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Articles by David Vazquez
SIGN: Wild Horses Should Not Be Slaughtered
0 Signatures Collected Go back to the petition Read the petition Leave a Comment (Optional) Orice W. Brown, Acting Comptroller General of the United States; [email protected] **your signature** Sign Now By signing, you accept Lady Freethinker’s Terms of Service and Privacy Policy, and agree to receive email updates on this and other issues. You can unsubscribe at any time. PETITION TARGETS: U.S. Government Accountability Office Acting Comptroller General Orice W.
USDA Targets Dogfighting and Unlawful Breeders to Strengthen Animal Protection
Dogs forced to fight or mistreated in breeding operations are at the center of a federal enforcement push that includes a new Animal Protection Bureau, the U.S. Department of Agriculture recently announced. The bureau brings together specialists to coordinate investigations and assess whether facilities follow animal-care requirements. Working with inspectors, veterinarians, and legal partners, the team helps identify unlicensed operations and improve inspections nationwide.
Injured Pelican Knocks on Door to Find Help
A brown pelican tangled in fishing line showed up at exactly the right door. The bird walked up to a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration fisheries laboratory in Panama City, Florida, and repeatedly tapped their beak against the glass entrance. Just 10 minutes later, the injured animal was free and back in the sky.
SIGN: Urge Colombia to Ban Cruel Factory Farms for Octopuses
0 Signatures Collected Go back to the petition Read the petition Leave a Comment (Optional) Sign Now By signing, you accept Lady Freethinker’s Terms of Service and Privacy Policy, and agree to receive email updates on this and other issues. You can unsubscribe at any time. PETITION TARGET: Senate of the Republic of Colombia Octopuses condemned to confinement and slaughter on industrial farms are packed into crowded tanks where stress can lead to aggression and even cannibalism.
Elephants May Treat Themselves and Their Calves With Medicinal Plants, Study Finds
Wild African elephants in Kenya may know which plants to seek out when they feel sick — and mothers may even prepare plant medicine for their calves, according to a new study shaped by Indigenous knowledge. Researchers spoke with eight experts from the Sabaot Indigenous community in the Mount Elgon region, including wildlife scouts, elders, guides, and a retired ranger. Each had observed the area’s elephants for more than 20 years and knew the community’s traditional plant medicines.
PETITION UPDATE: Strongest-Ever Animal Abuse Sentence in Virginia Given in Brutal Cat Torture Scheme
A man who tortured cats to raise money from people who thought they were helping sick animals has received a record sentence in Virginia, according to WTVR. Rodney Travis Jr. pleaded guilty to animal cruelty and computer fraud charges in Henrico County, where the court imposed a 15-year prison term and a $25,000 fine.
SIGN: Help Protect UK Foxes From Being Cruelly Killed by Dogs in Trail Hunts
158 Signatures Collected Go back to the petition Read the petition Leave a Comment (Optional) UK Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Dame Angela Eagle DBE; [email protected] **your signature** Sign Now By signing, you accept Lady Freethinker’s Terms of Service and Privacy Policy, and agree to receive email updates on this and other issues. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Animals Rescued From Abuse in Ohio County Receive Funding for Veterinary Care
Rescue can take an animal out of danger, but the cost of treating injuries or illnesses they’ve suffered can be a barrier to their recovery. Now, animals saved from abuse or neglect in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, have a new source of funding for the veterinary care they need. On Sept. 22, the Cuyahoga County Council unanimously approved up to $25,000 for the Abused and Neglected Animal Health Restoration Fund.
Progress! Animal Testing Reduced Thanks to Federal Rule Changes
Hundreds of nonhuman primates and more than one million horseshoe crabs could be spared from drug testing each year under federal efforts that also include the closure of the National Institutes of Health’s last in-house beagle laboratory. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has launched more than 20 actions across its agencies to reduce animal testing.
Illinois Man Gets Maximum 10-Year Sentence for Dragging Rottweiler Behind SUV
An Illinois man has received the maximum sentence after dragging his dog behind his vehicle and dumping him. Tracy McKee, of Sparta, was sentenced to 10 years in prison for animal torture, aggravated animal cruelty, and animal cruelty, of which he must serve at least five years in the Illinois Department of Corrections. Before the brutal dragging, Trek, a Rottweiler, had been left outside for hours as temperatures climbed well into the 90s in Washington Park, Illinois.
Beloved Neighborhood Kitten Returns to Brooklyn Bodega After Disappearing for 5 Days
A three-month-old kitten named Jabal is back home at his bodega in Brooklyn, New York, playing with his toys as relieved neighbors stop by to see him. Jabal disappeared after wandering outside Eighth Street Mini Market in Park Slope one morning. Surveillance video showed a man pick him up and leave with a woman, CBS News New York reported. His family was heartbroken. Jabal had only recently become the store’s new mascot after Victoria, the bodega’s former cat, died.
SIGN: Ban Fur From Milan Fashion Week
16 Signatures Collected Go back to the petition Read the petition Leave a Comment (Optional) Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana Chairman Carlo Capasa; [email protected] **your signature** Sign Now By signing, you accept Lady Freethinker’s Terms of Service and Privacy Policy, and agree to receive email updates on this and other issues. You can unsubscribe at any time.
SIGN: Send Emily the Lonely Zoo Elephant to a Sanctuary
25 Signatures Collected Go back to the petition Read the petition Leave a Comment (Optional) New Bedford Mayor Jon Mitchell; [email protected] **your signature** Sign Now By signing, you accept Lady Freethinker’s Terms of Service and Privacy Policy, and agree to receive email updates on this and other issues. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Inside Edition Features Lady Freethinker’s Work Exposing Cruel Fake Animal Rescue Videos
Inside Edition just featured our work exposing fake animal rescue videos, showing viewers across the country the truth behind this cruel, deceptive social media content. LFT Founder and President Nina Jackel explains how people deliberately put animals in danger, then pretend to save them on camera for views and profit. The report explains the hidden cruelty behind some of the most heartbreaking content on the internet and highlights our call to social media companies to take action.
Former NFL Player Receives 5-Year Prison Sentence for Running Large-Scale Dogfighting Operation
A repeat dogfighter has been sentenced to five years in federal prison after authorities removed 190 dogs from his property in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. Former NFL player LeShon Johnson also received three years of supervised release and a $30,000 fine after a jury convicted him on six felony dogfighting charges, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. The 190 dogs were the most ever seized from one person in a federal dogfighting case. This was not Johnson’s first dogfighting case.
Baby Elephant Trapped in Muddy Trench Rescued by Caring Community
A baby elephant was rescued from a muddy trench in India, thanks to tea garden workers and villagers who heard the little one’s cries and quickly called for assistance. The calf, estimated to be 4 to 6 weeks old, became stuck at Seconee Tea Estate near Kaziranga National Park in Assam. The herd tried to pull the baby out, but the deep, muddy trench kept the calf trapped.
Cambodian Ministry Speaks Out Against Videos Promoting Wildlife Trafficking & Cruelty
Videos that promote capturing, selling, or eating wild animals need to stop, Cambodia’s Ministry of Environment warned at an Aug. 7 press conference, according to Mongabay. The appeal covers people who make the content and those who share it on social media. “Promoting love for wildlife does not mean keeping wild animals in cages,” Ministry of Environment spokesperson Khvay Atitya said. The ministry also urged authorities to take legal action against online wildlife trafficking.
Critically Endangered Tiger Successfully Returned to the Wild
Following weeks of rehabilitation, a Malayan tiger is back where she belongs. Yong Choh, a female estimated to be 7 years old, was rescued in July in Perak, Malaysia, after a conflict with people and taken to the National Wildlife Rescue Centre in Sungkai for rehabilitation and veterinary care.
Ailing 100-Pound Sea Turtle Rescued by Coast Guard
A 100-plus-pound green sea turtle now named Baby Myrtle is getting specialized care after boaters spotted her floating in the Florida Keys and called for help. After receiving the report, The Turtle Hospital alerted U.S. Coast Guard Station Key West, and a crew quickly reached the distressed turtle. They brought her aboard a rescue boat, carried her to the dock, and helped transport her to the hospital.
SIGN: Justice for Cats Found Dead and Bleeding in Suspected Poisoning Case
0 Signatures Collected Go back to the petition Read the petition Leave a Comment (Optional) [Name and title], NYPD Animal Cruelty Investigation Squad; 718-276-3319 [official email] **your signature** Sign Now By signing, you accept Lady Freethinker’s Terms of Service and Privacy Policy, and agree to receive email updates on this and other issues. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Cat Missing at Airport for 16 Days Finally Returns Home
After spending 16 days lost at Toronto Pearson International Airport, a 7-year-old cat named Caramel is back home with her family in Montreal. Caramel traveled from Jordan to Canada with her guardian, Abir Batikhi, and three other cats, but when the carriers reached Montreal, Caramel’s was empty. Batikhi learned she had escaped onto an airport ramp during a stop in Toronto. Airport staff and members of the public searched while Batikhi posted online.
LFT Sponsors Cooling Relief in China for Rescued Dogs & Cats
On a scorching summer day in China, shelter dogs and cats gathered happily around big blocks of ice sponsored by Lady Freethinker, bringing cool relief that turned into one big tail-wagging party! With temperatures soaring to almost 108 degrees Fahrenheit, dogs and cats enjoyed a much-needed respite from the heat. In all, your support helped provide hundreds of ice blocks, cooling spray equipment, and nourishing food.
Cat Rescued From Trash Pit After Hiding in Discarded Couch
An 8-year-old cat named Mike is safely back home after seemingly hiding in an old couch that was hauled to a trash and recycling facility in Fairfax County, Virginia, according to local news. Workers found him trapped on a ledge inside a trash pit at the I-66 Transfer Station. When Mike missed dinner, his guardian searched the neighborhood for two days before suspecting the cat had been inside one of three couches recently hauled to the transfer station.
Man Sentenced to a Decade in Prison After 130+ Dogs Starved to Death at Supposed Rescue
A man from Texas has been sentenced to 10 years in prison after pleading guilty to one felony count and one misdemeanor count of cruelty to non-livestock animals, according to local news. Timothy Carles Brockman also cannot have an animal for five years after his release. Brockman’s 10-year prison term covers the felony cruelty conviction and a felony burglary offense for which he had been on probation.
Boom in Baby Chicks Brings Hope for World’s Heaviest Parrot
In a hopeful milestone for the critically endangered kākāpō, 90 chicks were added to New Zealand’s official population count on Sept. 1, bringing the total to 325. That is the highest number since modern recovery work began and may be the first time the population has topped 300 in about 75 years. The chicks joined the tally after they had all reached 150 days old, the age when they are considered independent.
Mother Bear and Her Cubs Rescued During ‘Operation Care Bear’
A mother black bear and her three cubs are safely back in the wild after a dangerous day inside a water storage tank in La Verne, California. The family was discovered Aug. 29 near Claremont Wilderness Park’s 5-Mile Loop Trail after runners heard howling coming from the tank. When they looked through its roughly one-foot-wide opening, they saw the mother standing in water and bracing herself against the wall to stay dry.
Woman Given Lifetime Ban on Keeping Cats After Over 70 Animals Were Found Living in Squalor
A woman from Tasmania has been banned from keeping cats for life after pleading guilty to 21 counts of animal cruelty and one count related to the management of animals, according to local news. Karen Blake also cannot keep dogs for five years, except for the dog already in her care, and must pay A$27,000 (about $19,500 USD) in veterinary and boarding costs.
Mountain lions, bobcats, coyotes, gray foxes, mule deer, and other wild animals will soon gain a safer route across one of Southern California’s busiest freeways. The Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing spans 10 lanes of U.S. 101 at Liberty Canyon in Agoura Hills. Project organizers call it the largest crossing of its kind in the world. About 300,000 vehicles use the freeway each day. For decades, the freeway has divided the Santa Monica Mountains from the Simi Hills and Santa Susana Mountains.
Good News for Dogs! Poland Signs Chaining Ban into Law
Leaving a dog or cat tethered outdoors day after day will soon be illegal in Poland. President Karol Nawrocki has signed a new law that will improve protections for dogs and cats, including sparing the animals from languishing on chains. The legislation goes into effect July 2027. The law only allows short-term restraint in limited situations, including transport, veterinary or grooming care, and immediate safety emergencies. Dogs kept outdoors must generally be able to move freely on fenced land.
SIGN: Justice for Dozens of Hamsters Stomped to Death on Camera at Japanese ‘Love Hotels’
0 Signatures Collected Go back to the petition Read the petition Leave a Comment (Optional) Morioka District Public Prosecutors Office; Fax Line: +81-19-629-1028 **your signature** Sign Now By signing, you accept Lady Freethinker’s Terms of Service and Privacy Policy, and agree to receive email updates on this and other issues. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Man Who Killed Stray Cat Gets Maximum Sentence, Ban On Having Animals
A cat who had been living as a stray was carried alive into a Bronx apartment, where the animal should have found safety, comfort, and gentle care. Instead, less than two weeks later, the cat had been killed. The man responsible for killing the cat pleaded guilty and received a two-year jail sentence, the maximum allowed under New York law, News 12 reported. Surveillance footage showed the cat being carried into the apartment. An Instagram photo posted two days later showed the cat still alive.
SIGN: Justice for Turtle Found Caged, Zip-Tied, and Abandoned Underwater in Lake
0 Signatures Collected Go back to the petition Read the petition Leave a Comment (Optional) Suffolk County SPCA Chief Roy Gross; [email protected] **your signature** Sign Now By signing, you accept Lady Freethinker’s Terms of Service and Privacy Policy, and agree to receive email updates on this and other issues. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Nearly 300 Animals Saved From Wildfire Near Athens Thanks to Compassionate Rescuers
A compassionate group of rescuers saved 282 animals as a deadly wildfire swept across mountains and coastal areas near Athens, during a summer of wildfires across Europe. At one point, the devastating blaze burned on five fronts, destroying dozens of homes and scorching a wide stretch of land. “There was so much heat and the fire was so aggressive,” rescue organizer Elena Dede said.
SIGN: Justice for Kittens Allegedly Burned Alive for Social Media Content
9 Signatures Collected Go back to the petition Read the petition Leave a Comment (Optional) Cabuyao City Police Chief Lieutenant Colonel Stefanio Andrenicus A. Rabino; [email protected] **your signature** Sign Now By signing, you accept Lady Freethinker’s Terms of Service and Privacy Policy, and agree to receive email updates on this and other issues. You can unsubscribe at any time. PETITION TARGET: Cabuyao City Police Chief Lieutenant Colonel Stefanio Andrenicus A.
LFT Helps Drive Effort to Protect Birds in Lemon Grove From Commercial Sale Cruelty
Lemon Grove, CA, could soon end commercial bird sales in pet stores and allow rescued birds to be adopted instead — and Lady Freethinker supporters helped move this effort forward. On November 3, voters will decide whether to approve Measure E, a citizen-led initiative that would extend California’s rescue-only retail standards for dogs, cats, and rabbits to birds within the city. If approved, Measure E would end commercial bird sales in Lemon Grove pet stores.
Otter Pup Revived With CPR Reunites With Family
A young otter pup lay unresponsive on a dock in Alert Bay, British Columbia, with fishing netting wrapped tightly around their neck. A nearby resident cut the pup free, began CPR, and got the tiny animal breathing again. The rescue began July 28, when residents heard animals in distress at the ‘Namgis Dock on Cormorant Island. They found three juvenile otters tangled in sections of fishing net left on the dock, according to the Alert Bay detachment of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
Bobcat Returns to the Wild After Recovering From 2 Broken Legs
A custom-built kennel and a generous memorial donation helped a badly injured Pennsylvania bobcat find her way back to the wild. In February, a car hit the young female bobcat, trapping her head in the grill and dragging her along the road. The crash broke one front leg and one back leg. She arrived at Raven Ridge Wildlife Center in shock and pain on a Sunday. Nearby veterinary offices were closed, but a friend connected the center with an equine veterinarian who brought a mobile X-ray machine.
Trooper the Bald Eagle Returns to the Wild After Month-Long Rehabilitation
One month after he was found unable to fly beside a Kentucky road, a young bald eagle named Trooper opened his wings and flew back into the wild. Trooper’s rescue began on June 30, when Trooper Trey Lovins of Kentucky State Police answered a call about a distressed young bald eagle near Collins Lane in Corbin. Lovins found Trooper and safely captured him. With Trooper in his care, Lovins now needed to get the young eagle to people who knew how to help.
New EU Laws Aim to Protect Dogs & Cats From Illegal Breeding and Sales
The European Union recently approved legislation to increase the welfare and traceability of millions of dogs and cats across the continent. Dogs and cats throughout the EU will soon share the same basic care standards. Better record requirements will make it easier to see where each animal came from and halt illegal sales. The new rules cover all dogs and cats, whether they are in a private home, a shelter, a foster home, or sold by a business. Animals imported into the EU are included, too.
Poland Signs Dog and Cat Tethering Ban Set to Take Effect in 2027
Leaving a dog or cat tethered outdoors day after day will soon be against the law in Poland. President Karol Nawrocki was presented with an updated bill that would protect dogs and cats from being tethered outside day after day. He signed the new law, giving dogs and cats legal protection from a life spent at the end of a chain. The change will not happen right away. Although the law was published in July of 2026, the ban will not take effect until July of 2027.
LFT’s Urgent Need Fund Helps Rescued Dog Fox Heal and Thrive
After a car struck Fox in Sri Lanka’s Kurunegala District, the impact tore into her tiny body, leaving her wounded and unable to stand on her own. But, thanks to Lady Freethinker supporters, Fox received the emergency rescue and care she needed. The collision paralyzed Fox’s hind legs. She could move only by pulling herself forward with her front legs. Despite her serious injuries, Fox survived and received treatment from a local veterinarian.
Los Angeles Boosts Animal Protection With Cruelty Investigation Program and Monthly Vet Clinics
In November 2025, officers with the Los Angeles Police Department and LA Animal Services rescued 14 dogs and puppies from a Skid Row encampment as part of the city’s new animal cruelty pilot. Now the partnership behind that work is permanent. Los Angeles has trained more than 100 police officers to spot cruelty and collect evidence. They work with a dedicated animal control officer to investigate suspected cruelty and neglect, illegal breeding, and animal sales on Skid Row and nearby areas.
Cat Survives Highway Escape and Is Rescued From Colorado Tunnel
Seven-year-old Bones is back home without a scratch after escaping from a pickup truck on Colorado’s Interstate 70. While his family was driving east from Steamboat Springs, the cat squeezed through a small opening in the rear window and disappeared somewhere between Silverthorne and Denver. A stop for gas in Denver revealed that Bones was gone. His AirTag first pointed to the area near Loveland Ski Resort, then placed him inside the eastbound Eisenhower-Johnson Memorial Tunnels.
SIGN: Justice for Kittens Allegedly Put in Garbage Bag, Brought to Dump, and Stomped to Death
0 Signatures Collected Go back to the petition Read the petition Leave a Comment (Optional) Lee County Attorney Ross J. Braden; [email protected] **your signature** Sign Now By signing, you accept Lady Freethinker’s Terms of Service and Privacy Policy, and agree to receive email updates on this and other issues. You can unsubscribe at any time. PETITION TARGET: Lee County Attorney Ross J.
Animal Warning System That May Save Lives Begins Trial on Australian Highway
Near Michelago, between Canberra and Cooma in New South Wales, Australia, a 300-meter stretch of the Monaro Highway is serving as a testing ground for the Protective Animal Warning System. The highway is especially dangerous for wildlife around dawn and dusk, when low light can make kangaroos and other animals harder for drivers to see. The warning system aims to give approaching drivers more time to react. Heat-sensing and optical cameras monitor the highway and surrounding roadside.
New FBI Tip Line Offers $5,000 Reward for Evidence Against Animal Abusers
Maybe you caught cruelty on a security camera — or saw an animal being hurt and took a photo. That evidence could help stop the abuse. Federal authorities have opened a new FBI email tip line for serious animal cruelty. A $5,000 reward is available when information leads to a successful prosecution under the Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture (PACT) Act. The federal PACT Act applies to certain extreme cruelty cases, including some involving obscene “animal crush” videos.
New Tennessee Law Finally Makes it a Felony to Sadistically Starve Cows to Death
In Tennessee, intentionally starving a cow to death can now be prosecuted as a felony. You might assume the law already treated that as one of the state’s most serious forms of animal cruelty, but until July 1, 2026, it did not. Cows, pigs, sheep, goats, and horses were already covered by Tennessee’s aggravated cruelty law. Yet intentionally starving one of them to death was generally treated as misdemeanor cruelty. The new law closes that gap.
White Storks Return to England’s Midlands After 600 Years
After more than 600 years without a resident breeding population, white storks are walking through the long grass of England’s Midlands once again. Three captive-bred juveniles have arrived at Willington Wetlands in Derbyshire, bringing with them the hope that these remarkable birds might one day nest and raise young in the region. Their arrival does not mean storks are flying freely over the Midlands just yet.
SIGN: Pass Animal Protection Bill in New South Wales that Bans Leaving Dogs in Hot Cars
59 Signatures Collected Go back to the petition Read the petition Leave a Comment (Optional) The Honourable Tara Moriarty, Member of the Legislative Council and Minister for Agriculture; [email protected] **your signature** Sign Now By signing, you accept Lady Freethinker’s Terms of Service and Privacy Policy, and agree to receive email updates on this and other issues. You can unsubscribe at any time.
SIGN: Support New South Wales Bill to Protect Dogs and Other Animals
0 Signatures Collected Go back to the petition Read the petition Leave a Comment (Optional) The Honourable Tara Moriarty, Member of the Legislative Council and Minister for Agriculture; [email protected] **your signature** Sign Now By signing, you accept Lady Freethinker’s Terms of Service and Privacy Policy, and agree to receive email updates on this and other issues. You can unsubscribe at any time.
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