More states, including New York, move to end pet store puppy sales

New York has the dubious distinction of being home to more puppy-selling pet stores than any other state in the nation. This could be about to change as lawmakers there move on legislation that would prohibit all dog, cat and rabbit sales in pet stores. . . .
With a second turn at USDA, Tom Vilsack would have an opportunity to continue progress for animals, correct missteps

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is one of the federal agencies with the most impact on animal protection issues. Who heads it can make all the difference to the wellbeing of millions of animals, including those in puppy mills, roadside zoos, factory farms, laboratories, horse . . .
Tennessee has no puppy mill law. The last thing it needs is a new Petland selling puppies.

Tennessee has a huge puppy mill problem and no law to fight these operations that mistreat the dogs they profit off. Just over the past year we have heard of several puppy mill rescues, including two—one in Grundy County last month and another in Madison . . .
Shooting fish in a barrel: U.S. canned hunting industry offers ‘menus’ of rare animals for a thrill kill

The canned hunting industry is often associated with countries like South Africa, where wealthy trophy hunters can pick out and shoot captive-bred lions in enclosures for a hefty price tag. It is, literally, the equivalent of shooting fish in a barrel, and it is a . . .
Major corporations, including Nestle and Arby’s, confirm they now use 100% cage-free eggs in U.S.

Confining chickens in cages where they cannot even spread their wings is one of the cruelest practices in industrial factory farming. That’s why we have made it our mission to free every last hen from such confinement. Recent announcements from some of the biggest corporations . . .
Utah allegedly didn’t disclose mink fur farm worker’s death due to COVID. Sweden suspends mink farming

One more nation, Sweden, announced today that it will suspend all mink fur farming this year to prevent the spread of the coronavirus and its mutations. Sweden’s announcement contrasted starkly with a media report in the United States this week, based on an open records . . .
California lawmaker introduces bill to ban black bear hunting

A groundbreaking bill introduced in California today would end all trophy hunting of black bears in the state. If successful, California would be the first state to implement such a ban, setting a magnificent precedent for the rest of the nation to follow. The bill . . .
Biden administration withdraws Trump-era plan for higher line speeds at chicken slaughterhouses

The Biden administration has withdrawn a deplorable pending rule that would have allowed qualifying chicken slaughter plants in the United States to permanently dial up line speeds from an already inhumane and lightning-fast 140 birds per minute to 175 birds per minute. The U.S. Department . . .
Breaking news: Efforts to open an early wolf trophy hunting season in Wisconsin defeated

An attempt by some Wisconsin lawmakers to force a rushed and unlawful wolf hunting season in the state beginning next month has been narrowly defeated by the state’s Natural Resources Board. In November, we reported how we had helped stop an effort by the Wisconsin . . .
Our 100-day plan for animal protection under the Biden-Harris administration

The inauguration of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris heralds a new beginning. Most Americans are looking forward to putting the challenges of last year behind them. But many are still facing the difficulties of illness, unemployment and economic uncertainty because of the . . .
Federal court orders Jeff Lowe to surrender all cubs, mothers

A U.S. District Court has ordered Jeff Lowe, a notorious big cat exhibitor who took over the running of Joe Exotic’s zoo, GW Exotics, to surrender all big cat cubs and their mothers in his possession over allegations of mistreatment. The preliminary injunction in the . . .
HSUS, allies sue Trump administration for delisting wolves

In October last year, the Trump administration stripped federal protections for wolves, giving state managers in the lower 48 states the ability to greenlight trophy hunting and trapping seasons on these animals. Today, we and our allies sued the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service over . . .