The look on this bloodhound's face is PRICELESS!
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Monday, May 11, 2009
Licensed Dog Broker Sentenced to Only 20 Days in Prison
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact:
Anny Deirmenjian
Image Unlimited Communications
P. 781.721.4624 C. 617.851.9315
E. anny@imageunlimited-boston.com
(Greater Boston, MA) – Touching his face with her hands, Kathy Bauck said “Don’t be scared. The Lord let’s me see what you’re thinking…are you a CAPS investigator?” The undercover investigator from the Companion Animal Protection Society (CAPS) -- the only national nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting companion animals from cruelty and inhumane breeding practices in pet shops and puppy mills — replied, “I don’t know what you are talking about.” Bauck used her self-proclaimed Christianity for years to justify her unrelenting mistreatment of animals.
Kathy Bauck is the owner and operator of Pick of the Litter (aka Puppies on Wheels) in New York Mills, Minnesota. Her facility, one of the largest USDA licensed commercial dog breeding and brokering operations in the country, distributes thousands of sick and dying dogs to pet shops across the country and via the internet. Based on evidence from a six week undercover employment investigation by the Companion Animal Protection Society, a jury in Fergus Falls (Otter Tail County), Minnesota convicted Kathy Bauck on March 24, 2009 of four misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty and torture.
Unfortunately, on May 1, 2009, in what was a great miscarriage of justice, Judge Waldemar Senyk sentenced Bauck on just one of the counts, which he wrongly believed encompassed the other charges. Bauck received a 90-day sentence, reduced to 20 days of work release, a $500 fine, 80 hours of community service and one year of probation. Bauck’s lawyers have manipulated the judicial system by claiming the breeding animals were livestock and not companion animals, which would have required seizure of the animals under the statute. The sentence also mandates that a state humane agent can make unannounced visits to the facility, which is now owned by Bauck’s husband and daughter, although Ms. Bauck is clearly still in charge. Being on work release means that Bauck will spend nights in jail during the 20 days of her sentence yet be able to oversee kennel operations during the day, just as she did while serving an earlier sentence.
During the trial, as the CAPS investigator walked by Ms. Bauck, she said, “I forgive you.” Yet while Bauck and her attorney waited in the courtroom with the CAPS investigator and the assistant prosecutor before the jury and judge came in, Bauck cryptically said to the CAPS investigator, "It's good to see you again, Jason. I'm glad you're not dead."
At the time of the investigators employment, Ms. Bauck’s facility held 900 adult dogs and approximately 400 puppies. The undercover video shot by the CAPS investigator shows dogs that are sick, wounded and dying. This graphic video portrays emaciated dogs nursing their puppies, dogs immersed in caustic pesticides, bleach water used for wounds, and animals simply left to suffer and die. While under a cease and desist order from the State Veterinary Board for the practice of veterinary medicine (including doing C-sections on her dogs), Ms. Bauck continued to practice vet medicine, which was documented by her employees. Despite Ms. Bauck’s blatant disregard for the law, the state allowed her to plea bargain for just one charge for the practice of veterinary medicine and dropped a cruelty charge that was brought about for the killing of a puppy by bashing it against a pole. While on parole and serving work release, she continued to commit cruelty that was documented by a CAPS undercover investigator. CAPS submitted the investigator’s hidden camera footage, photographs and reports to local authorities.
CAPS has investigated more than 1,000 puppy mills – mostly USDA licensed breeders and brokers – in the United States and handles pet shop complaints from all over the U. States and Canada. Over the years the organization has received numerous complaints from consumers who purchased sick puppies that were bred or brokered by people like Bauck. Ms. Bauck has been licensed by the USDA since 1983 and despite CAPS investigations since 1997, the USDA has failed to take action. A July 2008 USDA inspection report for Bauck had no violations of the Animal Welfare Act (AWA). CAPS has been investigating the USDA’s failure to enforce the AWA since 1995 and has been lobbying members of Congress for oversight hearings regarding the USDA’s lax enforcement of the AWA. CAPS will return to the Capitol next month to meet with USDA officials and members of Congress and will use the Bauck case as its primary evidence of the USDA’s malfeasance.
Click here to view the video for the investigation report. WARNING: Some of this information is graphic.
For more information please visit http://www.caps-web.org/ or call the Companion Animal Protection Society at 781.210.0938.
###
About Companion Animal Protection Society:
Companion Animal Protection Society (CAPS) is the only national nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting companions from cruelty and inhumane breeding practices in Pet Shops and Puppy Mills. Founded in 1992, CAPS actively addresses this issue through undercover investigations, consumer education through the media, legislative involvement, puppy mill dog rescues, consumer assistance and pet shop employee relations. CAPS has gained worldwide recognition for targeting puppy mill operations and converting pet shops to humane animal adoption centers. The Companion Animal Protection Society is based in the Boston, MA area. For more information please visit www.caps-web.org.
Media Contact:
Anny Deirmenjian
Image Unlimited Communications
P. 781.721.4624 C. 617.851.9315
E. anny@imageunlimited-boston.com
Notorious USDA Licensed Dog Broker Sentenced to Only 20 Days in Prison
Kathy Bauck, Owner and Operator of one of the Largest Commercial Breeding Facilities in the United States is Locked Away for Only 20 Days
Kathy Bauck, Owner and Operator of one of the Largest Commercial Breeding Facilities in the United States is Locked Away for Only 20 Days
(Greater Boston, MA) – Touching his face with her hands, Kathy Bauck said “Don’t be scared. The Lord let’s me see what you’re thinking…are you a CAPS investigator?” The undercover investigator from the Companion Animal Protection Society (CAPS) -- the only national nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting companion animals from cruelty and inhumane breeding practices in pet shops and puppy mills — replied, “I don’t know what you are talking about.” Bauck used her self-proclaimed Christianity for years to justify her unrelenting mistreatment of animals.
Kathy Bauck is the owner and operator of Pick of the Litter (aka Puppies on Wheels) in New York Mills, Minnesota. Her facility, one of the largest USDA licensed commercial dog breeding and brokering operations in the country, distributes thousands of sick and dying dogs to pet shops across the country and via the internet. Based on evidence from a six week undercover employment investigation by the Companion Animal Protection Society, a jury in Fergus Falls (Otter Tail County), Minnesota convicted Kathy Bauck on March 24, 2009 of four misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty and torture.
Unfortunately, on May 1, 2009, in what was a great miscarriage of justice, Judge Waldemar Senyk sentenced Bauck on just one of the counts, which he wrongly believed encompassed the other charges. Bauck received a 90-day sentence, reduced to 20 days of work release, a $500 fine, 80 hours of community service and one year of probation. Bauck’s lawyers have manipulated the judicial system by claiming the breeding animals were livestock and not companion animals, which would have required seizure of the animals under the statute. The sentence also mandates that a state humane agent can make unannounced visits to the facility, which is now owned by Bauck’s husband and daughter, although Ms. Bauck is clearly still in charge. Being on work release means that Bauck will spend nights in jail during the 20 days of her sentence yet be able to oversee kennel operations during the day, just as she did while serving an earlier sentence.
During the trial, as the CAPS investigator walked by Ms. Bauck, she said, “I forgive you.” Yet while Bauck and her attorney waited in the courtroom with the CAPS investigator and the assistant prosecutor before the jury and judge came in, Bauck cryptically said to the CAPS investigator, "It's good to see you again, Jason. I'm glad you're not dead."
At the time of the investigators employment, Ms. Bauck’s facility held 900 adult dogs and approximately 400 puppies. The undercover video shot by the CAPS investigator shows dogs that are sick, wounded and dying. This graphic video portrays emaciated dogs nursing their puppies, dogs immersed in caustic pesticides, bleach water used for wounds, and animals simply left to suffer and die. While under a cease and desist order from the State Veterinary Board for the practice of veterinary medicine (including doing C-sections on her dogs), Ms. Bauck continued to practice vet medicine, which was documented by her employees. Despite Ms. Bauck’s blatant disregard for the law, the state allowed her to plea bargain for just one charge for the practice of veterinary medicine and dropped a cruelty charge that was brought about for the killing of a puppy by bashing it against a pole. While on parole and serving work release, she continued to commit cruelty that was documented by a CAPS undercover investigator. CAPS submitted the investigator’s hidden camera footage, photographs and reports to local authorities.
CAPS has investigated more than 1,000 puppy mills – mostly USDA licensed breeders and brokers – in the United States and handles pet shop complaints from all over the U. States and Canada. Over the years the organization has received numerous complaints from consumers who purchased sick puppies that were bred or brokered by people like Bauck. Ms. Bauck has been licensed by the USDA since 1983 and despite CAPS investigations since 1997, the USDA has failed to take action. A July 2008 USDA inspection report for Bauck had no violations of the Animal Welfare Act (AWA). CAPS has been investigating the USDA’s failure to enforce the AWA since 1995 and has been lobbying members of Congress for oversight hearings regarding the USDA’s lax enforcement of the AWA. CAPS will return to the Capitol next month to meet with USDA officials and members of Congress and will use the Bauck case as its primary evidence of the USDA’s malfeasance.
Click here to view the video for the investigation report. WARNING: Some of this information is graphic.
For more information please visit http://www.caps-web.org/ or call the Companion Animal Protection Society at 781.210.0938.
###
About Companion Animal Protection Society:
Companion Animal Protection Society (CAPS) is the only national nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting companions from cruelty and inhumane breeding practices in Pet Shops and Puppy Mills. Founded in 1992, CAPS actively addresses this issue through undercover investigations, consumer education through the media, legislative involvement, puppy mill dog rescues, consumer assistance and pet shop employee relations. CAPS has gained worldwide recognition for targeting puppy mill operations and converting pet shops to humane animal adoption centers. The Companion Animal Protection Society is based in the Boston, MA area. For more information please visit www.caps-web.org.
Friday, May 8, 2009
Live Dogs Mutilated and Abused in OSU Laboratory
From PETA Action Center...
For the past 27 years, Ohio State University (OSU) experimenter George Billman has used taxpayer dollars to cut dogs open and induce heart attacks in them. He inserts a cuff around an artery, sews the dogs back up, then forces the dogs to run on a treadmill. He then tightens the cuff, causing a coronary artery occlusion.
His conclusion—that exercise strengthens the heart—has been common knowledge for decades. Of 768 dogs used by Billman, a staggering 256 of them died—either on the operating table or in the days following the surgery—before he could even test his "hypothesis."
PETA reviewed the records for 10 dogs recently used by Billman and found evidence that federal regulations may have been violated, including failure to minimize pain, discomfort, and distress; failure to provide adequate veterinary care; and failure to euthanize animals who were in extreme distress.
PETA has filed complaints with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the National Institutes of Health calling on these agencies to investigate Billman's laboratory. We are calling on OSU to stop George Billman's invasive and unnecessary experiments on dogs.
Please contact OSU President Gordon Gee and experimenter George Billman and urge them to stop these cruel and pointless experiments on dogs.
Visit the following link to send a message to Gordon Gee and George Billman:
https://secure.peta.org/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=1920
For the past 27 years, Ohio State University (OSU) experimenter George Billman has used taxpayer dollars to cut dogs open and induce heart attacks in them. He inserts a cuff around an artery, sews the dogs back up, then forces the dogs to run on a treadmill. He then tightens the cuff, causing a coronary artery occlusion.
His conclusion—that exercise strengthens the heart—has been common knowledge for decades. Of 768 dogs used by Billman, a staggering 256 of them died—either on the operating table or in the days following the surgery—before he could even test his "hypothesis."
PETA reviewed the records for 10 dogs recently used by Billman and found evidence that federal regulations may have been violated, including failure to minimize pain, discomfort, and distress; failure to provide adequate veterinary care; and failure to euthanize animals who were in extreme distress.
PETA has filed complaints with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the National Institutes of Health calling on these agencies to investigate Billman's laboratory. We are calling on OSU to stop George Billman's invasive and unnecessary experiments on dogs.
Please contact OSU President Gordon Gee and experimenter George Billman and urge them to stop these cruel and pointless experiments on dogs.
Visit the following link to send a message to Gordon Gee and George Billman:
https://secure.peta.org/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=1920
Animal Rescue & the Brave Little Parrot
The following was written by my friend and fellow rescuer Barb McGrady of the Society for Protection of Animals (www.spaohio.org). It's beautifully accurate and precise. She also shares the profound story of The Brave Little Parrot.
By Barbara McGrady
Animal Rescue is often painfully rewarding and it takes a great amount of determination to get up every day and try to convince ourselves that, "Today, we will make a difference!"
Many of us have only had 4 or 5 hours of sleep because we were up late taking care of rescued animals who required our attention. We aren't able to take summer vacations like other "regular" people because we have too many animals to take care of who are counting on us, fundraising to do, and telephone animal emergencies to attend to.
Our bills are stacked up in a pile beside out computers because we spend so many hours fighting to save, "just one more life." We are low on money and drive old vans that need repair work done. We always make certain that the air conditioning works though so the animals can be cool when we transport them to their new homes.
Our houses aren't as clean as they use to be, but we feel compelled to continue to do what we do, setting aside everyday tasks that we'd love to tackle as soon as we save one more animal's life.
We visit deplorable dog pounds and shelters realizing that we can not save each set of eyes that reaches deep into our soul. We wonder why others don't seem to understand. We save as many lives as we are able, and cry all the way home for the ones we were forced to leave behind.
We often send up angry prayers as our pain becomes unbearable, questioning the reason there is so much needless, heartless and intentional pain and suffering on this earth, while at the same time we pray for inner strength and the ability to continue to love and trust that while we are only saving one life at a time, we are truly making a difference. Our life is a paradox.
You are all working together to form a golden chain of love. It is a thankless job, but I wanted to remind you all of WHAT A DIFFERENCE YOU ARE TRULY MAKING.
I read the following, and it reminded me of you...
The Brave Little Parrot -- A Jataka Tale
Once, long ago, the Buddha was born as a little parrot. One day a storm fell upon his forest home. Lightning flashed, thunder crashed, and a dead tree, struck by lightning, burst into flames. Sparks leapt on the wind and soon the forest was ablaze. Terrified animals ran wildly in every direction, seeking safety from the flames and smoke.
"Fire! Fire!" cried the little parrot. "To the river!" Flapping his wings, he flung himself out into the fury of the storm and, rising higher, flew towards the safety of the river. But as he flew he could see that many animals were trapped, surrounded by the flames below, with no chance of escape.
Suddenly a desperate idea, a way to save them, came to him.
He darted to the river, dipped himself in the water, and flew back over the now raging fire.
The heat rising up from the burning forest was like the heat of an oven. The thick smoke made breathing almost unbearable. A wall of flames shot up on one side, and then the other. Crackling flames leapt before him. Twisting and turning through the mad maze of fire, the little parrot flew bravely on. At last, when he was over the center of the forest, he shook his wings and released the few drops of water which still clung to his feathers. The tiny drops tumbled down like jewels into the heart of the blaze and vanished with a hissssssssss.
Then the little parrot once more flew back through the flames and smoke to the river, dipped himself in the cool water, and flew back again over the burning forest. Back and forth he flew, time and time again, from the river to the forest, from the burning forest to the river. His feathers were charred. His feet were scorched. His lungs ached. His eyes, stung by smoke, turned red as coals. His mind spun dizzily as the spinning sparks. But still the little parrot flew on.
At this time, some of the devas -- gods of a happy realm -- were floating overhead in their cloud palaces of ivory and gold. They happened to look down. And they saw the little parrot flying among the flames. They pointed at him with perfect hands. Between mouthfuls of honeyed foods they exclaimed, "Look at that foolish bird! He's trying to put out a raging forest fire with a few sprinkles of water! How absurd!" And they laughed.
But one of those gods, strangely moved, changed himself into a golden eagle and flew down, down towards the little parrot's fiery path.
The little parrot was just nearing the flames again when the great eagle with eyes like molten gold appeared at his side. "Go back, little bird!" said the eagle in a solemn and majestic voice. "Your task is hopeless! A few drops of water can't put out a forest fire! Cease now and save yourself -- before it is too late."
But the little parrot only continued to fly on through the smoke and flames. He could hear the great eagle flying above him as the heat grew fiercer, calling out, "Stop, foolish little parrot! Save yourself! Save yourself!"
"I don't need a great, shining eagle," coughed the little parrot, "to give me advice like that. My own mother, the dear bird, might have told me such things long ago. Advice! (cough, cough), I don't need advice. I just (cough), need someone to help."
And the god, who was that great eagle, seeing the little parrot flying through the flames, thought suddenly of his own privileged kind. He could see them high up above. There they were, the carefree gods, laughing and talking, while many animals cried out in pain and fear from the flames below. And he grew ashamed. Then one single desire was kindled in his heart. God though he was, he just wanted to be like that brave little parrot, and to help.
"I will help!" he exclaimed and, flushed with these new feelings, he began to weep. Stream after stream of sparkling tears poured from his eyes. Wave upon wave, they washed down like cooling rain upon the fire, upon the forest, upon the animals and upon the little parrot himself.
The flames died down and the smoke began to clear. The little parrot, washed and bright, rocketed about the sky laughing for joy. "Now that's more like it!" he exclaimed.
The eagle's tears dripped from burned branches. Smoke rose up from the scorched earth. Miraculously, where those tears glistened, new life pushed forth -- fresh shoots, stems, and leaves. Green grass pushed up from among the still glowing cinders.
Where the teardrops sparkled on the parrot's wings, new feathers now grew. Red feathers, green feathers, yellow feathers -- such bright colors! Such a handsome bird!
All the animals looked at one another in amazement. They were whole and well. Not one had been harmed. Up above in the clear blue sky they could see their brave friend, the little parrot, looping and soaring in delight. When all hope was gone, somehow he had saved them. "Hurray!" they cried. "Hurray for the brave little parrot and for the miraculous rain!"
By Barbara McGrady
Animal Rescue is often painfully rewarding and it takes a great amount of determination to get up every day and try to convince ourselves that, "Today, we will make a difference!"
Many of us have only had 4 or 5 hours of sleep because we were up late taking care of rescued animals who required our attention. We aren't able to take summer vacations like other "regular" people because we have too many animals to take care of who are counting on us, fundraising to do, and telephone animal emergencies to attend to.
Our bills are stacked up in a pile beside out computers because we spend so many hours fighting to save, "just one more life." We are low on money and drive old vans that need repair work done. We always make certain that the air conditioning works though so the animals can be cool when we transport them to their new homes.
Our houses aren't as clean as they use to be, but we feel compelled to continue to do what we do, setting aside everyday tasks that we'd love to tackle as soon as we save one more animal's life.
We visit deplorable dog pounds and shelters realizing that we can not save each set of eyes that reaches deep into our soul. We wonder why others don't seem to understand. We save as many lives as we are able, and cry all the way home for the ones we were forced to leave behind.
We often send up angry prayers as our pain becomes unbearable, questioning the reason there is so much needless, heartless and intentional pain and suffering on this earth, while at the same time we pray for inner strength and the ability to continue to love and trust that while we are only saving one life at a time, we are truly making a difference. Our life is a paradox.
You are all working together to form a golden chain of love. It is a thankless job, but I wanted to remind you all of WHAT A DIFFERENCE YOU ARE TRULY MAKING.
I read the following, and it reminded me of you...
The Brave Little Parrot -- A Jataka Tale
Once, long ago, the Buddha was born as a little parrot. One day a storm fell upon his forest home. Lightning flashed, thunder crashed, and a dead tree, struck by lightning, burst into flames. Sparks leapt on the wind and soon the forest was ablaze. Terrified animals ran wildly in every direction, seeking safety from the flames and smoke.
"Fire! Fire!" cried the little parrot. "To the river!" Flapping his wings, he flung himself out into the fury of the storm and, rising higher, flew towards the safety of the river. But as he flew he could see that many animals were trapped, surrounded by the flames below, with no chance of escape.
Suddenly a desperate idea, a way to save them, came to him.
He darted to the river, dipped himself in the water, and flew back over the now raging fire.
The heat rising up from the burning forest was like the heat of an oven. The thick smoke made breathing almost unbearable. A wall of flames shot up on one side, and then the other. Crackling flames leapt before him. Twisting and turning through the mad maze of fire, the little parrot flew bravely on. At last, when he was over the center of the forest, he shook his wings and released the few drops of water which still clung to his feathers. The tiny drops tumbled down like jewels into the heart of the blaze and vanished with a hissssssssss.
Then the little parrot once more flew back through the flames and smoke to the river, dipped himself in the cool water, and flew back again over the burning forest. Back and forth he flew, time and time again, from the river to the forest, from the burning forest to the river. His feathers were charred. His feet were scorched. His lungs ached. His eyes, stung by smoke, turned red as coals. His mind spun dizzily as the spinning sparks. But still the little parrot flew on.
At this time, some of the devas -- gods of a happy realm -- were floating overhead in their cloud palaces of ivory and gold. They happened to look down. And they saw the little parrot flying among the flames. They pointed at him with perfect hands. Between mouthfuls of honeyed foods they exclaimed, "Look at that foolish bird! He's trying to put out a raging forest fire with a few sprinkles of water! How absurd!" And they laughed.
But one of those gods, strangely moved, changed himself into a golden eagle and flew down, down towards the little parrot's fiery path.
The little parrot was just nearing the flames again when the great eagle with eyes like molten gold appeared at his side. "Go back, little bird!" said the eagle in a solemn and majestic voice. "Your task is hopeless! A few drops of water can't put out a forest fire! Cease now and save yourself -- before it is too late."
But the little parrot only continued to fly on through the smoke and flames. He could hear the great eagle flying above him as the heat grew fiercer, calling out, "Stop, foolish little parrot! Save yourself! Save yourself!"
"I don't need a great, shining eagle," coughed the little parrot, "to give me advice like that. My own mother, the dear bird, might have told me such things long ago. Advice! (cough, cough), I don't need advice. I just (cough), need someone to help."
And the god, who was that great eagle, seeing the little parrot flying through the flames, thought suddenly of his own privileged kind. He could see them high up above. There they were, the carefree gods, laughing and talking, while many animals cried out in pain and fear from the flames below. And he grew ashamed. Then one single desire was kindled in his heart. God though he was, he just wanted to be like that brave little parrot, and to help.
"I will help!" he exclaimed and, flushed with these new feelings, he began to weep. Stream after stream of sparkling tears poured from his eyes. Wave upon wave, they washed down like cooling rain upon the fire, upon the forest, upon the animals and upon the little parrot himself.
The flames died down and the smoke began to clear. The little parrot, washed and bright, rocketed about the sky laughing for joy. "Now that's more like it!" he exclaimed.
The eagle's tears dripped from burned branches. Smoke rose up from the scorched earth. Miraculously, where those tears glistened, new life pushed forth -- fresh shoots, stems, and leaves. Green grass pushed up from among the still glowing cinders.
Where the teardrops sparkled on the parrot's wings, new feathers now grew. Red feathers, green feathers, yellow feathers -- such bright colors! Such a handsome bird!
All the animals looked at one another in amazement. They were whole and well. Not one had been harmed. Up above in the clear blue sky they could see their brave friend, the little parrot, looping and soaring in delight. When all hope was gone, somehow he had saved them. "Hurray!" they cried. "Hurray for the brave little parrot and for the miraculous rain!"
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Who Is Your Real Friend?
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Montcalm: Still a Skunk in the Woodpile
Another update on Montcalm from Nancy Jean Rose:
I just learned that at the Montcalm meeting it was stated that Montcalm will still sell animals to MSU for experimentation.
All that has been done is that the county has eliminated the middle man (R&R Research) and taken on the role of animal pimp in its place.
I was wondering what would happen when the "founding fathers" of the county realized that they could begin making up to $400 per dog and who knows how much per cat by pimping the animals themselves. Now we see the heart of the matter--greed. Those Montcalm "founding fathers" are awful people.
You might want to circulate this information.
For previous posts regarding the Montcalm County, MI issue, please see the Animal Testing category.
I just learned that at the Montcalm meeting it was stated that Montcalm will still sell animals to MSU for experimentation.
All that has been done is that the county has eliminated the middle man (R&R Research) and taken on the role of animal pimp in its place.
I was wondering what would happen when the "founding fathers" of the county realized that they could begin making up to $400 per dog and who knows how much per cat by pimping the animals themselves. Now we see the heart of the matter--greed. Those Montcalm "founding fathers" are awful people.
You might want to circulate this information.
For previous posts regarding the Montcalm County, MI issue, please see the Animal Testing category.
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