By Sara Amundson and Kitty Block

The flood of inspection reports detailing animal neglect and suffering at puppy mills, wild animal attractions and animal laboratories in the U.S. regulated under the federal Animal Welfare Act continues to be overwhelming. Strengthening the ability of the U.S. Department of Justice to intervene in cases involving welfare violations would do a world of good for animals.

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.

Statement on former Pentagon official’s guilty plea for dogfighting

Statement on former Pentagon official’s guilty plea for dogfighting

Last week, a former Pentagon official pled guilty in federal court to dogfighting and racketeering crimes. The Department of Justice investigation of the onetime public information officer for the Office of the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Defense detailed his 20-year history of dogfighting and the immense suffering and cruelty he inflicted on dogs, including intense isolation, training dogs to fight and violent electrocution of the dogs who lost a fight.

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