For media information or interview opportunities regarding the Animal Welfare Institute, please contact:
Public Relations Manager
Animal Welfare Institute
(202) 337-2332
[email protected]
Need an Expert?
AWI offers a number of experts that specialize in various topics across the animal welfare arena; a list can be seen here. If you are interested in speaking with one of our experts, please contact AWI at [email protected] or (202) 337-2332.
Follow us on Social Media
Follow AWI on Facebook, on Instagram (@awionline), and on Twitter (@AWIonline) for updates from AWI. Subscribe to AWI’s YouTube channel
Latest News
Court Rules for Rare Wild Red Wolves against USFWS
Monday, January 25, 2021
The US District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina ruled on Friday that the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) must develop a plan by March 1 to resume its longstanding and successful...
AWI Applauds Reintroduction of Big Cat Public Safety Act
Monday, January 11, 2021
The Big Cat Public Safety Act, which passed the US House of Representatives by a strong bipartisan majority last month, was reintroduced today by Representatives Mike Quigley (D-IL) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA). This bill gained...
Fish and Wildlife Service Weakens Migratory Bird Protections
Thursday, January 07, 2021
Today, the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) published a new regulation that weakens the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) by no longer penalizing individuals and corporations for the “incidental” killing of birds protected under...
Ohio Governor Signs Bill Requiring Cross-Reporting of Animal and Child Abuse
Wednesday, January 06, 2021
Today, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine signed into law HB 33, a bill to expand the cross-reporting of abuse of both animals and people. The legislation requires veterinarians, social service professionals, and counselors who encounter abused...
AWI Welcomes Swift Reintroduction of Legislation to Curb Wildlife-Human Disease Transmission
Monday, January 04, 2021
Sunday, on the first day of the 117th Congress, the Preventing Future Pandemics Act was reintroduced in the House of Representatives to address the spillover of emerging infectious diseases from wildlife to humans.
Omnibus Spending for Fiscal Year 2021 Includes Gains for Animals
Wednesday, December 30, 2020
Thanks to the hard work of the many members of Congress who support animal welfare, the $1.4 trillion omnibus appropriations bill for fiscal year 2021, which was signed by the president on Sunday, includes some...
Congress Passes Historic Legislation to Protect Racehorses
Tuesday, December 22, 2020
The Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) applauds the passage of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (H.R. 1754/S. 4547) late Monday. This bill, approved by Congress as part of the fiscal year 2021 omnibus spending package...
Report: Tokay Gecko Among 10 Species Threatened by Wildlife and Plant Trade
Friday, December 18, 2020
Wildlife trafficking and the unsustainable wildlife and plant trade is a multibillion-dollar industry and a major threat to species in the United States and worldwide, according to a new report released today that highlights 10...
In Waning Days, Trump Administration Releases Another Rule Undermining ESA
Thursday, December 17, 2020
Only two days after finalizing a rule undermining the protection of critical habitat under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) has published another final rule further weakening implementation of...
Trump Administration Finalizes New Rule that Weakens Endangered Species Act
Tuesday, December 15, 2020
Tomorrow, the Trump administration is slated to finalize a rule that further erodes the Endangered Species Act (ESA), one of the nation’s most effective and most popular laws. Under the new rule, the administration has...
1.6+ Million Farm Animals Died in Barn Fires in 2020
Tuesday, December 15, 2020
More than 1.6 million farm animals, including nearly 1.3 million cage-free hens, have perished in potentially preventable barn fires so far this year, according to an Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) analysis of media reports released...
House Passes Big Cat Public Safety Act to Limit Possession of Dangerous Big Cats
Thursday, December 03, 2020
In the wake of the Netflix docuseries “Tiger King” and heightened public attention to the exploitation of captive big cats, the US House of Representatives passed the Big Cat Public Safety Act today by a...
AWI Endorses Legislation to Ban Archaic Body-Gripping Traps
Thursday, December 03, 2020
The Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) welcomes the reintroduction of the Public Safety and Wildlife Protection Act yesterday by Representatives Alma Adams (D-NC) and Nita Lowey (D-NY). This bill would prohibit the import and export of...
New Report: USDA Continues to Tolerate Poultry Abuse at Largest Slaughter Plants
Friday, November 20, 2020
The US Department of Agriculture’s inadequate, haphazard oversight of the treatment of chickens and turkeys at slaughter has led to the widespread mistreatment and suffering of birds at some of the nation’s largest plants, with...
Lawmakers to BLM: Stop Barbaric Surgical Sterilizations of Wild Horses in Utah
Thursday, November 19, 2020
Today, 58 lawmakers in both the House of Representatives and the Senate sent a bipartisan letter to the Department of the Interior condemning the Bureau of Land Management’s plan to perform unsafe and inhumane surgical...
Help AWI Donate Books to Underserved Children on #GivingTuesday
Tuesday, November 17, 2020
Giving Tuesday, a global day of giving on December 1 this year, offers an opportunity for people around the world to stand together in unity—to use our individual power of generosity to remain connected. This...
Conservation Groups Sue USFWS to Save Wild Red Wolves
Monday, November 16, 2020
On behalf of the Red Wolf Coalition, Defenders of Wildlife, and the Animal Welfare Institute, the Southern Environmental Law Center today sued the US Fish and Wildlife Service in the US District Court for the...
Shopping for a Thanksgiving Turkey? Beware of These Downright Deceptive Labels
Tuesday, November 10, 2020
American consumers are increasingly concerned about how animals raised for food are treated. But those wishing to purchase a higher-welfare turkey for Thanksgiving this year will be bombarded with a number of misleading turkey labels...
Trump Administration Strips Protections from Gray Wolves
Thursday, October 29, 2020
Today, the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) finalized a rule removing protections for all gray wolves in the lower 48 states except for a small population of Mexican wolves in Arizona and New Mexico.
New Website Offers Shelter Resources for Domestic Violence Survivors with Pets
Thursday, October 08, 2020
The Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) unveiled today a comprehensive website that aims to help domestic violence survivors and their pets escape abusive situations. Launched during National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, the newly revamped Safe Havens...