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Hot Off the Press: The 2009 Humane Scorecard
Before the holidays, I posted a preliminary version of the 2009 Humane Scorecard, and provided a look at the year in review for animals in Congress. We made progress for animal protection on a number of fronts, but also suffered some setbacks and left some important work unfinished.
Ballot Measures /
A Chance to Help Dogs in Missouri
I’ve been traveling in Missouri this week meeting with animal advocates, humane societies, and dog lovers across the state to launch our signature gathering drive to place the Puppy Mill Cruelty Prevention Act on the November 2010 statewide ballot. We’ve had hundreds of volunteers attend our kick-off meetings, and there’s so much enthusiasm and support for passing a law to crack down on abusive puppy mills.
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Heroes for Greyhounds
I recently visited with my friends Christine Dorchak and Carey Theil, the leaders of the greyhound protection organization GREY2K USA, and we took stock of the state of dog racing in the country. Although greyhound racing emerged in the 1920s in America and peaked in popularity in the 1980s, it historically had not been a top priority for the animal protection movement, with the exception of a number of rescue groups working to adopt greyhounds discarded from the tracks.
Uncategorized /
A Taste for Cruelty
This past weekend in Texas, the Parker County Sheriff’s Office, the USDA’s Office of Inspector General, and The Humane Society of the United States kicked off 2010 with a major cockfighting raid.
Uncategorized /
A Year to Celebrate
As we ring in the new year tonight, let’s celebrate the progress made for animals in 2009. It was a record-breaking year for animal protection lawmaking, with 121 new state laws enacted, including major public policies to crack down on animal fighting, puppy mills, factory farming, and other large-scale cruelties.
Talk Back /
Your Favorites of 2009
I’m always excited to gauge reader feedback on the blog, and as we look back at 2009, I’ve taken a look at which of the year’s postings resonated the most with you—whether it’s through the reaction each post receives, a surge in traffic, or the number of times the blog is shared (using the “ShareThis” button at the bottom of each posting).
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Our Congressional Year in Review for Animals
As the first half of the 111th Congress comes to a close, the Humane Society Legislative Fund today released a preliminary look at how federal lawmakers performed on animal issues in 2009. I hope you’ll check out the 2009 Humane Scorecard, and see whether your own representative and senators made the grade. We will post the final report card in early January, which will include some last-minute additional cosponsorships on scored bills.
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Legislator of the Year: Q&A with Rep. Pam Byrnes
It’s been another record-breaking year for animal protection lawmaking, with 121 new state laws for animals on the books in 2009. We’ve identified the top 12 that we believe are most significant, setting new public policies dealing with puppy mills, animal fighting, animal cruelty, dog tethering, factory farming, fur labeling, and more.
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Unchained: Q&A with Paulette Dean
When I talk to leaders of animal shelters around the country, I’m surprised how many think they are not allowed to lobby for animal protection laws. Or, they are just so consumed with the daily operations of animal care and control in their communities, that they don’t have the time or resources to advocate for better public policies.
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BEST Practices
In the world of animal use, some issues are so black-and-white that there is no real debate over the right course of action in society: Dogfighting and cockfighting, for example, are conducted only for gambling wagers and the titillation of spectators who enjoy the bloodletting, and there is no redeeming social value for staged animal combat.
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Congress Confronts a Predator
A two-year-old Florida girl was killed by a Burmese python who escaped from an aquarium in her home. Thousands of escaped or released pythons are now living in the Everglades, and are becoming the dominant predator in the ecosystem. These former “pets” can grow more than 20 feet long, weigh 200 pounds, and swallow an entire leopard.
Uncategorized /
A Tribute to Joyce
Wisconsin last week became the tenth state in 2009 to enact legislation cracking down on abusive puppy mills, when Gov. Jim Doyle signed a bill to require licensing, inspection, and basic standards of humane care at large-scale dog breeding operations. The measure was introduced by Rep. Jeff Smith, D-Eau Claire, and Sen.
