Critical insights at the intersection of animals and politics
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, President Donald J. Trump signed the Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture (PACT) Act, H.R. 724, into law. The bill, led by U.S. Sens. Pat Toomey (R-PA) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and U.S. Reps. Ted Deutch (D-FL) and Vern Buchanan (R-FL) passed the House and Senate in recent weeks without dissent The … Read more
Today, we’re giving a new voice to The Animal Wellness Podcast, in fact, a chorus of actual human voices. The Policy Animal, which consists of essays on key policy and political questions relating to animals, now adds a talk show feature to the brand — in this case, a podcast. Whether you’re taking an afternoon … Read more
It’s Their Capacity to Suffer, and Their Value to Us, That Warrants Proscriptions Against Abuse It was a fitting juxtaposition. At the White House today, President Trump honored Conan, the elite military dog who chased down the world’s most wanted terrorist, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, in his fortified Syrian hide-away. Just hours later, The President signed … Read more
U.S. House of Representatives to Take Up Shark Fin Sales Elimination Act Today It’s news when sharks attack people, perhaps because it’s a relatively rare phenomenon. But it’s never news when people attack sharks. Indeed, if the press covered this category of inter-species violence, there’d be nary a column inch for other news, since these … Read more
Lawmakers in Congress have a duty to examine the details of a dangerous proposal – hatched by the ASPCA, Humane Society of the U.S. and two agribusiness groups – to depopulate wild horses and burros from our public lands in the West. While we’re all drawn to the idea of compromise between groups that have long been … Read more
Council will play a role in putting veterinarians in a stronger leadership role in national advocacy campaigns for animals LOS ANGELES — The Animal Wellness Foundation (AWF) and Animal Wellness Action (AWA) announced the formation of their National Veterinary Council, with members bringing collective medical and advocacy experience for companion animals, farm animals, horses, and wildlife. … Read more
Animals have always been at the center of the human experience — from our first upright steps as hunters and gatherers, through the era of domestication, and into the industrial and technological ages. Throughout the arc of human history, animals have served us as companions, sentries, herders, hunting partners, laborers, soldiers, and in countless other … Read more
Animal Wellness Action is also Working to Fund and Promote Enforcement Five years after a small group of serious-minded Republican and Democrat lawmakers first introduced the Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture (PACT) Act, the U.S. Senate unanimously approved the measure on Tuesday evening, sending it to the President for his signature. The House gave the … Read more
Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture Act Headed to the President’s Desk WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the U.S. Senate passed the Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture (PACT) Act by unanimous consent. The bill, led by U.S. Sens. Pat Toomey (R-PA) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), would establish the first federal anti-cruelty law. The House of Representatives also recently … Read more
2019 has been a tumultuous and tragic year in American horseracing, and as today brings the season to an end, The Breeders’ Cup will crown its 36th World Champion of Thoroughbred Horseracing at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. The average American might recognize the track from the award-winning movie Seabiscuit — a legend who … Read more