Public Policy (Legal/Legislative)
Breaking: Supreme Court upholds strongest farm animal protection law in U.S.
We are thrilled that after months of tireless efforts and unwavering dedication, we have emerged victorious in our landmark Supreme Court defense of California’s Proposition 12. The decision, announced earlier today, upholds the nation’s strongest farm animal protection law and unanimously rejects the pork industry’s . . .
Breaking: U.S. Congress has new chance to stop horse soring
In 1970, the U.S. Congress passed the Horse Protection Act to end the cruel practice of horse soring, which is the use of caustic chemicals, chains, weighted shoes, hard objects, cutting and other painful techniques to force horses to perform the artificial, high-stepping gait known . . .
For horses in the Kentucky Derby, change can’t come soon enough
Update 5/8/23: A total of seven horses died at Churchill Downs in the days leading up to and on the day of the Kentucky Derby, and five horses were scratched. In light of these facts, it is shocking that the race was even run. Lives . . .
Breaking: New threats to grizzlies, wolves and Endangered Species Act emerge in Congress
Today, the U.S. House of Representatives’ Committee on Natural Resources voted in favor of six bills and resolutions that threaten to remove protections from grizzly bears and gray wolves and weaken the Endangered Species Act. This “grab bag” of danger includes: House Joint Resolutions 29, . . .
New progress in fight against puppy mills shows caring about companion animals is a nonpartisan issue
In a country where political tempers often run hot, agreement can seem incredibly rare. But, regardless of party affiliation, a consensus is emerging that our companion animals should be treated with basic decency—and this is not how kitten and puppy mills treat dogs and cats. . . .
After the ‘Tiger King’ era, new ways to help other captive wild animals
In our recent USA Today opinion piece, we wrote about the cascade of events that sparked passage of the Big Cat Public Safety Act late last year. Among other factors, the pandemic-era Netflix sensation Tiger King laid bare the cruelties of the cub petting industry . . .
Help stop dangerous bills that would reduce the penalties for animal fighting
So much of our work centers on making positive progress for animals, helping to pass state or federal laws to ensure their protection, working on corporate social responsibility campaigns to get companies to change their practices or appealing directly to the public to raise awareness. . . .
Breaking: New anti-doping program is good news for racehorses
Today marks a critical turning point for thoroughbred racehorse safety, and it comes just in time for the upcoming Triple Crown season. The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority just launched its Anti-Doping and Medication Control Program, ushering in a new era of safety and welfare . . .
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 . . .
