Critical insights at the intersection of animals and politics
It’s now a matter of enforcement. In issuing an order yesterday that rejected the claims of cockfighting clubs to invalidate a portion of our national anti-animal fighting law, U.S. District Court Judge Gustavo Gelpi settled two lingering questions: 1) does the federal law against animal fighting apply to the five U.S. territories, and 2) does the federal … Read more
Washington, D.C. — In an order issued this week, U.S. District Court Judge Gustavo A. Gelpi rejected claims by Club Gallistico and other cockfighters in Puerto Rico challenging an amendment to the Animal Welfare Act that seeks to apply our federal anti-animal fighting laws to all parts of the United States, including the Commonwealth of Puerto … Read more
Press Release WASHINGTON, D.C. – New polling released today by the American Wild Horse Campaign finds a strong bipartisan majority of Americans oppose a new plan to round up mass numbers of federally protected wild horses and burros from America’s Western public lands. The plan, which would reduce wild herds by 70%, is currently being touted … Read more
“Wildlife crimes undermine national security and cause immense cruelty to animals.”— Marty Irby, executive director at Animal Wellness Action WASHINGTON, D.C. – This week, the United States Senate passed the Rescuing Animals With Rewards (RAWR) Act, S. 1590, introduced by U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR), and Susan Collins (R-ME). It’s first stand-alone animal protection measure to … Read more
Most states adopted anti-cruelty statutes in the 19th century. Now knee-deep into the 21st century, the federal government still has no anti-cruelty statute. But yesterday the U.S. House took an unhesitating step toward remedying this gross deficiency in our legal framework by passing H.R. 724, the Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture (PACT) Act. Sponsored by Reps. … Read more
Senate passed PACT in prior Congresses, so Animal Wellness and law enforcement agencies optimistic about enactment WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture (PACT) Act, H.R. 724, by a voice vote. The measure would establish a federal anti-cruelty statute, filling a hole in our legal framework … Read more
The animal protection movement is likely to soon finish off greyhound racing. A decisive step toward that goal occurred last week when Delaware North announced that its Southland Casino Racing facility in Arkansas will cease live dog races by the end of 2022. It is exceedingly difficult and rare to close out any major animal-use … Read more
U.S. Department of Justice Argues that Cockfighting is Unambiguously Outlawed in all Five U.S. Territories Washington, D.C. — Top officials at Animal Wellness Action and the Animal Wellness Foundation urged the governors and other top elected leaders of American Samoa, Guam, Northern Marianas Islands, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands to signal to the community … Read more
AWA had been urging Delaware North, the parent company to Southland Casino Racing in Arkansas, to get out of the business of running dogs Washington, D.C. – Animal Wellness Action, a national organization promoting legal standards against cruelty, applauded an announcement made today by key stakeholders that live greyhound racing will end in Arkansas, one … Read more
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA — Today, on the heels of the California Horse Racing Board’s decision Tuesday to deny further investigation into the controversial doping scandal related to 2018 Triple Crown Winner, Justify and the Santa Anita Derby, the Animal Wellness Foundation and Animal Wellness Action issued the following statement from Animal Wellness Action executive director Marty … Read more