There’s been progress against animal cruelty in Guam and Puerto Rico, but there are still troubling actions by some political leaders in both U.S. territories. It’s past due for them, including Puerto Rico’s newly elected governor, to show leadership and make it plain that illegal animal fighting must stop on the islands. Earlier this month, … Read more

Court Ruling Recognizes Animal Wellness Action and Invokes Language and Facts from our Pleadings in the Case It’s just about the end of the line for America’s cockfighting industry in the states and territories. Yesterday, a three-judge panel from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit affirmed the constitutionality of the federal law … Read more

Washington, D.C. — The U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit affirmed the constitutionality of the federal law against animal fighting as applied to Puerto Rico, removing any thread of an argument that cockfighters in the Commonwealth can continue to legally stage animal fights there.    “We affirm the district court’s decision and hold that Section … Read more

Groups allege North Carolina retains an extensive network of illegal cockfighting operations Washington, D.C. — Animal Wellness Action (AWA) and the Animal Wellness Foundation (AWF) today asked North Carolina’s three U.S. Attorneys to launch an investigation into a substantial network of individuals throughout the state who are alleged to be knee-deep in the business of illegal … Read more

Advocates must demand President-Elect Biden Come Out of the Gate Strong on Animal Welfare With no major animal welfare initiatives launched by humane organizations on any statewide election ballots for the first time in 30 years, the national election was nonetheless enormously consequential for animals, with Joe Biden appearing to be on his way to … Read more

Illegal animal fighting receding on Guam but it has not yet been eliminated Washington, D.C. — The illegal movement of fighting animals from U.S. states to Guam has dramatically declined during the last year, according to shipping records from the Guam Department of Agriculture (GDOA) and recently obtained and reviewed by Animal Wellness Action (AWA) … Read more

Guam-Based Federal Judge Rules the United States Has Properly Exercised Its Authority to Ban Animal Fighting Yesterday, a United States District Court judge on Guam swatted away a legal challenge to the national prohibition on dogfighting and cockfighting, just 10 months after this new provision became the law of the land. That amendment to the … Read more

Ruling Upholds the Authority of the United States to Outlaw Animal Fighting in U.S. Territories and in the States HAGÅTÑA, GUAM — The United States District Court for the District of Guam today turned aside a legal challenge to a 2018 amendment to the Animal Welfare Act of 1966 that made illegal the practice of pitting animals against … Read more

Press Release Campaign calls for enforcement of laws against cockfighting and live-lure training, urges new state policy against private ownership of dangerous exotic wildlife Oklahoma City, OK  — Cruelty Isn’t OK, a statewide campaign to end the abuse of captive big cats, illegal cockfighting, and live-lure greyhound training, was launched today by a coalition of key … Read more

Bipartisan Group in the U.S. House Introduced Identical Measure Two Weeks Ago While plenty of perpetrators of cruelty do their deeds in the shadows, others are brazen about the abuse they heap on animals. In Shelbyville, the Tennessee Walking Horse Celebration flaunted show horses earlier this month, with the equines festooned with medieval-looking wear, throwing … Read more

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