The Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) is pleased to announce that HB 83, a bill that would prevent some of the most inhumane forms of tethering, passed out of the Illinois House of Representatives by a vote of 78-38. We commend the leadership and compassion of Chairman Daniel J. Burke, the sponsor of HB 83, for advancing this important bill.
In response to the recent death of 18 young Belgian draft horses, Illinois State Reps. Bob Molaro and JoAnn Osmond have introduced legislation to ban the use of double-decker trucks to transport horses in the state.
The Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) is pleased to report that HB 83, a bill before the Illinois State Senate that would put restrictions on the tethering of dogs, was approved by the Executive Committee by a unanimous 15-0 vote. Approved by the Illinois House of Representatives in February, the bill now moves to the full Senate for consideration.
HB 3231, a bill proposed by AWI that provides for additional penalties when animal abuse is committed in front of a minor, passed the Illinois legislature (unanimously, in both chambers!) and was sent on June 29 to Governor Bruce Rauner for his signature.
The Animal Welfare Institute commends the Illinois General Assembly for passing and sending to the governor legislation that allows the prosecution of leaders of dog fighting networks under Illinois’ anti-racketeering (RICO) laws, providing an important new tool for prosecutors to apply against dog fighting organizers and financiers.
Thirty paired female rhesus monkeys were tested in a control situation when companions had no privacy, and in an experimental situation when they were offered the option to move behind a panel and be alone. Paired partners spent significantly more time in close proximity (same half of the cage) when the privacy panel was provided (mean, with panel = 76.0 %/h vs. mean, no panel = 60.8 %/h; p < 0.005). At the same time, they were more engaged in affiliative interactions (mean, with panel = 37.4%/h vs. mean, no panel = 26.5%/h; p < 0.025) while the incidence of agonistic interactions tended to decrease (mean, with panel = 0.3/h vs. mean, no panel = 2.2/h; p < 0.1).
A survey of 397 publications dealing with macaques was conducted. Stress-sensitive physiological data collected during venipuncture were evaluated in 58 reports. Despite of the fact that venipuncture often is a stressful event for research animals, 81% of the studies did not account for this circumstance by providing no information as to how tile subjects were caught and how they were immobilized during venipuncture.
The Animal Welfare Enforcement Improvement Act (AWEIA; HR 3277), introduced May 17 by Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), would end US Department of Agriculture licensing practices that allow chronic violators of the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) to escape accountability.
Like Boccia et al., Reinhardt works with a population of captive primates from which blood samples must be obtained. However, Reinhardt's chapter stands in marked contrast to that of Boccia et al. Both Reinhardt and Boccia et al. recognize the importance of the scientist-animal bond, but deal with it in different ways.
The 1985 amendment to the Animal Welfare Act requires research facilities to promote the "psychological well-being" of nonhuman primates. After much debate, the US Department of Agriculture published its final ruling concerning this topic in 1991. The USDA' s new regulations emphasize social housing and other environmental enrichment procedures, such as perches and toys.
Cages for laboratory macaques are usually designed by technical professions little or no knowledge of, nor experience with the animals. The products are rather sterile structures that take sanitary requirements rather than the species-typical needs of the animal occupant into consideration. The design of the cage, however, may have an impact on the individual animal's general well-being and hence on the validity of research data collected from it.
The common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus) is increasingly becoming a key species in behavioral and biomedical research. Because of this, research focused on improving the behavioral and physiological welfare of this species is critical to housing this species in laboratories successfully. Agonistic behaviors between groups of common marmosets are well documented in both field and laboratory conditions. Interactions between groups of wild common marmosets often result in contact aggression. Captive marmosets display increased agonistic intergroup behaviors such as anogenital displays and piloerection during periods of higher levels of vocalizations from neighboring groups.
Public awareness has created favorable conditions for the gradual improvement of conventional housing conditions of laboratory macaques.1-3 What about the human primates who care for those animals? Animal holding facilities are usually designed by architects - with too little input by animal care professionals - to accommodate a maximum number of animals; possible health implications for those responsible for the care of the animals are often overlooked. The present paper deals with a typical example.
In a surprise move, the US Department of Agriculture published a notice that it was considering changes to its Animal Welfare Act regulations to improve the handling of wild and exotic animals as well as the training of personnel who handle them,
Dr. Chad Hanson’s In a Land of Awe: Finding Reverence in the Search for Wild Horses offers a sweeping vista of the wild horses that the author has come to know and cherish, particularly through his journeys observing herds near his home in Wyoming and in the Dakotas.
Earlier this year, Perdue, the country’s third largest chicken producer, introduced a line of "USDA Process Verified" chicken products bearing the claims "humanely raised" and "raised cage free" on the label. Unfortunately, this change in the label did not herald any actual initiative to treat chickens better.
In recognition of National Justice for Animals Week (February 16-22, 2014), the Animal Welfare Institute is pleased to share with you an interview with Katherine Darke Schmitt, policy advisor in the Office of the Assistant Attorney General , Office of Justice Programs (OJP) , U.S. Department of Justice (DoJ), and facilitator of DoJ’s Animal Cruelty Working Group.
Although the World Heritage Committee designated Mexico’s “Islands and Protected Areas of the Gulf of California” as a World Heritage property in 2005 in recognition of the area’s outstanding biodiversity, the vaquita and totoaba now face extinction as a result of fishing activities, including poaching. The vaquita is the world’s smallest porpoise and exists only in Mexico’s Gulf of California.
As director of AWI’s Animal Welfare Approved program, I recently had the opportunity to visit the Arapaho Ranch, in north-central Wyoming. At 580,000 acres, it is the largest USDA certified organic ranch in the U.S. - and one of the most inspiring ranches that I have ever seen.
Six adult female stumptailed macaques (Macaca aretoides) were trained within a twoweek period to actively co-operate during in-homecage venipuncture rather than in a restraint apparatus away from the homecage. The training was based on consistent firmness, gentleness and patience. Total training time per subject ranged from 15 to 45 minutes with a mean of 33.5 minutes.
Recent developments regarding imports of endangered long-tailed macaques for experimentation underscore the role that financial incentives play in the primate trade, and shed new light on industry efforts to keep the import pipeline open.
The fight to extend or deny protections for animals takes place in state capitals as well as on Capitol Hill. The high-profile confrontation this year is in Missouri - again. Last year, Missouri voters approved Proposition B, the Puppy Mill Cruelty Prevention Act, a ballot initiative addressing the most egregious cruelties of that state’s puppy mill industry.
