Arson That Killed 8 Horses Investigated as Hate Crime Against Gay Owner

Firefighters in rural Ohio are offering a $5,000 reward today for information about who was behind an Easter arson attack that killed eight horses, including a week-old colt, in a blaze being investigated as a hate crime against the animals' gay owner.

Brent Whitehouse said he noticed an orange glow coming from the barn near his farmhouse in McConnelsville, Ohio, just before midnight Sunday…

…"Whoever did this, I can't believe they would take the time to actually harm an innocent animal," Whitehouse told Channel 10 TV station. "Because the way that barn burned, they had to be around those horses. And to see a little baby colt, a week old, and know that they were going to kill it." More, including video courtesy of WhizNews.com

Deer Hunting Foes Seeking to Ban Killing Through Ballot Measure

Opponents of deer hunting in Solon are seeking to circumvent city council and ban the killing of deer through a vote at the ballot box.

The opponents, organized under a group called Solon Deer, plan to begin collecting signatures on Saturday in support of their ordinance.

"No longer duped into believing lethal methods are even remotely capable of controlling deer populations, Solon Deer is confident a ballot initiative will successfully demonstrate the majority agrees with its 21st Century stance on deer as sentient beings,"

the group wrote in a news release today.

It later adds:

"High-powered rifles, bows and arrows and all other lethal methods simply do not belong in Solon!"… more

Deer Park Innovator to Brief Solon Officials on Potential Deer Solution

Deer management is one of the most contentious issues in Northeast Ohio, often dividing communities between those who believe the deer must be hunted and those who want a more humane way to handle the herd…more

Chuck Naegle believes he has a solution that can make everyone happy, and he's bringing his idea to Solon. Naegle, president and CEO of Urban Deer Solutions, will address the Solon safety committee during its 6 p.m. Wednesday meeting.

"We hear all the time that

Solon is in the forefront

of the urban deer issue," Naegle said.

BIRD CLUB MOVES TO MIAMI COUNTY Group expands its role to rescuing birds and providing assistance to owners

Rescued macaws with Kim Seitz, a longtime Troy area pet sitter who also owns a number of exotic birds, is an officer of the Miami Valley Bird Club that is expanding its role to include bird rescue.

For information on the Miami Valley Bird Club and Rescue, contact Seitz at kseitz63@frontier.com or (937) 308-2509, or (937) 440-0016

TROY — One of Kim Seitz’s best friends Teka, a blue and gold macaw, came to her from a condemned house in Dayton 13 years ago…more