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.
Every year, millions of farm animals die as a result of natural disasters. Floods, extreme heat or cold, wildfires, and other weather events present grave risks to animals, especially those in confinement.
A lot of pigs live in Duplin County, North Carolina - nearly 2.3 million according to the USDA’s 2007 Census of Agriculture, more than any other county in the U.S. (and more than the entire pig population of most states).
Along with so many in the marine animal protection community, AWI is grieving the loss late last year of three outstanding advocates. Each of these professionals played a role in helping to shape the careers of one or more members o
On June 18, our good friend and colleague, Dr. F. Barbara Orlans, passed away. Barbara was a bright, compassionate woman and a steadfast defender of animals.
On June 28, the animal welfare community lost a stalwart friend when Senator Robert C. Byrd of West Virginia, America’s longest serving senator, died at the age of 92.
Dr. François Sarano’s In the Name of Sharks uses powerful language, suspense, and tension to evoke a visceral response from readers and deepen their empathy for sharks. The author laments the media’s role in misrepresenting the animals as nothing more than killing machines, even though so much of their lives is unknown to us. Sarano isn’t just a scientist who reads about sharks from afar; he has swum alongside them. His affection for sharks is obvious in his vivid descriptions that transport the reader into the ocean’s depths.
AWI was deeply saddened to learn that Dr. Earnest Johnson, a dedicated veterinary inspector with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), passed away earlier this year. Dr. Johnson embraced his obligation to ensure enforcement of both the Animal Welfare Act and the Horse Protection Act, and his job took him to countless horse shows of Tennessee Walkers and other gaited breeds, where he sought to prevent illegal soring of the equines.
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 this vital conservation law.
This guide is intended to serve as an educational tool for attorneys and advocates working with pet-owning domestic violence survivors in West Virginia.
This guide is intended to serve as an educational tool for attorneys and advocates working with pet-owning domestic violence survivors in Rhode Island.
This guide is intended to serve as an educational tool for attorneys and advocates working with pet-owning domestic violence survivors in South Carolina.
