Public Policy (Legal/Legislative)
Celebrating the lawmakers who made 2022 a banner year for big cats and other animals
Last night at our Humane Awards event on Capitol Hill, we celebrated the work of lawmakers whose dedication to our cause made 2022 a banner congressional year for animals. In particular, we recognized the passage into law of the Big Cat Public Safety Act, and . . .
Puppy Protection Act brings hope for dogs languishing in puppy mills
In West Point, Iowa, a large-scale, commercial breeding facility called the Stonehenge Kennel contains more than 800 dogs. Here, since 2015, more than 100 dogs have been found sick or injured; some had open lesions and could barely walk. As recently as December 2022, the . . .
Victory! Cruel hunting methods in Kenai National Wildlife Refuge were just defeated
In a massive victory for wildlife in Alaska, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced last week that it was withdrawing its 2020 proposed rule that would have allowed trophy hunters on the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge to lure brown bears to their deaths with . . .
A decade’s worth of wins against cosmetics animal testing
Tomorrow, March 11, 2023, marks the 10-year anniversary of a historic paradigm shift away from cosmetics animal testing. When the European Union and Israel became the world’s first markets to ban animal tests for cosmetics such as makeup, shampoo and cologne, the change jump-started our . . .
What we found undercover at infamous trophy hunting convention
Elephant-skin luggage and leopard claw jewelry are just some of the supposedly luxurious products our undercover investigator discovered at Safari Club International’s annual hunting convention, where more than 850 exhibitors convened in February in Nashville, Tennessee. As disturbing as the artifacts of animals already lost . . .
For the first time, birds receive protection under the Animal Welfare Act
In a monumental step forward for birds who are often exploited in the pet trade, exhibitions and breeding, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has just enacted federal protections for birds used in commerce. This win is the result of a decades-long legal effort by animal . . .
Exploring the rich, overlooked history of Black animal activism
I recently wrote about how all people, no matter their circumstances, have an inherent connection with animals. The composition of the animal protection movement, however, has not always reflected everyone’s voice. Recently our staff had the pleasure of hearing historian Paula Tarankow, who holds a . . .
This state’s draft wolf plan spells disaster for wolves
Idaho is pulling ahead in a race to the bottom for how states treat wolves. The Idaho Department of Fish and Game recently released a draft wolf management plan that will guide how the state manages the wolves who live there through 2028. The plan . . .
We’re prepared to sue to get hippos the protections they need
Update 3/20/23: After we and our partners sent notice of our intent to sue the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the agency announced that the common hippopotamus may qualify for protection under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. Today, on World Hippo Day, we and our . . .
Major U.S. Supreme Court ruling expected any day on animal welfare
Any day now, the Supreme Court of the United States could issue its ruling in one of the most important court cases in the history of the animal protection movement—one that could have implications for the quality of life of millions of farmed animals. First, . . .
This is no time to strip endangered species protections from grizzly bears
After teetering on the brink of extinction, the grizzly bear population in the United States finally began to recover, thanks to the Endangered Species Act. Currently, grizzly bears are classified as “threatened” with extinction. But now that could change for some of them. This week, . . .
As Biden delivers State of the Union address, we’re urging 6 priorities for animals
President Joe Biden’s State of the Union speech marks a midway point in his term, and for us, an opportunity to assess the administration’s animal protection priorities. Like many animal advocates, we were buoyed by the legislative successes we helped to secure as 2022 closed. . . .
