Led by U.S. Senator Ashley Moody, the LEO K9 Protection Act underscores the urgent need for dedicated federal personnel to prosecute animal cruelty crimes Washington, D.C. — Animal Wellness Action, a national policy and political organization seeking to enhance and advance legal protections for animals, today applauded last month’s introduction of the LEO K9 Protection Act, … Read more
Animal wellness groups call for criminal investigation and prosecution of perpetrators, after successful prosecution of Cody Roberts for his torment of a wolf WASHINGTON, D.C.— Animal Wellness Action and the Center for a Humane Economy today condemned an apparent appalling act of cruelty against a wounded and defenseless coyote depicted in a recently uncovered video … Read more
National animal advocacy organization seeks information leading to arrest and conviction in apparent killing of two family dogs WASHINGTON, D.C. — Animal Wellness Action is offering a reward of up to $2,500 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of any individual or individuals responsible for the killing and mutilation of two rottweilers whose bodies … Read more
The brazen participation of the Ortiz brothers in illegal cockfighting underscores that animal fighters feel no need to conceal their criminal conduct from the indifferent feds There are a thousand good reasons for Congress to pass the Fighting Inhumane Gambling and High-Risk Trafficking (FIGHT) Act — a bill with four core provisions to enhance enforcement … Read more
Agriculture Committee head also tried (but failed) to gut the greyhound racing ban. The U.S. Senate can correct outcomes at odds with American values I’m still in southern Wisconsin, where the community is abuzz with excitement about the accord I announced yesterday between the Center for a Humane Economy, Big Dog Ranch Rescue, and Ridglan … Read more
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Animal Wellness Action is offering a $2,500 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the individual or individuals responsible for shooting two dogs in separate drive-by incidents in rural Wyoming. According to published reports, residents in the small community of Emblem, Wyoming, are seeking answers after two dogs were shot … Read more
BUCKEYE, Ariz. — Animal Wellness Action today commended the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office for arresting a woman on multiple counts of animal cruelty after nearly two dozen dogs were discovered in squalid, unsafe conditions near Buckeye in the West Valley. The arrest underscores the urgent need to enforce laws against hoarding, a severe form of animal … Read more
The organizations urge the judge to reject this recommendation Sublette County, Wyo. — Animal Wellness Action and the Center for a Humane Economy today condemned the proposed plea agreement in the felony animal cruelty case against Cody Roberts, calling it a “slap on the wrist for an act of extreme malice and torture against an … Read more
LOMPOC, Calif. — Animal Wellness Action announced it is offering a $2,500 reward for information leading to the arrest, prosecution, and conviction of the individual responsible for a disturbing act of animal cruelty currently under investigation in Lompoc. According to Santa Barbara County Animal Services, authorities are seeking the public’s help in identifying a person of … Read more
New Hampshire Sheriffs’ Association urges congressional delegation to back the FIGHT Act and Animal Cruelty Enforcement Act CONCORD, N.H. — The recent sentencing of a New Hampshire woman convicted for her role in a multistate cockfighting venture reminds federal lawmakers about the prevalence of animal fighting and the need for continuing attention to the problem. New Hampshire’s law … Read more
Animal Wellness Action supports judge’s decision to allow prosecution of Cody Roberts for cruelty to proceed WASHINGTON, D.C. — Animal Wellness Action and the Center for a Humane Economy today hailed as an important step a written ruling by Sweetwater County District Court Judge Richard Lavery determining that Wyoming’s so-called “predator exemption” does not apply to the … Read more
Miami-Dade County, Fla. — Animal Wellness Action and the Center for a Humane Economy today a $2,500 reward for information leading to the arrest, prosecution, and conviction of the person or people responsible for the grisly decapitation of a dog found in the Princeton area on the Florida Turnpike on Jan. 6. Officials believe the mutilation … Read more
Bermuda Dunes, Calif. — Animal Wellness Action and the Center for a Humane Economy today announced that they are offering a $2,500 reward for information leading to the arrest, prosecution, and conviction of the person responsible for the repeated shooting with a BB Gun, leading to the death of a cat. According to reports from the … Read more
FOUNTAIN INN, S.C. — Animal Wellness Action and the Center for a Humane Economy today announced a $2,500 reward for information leading to the arrest and prosecution of the person responsible for the shooting deaths of at least five dogs found along rural roads in Greenville County, South Carolina. According to sheriff’s office reports, deputies discovered … Read more
SPENCER COUNTY — Animal Wellness Action today announced a $2,500 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for the killing of a dog in Spencer County, Indiana. The case, under investigation by the Spencer County Sheriff’s Office, involves a Doberman pinscher found tied to a pipeline marker and shot in … Read more
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Animal Wellness Action today announced a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of whoever is shooting arrows into wild donkeys in Riverside County, Calif., in what authorities are calling a disturbing series of animal cruelty cases. At least six wild donkeys have been found struck with arrows around Moreno Valley … Read more
OKLAHOMA CITY– Animal Wellness Action announced a $2,500 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person seen dragging a snapping turtle along a sidewalk in Oklahoma City on Aug. 25. After a video surfaced showing a man dragging a snapping turtle near the intersection of Southwest 25th Street and Western Avenue, the Oklahoma City … Read more
Cruelty to a wolf may, in the end, get no pass Nearly eighteen months ago, we learned of an act of cruelty so outside the bounds of acceptable human behavior that it shook me to the core and shocked tens of millions of other Americans in the same way. A man named Cody Roberts chased … Read more
SUBLETTE COUNTY, WY — Animal Wellness Action and the Center for a Humane Economy today praised the Sublette County grand jury for indicting Cody Roberts on charges of animal cruelty for his barbaric and gleeful abuse of a young wolf in 2024. The indictment is the first key step toward the delivery of justice in this matter, … Read more
FRANKLIN, Texas — Animal Wellness Action just announced it is doubling its reward to $10,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the perpetrator responsible for a barbaric act of animal cruelty in Robertson County, Texas. The decision comes after receiving and reviewing disturbing photographs of the dog’s catastrophic injuries, which have heightened outrage among advocates … Read more
FRANKLIN — In response to a deeply disturbing case of animal cruelty in Robertson County, Animal Wellness Action is offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of perpetrators involved in a barbaric act of dog abuse in Texas. The case began in late July, when a local woman discovered a … Read more
PERRY HALL, Md. — Animal Wellness Action and the Center for a Humane Economy are deeply disturbed by the sickening case of a severely burned and dead fawn found tied with ropes in a residential street in Baltimore County earlier this week. This hideous act has rightly shattered residents’ sense of safety and compassion in … Read more
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The one-day jail sentence handed down to a Virginia man who admitted to killing 20 juvenile bald eagles and hawks is “anemic and embarrassing” in light of the severity and scale of this crime against federally protected birds, according to Wayne Pacelle, president of Animal Wellness Action and the Center for a Humane Economy. … Read more
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Animal Wellness Action applauds today’s introduction of the bipartisan FBI Animal Cruelty Taskforce (FBI ACT) Act, H.R. 3683, led by U.S. Representatives Josh Gottheimer, D-N.J., and Nicole Malliotakis, R-N.Y. — a landmark measure to strengthen federal enforcement against animal cruelty. This critical legislation creates a specialized unit within the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) dedicated to … Read more
BANDON, Ore. — The arrest of the owner of West Coast Game Park Safari and the seizure of dozens of firearms and a significant quantity of methamphetamine underscore longstanding concerns about the operation and the broader roadside zoo industry, according to Animal Wellness Action. “There’s often an ugly backstory to the operations of roadside zoos, … Read more
Press Statement EXPERT INTERVIEWS AVAILABLE CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Animal Wellness Action and the Center for a Humane Economy previously applauded the arrest of Cameron Bernard Torrence in connection with a viral video showing an opossum being set on fire—but the groups are calling for the arrest of all individuals involved and for the most serious charges to be pursued against … Read more
BANDON, Ore. — Animal Wellness Action is applauding the Oregon State Police and partnering agencies for shuttering the West Coast Game Park Safari in Bandon and seizing approximately 300 animals housed there and placing them in safe settings. Animal Wellness Action and Big Cat Rescue conducted an investigation of the facility in 2022 and reported … Read more
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Animal Wellness Action is condemning a disturbing act of cruelty that occurred in Corpus Christi, where a person allegedly set a neighbor’s dog on fire, resulting in the dog’s death. The Corpus Christi Police Department and Animal Care Services have launched an investigation into the case. Wayne Pacelle, president of Animal Wellness Action and … Read more
CHARLOTTE, NC — Animal Wellness Action and the Center for a Humane Economy applauded the arrest of Cameron Torrence of Mint Hill, N.C., following a viral video that showed an opossum being set on fire. Authorities say the suspect is facing felony animal cruelty charges. The organizations eagerly await additional news on arrests to follow. Public … Read more
Press Release Horrifying images posted on social media alert authorities to the heinous abuse of opossum Charlotte, North Carolina — Animal Wellness Action and the Center for a Humane Economy announced a $5,000 reward for information resulting in the successful prosecution of any individual for violating state or federal law that leads to the identification of … Read more
Animal fighting is bound up with murder, mayhem, lawlessness You can listen to this article here: Staged animal fighting is not only one of the most sickening forms of human cruelty, it is one of the most widespread. We concur with an assessment from the U.S. Department of Agriculture that there may be 20 to … Read more
Animal Wellness Action urges Attorney General Pam Bondi to work with federal lawmakers to create an Animal Cruelty Crimes section Washington, D.C. — The Department of Justice needs an Animal Cruelty Crimes section to combat acts of malice toward animals, according to a bipartisan group of House lawmakers, including U.S. Reps. David Joyce, R-Ohio, Joe Neguse, … Read more
The Animal Cruelty Enforcement Act will enable a new level of enforcement Before being indicted last April by federal authorities, Carlton Adams maintained two dogfighting yards on a pair of properties in central Alabama. During a months-long investigation, federal law enforcement agents recovered tools and supplies “used in the training and keeping of dogs used … Read more
HB1210 Passes Senate After Years of Animal Wellness Action Advocacy Work Harrisburg, PA – Pennsylvania lawmakers gave final approval this week to HB1210, a groundbreaking bill that explicitly allows companion animals to be included in “Protection From Abuse” orders. This legislative milestone is celebrated by animal advocates, domestic violence organizations, and law enforcement across the … Read more
Press Release Understanding violence in all its forms can help prevent it in the future Pawlet, VT — While gun violence is a pervasive tragedy across the country, the small New England state of Vermont rarely experiences it. The state, known for its rural character and close-knit communities, was shocked when news broke of the … Read more
Malicious acts of cruelty often an indicator that other acts of mass violence are in the waiting. Prunedale, CA — Animal advocates reacted with a blend of grief and outrage after learning of the details of a mass shooting in Northern California that left 81 animals dead, warning authorities to treat the outburst of violence … Read more
Police photos show demure animal with multiple wounds, visible trauma Washington D.C. — Animal Wellness Action and the Center for a Humane Economy will grant a $2,500 reward for credible information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for using an abandoned dog as a possible “bait dog” found by … Read more
Animal Wellness calls on Talladega County Sheriff to investigate self-described ‘dog trainer’ Jeff McArthur for acts of cruelty that he narrates in a YouTube video Talladega County, AL — Animal Wellness Action and the Center for a Humane Economy issued demands today that local law enforcement authorities investigate and bring all appropriate charges against an … Read more
Press Release Massive pigeon shoot an orgy of killing condemned by animal welfare groups and hunters alike. Washington, D.C. — Animal Wellness Action and Showing Animals Respect and Kindness (SHARK) have gleaned news from an informant of a massive planned live pigeon shoot in Georgia and are calling on the organizers to shut down the … Read more
Wayne Pacelle, president of Animal Wellness Action and the Center for a Humane Economy, reacted to news coverage of excerpts from South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem’s new book, in which she recounts her callous killing of a 14-month-old puppy named Cricket because she went “out of her mind with excitement, chasing all those birds and … Read more
Press Release Rundown and torture of Wyoming wolf a reminder to the nation that state politicians are calling the shots and cannot be trusted to responsibly handle wolves in their states. Washington, D.C. — On the heels of the recent drawn-out torture of a captured and bound gray wolf, a coalition of organizations has filed … Read more
Press Release Torture of the young adolescent female wolf was ‘remorseless’ and violated a ‘solemn responsibility,’ Dr. Keen tells Wyoming Game and Fish Commission at today’s hearing. Cheyenne, WY — Dr. Jim Keen, DVM, Ph.D., urged commissioners with the Game and Fish Commission to revamp the state’s archaic, counterproductive wolf-killing policies and adopt a responsible … Read more
Torture of young adolescent female wolf, battered and then killed, has shocked the conscience of people across the world. Denver, CO — The Center for a Humane Economy is offering a $15,000 reward to any individual who provides additional evidence to police and prosecutors about Cody Roberts that results in his being sentenced to at … Read more
Horrifying images caught on Ring camera and turned over to authorities; publicity and reward led to identification of perpetrator Washington D.C. — Animal Wellness Action and the Center for a Humane Economy are proud to announce rewarding an Oklahoma woman $2,000 for definitive information that led to the identification of the individual seen in a video published … Read more
National Law Enforcement Council compels prosecution of Cody Roberts for high-level crime Washington, D.C. — The National Law Enforcement Council of Animal Wellness Action and the Animal Wellness Foundation called on Sublette County Sheriff K.C. Lehr and County Attorney Clayton Melinkovich to collaborate and advance a case of felony animal cruelty against a Wyoming man … Read more
Condemnations of Cody Roberts must be backed up with common-sense policies Washington, D.C. — While animal-welfare groups today applauded Gov. Mark Gordon for expressing “outrage” about “reckless, thoughtless and heinous actions” from one individual, it is essential that the follow-up include practical legal reforms to prevent a recurrence of this kind of savagery. The governor … Read more
No exemption protects Daniel man who bound, tortured an adolescent wolf, including parading injured animal at area bar before killing it. Pinedale, WY — A legal analysis by the general counsel for two national animal-welfare groups says that contrary to news reports, no legal exemption shields Daniel, Wyo., resident and trucking-company owner Cody Roberts from … Read more
Animal Wellness Action urges Sublette County Attorney and Sheriff to bring felony-level animal cruelty charges against perpetrator. Pinedale, WY — Animal welfare groups expressed revulsion and outrage in the wake of news concerning a Wyoming man who ran over a wolf with his snowmobile, taped its mouth shut, tormented it, and paraded the injured animal … Read more
DOJ Has Already Taken Action to Arrest One Perpetrator, and BBC Investigation Shows Widespread Nature of Deeply Disturbing Videos and Horrific Abuses Washington, D.C. —Responding to a BBC investigative report exposing the horrific torture of baby monkeys in animal “crush” videos distributed by a global network reaching from Indonesia to the United States, Animal Wellness … Read more
Central Oregon resident who moved to Henderson, Nev. charged with 50 videos of despicable acts of ‘torture, sexually sadistic mutilation and murder’ of juvenile monkeys Washington, D.C. — Today, Animal Wellness Action issued a statement on federal charges brought against a man who moved between Oregon and Nevada and allegedly made as many as 50 “animal crush videos,” mainly depicting the torture and … Read more