Animals & Politics

Wildlife, Action Alerts, Film & Television / Mar 27, 2020

Netflix's 'Tiger King' is a wake-up call for ending private possession of big cats

By Sara Amundson and Kitty Block

A decade ago, a Humane Society of the United States's undercover investigation delved into the bizarre world of Joseph Maldonado-Passage (aka Joe Exotic) and his roadside zoo, GW Exotics. For years, Joe and his band of untrained workers kept hundreds of big cats and other wild animals in captivity in barren conditions, bred them to provide infant animals for public photo shoots and “play time” sessions, and even shot animals dead when they were of no use to him anymore.

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Federal Legislation, In the News / Mar 27, 2020

Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES) passes with potential benefits for animal protection sector

By Sara Amundson and Kitty Block

The $2 trillion emergency stimulus bill that cleared Congress today carries important prospective benefits for the animal care and services sector. These include a temporary expansion of charitable deduction provisions, opportunities for business continuity loans to cover payroll, paid leave, health-insurance premiums, facilities costs, and debt service, and increased tax incentives for corporate giving.

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Wildlife, In the News / Mar 26, 2020

To prevent another pandemic, global leaders should crack down on wildlife trade

By Sara Amundson and Kitty Block

At the G20 coronavirus meeting today, global leaders, including President Trump, brainstormed on ways to control the coronavirus pandemic that is now ravaging dozens of nations, leaving a vast trail of human casualties in its wake. But one thing that didn’t come up was the reason why we are in this predicament in the first place: the unchecked trade, transport and consumption of wildlife.

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Wildlife, In the News / Mar 26, 2020

In new role at the USFWS, trophy hunters’ lawyer will guide U.S. global policy on wildlife

By Sara Amundson and Kitty Block

The Trump administration’s course on wildlife policy, riddled with handouts to trophy hunters, took another wrong turn last week with the hiring of Anna Seidman, a litigator for Safari Club International, to head a key office of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

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Elections / Mar 23, 2020

Living, and voting, during the coronavirus crisis

Supporters of our work should know that the entire Humane Society Legislative Fund staff has transitioned to remote work. We’re working hard to call attention to the needs of local humane societies and other animal service agencies, and to make federal legislators mindful of the critical role these entities play. And we’re also continuing to advance our regular mission of giving animals the best possible representation in the nation’s capital.

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Equines, Action Alerts, Federal Legislation, In the News / Mar 20, 2020

As scandals in horse racing escalate, trainers join calls for reform

By Sara Amundson and Kitty Block

The recent indictment of more than two dozen people, including racehorse trainers and veterinarians, in a widespread doping scandal has turned a red-hot spotlight on the horseracing industry. And in a welcome development, some long-overdue scrutiny is coming from stakeholders within the industry itself.

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Animals in Research, Action Alerts, Federal Legislation / Mar 19, 2020

Congress should act fast to protect animals in puppy mills, roadside zoos and research labs during coronavirus crisis

By Sara Amundson and Kitty Block

As the COVID-19 crisis escalates, we are asking Congress to act quickly on an important bill that would ensure that millions of animals held in research laboratories and enterprises like puppy mills and roadside zoos across the country are not forgotten.

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Equines, Action Alerts, Federal Legislation / Mar 09, 2020

BREAKING NEWS: Racehorse trainers, veterinarians charged in widespread doping scandal

By Sara Amundson and Kitty Block

Federal prosecutors have charged more than two dozen racehorse trainers, veterinarians and drug dealers in a “widespread, corrupt” scheme to dope horses to push them beyond their limits, increase profits and cheat the betting public.

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Pets & Cruelty / Mar 05, 2020

Missouri moves to close down a serial puppy mill offender

By Sara Amundson and Kitty Block

A notorious breeder in Missouri who has been featured five times in our annual Horrible Hundred report on problem puppy mills may be closing down her operation, even as the state’s attorney general is moving to take legal action against her for mistreating the dogs in her care.

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Elections / Feb 25, 2020

South Carolina Democratic presidential debate: where do the candidates stand on animal protection issues?

By Brad Pyle

Tonight, the Democratic Party will host a presidential debate, and we thought it timely to examine the animal protection records of candidates for president. This debate will be co-hosted by CBS News and the Congressional Black Caucus Institute in Charleston. You can watch it live on CBS or CBS.com. We want you and other supporters to know that we’re going to hold candidates at all levels accountable for their animal welfare commitments in the coming election cycle.

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Wildlife, Action Alerts, Federal Legislation / Feb 21, 2020

A year after his rescue from a Houston home, Loki the tiger enjoys sanctuary and reminds us why big cats are not pets

By Sara Amundson and Kitty Block

The cat playing with a blue buoy in the video looks adorable and will put a smile on your face, but it is important to remember that Loki is no pet. The 300-pound tiger was, however, being kept as one when he was found living in a cage inside a Houston home one year ago this month.

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Equines, Pets & Cruelty, Federal Legislation / Feb 18, 2020