Archive for March, 2020
Law enforcement officers step up for animals in the midst of a pandemic
Across the nation, law enforcement officers—despite facing unprecedented challenges during the coronavirus pandemic—are hard at work to ensure that animals who need their help are neither forgotten nor left behind. Since the crisis began, our state directors have reached out to government officials to ensure . . .
The killing of Takaya, Canada’s famous lone wolf, highlights urgent need to outlaw trophy hunting
The killing last week of Takaya, the lone wolf of Canada’s Discovery Island whose story of survival and resilience captivated people around the globe, is a grim reminder of the uphill battle wolves face in the modern world. This was a legendary young wolf, with . . .
Netflix’s ‘Tiger King’ is a wake-up call for ending private possession of big cats
A decade ago, our undercover investigation delved into the bizarre world of Joseph Maldonado-Passage (aka Joe Exotic) and his roadside zoo, GW Exotics. For years, Joe and his band of untrained workers kept hundreds of big cats and other wild animals in captivity in barren . . .
Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES) passes with potential benefits for animal protection sector
The $2 trillion emergency stimulus bill that cleared Congress earlier today carries important prospective benefits for the animal care and services sector. These include a temporary expansion of charitable deduction provisions, opportunities for business continuity loans to cover payroll, paid leave, health-insurance premiums, facilities costs, . . .
To prevent another pandemic, global leaders should crack down on wildlife trade
At the G20 coronavirus meeting today, global leaders, including President Trump, brainstormed on ways to control the pandemic that is now ravaging dozens of nations, leaving a vast trail of human casualties in its wake. But one thing that didn’t come up was the reason . . .
In new role at the USFWS, trophy hunters’ lawyer will guide U.S. global policy on wildlife
The Trump administration’s course on wildlife policy, riddled with handouts to trophy hunters, took another wrong turn last week with the hiring of Anna Seidman, a litigator for Safari Club International, to head a key office of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The SCI . . .
More localities end puppy mill sales in pet stores, taking total to more than 350
The fight to wipe out puppy mills passed a critical milestone this month: more than 350 American localities now ban the sales of puppy mill dogs in pet stores. The latest ordinances were passed by Roselle, New Jersey; Algonquin, Illinois and Carver, Minnesota last week, . . .
For participants’ safety, HSUS cancels Animal Care Expo 2020 as coronavirus pandemic continues
With the country in the grip of the coronavirus for an indefinite period, we’ve decided to cancel Animal Care Expo 2020, our marquee training and exhibition event for animal welfare professionals, scheduled to be held in San Antonio, Texas, this May. In some respects, it . . .
Fosters step up as shelters around the country struggle to cope with coronavirus crisis
Cary Smith already cares for six dogs at home, but when she heard a plea from the Homeward Trails Animal Rescue in Fairfax, Virginia, as the coronavirus crisis broke, she knew she just had to step up. “They sent out a plea for fosters to . . .
Breaking news: Mexican Senate passes bill to outlaw cosmetics testing
Mexico took a giant step toward ending animal testing for cosmetics yesterday, with the Senate voting unanimously to ban such testing in the country. The bill would also ban, with some exceptions, the manufacture, import and marketing in Mexico of cosmetics animal-tested anywhere in the . . .
As scandals in horse racing escalate, trainers join calls for reform
The recent indictment of more than two dozen people, including racehorse trainers and veterinarians, in a widespread doping scandal has turned a red-hot spotlight on the horseracing industry. And in a welcome development, some long-overdue scrutiny is coming from stakeholders within the industry itself. In . . .
Congress should act fast to protect animals in puppy mills, roadside zoos and research labs during coronavirus crisis
As the COVID-19 crisis escalates, we are asking Congress to act quickly on an important bill that would ensure that millions of animals held in research laboratories and enterprises like puppy mills and roadside zoos across the country are not forgotten. The Providing Responsible Emergency . . .
