City Lynx

Southeast Louisiana Aquarium Society Organizes

The new Southeast Louisiana Aquarium Society held its premiere organizational meeting July 26 at the Bluebonnet Library. The group of aquarium enthusiasts is affiliated with the Federation of American Aquarium Societies. Membership is free.

HSUS fired up about firearms

The Humane Society of the United States has recently mounted a campaign to dissuade the National Park Service from changing the law to allow park visitors to carry loaded weapons.

HSUS says allowing loaded weapons will encourage some visitors to shoot at park wildlife (some of which like the desert tortoise may be unable to escape), make wildlife more skittish resulting in a diminished experience for park visitors and eliminate the overtaxed ranger staff’s most important law enforcement tools. Currently, the presence of a loaded weapon is one of the only clues rangers have to detect and prosecute poachers.

Even with the current firearms ban, park officials believe poaching has contributed to the decline of at least 29 species and may cause the demise of another 19 species.

A real political animal

After Barack Obama promised to get his children a family dog after the election, the American Kennel Club started a campaign to entice the candidate’s family to procure a pup from a pet store or commercial breeder.

To counter the AKC’s promotion of purebred pooches, Best Friends Animal Society has countered with a petition encouraging the Obamas to adopt, not shop. So far, the group has amassed nearly 40,000 signatures.

Cast your vote here.