Animal Rights

The Undercover Animal Cruelty Videos that Spurred Big Ag's Censorship Crusade

This week's story, "The Ag Gag War," goes behind the scenes of the guerilla fight between animal rights groups and Big Agriculture. For years organizations like the Humane Society and Mercy for Animals have being going undercover at America's largest farms, using hidden cameras to show exactly how ... More >>

Puppy Mills: Missouri, Worst State In U.S., Passes Bill To Block Anti-Cruelty Efforts?

Missouri has the worst puppy mills in the nation -- and lawmakers in the state are working hard to make sure it stays that way! So says the Humane Society, which announced this week that Missouri ranks No. 1 for terrible puppy farms in the United States and is now going after a piece of legislation ... More >>

Humane Society: Missouri Still Has Nation's Worst Puppy Mills

Three years after Missourians voted to crack down on disreputable dog breeding operations, the Show-Me State continues to lead the nation in the number of dangerous and unsanitary puppy mills. So says the Humane Society of the United States, which last week issued a report highlighting the nation' ... More >>

The Art of the Rescue

Two Dog-Owners Charged for Nasty Dog-Neglect

It's becoming clearer every month: If you don't take care of your dog, the city's new Animal Cruelty Task Force will "take care" of you. (In a misdemeanor-charge kind of way.) A couple of gentleman have just learned that lesson. Gary Miller, a 59-year-old from the 3100 block of Fair, has been arrest ... More >>

Animal Rights Activists Want You to Know About No-Good, Very Bad Things Wash. U. Does to Kittens

Should med students practice tracheal intubation by sticking a plastic tube down a kitten's windpipe? Washington University's School of Medicine is one of the last pediatrics programs in the country that says "yes." This morning animal rights activists -- in town for a national convention -- stood ... More >>

St. Louis Vegans: No "Terrorist" Acts Planned for Wash U. Medical Center

Alexandria Graff of St. Louis Vegans just called Daily RFT to say that, despite the "hyperbolic, alarmist" memo sent by Washington University's campus security, no eco-terrorist acts are planned for the weekend. "I know they think we're coming to together to plan some illicit activity," she says, "b ... More >>

Not All Who Wander are Lost

Let the Dogs Out

Missouri House Passes "Ag Gag" Bill Designed to Stop Factory-Farm Investigations

The Missouri House of Representatives yesterday passed a bill designed to thwart undercover investigations into big agriculture. The legislation (HB 1860) mirrors a similar bill signed into law this year in Iowa and creates the crime of "Agricultural Production Facility Fraud" for anyone who obtains ... More >>

Gary Montgomery Charged with Animal Neglect; Stray Rescue Instrumental in Developing Case

The office of City of St. Louis Circuit Attorney Jennifer Joyce recently trained Stray Rescue of St. Louis personnel  in the intricacies of legally documenting the appalling cases of animal abuse that Stray Rescue staff encounter on a daily basis. The goal of this late-March meeting was to expe ... More >>

Pet Neglect is a Drag

City Approves Funding for New Animal Shelter on North Side

City leaders are taking steps to curb St. Louis' stray dog problem.​The city's Estimates and Appropriations Committee unanimously approved yesterday a proposal to use $170,000 from last year's budget surplus to build a new animal shelter in north St. Louis. The plan is to lease and renovate a va ... More >>

Tiger Trouble: County Investigating PETA Complaint Over Circus at Jamestown Mall

PETA's video shows a tiger with his paw trapped under the bars of his cage at the UniverSoul Circus.​ UPDATED at 4:45 p.m. with comments from UniverSoul Circus. Yesterday, the UniverSoul Circus opened a five-day run at the Jamestown Mall -- bringing its dancing dogs, amazing acrobats and terr ... More >>

Pitbulls' Bad Rap Is Subject of New Art Exhibit

Wikimedia CommonsHelen Keller owned a pitbull named Sir Thomas.​Pitbulls get a bad rap. The things most people think they know about them are pure stereotype, one that alleges a vicious, aggressive demeanor thanks to their history of use in dog fights. The things people don't know about them a ... More >>

Naked Women Invade the Loop!

Diana BenantiHolly Kersten and Lauren Quillo stumping for PETA in the Loop. ​Nothing says animal rights like a couple of naked chicks standing on a street corner, right? Two St. Louis lovelies bared arms, legs and backsides for PETA in the Delmar Loop yesterday, hoping to educate passersby on ... More >>

Nixon Signs "Missouri Compromise Solution" Version of Prop. B

Jennifer SilverbergGovernor, how could you resist those puppy-dog eyes?​Just as he said he would last week, Governor Jay Nixon signed Senate Bill 113 this morning. The bill tweaks Proposition B, the initiative to put limits on dog breeding facilities (the nice term for "puppy mills") that vote ... More >>

Humane Society Not Liable for Dog Bite, Court Finds

via www.zifflaw.comIt's not the humane society's fault if your adopted pup turns into a vicious attack dog, the Missouri Court of Appeals says.​When a St. Louis girl was bit by a dog, she and her family filed suit against the dog's owner, alleging the attack was a result of the owner's "negligence ... More >>

Florissant Woman Honored for Saving Dog's Life

PETA loves Donna Oelze!​Donna Oelze might have good reason to be sick and tired of dogs. She works as a groomer, after all, and (take it from this dog owner!) not every pup is delighted to get his hair cut or his toenails clipped.But when Oelze saw a dog walk into the traffic on I-270 and get stru ... More >>

Make a New Doggie Friend This Weekend

Awww, lookit that little face!!​Need a dawg? How about a big, goofy, friendly one? This weekend, the Humane Society of Missouri is holding "Pittie Parties" so you can mix and mingle with pit bulls and see what great pets they can make.Stop by any of the state's three Humane Society locations -- in ... More >>

The Buffett of Human Kindness

Animal Fund Check Box on Utility Bills Could Finally Go Away

Obligatory sad puppy photo.​The check box on St. Louis city water and property tax bills that allows residents to give money to the Animal House Fund has raised some $246,000 -- even though the shelter that the fund was intended to finance is off the drawing board.  As first uncovered by Dail ... More >>

Tony La Russa Comes Out Against ... Puppy Mills

St. Louis Cardinals Manager Tony La Russa may have taken a sudden turn to the right with his attendance at a Glenn Beck rally this summer.   Tony La Russa may agree with Sarah Palin about "restoring honor" -- but we're guessing they disagree about animal rights.​But La Russa's parting w ... More >>

Meet Your Meat With Jonathan Safran Foer

​Gut Check recently caught up with novelist Jonathan Safran Foer, who decided to investigate the factory farming industry in America. He recently published his findings in "Eating Animals," his first work of nonfiction. While the book isn't exactly an anti-meat screed, it presents factory farming ... More >>

For the Love of Pit: Many former fighting dogs find new lives as family pets

Where Are All of St. Louis' Self-Righteous Animal Lovers?

Everyone loves adorable pets, right?​C'mon, we know you're out there -- crazy animal lovers. You gotta be. Why else would television stations always bait their newscasts with sob stories about injured puppies and wet kittens? It's because you're a sucker for those heart-wrenching tails tales. And ... More >>

Down on the Farm: Multimedia

​This week's feature story, "Down on the Farm," chronicles an increasingly heated national battle over "factory-farmed" food. On one side: a phalanx of corporation- and family-owned farms across the country. On the other: the Washington, D.C.-based Humane Society of the United States.Caught in the ... More >>

The Morning Brew: 4.8

The government thinks the FDA needs to step up food inspections. Despite a rash of recalls in the past six years, the FDA has inspected less than half of the organizations it regulates with the number dropping annually. The food safety legislation currently in Congress would provide more resources ... More >>

Animal Rights Group Condemns Saint Louis Zoo for Elephant Pregnancies

Group says no elephant sex is safe at Saint Louis Zoo.​California-based In Defense of Animals made a formal complaint today to the U.S. Department of Agriculture over two recent elephant pregnancies at the Saint Louis Zoo. The zoo announced this week that Asian elephants Ellie and her daughter, Ra ... More >>

This Week In St. Louis Elephant-Related News

Contributed by Kim BarksThis poor Elephant doesn't have a name, but anybody can suggest one for a $7.00 donation going to BackStoppers. ​What do an auto body shop, the St. Louis Zoo, an animal rights group, Mardi Gras and the Caribbean have in common?They're all part of this week's Elephant relate ... More >>

Vegans Who Aren't Morrissey Also Love the Pageant

Todd Owyoung​Morrissey's concert rider bans meat from whatever venue he happens to be playing that night, due to his staunch vegan status. (When he played the Pageant last year, the hot dog cart even had to take the night off!) We're not sure if that has anything to do with the following item, ... More >>

The Price is Right: Bob Barker Donates $1 Million to Establish Animal Rights Professorship at Drury University

flickr.com/photos/34443508@N08​C'mon down! Bob Barker, the erstwhile host of The Price is Right and longtime animal rights activist, has just donated $1 million to his alma mater, Drury University in Springfield, MO, to establish a professorship in animal rights. Barker hopes it will be the beginn ... More >>

Have A Cuppa

Don't Stalk George Clooney. EAT HIM.

OK. We here at Gut Check International Headquarters are as guilty as anyone of obsessing over George Clooney's presence in our fair city. However, today brings news that makes even us blanch. PETA wants to sell tofu that tastes like the actor.Yeah. You read that right.From the always reputable E! (v ... More >>

Doggone Good Time

Come park, then bark

What You Missed: Beer School

They Call it Puppy Suds

Most Precious Blood

Saturday, November 26; The Creepy Crawl (412 North Tucker Boulevard)

Hot Air

Unreal sees what all the inflatable fuss is about, learns why kitties are bad presents and talks to a man who loves hotties-but-smarties; plus, the second installment of Local Blog o' the Week!

Suits & Thugs & Rock & Roll

Cockfighting, prescription-drug abuse and other pursuits that tiptoe over the line of legality; plus, we give a shout-out to Plaza Frontenac

Best in Show

Nobody denies Debi Baker's talent with animals. Too bad she doesn't have the same gift with people.

Pet Project

Party for a good cause at the Humane Society's "Bone Appétit" party

Letters

Week of May 23, 2001

Letters

Week of May 16, 2001

Dog Day Afternoon

"Adopt a Stray on Bunny Day" seeks families for homeless pets

Best Community-Service Program

Humane Society of Missouri's Docents

Letters to the Editor

Published the week of April 5

Letters to the Editor

Published the Week of March 22

Letters to the Editor

Hunting Dog

When a frisky retriever paid an unexpected visit to the neighbors, he wasn't welcomed -- he was shot. And such killings are anything but uncommon.