N.Y. bans anal electrocution of animals for fur

Advocates push law onto states to protect critters from gruesome practice

Video: Life

Let there be light at Rockefeller Center
Dec. 2: The holiday season was kicked off in New York City as Mayor Bloomberg lit the lights on the Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center.

Saving the last wild horses from extinction

Bringing relief to El Salvador

‘Sexting’ bullying cited in girl’s suicide

Brokaw on boom-to-bust town family

NBC Field Notes

NBC News correspondents and producers across the U.S. shed light on the news of the day.

Photo features

Reuters	The Week in Pictures A starry night, cat’s mouth, a lighthouse stands tall, bear attack, a sea of balloons, H1N1 reaction and more news and feature photos from around the globe.
Reuters	PhotoBlog View and discuss the pictures and issues that caught our eyes.

Most popular

• Most viewed

• Top rated

• Most e-mailed

Earth could plunge into sudden ice age

Woods’ wife reportedly revising prenup

Worst industrial disaster still haunts India

The accuracy of 10 disaster flicks

Syria says bus blast an accident, three dead

Most viewed on msnbc.com

updated 3:29 p.m. ET April 30, 2008

ALBANY, N.Y. - New York became the first state to ban electrocuting animals in a particularly gruesome way to harvest their fur for clothing.

National animal rights advocates said it's a critical move in an effort to ban the global practice. While still governor, Eliot Spitzer signed the measure into law in March, which has now taken effect.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals said the law bans the common practice of anal and genital electrocution of mink, foxes, chinchillas and rabbits. They hope it will force similar measures in other states.

Story continues below ↓

advertisement | your ad here

The practice is widespread because it's cheap, PETA's Melissa Karpel said.