Critical insights at the intersection of animals and politics
Wild horses bring ecological services and economic boon to North Dakota. Washington, D.C. — Animal Wellness Action is renewing its call to the National Park Service (NPS) in a letter sent today to Director Charles Sams, to scuttle its plans to remove free-roaming wild horses from the Theodore Roosevelt National Park (TRNP). Animal Wellness Action … Read more
One dozen pit bulls found in home, witness says, suggesting a fighting operation Washington D.C. — Breaking and developing news is that three officers with the Metropolitan Police Department were wounded in a shooting Wednesday morning while attempting to serve a search warrant for animal cruelty. Wayne Pacelle, president of Animal Wellness Action, offers this statement: … Read more
McDonald’s announcement of its transition to cage-free eggs is a marker that animal agriculture must heed the wishes of its customers and do better on animal welfare. Oftentimes, I tell you about the failings of government in implementing animal-welfare laws or corporations delivering on their pledges. Well, here’s good news: a corporation kept its word. … Read more
Hialeah man arrested for cockfighting. Animal Wellness Action notes correlation between animal fighting and other criminal activity. Hialeah, FL — Leaders of two national animal-welfare groups are applauding the work of Hialeah, Fla., police and their arrest Thursday of a local man with charges related to cockfighting. Cockfighting is a felony under state law, and … Read more
Senator Cory Booker and Reps. Josh Gottheimer, Tom Kean, Bill Pascrell, Chris Smith, and Jeff Van Drew want more enforcement capacity to cut down on rampant, gruesome dogfighting and cockfighting rings. Neptune Township, N.J. — As details emerged of a dogfighting ring discovered over the weekend in Monmouth County, Wayne Pacelle of Animal Wellness Action … Read more
Animal Wellness Action urges State Attorney General to advocate for no exemptions on sale of factory-farmed pork. Boston, MA — In an ongoing legal battle over the implementation of Question 3 in Massachusetts, a federal judge who had upheld nearly all key provisions of the 2016 voter-approved law struck down this week a very narrow … Read more
Led by Reps. Buddy Carter, Nanette Barragán, Diana Harshbarger, and Rosa DeLauro, new legislation takes aim at FDA inaction denying safer, more effective drugs to patients and causing harm to millions of animals. Washington, D.C. — Today, Animal Wellness Action, the Center for a Humane Economy, and Animal Wellness Foundation applauded a set of lawmakers in … Read more
Press Release Latest finding of illegal cockfighting underscores precisely why organized cockfighting interests have invested in trying to gut Oklahoma’s most important anti-cruelty law. Stilwell, OK — Only two days before the Oklahoma Legislature convenes in Oklahoma City for the second half of the 59th legislative session, more than one hundred cockfighters did their own … Read more
Press Release Cash-for-information program announced to gather more intelligence from citizens for state and federal law enforcement agencies to eradicate illegal cockfighting. Louisville, KY — After a withering report from a Louisville TV station about law-enforcement nonchalance in the face of cockfighting, Animal Wellness Action and SHARK (Show Animals Respect and Kindness) are announcing a revamped … Read more
Groups offer reward program as cockfighting ring discovered at Norman barn fire. Oklahoma City — Animal Wellness Action and the Center for a Humane Economy report that recent activities by pro-cockfighters in Oklahoma to weaken the state’s laws may be backfiring and in fact setting them back. Efforts by cockfighting supporters to persuade the Oklahoma Legislature … Read more