Critical insights at the intersection of animals and politics
Press Release ATHENS, TX — Acting on a tip from Showing Animals Respect and Kindness (SHARK), the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office raided a major cockfighting operation near Athens on Sunday, July 13th. Authorities disrupted an illegal cockfighting event attended by an estimated 200–300 people, many of whom fled the scene on foot through nearby woods. Law … Read more
Led by Senator Adam Schiff, Letter Urges Protection of State Animal Welfare Laws and Highlights Bipartisan Opposition Washington, D.C. — Animal Wellness Action and the Center for a Humane Economy applauded 32 U.S. Senate Democrats after they sent a letter today to Senate Agriculture Committee leaders urging them to exclude the Food Security and Farm Protection … Read more
If you feed bears because you’re trying to photograph them, you’re likely to get busted. But feeding bears in twelve states and national forests in ten of those states is fine if you’re only trying to kill them. by Ted Williams Traditional, fair-chase bear hunting — i.e., tracking bears alone on foot — is way … Read more
Animal wellness groups say DOJ’s legal claims are “frivolous” and are not a close call for the courts, with the claim headed for defeat WASHINGTON, D.C. — Animal Wellness Action (AWA) and the Center for a Humane Economy (CHE) called the U.S. Department of Justice’s lawsuit against the state of California “politically driven” and “a set … Read more
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Wayne Pacelle, president of Animal Wellness Action and the Center for a Humane Economy, issued the following statement in response to the U.S. Department of Justice’s legal challenge to California’s animal welfare laws, including two landslide ballot initiatives, promoting humane treatment of laying hens and the safety of consumers from salmonella and other … Read more
MONTICELLO, N.Y. — On July 7, 2025, Frederick Bourgault, a 27-year-old Canadian harness racing trainer, was sentenced to two to six years in state prison for the unconscionable beating and killing of a horse under his care. Bourgault was convicted in April of two felony counts — second-degree criminal mischief and interference with or injury to … Read more
Press Release MOUNT PLEASANT, Texas — After conducting an undercover investigation on the evening of July 4 of a cockfighting derby in progress and tipping local authorities to the illegal event, Animal Wellness Action and Showing Animals Respect and Kindness (SHARK) today issued a joint statement applauding the Titus County Sheriff’s Office for its swift action … Read more
Press Release The two organizations uncovered an enormous derby in March at the same location, but no action was taken at that event. The groups also documented two other cockfighting derbies in Kaufman County on July 5 Mount Pleasant, Texas — Animal Wellness Action and Showing Animals Respect and Kindness (SHARK) applauded the Titus County Sheriff … Read more
The ‘Great News’ about lobo recovery isn’t that great By Ted Williams The Mexican wolf (“El lobo”), native to Mexico and America’s Southwest, is the most genetically distinct, most imperiled, and smallest subspecies of gray wolf. A big male might weigh 80 pounds. Humans nearly succeeded in wiping lobos off the planet. All alive today … Read more
WASHINGTON, D.C. – As Independence Day approaches, Animal Wellness Action is calling on Americans to recognize the risks fireworks pose to companion animals and wildlife — and to take simple but critical steps to keep animals safe and calm during holiday celebrations. While fireworks have become synonymous with the Fourth of July, the booming explosions and … Read more