World News Roundup: September 1, 2017

Veterinary Nurse Poisons Her Own Dog (Mirror)

A veterinary nurse at private clinic in Glasgow deliberately and repeatedly poisoned her dog, 2-year-old cocker spaniel named Florence, with insulin, reportedly to gain attention for herself. According to veterinarians at the practice, the 28-year-old brought Florence in for emergency treatment on several different occasions, always with signs of convulsions and seizures.

Scooby Snacks: Yum for Dogs, Yuck for Kids (news.com.au)

When a Sydney mom fed her kids “Scooby Snacks,” she had no idea they “were for mutts not rugrats.” The irate woman took to Facebook to warn other families not to make the same mistake. Although the packaging is clearly marked as pet food, it does show a large cartoon image of the famous crime-fighting dog, which the store admitted could be misconstrued as a product meant for children.

French Animal Rights Activist Gored by Bull (Metro)

After storming a bullfighting ring in Carcassonne, France, an animal rights activist was gored by a bull that he was trying to protect. Seconds after entering the ring, “the bull made a beeline for the would-be protector,” who was unable to escape the charging animal. The man was flung into the air by the bull’s horns, suffering a “long but not deep” wound before he was rescued by matadors.

Dolphin Shows Banned in Mexico City (WGBH News)

Dolphin shows in Mexico City will be closed in early 2018, thanks to a new law “banning the use of dolphins and other marine mammals in shows, therapy sessions and scientific experiments.” Passed this month with unanimous support, this law “sends a strong signal to the rest of Mexico and Latin America that this is something they need to think about,” says Mark Palmer, associate director of the International Marine Mammal Project.

Snakebite Map for Pets Launches in Australia (phys.org)

Emergency and critical care veterinarians from the University of Melbourne’s U-Vet animal hospital have created the SnakeMap Project—an interactive database to record when and where pets are bitten. “The SnakeMap Project aims to better predict, prevent, diagnose, and treat snakebite in animals as well as people.” The database includes information about the bitten animal, the location and time of the snakebite, treatment administered, and outcome.

Lebanon Signs First Animal Welfare Bill into Law (Daily Mail)

“Lebanese President Michel Aoun signed the country's first animal welfare bill into law, guaranteeing that domestic and wild animals will be legally protected from abuse.” The trade of rare animals is big business in Lebanon, and household pets are also often subject to abuse by unregulated zoos, pet shops, and breeders. "With this law, Lebanon's regulations are as strict, if not stricter, than other laws in the region.”

Experts Gather in Vienna to Address Disease Outbreaks (Homeland Preparedness News)

“A meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency assembled experts in human and animal health last week to address early warning systems for [zoonotic] disease outbreaks.” Experts from across Africa convened to discuss ways to improve monitoring and containment systems for highly contagious viruses. “The project means to strengthen the connection between veterinary laboratories in Africa and improve coordination in the face of outbreaks.”

Kangaroo Killing: Was It Merciful or Mean? (BBC News)

Controversy has arisen after a viral video showing a man repeatedly stabbing a seemingly injured kangaroo in Australia. The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in New South Wales is investigating the case to determine the man’s intent. If found guilty, he could serve up to 5 years in prison.

How Much Exercise Is Enough, UK Pet Owners Ask (Yahoo! News)

A survey of 2,000 British dog owners “found that nearly half … exercise their pets without knowing whether they’re doing too much or too little, with 1 in 10 failing to meet the recommended requirements.” According to a spokesman for the company that conducted the survey: “We’re renowned for being a nation of dog lovers who all want the best for our pets, but our research found that we’re often not giving our dogs enough exercise.