Archive for February, 2019
USDA further loosens oversight of puppy mills and other operations, leaving foxes to guard the henhouse
U.S. Department of Agriculture inspectors documented 60 percent fewer violations at facilities that use animals in 2018 compared to 2017. The drop, reported by the Washington Post this week and also documented by our researchers here at the Humane Society of the United States, is . . .
At one-of-a-kind animal shelter in Louisiana, prison inmates bond with dogs rescued from Korea’s meat trade
Last month, 10 dogs rescued by our Humane Society International responders from a Korean dog meat farm arrived at a special animal shelter near Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Pen Pals, Inc. is housed at the Dixon Correctional Institute in Jackson, and it is the only prison-based . . .
Bill in Congress would ban private ownership of tigers, lions and other big cats
By Kitty Block and Sara Amundson Thousands of tigers, lions, leopards and other big cats are kept in private homes and poorly run exhibits across the United States. These wild and dangerous animals are forced to spend their lives in inhumane conditions, locked up in . . .
Botswana moves closer to lifting ban on trophy hunting despite declining interest in such kills
The southern African nation of Botswana may be on the verge of bucking the global trend against trophy hunting. Last week, a subcommittee appointed by the president made the recommendation to end a ban on trophy hunting which has been in effect in the country . . .
Iceland says it may kill 2,000 whales over next five years
Iceland has announced it may kill more than 2,000 whales over the next five years, despite a declining market for whale meat and a growing sentiment against whaling among the Nordic country’s own citizens. Earlier this week, the Icelandic fisheries minister issued new commercial whaling . . .
Procter & Gamble, maker of Pantene and Herbal Essences, joins fight to end animal testing for cosmetics
By Kitty Block and Sara Amundson Procter & Gamble, maker of popular household brands like Herbal Essences, Pantene and Head & Shoulders, today announced it will join with our #BeCrueltyFree campaign to ban all animal testing for its cosmetics products in major global markets by . . .
In defiance of federal law, Wyoming passes illegal statute to allow grizzly bear hunts
Wyoming’s crusade to declare open season on grizzly bears hit an unprecedented low this week when Gov. Mark Gordon signed into law a statute that gives state officials the authority to open a trophy hunting season on grizzly bears and relocate bears to other states . . .
Advocates step up the fight against puppy mills in localities, states across the nation
On a recent cold and rainy Friday, Victoria, a striking 11-year-old German Shepherd, sat in a wagon, draped in a purple blanket, outside the steps of the Montgomery County Courthouse in Norristown, Pennsylvania. Victoria’s story was a telling one: she was a puppy mill breeding . . .
Happy Tails from Valentine’s Day at the HSUS and HSI
Who doesn’t love a good Valentine’s Day tale, especially one involving dog rescue? We celebrated several such “tails” this last week, all tied to our global campaign to end the dog meat trade. In the first instance, Humane Society International responders deployed to a dog . . .
Fish and Wildlife Service fails in its mission to protect critically endangered species
The other day, the Washington Post’s Pam Constable published a story about a wealthy American hunter who paid $110,000 for the right to kill a rare and magnificent mountain goat in Pakistan. There are just several thousand markhors alive, so it’s hard to see how . . .
Tiger found in an abandoned Houston home underscores dire need for state and federal legislation
When it comes to the private ownership of captive tigers in the United States, you just can’t make this stuff up. Through the years, we’ve seen reports of tigers kept in apartments, tigers in garages, tigers in gas stations, tigers in tattoo parlors, tigers in . . .
Zimbabwe rips 35 baby elephants from their mothers for export to Chinese zoos
It is the worst kind of wildlife abuse, and it is happening right now – again – in Zimbabwe, where 35 baby elephants have been torn away from their mothers in the wild and are awaiting export to zoos in China. According to The Times . . .
