SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 2, 2018 – Today the Animal Legal Defense Fund filed its opening brief, appealing the dismissal of its lawsuit challenging the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) animal welfare report blackout. The group, leading a coalition of animal protection organizations, filed suit in February 2017 arguing that the USDA’s decision to remove the […]
Animal Welfare Institute
Posted inUS
U.S. House Leaders Introduce Federal Legislation to Prohibit Slaughter of American Horses
WASHINGTON, D.C. Jan. 12, 2017 — Federal lawmakers have introduced legislation to prevent the establishment of horse slaughter operations within the U.S., end the current export of American horses for slaughter abroad, and protect the public from consuming toxic horse meat. The Safeguard American Food Exports (SAFE) Act, H.R. 113, was introduced by Reps. Vern […]
Posted inEnviro
NMFS’ Designation of Russian Beluga Whales as Depleted Makes Their Import into US Illegal
WASHINGTON, DC, Oct. 27, 2016 – The Animal Welfare Institute (AWI), Cetacean Society International (CSI), Earth Island Institute (EII), and Whale and Dolphin Conservation (WDC) lauded the US National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) today for its final designation of the Sakhalin Bay-Amur River population of beluga whales in Russia as depleted under the Marine Mammal […]
Posted inUS
Blumenauer Bill to Protect Animals from Cruel Traps, Reform USDA’s Wildlife Services Program
WASHINGTON, DC, Sept. 8, 2016 – The Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) welcomes the introduction of a new federal bill—spearheaded by Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR)—that would restrict the use of body-gripping traps on public lands administered by the U.S. Departments of Agriculture (USDA) and Interior (DOI), as well as prohibit personnel in both departments from setting […]
Posted inCalifornia
California Legislature Approves Historic Legislation to End Orca Captivity
WASHINGTON, DC, Aug. 26, 2016 – The California legislature today sent historic legislation to Governor Jerry Brown that would prohibit the breeding and theatrical performance of captive orcas in California, as well as their export, consistent with federal law, out of North America. The Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) was the co-sponsor of this legislation, along […]