The results are in! Our final 2023 Humane Scorecard is now available, providing a snapshot of where federal legislators stood on our core priorities for the first session of the 118th Congress.

By Sara Amundson and Kitty Block

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

Each year, we use the Humane Scorecard to provide a snapshot of some key animal protection issues and this year is no different. There are many new members of the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate in the 118th Congress who need to see the importance of animals in our communities—and there’s still time.

By Sara Amundson and Kitty Block

Last week, members of the Humane Society of the United States’ Equine Protection team traveled to Tennessee to evaluate the condition of the horses at the 85th annual Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration. In the weeks leading up to the show, we posted billboards in town to expose the cruelty of horse soring, painful methods that create an artificial, exaggerated  high-stepping gait, which is celebrated at this annual event.

By Sara Amundson and Kitty Block

There’s new hope for ending the painful practice of horse soring: a long-awaited new administrative rule from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, one that’s badly needed and long overdue.

By Sara Amundson and Kitty Block