Uncategorized /
Slaughtering Horses for Profit, Not Welfare
Ignoring the global horse meat scandal that’s thrown the industry into further disrepute, Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin signed legislation Friday lifting the state’s ban on processing and selling horsemeat, potentially setting the stage for Oklahoma becoming the first state in six years to open an equine abattoir.
Ballot Measures, Elections /
The 700 Club
The animal protection movement hit a major marker this week, with 700 new animal protection laws enacted in the states since 2005. Two bills signed into law in New Mexico—allowing the purchase of protective equipment for police dogs and the adoption of the dogs after their retirement—ushered in the 699th and 700th new state policies during that time period.
Uncategorized /
Progress for Animals Throughout the States
Yesterday was a remarkable day in state legislatures across the country, with a number of key animal protection bills moving forward through critical stages of the legislative process.
Uncategorized /
A Renewed Effort to Stop the Slaughter of American Horses
This morning at a Capitol Hill press conference, U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., and U.S. Reps. Pat Meehan, R-Pa., and Jan Schakowsky, D-Ill., joined animal welfare groups, equestrians, and veterinarians to announce the introduction of new federal legislation to prevent the slaughter and export of American horses for human consumption. Their legislation, S. 541 and H.R. 1094, the Safeguard American Food Exports (SAFE) Act, with Sen.
Uncategorized /
Horsemeat Scandal Illustrates Need for Federal Action
A food scandal has rocked Europe, where products labeled as beef—everything from frozen lasagna to Swedish meatballs—have tested positive for
Wildlife, In the News /
Global Protections Needed for Polar Bears and Sharks
When the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) gathers next month in Thailand, more than 170 member nations will consider a number of important proposals to protect imperiled species.
Uncategorized /
Federal Trapper Arrested for Animal Cruelty
The USDA’s Wildlife Services program—established more than 80 years ago with the passage of the Animal Damage Control Act of 1931—wastes millions of taxpayer dollars recklessly killing animals with steel-jawed leghold traps, toxic poisons, aerial gunning, and other hideous lethal methods every year. Several former USDA-Wildlife Services employees and whistleblowers have described the agency’s deeply rooted culture of disregard for animals, and for these reasons, have long suspected that some federal trappers may be committing crimes against animals while performing work-related duties.
Wildlife /
Lawmakers Roar to Save the King of the Jungle
This week, a bipartisan group of 44 members of Congress led by U.S. Reps. Jim Moran, D-Va., and Earl Blumenauer, D-Ore., sent a letter to Interior Secretary Ken Salazar urging the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to protect the African lion under the Endangered Species Act.
Elections /
Unfinished Business: Cracking Down on Animal Fighting Spectators
The first major animal protection bill of the 113th Congress was introduced today, and it’s a key piece of unfinished business that got to the one-yard line in the last session. U.S. Reps. Tom Marino, R-Pa., Jim McGovern, D-Mass., John Campbell, R-Calif., and Jim Moran, D-Va., have reintroduced the Animal Fighting Spectator Prohibition Act—to close a loophole in the federal animal fighting statute and make it a crime to attend or bring a child to a dogfight or cockfight.
Ballot Measures, Elections /
Michigan Voters to Make their Voices Heard on Wolf Hunting
I’ve just returned from western and northern Michigan, where I joined animal advocates, tribal leaders, and conservationists at kick-off meetings to launch the Keep Michigan Wolves Protected ballot measure campaign, and to turn back the state legislature’s recently passed bill authorizing the trophy hunting of wolves for the first time in nearly 50 years.
Uncategorized /
Ranking the States on Animal Protection Policies
State legislatures around the country are in full swing with the beginning of their 2013 legislative sessions, and already lawmakers are considering a number of priority animal protection bills. It’s a good time to take stock of how the states are doing with animal protection policymaking, and what gaps in the state laws need to be addressed for animal welfare.
Elections /
Hot Off the Press: The 2012 Humane Scorecard
Before the November election, I posted a preliminary version of the 2012 Humane Scorecard, and last week, after the conclusion of Congress’ “lame-duck” session, I provided a look at our year in review for animals. We made some modest progress, but the 112th Congress left a lot of unfinished business on animal protection issues, paving the way for a challenging new session.
