Archive: September, 2009
Amy Worden, Inquirer Staff Writer
Facing a severe funding crisis, a highly-touted Philadelphia horsemanship program that puts disadvantaged youngsters in the saddle, sent out a desperate plea for help last month.
At the time, Work to Ride staffers wondered if they'd have enough cash to feed their 23 horses stabled in Fairmount Park, let alone continue riding lessons and its world class polo program. But their prayers were answered thanks to donors who gave $75,000 to keep the program afloat.
Amy Worden, Inquirer Staff Writer
The Michael Vick redemption tour made its first stop in Philadelphia today.
Speaking at a charter school in Feltonville, Vick warned students about the dangers of dog fighting and urged them not to succumb to peer pressure. The appearance was Vick's third on behalf of the Humane Society of the United State's anti-dog fighting campaign. HSUS president Wayne Pacelle joined Vick at the event.
Read the Inquirer story here.
Amy Worden, Inquirer Staff Writer
A record health care fraud settlement involving drugmaker Pfizer topped business headlines last week.
The $2.3 billion settlement resolved lawsuits by federal and state prosecutors that the drug company engaged in improper marketing for numerous prescription drugs and kickbacks to promote drugs.
Pennsylvania received $14 million as part of the settlement. According to state Attorney General Tom Corbett off-label marketing involves promoting a drug for uses that have not been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Corbett explained while it is not illegal for a physician to prescribe a drug for an unapproved use, federal law prohibits a manufacturer from promoting a drug for uses not approved by the FDA.
Amy Worden, Inquirer Staff Writer
The Jewish High Holy days of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are ushered in every year with the traditional blowing of the shofar, or ram's horn.
Here Salt Lake City Rabbi Benny Zippel's solo shofar demonstration turns unexpectedly into a duet.
Amy Worden, Inquirer Staff Writer
Thousands of words have been written in the last 24 hours about Michael Vick's reinstatement - the vast majority of them focused on his performance on the football field.
But what about the dogs, specifically the pit bulls of Philadelphia? What about those who are brutally used in dog fighting rings and die at the hands of their abusers or are seized or picked up as strays later and end up being put down in shelters by the thousands each year?
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell was quoted yesterday saying that he believed he saw "true remorse from Vick over his role in the deaths of several dogs."
Amy Worden, Inquirer Staff Writer
PETA wants Mayor Nutter and City Council to ban the city's horse-drawn carriages, PETA sent its letter after an August 29 incident in which a horse who was pulling a carriage suffered a leg injury when it spooked and crashed the carriage into a pole at the intersection of Third and Walnut streets. PETA says injuries and concern over the health of carriage horses has prompted bans in at least 13 other cities, including Camden, N.J. Similar efforts have been unsuccessful in New York City.
The city did in fact whitewash a mural depicting Michael Vick strangling a pit bull that was painted on the side of a tire shop in Kensington. KYW reports the Anti-Graffiti Squad painted over the mural on the side of the tire store at 2nd and York streets because the owner did not have the sign permit. The owner of the business, who identified herself only as Marisol, said "so much for free speech" and added she was unaware a permit was needed. She says the message of the painting was about the importance of second chances.
Amy Worden, Inquirer Staff Writer
Members of the Philadelphia Eagles front office met for the second time with animal welfare groups.
At a meeting last night, the group discussed a number of ways the Eagles could help promote animal welfare and curb dog fighting, among them setting up a spay/neuter clinic, building a sanctuary for ex-fighting dogs and distributing grants to shelters and rescues.
"People gave us ideas and ways that we could be impactful and I think the biggest thing that came out of it, the biggest message we heard loud and clear was around spaying/neuter issues and how the Philadelphia Eagles could be very helpful," said spokesperson Pamela Browner-Crawley told 6ABC Action news.
- A Humane Nation
- Animal Law Coalition
- Animal Legal Defense Fund
- Animals & Politics
- Best Friends Animal Society
- Catster
- Dogster
- ohmidog!
- Paw Print Post
- Pennsylvania Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
- Pet Watch New Jersey
- Pet-Abuse.com
- PetMD
- Terrierman
- The Bark
- Vetstreet
- WebMed/Pets
- zootoo
