The Bog Turtle

"The Bog Turtle was federally listed as a threatened species in 1997."

        Around 4 inches long, the Bog Turtle is one of North America’s tiniest Turtles. It's colors include bright yellow, orange and red blotches on the sides of their heads. They live partly in the water and eat insects, seeds and snails. Bog Turtles live in desolate wetlands such as swamps and marshy pastures. These turtles enjoy the soft mud at the bottom of the water with aquatic inlets that allow them to swim, but enjoy the land close by. Bog Turtles hibernate from September to April.

Where are they?
Bog Turtles reside in New York and Massachusetts and all the way down to Maryland. Small numbers of Bog Turtles have been reported in Pennsylvania and the Lake George and Finger Lakes regions of New York. 

http://www.fws.gov/northeast/nyfo/es/bogturtle.htm

The reasons for the threat to the species are are the elimination, breakdown, and alterations of their habitats from wetland adaptation, people building and developing the land, pollution and invasive species. Unfortunately, the Bog Turtle is threatened by illegal wildlife trade.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - Hadley, Massachusetts, have come up with a recovery plan for the species of turtles:

"The overall objective of the bog turtle recovery program is to protect and maintain the northern population of this species and its habitat, enabling the eventual removal of the species from the Federal List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants."

"Habitat Requirements and Limiting Factors : Bog turtles usually occur in small, discrete populations, generally occupying open-canopy, herbaceous sedge meadows and fens bordered by wooded areas. These wetlands are a mosaic of micro-habitats that include dry pockets, saturated areas, and areas that are periodically flooded. Bog turtles depend upon this diversity of micro-habitats for foraging, nesting, basking, hibernation and shelter. Unfragmented riparian systems that are sufficiently dynamic to allow the natural creation of open habitat are needed to compensate for ecological succession. Beaver, deer, and cattle may be instrumental in maintaining the open-canopy wetlands essential for this species’ survival. 

Recovery Objective: The overall objective of the bog turtle recovery program is to protect and maintain the northern population of this species and its habitat, enabling the eventual removal of the species from the Federal List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants"

http://www.fws.gov/northeast/nyfo/es/bogturtle.pdf

The Recovery Plan is an intensive 80 page document that covers all of the specific areas that need to be changed. Including saving the turtles environments and protecting them from illegal wildlife trading.

Sentient Creatures

Ms. Chitra Besbroda founded Sentient Creatures, Inc. In 1994. Sentient Creatures is a non-profit animal rescue institution that concentrates on rescuing Harlems “junkyard dogs.” Chitra has rescued over 3,500 abused and neglected dogs and placed them into new loving homes. After much effort to try and contact Chitra, I was unable to schedule an interview with her. Luckily, the website has an entire page explaining how she began her journey to save these animals, and what the experience has been like. 

1.) What made Chitra want to dedicate her life to rescuing animals?

Growing up, Chitra’s parents placed a huge importance on pets and the treatment of animals in their household. About 20 years ago she saved her first dog, Teddy. Teddy was a German Shepard who was trapped behind closed doors with no food or care. Chitra was able to feed him through the keyhole of the door and eventually rescued him. After that she dedicated her life to saving needy animals in Harlem. 

2.) What has been the biggest struggle?

The original shelter was taken from the organization in 2000. After buying a building in 1997, there was many noise complaints and the residents around the building tried to get the shelter evicted. After winning the law suit, the shelter was still evicted once their lease had ended in 2000. In addition, Chitra explains the many hostile environments she has experienced while saving animals. Chitra has been reported for trespassing and for theft while trying to save animals. On the website Chitra explains that she has had to worry about her own safety while rescuing animals.

She's been seriously attacked on three different occasions and verbally abused countless times by the owners. "It's always there," says Besbroda. "There's always a threat and the possibility that I'll not return after going into Harlem to rescue the dogs or feed them."

3.) What do you do to ensure the animals you have rescued go to a good home?

Placing an animal can take months. After receiving medical care upon arrival, the animal will stay at the shelter to assure they recover successfully. For adoption, the shelter requires 4 references, a criminal screening and a home visit. 

"Among all the struggle, Besbroda maintains her vision to one day have her own shelter where she can house "her" animals temporarily until new homes can be found. "I am dreaming of how they will have the play area, what they will eat, what music they will listen to, how I'll get services from dog trainers to train the ones who are biters."

Her awards include:

"Heart of Gold" award - Animal Medical Center 

"Unsung Hero" award -  Veterinary Medical Association. 

 Roger Caras, former president of the ASPCA,  named Chitra "Mother Teresa for Animals".

The Sentient Creatures website seems to not have been updated in the past 5 years - and in addition to not being able to contact Chitra, It is worrisome to think that the shelter never made a recovery after being evicted in 2000. No matter what, Chitra is still living in New York and undoubtably still saving animals. The website is:

http://www.sentientcreatures.org/front.html

Diane Rehm Show - Fight for Legal Rights For Animals

         Although the US has many laws that protect animals from abuse, many animals are still suffering. Steven Wise is an animal activist and lawyer. Wise is the head of a group of lawyers that fight against the abuse of animals.The group filed a lawsuit in support of a chimpanzee named Tommy. The group of lawyers use evidence that shows Chimpanzees intelligence is similar to humans, and should be treated equally. Wise was able to gain the support of leading primatologists.

Guests on the Diane Rehm Show to discuss the lawsuit are as follows:
Steven Wise - lawyer and president of the Nonhuman Rights Project; author of "Rattling the Cage: Toward Legal Rights for Animals."
Charles Siebert - poet, journalist, essayist and contributing writer for The New York Times magazine.
Robert Destro - professor of law and director of the Interdisciplinary Program in Law & Religion, Columbus School of Law, at The Catholic University of America.
Alan Dittrich - president of the Massachusetts Society for Medical Research.

“Well, it's been now 34 years. I read Peter Singer's book in 1980 and I was a much younger practicing lawyer and I had gone into law because I was interested in social justice issues. And Peter Singer's book opened my eyes to the fact that nonhuman animals were terribly suffering and were being abused and exploited and I thought there was nothing better I could do than to spend my legal career trying to help them.”

(Peter Singer's book, "Animal Liberation," 1975.)

         The first three lawsuits were in support of four chimpanzees in New York. Tommy resided in Gloversville, NY... And was found alone in a small cage. The law that they formed the lawsuit around was called habeas corpus. The other chimpanzees were also in desperate need of help. Kiko who lived in Niagara Falls and two youngsters who lived at Stonybrook University and were the objects of biomedical research.

A caller from St. Louis, Joanne stated the ethical problems with including animals in medical research. -

“I'm disturbed by the medical research personnel who has indicated that research would be devastating -- or devastated if we were not to use animals in research. I guess my feeling is, once again, humans are reducing animals to things and property and using them as means to our ends -- noble ends, for sure, but means to our ends. And that does violence to our own souls. That's very disturbing to me. And the second point I want to make is to continue to regard animals as mere things is to -- it lets us off the hook.”

        Joanne supports the lawsuit that the lawyers are presenting by explaining that the only reason humans can treat these chimpanzees the way they do in research is because we have labeled them as “property”. The entire lawsuit is proving that they are more than property, that they are legal persons.

          Dittrich then responded to the allegations of abuse in medical research by saying:

"As he knows, the world of research has changed in the 30 or 40 years that he's been involved in this project. And even the great Jane Goodall says this, as long as chimpanzees are used in medical research, it's our responsibility to treat them as humanely as possible. And I think that that is really the goal of the researchers right now -- humane treatment."

         After loosing in the lower courts, Wise explains that the plan is to win in the higher courts in New York. The goal is to make the courts realize that they are “legal persons” - which means their safety and liberty is protected by United States law. If they win the animals will be sent to sanctuaries, where they already have reserved spots. The sanctuaries will provide them with a safe and happy life with dozens of other chimpanzees. 

“Well, the problem is is that while there are animal welfare laws, animal welfare statutes, they really don't do a very good job in protecting nonhuman animals. Sometimes I speak to my students and I say, imagine that all of the laws that protect you in every way were repealed. And the only law that existed was one that said, you can't be treated cruelly. And if you are you have to go to the D.A. to bring a criminal action against the person you think treated you cruelly. Would you think that you were being adequately protected? And the answer that everyone gives is, no.”

         The ultimate goal is to challenge the courts on their moral code - and to hope they will do the right thing. After everything research has taught us about the intelligence of animals, it is unjust to treat them the way we have been doing. The are entitled to legal rights to their bodies and lives and deserve to live among their fellow species.

When asked if their case would go to the Supreme Courts - Wise stated:

“Well, it'll go as high as the supreme courts of the various states. The common law is not something that the Supreme Court of the United States deals with. It deals with federal statutes, the federal Constitution...”

http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2014-04-28/fight-legal-rights-animals/transcript