields.

The seven-year old cow belongs to cowherd Narasimhegowda, a villager of Bettadabeedu. He said, Usually, we leave the cows to graze in agriculture fields. But due to severe rains, we freed the cows near forest fringes for grazing on Monday. It accidentally ate food packed with explosives and sustained severe injuries around 12.30 pm. I own three cows and this one had given birth to three calves. We regret what has happened. Coming close on the heels of the Kerala elephant which died after eating explosives and the dogs poisoned in Mysuru, the incident has deeply hurt animal lovers. L Bhavani, an animal lover, said this is an utterly inhuman act and the government should take strict action even against those who place explosives to catch wild boars.

Read more:

Euthanasia performed on cow badly hurt after eating food stuffed with explosives in Mysuru - The New Indian Express

123RF

How do you think you would feel if a close relative battling a terminally illness chose voluntary euthanasia?

Kiwis are set tovote on whether euthanasia should be legalisedinone of two referendums at this year's general election in September.

If endorsed by the public in a referendum,the new lawwill allow those who are terminally ill to request assisted dying.

The patient must be the first to suggest assisted dying, and two doctors must agree that the patient is well-informed and other legal criteria are met.

Euthanasia is a debate this country has had before. It's divisive, emotive and a hugely important debate to be had over personal rightsthat should not be shiedaway from.

Thebill to legalise voluntary euthanasiawas originally introduced in September 2015following a landmark right-to-die case fromLecretiaSeales, the 42-year-old Wellington lawyer, whodied of natural causes.

Her legal battle reignited the right to die with dignity debate. And now the issue is back on the table.

What are your views?

How do you think you would feel if a close relative battling a terminallyillness chose voluntary euthanasia?

Do you think the proposed legislation is thorough enough? Or do you believe more changes are needed?

To share your thoughts withStuff, hit the bigbutton below. We prefer submissions between 400-800 words. App users: emailstuffnation@stuff.co.nz.

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Euthanasia referendum: Should Kiwis have the right to die with 'dignity'? - Stuff.co.nz

Submitted by Animal Protection Society Friday Harbor

Canaan, a Friday Harbor local, is Bob Andersons champion agility dog. Canaan has been in approximately 120 agility trials and 1500 individual agility runs. He has come in first place more than 400 times and placed second or third in as many events. Canaan is seen in the photo above with only a fraction of the ribbons and metals he has earned over his years of competing. Canaan, now nine and a half years old, will be running in just a few veteran events at each trial as Zeke, the newest member of Bobs pack, steps into the arena.

When an agility dog wins at a big event, they receive their winnings in the form of a check but, at smaller events, they win a few dollars in cash. Bob stuffed Canaans smaller winnings into an envelope over the years and never counted the money. When Canaan retired, Bob and Canaan brought Canaans cash winnings into APS-FH to donate it to the Pet Food Pantry. We gathered to count the cash and found that Canaans generous donation added up to $657 for the APS-FH Pet Food Pantry.

The Pet Food Pantry is a community pet food bank to help keep pets in their homes by providing pet food for families in need. The Pet Food Pantry is located at the Treasure Hounds store at 365-C Spring Street in Friday Harbor. Hours for pet food distribution are from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. every other Wednesday. Both cat and dog food are available.

Thank you, Canaan and Bob, for supporting this important program!

APS-FH Mission

Our mission is to provide compassionate care and brighter futures for homeless animals.

We commit to the following:

Provide a safe haven for homeless and lost animals

Reunite lost pets with their owners

Place animals in our care in qualified, loving homes

Reduce pet overpopulation with spay/neuter education and assistance

Advise and advocate for the protection of animals

Network with other shelters and pet rescue groups impacted by overcrowding or natural disasters to decrease euthanasia rates and ultimately save lives

Advance animal welfare through education, outreach and assistance

Promote a stronger sense of the animal/human bond

Always adhere to our no-kill philosophy for adoptable animals

Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram or visit apsfh.com for more information.

Link:

Canine champion donates winnings to pet food pantry... - Journal of the San Juan Islands

Sex Robots and Vegan Meat: Adventures at the Frontier of Birth, Food, Sex and Death

Jenny Kleeman

Picador, pp. 368, 16.99

It wasnt until half way through Jenny Kleemans Sex Robots and Vegan Meat that I was able to put my finger on why it was making me uncomfortable. Sometimes you read a book where the authors mindset is so alien to your own that you feel almost as though youre translating from a foreign language; this was one of those times. But on page 143 I found the Rosetta Stone.

Kleeman was talking about vegan meat cultured steaks and burgers developed in a laboratory. She had met various scientists and entrepreneurs who were trying to make it happen (including some, it should be admitted, who come across as spivs and carnival barkers). And then she said: Vegan meat depends on a pessimistic view of human beings: the belief that we are incapable of changing the way we eat. Instead, we should, as humanity, lose our taste for meat altogether.

That was when I realised why the whole book felt bizarre. To me, lab-grown meat represents an optimistic view: that we can still have things we like (meat) at hugely reduced costs (of animal suffering and environmental damage) seems to me a positive. But Kleeman thinks giving people what they want is harmful. Instead, she says, we should try to change our attitudes so that we dont want those things.

The book focuses on four areas of technology: sex robots, lab-grown meat, artificial wombs and on-demand euthanasia machines. They are all, Kleeman says, on the horizon, and all have the capacity to transform human society.

That said, I think two of them at least are further off than she thinks. The sex robots chapter is mainly concerned with sex dolls, while showcasing a few laughable attempts at making some of them AI-enabled; the challenges of making AI good enough to achieve human conversation, or robotics advanced enough to make a humanoid robot that can walk around in a busy environment, are left largely unaddressed. Meanwhile, the euthanasia machines section focuses on one deeply weird guy who wants to make 3D-printed suicide coffins. The public may be in favour of assisted dying, but I dont get the impression theyre clamouring for that.

Its an often interesting look at some strange people. But Kleeman keeps returning to the same point: we shouldnt try to develop this new way of providing things that people want, whether its vegan meat or a way of having children without getting pregnant. In each case, she says, it could make humanity worse off. Ectogenesis, the growing of babies in artificial wombs, will mean there is even less reason to solve the social problems that make it so difficult for women to have babies. Lab-grown meat may perpetuate the taste for meat among people who might one day go over to a plant-based diet. Sex robots will make men objectify women even more. Death machines will reduce the drive for palliative care.

Many people may agree with her; but I found myself wishing that she would back her point up. No doubt all these things will have some negative consequences. But the question is whether the benefits gained will outweigh them: the reduction in animal suffering, the improvement to womens careers. Even sex robots, icky as they are, might make lonely people feel less isolated. They are empirical questions, but Kleeman doesnt seem interested in answering them. She just declares that the technologies are bad.

She also works hard to make the groups she meets seem more important than they are. The pro-euthanasia one founded by the suicide coffin guy has 3,500 members worldwide. I suppose pro-euthanasia groups will be naturally quite self-limiting in size, but thats not much of a global movement. And, inevitably enough, Kleeman links sex robots to incels, but then says, in apparent shock, that the now shut-down incels page on Reddit had 40,000 members. Well thats not very many either.

Shes an engaging writer, and the book is often moving, especially when she talks about how her own experience of miscarriage has affected her attitude towards artificial wombs, and during the discussion of an assisted death (which flirts somewhat with breaking the Samaritans guidelines for reporting suicide). But the history of humanity is full of the creation of new technologies which often have downsides, yet generally improve our lives. Kleeman doesnt do enough to convince me that these will be any different. And when she concludes by quoting approvingly someone decrying technical fixes instead of revolution, I think: actually, I prefer the sound of the technical fixes.

More here:

The shape of things to come from artificial wombs to suicide coffins - Spectator.co.uk

The food bowl has been washed, and tucked away safe in a high cabinet.

No one asks you to roll a ball down the hallway anymore. The squeak of soft toys no longer interrupts your TV shows these days; in fact, it's too quiet now and you hate it. Even worse, there's a reason why these things are so, and in "Lost Companions" by Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson, you'll read thoughts on the loss of your pet.

What a "miracle" it is that we have pets: here we are, different species that feel "a deep and ancient longing" to be with one another. Such a thing "delights" Masson, perhaps because he's had animal companions his entire life.

The problem, as all animal lovers know, is that pets don't live as long as people do.

We know, the moment we get a new fluff, that we're going to grieve that pet someday; just thinking about it is a grief all on its own. Masson believes that animals are also aware of their mortality, but we can't get inside their minds to know what they think about it and perhaps euthanasia is utilized too hastily.

When a pet dies, "we are simply not prepared for this ... we want our beloved companions to live longer." We may be surprised at the depth of the raw emotion we feel; Masson quotes (and marvels at) several people who say they grieved harder at the loss of a pet than they did for a human. We should, therefore, never "belittle the grief of others" when it comes to pets, which includes when our pets exhibit grief and they do.

Says Masson, "You could say grieving makes us human, or you could also say, grieving makes us just another animal."

It's awfully hard to determine the exact point of "Lost Companions."

Yes, it's about losing a pet, and the emotions you inevitably feel about it. But author Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson also delves deeply into the deaths of wildlife, livestock and humans, which are not at all the only off-topic topics. He also writes particularly gruesomely about dog-meat markets, and he touches upon veganism, and "companion" versus "owner." To continue, the tedious, already-hashed-over subject of whether or not pets love us is brought forth again, and Masson argues strongly against The Final Kindness, saying he can't imagine it, but admitting that he's never witnessed it.

And yet.... (heavy sigh).

If you've ever lost a pet, you know you need to read this book, the on-point of which arrives with fewer than 100 pages to go. You know you've been there, and you might be there again, and that maybe, possibly, there's another way to ease your grief, some way you haven't yet encountered. It might be here. It might.

Indeed.

This is a three-tissue book but Masson gives you room: it's not a cry-fest until quite a way in. Keep that in mind, and have your tear-wipes nearby: if you've recently lost a furry loved one, "Lost Companions" may bowl you over.

Read more from the original source:

Break out tissues; 'Lost Companions' will touch your heart - The Guam Daily Post

Parliament has done its work, writes Ann David. It has balanced the need of the dying who meet certain additional criteria to legally escape their torment against the desire of all of us to ensure that only that cohort accesses a requested assisted death.

OPINION: If by right to die with dignity we mean the right to reject deathbed torture then yes, I believe we should have that right.

The Health select committee examining the views of Kiwis on assisted dying in 2017and the Justice select committee that received submissions as part of parliamentary process in 2019 were both presented with multiple stories of horrifying deaths in our country.

In some cases, the dying experience their death as a torture through which they are dragged due to the lack of a merciful legal option to avoid it. Their families are wracked by the suffering of their loved ones.

These submissions came from ordinary people up and down the country stories from hospices, from hospitals, from rest homes. It appears there is no setting in NZ that is immune from the scourge of suffering death, not even in top class palliative care.

READ MORE:* My biggest hope for the election is an increased turnout* End of life choice comes down to compassion * Act 'offers choice, not compulsion' * Assisted dying conscientious objection questions too early - court * Assisted dying referendum: why NZs law lacks necessary detail to make a fully informed decision

I have suffered such a death in my family. Perhaps you have too?

For that reason, I attentively followed the passage of the End of Life Choice Act 2019 from its introduction in June 2017 through to obtaining Royal Assent in November 2019. It went through all the usual parliamentary processes in the glare of the media. The time allowed for public submissions was extended from the usual threemonths to ninemonths. MPs who make our laws also made submissions. In the end, parliament voted 69:51 to pass the End of Life Choice Act 2019 as it is now.

No piece of legislation in the history of the NZ parliament has been through more thorough scrutiny. Parliament has done its job and now hands us back this law for our approval or rejection at the referendum.

To imagine it can now be changed is ignorant. The law does not allow any further change at this point. The End of Life Choice Act 2019 will stand or fall exactly as it is on 19 September. It is Yes or No or abstain from voting on this topic. See http://www.referendums.govt.nz

Parliament has done its work. It has balanced the need of the dying who meet certain additional criteria to legally escape their torment against the desire of all of us to ensure that only that cohort accesses a requested assisted death. Enablement balanced by safety.

Every year in New Zealand, many death-hastening actions take place without the regulation or oversight that the End of Life Choice Act 2019 would provide. These include decisions by patient or family to switch off life support that will inevitably end in swift death and decisions by patient or family to reject medical interventions to extend terminal life, thereby leading to earlier death. They are perfectly legal decisions. Never do we hear a suggestion of coercion or abuse in these everyday situations.

Yet they are ripe for exploitation, unregulated as they are. Who protects the patient against such a possibility? One single doctor. No specific regulation governs these decisions or their execution but it seems we, as a society, are perfectly satisfied with this status quo.

It is therefore ridiculous to imagine danger when the additional safeguards of proper regulation and a two-doctor process are added as specified in the Act. In fact, it defies logic.

NZ law should be based on fact, not fanciful conjecture. The fears related to the introduction of medically assisted dying have no basis in fact. They are not observable anywhere in the world where assisted dying is practiced, covering some 200 million people. If our team of 5 million votes Yes, then 205 million people will have the right to avoid unwanted deathbed torture.

Make it so.

Ann David is a member of theEnd of Life Choice Society NZ, whose objective is to have assisted dying legalised in NZ.

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Euthanasia referendum: This is it - the End of Life bill will stand or fall exactly as it is - Stuff.co.nz

LAS VEGAS, NV (KXNT0 - The Animal Foundation says that for the time being, they won't beaccepting stray animals at its shelter.

The decision was made in order to reduce contact between guests and shelter staff.

In addition, the Animal Foundation is also temporarily suspending owner surrenders, while conducting owner-requested euthanasia and return-to-owner services by appointment only.

The foundation is recommending thatpeople who find lost petsusesocial media such as Nextdoor, Facebook to unite the pet with their owners, or to postthe pet on the lost pet search websitefindingrover.com.

Owners cansearchanimalfoundation.com/lostandfoundto seeif their pet has been brought to the Animal Foundation, and make an appointment to claim their pet.

An appointment can be madeby calling 702-955-5932.The foundation says that proof of ownership, such as photo of pet, veterinary records, or microchip number, is required.

View original post here:

Animal Foundation Not Taking In Strays, Temporarily - Talk Radio 1210 WPHT

Since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, institutions have been closing and ordering the halt of non-coronavirus research, claiming they were non-essential. Because of this, colonies of lab rats have been multiplying, leaving some scientists up to euthanizing them.

(Photo : Photo by Oxana Kuznetsova on Unsplash)Lab mice and rats are being euthanized as their population continue to rise amid the halt of non-COVID-19 research.

This has taken a toll on many researchers who claim it is never easy to end another being's life, whether animal or human.

Xiao-Tong Su, a postdoctoral fellow at Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU), shared how she apologizes to mice every time she euthanizes them. The researcher whose study on hypertension was put to hold says she thinks the mice have sacrificed a lot for science and human health.

As a pet owner herself, she said it was hard working in the lab as she became too attached to the animals she worked with. After working with rabbits, and being an owner of pet rabbits as well, she said she had to switch to working with mice early in her career.

Mouse and rat euthanasiais nothing new in the world of medical research. After the completion of an experiment, mice are basically rendered extraneous. They can no longer be used as a control, and are therefore humanely euthanized.

Many universities follow the reductionist policy, which means they use a few mice as much as possible. Whenever possible, a single mouse can be used for more than one study. Depending on their research, most researchers would only euthanize one animal per day.

Sayra Garcia, a second-year Ph.D. student at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, shares how the experience of euthanizing "never gets easier" with time.

Also Read: Neuron Found In Mice Could Have Implications For Effective Diet Drugs

When cases of the coronavirus started showing up at the beginning of March, institutions across the U.S. were suddenly forced to stop the majority of non-coronavirus-related research.

As laboratories were closed down and lab managers, researchers, and animal care technicians were ordered to stay at home, resources to support mouse colonies tapered off.

Due to this, directors at different institutions received orders from provosts to address the lab mouse population problem by reducing them. According to Eric Hutchinson, the director of research animal resources at Johns Hopkins, they had a high volume of euthanized lab mice in just one week. He shares how they somehow anticipated it to get both physically and emotionally overwhelming.

Euthanasiais usually performed by animal care technicians, who are also trained veterinarians. The procedure is done by injecting carbon dioxide, followed by surgically dislocating the neck to confirm death ultimately.

However, early during the pandemic, the technicians were scrambling to prepare for lab closures, which left the lab managers with the burden of performing the dreaded procedure.

In many labs, this meant that a single person was left responsible for euthanizing hundreds of mice. Most often, this was done in just one sitting.

One lab manager who wishes to remain anonymous shared how sometimes the mice would jump around the cage to try and escape. He shares how the worst part of the job is dislocating their neck surgically.

"They're already dead," he says, but protocols need to be followed. Having to grab their neck and tail, he says he really doesn't like doing it and having to do it 150 times definitely affected him.

Read Also: New Research Reveals Compound That Eliminates Chronic Pain in Mice; Promising Development for Medicine

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Lab Mice Face Euthanasia As They Gather Due to the Halt of Non-COVID-19-Related Research - Science Times

Thursday, 16 July 2020, 12:05 pmPress Release: Auckland University of Technology

Professor Emeritus of Sociology Charles Crothers hascompiled the existing data on New Zealanders attitudes toeuthanasia and cannabis going back decades.

Theupcoming general election is unusual for including referendaon both issues. There is a long history of polling publicattitudes on them in New Zealand.

Survey(and other social research) Data Related to the ForthcomingReferenda on Euthanasia and Cannabis summarises thesurveys to date.

"These two moral issues stand out asthe key moral issues of the day," Professor EmeritusCrothers says.

"Euthanasia and cannabis have spurredconsiderable survey research activity, with some 30 pollsfocusing on the first, and 45 or so in the second, since theturn of the millennium.

"The two issues have beendissimilar in that views on euthanasia have been broadlyconstant over time whereas those on cannabis have shown morevolatility."

The research note is designed to beof use to journalists and other researchers. It can bedownloaded from The Policy Observatory website here.

Scoop Media

Become a member Find out more

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How Views Have Moved On Euthanasia And Cannabis | Scoop News - Scoop.co.nz

Kimberly Hopkins pleaded guilty to zip-tying her mother's hands during a manicure and trying to put a plastic bag with helium over her head.

TELLICO VILLAGE, Tenn. A woman in prison after a bizarre plot to kill her parents told a parole board her mother wanted help to die.

Kimberly Hopkins said her elderly Tellico Village mother asked for her help to take her own life Father's Day weekend 2018. She said her mother had long suffered verbal and emotional abuse from her father and wanted to die that specific weekend to send a message.

"She had ordered some things to help her kill herself and so I agreed to do that. I regret that now, but I was just doing what she wanted me to do," Hopkins said.

Investigators said Jan Martin managed to break free and alert her husband, Jon.

On the scene, deputies found a pot roast in the fridge spiked with a sedative, a to-do list for death and a book on assisted suicide.

Prosecutors said the evidence found does not support Hopkins' story at the parole hearing. Assistant District Attorney Jed Bassett said Jan Martin denied asking her daughter for assistance killing herself.

Hopkins, he said, had been estranged from her parents for years.

"There was not any correspondence that she was talking about referencing an attempt to assist her mother in any suicide or euthanasia type situation," District Attorney General Russell Johnson said.

They say the murder plot was financially motivated: Hopkins wanted the money from her parent's estate after their death.

At the parole hearing, Hopkins objected.

"I would never have done anything that I did without my mothers permission," Hopkins said, her voice cracking with emotion. "I am telling the truth today. And she doesnt want me to tell the truth because it is embarrassing to her."

Johnson acknowledged Hopkins' father has a "controlling" personality and described the family as "dysfunctional." He said her mother is the opposite--caring and compassionate.

Prosecutors said the couple is split on what should happen to their adoptive daughter.

"The father literally wanted Mrs. Hopkins to receive a life sentence and spend the rest of her life in prison," Johnson said. "[The mother] did not want her daughter to go to prison, she wanted probation."

Hopkins agreed to a plea deal to serve at least 30% of a 15 year sentence. At her parole hearing, she said she deserved to serve the mandatory four and a half years.

Prosecutors said they ideally want her behind bars until her parents die.

"Theyre still at the same residence and theyre still pretty well-off. Her motivations are still there," Bassett said. "If she were to be let out on parole, theres a very high likelihood that she would try to do it again."

Her parents, both in their 80s, declined to be interviewed when contacted in November.

See the original post:

In prison for bizarre plot to kill parents, woman says her elderly mother wanted to die - WBIR.com

Image Credit: Facebook/Borneo Animal Welfare Society, Sabah

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One year after making international headlines when someone sliced off her snout in Malaysia, an adorable dog named Noobu is now thriving at her loving forever home. Seemingly unaware that shes missing her nose, Noobu happily plays with her guardian Lylian Lee and her furry friends.

The former stray, whose name means Baby in the Tibetan language, is lucky to be alive. Fearing that nobody would want to adopt her because of her mutilated face and the costly surgery and recovery, the veterinarian who eventually treated Noobu recommended euthanasia. But Noobus rescuers remained dedicated to saving her life.

Lylian first noticed Noobu at the veterinary clinic, where a Borneo Animal Welfare Society Sabah (BAWSS) volunteer took the severely injured canine for treatment.

My initial reaction when I saw Noobu was, how can someone be so cruel to an animal?, Lylian said. I felt sorry for the dog and wished I could help in any way.

In a Facebook post, BAWSS appealed to the public for information about the despicable act of animal cruelty after Noobu was found in the street last year with her two puppies. Unfortunately, nobody came forward, and Noobus abuser remains free.

Noobu has made tremendous strides in her difficult and remarkable journey, and she now lives a rather ordinary life. She even eats on her own, according to Lylian, who hopes the canines story inspires people to be kinder to strays.

She has a happy life now. she said. She eats and sleeps well, too. No stray asked to be homeless.

Read more here:

Dog With Snout Brutally Chopped Off Is Living Her Best Life One Year Later - Lady Freethinker

There has been a lot of buzz surrounding peoples mental health and the best ways to deal with stress and anxiety during the coronavirus quarantine, but what about their pets?

Jokes have been going around about how happy dogs are to have their people home all the time two months ago a dog owner in the United Kingdom shared that her dachshund sprained his tail from wagging it too much and that maybe independent cats arent so thrilled about their owners invading their space during the day.

So now, as more businesses reopen and people go back to work, the question remains, what will happen to the mental health of their pets?

Over at the Humane Society of Truckee-Tahoe, the pet shelter in Truckee is closed yet accepting adoptions by appointment only. Normally receiving 70-80% of its pets (usually at risk of being euthanized) from overcrowded and underfunded shelters in large cities such as San Francisco, Sacramento and Los Angeles, staff at HSTT is starting to see an influx of animals going back to shelters as people go back to work. And with animal shelters being closed, this is the worst time to surrender a pet.

When the pandemic hit, shelters were told to try to keep animals from coming in by urging people to keep them in their homes, probably because we dont have any volunteers to check on them as everyone is working from home, says HSTT Community Engagement Director Erin Ellis.

She adds that with a skeletal staff managing the shelter and not being around, its best for the pets wellbeing if they can stay in their home a little longer.

Ellis does believe that pet problems may start to spring up when owners go back to work, and they dont get lots of walks and constant companionship anymore.

That was my first thought, is that as businesses start to reopen there may be behavioral issues associated with people going back to work, Ellis says.

When people cant exercise their dogs anymore or have never crate-trained their pet, it may cause a shift in the pet-owner dynamic.

Before the pandemic happened, Ellis admits that she and her husband adopted a 6-month old puppy that required a lot of training.

Hes not used to us being away from him, so we wonder how that is going to go, Ellis said.

To prepare for the back-to-work transition, HSTT staff is being proactive by setting up resources online, giving people tips for how to make a symbiotic relationship work between pets and their owners.

We expect to be really busy when the shelter opens back up again, she said. So first we want to direct people to the website and provide information and resources for training pets. If that doesnt work, then we can provide information about reputable trainers available to hire that can go to their home. We do have staff available on a limited basis, so people can also call us, and we can try to walk them through some of those behavioral issues.

We are doing all of this with the hope that people wont be turning their pets in, that theyll keep them in their home, she added. However, dogs will probably have some separation anxiety when the owner leaves especially with puppies.

Keeping the health and safety of the community and pets first and foremost in mind, the HSTT doesnt have an estimated time when volunteers will be back to socialize, train, and take care of the pets. Fortunately, in an animal-centric place like Lake Tahoe, all HSTTs pets are currently in foster homes right now.

If pets cant handle the shelter then they go into foster care, she said. We track cats and dogs health every day and do progress reports, checking to see if theyre eating, vomiting, being destructive in their room. We monitor their mental health and wellbeing on an individual case-by-case scenario.

She said they will be expanding their foster program with the goal to bring in more adult dogs from other areas that are more at risk for euthanasia and adopting them out into Tahoe.

Were hoping to be able to house another 20-30 dogs in the shelter because theyre the ones more likely to be euthanized, she said.

The number of fostered dogs and adoptions changes daily, but there are generally around 20-30 cats and dogs that are out in foster homes at any given time.

The plan is to keep the shelter full, within reason, and increase the foster program, Ellis said. There are times when we have a big transport from Los Angeles with kittens and cats. Were just keeping an eye on other communities. We dont have a problem necessarily here but in other areas it can be bad, especially in kitten season (which is right now).

In the new fostering program, the humane society has started facilitating video meetings between the foster and adopting parents to talk about any issues that the forever pet owners should be aware of.

Had this pandemic not happened we wouldnt have seen or thought of some of these new processes, so thats been the positive thats come from this, at least in our little world, she said. Were slowly reopening right now and when we have dogs back on our adoption floor, they will be available to pick up by appointment only. The adoption process is so well-solidified. Ive never seen a huge tidal wave of animals coming back, even in the recession.

Therefore, the best way to maintain your pets mental health is to keep them around and understand that they might act out if theyre not getting the attention that they had during the pandemic.

And for those who are now spending more time working from home and are in a position to foster or adopt a pet, they can always email adoptions@hstt.org to start the process.

To access additional information about how to maintain your pets mental health, visit https://hstt.org/.

Kayla Anderson is a staff writer for the Tahoe Daily Tribune, a sister publication of The Union.

Continue reading here:

Pet health an issue with owners transitioning back to work - The Union of Grass Valley

'Indicative' means the Government does not have to act on the outcome of the referendum.

One example of this was the citizen-initiated corporal punishment referendum of 2009, when 87.4 percent of respondents answered 'no' to the question: "Should a smack as part of good parental correction be a criminal offence in New Zealand?"

Despite the result of the referendum, the Government did not change its anti-smacking laws.

The cannabis legalisation and control referendum, which you will have the opportunity to vote on at the same time as the euthanasia referendum, is also indicative.

The End of Life Choice referendum will be held alongside the general election and the cannabis legalisation and control referendum on September 19, 2020.

When you go to vote, you will be given one voting paper for the election, and another for the referendums. You must be eligible and enrolled to vote to have your say.

If you're in New Zealand, you'll be able to vote when advance voting starts on September 5. If you'll be overseas at the time, you can vote from overseas from September 2.

A Newshub-Reid Research poll held in February 2020 found 61.9 percent of would vote 'yes' in the End of Life Choice referendum, while just 23.7 percent would vote 'no'.

That echoes results of another poll in early 2018 that showed 71 percent of people would support allowing terminally ill patients to choose to die with the help and approval of their doctors.

Another poll conducted by Three's The Hui and Horizon Research in March 2020 shows 72 percent of Maori would vote in support of the End of Life Choice Bill.

A poll by Euthanasia-Free NZ and Curia Market Research released last month shows things are more evenly split, with 57 percent of respondents agreeing and 43 percent disagreeing with allowing doctors to administer lethal doses of drugs to patients.

However Seymour, whose work resulted in this year's referendum, told Stuff the results are misleading because the question asked did not reflect the nature of the End of Life Choice Bill.

"The majority of New Zealanders have seen bad death and they're saying, 'when my time comes, not for me - it's my life and it should be my choice'," he told Newshub.

Euthanasia is not an issue that sits neatly along party lines.

In the End of Life Choice Bill's third reading, the majority of MPs were allowed a conscience vote. It was this vote that saw the Bill put to a referendum.

This meant National MPs Maggie Barry and Chris Bishop - Parliament's most outspoken critics and supporters of the Bill respectively - were able to vote truthfully on an issue deeply personal to them.

Labour, too, voted on conscience.

New Zealand First all voted in favour of the Bill in its third reading, after leader Winston Peters agreed that his MPs would do so only if the issue was put to a public vote.

The Green Party voted as a bloc to support the Bill, conditional on an amendment that made eligibility for euthanasia more narrow. It said in 2016 that it would support voluntary euthanasia if it got into government.

The ACT Party, with Seymour at the helm, is in favour of legalising voluntary euthanasia.

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Euthanasia referendum explained: Everything you need to know about the End of Life Choice Bill decision - Newshub

By Mary Esparra| For the Times Herald-Record

Another week, and more cats in need of medical care. Mid Hudson Animal Aid cat shelter in Beacon is struggling to pay for vet bills for two of its felines.

Rocky came to MHAA June 16 with a spiral humeral fracture in his right arm. The 3-month-old brown tabby kittens arm was dangling.

It was a pretty serious injury, said MHAA Manager Jamie Martinez. He had to see an orthopedic surgeon.

Within two days, Rocky had surgery at the Animal Specialty Center in Yonkers to repair the fracture, which included putting in screws and a plate.

Its one of those things, when somebody shows up with an injured kitten, you know its going to be expensive, said Martinez, but you cant turn away. We couldnt just live with a broken leg like that. The other option wouldve been to amputate, you can do euthanasia, but when the surgeon says its repairable, thats something were going to do for him.

After surgery, Rockys arm was iced multiple times a day, and he was put on pain medication.

Rocky is healing, walking well and Martinez hopes he will be back to full activity after his next recheck.

Hes a very sweet, friendly kitten, she said. Hes playful but a bit needy, always wanting attention and affection. He gets some supervised time in a playpen every day. He enjoys that, but he cant be running and jumping. For a young kitten, its a faster healing process than for an adult cat.

Although MHAA has an approved application on Rocky, applications are still being accepted on him. He hasnt been tested with other cats, dogs or kids but is a happy, playful kitten who would probably do well with everyone.

Gloria, a 4-year-old feral brown tabby, came to MHAA in May after a good Samaritan found her in Beacon with mouth issues.

She looked horrific, said Martinez, with a horrible drool. This cat really needed some help.

Gloria was trapped and brought to the vet, who thought it could be cancerous. After a biopsy, it turned out to be stomatitis, a severe inflammation of the gums and mouth.

That is something treatable, said Martinez. She had to have a dental with all her teeth extracted, as well as the inflamed tissue.

Gloria no longer needs a feeding tube and eats without pain. She is still on medications and will have another recheck with her vet in August.

She is available for adoption or foster to a quiet home willing and able to continue her medication and vet visits. She hasnt been tested with kids, other cats or dogs, as she has been in isolation.

Shes healing well, and she will stay here (if she doesnt find a home), she said. She couldnt stay living on the streets like she was; she desperately needed help.

Donations are needed to help with Rocky and Glorias vet bills and can be sent to Mid Hudson Animal Aid, 54 Simmons Lane, Beacon, NY 12508 or at midhudsonanimalaid.org.

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Shelter in need of donations to pay for vet bills - Times Herald-Record

In the wake of her daughter's death, a Pennsylvania lawmaker is calling for anyone who encourages a person to commit suicide to face steeper penalties than those currently on the books.

State Representative Dawn Keefer (R) was alarmed to learn from a constituent that her 25-year-old daughter committed suicide at the instruction of chatroom operators.

"They walked her through her suicide step by [step], down to buying the products off of Amazon, the amount to take and how to take it, and [they] continued to give her support," Keefer shares. "At another point they encouraged her; when she was apprehensive, they said to jump the bus. 'You should do it. Go ahead. You'll be better off. We'll see you on the other side.'"

The parents knew nothing until they observed their daughter's online contacts after her death.

Rep. Keefer explains that under current law, "if you cause, or even if you assist somebody with suicide, it's graded as a second-degree felony or a second-degree misdemeanor, and that's punishable by five to ten years in prison and a $25,000 fine for the felony or two years in prison and a $5,000 fine for the misdemeanor."

She has introduced House Bill 1785 to increase that penalty for anyone who aids or encourages a person with an intellectual disability or anyone under age 18 to kill themselves. The House has passed and sent the bill to the first step in the Senate, the Judiciary Committee.

Keefer encourages everyone in the country to be aware of the chatrooms and to urge their state lawmakers to pass legislation to deal with them.

Skewed stats

Meanwhile, stats revealed in an annual report on doctor-assisted suicide show 20% more Californians killed themselves in 2019 than in the previous year. Brian Johnston of the California Pro-Life Council tells OneNewsNow that while 405 such suicides were reported, that's not likely an accurate figure.

"A doctor doesn't have to send in the report; there's no penalty for failure to report," he reports, "and this is absolutely significant because it clearly skews the answers we get."

Johnson also points out there is a third party involved who could be involved in intentionally killing a patient. That, says Johnston, is a form of euthanasia.

"It is ostensibly volunteer euthanasia, but it's euthanasia [nonetheless]," he adds. "And once the person is dead, there's no way to determine just how voluntary it was." In other words, there's no follow-up and if euthanasia has taken place, there's no investigation, no accountability, says Johnston.

The pro-life activist concludes by noting that a question remains unanswered: What is the impact of this on the medical community?

"We are witnessing a complete inversion of the medical practice of our state and nation and unless you're aware of that, you and your loved ones will be at risk. This is a very serious change in our cultural values."

The problems cited in California's practices are about the same as those in other states and Washington, DC, where it is legal.

Editor's note: Section on California report added after story was originally posted.

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Online hotline operators in the hot seat - OneNewsNow

The pet adoption center will continue to provide updates accordingly

by: Mark Brown

SAN ANGELO, Texas From the excessive heat advisories to the recent increase in daily COVID-19 cases, Concho Valley Paws could be dealing with some of their greatest challenges ahead.

Even though things may be shutting down and hours can be restricted, we have to continue to move animals, because animals continue to come into the shelter, Concho Valley Paws executive director Jenie Wilson said. And so its really easy to get into a population crisis. If animals are coming in, then we dont have them going out for adoption and transport.

Being in a high population area like San Angelo has kept Concho Valley Paws away from euthanasia, which is their number one objective. COVID-19 concerns forced the pet adoption center to make adjustments.

We have changed our services and changed our hours, so that its very friendly to the volunteer and the adopter, Wilson said. Everything can be done online, and through the phone and we just arranged for you to pick up the pet.

With daily heat advisories not disappearing anytime soon, C-V Paws will do everything they can in keeping their pets safe.

All of the animals are inside an air controlled environment so theyre comfortable in the air conditioning, Wilson said. We have outdoor kennels here that we utilize to showcase animals, but then we restrict their time unfortunately. When we have a lot of heat like this we see a drop in volunteers.

This pandemic has caused a lot of uncertainty amongst the entire pet adoption service, meaning theyll constantly issue new updates to potential pet adopters.

Since we cant have our adoption events every Thursday at 10am, were doing virtual adoptions where were showcasing animals that the staff selects their favorites, Wilson said. Those animals are offered for free for that week from Thursday to Thursday.

For more information, visit https://cvpaws.org/

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Both the COVID-19 pandemic and excessive heat advisories has brought forth many challenges to Concho Valley Paws - ConchoValleyHomepage.com

One of the most unpleasant investing clubs is the 90% Club, which includes companies whose share prices have fallen by nine-tenths or more. Many FTSE 250 and even FTSE 100 firms have tumbled into the 90% Club.

A few of these fallen angels rise again, and some go on to greater glory. A sizeable proportion become fallen devils and their share prices never recover, as an old rule of the stock market says, A share that has fallen 90% can fall another 90%. The 90% Clubs worst members go on to lose all of their value.

One recent recruit to the 90% Club is former FTSE 250 member Dignity (LSE: DTY), which has lost its good name as well as over 90% of its market value.

After Co-op Funeralcare, Dignity is one of the UKs leading funeral directors. (By the way, never confuse Dignity with Dignitas, which is the Swiss euthanasia assisted dying provider.)

When Dignity floated in 2004, I recommended its shares to Fool readers (article since archived). I argued that customers were quite literally dying to use its services at a rate of 50,000 a month.

By raising prices steadily above inflation, Dignity and other funeral providers made their services ever more expensive. By October 2016, its shares had risen more than tenfold, peaking at around 2,820p. This valued Dignity at around 1.4bn, placing it firmly within the FTSE 250 index.

Endlessly pushing up prices worked a treat for Dignity shareholders until it didnt. In March 2019, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) launched an in-depth investigation into funerals. This sent its shares plunging, coming on top of steep falls in 2017 and 2018.

Dignity shares now trade at 270p, down 90.5% from their all-time high. During the market collapse earlier this year, they dipped to 210.5p on 6 April. Also, they are down nearly three-fifths (58%) over the past 12 months. Today, Dignity is worth a mere 135m.

Youd expect a much higher death rate to be positive for funeral-care providers. But lockdown restrictions mean that big, well-attended events are forbidden. As Dignity makes big profits from extras and add-ons, having basic, low-priced funerals has brutally bashed its business model.

For many firms, the 90% Club is a lobster pot they fall into and never escape. But a few hardy survivors turn their situation around and get out of this trap. While its extremely difficult to differentiate between recovery shares and fallen devils, I think Dignity has a decent chance of becoming a defensive business again.

Dignity expects continued downward pressure on the average price of funerals and cremations. At todays 270p, its shares are priced more for Armaggedon than heaven, but they are cheap as chips.

In 2019, Dignity turned over 339m and made pre-tax profit of 44.1m, which generated earnings per share (EPS) of 69.8p. If EPS dived to just 50p in 2020, Dignity shares would have a price-to-earnings ratio of just 5.4. The dividend, cancelled in 2019, is unlikely to reappear before late 2021 at the earliest.

For me, Dignitys shares can grow sustainably from this rebased level, not least because its a fairly simple business. Also, many of its smaller rivals may go bust or be taken over to boost Dignitys market share. As a high-risk bet, this former FTSE 250 share is not suitable for all, but Id buy Dignity shares today.

The post This dying ex-FTSE 250 share has crashed 90%. I think it may be a bargain! appeared first on The Motley Fool UK.

More reading

Cliffdarcy has no position in any of the shares mentioned. The Motley Fool UK has no position in any of the shares mentioned. Views expressed on the companies mentioned in this article are those of the writer and therefore may differ from the official recommendations we make in our subscription services such as Share Advisor, Hidden Winners and Pro. Here at The Motley Fool we believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors.

Motley Fool UK 2020

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This 'dying' ex-FTSE 250 share has crashed 90%. I think it may be a bargain! - Yahoo Finance UK

A COLORADO dad survived a vicious pummeling by 450-pound bear that was wandering around the kitchen this week.

On Friday, Dave Chernosky, 54, miraculously lived after coming across the enormous animal checking out the contents of his fridge.

Chernosky described his shocking encounter with the dark brown bear in Aspen after a suspicious noise alerted him to its presence downstairs.

"I was asleep and heard something in the kitchen. And I just kind of laid there thinking, 'Okay, something's wrong,'" Chernosky told Good Morning America.

"So I went to the kitchen, saw the bear there. He was already in the fridge and cupboards and stuff like that.

"My kids were in the basement, so I wanted to make sure he stayed upstairs."

The brave father-of-two recalled he tried to coax the wild creature into the garage and away from his loved ones.

But the frightened animal panicked when he hit the garage door opener, ran back inside, and attacked him.

"I literally thought I might be dead," Chernosky told ABC11. "It felt like a brick hit me in the head.

"As soon as we looked at each other, he just smacked me with his paw one time.

"And after I got out of the way and started yelling, he left," said the dad who suffered cuts to his face and neck.

He dialed 911, telling the dispatcher "a bear came in here and he hit me with his paw so I'm bleeding."

It felt like a brick hit me in the head.

Chernosky was rushed to Aspen Valley Hospital before being transferred by ambulance to St Mary's Hospital in Grand Junction.

There, he had stitches on his cheek, jaw, ear and back but is set to make a full recovery after his wild encounter.

"Luckily, the bear wasn't really after me," he said.

Matt Yamashita, Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) area manager, said authorities responded to the incident at around 3am.

The investigation into how the nosy bear entered the home is underway but the department found the animal and euthanized it.

Chernosky's battle with the black bear marks the second attack in recent days.

Near Manitou Springs, an area south of Denver, a woman was attacked by a bear on Saturday morning.

Officers caught the bear near the scene of the attack using trained dogs to sniff her out.

The sow was put down with "humane" euthanasia when wildlife officers caught it nearby.

Wildlife authorities there said the woman was "very lucky" to leave the attack with minor injuries.

The bear's baby cubs were taken to a rehabilitation center and will be trained to avoid human contact to avoid meeting the same fate as their mom.

Local authorities have urged people not to leave trash or food out where the hungry animals can access it.

"Black bears are not naturally aggressive, but they are strong, powerful animals," CPW notes on its Camping and Hiking advisory. "A bear intent on getting a meal can easily injure someone who gets in its way.

"Every year, bears that become too comfortable around people have to be destroyed.

"Every time were forced to destroy a bear, its not just the bear that loses. We all lose a little piece of the wildness that makes Colorado so special."

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Bears have to eat 20,000 calories a day to prep themselves for the lean winter season, which is a late summer or early fall feeding frenzy known as "hyperphagia."

There have been 1,809 bear reports in Colorado and 1,323 of these have come in since June 1, according to CPW records cited by The Coloradoan.

But the last fatal bear attack on a human there was over a decade ago in 2009.

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Dad survives mauling by 450-POUND bear that wandered into familys kitchen - The Sun

A heartbroken daughter said she had to watch her elderly dad die like "a tortured animal" and has called for an inquiry into assisted dying.

Jo Bucklow, 60, from Gedling, witnessed her father, Ian Bucklow, 94, suffer a painful death from terminal prostate cancer in the summer of 2019.

Mrs Bucklow, a shiatsu practitioner, said she believes that had assisted dying been an option for terminally ill adults then he wouldn't have gone through seven days of torture leading up to his death.

Her dad - who flew Spitfires in World War II and was also responsible for visiting crash sites of RAF pilots - was described as "a very brainy, academic type" and was a teacher up until the point he got really sick in 2018.

The cancer had spread to his lungs and he was sent from a hospital to a hospice for his end of life care.

But when the medication failed to stablise him, Mrs Bucklow said she was forced to watch him die painfully rather than peacefully.

She said: "The hospice was amazing.

"On one Sunday night, he was chatty, normal and pretty awesome and then I came back on the Monday morning and he was in an absolutely appalling state.

"He was thrashing around. We had to hold him down while the medication took effect.

"But the medicine did not work. He showed constant signs of distress and looked like a tortured animal. You could not believe that is legal.

"If I did that to my dog I would be prosecuted. Assisted dying could have been there to help my dad. There was no peace at all.

"He had the most wonderful life but the worst death imaginable."

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She added: "My dads carers would continue to up the dose of drugs he was on but it never seemed to be enough to make him comfortable or alleviate his suffering.

"My dad was still conscious when began to gasp for breath, and kept displaying signs of distress up until his death. It must have been utterly torturous for him.

"I have been present at the death of other people, and in comparison, my fathers suffering as he died was traumatising.

"It was the most horrific thing I have ever witnessed and I am still recovering from the experience."

Both euthanasia and assisted suicide are illegal under English law.

She said assisted dying would give terminally ill people another option when their pain at the end of life cannot be managed or tolerated any further.

"It is unspeakably cruel that we deny dying people this choice and an inquiry into the ban on assisted dying is urgently needed," she added.

Sarah Wootton, chief executive of Dignity in Dying, said: "The coronavirus pandemic has made all of us confront our own mortality.

"We have had to come to terms with a sense of powerlessness, fear, and anxiety over an uncertain future. We have been shocked at how some have died from Covid-19: frightened; isolated; feeling like doctors are making decisions for them, not with them. But this is precisely what terminally ill people already face under the UKs ban on assisted dying.

"Our dying citizens are denied choice and control at a time they need it most and are instead forced to resort to drastic measures which often leave them dying in secret, alone, terrified and in pain.

"And what were already limited options fraught with risk and stress, such as travelling to Dignitas, have been made even more so by current restrictions.

"As we begin to emerge from the worst of this pandemic, the time is now for a grown-up conversation about the fact we are getting dying wrong in this country, and how we can at last fix our broken laws."

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Heartbroken daughter had to watch dad die like 'a tortured animal' - Nottinghamshire Live

In an emotional Facebook post, Natalie Dodds asked: Does this kitten look like she needs to be euthanised?

Natalie told how she had resigned as a volunteer at Cats Protection because the giant charity wanted the kitten called Penny put to sleep.

There are other volunteers across the country who say that they too have walked out over what some call its kill policy.

Natalie, a former foster carer at the charity's branch in Telford, Shropshire, says that she took in little Penny after Cats Protection officials recommended that it be put down rather than have an operation for a chest deformity.

From the outset, Cats Protection did not wish to treat Penny, not even with flea or worm treatment, as her operation would cost more than the 500 limit per cat, and as such she was destined to die, she said.

So her fianc Ryan adopted Penny, refusing the offer of a refund if he returned her, telling the charity: Never did I believe that a kitten would need rescuing from the very organisation that was supposed to protect her.

An operation proved a complete success.

Penny is still thriving and loving her life, she is now ten months old and has already lived seven months longer than Cats Protection would have allowed, said Natalie.

I could not accept that Penny required euthanasia when there was treatment options available to her.

Following Pennys adoption, I made the decision to formally resign.

I pride myself on always putting animal welfare first and could not continue to be associated with this organisation.

Natalie states that the charity is particularly inclined to euthanise cats with two viruses usually known by the initials FIV and FeLV, especially if they are wild.

Cats Protection will snap test for FIV and FeLV all cats but if a feral has a positive result, they will not have secondary bloods tests done - its euthanasia immediately.

Others make the same allegation, including Sue Phillips who volunteered for the Atherton and Wigan branch of Cats Protection in Lancashire for 21 years until being told by email that she was no longer wanted.

Matters came to a head when branch members met national officials who wanted a cat called Simba, who had FIV, put to sleep.

Volunteers at the meeting challenged this due to having previous success with ill or unwell FIV cats, said Sue.

The two officials repeated on several occasions that FIV cats that were ill should be put to sleep, full stop.

The fosterer was following the agreed treatment plan with the vet but the committee was told that the fosterer should overrule the vet and euthanise the cat.

You save a cat's life and wait for someone in head office to criticise by saying it was against policy, but they never say well done for saving cat's life.

She particularly recalls another cat, called Zorro, describing agreeing to transfer him to an adoption centre on the advice of her superiors as one of the worst decisions of her life.

"After all the time and effort that I had taken with Zorro he was put to sleep within three weeks of going to the shelter. They didn't even discuss it with me first. He should not have been put to sleep."

Zara Oldfield is from the Torbay and Teignbridge branch.

She states: I was told at a welfare course run by Cats Protection in January that from April any cat with FeLV was to be euthanised, along with all kittens of a mother who tests positive for FeLV.

Any cat with FIV was to be assessed and if there were any other issues, be it physical or behavioural, they were to be euthanised.

The tests are not necessarily accurate but they don't carry out further more expensive tests to check that the diagnosis is correct.

Jacky Goodman was co-ordinator of Stockport Cats Protection, working there for more than 30 years until being sacked over free-roaming cats near the pens.

A manager said this loose colony of cats had to go, I said they're not going anywhere, she explained.

The majority had health issues, it would have been hard to re-home them and most would have been put to sleep.

I wasn't going to allow that, I stuck by what I thought was right for those cats.

They also said we were spending too much per cat.

I would not deliberately break rules but if I thought I was doing right for the cats and had the support of the vets then I broke the limit frequently. I was a square peg in a round hole.

Carole Barnes had worked at the Stockport branch for 11 years but was sacked for a "conflict of interests" when she also volunteered to help Jacky set up a new group, Stopford Cat Rescue. "We now have a thriving little independent registered charity," she said.

Kim Leadbitter resigned from the Wharfe Valley branch in North Yorkshire, admitting that she smuggled animals away from Cats Protection to save them.

She states that she would take FIV cats to independent rescue groups under the radar, rather than see them put to sleep by Cats Protection.

FIV is not a death sentence, cats with it don't need putting to sleep, she insisted, adding that the branch was criticised for over-spending.

Our branch had plenty of funds and was allowed to re-open after being put 'on hold' but we were told that we had to get permission for any spending over 50.

Some of these people have no compassion for the animals they are meant to look after.

A former volunteer for the Harrogate branch, also in North Yorks, said: There is a kill policy for FIV cats, domestic and feral.

I was told that we were not to take in any more farm kittens as 'who knows what germs they may bring in'.

There was no way that I could work for an organisation that had no care for feral cats.

Naomi Reynolds, a volunteer at the Wrexham branch, said she left after a kitten called Pickford was put to sleep.

He had some health issues but a lady had been found willing to pay the adoption fee and subsequent treatment, but euthanasia was still carried out.

Pickford was dead and so was my belief in Cats Protection, said Naomi.

Iain MacIver helped at the Lewis and Harris branch in Scotland, which has now being closed down.

The fact that over 100 ferals had been neutered and endless kittens saved the previous year was I felt being frowned upon, he said.

We had done too much and were costing too much, helping cats seemed unimportant.

He rescued an emaciated and traumatised cat named Zandt, and then adopted him rather than obey instructions to release him where he was found saying he would have died.

He is now the most adorable loving cuddly pet, no thanks to Cats Protection.

A meeting with senior supervisors went so badly that the then branch coordinator and treasurer resigned the same night.

The cat pens were at the coordinator's house, who said they could still be used, but Cats Protection rejected the offer.

So we approached kitten season 2019 with no pens, said Iain.

As the summer progressed call after call came in for cats and kittens needing help, all to be told there was nothing we could do.

They closed our branch in December, I believe that was always their intention.

By this time Iain had already resigned, having been reprimanded for taking in kittens at his own expense.

So Cats Protection not caring has resulted in us now owning 20 cats. We are basically running an unfunded cat sanctuary because of their lack of care. It's a life changing situation.

Don't get me wrong, no one forced us to do this and we adore and spoil each and every one of them, but we did it because we care and Cats Protection didn't.

Another former volunteer at the same branch said: We received new laptops, mobile phones and a printer when all we really wanted was cat pens so we could help more animals.

A former volunteer for the Harrogate branch in North Yorkshire said: There is a kill policy for all FIV cats, domestic and feral.

The policy was to only take in younger cats as older cats would tie up the pens for too long. The owners were encouraged to make the 'right decision' and have the cats put to sleep.

I was told that we were not to take in any more farm kittens as 'who knows what germs they may bring in'.

There was no way that I could work for an organisation that had no care for feral cats.

Last October 14 members at the Fareham branch in Hampshire resigned in protest over Cats Protection policies, and a few days ago the whole branch at Mere and Gillingham in Dorset left.

In a public statement the members said the final straw was a claim by head office that the branch had enough resources when in fact they had to buy food and litter out of their own pockets, saying: We feel we have been treated appallingly.

Cats Protection said in a statement: As a charity that values the hard work and dedication of its volunteers, its very upsetting for all concerned when there are disagreements.

We dont take their resignation lightly and sadly none of the complaints are news to us as theyve been subject to lengthy consultations over the past few months.

Unfortunately, however, human emotion can often cloud judgement of what is best for animals and, as cat welfare experts, our job is to ensure we do what is in cats best interests who are masters at hiding pain and distress.

Euthanasia is only ever considered where a cats illness or injury means a comfortable life free of suffering is not possible.

Sadly cats with FeLV (also known as feline leukemia) fall into this category as they will rapidly succumb to a distressing, incurable and fatal disease, as well as the risk that they present to the wider at population in spreading the virus.

Income: 73million.

Wages bill: 27million.

Cats rehomed: 41,000.

Number of staff paid more than 60,000: 17.

Rehoming cats bill: 26million

Number of shops: 131.

Branches closed/merged: 17.

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Cats Protection accused of unnecessarily putting cats to sleep - Mirror Online