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    Controversy

    Officials insist bird poisonings at Bush Intercontinental are legal, but are they humane?

    Elizabeth Rhodes
    Jul 17, 2014 | 12:11 pm

    Hundreds of birds were recently poisoned and killed at George Bush Intercontinental Airport as part of a "bird abatement project" — one which animal rights groups are calling cruel and inhumane.

    On Saturday and Sunday morning, KHOU's I-Team captured video of birds mysteriously dropping from the sky. Pigeons and grackles were seen exhibiting seizure-like behavior, apparently only the beginning of the birds' slow deaths. Shara Kelly, a parking lot worker at the airport, shot video of a dying bird with her cell phone.

    "I trust my eyes and I look and say that is a horrible way for an animal to die."

    "It was right there for a long time just flipping and flipping and flipping," Kelly told KHOU. "And I was like, why are these birds dying like that, I don't know if it's something that somebody fed them."

    In fact, the birds were fed something, a toxicant called Avitrol which is sold in the form of corn kernels. According to a statement from the Houston Airport System, the use of Avitrol is part of a cooperative effort with United Airlines to mitigate "uncontrolled wildlife" which "can have serious and even disastrous implications for virtually any type of aircraft flying in the skies today."

    In spite of United's insistence that they have "complied with all necessary regulations," some are unhappy with the handling of the situation.

    "These deaths look anything but humane," Dr. John Hadidian, a senior scientist for the Humane Society of the United States, told the station. "The birds that are dying after ingesting this compound are suffering and in great distress."

    Dr. Hadidian and the Humane Society acknowledge the threat of bird engine strikes, harking back to the successful landing of a U.S. Airways plane on the Hudson River following a double-engine bird strike. However, the animal rights groups are seeking non-lethal abatement methods, which can range from noisemaking devices to planting pigeon birth-control pellets, to manage overpopulation.

    Hebert said that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service "determined that all measures in question fall within the accepted regulatory guidelines."

    “This program primarily includes the utilization of loud noises, in an effort to displace the animals, and the installation of traps, but can also employ the use of mitigation chemicals that have been approved for use by the Federal Aviation Administration, the United States Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,” said Houston Airport System spokesperson David Hebert in a written statement.

    Hebert added that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service reviewed last weekend's abatement project and "determined that all measures in question fall within the accepted regulatory guidelines."

    Although Avitrol is a federally approved chemical and the product's website states that affected birds "are not in pain," the toxic agent remains quite controversial.

    Dr. Hadidian said that several local and state governments, including San Francisco, Boulder and the State of New York, have banned the use of Avitrol entirely. "I trust my eyes and I look and say that is a horrible way for an animal to die," he said.

    While the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said that no violations occurred over the weekend, it did assert that the Houston Airport System may not have reported all bird deaths as required last year. A spokesperson for the agency said it plans to send a letter to Houston airport officials requesting further information.

    See the KHOU report here:

    Hundreds of birds were poisoned and killed over the weekend at Houston Intercontinental Airport as part of a "bird abatement project."

     
    unspecified
    news/city-life

    finding furr-ever homes

    Texas vodka brand supports Houston dog rescue's new program for pregnant pups

    Jef Rouner
    Apr 30, 2025 | 5:15 pm
    A nursing mutt dog poses on newspapers with her puppies.
    Courtesy of Tito’s Handmade Vodka & Three Little Pitties Rescue
    Lucy is a new mother looking forever home.

    It's a sad fact that stray, pregnant dogs are often the most difficult animals to adopt out. Tito’s Vodka for Dog People (VFDP) and Houston-based nonprofit Three Little Pitties Rescue have teamed up to create a new "mutt-ernity" makeover suite aimed at helping these pups find forever homes.

    “The investment from Tito’s Handmade Vodka has propelled the rescue's ability to completely change the future for thousands of puppies and mommy dogs in the Houston area," said Alayna Matranga Goodson, executive director at Three Little Pitties Rescue. "One right after the other, we are able to move in desperate nursing or pregnant dogs that have nowhere else to turn, and give them a comfortable and safe environment to have their babies. We are thrilled to have VFDP come in and revitalize the nurseries to make it a welcoming and joyful-looking environment not only for the dogs but also for the staff and volunteers who care for them. The time, attention, and investment from Tito's boost the morale among our team and validate the work that we are doing. We are honored to have Tito's trust to take this investment and save lives with it.”

    The new suite includes better staging areas for photos so that dogs can reach more potential adopters, improved grooming facilities, a dedicated puppy-cuddling area for volunteers (always a top priority), and a new mural.

    The suite is already a success. The Tito’s team and Three Little Pitties recently rescued Lucy, a stray who was forced to give birth to her litter in a landfill. Lucy received treatment and grooming at the mutt-ernity suite, and she and her litter are currently thriving. Another dog, a pit bull mix named Ruby, was treated and housed at the suite before being flown to Washington after a family there adopted her.

    “Three Little Pitties has created something truly special – a safe, welcoming place for one of the most overlooked dog populations: stray pregnant dogs," said Beth Bellanti, program director for Tito’s Vodka for Dog People, in a statement. "Their work ensures that these dogs can safely bring their puppies into the world and find the loving homes they deserve. It's a one-of-a-kind mission, and we’re incredibly honored to help support it.""

    Tito's is a vodka brand founded in Austin in 1997 by Tito Beveridge. The VFDP program has been part of the company almost since its founding, and has headed multiple homeless pet projects across Texas, including tens of thousands of spays and neuters. Three Little Pitties is one of Houston's best-known non-profit animal rescues, specializing in pit bulls.

    petsanimal rescuedog rescue
    news/city-life

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