Solidarity at D.C. animal advocacy conference shows the power of our cause kblocher@hslf.org Tue, 07/23/2024 - 19:40 By Sara Amundson and Kitty Block This past weekend we held our Taking Action for Animals conference just outside of Washington, D.C., with over 450 advocates who came from all over the country to attend. At a time that may feel divisive and politically uncertain, this event was a testament to the dedication and steadfast unity that the cause of animal protection rallies. The strongest and most resilient social movements provide participants with a sense of shared purpose and be ..read more

Some progress for protecting animals on Alaska’s national preserves—but not nearly enough kblocher@hslf.org Mon, 07/01/2024 - 14:08 By Sara Amundson and Kitty Block The U.S. National Park Service has finalized a rule that bans using bait such as piles of donuts, dog food and meat scraps to attract and subsequently kill brown and black bears on Alaska’s national preserves. While we are pleased the Park Service has recognized the inherent danger and cruelty associated with bear baiting, and as a result banned that practice, the rule failed to finalize bans on some of the most cruel and inhumane ..read more

In a win for animals, U.S. Supreme Court leaves Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act intact kblocher@hslf.org Wed, 06/26/2024 - 19:20 By Sara Amundson and Kitty Block Earlier this week, the Supreme Court of the United States declined to review a challenge to the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act, which was signed into law in 2020 in an effort to better ensure the safety of horses used in racing in the U.S. Prior to the passage of the Act, there was a patchwork of laws throughout the country that were confusing and didn’t help to properly protect horses. Because of this, we fought for years ..read more

Inside Alaska’s scapegoat killing of grizzly bears kblocher@hslf.org Tue, 06/25/2024 - 13:22 By Sara Amundson and Kitty Block Under the guise of conservation, Alaska wildlife officials have recently killed 175 grizzly bears, including at least 20 cubs, as well as 19 wolves and five black bears. The method of choice has largely been to shoot them from helicopters and airplanes. These killings took place during the past two springs, when bears are coming out of hibernation with their cubs, as part of Alaska’s “intensive management” of wildlife. This program attempts to artificially grow the num ..read more

A game-changing Taking Action for Animals conference is coming up. Register now. kblocher@hslf.org Thu, 06/20/2024 - 18:54 By Sara Amundson and Kitty Block We all make decisions every day that impact animals, from the food we eat to the products we purchase to our entertainment choices. Often, the first step toward changing the world for animals is to recognize the importance of our individual decisions. The very next step is becoming savvy about saving animals through systemic reform, learning how to protect the animals in our larger communities. Whether the goal is to fight legislation like ..read more

Breaking: We’re asking the SEC to investigate world's largest meat company's animal welfare promises kblocher@hslf.org Mon, 06/17/2024 - 16:23 By Sara Amundson and Kitty Block Today, we filed a complaint with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission against the largest meat and poultry company in the world, JBS and its subsidiary, Pilgrim’s Pride. Together with the Center for Biological Diversity, and in partnership with the Farmed Animal Advocacy Clinic at Vermont Law and Graduate School, we allege that these companies are misleading investors about how they treat animals and about their ..read more

USDA Secretary’s support for factory farming cruelty is an insult to animals and voters kblocher@hslf.org Fri, 06/14/2024 - 08:23 By Sara Amundson and Kitty Block In the most important farm animal welfare debate of the 21st century so far―the U.S. Supreme Court case regarding California’s Proposition 12—it was beyond disconcerting that the Biden administration put itself on the wrong side of progress by backing the advocates of cruelty and bottom-of-the-barrel pork production. The producers fighting Proposition 12 are trying to maintain the status quo of using intensive confinement systems su ..read more

Breaking: Inotiv to pay historic $35 million in case involving thousands of beagles kblocher@hslf.org Tue, 06/04/2024 - 15:55 By Sara Amundson and Kitty Block The U.S. Department of Justice just announced that Inotiv will pay more than $35 million, including an $11 million fine for violating the Animal Welfare Act, the largest in the Act’s history, because of violations that occurred at a facility that bred dogs for use in animal testing in Cumberland, Virginia. Inotiv is the parent company of Envigo RMS, which owned the breeding facility. As a result of these violations and a federal investi ..read more

Breaking: Proposed Farm Bill would create a nightmare for animals kblocher@hslf.org Fri, 05/24/2024 - 14:07 By Sara Amundson and Kitty Block The Farm Bill, a legislative package the U.S. Congress approves every five years or so to govern agricultural and food programs, has the potential to instill animal welfare and sustainability into food practices for years to come. Instead, the 2024 Farm Bill just approved in the House Agriculture Committee would undo so much progress made for animal welfare, threaten public health and create a nightmare for countless animals. Drafted under the leadership ..read more

House Farm Bill’s race to the bottom of the (pork) barrel kblocher@hslf.org Fri, 05/17/2024 - 16:43 WASHINGTON (May 17, 2024)—Republicans on the U.S. House of Representatives’ Agriculture Committee have released their version of the Farm Bill. It includes language that aims to invalidate California’s Proposition 12, a state law setting landmark prohibitions on the in-state sale of food products from farm animals locked in cruel and extreme confinement. The U.S. Supreme Court upheld the law as constitutional in May 2023. Congressional opponents and lobbyists representing only a segment of the ..read more