National Endangered Species Coalition Responds to Republican-led Congressional Attacks on ESA and Gray Wolves Niki Tue, 03/25/2025 - 11:04 Photo by Ronnie MacDonald March 25, 2025 Washington, DC—Today, the Republican-led US House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries considered legislation that would dramatically weaken the widely popular Endangered Species Act and strip protections for gray wolves in 48 states. No vote was taken.The first bill—the ESA Amendments Act of 2025 (H.R. 1897), introduced by Rep. Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.)—would gut critical protections provided by the ESA to thousands of imperiled species, upend the scientific consultation process (which has been the cornerstone of American species protection for 50 years), and slow listings to a crawl while fast-tracking delistings. Moreover, the bill would allow increased exploitation of threatened species while shifting their management from federal to state authorities—even while these species remain listed under the ESA.The second bill—the so-called Pet and Livestock Protection Act of 2025 (H.R. 845), introduced by Reps. Lauren Boebert (R-CO) and Tom Tiffany (R-WI)—would reissue the first Trump administration’s delisting of the gray wolf across most of the United States and bar judicial review of that action. In 2022, a federal court reversed this delisting, after conservation groups challenged it.In addition to congressional attacks on the ESA and gray wolves, the Trump administration recently terminated hundreds of employees at both the US Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration—agencies that were already critically understaffed. Without these employees, it will be even harder for disappearing vulnerable species to receive crucial protections, and for vitally important ecosystems to remain intact across the United States.In response to these actions, conservation and animal protection groups from across the country sent a letter to the House subcommittee outlining opposition to the bills. Additionally, members of the the national Endangered Species Coalition, including the Animal Welfare Institute (AWI), Defenders of Wildlife, Earthjustice, FOUR PAWS USA, Humane World Action Fund, NYC Plover Project, Sierra Club, Western Watersheds Project, and WildEarth Guardians, have registered their opposition."These extreme bills would gut protections for wildlife under the Endangered Species Act. They are being introduced against a backdrop of sudden and indiscriminate firings across the US Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, robbing these agencies of the experts who implement these crucial protections based on the best available science,” said Susan Millward, AWI’s Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer. “These assaults on wildlife protections come at a time of staggering biodiversity loss, and imperiled species don't have the luxury of waiting out these political games." Media Contact Information Marjorie Fishman, Animal Welfare Institutemargie@awionline.org, (202) 446-2128 The Animal Welfare Institute (awionline.org) is a nonprofit charitable organization founded in 1951 and dedicated to alleviating animal suffering caused by people. We seek to improve the welfare of animals everywhere: in agriculture, in commerce, in our homes and communities, in research, and in the wild. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Threads, Bluesky, and LinkedIn for updates and other important animal protection news.

Bill Introduced to Require Data Collection Linking Animal Cruelty and Child Abuse Niki Wed, 01/29/2025 - 12:39 Photo by 5second January 29, 2025 Washington, DC—The Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) endorses the Child and Animal Abuse Detection and Reporting Act (H.R. 712), reintroduced last week by Reps. Jeff Van Drew (R-NJ) and Julia Brownley (D-CA). This legislation would amend the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) to require that data collected by the federal government from state child protection agencies include information about animal abuse as a risk factor for child abuse. Weighing this additional factor can help identify opportunities to prevent both child and animal abuse, as well as suggest when more specialized interventions are needed. “In a violent household, companion animals are often victims of the same abusive behaviors that harm children, intimate partners, and vulnerable adults,” said Nancy Blaney, director of government affairs for AWI. “Often, the first person to identify a child in a dangerous situation is a law enforcement officer responding to an animal cruelty call. There is an urgent need for more comprehensive information about these patterns so that social service providers can understand how to intervene safely and effectively.” As authorized by CAPTA in 1988, the Department of Health and Human Services established the National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System (NCANDS) to compile information from states about the nearly 700,000 American children abused annually. Case reports in NCANDS include a variety of details, such as the type of abuse a child suffered or whether the caregiver had a substance abuse disorder. This data helps researchers and service providers better understand the factors associated with child abuse. Animal abuse is one well-established factor, however, that is not considered under the current law. Information collected under NCANDS has been used to determine, for example, that children whose families face multiple stressors are at a higher risk of being repeatedly referred to child protective services, and that some types of mistreatment are more likely to recur than others. By tracking child abuse cases related to animal abuse, as provided for under the Child and Animal Abuse Detection and Reporting Act, NCANDS would offer another valuable tool to prioritize prevention and intervention. “It is a sad reality that in homes filled with violence, pets often endure the same mistreatment as children and other vulnerable family members,” Van Drew said. “By connecting the dots between animal cruelty and child abuse in households, we are empowering officials to identify when to intervene earlier and helping to prevent further mistreatment from taking place. This bill is an important step forward to protect every member of our community, human and animal alike.” “By expanding data collection to include animal abuse as a risk factor for child abuse, we’re equipping law enforcement and social service providers with crucial information to recognize warning signs earlier, intervene more effectively, and identify opportunities to prevent both child and animal abuse,” added Brownley. “This bill is a critical step in breaking the cycle of abuse before it escalates and protecting families from further trauma.” Click here for more information about the link between violence against animals and violence against humans. Media Contact Information Marjorie Fishman, Animal Welfare Institutemargie@awionline.org, (202) 446-2128 The Animal Welfare Institute (awionline.org) is a nonprofit charitable organization founded in 1951 and dedicated to alleviating animal suffering caused by people. We seek to improve the welfare of animals everywhere: in agriculture, in commerce, in our homes and communities, in research, and in the wild. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Threads, Bluesky, and LinkedIn for updates and other important animal protection news.

Illinois Bill Would Require Disease Monitoring on Mink Farms to Safeguard Human Health Niki Tue, 02/04/2025 - 15:54 Photo by Jo-Anne McArthur/Djurrattsalliansen February 4, 2025 Washington, DC—The Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) commends today’s filing of the Mink Facility Disease Prevention Act in Illinois, which would protect public health and human safety by requiring disease prevention and surveillance measures at farms that raise and slaughter mink for their fur.Sponsored by State Rep. Joyce Mason (D-61), HB 2627 recognizes that mink on fur farms incubate diseases such as COVID-19 and avian influenza, creating the perfect conditions for new variants to jump to humans—with potentially devastating results. Mink farms in the state would be required to obtain a license from the Illinois Department of Public Health and follow procedures to ensure proper disease surveillance and containment.“I am proud to sponsor the Mink Facility Disease Prevention Act because the science is clear – mink farming poses a high risk of generating a future pandemic,” said Mason. “It is critical that we remain vigilant and test for viral outbreaks on mink farms to safeguard public health. This bill seeks to position Illinois as a leader in commonsense measures to detect and prevent the spread of dangerous novel viruses.”Mink farms raise and slaughter animals to sell their pelts to the fashion industry. They typically pack thousands of mink together in long rows of barren pens barely large enough for the animals to move around. The conditions not only are inhumane, they also create an ideal setting for pathogens to circulate among and across species.Mink pose a high risk to humans because their upper respiratory tract is physiologically similar to ours, which means they can become infected by—and potentially transmit to people—some of the same respiratory viruses. Mink’s susceptibility to acquiring and spreading both human and animal respiratory viruses render them potentially potent “mixing vessels” for generating novel viruses.COVID-19, in fact, has infected millions of farmed mink on more than 480 mink farms across 12 countries. In several instances, mink have passed a mutated form of this virus back to humans. New variants can emerge in such scenarios, undermining the effectiveness of vaccines and jeopardizing efforts to contain the pandemic.A deadly avian influenza virus (H5N1) has also infected tens of thousands of mink on dozens of fur farms since 2022. During an October 2022 outbreak on a farm in Spain, the virus mutated in a way that enabled it to spread between mink. Prior to this, mammals had contracted the virus primarily through direct contact with infected birds, not from infected mammals. Scientists called this H5N1 mink farm outbreak a “warning bell” and stated that it represented a “clear mechanism for an [H5N1] pandemic to start.” H5N1 infections have also been detected at multiple mink farms in Finland, demonstrating the potential for this dangerous virus to continue causing outbreaks on mink farms, and raising the specter that it will mutate into a form transmissible to and between humans.“We cannot turn a blind eye to the risk of disease proliferation on mink farms, and the possibility of human infection,” said Susan Millward, AWI’s executive director and chief executive officer. “For far too long, these farms have operated without any meaningful oversight, despite their capacity to incubate potentially devastating viruses. Pandemic prevention requires a multifaceted approach, and the Mink Facility Disease Prevention Act is crucial to that effort.” Media Contact Information Marjorie Fishman, Animal Welfare Institutemargie@awionline.org, (202) 446-2128 The Animal Welfare Institute (awionline.org) is a nonprofit charitable organization founded in 1951 and dedicated to alleviating animal suffering caused by people. We seek to improve the welfare of animals everywhere: in agriculture, in commerce, in our homes and communities, in research, and in the wild. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Threads, Bluesky, and LinkedIn for updates and other important animal protection news.

More than 860 Veterinarians, Students Call on AVMA to Discourage Cruel Killing Methods Niki Thu, 02/06/2025 - 14:31 Photo by Victoria de Martigny/We Animals Media February 6, 2025 Washington, DC—Hundreds of veterinarians and veterinary students from across the country are urging the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) to revise its guidelines regarding methods of killing farmed animals during emergencies. The veterinary professionals and students are calling on the AVMA to do more to deter the use of particularly cruel killing methods such as inducing heat stroke in hens, suffocating pigs and cattle with water-based foam, and bludgeoning piglets. In a letter submitted last week, the 868 signers, including 504 AVMA members, urged the association to revise its draft “Guidelines for the Depopulation of Animals.” The guidelines apply to the large-scale killing of animals in emergency situations, such as the ongoing disease control efforts in response to the current bird flu outbreak. While the standards are voluntary, the US Department of Agriculture typically relies on them to facilitate the mass killing of animals, which has resulted in taxpayer-backed indemnity payments to producers totaling $1.25 billion since 2022. “As the leading voice for America’s veterinarians, the AVMA needs to be at the forefront of deterring killing methods that result in severe suffering for millions of animals. While we acknowledge some important improvements in this draft, it requires several key changes to ensure animal welfare is prioritized by the USDA and farm operators,” said Gwendolen Reyes-Illg, DVM, a veterinary medical consultant for the Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) and AVMA member. The letter was drafted by veterinarians and others who have expertise in depopulation, and signatures were collected by the Veterinary Association for Farm Animal Welfare. One controversial killing method called ventilation shutdown plus heat (VSD+) involves sealing a barn, turning off the airflow, and adding heat and sometimes steam to raise the temperature as high as 170 degrees. The process can take hours and cause extreme distress to the animals inside. Federal records show that, from February 2022 to November 2024, over 76% of poultry (about 86 million chickens, turkeys, and ducks) were killed in bird flu depopulations that used VSD+ alone or in combination with another method. For years, AWI has urged the AVMA to reclassify VSD+ as “not recommended” for any species. Yet the association’s proposed guidelines continue to recommend VSD+ for birds in “constrained circumstances” under a tiered ranking system. The recent letter calls on the AVMA to downgrade VSD+ from Tier 2 to the bottom Tier 3 in its draft guidelines—as it does for pigs—and explicitly state that VSD+ is “not recommended.” Tier 3 methods are defined as those for which there is “limited to no evidence to support their use,” or for which the “evidence may be contrary to good animal welfare.” The letter further asks that two additional cruel killing methods be downgraded to Tier 3: Water-based foam, which suffocates pigs or other livestock by painfully blocking their airways, and manual blunt force trauma, which typically involves striking a piglet in the head with a hammer or swinging the animal against the floor or a wall. Media Contact Information Marjorie Fishman, Animal Welfare Institutemargie@awionline.org, (202) 446-2128 The Animal Welfare Institute (awionline.org) is a nonprofit charitable organization founded in 1951 and dedicated to alleviating animal suffering caused by people. We seek to improve the welfare of animals everywhere: in agriculture, in commerce, in our homes and communities, in research, and in the wild. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Threads, Bluesky, and LinkedIn for updates and other important animal protection news.

To Celebrate National Horse Protection Day, Lawmakers Reintroduce Bipartisan Legislation to End Horse Slaughter Niki Thu, 02/27/2025 - 12:43 Photo by Sara Kurfess February 27, 2025 Endorsed by leading animal welfare and industry groups, the Save America’s Forgotten Equines (SAFE) Act would expand the Dog and Cat Meat Prohibition Act to include equines, permanently protecting American horses from slaughter. Washington, DC—In honor of National Horse Protection Day on March 1, a bipartisan group of federal lawmakers today reintroduced the Save America’s Forgotten Equines (SAFE) Act to permanently protect American horses from commercial slaughter. Sponsored by Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), and Reps. Vern Buchanan (R-Fla.) and Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.), the SAFE Act would expand the Dog and Cat Meat Prohibition Act—which passed as part of the 2018 Farm Bill—to include equines, prohibiting the commercial slaughter of horses in the United States and ending their export for that purpose abroad.According to recent surveys, the American public overwhelmingly (83%) opposes horse slaughter, and for good reason. The entire process is inherently cruel, subjecting animals to long and dangerous transportation and brutal treatment at slaughterhouses, culminating in ineffective stunning methods that can leave horses conscious during dismemberment. The industry preys on healthy horses who could potentially find new homes and also makes rescuing horses more difficult.The SAFE Act received strong bipartisan support last Congress, with more than half of House members signing on as cosponsors, and is supported by leading animal welfare groups, including the Animal Welfare Institute, ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®), Humane World for Animals, Humane World Action Fund, and Return to Freedom Wild Horse Conservation. This legislation is also endorsed by equine industry groups, including The Jockey Club, the US Trotting Association, the Stronach Group, the Breeders’ Cup, the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association, the Jockeys’ Guild, the New York Racing Association, Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, and the Maryland Horse Council. These groups partnered with animal welfare organizations to form the “Final Stretch Alliance to End Horse Slaughter,” a collaborative effort urging federal lawmakers to pass a permanent ban on slaughter. Additionally, approximately 400 veterinarians have signed on to letters endorsing the SAFE Act and urging Congress to include this legislation in the Farm Bill.“The slaughter of horses for human consumption is barbaric and has no place in America,” Buchanan said. “As co-chairman of the Animal Protection Caucus, I look forward to continuing to lead this effort with Congresswoman Schakowsky to protect these beautiful creatures.”“As a former horse owner, I have been a leader in efforts to ban horse slaughter in the United States for many years,” said Schakowsky. “I am once again partnering with Congressman Vern Buchanan in introducing the SAFE Act to amend the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 to prohibit the slaughter of equines for human consumption, both domestically and abroad. It is beyond time to end this brutal and dangerous practice. Horses are not food. As a proud animal lover, we owe it to our horse companions to protect their welfare.”“I’m proud to join my colleagues to introduce bipartisan legislation to permanently ban the slaughter of horses for human consumption. Unlike cattle, horses aren’t raised as food animals in the United States,” said Luján. “I look forward to working with my colleagues to pass this bill to protect our nation’s horses while maintaining support for meat and poultry markets.”Last year, approximately 19,000 horses were exported to Canada and Mexico for slaughter—the lowest number in at least 45 years. Even one horse being shipped off to slaughter is one too many, however, and now is an opportune time to pass a ban.“Although the overall decline in American horses being exported for human consumption is a sign of progress, more than 19,000 horses are still being trucked across the border each year as part of the predatory horse slaughter pipeline. This industry needs to be shut down once and for all,” said Susan Millward, executive director and chief executive officer at the Animal Welfare Institute. “We are immensely grateful to Congressman Buchanan, Congresswoman Schakowsky, Senator Graham, and Senator Luján for their outstanding leadership on the SAFE Act and we hope that Congress will move quickly to protect America’s horses from slaughter.”“Despite overwhelming public opposition to horse slaughter, a legal loophole still allows tens of thousands of American horses to be shipped to other countries for slaughter each year. Not only is horse slaughter cruel and unnecessary, but the existence of the slaughter pipeline itself stifles rescue and rehoming efforts, putting equine welfare at risk,” said Nancy Perry, senior vice president of government relations for the ASPCA. “Equine industry and animal welfare groups are working daily to solve equine welfare issues on the ground, but we cannot fully succeed while the slaughter pipeline remains open. We are so grateful to Senators Graham and Luján and Representatives Buchanan and Schakowsky for their dedication to starting a new chapter for America’s equines and championing the SAFE Act to secure an end to horse slaughter.”America’s equine adoption community is working swiftly to match the horses in their care with foster and adoptive families, increasing the number of adoptions every year, and research shows that 2.3 million Americans have both the interest and resources to adopt a horse. This means that there are options available for the tens of thousands of horses who were exported to slaughter last year. Many could have a home waiting, if given the opportunity to find it, or compassionate end-of-life care provided by a veterinarian close to home. As long as the financial incentive for slaughter exists, however, it will continue to hamper the lifesaving efforts of rescue and welfare groups to provide humane care to equines.The slaughter industry not only exploits horses who must endure grueling journeys and inhumane deaths but also harms the broader equine community, including horse owners, riders, and rescues. Kill buyers—those who buy horses to ship to slaughterhouses in Canada and Mexico—attend auctions and often outbid individuals who could provide those horses loving homes, which also forces rescue groups to divert limited resources from other lifesaving work to compete with this industry. Kill buyers also have been known to pose as good homes in response to ads from horse owners who can no longer care for their animals. Many owners are so afraid their horses will end up at slaughter that they may even keep them beyond the point that they can afford basic care, causing further suffering.“The pipeline to slaughter is a death sentence for horses, subjecting them to unimaginable suffering. These majestic animals, who have helped build this nation, are deserving of compassion and kindness, not cruelty. It’s time to end their horrifying journey to slaughter, where many suffer brutal abuse long before they arrive,” said Sara Amundson, president of Humane World Action Fund. "Horse slaughter for human consumption is an industry that shows a complete disregard for these loyal and noble animals. We call on lawmakers to support Senators Graham and Luján and Representatives Buchanan and Schakowsky in their efforts to pass the Save America’s Forgotten Equines (SAFE) Act and put an end to this inhumane practice once and for all.”“This bipartisan legislation would at last put an end to the thousands of inhumane deaths suffered each year by American horses, both domestic and wild, while saving the government time and money that are being wasted on a shrinking, foreign-driven industry,” said Neda DeMayo, president of Return to Freedom Wild Horse Conservation.Members of the public are encouraged to contact their US senators and representatives to urge them to cosponsor the SAFE Act and secure its swift passage to protect horses, their caregivers, and consumers. Media Contact Information Marjorie Fishman, Animal Welfare Institutemargie@awionline.org, (202) 446-2128Maureen Linehan, ASPCAmaureen.linehan@aspca.org, (646) 628-0006Emily Gugel, Humane World for Animals/Humane World Action Fundeehrhorn@humanesociety.org, (202) 779-1814Cory Golden, Return to Freedomoutreach@returntofreedom.org, (805) 737-9246 The Animal Welfare Institute (awionline.org) is a nonprofit charitable organization founded in 1951 and dedicated to alleviating animal suffering caused by people. We seek to improve the welfare of animals everywhere: in agriculture, in commerce, in our homes and communities, in research, and in the wild. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Threads, Bluesky, and LinkedIn for updates and other important animal protection news.For over 70 years, Humane World for Animals—formerly called Humane Society of the United States and Humane Society International—has worked to tackle the root causes of animal cruelty and suffering and create permanent change. Driving for the greatest global impact, we aim to achieve the vision behind our name. With millions of supporters and work happening in over 50 countries, we address the most deeply entrenched forms of animal cruelty and suffering, by working on the biggest problems and creating long-term solutions for lasting change. We tackle the root causes of animal cruelty by shifting human behavior and advocating for policy change, making change at scale. We work across borders, bringing diverse expertise to the most complex issues, and doing it all with a compassionate and welcoming approach. As the leading voice in the animal protection space, we work to end the cruelest practices, care for animals in crisis and build a stronger animal protection movement. Since 1954, we’ve helped to pass hundreds of landmark laws, rescued thousands of animals, and cared for and protected millions more. Our political affiliate in the United States, Humane World Action Fund, formerly Humane Society Legislative Fund, works to advance our mission by passing animal protection laws at the state and federal levels, educating the public about animal protection issues, and supporting humane candidates for office.Return to Freedom Wild Horse Conservation (RTF) is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting the freedom, diversity and habitat of wild horses and burros through sanctuary, education, advocacy and conservation since 1998. We operate the American Wild Horse Sanctuary in California, caring for more than 460 wild horses and burros. Follow us on social media @returntofreedom for updates about wild horses and burros on the range and at our sanctuary.

Amid Legal Troubles, Monkey-Breeding Facility Backers Expand Operations Niki Mon, 03/03/2025 - 16:38 Photo by Tunatura March 3, 2025 Washington, DC—The Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) is deeply concerned by the recent announcement that Safer Human Medicine (SHM)—the company behind a massive monkey-breeding facility planned in Georgia—has acquired a facility in Florida to hold non-human primates slated for biomedical research.The 70-acre facility in LaBelle, Florida, will help SHM “accelerate its holding and quarantine operations for non-human primates,” the company said in a release, while supporting a planned $396 million complex in Bainbridge, Georgia, that, at peak capacity, would hold 30,000 long-tailed macaques. This is at least triple the number currently housed at any other US breeding facility.People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) reported last month the findings of its investigation that identified a “secretly orchestrated deal between monkey importer Charles River Laboratories and SIMI United States, LLC, a company newly incorporated by the executives behind Safer Human Medicine.” SHM has denied PETA’s allegations that the deal was a secret.Members of SHM’s executive leadership have a troubled track record on animal welfare issues. SHM’s CEO served as COO of Envigo during a time when conditions at that biomedical company’s Virginia dog-breeding operation were so atrocious that the facility was eventually shuttered following execution of a federal search warrant and subsequent court orders. Envigo was convicted of conspiring to violate the Animal Welfare Act and paid the largest-ever fine in a case involving this federal law. Additionally, SHM’s president and COO previously held executive positions at Charles River Laboratories, which is still being investigated by the federal government for its conduct regarding shipments of long-tailed macaques from Cambodia.Charles River Laboratories previously proposed building a mega monkey-holding facility in southeast Texas, but abandoned those plans last year after encountering opposition from local leaders and residents.Since 2022, long-tailed macaques have been classified as “endangered” on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species. A scientific study published last year found that the population of this species has declined by 80% over the past 35 years, attributing it in part to accelerating demand from the biomedical industry. That same industry has formally petitioned the IUCN to strip long-tailed macaques of their endangered designation.SHM’s planned Georgia facility is currently mired in multiple legal disputes filed by local residents. They have reason to worry. In November, 43 rhesus macaques escaped from the Alpha Genesis Incorporated primate research facility in Yemassee, South Carolina, putting the health of the monkeys and the town’s residents at risk.“Safer Human Medicine is solidifying its investment stake in its monkey-breeding operation and ignoring residents’ objections, even though the fate of the Bainbridge facility is far from decided by the courts,” said Dr. Joanna Makowska, director and senior scientist for AWI’s Animals in Laboratories Program. Media Contact Information Marjorie Fishman, Animal Welfare Institutemargie@awionline.org, (202) 446-2128 The Animal Welfare Institute (awionline.org) is a nonprofit charitable organization founded in 1951 and dedicated to alleviating animal suffering caused by people. We seek to improve the welfare of animals everywhere: in agriculture, in commerce, in our homes and communities, in research, and in the wild. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Threads, Bluesky, and LinkedIn for updates and other important animal protection news.

ProTECT Act Would Protect Species Killed as Trophies Niki Fri, 03/07/2025 - 13:48 Photo by Henk Bogaard March 7, 2025 Washington, DC—The Prohibiting Threatened and Endangered Creature Trophies (ProTECT) Act (H.R. 1934) was reintroduced yesterday by Rep. Ted Lieu (D-CA). The Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) commends Lieu for continuing to champion this legislation following the death of its long-time sponsor, Rep. Sheila Jackson-Lee (D-TX).The ProTECT Act would prohibit importing a trophy of a species listed as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act, as well as ban the killing of a listed species for a trophy within the United States. This reflects the values of American citizens, 86% of whom oppose all big game hunting, according to a 2015 poll.“Wildlife trafficking must be stopped. When people choose to kill animals to take home as trophies, they’re being selfish and inhumane,” Lieu said. “This is especially true when it comes to endangered species, which are already at perilous risk of going extinct. I am pleased to re-introduce the ProTECT Act to defend both endangered and threatened species from the senseless practice of trophy hunting. I had the privilege of working with the late Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee on this legislation, and it is in her honor and memory that we will continue to champion this important cause.”“Species protected under the Endangered Species Act face many grave threats, including habitat loss and climate change. Killing them for sport makes absolutely no sense if we want to save them from extinction,” said Susan Millward, AWI’s executive director and chief executive officer. “Let’s not cater to the interests of wealthy hunters who care more about mounting a dead animal’s head on a wall than protecting disappearing species. Thank you to Representative Lieu for introducing the ProTECT Act, which will ensure that species under federal protection aren’t victimized by trophy hunters.”There is no credible scientific evidence that trophy hunting provides conservation or economic benefits. Indeed, studies have shown that charismatic species are worth more alive as tourist attractions than dead at the hands of a trophy hunter. Trophy hunting can also hurt the structure and viability of already vulnerable wild populations: Big game hunters target the largest, strongest animals for trophies, and this can result in enormous upheaval for the surviving members of the group, disrupting social bonds and behaviors and having adverse genetic impacts on the population. Many populations of targeted species are already severely depleted due to other threats, and killing more than 100,000 animals for trophies each year only exacerbates the problem.The ProTECT Act would also ensure that threatened and endangered species cannot be killed for trophies on canned hunting operations within the United States. Known as “shooting preserves” or “game ranches,” these operations allow trophy hunters to shoot animals within fenced-in areas. While it is generally illegal to harm an ESA-listed species, the operators of these ranches receive species permits from the US Fish and Wildlife Service to offer these captive hunts. Such canned hunts perpetuate the market for imperiled species’ trophies, which can encourage poaching of the animals in the wild. This runs contrary to the fundamental purpose of the ESA, which is to conserve wild species—not endanger them further by targeting these animals for trophies. Media Contact Information Marjorie Fishman, Animal Welfare Institutemargie@awionline.org, (202) 446-2128 The Animal Welfare Institute (awionline.org) is a nonprofit charitable organization founded in 1951 and dedicated to alleviating animal suffering caused by people. We seek to improve the welfare of animals everywhere: in agriculture, in commerce, in our homes and communities, in research, and in the wild. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Threads, Bluesky, and LinkedIn for updates and other important animal protection news.

USDA’s Bird Flu Strategy Inadequate to Control Disease and Prevent Inhumane Treatment aalberg Fri, 03/07/2025 - 14:05 Photo by Farm Sanctuary March 7, 2025 New federal records show that taxpayers have paid hundreds of millions of dollars to bail out repeatedly infected commercial operations. Washington, DC—The Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) appreciates that the US Department of Agriculture has developed a revised strategy to address the staggering impacts of the current bird flu outbreak, yet the five-point plan continues to incentivize producers to maintain massive flock sizes and overcrowded conditions that encourage disease transmission while undermining animal welfare. “While the USDA’s strategy shows some potential, it remains fundamentally misguided and a disservice to higher-welfare farmers, animals, and public health,” said Zack Strong, director of AWI’s Farmed Animal Program. “We would welcome an opportunity to work with the administration to ensure its approach is as effective and humane as possible.”The current outbreak, involving a highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus, is the largest and most expensive animal health crisis in US history. It has sickened or killed thousands of wild animals, infected hundreds of dairy herds, and led to the deaths of more than 166 million domestic chickens, turkeys, ducks, and other birds. Seventy humans have also been infected, and one has died.According to the USDA, from February 2022 through November 2024, poultry producers have received $1.25 billion in taxpayer-backed indemnity and compensation payments in response to HPAI infections. Department records also reveal an alarming trend of reinfections on commercial operations. Through January 2025, 79 commercial poultry operations have been infected at least twice, including 17 that have been infected three times and six that have been infected four times. On these 79 operations—which alone have received nearly $337 million in indemnity payments—nearly 40 million birds have been killed in flocks that have been “depopulated” (killed en masse) in response to HPAI infections.AWI generally supports some aspects of the department’s revised HPAI response plan and strategy, such as bolstering farm biosecurity and devising ways to reduce depopulations. We also appreciate the USDA’s hyper-focus on HPAI vaccines for poultry, and strongly encourage the department to research and develop a safe, effective vaccination and surveillance program. In other areas, however, the department’s strategy is deeply flawed, because it fails to consider certain prevention and response measures that could more effectively mitigate disease spread and dramatically improve the welfare of affected birds.Inadequate prevention measuresOne key prevention measure that the USDA’s strategy neglects to address is conditioning indemnity payments on reduced flock sizes and stocking densities. As AWI raised in letters to a National Academies of Science planning committee and the USDA’s Animal Health and Plant Inspection Service (APHIS), research suggests that larger flocks (such as those housing 100,000 or more hens in a single barn) and more crowded conditions generally raise the risk of HPAI infection and transmission.“Dozens of commercial operations—usually housing tens of thousands to several million birds—continue to become infected, use cruel methods to depopulate flocks, receive millions of dollars, restock at high rates, and go through the cycle all over again,” said Allie Granger, policy advisor for AWI’s Farmed Animal Program.The department’s approach to biosecurity audits also falls short. The USDA promises to expand its auditing of biosecurity measures that poultry farms are supposed to have in place to be eligible for depopulation indemnity payments. However, the department recently published an interim rule explaining that the only operations subject to virtual or in-person audits—not just paper audits—are those that exceed certain size thresholds (e.g., commercial operations where more than 100,000 meat chickens or 30,000 turkeys are raised annually) and have either already been infected or are located near recently infected premises. This might help reduce repeat outbreaks on the same property, but it does nothing to incentivize other facilities to enact protocols to prevent or help contain infections in the first place.No mention of inhumane depopulation methodsRegarding HPAI infection response, conspicuously absent from the USDA’s strategy are any restrictions on how infected flocks will be depopulated. In June 2023, AWI petitioned APHIS to require producers to develop, as a prerequisite for indemnity payments, written plans explaining how they intend to kill their birds as quickly and humanely as possible should an infection occur. HPAI infections are no longer an unforeseeable or unlikely occurrence and must be planned for accordingly. Incentivizing producers to plan ahead would not only improve animal welfare but also speed up response times and help the USDA meet its goal of carrying out depopulations of infected flocks within 24 to 48 hours to prevent further viral spread.AWI has also called on the USDA to research, fund, and make more readily available depopulation methods that use nitrogen gas. These methods are far more humane than the increasingly ubiquitous practice known as ventilation shutdown plus (VSD+) which involves raising the temperatures inside poultry barns until the animals die of heatstroke—often enduring pain and distress for hours or even days. Unlike many higher-welfare depopulation methods, VSD+ requires little or no advance planning or preparation, making its use far more likely if it is not expressly prohibited—or at least disincentivized—by USDA policy.By mid-January 2025, approximately 143 million birds had been killed in bird flu–related depopulations. According to AWI’s analysis, about 103 million (72%) of these were killed on commercial operations in which VSD+ was used either alone or in combination with other methods. Of the 79 operations with multiple infections, more than half (42) repeatedly used VSD+ to depopulate their flocks; many received multimillion-dollar indemnity payments each time.“It is critical that the USDA end its policy of compensating producers who rely on VSD+ to slowly kill tens of millions of infected animals,” Strong said. “The department must instead incentivize more humane alternatives.”Neglecting farmers and disregarding states’ prerogative to protect animal welfareOne component of the USDA’s strategy commits to removing “regulatory burdens” on the poultry industries. Speaking to reporters recently, Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins cited California’s Proposition 12 as an example of state legislation that could be rolled back. Proposition 12 is an initiative approved by a wide margin of the state’s voters that established minimum space requirements for egg-laying hens and other farmed animals and prohibited the sale of noncompliant products. Undermining such laws would jeopardize the livelihoods of thousands of farmers who have already adapted to these requirements. Further, it would disrupt states’ centuries-long tradition—recently recognized by the US Supreme Court—of enacting laws designed to protect animal welfare. Moreover, overturning democratically enacted state protections would do nothing to mitigate the spread of HPAI or increase the supply of eggs. Media Contact Information Marjorie Fishman, Animal Welfare Institutemargie@awionline.org, (202) 446-2128 The Animal Welfare Institute (awionline.org) is a nonprofit charitable organization founded in 1951 and dedicated to alleviating animal suffering caused by people. We seek to improve the welfare of animals everywhere: in agriculture, in commerce, in our homes and communities, in research, and in the wild. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Threads, Bluesky, and LinkedIn for updates and other important animal protection news.

AWI Awards Grants to Advance the Welfare of Animals Used in Research Niki Fri, 03/07/2025 - 14:36 Photo by filin174 March 10, 2025 Washington, DC—The Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) is pleased to announce the 2024 winners of the Refinement Research Award, which funds research projects that develop or test novel refinement methods, and the Implementing Refinement Grant, which funds the purchase of equipment or training meant to improve the welfare of animals used in research.Since its founding in 1951, AWI has encouraged laboratory personnel to provide animals with comfortable housing and the opportunity to engage in species-typical behaviors, while sparing them needless suffering. AWI awards individual grants of up to $15,000 to develop and demonstrate innovative methods of refinement to the housing or care of animals in research to better their lives, and grants of up to $8,000 toward the purchase of equipment or staff training.For the first time, two funded projects focus on insect welfare. The 10 grantees are:Refinement Research Award Winners:Dr. Michael Brunt of MWB Research Consulting Services to survey public attitudes about current research practices involving insects, including live dissection.Dr. Samuel Olutunde Durosaro, a postdoctoral scholar at Indiana University, to develop species-specific protocols to safely and humanely anesthetize insects, such as cockroaches, crickets, and yellow mealworms.Implementing Refinement Grant Winners:Dr. Diana Coulon, director of Comparative Biology Core and attending veterinarian at Pennington Biomedical Research Center, to purchase materials that allow rodents to climb and perch, encouraging species-specific behaviors and providing new places to explore and hide.Ioan Cozma, animal health technician and coordinator of the marmoset project at the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre to purchase tree branches for marmoset cages to promote natural wood-gnawing behaviors.Joshua Ejdelman, manager of the Animal Resources Division at the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, to purchase quieter and lower-vibration wheels for carts to reduce animal stress as they are transported within facilities.Tania Liboiron, animal user training technician at the University of Saskatchewan, to purchase large, double-decker cages with interlinking tubes and enrichment tools, such as activity wheels and huts, to offer rats social housing without overcrowding.Dr. Kerith Luchins, associate professor and director of rodent clinical services at the University of Chicago, to purchase handling tunnels for mice and expand their use campus-wide to reduce animal anxiety and improve welfare.Dr. Carly Moody, assistant professor of animal welfare epidemiology at the University of California, Davis, to purchase elevated platforms and shelters for mice and create educational infographics about the benefits of these enrichment items.Dr. Vanessa Oliver, adjunct assistant professor of veterinary medicine at the University of Calgary, to purchase pens, toys, and shelters to implement an exercise program for rabbits institution-wide that will improve their physical and mental health.Jenna Owens, research assistant and monkey enrichment specialist at Texas Biomedical Research Institute, to build cooperative enrichment items for singly housed primates, including tug-of-war units, puzzle feeders, and interactive touchscreen tablets, to encourage social interaction and play between animals housed next to each other.“AWI is proud to support these innovative projects to improve the quality of life for animals used in research,” said Dr. Joanna Makowska, director and senior scientist for AWI’s Animals in Laboratories Program. “We recognize that laboratory personnel play a crucial role in contributing to the well-being of animals in laboratories. This grant program promotes the creation, exchange, and dissemination of ideas and information about the highest standards of care for these animals.”Last year, AWI awarded an Implementing Refinement Grant to Anna Jimenez and Dr. Marie-Chantal Giroux of McGill University to purchase transparent handling tunnels as a less-stressful alternative to picking up mice by their tails.“We are so grateful to AWI for this opportunity,” the researchers wrote. “The grant was exactly the motivation we needed to help us get the trials off the ground and develop our training resources.”Applications for the 2025 Refinement funding cycle will be available in late summer/early fall. Media Contact Information Marjorie Fishman, Animal Welfare Institutemargie@awionline.org, (202) 446-2128 The Animal Welfare Institute (awionline.org) is a nonprofit charitable organization founded in 1951 and dedicated to alleviating animal suffering caused by people. We seek to improve the welfare of animals everywhere: in agriculture, in commerce, in our homes and communities, in research, and in the wild. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Threads, Bluesky, and LinkedIn for updates and other important animal protection news.

Illinois Bill Requiring Disease Monitoring on Mink Farms Passes House Committee Niki Thu, 03/13/2025 - 14:52 Photo by We Animals Media March 13, 2025 Washington, DC—The Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) celebrates today’s passage of the Mink Facility Disease Prevention Act (H.B. 2627) in the Public Health Committee of the Illinois House of Representatives. The bill now heads to the full Illinois House for a vote.This legislation, sponsored by state Rep. Joyce Mason (D-61), would protect public health and human safety by requiring disease prevention and surveillance measures at farms that raise and slaughter mink for their fur. Mink farms in Illinois would be required to obtain a license from the state Department of Public Health and meet commonsense requirements for disease surveillance and containment.The Mink Facility Disease Prevention Act comes in response to a growing body of scientific research that shows mink on fur farms incubate diseases such as COVID-19 and avian influenza, creating the perfect conditions for new variants to jump to humans—with potentially devastating results.“The cramped conditions on mink farms are not only bad from an animal welfare standpoint but we also cannot ignore the risk of disease proliferation and the possibility of human infection,” said Susan Millward, AWI’s executive director and chief executive officer. “For far too long, these farms have operated without any meaningful oversight, despite their capacity to spawn potentially devastating viruses. Pandemic prevention requires a multifaceted approach, and this bill is crucial to that effort.” Media Contact Information Marjorie Fishman, Animal Welfare Institutemargie@awionline.org, (202) 446-2128 The Animal Welfare Institute (awionline.org) is a nonprofit charitable organization founded in 1951 and dedicated to alleviating animal suffering caused by people. We seek to improve the welfare of animals everywhere: in agriculture, in commerce, in our homes and communities, in research, and in the wild. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Threads, Bluesky, and LinkedIn for updates and other important animal protection news.