Animal Wellness Action Blog

Critical insights into issues at the intersection of animals and politics​

Horses harnessed to chariots run along a dusty track of the hippodrome.

Federal law promoting safety of horses and jockeys has driven down on-track deaths, even as some outliers in Thoroughbred and Standardbred racing networks seek to dismantle law Washington, D.C. — Animal Wellness Action and the Center for a Humane Economy reacted favorably to news that the Supreme Court of the United States declined to hear … Read more

Mother barred owl rewarding her owlet with food and affection_shutterstock-Karen Hogan

Hilary Franz manages millions of acres of public lands, and says killing scheme offers no guarantees, and that ‘we can do better’ Seattle, WA — In a video statement, Hilary S. Franz, Commissioner of Public Lands for Washington state, pointedly urged U.S. Fish and Wildlife to abandon its proposal to spend nearly a quarter-billion-dollars to kill … Read more

2 barred owls in tree_shutterstock_Lynn A

Hilary Franz says killing scheme costly, unworkable and may result in adverse collateral effects Seattle, WA — Hilary S. Franz, Commissioner of Public Lands for Washington state, wrote yesterday to U.S. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland with “concerns about the plan to kill nearly a half-million barred owls over the next three decades” and expressed alarm at … Read more

Shawnee County KS Logo

Kansas law enforcement has swung behind a national bill, called the FIGHT Act, to provide more tools for law enforcement to crack down on animal-fighting crimes Topeka, KS — The weekend arrest of a Shawnee County man on cockfighting-related charges underscores the need for a national law to end the enduring scourge of animal fighting, … Read more

6-month-old joey found alive in its decapitated mother's pouch-Wildlife Empire

Press Release Athletic wear giant contributes to mass orphaning of kangaroos Washington, D.C. — The Center for a Humane Economy responded to news this week that a live 6-month-old joey had to be rescued from inside the pouch of its decapitated mother in Queensland, Australia. Photographs and video of the grisly scene prompted the Center to … Read more

Horses trotter breed in harnesses on hippodrome - shutterstock

Dramatic decline of Thoroughbreds in competition probably due to national track-safety rules, and the harness-racing industry has opted out of observing these HISA rules Washington, D.C. — Reacting to a recent spate of horse deaths tied to harness racing, Animal Wellness Action and the Center for a Humane Economy are calling for harness-racing leaders to … Read more

Chris Bryant for Sherriff photo

Press Release The Republican sheriff has enforced the anti-cruelty laws, including a ban on staged animal fights, and the cockfighting community has tried to pressure him to stop. Tulsa, OK — Former two-term Republican Governor Frank Keating and Animal Wellness Action Oklahoma announced their official endorsements of Carter County Sheriff Chris Bryant for re-election in … Read more

Updates include prohibited practices and safety protocols, and go into effect July 8  Washington, D.C. — Animal wellness groups reacted to a new set of rules approved by the Federal Trade Commission for a Racetrack Safety Program, which was created under the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA). “We welcome these new standards as a major step … Read more

Large needle being injected into horse-shutterstock

Louisiana still remains an outlier in refusing to join Horse Racing Integrity and Safety Authority program Washington, D.C. — Animal wellness groups support efforts by Churchill Downs Inc. to cancel the Louisiana Derby if the Louisiana Racing Commission does not fully rescind recent changes to its medication rules for race horses in that state. After … Read more

beagle looks up_marcus-wallis_unsplash

Animal cruelty on such a massive scale needs to be punished, but groups say policy reform to move forward with 21st Century non-animal testing is the essential long-term fix. Washington D.C. — Today, Animal Wellness Action and Center for a Humane Economy applauded the largest ever fine in an Animal Welfare Act case. The fine was … Read more