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Latest News
AWI Supports Bill to Prohibit the Use of Performing Exotic Animals
Wednesday, May 22, 2019
Washington, DC—The Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) supports the reintroduction of the Traveling Exotic Animal and Public Safety Protection Act (TEAPSPA). Sponsored by Representatives Raúl M. Grijalva (D-AZ) and David Schweikert (R-AZ), this bill would amend...
AWI Supports Bipartisan Bill to Protect Children and Animals from Abuse
Thursday, May 16, 2019
Washington, DC—The Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) endorses the Child and Animal Abuse Detection and Reporting Act of 2019, introduced today by Representatives Ann McLane Kuster (D-NH) and John Katko (R-NY). This legislation would amend the...
BLM to Proceed with Barbaric Sterilization of Wild Mares, Despite Outcry
Tuesday, May 14, 2019
Burns, Oregon—Despite multiple lawsuits, federal injunctions and overwhelming public opposition, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announced last night that it is again moving ahead with barbaric experiments on captive wild mares. It will be...
Legislators Decry Forest Service Plan to Condemn Wild Horses to Slaughter
Monday, May 06, 2019
Washington, DC—Today, 64 members of Congress sent a bipartisan letter to US Department of Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue and US Forest Service Chief Vicki Christiansen objecting to the Forest Service’s impending plan to sell federally...
AWI-Endorsed Legislation Advanced by House Committee to Aid North Atlantic Right Whale Recovery
Wednesday, May 01, 2019
Washington, DC—The Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) commends the US House of Representatives Natural Resources Committee for approving H.R. 1568, the SAVE Right Whales Act during their first committee markup of the 116th Congress. H.R. 1568...
AWI Endorses CECIL Act to Restrict Imports of Protected Species Killed for Sport
Wednesday, April 10, 2019
Washington, DC—The Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) is grateful for today’s reintroduction of the Conserving Ecosystems by Ceasing the Importation of Large Animal Trophies Act (CECIL Act), named after the lion killed in 2015 by an...
Government Erred in Deciding to Grant Waiver to Makah Tribe
Friday, April 05, 2019
Washington, DC—The Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) is alarmed that the federal government has proposed allowing the Makah tribe of Washington to kill gray whales again. Yesterday, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced that it...
AWI Commends Bipartisan Effort to Stop Horse Slaughter
Thursday, April 04, 2019
Washington, DC—The Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) commends the 111 members of the US House of Representatives who recently signed a bipartisan letter in support of defunding federal inspections of horse slaughter facilities. Blocking the US...
Scientists Declare Red Wolf to be Valid Species
Thursday, March 28, 2019
Washington, DC–The Animal Welfare Institute commends today’s announcement by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Mathematics that the red wolf is a “distinct species.” As detailed in the National Academies’ report, “Evaluating the Taxonomic...
AWI Opposes Nomination of Oil Lobbyist to Lead Department of the Interior
Thursday, March 28, 2019
Washington, DC—The Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) strongly opposes President Trump’s nomination of former oil and gas lobbyist David Bernhardt to be the next secretary of the interior. Bernhardt spent years as a lobbyist on the...
34 Marine Mammal Biologists Urge Putin to Release Orcas and Belugas
Monday, March 18, 2019
Washington, DC—Today, a group of prominent marine mammal biologists from across the globe, including Dr. Naomi Rose of the Animal Welfare Institute (AWI), sent a second letter requesting that Russia release the remaining 80+ beluga...
BLM Bucks Controversial Policy for Wild Horse Sale
Friday, March 15, 2019
Washington, DC—The Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) is gratified to learn that the Bureau of Land Management has rescinded a controversial sales policy for wild horses and burros in the United States that could have resulted...
Massive Naples Barn Fire Highlights Need for Improved Fire Safety Precautions
Friday, March 15, 2019
Washington, DC—The Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) is dismayed to learn that 4,000 pigs perished Wednesday at Holden Farms in Naples, Wisconsin. While we are relieved that no humans were injured in this fire, the horrible...
Animal Welfare Institute Supports Bill to Keep Primates Out of Pet Trade
Thursday, March 14, 2019
Washington, DC—The Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) supports the reintroduction of the Captive Primate Safety Act (CPSA), which addresses the cruel and dangerous problem of pet primate ownership in the United States. Sponsored by Reps. Earl...
Report: Only 10 Vaquita Remain, May Not Survive President Obrador’s Tenure
Wednesday, March 13, 2019
La Jolla, CA—Scientists announced today that only 10 vaquita porpoises likely remain in the world and that the animal's extinction is virtually assured without bold and immediate action. The vaquita, the world's smallest and most...
Law Enforcement Leader Receives Prestigious Albert Schweitzer Medal
Friday, March 08, 2019
Washington, DC—John Thompson, a seasoned public safety leader who has brought the hidden atrocity of animal cruelty to the forefront of law enforcement, was honored Thursday with the Albert Schweitzer Medal. This prestigious award, established...
Latest Report on Exploitation of Captive Marine Mammals: Situation Improving in West, Deteriorating in East
Friday, March 08, 2019
Washington, DC—The tide is turning in the West for captive marine mammals, yet live capture operations, traveling dolphin shows, polluted sea pens and needless deaths of animals continue to mar the captivity industry around the...
AWI Statement on House Bill to Protect North Atlantic Right Whale
Thursday, March 07, 2019
Washington, DC—The Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) applauds Representatives Seth Moulton (D-MA) and John Rutherford (R-FL) for introducing the bipartisan Scientific Assistance for Very Endangered (SAVE) Right Whales Act. This legislation would provide sustained funding opportunities...
AWI Condemns Gray Wolf Delisting
Wednesday, March 06, 2019
Washington, DC—The Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) condemns a proposed rule, announced today by the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), to eliminate Endangered Species Act (ESA) protections for gray wolves across the contiguous United States...
Animal Welfare Advocates Applaud Congressional Action to Restrict Possession of Dangerous Big Cats
Tuesday, February 26, 2019
Washington, DC—Today, the Animal Welfare Institute, Big Cat Rescue, Born Free USA, the International Fund for Animal Welfare, the Humane Society of the United States, Humane Society Legislative Fund and Performing Animal Welfare Society celebrate...