Category Archives: Euthanasia

Trenton Animals Rock (TAR) has a new look.

This Saturday, TAR is inviting the Trenton community to Paint with Pups at the newly designed shelter mural. From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., attendees will have a chance to explore the opportunities TAR has to offer pets and their care-givers at the shelter open house while getting creative with some local artists.

Attendees will be invited to tour the shelter, meet some pups outside and contribute to the mural by painting a flower alongside our artists, said Danielle Gletow, founder of TAR. We will have music and snacks and lots of information throughout the morning and afternoon.

The brand new mural was designed and created by two well-known local artists Sophie Ban and Leon Rainbow. Both artists will join the afternoon to assist attendees as they add the finishing floral touches. The bright blue mural alongside the shelter wall features many of the shelters star residence, including a pit bull mix named Bizzy, the rescued dog that initially inspired the start of TAR in 2018.

In October of 2020, Mayor W. Reed Gusciora signed a proclamation declaring TAR an official no-kill shelter. With this new, eye-catching mural, TAR hopes to shed light on this change and the constantly evolving organization as it continues to save the lives of missing an abandoned pets in the capital city.

For a very long time the shelter was seen as a dark place where animals went to be killed. It is not that place anymore, said Gletow. It has become a truly different environment since Trenton Animals Rock became involved. It is a no-kill shelter and we offer so many resources to residents that we want them to be aware of.

During the days events, Gletow hopes the community spends some time learning about the variety of services TAR offers Trenton outside of their rescue shelter. TARs mission is not just about keeping animals off the street, but about keeping them happy and healthy in the homes of their new owners.

The shelter can be a resource to residents. We offer a rabies clinic, low cost spay/neuter options, low cost or free humane euthanasia and other training services, said Gletow. We also hope to have a pet pantry soon!

Currently, there is a few dozen individuals registered for the Painting with Pups event happening this Saturday. TAR hopes they can get around 30 to 40 residence to come and celebrate with the dedicated team and rescued pets.

We are really excited about all the amazing changes at the Trenton Animal Shelter, and the mural is a great visual representation of all the good that has been done, said Gletow. It is a brighter, more welcoming place for both people and the animals and we wanted the opportunity to share these updates with the community.

Anyone interested in learning more about the Painting with Pups event should visit tarnj.org or email Trenton Animals Rock at info@tarnj.org.

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Painting with Pups at the new Trenton Animals Rock Mural - TrentonDaily News

QUEENSLAND Deputy Premier Steven Miles said Church-run health facilities and nursing homes must allow voluntary euthanasia for terminally ill patients who could not or would not be moved to other facilities.

Mr Miles announcement means Church-run facilities should not expect a blanket right of institutional conscientious objection.

The bill will allow doctors to perform euthanasia on patients or residents at Catholic health facilities without asking for permission or notifying the facility.

Brisbane Archbishop Mark Coleridge said Mr Miles statement was disappointing but not surprising.

It would be good if he were as committed to providing palliative care for the many as he is to providing euthanasia for the few, Archbishop Coleridge said.

He speaks of choice but what real choice is there when proper palliative care isnt available?

The Deputy Premiers position in this debate is now clear.

He may have carriage of the bill, but we hope that the Government can still see the need to respect the right of conscientious objection.

Whatever Steven Miles views are, it wont stop Catholic health and aged care organisations from working for changes in the draft bill, especially at the point of conscientious objection.

A new Catholic Health Australia website, which details the issues with the Voluntary Assisted Suicide legislation, has called for a genuine opt-out scheme for Catholic facilities and institutions.

CHA has called for supporters to join a letter-writing campaign for properly resourced palliative and end-of-life services.

Palliative care experts estimate an extra $275 million a year is needed to improve palliative care services across the entire state far more than the $171 million over six years the Queensland Government has pledged so far.

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Moves on euthanasia 'disappointing' with lack of concern for conscientious objection - Catholic Leader

The NYS Catholic Conference has released the following round-up of the2021 Legislative Session in Albany which has now adjourned. (Lawmakers may return at some point this summer if agreement is reached on certain legislation.)

Respect for Human Life

PHYSICIAN-ASSISTED SUICIDE: In an important pro-life victory, advocates for the legalization of physician-assisted suicide failed to get a vote on the bill in any committee in either house of the legislature. The Conference, and our allies in the NY Alliance Against Assisted Suicide, were successful in highlighting the many dangerous consequences of such a policy.

STEALTH EUTHANASIA: The Assembly Health Committee advanced a very dangerous euthanasia bill that would allow proxy decision-makers to deny ordinary food and water to patients. The bill was amended under the radar to allow for the denial not only of tube feeding, but oral feeding as well, even if the patient never requested it. Thankfully, the bill advanced no further.

PRO-LIFE PREGNANCY CENTERS: Legislation to require a biased study of pro-life pregnancy centers intended to intimidate and silence them advanced to the Assembly floor but did not receive any floor votes. The NYSCC alert on this issue generated more than 12,000 messages of opposition to legislators.

Family Life/Moral Values

RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA: The state legislature passed and Governor Cuomo signed legislation to legalize the possession and sale of recreational marijuana, an action strongly opposed by the Catholic Conference.

CHILD MARRIAGE: Legislation supported by the Catholic Conference to raise the age of consent for marriage from 17 to 18, passed both houses of the legislature and awaits action by the Governor.

SEX EDUCATION: Legislation to require all public and charter schools to teach comprehensive sex education beginning in kindergarten died in committee in both houses.

PROSTITUTION: A bill to decriminalize prostitution in New York was introduced in both houses but did not advance from the Codes Committee in either house.

HUMAN COMPOSTING: Legislation to allow the composting of human remains was advanced in both houses for the first time, but failed to receive a floor vote in either house. The Conference strongly opposed the measure and worked to educate Catholics about how it fails to treat human remains with reverence and respect. A CAN alert generated about 10,000 messages to legislators.

Criminal Justice

CLEAN SLATE ACT: This legislation would have sealed most criminal convictions after three years (misdemeanors) or seven years (felonies), with few exceptions. We heard from safe environment directors in the (arch)dioceses that this would be very problematic in terms of ensuring the protection of children in our programs, as background checks would not pick up older crimes, including violent crimes against children. We actively lobbied both houses and also activated the Catholic Action Network, which resulted in 8,000 messages to legislators in just over a day. We noted the good intentions of the legislation but insisted it needed to be amended to allow not-for-profits working with children and vulnerable adults to learn about criminal convictions of prospective volunteers and employees. Our message was heard loud and clear and a deal to pass the bill fell apart last night over concerns in the Assembly about language. This legislation is likely to be revived for passage if the houses return to Albany at the end of the month and agree on amendments. We will continue working toward appropriate amendment language that protects children and vulnerable adults.

HALT SOLITARY CONFINEMENT ACT: A bill supported by the New York State Catholic Conference to dramatically reduce the use of solitary confinement in state prisons finally passed this session and was signed into law by Governor Cuomo. The Catholic Action Network generated about 4,500 messages to legislators.

Human Services

NOURISH NEW YORK: Legislation we supported to make permanent this COVID-related program to address food insecurity by connecting farmers with food banks passed both houses of the legislature and awaits action by Governor Cuomo.

RENT SUBSIDIES INCREASE: This legislation supported by the Catholic Conference, would increase the value of rent subsidies for families whose lack of adequate housing puts their children at risk of entering the foster care system or delays family reunification. The bill passed in the Senate but, sadly, not in the Assembly.

DONOR DISCLOSURE: Legislation supported by the Conference to protect the privacy of donors to 501(c)(3) organizations passed both houses and awaits the Governors action.

Education

STEM FUNDING: The states STEM program for religious and independent schools is a first-in-the-nation program that reimburses our schools for a portion of the salaries of our teachers of science, technology, engineering and math. Now in its fourth year, and together with our coalition partners, we secured another significant funding increase, bringing the program to $40 million.

SUBSTANTIAL EQUIVALENCY: There were several positive developments this year in the on-going efforts by lawmakers and the State Education Department to respond to the complaints leveled against some Orthodox Yeshivas for not being in compliance with the substantial equivalency statute. First, the Board of Regents withdrew proposed regulations that would have required public schools to review the instructional program of religious and independent schools. Secondly, the Regents embarked on a series of stake-holder meetings designed to gather input on a new framework for enforcing instructional mandates for religious and independent schools. The new framework recognizes the long history of academic success of the overwhelming majority of religious and independent schools as evidenced by such schools being accredited by independent agencies, chartered by the Board of Regents and registered with the State Education Department. Third, legislation was introduced in the Assembly which 1) requires the State Education Department Commissioner to approve accreditation agencies and 2) stipulates that schools accredited by such agencies would be deemed in compliance with the substantial equivalency statute. The diocesan school superintendents support the measure because it permits instructional standards to be measured by independent accrediting agencies as opposed to our schools being reviewed and determined to be substantially equivalent to public schools. Although the bill passed the Assembly, there was no action on the measure in the Senate.

MANDATED SERVICES AID SAVE HARMLESS: Building on the precedent set by the Governor and the legislature in holding state aid to public schools harmless during the pandemic, we were successful in securing a comparable save-harmless provision for MSA. Generally, annual MSA reimbursement constitutes approximately 10% of our schools operating budgets, while reimbursement for test administration costs ranges from 10 to 70% of schools MSA reimbursement.

FEDERAL COVID RELIEF PROGRAMS: More than $500 million was allocated in the state budget from federal COVID relief funds for two equal rounds of approximately $250 million for Emergency Assistance for Nonpublic Schools (EANS). Given the tight timeline required for implementation, we were successful in securing language in the state budget that permits non-competitive contracts for services and assistance to eligible schools through the State Education Department (SED), BOCES and/or third-party contractors. Conference staff worked with the SED and the Governors office in developing the application for the first round of EANS. Applications were received from just fewer than 600 of the 1,800 religious and independent schools. The balance of schools were ineligible for EANS because they received PPP-2 loans. We still await guidance from the US Department of Education on the implementation of EANS-2.

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State Catholic Conference releases legislative session round-up - Long Island Catholic

Franoise Hardy, the French pop songwriter who found fame in the 60s y-y movement, has said she feels close to the end of her life in a new interview.

Hardy, 77, told Femme Actuelle that in 2018 she was diagnosed with a tumour in her ear. It followed her diagnosis with lymphatic cancer in the mid-2000s, and a hospitalisation in 2015 that led to her being placed in an induced coma. Her life was saved when doctors administered a novel form of radiation.

But years of radiation and immunotherapy have caused Hardy immense pain, she said, making it difficult to swallow. The interview was conducted by email due to Hardys difficulty speaking. She has previously said she is no longer able to sing.

She said: My physical suffering has already been so terrible that I am afraid that death will force me to go through even more physical suffering.

She told the magazine that she was in favour of assisted suicide. In May, she told Paris Match that France is inhumane for not legalising the procedure.

In the new interview, she said: It is not for the doctors to accede to each request, but to shorten the unnecessary suffering of an incurable disease from the moment it becomes unbearable.

Hardy said she would like to have the opportunity to choose to end her life, but given my small notoriety, no one will want to run the risk of being removed from the medical order even more.

She said her mother, suffering from Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, a neurological disorder, died by euthanasia when she could not go any further in this horrible incurable disease.

Hardy released her debut single, Tous les garons et les filles, in 1962. A huge success, it put her at the forefront of the y-y pop phenomenon, albeit she would distance herself from that scene just a couple of years later as she made music with English producers and pursued commercial and creative independence.

She claimed that 1988s Dcalages would be her final album, but she returned to music in the 90s, collaborating with Blur and Air, and releasing a string of new albums. She is also known for her acting, including a cameo in Jean-Luc Godards 1966 film Masculin Fminin, her writing and astrology.

Asked whether she had any regrets as she reflected on her life, Hardy said: Life is an initiatory school where we learn through mistakes and trials that try to make us better understand what we had not understood until then. The moments when I behaved badly were due to unconsciousness, ignorance, selfishness, whose trials are often the consequence.

Remembering happy moments with her son, Thomas, and husband, Jacques Dutronc, from whom she is separated but maintains a close relationship, does me a lot of good, she said.

She said she drew hope from all those who do their best whatever their job, whatever their difficulties, and who have neither violence nor hatred in them, and praised those also who deal with ecology and economy with lucidity, coherence, integrity, because unfortunately the ideology without vision of the global realities of the world aggravates a more-than-worrying situation.

Ecology should not be fundamentalist, radical, sectarian or political. The many young people full of good will and courage are a great source of hope too.

Commenting on the coronavirus crisis, Hardy said that the pandemic had a blatant relationship with overpopulation, which increases pollution and unsanitary conditions.

Hardy released her last album, Personne dautre, in 2018. Promoting the album, she told the Observer that it addressed death in a very symbolic and even positive way. There is an acceptance there, too. For instance, there is a song called Special Train, which I like very much, but at my age, I can really only sing about that one very special train that will take me out of this world. But, of course, I am also hoping that it will send me to the stars and help me discover the mystery of the cosmos.

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Franoise Hardy, close to the end of her life, argues for assisted suicide - The Guardian

HAPPIER TIMES: Shirley Church and Kylie Monaghan photographed together on Kylie's wedding day. Photo supplied.

When a voluntary assisted dying bill was passed in parliament earlier this month, it fulfilled the dying wishes of local women Kylie Monaghan, a key advocate in the movement.

Kylie was the face of the 'Be the Bill' euthanasia advocacy campaign when similar laws were put up in South Australian Parliament in 2016.

At just 29 years old, Kylie was diagnosed with stage three breast cancer and she died before seeing the latest Bill pass parliament.

Kylie's mum Shirley Church says that she would have been happy and relieved that the bill finally received a "yes" in parliament earlier this month.

"She would have been pleased," she said.

"Pleased that everyone has done what they can for the campaign, and pleased to know since 2016 there have been a lot of politicians who have changed their minds.

"Pleased because it has been passed, knowing that it is going to be in place hopefully soon for people who really do need it.

"And mainly that politicians out there have had a change of heart. The number of politicians who supported it this time around was brilliant.

"I think they have realised that this change is needed in South Australia."

Ms Church would like to think that Kylie's contribution to the cause helped changed the minds of people and politicians in the state.

When the previous Bill was defeated in 2016 by only one vote, it was a rough time for the family, but the community showed its support.

"Even after 2016 when it was lost by one vote, after we got back to Port Pirie, I had people coming up and saying to me, 'that's terrible to lose by one vote'," said Ms Church.

"They would just talk to me out of the blue about it."

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Kylie Monaghan's legacy lives on as assisted dying passes - The Recorder

A bear in Arizona caused quite the scene, along with a brief power outage, after it climbed up a utility pole and became stuck. USA TODAY

A grizzly bear mother and her two cubs are at risk for relocation or even death after making their home near a Wyoming highway.

The bear, known as "Felicia" by Jackson Hole residents poses a threat, wildlife officials say, for her family's proximity to a55-mile highwayin the Togwotee Mountain Pass.

People have also been spotted approaching and trying to feed the bear.

"Human-conditioned behavior," the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Servicesaid in a news release,could lead to aggressive bear behavior.

If park rangers aren't able toscare the bear off the road using rubber bullets or loud noises over the next 10 to 14 days,U.S. Fish and Wildlife service says Felicia and her cubs will likely be relocated oreuthanized.

Wildlife advocates, includingSavannah Rose Burgess, say euthanasia shouldn't be an option. Burgess launched a petition on June 11to save Felicia and her cubs that has more than 34,500signatures as of Thursday.

With her team, Burgess is also workingto launch a bear ambassador programwhere a person or multiple people would ensure visitors are following appropriate guidelines in the presence of bears.

Felicia walking along a weeded area with her two cubs.(Photo: SUE CEDARHOLM)

"We have the opportunity here to make a really impactful change," Burgess told USA TODAY. "It is absolutely horrible to try to think of removing this animal. She's important and she's vital, and not just vital to her species in the reproductive sense."

Felicia, according to Burgess, has never been aggressive, charged anyone or received human food rewards.Award-winning wildlife photographer Thomas Mangelsen, who has documented Felicia for over six years, also saysthat she is very calm and collected.

"This is more of a people management issue than a bear management issue. We need more people on the ground who are trained and educated," Mangelsen told USA TODAY.

Yellowstone bear charges woman: National Park Service has launched investigation

'Just didn't seem quite right': Bear with rare disease seems unfazed

Mangelsen and his assistant, SusanCedarholm, areworking withdifferent entities such as the forest service and the wildlife serviceto come up with a solution to keep Felicia alive and other bears that may come along.

"We are all working for the same cause," Mangelsen said.

Felicia and her two cubs walking on a snowy path.(Photo: SUSAN E. CEDARHOLM)

Jack Bayles, owner of Team399 that helps fund grizzly bear education and protection, says that it is up to the personto be informed on bear guidelines.An incident happened in Yellowstone National Park where a woman disregarded park rules to stay 100 yards away from bears, and it ended up charging her.

"I think the bear ambassador program can be really effective. The wildlife brigade in Grand Teton National Park, for example, has been highly successful in managing people around these situations," Bayles said.

Bayles said thatpart of keeping bears alive is respecting their boundaries.

"The bears have done nothing wrong. There just happens to be a road that goes through her territory,"Bayles said. "I think it's incumbent upon the public to understand what their role is when they come into a grizzly habitat."

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Grizzly bear 'Felicia' and her cubs may be euthanized for being too close to Wyoming road - USA TODAY

With their overwhelming vote to begin drafting a document on Eucharistic coherence, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has officially joined the culture wars. The phrase Eucharistic coherence has become a euphemism for attacking Catholic politicians who support abortion rights.

Archbishop Joseph Naumann, chair of the conferences Committee on Pro-Life Activities, denounced such prominent public figures as ones who flaunt their Catholicity. He particularly had in mind President Joe Biden and House Speaker Nancy PelosiNancy PelosiPelosi quashes reports on Jan. 6 select committee Overnight Defense: Joint Chiefs warn against sweeping reform to military justice system | Senate panel plans July briefing on war authorization repeal | National Guard may have 'training issues' if not reimbursed On The Money: Powell says pickup in job gains likely this fall | Schumer, Pelosi meeting with White House on infrastructure MORE (D-Calif.), whose Catholicism is an integral part of their personas. During the debate, Bishop Liam Cary said the quiet part out loud: Weve never had a situation like this where the executive is a Catholic president who is opposed to a teaching of the church. For his part, Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone, leader of Pelosis San Francisco diocese, vociferously argued that erring Catholic politicians (such as Biden and Pelosi) should be excluded from receiving Holy Communion.

The bishops opposition to Biden was present during the 2020 campaign and intensified by Inauguration Day. Archbishop Jos Gomez, president of the USCCB, issued a statement saying, Our new president has pledged to pursue certain policies that would advance moral evils and threaten human life and dignity, most seriously in the areas of abortion, contraception, marriage, and gender, adding that the bishops would rank abortion as a preeminent priority.

As the date of the June conference neared, the Vatican publicly urged a halt to debating the issue. Cardinal Luis Ladaria, prefect of the Congregation of the Doctrine of Faith, advised that it would be misleading to present abortion and euthanasia as the only grave matters of Catholic moral and social teaching. Sixty-seven bishops heeded the Vaticans advice and urged a postponement until the conference could meet in person. (It met via Zoom.)

Those closest to Pope FrancisPope FrancisUS Catholic bishops join the culture wars The Hill's Morning Report - Presented by Facebook - Democrats await Manchin decision on voting rights bill Move by Catholic bishops against Biden brings howls of hypocrisy MORE were especially vigorous in their opposition. Bishop Robert McElroy warned that the weaponization of Holy Communion will bring tremendously destructive consequences, noting that the Eucharist must never be instrumentalized for a political end, no matter how important.

But the bishops ignored such cease-and-desist warnings. Many who strongly support banning President BidenJoe BidenBaltimore police chief calls for more 'boots on the ground' to handle crime wave Biden to deliver remarks at Sen. John Warner's funeral Garland dismisses broad review of politicization of DOJ under Trump MORE from receiving communion have previously expressed their disdain for Pope Francis. Retired Archbishop Charles Chaput is one. Back in 2013, Chaput quoted one priest saying, The problem is that [the Holy Father] makes all of the wrong people happy, people who will never believe in the Gospel and who will continue to persecute the Church.

Pope Francis issued a stinging rebuke: We cannot insist only on issues related to abortion, gay marriage and the use of contraceptive methods. We have to find a new balance; otherwise even the moral edifice of the church is likely to fall like a house of cards, losing the freshness and fragrance of the Gospel. While Pope Francis has appointed several U.S. bishops, the conference remains dominated by those named by his two predecessors, John Paul II and Benedict XVI.

The consequence of seeking Eucharistic coherence will be a smaller, more unified church. Catholic scholar George Weigel decries those so-called cafeteria Catholics whose pick and choose Catholicism. . . will not survive the cultural and political tsunami thats coming. Their departure, Weigel hopes, will create an All-In Catholicism whose homogenous nature creates the exclusivity the bishops so desire.

Surveys shows a smaller Catholic church is fast becoming a reality. Gallup reports that since 1998, the percentage of Catholics who belong to a parish has fallen sharply from 76 percent to 58 percent.

When Biden became the Democratic presidential nominee, Bishop Thomas Tobin tweeted: Biden-Harris. First time in awhile [sic] that the Democratic ticket hasnt had a Catholic on it. Sad. But such attacks are not merely directed at Biden. Rather, they represent a declaration of war on the Catholic laity. While the bishops may protest that Biden, Pelosi and other Catholic pro-choice officeholders are poised to make policy, what about those Catholics who support them? In 2020, 52 percent of Catholic voters backed Biden. Are they, too, unworthy to receive Holy Communion.

In his letter to the bishops, Cardinal Ladaria warned that should the bishops ban pro-choice Catholic politicians from receiving communion, they must be prepared to consider extending the policy to all Catholics rather than only one category of Catholics. When a priest at mass says, Happy are those who are called to His supper, the bishops seem to suggest that the priest say instead, Happy are those who are called to His supper and agree with us on abortion.

There are many issues on which the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops could find common cause with the Biden administration immigration, climate change, racial equality, voting rights and addressing economic inequities, to name but a few. However, by making abortion their preeminent priority, the bishops have walked away from any further dialogue. In doing so, they seem to have forgotten the example set by Jesus himself.

In several Gospel passages, Jesus engages in the art of persuasion. For example, when a woman was about to be stoned to death for committing adultery (a crime still punishable by death in certain parts of the world), Jesus tells the would-be executioners, If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her. One-by-one they walk away as Jesus tells the woman to leave her life of sin. No miracle, but a powerful, persuasive moment for all involved.

The work the bishops have authorized will take until November to complete and must be approved by the Vatican. No matter what the conference produces, each individual bishop will still retain his authority to deny Holy Communion. But with their authorization, the bishops have ensured discord will reign supreme. Cardinal Wilton Gregory forecast what lies ahead: The choice before us at this moment is either we pursue a path of strengthening unity among ourselves or settle for creating a document that will not bring unity, but may very well further damage it. That damage is done. By their action, the bishops have turned the Catholic Church into a playground for the culture wars.

John Kenneth White is a professor of politics at The Catholic University of America. His latest book is titled What Happened to the Republican Party? During the 2020 campaign, he was a co-chair of Catholics for Biden.

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US Catholic bishops join the culture wars | TheHill - The Hill

(Togwotee Pass, WY) Last week, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) along with other State agencies announced their plan to conduct targeted hazing operations for the remainder of June on grizzly bear 863 a.k.a. Felicia and her two cubs who have become habituated to the roadside along Highway 26/287.

Today, June 16th, the USFWS has responded to the numerous petitions and concerns raised by people across the U.S., if not internationally, about the possibility of the bear family being euthanized because of people not being responsible around wildlife. This end-all possibility was mentioned, along with relocation, in their initial announcement as escalating management tactics if hazing did not work.

Below are a few of the USFWSs responses; the full list can be read online here.

1) Are there plans to kill grizzly bear 863, known as Felicia?

No. Euthanasias a management tactic of last resort. Its the goal of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and our partners to avoid this scenario. The public can help by following common sense bear safety practices and giving space for wildlife managers to conduct hazing operations.

2) Why are the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and partners hazing grizzly bear 863?

We and our partners are hazing grizzly bear 863 to move her and her cubs away from the dangerous situation being caused by people on and adjacent to Highway 26/287. If people stop only in legal highway pullouts, and remain in vehicles, hazing would not be necessary. However, when people stop, exit vehicles, and approach bears on foot, the risk increases that grizzly bears, especially sows with cubs, will charge. This poses a significant threat to human life. Once a bear charges or attacks a human in that manner, its much more likely that relocation or euthanasia could be necessary actions we want to avoid.

3) What is hazing?

Hazing is the use of non-lethal, non-injurious methods to change an animals behavior. In this case, examples include loud noise devices (such as cracker or screamer rounds), and projectiles such as paintballs, and bean bags from a shotgun. Projectile methods are only directed at large areas of fatty tissue, such as the bears rump, to avoid injury. Projectiles are not used on cubs.

USFWS encourages everyone to take the #KeepBearsWild pledge and help ensure the safety of you and the bears!

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USFWS responds to concerns raised about grizzly bear family on Togwotee - County 10 News

JACKSON, Wyo. In a statement to the public, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) has responded to concerns regarding the hazing of Grizzly 863, also known as Felicia by her public observers.

There are no plans to kill grizzly bear 863. Euthanasia is a management tactic of last resort. It is the goal of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and our partners to avoid this scenario, said USFWS.

While they do not plan to kill 863, they encourage the public to remain cognizant of human impact on wildlife families and their habitats.

The public can help by following common sense bear safety practices and giving space for managers to conduct hazing operations.

In the statement that lists the reasoning behind the hazing operation against 863, USFWS and partners explained that they are hazing 863 to move her and her cubs away from the dangerous situation being caused by humans on and adjacent to Highway 26/287.

Even with intensive multi-agency effort to curb or direct human behavior, visitors and photographers continue to approach this female grizzly with cubs at extremely unsafe distances, said the USFWS.

USFWS largely attributed the hazing operation to human disturbance.

If humans stop only in legal highway pullouts, and remain in vehicles, hazing would not be necessary. However, when humans stop, exit vehicles, and approach bears on foot, the risk increases that grizzly bears, especially sows with cubs, will charge humans. This poses a significant threat to human life.

Ultimately, USFWS expressed that their intention is to avoid euthanasia.

Once a bear charges or attacks a human in that manner, it is much more likely that a decision could be made that relocation or euthanization could be necessary actions that we want to avoid.

To read the full response from USFWS click here.

About The Author

Caroline Chapman is a Community News Reporter who recently made Jackson home. Born and raised in Connecticut, she enjoys reading non-fiction, skiing, hiking, and playing piano in her downtime. She is most passionate about delivering and pursuing stories that directly impact the lives of individuals in the community. Her favorite aspect about living in Jackson is the genuine admiration that Wyomingites share for the land and the life that it sustains.

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BREAKING: Grizzly 863 will not be euthanized says USFWS - Buckrail

The $65,000 will cover the costs for the rest of the 2020-21 fiscal year, which wraps up in October.

MIDLAND, Texas Animal lovers are rejoicing in Midland.

On Tuesday, city council members approved the allocation of an additional $65,000 to the citys voucher and TNR (trap, neuter, release) programs.

The voucher and TNR programs cost the animal shelter about $30,000 a month, but have helped bring down euthanasia rates.

We feel like the city council heard our need and definitely stepped up to the plate to make it happen," Karen Patterson, Fix West Texas, said.

The money will cover the costs for the rest of the 2020-21 fiscal year, which wraps up in October.

It feels great," Carrie Powell, Midland Cat Wranglers President, said. "I cant tell you how happy I am. I have had sleepless nights over this, wondering if the voucher program was ended how we were going to continue our mission to TNR."

When it comes to the next fiscal year, city council members tell NewsWest 9 over the next month or so they will be meeting with animal nonprofits to decide just how much money is needed to keep these spay and neuter programs going.

While no price tag has been set, it is not cheap to fix dogs and cats.

It costs Midland's animal shelter over $280,000 a year to keep the programs going.

For the animal nonprofits, now it is a matter of convincing city council members that paying for the program in the next fiscal budget will be worth it.

Its no longer an option to take your puppies that your dog had down to animal control and let it be their problem," Patterson said. "Not only do they have to try to adopt those out, but whichever ones they cant they have to kill. And thats just because you didnt spay and neuter, so what were trying to do is make it accessible for people and make it the new social norm to get your dogs and cats fixed.

As for what the city is willing to put into the programs for next year?

It is too soon to tell.

I dont want to make a prediction for how much money were going to be willing to spend in the future," Lori Blong, Midland City Council, District 4, said. "I think its more important to get our systems and processes in place before we commit to a future dollar amount.

The fiscal budget for next year will be decided by the end of the summer.

Until then, animal nonprofits here are encouraging the public to reach out to their city council members and the city manager in order for leaders to have the information needed to make a decision about the animal shelters budget.

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Midland City Council allocating additional funds for the animal shelter's spay and neuter programs - NewsWest9.com