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Latest News
More than 700 Sea Lions to Be Killed, Despite Widespread Opposition
Monday, August 17, 2020
Washington, DC—In an ill-conceived attempt to save endangered salmon, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) on Friday issued a permit for wildlife managers and local tribes to kill as many as 540 California sea lions...
USDA Sued to Compel Humane Handling of Birds at Slaughter
Thursday, August 13, 2020
Rochester, NY—Today, the Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) and Farm Sanctuary sued the US Department of Agriculture in federal court for failing to require humane handling of poultry at slaughter, resulting in adulterated (i.e., damaged or...
Shark vs. Human: Who Is More Dangerous?
Monday, August 10, 2020
Washington, DC— As Shark Week kicks off this week, more than 200 restaurants across the United States and Canada are exacerbating the rapid decline in shark species by continuing to serve an expensive soup made...
Gulf of Maine Lobster Fishery Temporarily Loses Sustainable Seafood Certification
Wednesday, August 05, 2020
New York—The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) has suspended its certification of the Gulf of Maine lobster fishery after determining that the fishery was potentially jeopardizing the survival of the critically endangered North Atlantic right whale...
Trump Administration Again Tries to Undermine Endangered Species Act
Friday, July 31, 2020
Washington, DC—Today, in its latest attack on the Endangered Species Act (ESA), the Trump administration announced a proposed new rule that would harm threatened and endangered species by making it harder to protect the habitat...
New Jersey Barn Fire Kills 280,000 Hens; Poultry Industry Must Act
Tuesday, July 21, 2020
Washington, DC—A massive fire at Red Bird Egg Farm in Pilesgrove, NJ, Monday night killed an estimated 280,000 egg-laying hens, marking one of the most devastating barn fires in the United States this year. “While...
Pressure Mounts on USDA to Enforce Animal Welfare Act
Tuesday, July 21, 2020
Washington, DC—The Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) is grateful to Rep. Mike Quigley (D-IL) for continuing to pressure the US Department of Agriculture to adequately enforce the Animal Welfare Act (AWA), the primary federal law governing...
Aquariums Receiving COVID-19 Bailout Must End Cetacean Breeding
Monday, July 20, 2020
Washington, DC—In a letter delivered today to congressional leaders, the Animal Welfare Institute (AWI), the International Marine Mammal Project (IMMP) of Earth Island Institute, Oceanic Preservation Society, and 16 other animal protection and conservation groups...
NEPA Rollback Endangers Communities and Wildlife
Wednesday, July 15, 2020
Washington, DC—Today, the Trump administration finalized its overhaul of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), enacting new regulations that weaken this key environmental law. Unprecedented in significance and scope, these changes undermine informed agency decision-making...
AWI Endorses Bill to Ban Lead Ammunition on Fish & Wildlife Service Land
Friday, July 10, 2020
Washington, DC—The Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) commends Rep. Ted Lieu (D-CA) for introducing yesterday the Lead Endangers Animals Daily (LEAD) Act, which would prohibit hunters from shooting toxic lead bullets on land managed by the...
House Votes to Ban Unsafe Horse Transport in Federal Transportation Legislation
Wednesday, July 01, 2020
Washington, DC—The Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) commends the U.S. House of Representatives for passing the Horse Transportation Safety Act (HTSA) today as part of a massive infrastructure package that was approved. The HTSA would ban...
Ventilation Shutdown Used to “Depopulate” Farm Animals During Pandemic Causes Severe Suffering
Wednesday, July 01, 2020
Washington, DC—COVID-19 has shut down, at least temporarily, dozens of pig, chicken, and turkey slaughter plants in the United States, leaving millions of farm animals with nowhere to go. Some producers have arranged to keep...
Don’t miss a single issue of the AWI Quarterly!
Tuesday, June 23, 2020
The summer issue of the AWI Quarterly is in the mail! Much of this issue is devoted to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on animal welfare. We discuss the challenges faced by animal shelters...
Lawsuit Seeks Trade Sanctions Against Mexico as Vaquita Porpoise Faces Extinction
Thursday, June 11, 2020
Washington, DC—Conservation groups sued the Trump administration today to force a long overdue decision to sanction Mexico for its illegal fishing and trade that is causing the vaquita porpoise’s extinction. The U.S. government has ignored...
Trump Administration Reverses Ban on Egregious Wildlife Killing Methods on Alaska National Preserves
Tuesday, June 09, 2020
Washington, DC—The Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) condemns today’s decision by the National Park Service (NPS) to reverse a 2015 rule prohibiting unethical and unsporting methods for killing wildlife on the 10 national preserves managed by...
Safe Horse Transport Included in New Federal Transportation Legislation
Monday, June 08, 2020
Washington, DC—The Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) commends lawmakers from the U.S. House of Representatives for including the Horse Transportation Safety Act (HTSA) in transportation legislation unveiled last week. The HTSA would ban the use of...
A Statement from AWI:
Wednesday, June 03, 2020
AWI has chosen to go quiet this week on social media. While the animal welfare issues we work on remain as pertinent as ever, we are cognizant of the fact that people around the country...
Humboldt County Agrees to Prioritize Nonlethal Solutions to Urban Wildlife Conflict
Tuesday, May 05, 2020
Eureka, Calif.—In response to advocacy by a coalition of animal protection and conservation groups, Humboldt County today unanimously approved a new contract with the federal wildlife-killing program, Wildlife Services, that will result in far fewer...
Washington, DC, Passes Law to Ban the Sale of Ivory and Rhino Horn
Tuesday, May 05, 2020
Washington, DC—The District of Columbia has passed a law to address the surging local market for goods that contribute to declines in endangered wildlife. The Elephant Ivory and Rhinoceros Horn Trafficking Prohibition Act, which bans...
Help Feed Animals in Need on #GivingTuesdayNow
Friday, May 01, 2020
For many years, AWI has participated in Giving Tuesday—a global day of giving on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving. #GivingTuesdayNow is a newly created global day of giving and unity that takes place on May 5...