Equines, Pets & Cruelty, Action Alerts, Federal Legislation, In the News  /  

Senate Bill Introduced to Step Up Horse Protection

Two U.S. Senators are asking their colleagues to work with them to crack down on the rampant cruelty of “soring” in Tennessee walking horse show competitions. This week, U.S. Sens. Kelly Ayotte, R-N.H., and Mark Warner, D-Va., introduced the bipartisan Prevent All Soring Tactics (PAST) Act, S.

Pets & Cruelty, In the News  /  

Kiwi’s Journey: Tips for Finding a Lost Pet

The Hill’s Judy Kurtz has a touching video interview with Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham, D-N.M., whose lost dog, Kiwi, is back safe with her after a 13-month absence. The 9-year-old Shih Tzu mix bolted from the congresswoman’s enclosed yard in New Mexico when she was frightened by the noise from a hot air balloon.

Wildlife, Action Alerts, Federal Legislation  /  

It’s a Captive Jungle Out There

When private citizens keep wild animals—such as lions, tigers, bears, chimpanzees, and monkeys—as exotic pets, it never turns out well. The private possession of dangerous wild animals is a ticking time bomb for the owners and other people who live and work in their neighborhoods, and relegates the animals to wholly unnatural living conditions.

Pets & Cruelty, Action Alerts, Elections, Federal Legislation, In the News  /  

One Letter Makes a Difference

Rep. Erik Paulsen, R-Minn., in his weekly “Correspondence Corner” video series, took a question from a constituent who emailed him in support of H.R. 847, the Puppy Uniform Protection and Safety (PUPS) Act, to crack down on abusive puppy mills. Joined by his special guest, Arbor, a rescue dog adopted by one of his staffers, Rep. Paulsen took the opportunity to answer the question from Dick in Bloomington, and talk about not only his co-sponsorship of the puppy mill legislation, but also his co-sponsorship of the Animal Fighting Spectator Prohibition Act, H.R.

Pets & Cruelty, Ballot Measures, In the News, State Legislation  /  

Continuous Improvement on Anti-Cruelty Laws

The Forum newspaper in Fargo-Moorhead this past weekend weighed in strongly with an editorial on North Dakota’s anemic anti-cruelty statute, saying that even with the changes in the law taking effect next month, it’s not enough to deal with cruelty cases such as two horrific incidents of dog abuse that had occurred during the prior week. The paper opined:

Equines, Pets & Cruelty, Federal Legislation  /  

Senate Committee Comes Through on Animal Welfare Funding

Though the work is far from done, this is shaping up to be a very encouraging year for animals on the appropriations front. We already reported on the House Appropriations Committee’s approval of solid funding levels to support USDA’s enforcement of key animal welfare laws, as well as its inclusion of much-needed language to stop horse slaughter plants from operating in the U.S.

Wildlife, Action Alerts, Federal Legislation, Food, In the News, State Legislation  /  

Don't Tank the Shark Finning Laws

A bipartisan group of 62 House members—led by U.S. Reps. Jared Huffman, D-Calif., and Grace Meng, D-N.Y.—sent a letter to the Obama Administration urging it to revise a proposed federal rule that could undermine state bans on buying or selling shark fins.

Wildlife, Action Alerts, Ballot Measures, Federal Legislation, In the News, State Legislation  /  

The War on Wolves: Who Are the Real Predators?

The Chicago Tribune weighed in with an editorial this weekend on the Obama Administration’s latest in a series of proposals to strip recovering gray wolves of their federal protections—leaving the fate of wolves to the blood lust of hostile state politicians and trophy hunting and ranching interests.

Equines, Pets & Cruelty, Action Alerts, Federal Legislation, In the News  /  

Obama Moves to Resume U.S. Horse Slaughter

The Obama Administration today sharply disappointed HSLF and other animal advocates by announcing its plans to allow operations for the first horse slaughter plants to open in the U.S. since 2007. The U.S. Department of Agriculture today granted permission for a horse slaughter plant to open in New Mexico, and says it plans to grant similar requests to plants in Iowa and Missouri as well.

Equines, Pets & Cruelty, Action Alerts, Federal Legislation, In the News  /  

Horse Slaughter Plants Permitted to Open

The Obama Administration today sharply disappointed HSLF and other animal advocates by informally releasing word of its plans to allow operations for the first horse slaughter plants to open in the U.S. since 2007. The U.S. Department of Agriculture plans today to announce it has granted permission for a horse slaughter plant to open in New Mexico, and it will make similar announcements for plants in Iowa and Missouri on Monday.

Equines, Farm Animals, Pets & Cruelty, Federal Legislation, Food, In the News, State Legislation  /  

Good News in Congress on King Amendment, Horse Slaughter

The House of Representatives today shot down the $940-billion Farm Bill, by a vote of 195 to 234.

Equines, Pets & Cruelty, Federal Legislation, In the News  /  

Not So Fast, Horse Slaughter Crowd

Today, the House Appropriations Committee marked up its agriculture spending bill for Fiscal Year 2014, and it included much good news for animals. Most notably, the committee approved by voice vote an amendment offered by Reps. Jim Moran, D-Va., and Bill Young, R-Fla., to forbid spending by USDA on inspections of horse slaughter plants on American soil.  The Senate should follow suit.