Arcadia tackles coyote issues at February 7 City Council meeting, deciding to trap and kill them. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) wrote a letter to Mayor Tom Beck with a plea to not trap and kill but to use deterrents instead.
PETA sues Arcadia over cruel plan to snare, slaughter coyotes. In the lawsuit, PETA alleges that because City Council voted to approve the plan on February 21 without first performing an environmental impact assessment, which is required under the California Environmental Quality Act, its decision is illegal. See also Pasadena Star News, p. A3, March 4, 2017.
PETA and City of Arcadia reach deal over coyote plan. Group had sued after city planned to start trap-and-kill program. Arcadia will pay $15,000 to settle the lawsuit that contended the city council approved the contract without an environmental report mandated by the California Environmental Quality Act. See also Arcadia Weekly, p. 1, 10, July 6, 2017.
HBO television show "Luck" ends production after a third horse death at Santa Anita Park. The drama, starring Dustin Hoffman and Nick Nolte, about the seedier side of horse racing, will air the final two episodes of its first season but the series won't return for a second season. The horse deaths drew criticism from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA).
Arcadia has re-instated a coyote-trapping program which catches then euthanizes coyotes. The issue is being debated locally as some people want to co-exist with the animals and some feel the killing of the coyotes is inhumane, but others are terrified of coyote attacks on their pets and, possibly, their children.
Arcadia rescinds decision to trap and kill coyotes. The reason for backing off of the previous decision to euthanize coyotes was to avoid current and potential litigation.
Coyotes are becoming a problem in Arcadia. The City of Arcadia is working to combat the problem, allocating $15,000 and providing whistles and education.
A petition signed by over 1000 Arcadia residents urges the City of Arcadia to "stop killing coyotes." The City has hired Chino-based Animal Pest Management to trap coyotes. Since August, the City has spent $12,500 to trap 20 coyotes, that are later euthanized. City Council will re-examine the controversial coyote trapping program that was reinstated last year after residents said their pets were attacked.
After a two-year suspension, the Arcadia City Council will reinstate a coyote trapping program, after residents complained that the animals are attacking pets and showing aggressive behavior. The city has contracted with Animal Pest Management of Chino, California, to trap coyotes and euthanize them.
Less than 6 months after reinstating it, Arcadia City Council voted unanimously to suspend the trapping and killing of coyotes in residential neighborhoods. The program, which has caught 20 coyotes since August, drew constant fire from residents and animal rights activists. Arcadia city councilman Bob Harbicht says the program was successful. The combination of educational programs and trapping has resulted in the trapping of fewer coyotes and fewer complaints at City Hall. The city spent $15,000 to conduct the trapping program, carried out by Chino-based Animal Pest Management Services, from August 2010 through January 2011. The city will suspend trapping and monitor the situation.
District Attorney Jackie Lacey finds no crime or wrongdoing in horse deaths. Prosecutor says there is no evidence owners, jockeys or trainers knowingly raced injured animals at Santa Anita Park over the past year. Since July 2018, 56 horses have died at Arcadia race track. Of those, 34 died while running on Santa Anita's main dirt track. Santa Anita Park averages about 2.04 deaths per 1000 racing starts, according to the Jockey Club. The national average in 2018 was 1.68 deaths per 1000 starts. The District Attorney's report includes 27 recommended changes to improve safety and reduce fatalities. See also same story at Arcadia Weekly, p. 2, December 26, 2019.
Pest control in Arcadia by Chino-based Animal Pest Management Services Inc., allegedly killed coyotes with sodium pentothal, a controlled substance. It is being investigated.
Santa Anita Park: think of human toll if track closes. Workers gather at rally to warn about how shutting down horse racing permanently over the twenty-nine horse deaths would impact thousands of employees. Reforms have been instituted at Santa Anita Park, including stricter rules for medications and more thorough examinations, but horse deaths are inevitable in horse racing. Rally calls for compassion for track employees too, whose livelihoods will be affected by a closure. They are an already vulnerable population.
Santa Anita Park: DA to examine death of 22 horses at track.
Additionally, Rep. Judy Chu calls for hearings into the treatment of horses at the nation’s racing venues
The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office is investigating whether the 22 horse deaths at Santa Anita racetrack in the past three months were the result of criminal wrongdoing, authorities said Friday.
The probe began this week following the death of the 22nd horse Thursday.