Tom Fitton: Mueller is Focused on Justifying his own Operation
On June 8, Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton appeared on “Lou Dobbs Tonight” to discuss special counsel Robert Mueller filed new witness tampering criminal charges against former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort.
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Don't Buy Sulcatas
Giant Tortoise Overwhelms U.S. Rescues
American Tortoise Rescue Calls for a Moratorium on Sales
Turtle and tortoise wildlife groups and rescue organizations throughout North America, led by Malibu based American Tortoise Rescue (http://www.tortoise.com), have called on the pet industry, reptile wholesalers and private breeders for years to stop the breeding and sale of giant tortoises commonly called sulcatas.
Geochelone sulcata is a hardy and personable species of tortoise. Native to sub-Saharan Africa, it became part of the lucrative pet trade during the 1990s. It has an engaging nature, is attractive and sells for anywhere between $50 and $1,000. These traits make it one of the most commonly purchased pet tortoises in North America. Unknown to the unwary buyer, however, is that sulcatas are the third largest species of tortoise in the world weighing up to 70 - 200 pounds, attaining this size in a very short period of time. Adult female sulcatas can easily produce 50 –100 eggs a year. It is not unusual to see hundreds of hatchlings for sale at reptile shows even though selling any turtle or tortoise in the U.S. under four inches is illegal.
According to Susan Tellem, co-founder of American Tortoise Rescue (ATR), the sale of sulcatas today is similar to the pet trade's large-scale sale of iguanas during the early to mid-90s. Many people bought cute baby iguanas not realizing that they would grow to as long as six feet and become aggressive. Just like iguanas, Sulcata breeders and pet stores that sell them create problems that other people, especially reptile rescuers, have to solve. Based on the record number of hatchlings and juveniles sold in pet stores and by breeders now, as compared to hundreds in the 90s, there is a catastrophe of unwanted pets through the U.S.
"The pet industry constantly looks for small, adorable exotic animals with a big price tag," Tellem says. "We've conducted a survey of sulcata owners about what they were told when they purchased their tortoises. Whether at a pet store or reptile show - the answer is the same. 'It won't get bigger than its tank.' This is patently ridiculous and often a deliberate lie.”
Tellem says, "New owners quickly become aware of the difficulties associated with having a potentially destructive non-housebroken animal of this size. A fully-grown sulcata is strong and aggressive and can easily move furniture and damage or destroy a typical house or apartment wall. When they start to dig up the property, it looks something like a mine field." She added that because sulcatas do not hibernate, they need expensive housing through the winter using commercial pig blankets (lights are not effective or safe), and because their feces are so large similar to a German Shepherd’s, keeping them in the house is not an option.
Tellem, who founded the nonprofit ATR 28 years ago with her husband, Marshall Thompson, says, "Many owners assume that when the tortoise becomes a problem, zoos will take them. This is simply not true. Zoos are not interested in cast off pets." Tellem says that the zoos, instead, refer people to her rescue, as well as others. She has placed hundreds into good homes, but it is not the answer because it is not easy finding places with a large area for a huge pet, which is what a sulcata needs.
Tellem says that the option of placing the animal with a rescue organization or rehabber sounds good to most overwhelmed owners. Unfortunately, of those thousands of cute tortoises that are sold every year, rescue organizations can only take a few of them once they are huge. "Since the sulcata can live 50 years or more, and because the males fight when placed together, overcrowded rescues are out of space. At this point, there is no solution," says Tellem.
Tellem adds that some owners mistakenly think that they can sell the huge animal for a large profit. "There is no market for adult sulcatas," Tellem says. "The only options remaining are to dump the animal in the wild where they will definitely end up dead, or to give it up for adoption to a rescue group." She added that her rescue is full as are most others and so the only option is finding a compassionate adopter who is willing to put up with the destruction.
Aside from the potential for a slow death by freezing or starving that “dumped” sulcatas face, there are other problems. These include infecting native wildlife with parasites and foreign diseases. This could result in the eradication of already threatened native species. There is also the issue of introduction of yet another non-native species into a precariously balanced ecosystem.
Tellem and Thompson say that breeders won't turn their backs on an obvious money making machine. "So what we request is simply market driven economics. People shouldn’t buy sulcatas. Pet stores should stop selling them. Reptile shows must have a 'no sulcata' policy. Only then will breeders have no choice but to stop breeding them," the pair agrees. There are many national rescue organizations listed on the ATR website www.tortoise.com all of which can facilitate sulcata adoptions if people are interested in getting one but patience is key as homes are hard to find and the weather is not kind to sulcatas in most states. “They originated in Africa, so why in the world would you buy one in Idaho?” Tellem asks.
American Tortoise Rescue is a nonprofit founded in 1990 for the protection of all species of turtles and tortoises. More than 4,000 have been rehomed. Special needs turtles and tortoises that cannot be adopted remain in the care of ATR for the remainder of their lives. ATR acts as a clearinghouse for information about turtle care, working to abolish “live market” slaughter of turtles in the US, the cruel importation and exploitation of a variety of species.
For more information, contact: American Tortoise Rescue at www.tortoise.com ; or email info@tortoise.com. Follow on Twitter and Instagram @tortoiserescue and on Facebook at American Tortoise Rescue; videos are at www.youtube.com/americantortrescue.
Quick facts to Tweet
Utah’s Largest Food Truck Gathering to Benefit Homeless and
Low-Income Youth and Families
Buy Tickets Now for Forth Annual Food Truck Face-Off for Charity, June 30, 2018
SALT LAKE CITY, June 11, 2018 – Bring a blanket and stay a while! It’s the fourth annual Food Truck Face-Off on June 30, from 4 to 9 p.m., where more than 30 local food trucks and carts will converge at Liberty Park. The public is invited to buy tickets to purchase delicious food and at the same time support four local nonprofits that work to end homelessness, poverty and adversity in Utah. Fourth Street Clinic, Utah Community Action, Volunteers of America, Utah and YWCA Utah will receive 25 percent of the ticket sales.
The largest food truck event in the state will be a night of family fun featuring food trucks with a unique array of local food, a beer garden sponsored by Uintah Brewing Company, live music and children’s activities. The live music roster includes local favorites such as popular indie rock band, Uncle Reno; Kelly Bellerose, a solo blues, folk and Americana artist; The Dusty Boxcars, a bluegrass and blues group; and Vocal Reasoning, a roots reggae band. And after 9 p.m., families can stay for a “screen on the green” featuring the 2017 movie, “Wonder Woman.”
“Our Food Truck Face Off for Charity has been a hit from the start,” said Cathleen Sparrow the chief development officer at Volunteers of America, Utah. “We’ve expanded our hours and added even more trucks to accommodate event goers. You can feel good about supporting the event on several levels. Not only are you feeding your family some tasty food, but you’re supporting many small, independently-operated food trucks and four well-known and respected charities.”
The public is encouraged to pre-order $5 food tickets at http://foodtruckfaceoffslc.org or buy them at the event for $6 each. They can then redeem their tickets at their favorite food trucks during the Face Off. Menu items will be priced in terms of one, two or three tickets, with most meals going for two tickets. Every ticket sold will raise money for the four participating nonprofits. The non-profit that sells the most tickets will win a cash grand prize provided by event sponsors and the truck that collects the most tickets will become the 2018 Food Truck Face Off champion. Liberty Park is located at 700 East and 900 South, Salt Lake City.
“The Food Truck League is so pleased to be able to partner with the local charities on this fun annual event,” said Taylor Harris of the Food Truck League. “The Food Truck Face Off for Charity provides a wonderful opportunity for us to introduce our variety of food truck offerings to the public, and at the same time help fund non-profits who help local struggling families.”
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About Food Truck Face Off
The Food Truck Face-Off is Utah's largest food truck event bringing together Utah's best food trucks to raise money for charity. Fourth Street Clinic, Utah Community Action, Volunteers of America, Utah and YWCA Utah receive 25 percent of the ticket sales. There is nothing better than having fun while doing good, and this annual event creates a wonderful atmosphere where small local businesses, local charities and the community all come together to have a good time and raise money for those in need. What started as a small event in 2015 with eight trucks has grown into a massive food truck rally with 30 trucks, due to the outpouring of support from the public. Each year the Food Truck Face-Off invites Utah to come and reconnect with their community through great food and entertainment supporting the charities who work every day to make Utah a better place. The Food Truck League is proud to host this annual event and support those who are constantly giving back to those in our community who need help the most. For more information visit http://foodtruckfaceoffslc.org.
