By Sara Amundson and Kitty Block

The fight for public policy gains for animals at the federal level is not for the faint of heart nor the weak of spirit. Every day, in every congressional session, it’s an all-out battle to secure humane laws and regulations. Whatever we achieve, we achieve against determined opposition, including special interest groups with deep pockets, and 2023 was no exception. This was a banner year for rulemaking and key legislative work that made a difference.

By Sara Amundson and Kitty Block

The mistreatment of animals is a matter of injustice, and so it’s only fitting that the U.S. Department of Justice stepped in to stop cruelty at Even Keel Exotics in Temperance, Michigan.

The DOJ’s recent resolution of a complaint against the facility’s owner, animal dealer Zachery Keeler, resulted in his surrender of nearly 150 animals and the revocation of his Animal Welfare Act license to buy, sell or trade animals regulated under the Act.