Our Turn: Management of state’s native fish needs reform

Posted on by NHARL in Articles & Letters

By LINDA DIONNE, JAMES GLOVER, JACK HURLEY and SHIMON SHUCHAT
For the Monitor — July 27, 2020

Aug. 1 is Respect for Fish Day, a national day of action to increase appreciation for fish as individuals and essential members of their aquatic ecosystem communities.

Over the past decade a large body of scientific evidence demonstrating that fish are sentient, cognitively complex animals has come forward, and according to the American Veterinary Medical Association fish “should be accorded the same considerations as terrestrial vertebrates in regard to relief from pain.”

Unfortunately, this scientific consensus isn’t reflected in public policy and the welfare and conservation of fish is often neglected. This problem is embodied in the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department’s management of our state’s wild fish populations, particularly its liberal hatchery stocking program and under-protection of native brook trout.

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Tabling at New England Dog Expo

Posted on by NHARL in In the News

NHARL had a busy and productive day tabling at the New England Dog Expo hosted by Good Mojo University in Milford. We promoted our advocacy work and spotlighted the benefits of a vegan diet — both for people and for dogs. We had many good conversations and handed out a lot of vegan dog treats and vegan “people treats.” On top of that, we got 14 new names for our mailing list and collected some cash donations for NHARL.

Special thanks to Camberville Dog Treats, V-Dog, and Bobo’s bakery for donating the treats, and to Good Mojo University for inviting us.

Continue reading “Tabling at New England Dog Expo” →

Helane Shields

HELANE SHIELDS WILDLIFE FUND

Posted on by NHARL in Wild Animals

Helane Shields was a longtime member of the New Hampshire Animal Rights League and a passionate animal advocate.

Her legacy included a generous gift to NHARL, which we used to establish the Helane Shields Wildlife Fund in her honor.

The fund will be used to further our efforts to protect the wild animals of New Hampshire that Helane so loved, including beavers.

According to her husband, Charles, there’s a beaver pond not far from their home, and in winter Helane enjoyed seeing the steam from the beavers’ breath rising from their lodge.

Protesting at Living Shores Aquarium

Posted on by NHARL in In the News
Members of NHARL and Until Lolita is Home hold signs outside the Living Shores Aquarium at Story Land in Glen to protest the opening of the aquarium and how its corporate parent treats Lolita the orca at a marine park in Miami

Animal-rights protesters target Living Shores Aquarium at Story Land

By John Koziol, Union Leader Correspondent — Nov 10, 2019

GLEN — Two animal-rights groups held a protest Saturday outside the new Living Shores Aquarium at Story Land, questioning the commitment to animal welfare and giving a special nod to Lolita, an orca in Miami.

From noon until 2 p.m., about 10 people, representing the New Hampshire Animal Rights League and Until Lolita is Home, stood on the side of Route 16 in front of the aquarium, some holding signs that read, among other messages, “Animals are not our entertainment,” “Otters belong in the wild” and “Freedom matters to all.”

The protest generated no confrontations — a Bartlett police officer in a marked vehicle was in the Story Land parking lot nearby — but the protest did get many honks of support from passing drivers and at least one very loud, very clear expression of opposition from the driver of a bright red pickup truck.
Continue reading “Protesting at Living Shores Aquarium” →

Protesting Miss NH Pageant for Awarding Fur

Posted on by NHARL in In the News
NHARL protests at Miss NH Pageant

NHARL joined with other animal rights groups outside the Miss New Hampshire competition to protest the awarding of a fur coat to the winner. Kristina Snyder led the initiative and was quoted by the Eagle Tribune:

“It is time that the Miss New Hampshire Organization and indeed Miss America’s as well, takes a stand against cruelty to animals and says ‘no’ to this fur coat… These young women are supposed to reflect today’s society and trends. They should show independence, compassion, and caring towards animals. By staying stuck in the past and accepting a fur coat made from tortured animals, instead it shows a regressive stance by this organization.”

Leghold traps are modern-day torture devices. New Hampshire trappers remove important predators from the ecosystem, including coyotes and foxes which help control Lyme disease.

Leghold traps do not discriminate, often trapping non-target animals. Pets as well as endangered/threatened species, such as American bald eagles and the New England cottontail rabbits, have all been victims of these cruel traps.