Animals & Politics

Wildlife  /  Mar 24, 2022

Our undercover investigation reveals why hippos desperately need federal protections under the Endangered Species Act

By Sara Amundson and Kitty Block

With their barrel shape, huge teeth and jaws that can open to almost 180 degrees, hippos are characteristically unique and one of the world’s most recognizable animals. Hippos are also a keystone species: As “ecosystem engineers,” their behavior helps shape and maintain landscapes and habitats and promote biodiversity. Their presence is indispensable to the African lake and river areas they inhabit.

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Animals in Research, Equines, Farm Animals, Pets & Cruelty, Wildlife, Federal Legislation  /  Mar 10, 2022

Animal-friendly appropriations in Congress bring good news for all kinds of animals 

By Sara Amundson and Kitty Block

Update 3/15/2022: President Biden signed the appropriations package into law.

Humane advocates often look to the passage of animal-friendly legislation as the strongest measure of progress in our work at the federal level, and clearly, good laws are important. But a nation that cares for animals needs to prove that in its spending commitments, too. For that reason, we work to secure strong animal protection laws and to shape congressional funding priorities for key federal agencies.

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Equines, Farm Animals, Pets & Cruelty, Wildlife, Federal Legislation, In the News  /  Mar 02, 2022

As President Biden addresses the state of the union, we continue to push for progress for animals

By Sara Amundson and Kitty Block

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Equines, Federal Legislation, In the News  /  Feb 23, 2022

Kentucky Derby winner’s disqualification highlights ongoing need for horse racing reform

By Sara Amundson and Kitty Block

The regulatory system in horse racing has been broken for years, and public confidence in the sport continues to wane. This week’s news that Medina Spirit is being stripped of his 2021 Kentucky Derby win is yet another blow.

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Wildlife, In the News  /  Feb 11, 2022

Federal judge restores critical protections for many gray wolves, ending states’ cruel and irresponsible management

By Sara Amundson and Kitty Block

Wolves across most of the continental United States must have Endangered Species Act protections restored, a federal judge ruled yesterday, effectively prohibiting trophy hunting of the species across most of the country.

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Animals in Research, Equines, Farm Animals, Pets & Cruelty, Wildlife, Federal Legislation  /  Feb 09, 2022

2021 in review: How did your Members of Congress score on animal protection issues?

Accountability is critical to our work. Just as we are accountable to our supporters and the animals we seek to defend, we work to hold elected officials accountable for their track records and their commitment to animal protection legislation.

Today we have published our annual Humane Scorecard to track key votes, co-sponsorships and other actions by federal lawmakers in support of animal protection. We hope you find it a valuable tool, and we’re heartened that many legislators work hard to achieve a high score.

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Wildlife, Federal Legislation  /  Feb 04, 2022

Key wildlife priorities advance in the House

By Sara Amundson and Kitty Block

It is the dream of a better world for animals that inspires our work, but it is action that will get us there, and that’s what made Friday’s events on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives momentous. All at once, in a single session, in one package—the America COMPETES Act (H.R. 4521)—the House voted to support half a dozen wildlife protection measures. As a result, we’re just steps away from achieving sweeping protections for hundreds of millions of animals worldwide.

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Wildlife  /  Jan 27, 2022

To save wolves, the US government must act now

By Sara Amundson and Kitty Block

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Wildlife, Federal Legislation  /  Jan 20, 2022

Trophy hunters celebrate their kills in Las Vegas despite overwhelming public opposition

By Sara Amundson and Kitty Block

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Wildlife, Federal Legislation, In the News  /  Jan 11, 2022

Tiger King takeaway: It’s time to end big cat breeding and trafficking

By Sara Amundson and Kitty Block

The original “Tiger King” Netflix series was a pandemic phenomenon with a train-wreck fascination for millions of viewers and a whole cast of unsavory characters. But the sideshow weirdness of the personalities involved kept many viewers from focusing on the big cat industry’s epidemic of cruelty.

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Animals in Research, Farm Animals, Pets & Cruelty, Wildlife, Federal Legislation, Issue Areas, State Legislation  /  Jan 05, 2022

Good news to start 2022: These new laws are now in place to protect animals

By Kitty Block and Sara Amundson

We begin our work in 2022 encouraged by the knowledge that a handful of significant animal protection laws at the state level have now taken effect across the country. That makes for a great start to a year in which we hope to extend the reach of our campaigns to help all animals.

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Wildlife, Federal Legislation  /  Dec 30, 2021

How wild animals won against trophy hunters in 2021

By Sara Amundson and Kitty Block

Every year that passes sees hundreds of thousands of wild animals in the U.S. and around the world killed by trophy hunters, whose main motivation is to display whole animals or their body parts for bragging rights. Given all the threats facing wild animals, including habitat loss, environmental devastation and climate change, it is astounding that such a practice still exists today, which is why protecting animals from trophy hunting in the U.S. and around the world is a top priority for us.

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