Category Archives: Euthanasia

Carol Onley, 66, is dying.

She's leaving behind unfinished paintings in her "she-shed", a loving extended family, and a supportive partner.

"More than 10 years ago now, I had my first diagnosis of lung cancer which was amazingly shocking," she said.

After a successful surgery and course of immunotherapy, Carol got back to living.

"But in 2019 I had some symptoms which seemed quite unusual, so I went and had a CT scan, and yes, those little nodules had now absolutely exploded."

After a lifetime as a mental health nurse and a smoker, Carol knew what was ahead of her.

"Through my nursing career I was quite aware of voluntary assisted dying (VAD), that it had become available to people in my position," she said.

"[At the] beginning of this year, I've embarked on that program."

ABC Gippsland: Rio Davis

Under Victoria's VAD program, two doctors need to independently verifythe patient is of sound mind and has less than six months to live for a physical illness and 12 months for a neurological condition.

But living in regional Victoria has made the process more difficult.

"I was actually shocked to find in Gippsland there were only two doctors available who could make that assessment," Carol said.

There are just 76 doctors in regional Victoria trained to help terminally ill people access the VAD program.

"I have family, I have good supports who've helped me all through this and they can take me to wherever I've needed to go," Carol said.

"I've just wondered about people who live further afield from Orbost or Bairnsdale, if you don't have quite so much good access to supports, how do they access the program?

"There just seemto be some barriers that are a little too difficult for people to overcome."

Victoria's VADprogram, which came into force in 2019, was the first state-based program in Australia.

In a statement, a Victoriangovernment spokesperson said the legislation was leading Australia.

"Our voluntary assisted dying laws are giving Victorians with an incurable illness at the end of their lives a compassionate choice," they said.

"This service has been expanded through regional Victoria and we continue to encourage more medical practitioners to become involved to allow greater access across the state."

But the board charged with reviewing the program found there were "limited numbers" of GPs trained to consult on euthanasia in far east and west Victoria.

Supplied: Voluntary Assisted Dying Review Board

A former Justice of the Supreme Court of Victoria, Betty King, is the chair of that board.

Supplied: Betty King

"[We've recommended the government] encourage more specialists to do the training and sign up for the program,it's a busy practice andthere is so much for most specialists in regional Victoria to do, without this additional time," Justice King said.

"It does take time.This is not an easy and quick process.

"It's certainly been one that's designed to be safe, and when you have a lot of safeguards built in it does take time, so it's very difficult for them to take that time out of their practice."

Victoria's Voluntary Assisted Dying board is set to table its final report onthe program in Parliament in August.

But as other states bring in VAD programs of their own, there isanother problem facing regional Australians trying to access euthanasia.

"So much now in medicine, particularly regionally, depends upon telehealth; unfortunately telehealth is not permitted for VAD, because federally some legislation was introduced to prevent [euthanasia advocate] Dr [Philip] Nitschke from sharing methods of suicide online," Justice King said.

Breaking these laws could incur fines of up to $222,000 for individuals or $1,110,000 for businesses.

"It potentially prevents our doctors in Victoria from being able to use telehealth to discuss things and talk to patients and that really is a major inhibitor," Justice King said.

"We have called on the Commonwealth to just exempt voluntary assisted dying from it, because we are a government, organised, legal process, but so far they have not been willing to do so."

In a statement, the federal government said people should have access to quality palliative care.

"The government has no plans to amend the suicide-related material offences in the Criminal Code."

ABC News: Jacqueline Breen

DrNitschke, once investigated for testing the purity of a drug usedin a terminally ill man's suicide, said the introduction of the amendment in 2005 was targeted.

"It's often a piece of legislation that I think people aren't aware of, and it was an insidious introduction that came in under the Howard government with Philip Ruddock as Attorney General, that I think the public were never really aware they were having a pretty basic and fundamental freedom eroded," he said.

As more states begin their VAD programs, Dr Nitschke said the federal government neededto change the code to ease the burden on regional Australians.

"It's certainly something that needs addressing if we're to see uniform legislation and equal access to what's available in these new end of life pieces of legislation sweeping across Australia," he said.

In geographically vast Western Australia, the tyranny of distance will rule regional access when its voluntary assisted dying program begins in June.

Western Australia's Australian Medical Association president,Andrew Miller, said more resources would be needed to compensate for the ban on telehealth.

"It's the same situation that there is in Victoria, things have to be put in place to enable face-to-face consultation, they're going to have to put some resources into that," Dr Miller said.

The Australian Capital Territory, Northern Territory and Norfolk Island have not been able to make laws on euthanasia since the federal government quashed the NT's program in 1997.

Two weeks ago, the ACT's health minister and oppositionleader passed amotion of "profound disappointment" that the federal government was continuing to block euthanasialaw.

A statement made by the federal government in response said:

"The government currently has no plans to repeal the Euthanasia Laws Act 1997."

ACT Health Minister Tara Cheyne said the federal government's ban on territories making euthanasia laws was a human rights issue.

"There is a separate issue here from voluntary assisted dying it is about democratic rights and we'd like to see the call coming from right across federal parliament," she said.

Supplied: Carol Onley

Carol does not know when she is going to take the drugs that will end her life.

It is a delicate balance.

"You've gotta be with it enough to do it, so I can't let the situation roll on too far, I've got to have enough dexterity to take the medication," Carol said.

"It's very confronting.

"I've been with family members who've passed away my sister had Motor NeuroneDisease, she had to go right to the end of that disease because there were no other options for her."

After a life of adventure, service and love, Carol admits she's a little bit of a "control freak".

"I am so grateful to have the opportunity to die with dignity," she said.

Link:

Telehealth ban for voluntary assisted dying makes life, and death, difficult for the terminally ill in the country - ABC News

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Seattle, April 14, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In honor of Heartworm Awareness Month, Greater Good Charities, in cooperation with Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health, the maker of HEARTGARD Plus (ivermectin/pyrantel), and The Animal Rescue Site announced today the launch of the Good Flights program. The goal is to transport 2,000 shelter dogs from Louisiana, where they are at risk of euthanasia, to new homes on the East Coast. That number includes 1,000 asymptomatic heartworm-positive dogs. The program is part of the Greater Good Charities Save a Heart initiative, which aims to reduce shelter euthanasia in overcrowded shelters by preventing and treating heartworm disease in shelter dogs, while transporting adoptable asymptomatic heartworm-positive dogs to safety.

According to the American Heartworm Society, Louisiana is one of the leading states in heartworm infection rates in the United States.1 That puts heartworm-positive shelter dogs in Louisiana at a higher risk of euthanasia due to the length of care, space required and cost of treatment.

Canine heartworm disease is a dangerous and life-threating illness for infected animals, andSave a Heart, a life-saving initiative of our newly launched Good Flights program, will be a historic game changer for these at-risk shelter dogs who are battling this disease, said Liz Baker, CEO of Greater Good Charities. We are extremely grateful to Boehringer Ingelheim, the maker of HEARTGARD Plus (ivermectin/pyrantel), for making it possible for us to bypass the prohibitive cost of treatment by graciously covering medical costs and providing the necessary product for these dogs in need, and to The Animal Rescue Site for helping fund the transport and providing sheltering and foster supplies.A special thank you to the Banfield Foundation for helping to cover the costs of veterinary care forparticipating shelter pets of Save a Heart.

The inaugural Save a Heart mission will take place April 19-20, 2021 via three planes carrying approximately 120 at-risk shelter dogs, with 50% of the dogs being asymptomatic heartworm positive, from Louisiana (Lafayette and New Orleans) to Morristown, N.J. and Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Additionally, in late April, a ground transport carrying 35 at-risk shelter dogs, with 50% of the dogs being asymptomatic heartworm positive, will depart Southeast Louisiana to Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Participating shelter partners in Louisiana will include Acadiana Animal Aid, St. Charles Parish Animal Shelter, Lafourche Parish Animal Shelter, St. Martin Parish Animal Services, Caras House, Washington Parish Animal Shelter, and Lafayette Animal Shelter and Care Center. The receiving shelter partners include St. Huberts Animal Welfare Center in New Jersey and the Humane Society of Broward County in Florida.

This initiative will allow 1,000 asymptomatic heartworm-positive shelter dogs that are transported via Save a Heart to receive initial medication, in accordance with the American Heartworm Society's recommendations, prior to transport. The Greater Good Charities Good Flights team will work in concert with veterinary teams to select candidates that are positive for heartworm disease and are not showing clinical signs of the disease which qualifies them for transport. Upon arrival at their destination shelter, the heartworm-positive shelter dogs will ideally be placed into foster or adoptive homes to complete heartworm treatment and be monitored until they test negative.

With current euthanasia rates of heartworm-positive dogs in partner Louisiana shelters, the alternative to a Save a Heart flight and treatment is life in a stressful, overstimulating shelter environment and, very often, humane euthanasia due to lack of resources, said Julie Ryan-Johnson, DVM, Associate Director of Shelter Programs at Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health, which makes HEARTGARD Plus (ivermectin/pyrantel), a real beef chew that prevents heartworm disease in dogs and treats and controls hookworm and roundworm infections.

Save a Heart flights and ground transports will occur approximately 2-3 times a month for one year after the inaugural mission. Each Save a Heart trip will transport 50% asymptomatic heartworm-positive dogs, (1,000 for the year) with an additional 1,000 heartworm-negative shelter dogs, for a total of 2,000 shelter dogs over the course of the year relocated to safety. Additionally, the initiative will help nearly 2,500 heartworm-positive shelter dogs that are not transported; those dogs will receive medication in Louisiana via the Save a Heart initiative, saving even more lives.

Good Flights is staffed with trained and seasoned animal welfare transport professionals who adhere to best practices in pet transport. Good Flights covers all transport costs and provides mentorship to sending shelters as well as pet care supplies, like crates and bowls donated by The Animal Rescue Site, and cash grant support to all shelter partners.

Good Flights is a program of Greater Good Charities that conducts life-saving airlifts and ground transport for at-risk pet populations with a heavy focus on asymptomatic heartworm-positive shelter dogs as well as disaster relief, homeless cats, and bully breeds. All shelter pets transported via Good Flights will be done so in compliance with the USDA interstate regulations. Learn more at greatergood.org.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION: HEARTGARD Plus (ivermectin/pyrantel) is well tolerated. All dogs should be tested for heartworm infection before starting a preventive program. Following the use of HEARTGARD Plus, digestive and neurological side effects have rarely been reported. For more information, click here for full prescribing information.

1American Heartworm Society. No State is Heartworm Free: AHS Announces Findings of 2019 Heartworm Incidence Survey. https://www.heartwormsociety.org/in-the-news/558-ahs-announces-findings-of-2019- heartworm-incidence-survey?highlight=WyJsb3Vpc2lhbmEiXQ. Accessed March 31, 2020.

HEARTGARD is a registered trademark of Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health USA Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. 2021 Greater Good Charities. All Rights Reserved. US-PET- 0333-2021-v2

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About Greater Good CharitiesGreater Good Charities is a 501(c)(3) national nonprofit organization, with a 100/100 rating on Charity Navigator, that works to amplify the good in the world to improve the health and well-being of people, pets, and the planet. Since 2007, Greater Good Charities has given over $300 million in cash and in-kind grants to over 5,000 charitable partners worldwide and funded projects in 121 countries. To date, Greater Good Charities has provided over $22 million in support for COVID-19 disaster-relief, including cash grants, in-kind supplies, and programmatic support. To learn more about how Greater Good Charities is amplifying the good across the globe, please visit greatergood.org or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or YouTube.

About Boehringer Ingelheim Animal HealthThe lives of animals and humans are interconnected in deep and complex ways. We know that when animals are healthy, humans are healthier too. Across the globe, our9,700employees are dedicated to delivering value through innovation, thus enhancing the well-being of both. Respect for animals, humans and the environment guides us every day. We develop solutions and provide services to protect animals from disease and pain. We support our customers in taking care of the health of their animals and protect our communities against life- and society-threatening diseases. Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health is the second largest animal health business in the world, with net sales of $4.7 billion (4.1 billion euros) in 2020 andpresence in more than 150 countries. Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health has a significant presence in the United States,with more than 3,100 employees in places that include Georgia, Missouri, Iowa, Minnesota, New Jersey and Puerto Rico. To learn more, visit http://www.boehringer-ingelheim.us, http://www.facebook.com/BoehringerAHUS or http://www.twitter.com/Boehringer_AH.About The Animal Rescue Site by GreaterGoodThe Animal Rescue Site is one of a suite of charitable sites launched by GreaterGood beginning with The Hunger Site in 1999. The family of sites empowers people to affect positive change by making ordinary online actions extraordinary. GreaterGood is a powerful fund-raising vehicle for worthy causes in the U.S. and around the world and has proudly funded more than $65 million in charitable donations to causes that help people, pets, and the planet.

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Greater Good Charities with Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health, and The Animal Rescue Site to Launch Good Flights Program, Will Transport 1,000...

Grant of $10,000 will help save more pet lives in Schaumburg, IL area

Submitted by Dawn Takagi

Almost Home Foundation announced today a $10,000 grant investment from the newly named, Petco Love, to support their lifesaving work for animals in the Schaumburg, IL area.

Petco Love is a nonprofit leading change for pets nationally by harnessing the power of love to make communities and pet families closer, stronger and healthier. Since their founding in 1999, as the Petco Foundation, they've empowered organizations with nearly $300 million invested to date in adoption and other lifesaving efforts. And, they've helped find loving homes for more than 6.5 million pets in partnership with Petco and more than 4,000 organizations, like ours, nationwide.

"Today Petco Love announces an investment in Almost Home Foundation and hundreds of other organizations as part of our commitment to create a future in which no pet is unnecessarily euthanized," said Susanne Kogut, President of Petco Love. "Our local investments are only one component. This month, we will also launch the first of our national tools to empower all animal lovers to drive lifesaving change right alongside us."

"This grant is tremendous for us. Thanks to Petco Love, we will be able to save more pets in need and have an even bigger impact by reducing both shelter intake and euthanasia," said Rosemary McNiff, president of Almost Home Foundation. "Our primary focus is to save those animals needing us most. We have helped some remote southern shelters decrease their euthanasia rate by 33 percent."

Almost Home Foundation is an all volunteer, registered, not-for-profit 501(c)(3) charitable organization, serving the Schaumburg, IL area, dedicated to rescuing adoptable cats and dogs. In 2020, it saved 1,106 cats and dogs; and notably, in 2018 rescued over 300 heartworm positive dogs. Almost Home Foundation acquired the Guidestar Platinum Seal of Transparency and Top-Rated Great Non-Profits Award in 2020 and 2021.

For more information about Almost Home Foundation, visit http://www.AlmostHomeFoundation.org, and to learn more about Petco Love, visit https://petcolove.org.

About Almost Home Foundation

Almost Home Foundation dog and cat rescue was founded in 2005. We are a non-profit, all volunteer, foster-based rescue funded solely by private donations. We have no paid employees. We rely on volunteers to dedicate their time, homes and hearts for our rescued animals until they find their loving forever homes. Thanks to our network of foster homes, and financial support from fundraising, weve been able to reach out to save animals not only throughout Illinois, but in many other states including Alabama, Indiana, Kentucky and Tennessee. We have also driven many miles to save animals from other states including Mississippi and a South Dakota Indian reservation. Almost Home Foundation does not discriminate based on breed, age, or health of an animal. Visit AlmostHomeFoundation.org to learn more about fostering, adopting, or volunteering with us.

About Petco Love (Formerly Petco Foundation)

Petco Love is a nonprofit changing lives by making communities and pet families closer, stronger, and healthier. Since our founding in 1999 as the Petco Foundation, we've empowered animal welfare organizations by investing nearly $300 million in adoption and other lifesaving efforts. We've helped find loving homes for more than 6.5 million pets in partnership with Petco and organizations nationwide. Today, our love for pets drives us to lead with innovation, creating tools animal lovers need to reunite lost pets, and lead with passion, inspiring and mobilizing communities and our more than 4,000 animal welfare partners to drive lifesaving change alongside us. Is love calling you? Join us. Visit petcolove.org to be part of the lifesaving work we're leading every day.

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Newly Named Petco Love Invests in Lifesaving Work of Almost Home Foundation - Chicago Daily Herald

France: A bill to legalise euthanasia was smothered by delaying tactics in the French Parliament this week.

The bill was a personal initiative of Olivier Falorni, a deputy for the parliamentary splinter group Libertes et Territoires ("Freedom and Territories"). He says that the law would put a stop to a national "hypocrisy" because French residents often travelled to Belgium or Switzerland for assisted suicide. He claims that French doctors are already performing 2,000 to 4,000 euthanasia every year but secretly.

The bills opponents filed about 3,000 amendments ahead of the debate which slowed down proceedings and made a vote in the allotted time impossible.

If it had passed, France would have become the fifth European Union country to permit euthanasia after the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg and Spain. (Switzerland allows assisted suicide, but not euthanasia.)

Neither President Emanuel Macron nor his government have taken sides, although the president said in 2017: "I myself wish to choose the end of my life".

The Minister of Health, Olivier Vran, said he was not convinced that France should have a large-scale debate during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Latvia. On March 25, after a long debate, the Latvian Parliament (Saeima) rejected a public petition which had called for the legalisation of euthanasia. A total of 49 members voted for rejection, 38 voted against, and two abstained.

Opponents emphasised that Latvia needed to get its palliative care system in order first, before considering right-to-die initiatives. Deputy Vitlijs Orlovs, who is a doctor, declared in the debate: I was taught to fight for patients lives to the end. I cannot imagine injecting a person with some substance to help them die not for any amount of money.

Supporters stressed a need to do away with end-of-life misery. People think this will open a can of worms, said Pteris Buks, the author of the petition, but Holland has 17 million inhabitants and 6,000 euthanasia cases. This means that in Latvia these could be about 600 cases. We have ten times fewer people.

Hat tip to Alex Schadenberg.

Michael Cook is editor of BioEdge

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'Dignity in dying' legislation fails in France and Latvia - BioEdge

Kokomo Humane Society announced today a $50,000 grant investment from the newly-named Petco Love to support their lifesaving work for animals in Kokomo.

Petco Love is a nonprofit leading change for pets nationally by harnessing the power of love to make communities and pet families closer, stronger, and healthier. Since its founding in 1999 as the Petco Foundation, it has empowered organizations with nearly $300 million invested to date in adoption and other lifesaving efforts. And, theyve helped find loving homes for more than 6.5 million pets in partnership with Petco and more than 4,000 organizations, like the Kokomo Humane Society, nationwide.

Today Petco Love announces an investment in Kokomo Humane Society and hundreds of other organizations as part of our commitment to create a future in which no pet is unnecessary euthanized, said Susanne Kogut, president of Petco Love. Our local investments are only one component. This month, we will also launch the first of our national tools to empower all animal lovers to drive lifesaving change right alongside us.

Karen Wolfe, executive director of the humane society, said the grant is important to the shelter as it enables them to continue to develop existing programs as well as grow new o

Petco Loves support means so much to our organization. They have had confidence in us from the beginning of our transformation. Petco Love helped us over several years, move from a 37 percent to 93 percent save rate. They were also a major factor in helping us build our new humane society. Knowing that Petco Love believed in us has made me feel like we could truly reach our lifesaving goals," said Wolfe.

Since 2010 euthanasia has dropped over 56 percent, saving 94 percent of the animals taken in. The practice of using euthanasia for reasons of space no longer exists, said Wolfe, and hundreds of sick and injured animals that previously would not have been saved are now given extensive medical treatment.

"Enriching the time animals spend at the shelter is a priority as is finding each animal a forever home," said Wolfe. "Moving to the new facility at 729 E. Hoffer has made it possible to pursue Kokomo Humanes mission: Improving the lives of animals, preventing cruelty through education, uniting pets with families."

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Newly-named Petco Love Invests in humane society - Kokomo Perspective

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By JOE CIESZINSKI

Parallels are painfully obvious to anyone from a Judeo-Christian background. The time, place, controlled secrecy and, yes, the money.

As Christians around the world recall the incredibly painful passion and crucifixion of Christ during Easter season, we see commonalities with our political situation in New Mexico.

The crucifixion of Jesus and the crucifixion of New Mexico. The Jewish capital of Jerusalem/the New Mexican capital of Santa Fe, City of Holy Faith. The secret overnight trial of Jesus/the gated community closed legislative sessions.

................................................................

Roman solders and Jewish leaders conspired then, many legislators now. The 40 pieces of silver paid to Judas and hundreds of thousands sunk into the campaign of Lujan Grisham by pro-abortion/pro-euthanasia/pro-recreational pot.

These people do not want what is best for New Mexico, they want what is best for their bank account. Selling out/betrayal 2,000 years ago and today.

Many know the passage from John 10:10: The thief comes only to steal, kill and destroy, which remarkably resembles MLG.

Michelle Lujan Grisham has:

1. Stolen. She has stolen prosperity from New Mexico by getting rid of clean coal, and sabotaging our oil and gas business, a huge part of the New Mexico economy. The way she handled COVID has permanently shut down many restaurants and other small businesses. The legislative sessions security, including the fence around the Roundhouse, cost NM from $700,000 to $1,000,000. MLG charged New Mexico over $11,000 for food catered/delivered to her. She was sorry she got caught, but not that she stole from New Mexico.

2. Killed. Under the MLG reign, the most hostile abortion and euthanasia bills in the country were passed by this legislature.

3. Destroyed. New Mexico has been trashed economically and morally during the MLG reign. The marijuana bill will destroy the future of many youth and others, and make poorly performing New Mexico schools worse. It will bring in more gangs and drugs. It will prey upon the poor and hurt families, workers and hospitals. It will cause more crashes on New Mexico highways. It will not help the economy, but hurt it. A report by Colorado Christian Universitys Centennial Institute said that, for every tax dollar generated by legal marijuana sales, costs to the state of marijuana are over $4.50. People in the real world cannot perform well at real jobs or in real schools if they are out of their real minds. Social costs now always translate into financial costs later.

Michelle Lujan Grisham has betrayed us. She has exchanged the best interests of New Mexico for money and power, kind of like Judas.

During this sacred time of year, we are reminded of the second half of John 10:10. Here Jesus said, but I have come that they might have life to the fullest. Through Jesus, God has invited us into his family as adopted children. God has a great plan for New Mexico, a plan of safety, fruitfulness, prosperity, well-being, healthy persons, families, schools and businesses. The Lord invites us to partner with him to make New Mexico beautiful in every way.

Another generous offer of the Lord to us is, I place before you life and death, a blessing and a curse, choose life (Deuteronomy 30:19). Fellow New Mexicans, let us choose life.

It is appropriate during this Easter season to remind us of the promise of Jesus at the very end of the gospel of Matthew: Behold, I am with you always, even to the end of time. He is risen!!!

Joe Cieszinski lives in Santa Fe.

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Observe the crucifixion of New Mexico - Albuquerque Journal

For San Diego Humane Society, the word zero represents a great accomplishment not just for the organization, but for the entire county. Zero represents the number of healthy or treatable animals who are in danger of being euthanized in San Diego County animal shelters. SDHS partnered with seven other shelters in the San Diego Animal Welfare Coalition to achieve this goal in 2015, making San Diego the largest city in the country to reach this milestone. Were committed to Staying at Zero, said Gary Weitzman, SDHS president and CEO, and what that takes involves evolution every year. Weve seen that especially during the pandemic.

Even before COVID-19 struck last March, the work to ensure zero euthanasia of healthy or treatable shelter animals was immense. As an open-admission shelter, SDHS wont turn away any animal in need. They are one of the largest animal welfare agencies in the country, taking in in nearly 50,000 animals annually including those with serious medical and behavioral needs who would have nowhere else to turn. Saving their lives requires innovation, which is why the organization developed many of their signature programs.

At its San Diego Campus, SDHS operates the Pilar & Chuck Bahde Center for Shelter Medicine, providing medical care far beyond that found in traditional shelters. Its veterinary team led by one of only 28 veterinarians certified in shelter medicine by the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners performs everything from trauma medicine to specialized surgeries. They repair fractured bones, perform advanced dental work and lead the country in developing new treatments for deadly diseases like parvo and distemper.

Across the street, youll find a state-of-the-art Behavior Center that provides a safe space and individualized training plans for some of the most challenging dogs and cats to enter San Diego County shelters. Its one of just a few facilities of its kind in the country, and it enables SDHS to save hundreds of animals each year.

With the onset of the pandemic, operations for animal shelters became more complex. SDHS pivoted to continue saving animals while meeting the increased needs of pet families. We had to figure out how to adopt pets online, how to care for animals while staying six feet apart, and how to be there for more people who needed us, says Weitzman. One of the ways we Stay at Zero is by keeping pets with the families that love them. During COVID, thats meant doing even more for our community, like distributing 2 million pet meals, offering medical services, and providing behavior support.

By providing more resources for pet families in need, SDHS ensures the pandemic doesnt mean people face the heartbreaking decision to relinquish their animals.

To learn more about SDHS or make a donation to support their work, visit sdhumane.org.

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What it takes to stay at zero - Coast News

The parliamentary committee Liberties and Territories was only yesterday to deliver a speech promoted by Deputy Oliver Florni, an initiative to divide the political forces in Palacio de Bourbon.

In a debate that passed at midnight, legislator Guillo Chiche amended Article 1, which was dedicated to active medical assistance to death, by 48 votes to 240.

Five delegates from the Los Republican Party (traditional right) introduced more than two thousand of the three thousand amendments in the chamber, which no doubt made it impossible to carry out a project.

According to this plan, any person of legal ability and legal age can decide to end his or her life if a serious and incurable disease occurs which is considered unbearable and there is no real way to alleviate it.

According to Florini, this initiative reflects the high personal liberty of the French, a criterion with many opponents in the National Assembly, with arguments ranging from philosophy to ethics and to man.

Florni and other defenders of the text denounced Palacio de Bourbon as an interruption.

The government has recently estimated that this is not the time for a debate on euthanasia, given that the fight against the Covit-19 epidemic, which has killed nearly 100,000 people in France over the past 13 months, is a priority.

In addition to the project in question, some others sought to overturn the Glaze-Leonetti Act of 2016, which recognizes deep and continuous anesthesia for certain diseases.

mem / wmr

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The euthanasia bill sinks in the French National Assembly - Brenza Latin - Broadway.me

'ICAC could look into this': Anti-corruption watchdog open to data probe 'Truly demoralising': Bombshell report reveals children, elderly at mercy of ambulance ramping Not FIFA compliant - but Hindmarsh to host Women's World Cup SA building approvals fall despite record home building levels Aboriginal Cultures Centre viability report signed-off, not released

Voluntary assisted dying legislation in South Australia has passed another legislative hurdle, with the Upper House last night waving the controversial bill through its second reading with a final vote set for May.

The euthanasia legislation, sponsored by Labor MLC Kyam Maher and Deputy Opposition Leader Susan Close, is modelled on a similar bill passed in Victoria in 2017.

It includes 68 safeguards and a provision that someone applying to end their life early due to terminal illness must have been a resident in SA for at least 12 months.

It is South Australia 17th attempt in 25 years to pass voluntary euthanasia laws.

Last nights vote means the legislation will now go to the committee review stage before a final conscience vote is scheduled to take place in the Upper House on May 5.

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In an emotional sitting of the Legislative Council, politicians from both sides of aisle expressed differing and deeply held personal views on the matter informed by previous life experiences.

Maher sought to ease concerns of those opposed to the legislation that the new laws could lead to coercion or misuse.

Nothing in this bill will make anyone do anything, Maher told the Upper House.

It will not force any terminally ill patient to avail themselves to a scheme of assisted dying. It will not force any health practitioner to participate in a scheme if their conscience doesnt allow them to.

But making a decision against this bill certainly will actively stop people who wish to avail themselves to a voluntary assisted dying scheme in those last months of a terminal illness.

Treasurer Rob Lucas, who has opposed euthanasia legislation since the 1980s, said his views were a minority in the Upper House.

I know that in this particular chamber, whilst the view that I held years ago was the majority view in the chamber on euthanasia, it is very much a minority view at this particular time, Lucas said.

But I can not, will not, and dont have to subscribe to the view that because of a poll says the majority people say I should vote a particular way that thats the way that I should vote on that particular issue.

Tasmania passed voluntary assisted dying laws through both houses of their state parliament last week, following Victoria and Western Australia as the third state to legalise euthanasia.

Media diversity is under threat in Australia nowhere more so than in South Australia. The state needs more than one voice to guide it forward and you can help with a donation of any size to InDaily. Your contribution goes directly to helping our journalists uncover the facts. Please click below to donate to InDaily.

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Euthanasia bill passes another hurdle in Parliament - InDaily

Kalista was 19 years and 10 months old. Before her death, she was one of the oldest living tigers in the U.S.

ST. LOUIS Kalista the Amur tiger, known for giving birth to a rare litter of five cubs and delighting zoo visitors for years passed away at the age of 19, the Saint Louis Zoo announced Friday.

It is with a heavy heart that we share the sad news, the zoo wrote in a news release.

Kalista was 19 years and 10 months old. Before her death on March 27, she was the oldest living female Amur tiger in the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) North American Species Survival Plan Program (SSP).

The zoo said she had been undergoing treatment for age-related degenerate joint disease for several years.

When medical treatment was not sufficient to keep her comfortable and pain free, our Animal Care and Veterinary teams jointly decided that euthanasia was the most humane option, the zoo said.

Kalista was born at the Philadelphia Zoo in 2001. Shes been greeting Saint Louis Zoo visitors since 2003.

In 2008, Kalista became a mother for the first time, and in dramatic fashion. She gave birth to a rare, large litter of five cubs. An average litter for Amur tigers is two or three.

Kalista was an amazing mother tigress and a very special cat, according to the animal care team.

Zoo officials said they will especially miss her affectionate nature.

"Kalista was a very social and energetic tiger, said Steve Bircher, the Kevin Beckman curator of carnivores at the zoo. She enjoyed interacting and training with the keepers and greeted everyone with a 'chuff,' which is a tiger-specific vocalization showing affection. We will all miss her.

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Saint Louis Zoo tiger that gave birth to litter of 5 cubs passes away - KSDK.com