Pets & Cruelty, Ballot Measures, In the News, State Legislation /
Felony Cruelty Laws in 49 States and Counting
This week, Gov. Jack Dalrymple signed Senate Bill 2211 into law, making North Dakota the 49th state in the nation to establish some felony-level penalties for malicious acts of animal cruelty. It was a long time coming, and a follow up to last year’s Measure 5 campaign, which put the issue of animal cruelty on the public agenda and spurred action by state lawmakers.
Uncategorized /
Urge Congress to Help Hundreds of Millions of Hens
Today in the U.S. Congress, a bipartisan group of lawmakers led by Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., and Reps. Kurt Schrader, D-Ore., Jeff Denham, R-Calif., Sam Farr, D-Calif., and Mike Fitzpatrick, R-Pa., reintroduced legislation that ratifies a national agreement between the egg industry and animal welfare groups to improve the treatment of 280 million laying hens. Under the terms of the bill, the entire U.S.
Uncategorized /
Hold the Line on Animal Welfare Funding
Congress has made important progress over the years addressing serious gaps in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s enforcement of key animal welfare laws by providing the agency much-needed funding to allow for better inspection programs.
Uncategorized /
Horsemeat Scandal Still Riding at a Gallop
The horsemeat scandal is still having a ripple effect across Europe, as officials announced this week that about 5 percent of beef products—everything from frozen lasagna to Swedish meatballs—tested positive for containing horse DNA.
Uncategorized /
Protect Children from Being Exposed to Cruelty and Violence
April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month, and it’s appropriate that this week, a bipartisan group of U.S. Senators introduced legislation to help protect animals and children from dogfighting and cockfighting.
There are a lot of ways to hurt a child. But none may be more baffling than to expose a young child to the senseless cruelty of animal fighting and its associated crimes.
Uncategorized /
A Pit Bull Pox on Both Their Houses
If you think the phrase “epic fail” is reserved for pop culture, you’ve never visited the Maryland legislature. Yesterday, after a year of political debate, elected lawmakers squandered an opportunity to provide relief to thousands of Maryland families who may be forced to choose between their homes and their beloved dogs.
Uncategorized /
Ke$ha’s Year of the Animal
Members of Congress return today from a two-week recess, and they have a message waiting for them from global pop icon and dedicated animal advocate Ke$ha. The mega-star was in the nation’s capital recently, and she recorded a video calling on Congress to make animal protection a top priority. You can watch Ke$ha’s video here.
Elections /
An Eye on 2014: Anti-Animal Politicians In the Mix
Some of the leading opponents of animal welfare in the U.S. House of Representatives may run for the U.S. Senate in 2014, where if elected they would ostensibly have more power to block common-sense animal protection policies. While Rep.
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.
