Senate passed PACT in prior Congresses, so Animal Wellness and law enforcement agencies optimistic about enactment WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture (PACT) Act, H.R. 724, by a voice vote. The measure would establish a federal anti-cruelty statute, filling a hole in our legal framework … Read more
Press Release Animal Wellness team preparing for action upon landing in The Bahamas FREEPORT, BAHAMAS — The Animal Wellness Foundation (AWF), in its latest set of actions on disaster response efforts, is providing hay to surviving horses on the island of Grand Bahama. Large animals are often not a central focus of animal disaster response efforts … Read more
Powerful Senate committee directs the Department of Justice to make enforcement of animal welfare laws a priority WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations included language in a key spending bill directing the Department of Justice to make investigation and prosecution of our nation’s federal animal welfare laws a priority, including the animal … Read more
Animal Wellness Urges Congressional Leaders to Pass the Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture Act Swiftly WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, the federal Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture (PACT) Act, H.R. 724, reached 290 cosponsors in the U.S. House of Representatives, a measure that has been heavily lobbied for by the Animal Wellness Foundation and Animal Wellness … Read more
Animal Wellness Backing Effort for Major Step Up of Animal Welfare in Oklahoma Animal advocates are panting and wagging their tails at the prospect of a major new development for their cause in Oklahoma City, one of the fastest-growing and most vibrant cities in the heartland. Over the past 25 years, the city has experienced … Read more
For the last two nights, Democrats debated on a national stage in a crowded, competitive primary that will ultimately produce a challenger to President Donald Trump, with the election just 15 months away. Never before has the U.S. Presidency been infused with more power, guiding the work of millions of federal employees (including the most … Read more
USDA has been lax on enforcement, but these steps can help shield dogs from mistreatment Puppy mills have been an American curse, but this week, we are wagging our tails a bit at the thought of some federal reforms. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) just announced a proposed rule to address bad behavior from … Read more
Subtle and straightforward efforts to thwart protections for wolves, Walking horses, and roostersThere has been unmistakable progress in the field of animal protection, especially in recent years. We’ve outlawed cockfighting and dogfighting and made it a felony at the federal level too. The veal industry no longer immobilizes male calves as a standard husbandry practice. … Read more
Washington, D.C. — Today U.S. Representatives Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) and Charlie Crist (D-FL) introduced legislation to crack down on cruel “puppy mills” — large commercial dog breeding operations that breed large volumes of puppies to sell at pet stores and over the internet. The WOOF Act would amend the Animal Welfare Act to prohibit the U.S. … Read more
This report comes just days after lawmakers propose an anti-cruelty bill that includes a national prohibition on bestiality More than a few times in three decades of animal advocacy, I’ve learned about extreme practices toward animals and wondered how people could be so deadened to the suffering of animals or so diabolical that they could … Read more
Key advances for animals and one major setback, while other good and bad initiatives stall Lawmakers in the 115th Congress got off to an awful start for animals, with Republicans reversing a key legal protection for wildlife in Alaska. But they ended their work nearly two years later by passing a Farm bill that included three … Read more
In Florida, a man repeatedly punched a helpless kitten and slammed her against a wall before burying her alive in the dirt. His intention, according to news sources, was to punish his wife for “failing to discipline” the weeks-old animal. He then forced his wife to come outside to watch as he dug up the … Read more
Democrats won control of the U.S. House of Representatives, while Republicans held on to control of the U.S. Senate. Democrats also won gubernatorial races in seven states previously held by Republicans but fell short in a few key swing states where they’d believed there was a path to victory. The Democrats had a net gain … Read more
Key leaders in the House and Senate have agreed on a series of compromises to the Farm bill and released a “conference report” today. That action is an antecedent to final up-or-down votes, expected within days, on that measure in the House and Senate. If both chambers pass the Farm bill conference report, it goes … Read more
It’s hard for any enthusiast of an immoral practice or hobby to cope with the idea that their favored activity is soon to be illegal. The enthusiast typically has a well-scripted rationale to justify the practice, often makes money on the activity, and considers it a way of life. A hobby or business that they’ve … Read more
Voters approve two landmark ballot measures, oust several anti-animal lawmakers.Animal Wellness Action celebrated the overwhelming passage of two animal protection ballot measure wins in Florida and California, and the defeat of its top two political targets in the U.S. House of Representatives. Ballot measures Florida voters went all in for a ban on greyhound racing, … Read more
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the U.S. Senate passed two critical animal protection provisions to protect survivors of domestic violence and their pets and urge robust enforcement of federal animal welfare laws. The measures were included as part of the Senate’s multi-Agency spending bill for FY20 and carried strong bipartisan support. Led by U.S. Sens. Martha McSally … 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
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
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
Last week, Animal Wellness Action and other advocacy groups gained some clarity on the way forward for animal issues and the Farm bill, the broad-ranging package of agriculture-related policy issues that the Congress bundles together and considers once every five years or so. Because of the broad reach of the legislation — including everything thing from … Read more