By Sara Amundson and Kitty Block
This nation cannot move fast enough to reduce the pandemic threats associated with live wildlife markets and the trade in live wildlife. That’s why we’re delighted that the House voted late yesterday in a winning bipartisan vote of 362-59 to include key elements of the Preventing Future Pandemics Act (H.R. 151) within its annual National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) package, which ultimately passed 316-113.
By Sara Amundson and Kitty Block
By Sara Amundson and Kitty Block
By selling puppy mill dogs, some pet stores are spreading severe diseases that are dangerous to the public. We’ve been saying this for years. And now a new scientific investigation published this month by the Journal of the American Medical Association Network reinforces this fact. The pet industry is actively avoiding taking responsibility for this threat.
By Sara Amundson and Kitty Block
On Wednesday, the European Parliament voted overwhelmingly in favor of a resolution that calls on the European Commission to draw-up an action plan to phase out animal experiments. This is a momentous political victory in a region where recent setbacks have occurred for animals in laboratories.
By Sara Amundson and Kitty Block
President Biden recently signed the Puppies Assisting Wounded Servicemembers (PAWS) for Veterans Therapy Act, which increases the number of service dogs available to support veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder and related conditions. We’re elated at the thought that more veterans will have access to the healing benefits of the human-animal bond, and that a decade of advocacy for this kind of program has culminated in this positive progress.
By Sara Amundson and Kitty Block
Even in our age of advanced technologies, rabbits, guinea pigs, mice and rats continue to have chemicals and substances forced down their throats, dripped into their eyes or slathered on their skin to satisfy new regulatory demands that undercut progress against cosmetic animal testing. That’s why we put so much effort into legislative and regulatory change—removing the driver for new animal testing and ultimately banning it.
With voting underway in the California recall election, the Humane Society Legislative Fund and animal advocates throughout California are standing fast in opposition to efforts to recall Governor Newsom. As California’s Governor, Newsom has a long track record of supporting the advancement of animal welfare—and has earned the support of humane-minded individuals.
Every year in late August, the hardcore faction of the Tennessee walking horse industry descends on Shelbyville, TN for the breed’s multi-day pinnacle event known as the “National Celebration.” This is the gang that favors the artificial, pain-based high-stepping gait known as the “big lick,” and every year brings shocking revelations of how deeply entrenched the practice of “soring” horses to win blue ribbons has become, as well as the lengths to which big lick enthusiasts will go to evade the law and its punishments.
By Sara Amundson and Kitty Block
On Sunday, Hurricane Ida slammed into the Gulf Coast, 16 years to the day after Hurricane Katrina’s landfall. Our Animal Rescue and Response team moved toward the strike zone, ready to assist animals in need. Bringing together supplies, equipment and personnel to support emergency response agencies in their relief efforts, we operate within a web of agreements that bind us to disaster response entities at all levels. It’s critical for us to be ready to go the moment authorities ask for our help.
