Equines, Federal Legislation /
Breaking news: Federal horse racing reform sprints ahead with key House committee vote
By Sara Amundson and Kitty Block
Legislation to reform horse racing is in full gallop in Congress, with bipartisan members of the House and Senate joining forces to end the reckless drugging of horses and improve the safety of the tracks on which they run.
Wildlife, Federal Legislation /
USFWS director says federal protections for wolves will be removed by end of year
By Sara Amundson and Kitty Block
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the federal agency tasked with protecting American wildlife, is getting closer to allowing trophy hunters and cattle ranchers to open season on the gray wolf, one of our nation’s most iconic—as well as most persecuted—animals.
Equines, Federal Legislation /
Sen. Mitch McConnell will introduce bill to reform horse racing
By Sara Amundson and Kitty Block
Days before the Kentucky Derby kicks off in his home state next week, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has announced he will introduce a bill to reform horse racing. This is a promising development for the future of race horses in a sport that has increasingly come under a cloud because of the reckless doping of horses and a spate of horse deaths, drawing criticism not just from outside watchers but from trainers and other stakeholders within the industry.
Farm Animals, Pets & Cruelty, Elections, In the News /
Chaos at the post office hurts animals and democracy alike
By Brad Pyle
The problems at the United States Postal Service have already had dire consequences for animals, and now they risk doing the same to the upcoming election. President Trump and the U.S. Congress must act to ensure that the postal system is operating at full capacity and with competency before the General Election to ensure the integrity of the outcome.
Wildlife /
U.S. proposes more changes to chip away at Endangered Species Act
By Sara Amundson and Kitty Block
The federal government has fired another volley in its assault on the Endangered Species Act, and this time it’s aimed at paving the way for corporations to take over lands that could, if conserved and restored, help in the recovery of imperiled American wildlife.
Wildlife, Federal Legislation, In the News /
USDA suspends license of roadside zoo where Joe Exotic abused tigers
By Sara Amundson and Kitty Block
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has suspended the license of the roadside zoo where self-styled “Tiger King” Joe Exotic bred, held captive and mistreated hundreds of tigers and other wild animals for two decades.
Elections /
State elections matter
Our supporters are accustomed to hearing from us at the HSLF about federal legislation, policy, and elections, but our work—and our impact for animals—extends far beyond Washington D.C. Every year, HSLF’s team meets with candidates seeking election to state and local offices, too, and in many instances HSLF issues endorsements and campaigns on their behalf.
Wildlife, In the News /
Breaking news: Coronavirus outbreak reported at two Utah mink fur farms
By Sara Amundson and Kitty Block
Elections /
Biden picks Kamala Harris, an animal champion, as his running mate
From the animal protection policy perspective, Joe Biden has made a very strong pick for his running mate in the 2020 presidential election. Senator Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) has an outstanding record of supporting animal protection, and her selection bodes well for our own efforts to secure a strong animal welfare platform from candidates for office at all levels. Among other things, she’s achieved a score of “100” every year on the Humane Scorecard since being elected to the U.S. Senate.
Wildlife, Action Alerts, Federal Legislation /
Shaking it up for sharks in 2020
By Sara Amundson and Kitty Block
We’ve never cared for the cheap, lurid television programming tied to Shark Week, preferring to join with other groups and media outlets in a celebration of this apex species found in all of the world’s oceans and even sometimes in rivers. Sharks are part of an incredibly diverse taxon, a cluster of nearly 500 related species in urgent need of our attention and energy. We must do all that we can to better protect these vitally important marine creatures, and there’s still time to make a difference.
Wildlife /
Celebrating lions – and protecting them – across the globe
By Sara Amundson and Kitty Block
Today, on World Lion Day, we celebrate lions as an iconic wild cat species, and we recommit to our campaigns to halt their exploitation and destruction in the United States and abroad. We are giving it all we’ve got.
In the wild, of course, this iconic species is among the most imperiled of all with as few as 20,000 left in range nations.
Wildlife /
HSLF, HSUS, conservation groups petition the government to protect North Atlantic right whales
With fewer than 400 individuals remaining on the planet, North Atlantic right whales are critically endangered. Originally decimated by commercial whalers, right whales began a slow recovery after passage of the Endangered Species Act in the 1970s. Now, sadly, they are once again on the decline as a result of human action—or inaction. Right whales move along the busy east coast of the United States and Canada, which places them quite literally in the path of danger.
