Advocates step up the fight against puppy mills in localities, states across the nation

On a recent cold and rainy Friday, Victoria, a striking 11-year-old German Shepherd, sat in a wagon, draped in a purple blanket, outside the steps of the Montgomery County Courthouse in Norristown, Pennsylvania. Victoria’s story was a telling one: she was a puppy mill breeding . . .
Happy Tails from Valentine’s Day at the HSUS and HSI

Who doesn’t love a good Valentine’s Day tale, especially one involving dog rescue? We celebrated several such “tails” this last week, all tied to our global campaign to end the dog meat trade. In the first instance, Humane Society International responders deployed to a dog . . .
Fish and Wildlife Service fails in its mission to protect critically endangered species

The other day, the Washington Post’s Pam Constable published a story about a wealthy American hunter who paid $110,000 for the right to kill a rare and magnificent mountain goat in Pakistan. There are just several thousand markhors alive, so it’s hard to see how . . .
Tiger found in an abandoned Houston home underscores dire need for state and federal legislation

When it comes to the private ownership of captive tigers in the United States, you just can’t make this stuff up. Through the years, we’ve seen reports of tigers kept in apartments, tigers in garages, tigers in gas stations, tigers in tattoo parlors, tigers in . . .
Zimbabwe rips 35 baby elephants from their mothers for export to Chinese zoos

It is the worst kind of wildlife abuse, and it is happening right now – again – in Zimbabwe, where 35 baby elephants have been torn away from their mothers in the wild and are awaiting export to zoos in China. According to The Times . . .
From vaccines and spay/neuter to puppies stuck in tar, HSI helps hundreds of thousands of street dogs

In January, our Humane Society International/India team learned about eight puppies who were stuck in tar in the town of Tirur in the south Indian state of Kerala. The puppies, as you can see in the video below, were completely covered in the sticky black . . .
At South Florida Wildlife Center, staff rehabilitate pelicans, other wildlife hurt and orphaned by human actions

I was at the South Florida Wildlife Center yesterday when workers there released six pelicans back into the wild. The birds, who can be found wintering in South Florida this time of year, had all been brought in last month with injuries that need never . . .
Bill in Congress will require puppy mills, roadside zoos and other businesses to have emergency plans to protect animals during disasters

By Kitty Block and Sara Amundson Weather-related disasters such as floods and wildfires are occurring more frequently and with increasing intensity across the United States. While there is a federal law that requires state and local authorities to consider household pets and service animals in . . .
At HSUS Faith Summit, religious leaders and family farmers discuss animal stewardship

The Humane Society of the United States’ Faith Outreach program partners with people of faith to fight animal cruelty and highlight the long and rich tradition of compassion for animals within the world’s major religions. This week, as part of this important program, we welcomed . . .
Bipartisan bill in Congress will crack down on puppy mill cruelty

By Kitty Block and Sara Amundson A bipartisan group of U.S. Representatives today introduced a bill to crack down on puppy mill cruelty by closing loopholes in the law that allow problem breeders with severe and multiple Animal Welfare Act violations to continue doing business . . .
The state of the animal union under the Trump administration

By Kitty Block and Sara Amundson As President Donald Trump prepares to deliver his State of the Union address today, it’s a good time to take stock of how his administration has dealt with animal protection issues of interest to us at the Humane Society . . .
Pets pour in for round 3 of Spayathon for Puerto Rico

I am participating in round 3 of Spayathon™ for Puerto Rico, an initiative launched to change the landscape for animals of the island by providing high-quality, high-volume spay/neuter services to the pets here, all at no cost to their owners, caregivers and guardians. The energy . . .