Prison cats paroled

A women's farm prison in Vermont is giving the cats that hang out there the boot. The superintendent of the prison says that having the cats there interferes with the goals of the prison, one of which is have prisoners "learn to control their tempers." Some of these prisoners have been feeding and even paying for the care of these cats. I have to agree with a Humane Society worker who was quoted in the article, saying that caring for cats "teaches empathy, teaches responsibility, teaches compassion." It seems to me that all of this would be important in meeting their stated goal of the inmates learning to control their tempers. Or is it possible that punishment is the real goal of this prison, not rehabilitation?

Ethiopian Lion Cubs Saved

The zoo in Ethiopia that's been killing its lion cubs made the news again in this story about two orphaned lion cubs. An Italian aid group in Ethiopia found the half-starved Abyssinian lion cubs and instead of taking them to the infamous zoo, where their future would be in doubt, instead took them to the Italian Embassy. Apparently this embarrassed the Ethiopian president into helping find them a safe, permanent home.

Hopefully Ethiopians will take the advice of the Italian diplomat's wife who's been caring for the cubs and protect their dwindling population of these rare lions, if not for conservation reasons, at least for their marketing potential to promote their country.