By Sara Amundson and Kitty Block

Over 90% of drugs that appear successful in animal tests go on to fail in human clinical trials. This is a staggering statistic underscoring that animals are biologically different from humans, and so animal-based research can be deeply unreliable, which, in turn, hinders medical progress and slows down the advancement of our scientific knowledge. Even more closely related species like mice and rats can react very differently when exposed to the same substances.

By Sara Amundson and Kitty Block

Across the world, an estimated 190 million animals are used for testing and research every year. Many of these animals, including mice, rats, rabbits, monkeys, dogs and fish, are used to explore how human bodies may respond to chemicals. But there are major differences between animals and humans, and immense advancements in technology that hold promise for replacing the use of animals in these tests.

By Sara Amundson and Kitty Block

Making this world better and brighter for animals involves vital collaboration with people in the halls of power making legislation and shaping policy. In the U.S., we work on bringing people together—regardless of party affiliation—to advance compassionate legislation that makes a real difference for animals.

By Sara Amundson and Kitty Block

In the U.S., the State of the Union address gives the president an opportunity to speak to a joint session of Congress about the nation’s condition, sharing legislative and regulatory proposals and communicating and reinforcing priorities. In recent years, we’ve used this time to spell out our own priorities and to reflect upon the U.S. government’s performance on animal protection issues.

It’s my privilege to share our Humane Scorecard for the first session of the 119th Congress. The scorecard tracks key co-sponsorships, votes and other animal-friendly actions by federal lawmakers. It’s an accountability tool we use to cultivate greater awareness among legislators as well as incentives for their future commitment. Please look to see how your senators and congressional representative scored; the scorecard is something you can share with others who care about animals, too.