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You Spoke, Talbots Listened: Fur Pulled from Shelves

Last week, we asked members and supporters to urge Talbots to go back to being fur-free. Your response was overwhelming.
A Mother’s Plea: Ban Private Ownership of Exotic Animals

Today, Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland received the sort of letter that reminds elected officials of the gravity of their daily responsibilities. The letter writer, Deirdre Herbert, is the mother of the young man recently killed by a captive bear in Lorain County. She told Gov. . . .
See Hundreds of Prairie Dogs Transported to Safety
Recently, Lindsey Sterling Krank, the director of our prairie dog protection campaign, helped oversee the relocation of hundreds of prairie dogs who otherwise would have succumbed to poisoning. This video provides a fascinating perspective of these burrowing critters and a behind the scenes look at an innovative relocation project that has been months in the making.
SeaWorld Citation More Evidence Against Captive Orcas

On Monday, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration released the findings from its mandatory investigation of the death of long-time trainer Dawn Brancheau at SeaWorld in Orlando, Fla. OSHA issued three safety violations to SeaWorld, including one willful citation — for exposing its employees to potentially injurious or fatal hazards by allowing them to interact with its captive orcas without sufficient protection.
Uncovered in South Carolina: Bear Abuse for Show

Today, the Associated Press broke the story that the infamous practice of bear baying is alive and well in South Carolina. An HSUS undercover investigator documented bear baying at several locations in rural areas, and it appears that South Carolina is the only state in the nation to allow this cruelty.
A Home Where the Buffalo Roam

At the Cleveland Amory Black Beauty Ranch, which is run by The HSUS and The Fund for Animals, the front gate reads “I have nothing to fear, and here my story ends. My troubles are all over, and I am at home.” Drawn from the . . .
Committed: An Update on Our Help for Haiti

Chris Broughton, one of our tremendously dedicated staff members, has indefinitely relocated to Haiti to oversee our ongoing relief and rebuilding efforts. He sent me this update on his progress and programs from his base in Port-au-Prince.
Talk Back: Win for Wolves, Cracking Down on Crush Videos
Readers celebrated last week’s decision by a federal judge to reinstate endangered species protections for the gray wolves of the Northern Rockies—a remarkable victory in The HSUS and other organizational plaintiffs’ long-running legal campaign to protect these imperiled animals. Among your comments: Protecting gray wolves . . .
Animal Crush Videos: Disgusting and Illegal

Despite the near universal view among the public that individuals should not be able to profit from illegal, malicious, and obscene acts of animal cruelty, The New York Times and Los Angeles Times editorialized this week against legislation to reinstate a federal prohibition on gruesome animal crush videos. I asked Supreme Court expert Scott Ballenger of Latham & Watkins to share his thoughts on the issue.
A Beautiful Mind: Exploring the Emotional Lives of Animals

I’ve heard Jonathan Balcombe speak before, and read his books, including his latest work, “Second Nature: The Inner Lives of Animals.” Based on that experience, I knew he’d have much to offer attendees at this year’s Taking Action for Animals conference, where we invited him to speak. We also published a Q&A with him earlier this year in All Animals.
Animal Crush Videos Make Comeback; Senate Must Act

Today, The HSUS released new information about gruesome animal crush videos that have made a comeback since the federal courts overturned the 1999 law Congress passed to ban their production and sale.
U.S. House Votes to Crack Down on Animal Crush Videos

Animal crush videos are back and, next week, The HSUS will release details about their resurgence on the Web. By all appearances, this lurid and sickening commercial activity re-emerged from the shadows after two federal courts, most recently the U.S. Supreme Court in April, struck . . .