By Sara Amundson and Kitty Block
The movement to end the cruel puppy mill pipeline has reached a significant milestone now that Delaware has passed a law prohibiting the sale of dogs and cats in pet shops.
2026 Humane Scorecard: Virginia state lawmakers lead on animal protection measures
First legislative session under new administration shows promise on pets in housing, local control and veterinary workforce pipeline
RICHMOND, Va. (July 16, 2026)—Today Humane World Action Fund (formerly called Humane Society Legislative Fund) released its 2026 Virginia Humane Scorecard. The scorecard grades state lawmakers on their actions during the most recent legislative session to advance animal protection.
The 2026 Virginia Humane Scorecard is now available online. On the heels of the 2025 election, which produced not only a new Governor but a significant chamber turnover, Virginia’s elected officials continue to show up for animals.
The scorecard highlights several pieces of pro-animal legislation that passed into law, including bills prohibiting premature separation of wild animals separated from their mothers in captivity, connecting veterinarians to shelters, and banning the devocalization of dogs.
The 2026 Maryland Humane Scorecard is now available online. As this scorecard reveals, Maryland continues to prove its mettle as a leader in animal protection policy.
See how Maryland state lawmakers voted on animal protection issues ahead of June 23 primary
Voters can access the annual Maryland Humane Scorecard to learn which state delegates and senators advanced laws this year that help pets, wildlife and animals used in research
What’s happening with California Prop 12, the Farm Bill and Save Our Bacon Act?
A timeline and explainer for Prop 12, Massachusetts Question 3 and the fight over state farm animal protection laws
Update August 12, 2026: Information about the Senate markup of the Farm Bill is noted below.
Update July 8, 2026: Information about the Senate Farm Bill draft and outcome of the Triumph v Campbell court case is now included.
Laws are often the reflection of the values of a society, and that’s why we support the passage of laws that protect animals from cruelty. In a nation like the U.S., state and local laws are frequently as important as federal laws, and they play a fundamental role in our efforts to secure the highest level of protection possible for animals at risk.
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
Note: This blog is part of a series on ways we tackle the root causes of animal cruelty to create a more humane world for animals. For this post, Sara Amundson, president of Humane World Action Fund, joins me to tell the story of how we confront animal cruelty and suffering at the roots by changing laws and government regulations.
“Why isn’t this illegal?”
