By Sara Amundson and Kitty Block Responsibility for animals’ welfare rests with us all, including the federal government. Our work spans a range of federal agencies, all of which can do something to support the prevention of animal cruelty and suffering. A whole-of-government approach is consistent with the growth of our movement and its influence, […]
U.S. Animal Industries Pose Disease Risks to People, Report Says
The authors analyzed 36 animal markets in the United States, including dog breeding, hunting and trapping, livestock auctions, backyard chicken farming and petting zoos. To assess how much risk each industry posed, they conducted interviews with experts and reviewed scientific papers, publicly available data, government regulations and more. For each industry, they considered 10 factors, […]
Breaking: Major threat to animal welfare emerges in U.S. Congress
By Sara Amundson and Kitty Block This year has already been historic for animals, as the Supreme Court of the United States ruled in favor of upholding the strongest farm animal protection law in the country, California’s Proposition 12. This landmark law, approved by voters via ballot measure in 2018, prohibits the in-state production and […]
Revealed: 100 reprehensible U.S. puppy mills in Horrible Hundred report
By Sara Amundson and Kitty Block In a photo taken by a state inspector, a dog stands looking away from the camera, her tail pointing down. At first glance, this image may seem like a sweet photo because of the boxer’s soft brown eyes and emotional expression. But farther up in the frame, the dog’s […]
Breaking: Supreme Court upholds strongest farm animal protection law in U.S.
By Sara Amundson and Kitty Block We are thrilled that after months of tireless efforts and unwavering dedication, we have emerged victorious in our landmark Supreme Court defense of California’s Proposition 12. The decision, announced earlier today, upholds the nation’s strongest farm animal protection law and unanimously rejects the pork industry’s primary constitutional claim. The […]
Breaking: U.S. Congress has new chance to stop horse soring
By Sara Amundson and Kitty Block In 1970, the U.S. Congress passed the Horse Protection Act to end the cruel practice of horse soring, which is the use of caustic chemicals, chains, weighted shoes, hard objects, cutting and other painful techniques to force horses to perform the artificial, high-stepping gait known as the “Big Lick” […]
Major U.S. Supreme Court ruling expected any day on animal welfare
By Sara Amundson and Kitty Block Any day now, the Supreme Court of the United States could issue its ruling in one of the most important court cases in the history of the animal protection movement—one that could have implications for the quality of life of millions of farmed animals. First, a little background, in […]
Major win! U.S. Senate passes the Big Cat Public Safety Act
By Sara Amundson and Kitty Block In a major advance in our long fight against the abuse of captive big cats, the U.S. Senate just passed the Big Cat Public Safety Act (H.R. 263/ S. 1210), a bill we have championed for years because it prohibits keeping big cats as pets and also bans contact […]
Breaking: U.S. Supreme Court just heard arguments in historic case for animals
By Kitty Block and Sara Amundson Today the U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments on the most consequential law ever passed in relation to the treatment of farm animals, California’s Proposition 12. Passed by voters in 2018, Proposition 12 bans the extreme confinement of mother pigs, egg-laying hens and baby calves, and outlaws the sale of […]
California’s Prop 12 Challenged in the U.S. Supreme Court
On Tuesday, October 11, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments regarding California’s Proposition 12 (“Prop 12”). This is in response to the National Pork Producers Council’s lawsuit challenging the law. Prop 12, formally titled the “Prevention of Cruelty to Farm Animals Act,” passed in California in 2018. The law received overwhelming support, with […]