Archive for 2017
President Trump stakes out a bold position on trophy hunting
President Trump’s declaration that the trophy hunting of elephants and other animals is “a horror show” is, to say the least, a bold and provocative statement from a U.S. leader. Never before has an American official taken such a forthright stand on the issue of . . .
Trump intervenes on elephant trophy hunting issue
In a tweet to more than 40 million followers, President Trump announced this evening that he’s “put big game trophy decision on hold,” signaling discomfort with the trajectory of public discussion concerning the Interior Department’s enormously controversial announcement on Thursday to allow imports of elephant . . .
Burlington goes fur-free
Today I’m pleased to announce that Burlington Stores (formerly Burlington Coat Factory), after discussions with The HSUS, has gone 100 percent fur-free – no full-length furs, no fur trim, no fur at all in the company’s vast offerings of coats and other garments. Burlington has . . .
After targeting elephants, Interior Department puts African lions in the crosshairs
Yesterday, on this blog, I reacted in real time to the Safari Club International’s announcement that the U.S. Department of the Interior plans to lift a ban on the import of sport-hunted trophies of rare and beleaguered African elephants. In short, our government is essentially . . .
Interior Department to allow imports of elephant and lion trophies from Africa, reversing Obama policies
With barely contained enthusiasm, Safari Club International (SCI) announced on its own initiative today that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) has reversed critical elephant protections established during the Obama administration, allowing imports of elephant trophies from Zimbabwe and Zambia. For decades, Zimbabwe has . . .
Japan deserves worldwide condemnation for new expedition to slaughter Antarctic whales
Since November 2016, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has been one of President Trump’s strongest suitors, intent on persuading the United States to maintain its customary role as the guarantor of the post-war security alliance that has been one element of Japan’s economic success for . . .
Image of elephant set on fire in India spurs HSI plan of action
Titled “Hell is Here,” the photo is as jarring as they come: two elephants, one a baby, fleeing a jeering mob with murderous intentions, the juvenile pachyderm partially engulfed in flames. The mother elephant is in the lead, her ears angled forward, visibly distressed as . . .
Lush steps up fight to end animal testing
The HSUS and its affiliates have long worked to phase out cosmetic, chemical, and pesticide tests on animals. That work is grounded on a value system focused on preventing needless suffering of animals, but also on the principle that science and innovation can provide us . . .
Trump administration’s USDA again delays implementation of organic animal welfare standards for millions of farm animals
After eight months of repeated delays, the USDA has kicked the can down the road even further on the Organic Livestock and Poultry practices rule (“organics rule”) and delayed its implementation for at least another six months. In doing so, the agency has again poked . . .
Fighting to stop trophy hunting of lions in the West
Trophy hunting organizations and state fish and wildlife agencies are in cahoots in the Southwest in executing ruthless mountain lion killing programs, typically involving radio telemetry equipment, packs of hounds, and rifles and bows they use to shoot lions they’ve driven into trees to kill . . .
Texas shooter’s history of cruelty fortifies case for new animal welfare laws
Devin Patrick Kelley was a miscreant as an adult—a sick and deranged human being, who left death and suffering and heartache in his wake. His worst act was the mass murder that he alone executed on Sunday, at a Baptist church in Sutherland Springs, Texas. . . .
Honors among thieves
The “big lick” faction of the Tennessee Walking horse industry is engaged in an ongoing criminal enterprise. Many of the top winners in the industry knowingly injure horses as a customary practice in order to induce an exaggerated gait for the purpose of winning prizes—a . . .
