Pets & Cruelty, Federal Legislation, In the News /
USDA Rule Takes a Bite Out of Online Puppy Mills
The Obama administration today took a major step to improve the treatment of thousands of dogs languishing in large-scale commercial puppy mills. The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced a final rule to close a loophole in the Animal Welfare Act regulations which currently requires breeders selling wholesale to pet stores to be federally licensed and inspected, but leaves those selling directly to the public over the Internet completely unregulated.
Pets & Cruelty, Wildlife, Action Alerts, In the News, State Legislation /
A Light at the End of the Barrel
Thanks to five grueling days of intensive, around-the-clock care, a very fortunate Canada goose at the Cape Wildlife Center in Massachusetts narrowly escaped lethal lead poisoning this week. Unable to stand, walk, or lift his head to eat when he was first found, the suffering bird had nearly no chance of survival without emergency medical care.
Wildlife, In the News /
Desert Tortoises Buried by Spending Cuts
When Congress failed to reach an agreement on deficit–reduction
legislation last year, we knew budgetary issues and sequestration
cuts could negatively affect animals at some point—from the number of
inspectors enforcing the law at puppy mills and research labs to the number of
wild horses treated with a fertility control vaccine to prevent round-ups. We
Pets & Cruelty, Federal Legislation, In the News, State Legislation /
POTUS Pans BSL
President Obama this week announced the addition of a new First Dog, Sunny, who joins Bo as part of the First Family. We congratulate the Obamas on their new pet, and wish them years of joy and companionship.
Equines, Farm Animals, Pets & Cruelty, Wildlife, Action Alerts, Federal Legislation, Food, In the News, State Legislation /
Standing Up for State Laws
Congress is on recess in August, but facing the remaining task to iron out a final Farm Bill and decide the outcome of Rep. Steve King’s, R-Iowa, destructive provision seeking to nullify state rules relating to agricultural standards. In addition to repealing protections for farm animals, horses, sharks, and dogs, the King amendment could also wipe out of hundreds of state laws protecting food safety, crop protection, fire safety, and more.
Pets & Cruelty, Federal Legislation, In the News, State Legislation /
Out of Gas
Let’s talk about progress, and how to get there.
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.
