Animals

Large-scale alligator farming affects Florida tanneries and small businesses

Alligator farming has become a critical source of skins for the leather industry. The skins are more pristine and can be raised in the most optimal conditions and many more of them can be supplied. Alligator farming has also played a role in conservation efforts for the species. But a consequence of the advent of farming has been an oversupply of skins that has made their value plummet. This oversupply has mainly come from large-scale industrial farms that can slaughter thousands of animals every week and have chomped smaller operations out of business.

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The Tracks K-9 Club makes a splash with its third dog competition

Chris and Kim Hutchko developed a five-acre facility for dog competitions called the Tracks K-9 Club, which is an affiliate club of the professional organization Ultimate Air Dogs. Since retiring from the Bradenton Police Department last year, Chris Hutchko has devoted his time to competing two of his five dogs in water competitions while helping others train their own. He built the facility for personal training, but it has quickly become a club and now has almost 80 members.

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