Some weeks ago, we interviewed University of Tennessee history professor Ernest Freeberg on the Animal Wellness Podcast as part of the launch of his book, “A Traitor to His Species,” a biography of the late ASPCA founder Henry Bergh. Freeberg recounted Bergh’s focus on helping all animals, but conveyed Bergh’s dedicated focus in fighting the … Read more
Many of my fondest childhood memories are of time spent with my grandfather, a mink farmer in a tiny Idaho town, just a few miles north of the Utah border. A soft-spoken, kind and generous man, my grandfather doted on his children, including my mother, and on me and his other grandkids. Even with his … Read more
This is part two in our series detailing an investigation from Animal Wellness Action and Bailing Out Benji. For part one, click here. Arizona law prohibits pet stores from purchasing puppies from breeders with recent and severe violations of the federal Animal Welfare Act on their record. Yet, five pet stores in Arizona called “Puppies … Read more
Helping horses by finding common ground with our adversaries Gen’s Ice Glimmer was about to go on a one-way trip to Mexico. Not to white-sand beaches. No, he was off to a make-shift horse slaughterhouse with blood-stained floors. There, the Tennessee Walking Horse would be hit between the eyes with a bolt gun, stabbed, butchered, … Read more
Press Release Nashville, Tennessee — Today Animal Wellness Action (AWA), the Animal Wellness Foundation (AWF), the Center for a Humane Economy, Horses for Life Foundation, American Horse Protection Society, and key stakeholders in the Tennessee Walking Horse industry announced a historic effort that seeks to end soring, protect the Tennessee Walking Horse and the breed, … Read more
Today’s edition of the Animal Wellness Podcast focuses on the seemingly intractable problem of “soring” of Tennessee Walking, Racking, and Spotted Saddle Horses — a kind of torture that involves injuring the pasterns or the bottom of the foot to induce an exaggerated high-stepping gait. Abusive trainers apply caustic chemicals such as mustard oil, croton … Read more
For much of the past year, Animal Wellness Action and Bailing Out Benji have been working together to encourage law enforcement to take action against the largest chain of pet stores in the state. In October of this year, law enforcement officers entered the pet store’s establishment to request and inspect the records. But … Read more
A compromise we’ve secured with industry offers a pathway to end the torture and torment of Tennessee Walking horses More than eight years ago, well into my nearly 14-year tenure as CEO of The Humane Society of the United States, I authorized an investigation into the training practices of Jackie McConnell, one of the most … Read more
Advocates must demand President-Elect Biden Come Out of the Gate Strong on Animal Welfare With no major animal welfare initiatives launched by humane organizations on any statewide election ballots for the first time in 30 years, the national election was nonetheless enormously consequential for animals, with Joe Biden appearing to be on his way to … Read more
With Denmark to kill 17 million mink to stop mutating coronavirus outbreak, Animal Wellness Action and other groups to call on government agencies to prevent outbreaks of deadly virus already infecting 100,000 Americans a day in U.S. Washington, D.C. — With COVID-19 cases ricocheting throughout the global mink industry — including in Denmark where its military … Read more
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