Author: Blog Editor

Iceland resumes slaughter of fin whales, defying international ban

Animal Rights & Environment, The Humane Society of the United States

Fin whales are the second-largest mammals in the world, after blue whales. Hvalur’s gunners will fire exploding grenades at these whales, and since approximately one in five won’t die immediately, they’ll be struck again, taking many minutes to suffer and die. Photo by Christin Khan, NEFSC/NOAA

In defiance of an international moratorium on commercial whaling, the Icelandic ship Hvalur hf left port last week after a two-year pause in that country’s fin whale hunt. Iceland’s goal is to kill up to 238 fin whales this summer – in addition to its . . . 

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Is your glass of wine poisoning wildlife?

Animal Rights & Environment, The Humane Society of the United States

Some vintners have installed owl boxes to attract barn owls because they are known to assist with rodent control. Unfortunately, this practice attracts the owls to precisely the venue in which they can easily be poisoned by rodenticides. Photo by Kathleen McManus/The HSUS

The Humane Society of the United States has two affiliated wildlife centers that rescue and rehabilitate thousands of orphaned and injured animals each year. Holly Hazard, our senior vice president of programs and innovation, visits these facilities for discussions with their management teams about the state of wildlife rescue and rehabilitation, and about the current . . . 

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States make progress on fighting puppy mills, reducing animal testing and more

Animal Rights & Environment, The Humane Society of the United States

Since 2005, we’ve helped secure more than 2,000 legislative victories in the states. More than 500 of those successes have focused on companion animals.  Photo by iStockphoto

This week, Maryland’s Gov. Larry Hogan signed into law a landmark bill that bans the sales of puppy mill dogs in pet stores and instead encourages stores to work with animal shelters to promote the adoption of homeless pets. He also approved two other animal protection bills, including one that would require that cats and . . . 

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We did it! Signature goal surpassed in California farm animal ballot campaign

Animal Rights & Environment, The Humane Society of the United States

The California measure would prohibit the confinement of egg-laying hens, pigs used for breeding, and calves raised for veal in cages or crates so small that they are essentially immobilized for their whole lives. Photo by iStockphoto

Fueled by nearly 1,600 volunteer signature gatherers, the Humane Society of the United States and other members of the Prevent Cruelty California coalition have surpassed the 600,000 signature goal needed to qualify the historic farm animal ballot initiative. This places California voters in a strong position to deliver a powerful punch to agribusiness interests who . . . 

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Attacks on rescues designed to deflect attention from puppy mill abuse

Animal Rights & Environment, The Humane Society of the United States

The USDA is not reporting publicly the names or identities of puppy mills that have been issued a warning or found with egregious violations, including those with sick, injured and emaciated dogs. Photo by Brandon Wade/AP Images for The HSUS

A recent article in the Washington Post took a look at the notion of irresponsible rescues – specifically, self-described pet rescue groups that purchase breeder dogs at puppy mill auctions, based on the premise that they are “used up” and therefore being rescued, not purchased. Reporter Kim Kavin studied the invoices from the two big . . . 

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The HSUS sues USDA for failing to release animal welfare records under sunshine law

Animal Rights & Environment, The Humane Society of the United States

The HSUS regularly used the records to document cruelty and suffering, such as our annual Horrible Hundred reports that warn consumers about puppy mills with welfare concerns. Photo by Amie Chou/The HSUS

In February 2017, shortly after the new administration took office, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, without prior notice, removed from its website thousands of Animal Welfare Act and Horse Protection Act inspection and enforcement records. These were public records, many containing descriptions of animal neglect and suffering at puppy mills, roadside zoos, research laboratories, and . . . 

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San Francisco says a resounding “no” to fur

Animal Rights & Environment, The Humane Society of the United States

With the vote, San Francisco has sent out a clear message to fashion retailers and designers: fur is not fashionable. Photo by iStockphoto

San Francisco has just voted to ban all sales of fur within its limits, in a historic victory for millions of animals cruelly confined and killed for their skins and hides. Today’s unanimous vote by its board of supervisors makes San Francisco the largest city in the United States to enact such a ban. Two . . . 

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HSUS, HSI sue federal wildlife officials to stop imports of elephant, lion trophies

Animal Rights & Environment, The Humane Society of the United States

Trophy hunting is opposed by most Americans, and President Trump expressed his disdain for it by calling it a “horror show.” Notwithstanding, FWS admits that it has allowed dozens of lion trophies to be imported in recent months. Photo by Adam Peyman/HSI

The HSUS, Humane Society International, and our partners today filed a lawsuit to stop the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service from lifting existing bans on elephant and lion trophy imports from certain African nations. FWS announced earlier this month that it would lift the ban on elephant trophy imports from Tanzania and Zimbabwe and captive . . . 

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Interior Department packs wildlife advisory panel with trophy hunters, firearms lobbyists

Animal Rights & Environment, The Humane Society of the United States

In Zimbabwe, the country from which most elephant trophies imported to the United States originate, wildlife management is so poor that the country has lost six percent of its elephants since 2001. Photo by iStockphoto

Had the Department of the Interior appointed Ted Nugent and Phil and Si from Duck Dynasty to its International Wildlife Conservation Council (IWCC), we might at least have been able to laugh a little. As things stand, however, it’s a crying shame. Formed in November 2017, the council is little more than a trophy hunting . . . 

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For Beemo and 88 other dogs from a Korean dog meat farm, a better life begins in Montreal

Animal Rights & Environment, The Humane Society of the United States

The most gratifying moment came when Gus Kenworthy was reunited with Beemo, the dog he adopted from a South Korean dog meat farm HSI recently closed down. Photo by Dario Ayala/AP Images for HSI

The 2018 Winter Olympics may be over, but for some of us the celebration of success continues. For Humane Society International, it was the closure of our 11th dog meat farm in South Korea, which happened during the Pyeongchang Games. Yesterday, I flew to Montreal to spend a day at our emergency shelter there, and . . . 

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