Legal punishments for first-degree animal cruelty in Washington state will be harsher and more consistent starting June 6. Supported by Skagit County Deputy Prosecutor Nathaniel Block, House Bill 1961 will raise the maximum sentencing from one year to five, and consider past crimes and the severity of the animal cruelty when sentencing. Previously, those convicted […]
Breaking: Threat to nation’s strongest farm animal law deepens in U.S. Congress
By Sara Amundson and Kitty Block Whatever doubt there may have been before, the situation is now crystal clear. The battle over California’s Proposition 12 and the Ending Agricultural Trade Suppression (EATS) Act (or some other approach to blocking Proposition 12 through the Farm Bill) has been joined, and we’re in the thick of it. […]
Mexico approves first nationwide Sustainable Food Law
With 420 votes in favor, 0 abstentions, and 0 votes against the bill, Mexico’s first nationwide Adequate and Sustainable Food Law will now pass to the Federal Executive, who will sign it into law. This achievement stems from Animal Equality’s three-year collaboration with Food Alliance and Climate Action, all of whom worked together with Senator […]
‘We often see really hard things’: DC’s humane law enforcement officers fight back against animal cruelty
“The thing that keeps me up at night is the safety of my team,” said Chris Schindler, senior vice president of animal welfare, field response and rescue at the Humane Rescue Alliance. The people who answer calls and investigate cases of animal cruelty in the District of Columbia aren’t police, but they are involved in […]
New Texas law cracks down on fake service animals
New law cracks down on fake service dogs AUSTIN (KXAN) — While Austin is a dog friendly city, man’s best friend isn’t allowed everywhere. But some people are taking advantage of the system and claiming pets as service dogs. Now, a new law aims to crackdown on false representation of these service animals. House Bill […]
Roswell’s animal shelter has reopened | Local News
Among the issues discussed at Roswell’s Public Safety Committee meeting on Tuesday was the reopening on Monday of the city’s animal shelter. It was closed Sept. 27 after a dog tested positive for distemper and others were coming down with upper respiratory illnesses. Subsequent testing of dogs at the shelter turned up no more distemper […]
Progress! California passes law to expand use of non-animal alternatives in testing labs
By Sara Amundson and Kitty Block Fewer animals will suffer in experiments in California laboratories thanks to a bill sponsored by the Humane Society of the United States and signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom on Sunday. AB 357 was authored by Assemblymember Brian Maienschein, D-San Diego, and received wide bipartisan support throughout the […]
Spain has overhauled animal welfare laws. Here’s what’s new
From abandonment to a licence to fly, see what pet owners will and won’t be able to do in Spain from now on. ADVERTISEMENT In Spain, there are more than 29 million pets. Abandonment and lack of identification are some of the most frequent problems with them. In order to solve this situation, last March […]
Mistreated exotic animals highlight the need for ‘Better CARE’ law
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 […]
Pork Producers Sue Massachusetts over Animal Housing Law
By C.Lotongkum / Shutterstock Triumph Foods and a group of Midwest pork producers are suing the state of Massachusetts over its Question 3 law and others that set minimum housing requirements for livestock. The plaintiffs are challenging the constitutionality of the Q3 law and seeking immediate relief from the law before it takes effect on […]