Farm Animals, Federal Legislation /
Bill in Congress would reverse dangerous increases to slaughterhouse line speeds
By Sara Amundson and Kitty Block
Wildlife, Federal Legislation /
Breaking news: Congress just passed the COVID relief package with funding for activities that would improve animal welfare
By Sara Amundson and Kitty Block
The COVID relief package Congress just passed includes a number of provisions that will improve surveillance and inspection of trades where animals often endure acute suffering and that also tend to be hotbeds for disease spread.
Wildlife /
Americans love grizzly bears, but Montana and Wyoming lawmakers are not getting the message
By Sara Amundson and Kitty Block
Grizzly 399, often called the world’s most famous grizzly bear, has a fan base of wildlife watchers that numbers in the hundreds of thousands. Each year, dozens of paparazzi attempt to record her every waking moment, from the time she emerges from her den in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem in the spring until the time she goes back into hibernation in the late fall. She even has two entire books devoted to her.
Wildlife /
Trophy hunters kill 216 wolves in Wisconsin bloodbath
By Sara Amundson and Kitty Block
A no-holds-barred carnage of wolves in Wisconsin last week, which ended with trophy hunters killing nearly twice the sanctioned quota of animals in just under 60 hours, offers a terrible glimpse into just what lies ahead for these beloved native American carnivores unless the Biden administration moves swiftly to restore their federal protections.
Wildlife, Federal Legislation, In the News /
House approves COVID relief package with historic funding commitments for animal-related pandemic prevention
By Sara Amundson and Kitty Block
Update (3/6/2021): The Senate has just passed the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 and it includes almost all of the provisions we supported and pushed for that would benefit animals. Next, the House is expected to vote on the Senate-passed package, following which the bill heads to President Biden who has confirmed he will sign it.
Animals in Research, Federal Legislation /
PREPARED Act would ensure safety of animals in puppy mills, roadside zoos during disasters
By Sara Amundson and Kitty Block
The devastation wrought by the recent deep freeze in Texas is a stark reminder of the urgent need for disaster planning that includes tens of thousands of animals in puppy mills, roadside zoos and other enterprises. Today, to address that need, Representatives Dina Titus, D-Nev., and Rodney Davis, R-Ill., joined by more than 115 cosponsors, have reintroduced a bill to mandate preparedness planning by entities regulated under the Animal Welfare Act.
Animals in Research /
Beauty industry trade group wins Spira Award for championing end to new cosmetics animal testing
By Sara Amundson and Kitty Block
Wildlife, Federal Legislation /
'Pet' Tiger rescued from freezing San Antonio gets forever home at Black Beauty Ranch
By Sara Amundson and Kitty Block
The freeze in Texas this month turned up a surprise for authorities in Bexar County as they scrambled to get people and pets out of harm’s way: a tiger cub wearing a harness and living as a “pet” outdoors. A neighbor had reported what sounded like a crying tiger. When they came upon Elsa—as the sheriff’s office named the cub after a character in the movie “Frozen”—she was freezing in the Arctic temperatures.
Equines, Wildlife /
Deb Haaland, President Biden’s pick for Interior Secretary, has a track record of fierce advocacy for animals
By Sara Amundson and Kitty Block
Update (3/15/2021): The Senate has voted to confirm Rep. Deb Haaland to lead the Department of Interior by a vote of 51-40.
Animals in Research, State Legislation /
Virginia, Maryland and New Jersey among states moving rapidly to end cosmetics testing
By Sara Amundson and Kitty Block
Cosmetics animal testing is on its way out the world over and U.S. states are rapidly moving in the direction of that trend. Just this month lawmakers in three states—Virginia, Maryland and New Jersey—have moved decisively to end the sales of cosmetics tested on animals and/or prohibit cosmetics animal testing.
Virginia lawmakers last week voted to pass legislation to ban cosmetics animal testing and sales of animal-tested cosmetics. The bill now heads to Gov. Ralph Northam for his signature.
Wildlife /
As fur farms prepare to breed mink, global health bodies issue warning on high coronavirus risk
By Sara Amundson and Kitty Block
Mink fur farms have emerged as hotspots for the coronavirus, with 11 nations in Europe, Canada and the United States reporting such infections and, in some cases, transmissions from animals to human workers. The infections have resulted in millions of animals, including pups, on fur farms being culled by gassing—a particularly cruel way to kill these semi-aquatic animals who can hold their breaths for long periods.
