Critical insights at the intersection of animals and politics
Animal Wellness Action, a non-partisan entity that looks solely at the stances and voting, leadership, and cosponsorship records of candidates on animal issues, has announced approximately 200 endorsements of candidates for Congress and for governor’s races, forecasting that Democrats are likely to regain the majority in the House after 8 years in the minority and that … Read more
There are at least three extraordinarily compelling reasons for Californians to vote “YES” on Proposition 12 in this fall’s election. First, laying hens shouldn’t be trapped in cages so small that they can barely extend their wings for the days they are alive. Second, veal calves shouldn’t be hemmed into a crate barely wider than … Read more
Last week, the National Rifle Association publicly came out against the ballot measure in Florida to phase out greyhound racing, urging members to vote “no” on Amendment 13 in November. That’s about as strange as an assault weapon discharging a cantaloupe or an orange from its barrel. It brings political wackiness to a new level. … Read more
Last week, Los Angeles County unanimously passed an ordinance to crack down on the barbaric practice of cockfighting. In a nation of 3100 counties you may regard a policy reform in a single county as progress, but of a humble type. But L.A. County is one of the nation’s biggest and most populous counties, and it’s … Read more
While most Americans oppose trophy hunting – treating it as far more unjustified than hunting animals for meat – they have a special revulsion for trophy hunting of threatened and endangered species. Think Walter Palmer of lion-hunting infamy. When it comes to hunting elephants, rhinos, or other mega-fauna, the sane person not only objects to gratuitous killing … Read more
Last week, House Republican leaders brought three animal welfare measures to the floor — a bill to ban the sale of dog and cat meat, a resolution urging other nations to ban that trade too, and a measure to crack down on wildlife trafficking. We were delighted that Republican leaders initiated these floor votes. It … Read more
Today, the U.S. House has overwhelmingly passed legislation to ban the sale of dog and cat meat in the United States, responding to the global movement to keep dogs and cats off the table and sending a signal to end the biggest form of companion animal exploitation in the world. At Animal Wellness Action, we … Read more
Today Animal Wellness Action launches a sophisticated online tool to gauge the performance of federal lawmakers on animal issues. Here, in this Congressional Accountability Tool (CAT), you can find out who the greatest champions of animal protection are (e.g. Rep. Earl Blumenauer and Senator Cory Booker) and who poses the greatest threats (e.g., Reps. Steve King and Marsha Blackburn). … Read more
As House and Senate negotiators work to complete negotiations on the Farm bill – with Senator Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., prodding lawmakers to settle on the terms of food and agriculture policy issues by Labor Day – key Senators are exerting influence on critically important animal welfare issues. Senator Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., released a … Read more
In an op-ed this past weekend in the New York Times, hunting enthusiast and outdoors writer Ted Kerasote panned the decision by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to de-list the grizzly bear in the Greater Yellowstone ecosystem and to pave the way for Wyoming to initiate the first trophy hunting season on the animals in … Read more