Critical insights at the intersection of animals and politics
WASHINGTON, DC —Today, the U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources, chaired by longtime champion of animal welfare, wildlife, and conservation issues, Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-AZ), advanced a set of major animal protection bills affecting marine and terrestrial wildlife The mark-up hearing included the Shark Fin Sales Elimination Act (H.R. 737), the Big Cat Public Safety … Read more
When House Speaker Nancy Pelosi first claimed the gavel in January of 2007, she and her new Democratic majority made animal protection a priority concern. The House took up the Animal Fighting Prohibition Enforcement Act — to make dogfighting and cockfighting and associated activities a federal felony — less than 60 days into the new Congress. … Read more
Los Angeles, CA — Today, on the heels of information released regarding the doping scandal related to 2018 Triple Crown Winner, Justify, and the Santa Anita Derby, the Animal Wellness Group issued the following statement from Animal Wellness Action executive director Marty Irby: “Drug testing should be conducted and overseen by impartial operators and not by industry players with … Read more
With the state Senate last night following the Assembly and banning the sale of fur garments — full-length, trim, and most every other form — California has set the high-water mark again for animal-welfare policy making for animal welfare. Assemblywoman Laura Friedman, a Democrat from Glendale, led the fight in the legislature for AB 44, … Read more
Animal Wellness Backing Effort for Major Step Up of Animal Welfare in Oklahoma Animal advocates are panting and wagging their tails at the prospect of a major new development for their cause in Oklahoma City, one of the fastest-growing and most vibrant cities in the heartland. Over the past 25 years, the city has experienced … Read more
On Saturday, the Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration in Shelbyville crowned its “Big Lick” World Grand Champions — Rodney Dick and “I’m Mayhem.” Although he’s been a serial violator of the Horse Protection Act (HPA) for decades, Dick was allowed to compete on the main stage for a shrinking and increasingly uninteresting event. It turns … Read more
Press Release Phoenix, AZ — Today the Governor’s Regulatory Review Council (GRRC) voted unanimously (6 to 0) to approve a rule initiated by the Arizona Game and Fish Commission to ban wildlife killing contests (WKCs) for predators and other fur-bearing animals in Arizona. A grassroots effort energized by concerned citizens throughout Arizona, along with Animal … Read more
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (“the Department”) has been allowing the baiting and killing of endangered wolves. It’s also allowing the baiting and hound hunting of black bears despite a voter-approved ballot measure that forbids these practices except in extreme circumstances. Department personnel will emphatically deny they are allowing baiting. But the facts, … Read more
Animal Wellness Action has been leading the charge to end the scourge of soring since we opened our doors last year, and prior to that, our leadership team worked together in many capacities over the past decade to eradicate soring from the equine world — it’s an issue that continues to command my attention, and … Read more
Rep. Tulsi Gabbard Says She’s a Vegan, Condemning Factory Farming Announcing that “we have a responsibility to protect and care for them,” former San Antonio Mayor and U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Julian Castro announced on his website a wide-ranging and sound platform on animal protection, calling for a national anti-cruelty law, a … Read more