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.
Misguided House bill would roll back acclaimed law protecting lions, tigers and other big cats
Legislative hearing targeting Big Cat Public Safety Act set for February 4
Protections for Tennessee Walking Horses frozen for another year by U.S. Department of Agriculture
Lack of enforcement of the Horse Protection Act means that the painful, cruel practice of ‘soring’ could still happen with little consequence
By Sara Amundson and Kitty Block
There’s some good news for animals in the funding packages for the U.S. Department of Interior and the U.S. Department of Justice that passed the Senate last week and were just signed into law.
These wins are the result of animal advocates—both us and our allies—who never wavered in the view that the protection of animals matters, and that it’s something that the American people want. Here are the animal welfare wins in the FY2026 funding packages:
Gray wolves and grizzly bears saved
STATEMENT: Wild horses, endangered wildlife protections maintained as Congress delivers funding win for animals
Latest congressional appropriations package demonstrates continued bipartisan support for animal welfare policies
WASHINGTON (January 15, 2026)—Humane World Action Fund, formerly called Humane Society Legislative Fund, issued the following statement on Congress passing a FY2026 funding package for the U.S. Department of Interior and U.S. Department of Justice among other federal agencies.
By Sara Amundson and Kitty Block
As we enter 2026, the speed at which global events unfold can feel overwhelming and the future can feel uncertain. It is also true, though, that good things are happening: Every day, all over the world, people are giving their voices to the voiceless, taking a stand for animals who cannot advocate for themselves. In that sense, every single day marks progress toward the more humane world we are trying to achieve in every country where our teams are active.
By Sara Amundson and Kitty Block
Shocking glimpses into large-scale puppy breeding and selling operations this year only underscored our determination to stop puppy mills and create permanent change for dogs in the U.S. In August, for example, our Animal Rescue Team helped law enforcement with the rescue of over 100 dogs from an American Kennel Club-linked dog breeding operation in Maryland.
By Sara Amundson and Kitty Block
Our vision is to create a more humane world in which humans and animals live in harmony and no animal suffers from the actions of people. For wild animals, in our era of intense pressures from climate change and the loss of biodiversity and habitat, this means keeping wild animals wild, defending the ones kept in captivity from further harm, and supporting human communities to prevent conflicts that could cost animals their lives.
By Sara Amundson and Kitty Block
What just happened in the U.S. House of Representatives could spell tragedy for gray wolves. Thursday’s vote on H.R. 845, a bill to remove federal Endangered Species Act protections for gray wolves in the lower 48 states, passed by the smallest of margins, 211-204. Now, this legislation moves to the Senate, where we still have a chance to stop it.
The last thing this nation needs is a pathway to more reckless trophy hunting and recreational trapping seasons that target wolves. But that’s what H.R. 845 is all about.
By Sara Amundson and Kitty Block
