Press Releases

Washington, DC—The Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) commends the U.S. House of Representatives for passing the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (H.R. 1754) today. This bill aims to reduce fatalities and injuries that have plagued U.S...

Washington, DC—As many teachers virtually welcome their students back to school this month, the Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) offers a variety of free digital educational resources for students of all ages that encourage respect and...

Washington, DC—The Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) and other animal and environmental protection groups applaud the Department of Commerce’s decision to prohibit Mystic Aquarium from breeding five captive-born beluga whales from Canada as part of an...

Washington, DC— Norwegian whalers slaughtered more whales in 2020 than in each of the last three years, according to statistics released today by the Fishermen’s Sales Organization (Råfisklaget). A total of 481 minke whales have...

Washington, DC—From documenting how a hungry sea turtle might mistake a plastic bag in the ocean for a jellyfish, to employing forensic science to curb pangolin trafficking, the winners of the 2020 “A Voice for...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...