Category: Public Policy (Legal/Legislative)

Breaking news: European court upholds strong protections for wolves

Animal Rights & Environment, Humane Society International, Public Policy (Legal/Legislative), The Humane Society of the United States, Wildlife/Marine Mammals

Wolf populations were wiped out in parts of Europe because of indiscriminate hunting, and it is only recently that they have begun to rebound. Photo by Jamcgraw/iStock.com

Europe’s highest court has ruled that wolves in the European Union cannot be hunted, except in the rarest cases where member countries can prove there is no other option to end human-wolf conflict. The European Court of Justice ruling followed a challenge to a decision . . . 

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Breaking news: California leads the nation by banning fur sales, bobcat trophy hunting

Animal Rights & Environment, Public Policy (Legal/Legislative), The Humane Society of the United States, Wildlife/Marine Mammals

The California law, which will go into effect in January 2023, is a monumental victory in the Humane Society of the United States’ decades-long campaign to end this cruel and unnecessary trade. Photo by Dreamstime

By Kitty Block and Sara Amundson Moments ago, Gov. Gavin Newsom made history by signing into law two landmark bills: one banning the sale and production of all new fur products in California, and another prohibiting the trophy hunting of bobcats in his state. California, . . . 

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Lions are in danger of extinction, but the U.S. will reward a trophy hunter who killed one with an import permit for the animal’s body parts

Animal Rights & Environment, Humane Society International, Public Policy (Legal/Legislative), The Humane Society of the United States, Wildlife/Marine Mammals

It is baffling why the FWS would determine that Tanzania – a country that has long catered to the corrupt trophy hunting industry and forced out competent wildlife biologists – is sustainably managing its lion population. Photo by Olyjo Olyjo/Alamy Stock Photo

For the first time since 2016, when the United States protected lions under the Endangered Species Act, the Trump administration will allow an American trophy hunter to bring home the body parts of a lion he killed in Tanzania. This is the second such instance . . . 

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EPA moves to end animal testing

Animal Rights & Environment, Public Policy (Legal/Legislative), The Humane Society of the United States, Wildlife/Marine Mammals

The likely outcome of the EPA announcement will be to spare hundreds of thousands of animals from having chemicals rubbed onto their skin, dropped in their eyes or forced down their throats. Photo by Sidsnapper/iStock.com

By Kitty Block and Sara Amundson In a landmark announcement, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today announced plans to end all animal testing on dogs, mice, rabbits and other mammals for chemicals and pesticides in coming years. Instead, the agency will focus on investing in . . . 

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California lawmakers ban fur sales, bobcat trophy hunting

Animal Rights & Environment, Humane Economy, Public Policy (Legal/Legislative), The Humane Society of the United States, Wildlife/Marine Mammals

Californians feel strongly about protecting bobcats: nearly 70% are opposed to trophy hunting these beautiful native carnivores. Photo by Elroy Limmer

By Kitty Block and Sara Amundson In two historic votes for animals, California lawmakers have voted overwhelmingly to ban fur sales and to stop the trophy hunting of bobcats, who are often targeted for their distinctive look and coloration. State senators this afternoon passed a . . . 

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Justify’s story highlights urgent need to root out doping and self-policing from horseracing industry

Animal Rights & Environment, Public Policy (Legal/Legislative), The Humane Society of the United States

The horseracing industry is now beset by a drug crisis that has led to the premature deaths of thousands of horses over the years.
Keywords: equine, horses, race, stock D2HE0Y Photo by Stan Rohrer/Alamy Stock Photo

By Kitty Block and Sara Amundson The saga of 2018 Triple Crown champion Justify, recently chronicled in a New York Times article, provides one of the most compelling arguments yet for reform in the horseracing industry and in particular for ending the massive leeway the . . . 

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Six puppy mills cited in Horrible Hundred report close doors

Animal Rights & Environment, Public Policy (Legal/Legislative), The Humane Society of the United States

Three of the problem breeders who have closed down are in Missouri and three are in Pennsylvania. Above, dogs at a puppy mill in our Horrible Hundred report. Photo by the USDA

Despite a steep decline in our government’s oversight of businesses like puppy mills, our own work to shut down these ruthless enterprises that profit from the suffering of innocent animals continues to charge ahead. I am thrilled to report that just since the release of . . . 

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Couple kissing next to lion they killed spark global outrage, highlighting urgency for ending trophy hunting

Animal Rights & Environment, Humane Society International, Public Policy (Legal/Legislative), The Humane Society of the United States, Wildlife/Marine Mammals

The two hunters have married a familiar display of personal affection to their brazen and remorseless killing of an animal whose lifeless body lies before them. It’s not romantic to the rest of us; it’s crass and clueless, and horrifying.

The latest controversy surrounding lurid social media posts by trophy hunters has prompted a predictable response — global outrage and a wave of tweet storms directed at the individuals involved. This time around, it’s a Canadian couple who posed for a kiss over the dead . . . 

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Romania to allow the killing of 140 bears over human-wildlife conflicts, but there’s a better way forward

Animal Rights & Environment, Humane Society International, Public Policy (Legal/Legislative), The Humane Society of the United States, Wildlife/Marine Mammals

As the Romanian environmental minister pointed out in her remarks, the difficulty has less to do with bear behavior than it does with human behavior, and we fully support her decision to fine those who try to feed or deliberately attract bears. Photo by Volodymyr Burdiak/Alamy Stock Photo

Romania, which halted trophy hunting of its native carnivores in 2016, this week said it will allow the killing of 140 bears. The hunting quota was announced in response to reports of bear-human conflicts, with videos shared on social media showing people getting very close . . . 

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Congress moves to make horse soring a thing of the PAST

Animal Rights & Environment, Public Policy (Legal/Legislative), The Humane Society of the United States

Soring is a heinous practice in which violators intentionally inflict pain on a horse’s legs or hooves, forcing the animal to perform an artificial, high-stepping gait called the “big lick.” Photo by the HSUS

By Kitty Block and Sara Amundson We have terrific news to report in our long-running fight to protect Tennessee walking horses and related breeds from the cruel practice of soring. The House of Representatives has just approved a bill to end this heinous practice in . . . 

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