Help Us Make Utah Number 44

Currently, 43 states have felony provisions in place for those who intentionally abuse animals. Our goal is to make Utah the 44th state.

The current law in Utah carries a maximum penalty of one year in jail and a $2500.00 fine for torturing an animal. Help us substantially increase these penalties.

This is an outrage--cruelty is cruelty, whether it is directed to an animal or a human! Animals are family members, no different (in a lot of people's eyes) than a human family member. A simple slap on the wrist (or turning your head all together) when someone is cruel to an animal is the same as saying this cruelty is OK. It is NOT.

Sign the petition at HelpUsHelpThem.org

New Victories for Utah Backcountry

Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance (SUWA) has scored another victory in getting the Book Cliffs / Desolation Canyon area designated as untouchable by the greedy hand of developers and oil companies.

The article says "Over the past six years, the Bush administration has shown little regard for protecting Utah’s most spectacular public lands from the heavy hand of oil and gas development, and we’re expecting things to only get worse as time runs out on this terrible legacy of public lands mismanagement. "

But because of the efforts of SUWA and the support of people like you, we have received three favorable decisions on the oil & gas front, and have been able to push back on the administration’s drive to “drill it all.”

Read the rest of the story and voice your opinion.

Skiing should not be dangerous, says a Utah court

According to an Associated Press story, "Skiers assume the potential for injury when they try to navigate a steep mountainside, but not all risks are inherent, the Utah Supreme Court ruled Tuesday, clearing the way for a lawsuit against [Snowbird Ski] resort...William Rothstein suffered severe internal injuries when he skied into a wall at Snowbird in February 2003. He sued and claimed the resort was negligent."

Let's all just forget about taking responsibility for anything we do, and when things go wrong, find someone to sue. Hey, it's the thing to do these days, and it is easy, and there will always be a lawyer out there that can help you get a lot of money for an injury that results from your own carelessness, or lack of skill, or not being properly prepared, or whatever...

This reminds me of the lawsuit brought against Zion National Park when a Boy Scout outing went bad and several of the participants ended up dying. (I can't find that one online--I think it was sometimes in the mid-90s-- but what a surprise, here is another one.)

Wake up people! Skiing has risks, and so does hiking, climbing, biking, whatever you do for fun in the outdoors. If you are not prepared to take responsibility for taking those risks, STAY HOME. Don't engage in lawsuits like these that could ruin the sports for the rest of us.

Black-footed ferrets released in Utah and Colorado

According to a story on the Utah DWR pages, ferrets were introduced at Snake John Reef last month in an effort to not only increase their populations, but also to hopefully aid in research to produce a vaccine for sylvatic plague. Similar to black plague in humans, sylvatic plague can wipe out a ferret population.

Utah's ferrets have been dying off due to the disease and officials are trying to stop that. These guys that were released were given a vaccine. They will be monitored, and the effectiveness of the vaccine determined.

Good luck to the ferrets!

Adopt a Horse

Salt Lake Wild Horse and Burro Center (8605 W. 12600 South, Herriman)
December 8-21
Adoption Times: 9 am - 3 pm
Information: 877-224-3956

Every year the wild horse population is culled and the horses are available for adoption to the public. Even if you can not adopt at this time, the event is a unique and educational, and well worth the drive.

The 2007 event will be held from December 8-21 at The Salt Lake Wild Horse and Burro Center in Herriman. There will be over 100 geldings, one year and older along with six yearlings, all halter trained by the Gunnison Wild Horse Prison Program.

All animals are first-come-forst-served, and can be had for as little as $25!