News Briefs for the Week of February 11, 2002
By Marcella Durand for Cat Facts
- A Peaceful End to a Sad Story
This noble lion survived war, neglect, and abuse to die peacefully in his sleep. In the war-ravaged Kabul Zoo in Afghanistan, Marjan the lion finally succumbed last Saturday to what his keepers think was kidney and liver failure. He was approximately 25 years old. "This old, busted-up lion, with one eye, his jaw hanging down-he was the symbol of this country. Old, ailing, but proud, like Afghanistan," says John Walsh of the World Society for the Protection of Animals, which had helped to put together an international effort to help Marjan and other zoo animals in Afghanistan. Their efforts were partially funded by donations sent in from hundreds of people who had heard about Marjan's plight.
- Honk if You Love Cats
More than a dozen states have passed legislation that enables people to buy specialty vehicle license plates that benefit animals-and more states are following suit. Illinois is the latest state to pass what's called "the pet-friendly license plate bill," and Massachusetts has recently introduced a similar bill in which the proceeds from the sale and annual renewal of license plates will go toward efforts to combat pet overpopulation.
Each state features its own design for the license plates, but they all have a drawing of a cat and dog with mottos such as "I'm Animal Friendly" (Virginia), "Love Your Pet" (New York) or "Spay and Neuter" (Maryland). If you'd like more information on how to participate, visit the Web site of the Humane Society of the United States at www.hsus.org/programs/government/stateplates.html. There you'll find details and contact information for each state's program. You can also call the HSUS at (202) 452-1000.
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