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ESSENTIAL DESTINATIONS

MONTH: March 2007

Animal obits

 

Sled dogs Jewel, 5, running for Yuka Honda, Melville, 5, running for Brent Sass, and Hope, 6, running for Kelly Griffin, died between February 11 and February 21 in the 1,000-mile Yukon Quest, the first dogs to die in the race since 2002. Jewel reportedly choked on her own vomit during a team runaway when Honda stopped to untangle several dogs just past the Braeburn rest point, and her snow anchors failed to hold the team. The causes of death of the others were unclear. All three were older than most racing huskies.

Choromatsu, 29, a Japanese macaque who starred in a popular 1987 Sony Walkman commercial, died in early January 2007 at the monkey theatre where he lived in Minami-Asomura, Kumato Prefecture, Japan. He "retired" to the theatre in 1990, after years with the Suo-Sarumawashi monkey acting group in Hikari, Yamaguchi Prefecture.

Gasper, 17, a beluga whale acquired from a Mexican aquarium in 2005 with his mate Nico, was euthanized on January 1, 2007 at the Georgia Aquarium due to incurable painful chronic conditions.
Buffy, 7, a German shepherd who on January 10, 2007 fought off an armed robber to protect Will Bartley, 44, in East Oakland, California, was euthanized on February 15 due to complications of a gunshot wound she suffered during the struggle.

Tricks, a boxer mix, shot by San Antonio police during a Valentine's Day evening drug raid that nabbed seven suspects, died after being picked up by San Antonio Animal Care Services more than 24 hours later. Figuring out what happened was the latest of many challenges for Animal Care Services director Craig Brestrup, who took over the department in May 2006, and has been revamping it ever since. As of 2005, San Antonio had the highest rate of shelter killing of any major U.S. city, but Brestrup has introduced a five-year plan to achieve no-kill animal control by 2012.

Barbaro, 4, winner of the 2006 Kentucky Derby, was euthanized due to incurable pain on January 29, 2007 in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, after nearly two dozen surgeries to try to repair a shattered right hind leg suffered within yards after the starting gun at the Preakness States on May 20, 2006. More than $1.2 million was donated to the Barbaro Fund, formed to try to help the horse recover, and to help other injured racehorses.

Mardos, a baby elephant who was rescued from a well in July 2005, but was severely injured in a fall a year later while being transported for a school show, was euthanized on December 26, 2006 at the Kuala Gandah Elephant Sanctuary in Lanchang Pahang, Malaysia.