Press Releases

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Animal Welfare Institute and National Black Farmers Association Call for Balanced Debate on Horse Slaughter Issue

American Horse Council and USDA Holds Disingenuous Conference on "Unwanted Horse Issue" Washington, D.C. -- Today, The American Horse Council (AHC) and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) held a conference entitled "The Unwanted Horse Issue: What Now?"

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

House of Representatives Pass Resolution in Support of Whales

Washington, D.C. -- Answering a bipartisan call to encourage the United States to stand up for whales, the House of Representatives today passed H. Con. Res. 350 by unanimous consent. In light of the annual International Whaling Commission (IWC) meeting to be held in Chile this month, House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Nick Rahall (D-WV) and eight of his colleagues in the House of Representatives introduced the resolution to send the message that the United States must not be bullied into submission at the meeting by pro-whaling interests.

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

Animal Welfare Institute and National Black Farmers Association Launch "Project Wanted Horse"

Washington, D.C. -- The Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) and the National Black Farmers Association (NBFA) today launched a national partnership to help American horses in need by finding them homes on farms operated by NBFA members.

Monday, June 16, 2008

Supreme Court of the United States Declines to Hear Appeal on Illinois Horse Slaughter Ban

Washington, D.C. -- The repeated attempts by Illinois-based Cavel International, Inc. to continue slaughtering horses in the face of a state ban on the practice and the will of the people of Illinois were quashed for a final time today, when the Supreme Court of the United States denied the slaughterhouse's petition for certiorari.

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

House Natural Resources Committee Strips US Shark Finning Ban of Loopholes

Washington, D.C. -- Today, the US House Committee on Natural Resources voted in favor of H.R. 5741, the Shark Conservation Act of 2008. Introduced by Subcommittee Chairwoman Madeleine Bordallo (D-GU), the measure will reinforce the Shark Finning Prohibition Act, which was signed into law in 2000.

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Senator John Kerry Receives "Profiles in Compassion" Award For Supporting Animal Welfare

Washington, D.C. -- The Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) has announced Senator John Kerry (D-MA) as the latest recipient of its "Profiles in Compassion" award, recognizing his strong commitment to protecting animals and their habitats. One of the few members of the US Senate to rate a perfect 100 percent on AWI's Compassion Index, Senator Kerry recently introduced S.

Wednesday, June 4, 2008

Congressional Leaders Encourage US to Step up for Whales Again

Washington, D.C. -- Congressional leaders are calling on the Bush Administration to stand up for whales at this month's annual International Whaling Commission (IWC) meeting in Chile.

Wednesday, May 28, 2008

Wildlife Conservation Groups Threaten to Sue Commissioner Martin to Protect Canada Lynx from Traps in Maine

Bangor, ME -- The Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) and the Wildlife Alliance of Maine (WAM) sent a letter of intent to sue Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife (DIFW) Commissioner Roland D. Martin today to compel the agency to comply with federal law and take immediate action to protect Canada lynx from deadly traps.

Thursday, May 22, 2008

Illinois Farm Bureau Kills Bill To Ban Inhumane Transport of Horses

Springfield, IL -- Despite strong support for a bill banning the use of double deck trailers for hauling horses in Illinois, the legislation died earlier this week in a Senate Committee following a disingenuous lobbying effort by the Illinois Farm Bureau. H.B. 4162 was introduced following the horrific "Wadsworth Crash" of 2007 in which 59 Belgian draft horses were severely or fatally injured after the double-deck trailer they were being transported in was overturned.

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

Animal Protection Groups Ask Federal Court to Halt Ringling Bros.' Cruel Chaining and Confinement of Endangered Asian Elephants

Washington, D.C. -- Today, a coalition of animal protection organizations and a former Ringling Bros. employee asked a federal district court in Washington D.C. to immediately order a halt to Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus (Ringling Bros.)'s cruel practice of shackling and confining endangered Asian elephants for days on end in a manner that prevents them from walking or even turning around in place.

Saturday, May 10, 2008

HBO "Real Sports" Exposes Underbelly Of Thoroughbred Racing

Washington, D.C. -- On the heels of Eight Belles' tragic death at the 2008 Kentucky Derby, HBO is exposing an unsavory side of the Thoroughbred racing industry. The network's "Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel" will air a segment on May 12 revealing that thousands of unsuccessful horses are sent to a brutal death in the slaughterhouse every year.

Friday, April 25, 2008

National Conference of State Legislators Defeats Resolution to Promote Horse Slaughter

Washington, D.C. -- A renegade resolution to promote the continued slaughter of American horses for human consumption abroad was defeated at today's meeting of the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL). The measure, offered by state Representative David Sigdestad (D-SD), urged the United States Congress to oppose the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act, currently pending in Congress. AWI commends those state legislators who stood up in support of humane treatment of horses.

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