“Monster Pig” Shows Horror of Canned Hunts

Last week, an 11-year-old boy from Alabama killed a hog reported to weigh 1,051 pounds. The boy, Jamison Stone, is finishing the sixth grade this year. He shot the pig eight times with a .50 caliber revolver, according to the boy’s account. Accompanied by his . . .
Talk Back: Love the Logo
The virtual applause has been streaming in since our new logo was unveiled. Below is a collection of reader praise for the illustration: I love the new logo. Well thought out, inspiring and meaningful. I also like the positive spin of the organization with protecting . . .
B Dealers a Class of their Own

In 1976, more than 210,000 dogs were used in animal research according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which is charged with enforcing the Animal Welfare Act (I blogged about the AWA yesterday). In 2005, the number reported by the USDA was under 67,000—about a . . .
Of Mice and Men

Earlier this year, the Congress amended the Animal Welfare Act to strengthen a section of law dealing with dogfighting, cockfighting and other forms of staged animal fighting. With these amendments, the law now bans any interstate or foreign commerce in fighting animals or cockfighting implements, . . .
Talk Back: Taking Issue with Ted
In the world of humane-minded advocates, there are reasons to agree and reasons to disagree. Here is one example—a few readers have expressed disappointment over the inclusion of Ted Williams in my blogroll. Julianne French writes: Wow, what a shock to see The HSUS endorse . . .
Fate of Whales Decided This Week

I really like to stay on the offense at The HSUS. I want to press ahead with new campaigns that keep our opponents on the defense—whether on horse slaughter, cockfighting, factory farming, canned hunts, puppy mills or the like—so that the industries responsible for these . . .
Remembering a Star for Animals

I arrived back from an overseas trip yesterday, and upon landing learned the news that my dear friend Gretchen Wyler had died. At The HSUS, we had known for some time that Gretchen was failing from the effects of metastatic breast cancer. We held to . . .
Talk Back: Michael Vick
Many readers have inquired about The HSUS’ involvement in the investigation surrounding Atlanta Falcons Quarterback Michael Vick and allegations of a possible dogfighting operation at his former Virginia home. Reader John Gilligan asks: Is the HSUS going to have an email letter to send to . . .
Environmental Protection, Past and Present

There are people whose life and work have changed the course of history. The late Rachel Carson is one of those people. Carson was the legendary biologist and author who transformed environmental protection with her groundbreaking 1962 work "Silent Spring." © USFWSRachel Carson and Bob . . .
Power to Protect Animals

What has been most heartening since I launched my blog is that the comments are coming in faster than we can publish them. Rest assured that we are reading them, and we will continue to post samplers. I would like to keep the conversation going, . . .
Polar Bears Hunted in Dwindling Habitat

Make no mistake about it. Global warming is an animal protection issue. © The HSUS/Milani Before the first club was swung, or the first shot fired this spring in Atlantic Canada in the annual orgy of seal killing, the Canadian government estimates that as many . . .
Cruelty by Design

The fur issue is one of the easiest moral questions to settle. The animals are killed only for human adornment, often in particularly horrible ways, and there are functional and fashionable alternatives. If our societal standards against needless cruelty mean anything, they should be applied . . .