By Sara Amundson and Kitty Block
We are at a tipping point in the fight to end the brutal practice of horse soring, a form of torment to force Tennessee walking horses and related breeds to exhibit the high-stepping gait known as the “Big Lick.”
In this consequential election year for animal protection, it’s worth taking a moment to make sure you’re up to date on the latest changes in voting procedures and are ready to have your voice heard in our democracy.
Today, the Humane Society Legislative Fund endorses Vice President Kamala Harris in her bid to become the next president of the United States.
Harris’ campaign gives us an unprecedented opportunity to evaluate a presidential candidate’s substantive achievements for animals as the chief legal officer of a state, in addition to their animal protection record as a federal legislator and executive.
Our annual legislative scorecard is a trusted source for evaluating the animal protection commitments of elected officials at the federal level. This preview version of our 2024 Humane Scorecard allows you to determine where your federal legislators stand now on key animal protection priorities. It also gives you a chance to encourage them to strengthen their support―and their ratings―before the 118th Congress wraps up and we publish the final version in January 2025.
By Sara Amundson and Kitty Block
By Sara Amundson and Kitty Block
The American Kennel Club turns 140 years old this week. Its tagline is “For the love of all things dog.” Nothing could be more misleading.
Whether you’re looking left, right, in the middle, up, or down, the signs are clear—this is a big election year. There are significant things at stake as we prepare to elect candidates to offices at every level of government. The decisions that the successful elected officials will make every day will powerfully impact the lives of our nation’s companion animals, farmed animals, those in research and testing, and wildlife. This is an opportunity for us as a voting bloc dedicated to animal protection to make our voices heard.
The 2024 Virginia Humane Scorecard is now available online and clearly demonstrates that Virginia is for animal lovers. State lawmakers passed eight pieces of anti-cruelty legislation, all of which were signed into law by the Governor. Thanks to the actions of advocates and legislators, the use of bullhooks on elephants is prohibited, pet stores must now comply with federal consumer credit law, and publicly-funded animal testing facilities will be further investigated.
The 2024 Maryland Humane Scorecard is now available online. This year, lawmakers passed a notable victory that will prohibit travelling acts from using bears, big cats, elephants, and non-human primates in the state. We at HSLF celebrate this victory, but we also recognize that overall, we saw a lack of progress on animal issues in the 2024 session.
