Program Term Archive
Companion Animals
Closing the Book on 117th Congress
Companion Animals, Equines, Farmed Animals, Marine WildlifeTwo of the 117th Congress’s final pieces of legislation that made it into law included many provisions affecting animals—both positively and negatively. The National Defense Authorization Act included provisions banning the...
PAST Act Passes House
Companion Animals, EquinesOn November 14, by a resounding 304-111 vote, the US House of Representatives passed the Prevent All Soring Tactics (PAST) Act. The legislation would end the barbaric practices associated with...
AWI Urges US Government to Stop Using Abused or Illegally Trafficked Animals in Taxpayer-Funded Research
Press ReleaseNovember 30, 2022Companion Animals, Terrestrial WildlifeThe Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) is urging the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Department of Defense (DOD) to halt their acquisition of research animals from...
Booting Cyanide Bombs off Public Lands
Companion Animals, Terrestrial WildlifeOn July 21, Canyon’s Law (HR 4951/S 4584), a bill to outlaw the use of M-44 devices (a.k.a. cyanide bombs) on public lands, received a hearing in the House Natural...
Horse Protection Bills Gallop Forward
Companion Animals, EquinesOn June 23, both the Save America’s Forgotten Equines (SAFE) Act (HR 3355) and the Prevent All Soring Tactics (PAST) Act (HR 5441) were unanimously approved by the House Energy...
New Report: Largest Counties Lack Adequate Shelters for Pets of Domestic Violence Victims
Press ReleaseOctober 3, 2022Companion AnimalsIn recognition of October as National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, the Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) has released new research that identifies a lack of sheltering services around the country—including in some of the...
Puppy Mill Restrictions Introduced in Ohio; Animal Advocates Honor Rep. Laura Lanese
Press ReleaseSeptember 19, 2022Companion AnimalsReps. Laura Lanese (R-Grove City) and James Hoops (R-Napoleon) will introduce legislation Wednesday to ban puppy mills and other commercial dog breeders from performing painful procedures such as cutting off...
AVERT Future Violence Act Introduced to Further Investigate Link Between Animal Cruelty and Interpersonal Violence and Help Rehabilitate Offenders
Press ReleaseAugust 25, 2022Companion AnimalsTime and time again, we learn that individuals who have committed violent acts against others—whether it be a spouse, a parent, or the 21 schoolchildren and teachers gunned down this...
New Research Identifies Key Differences Between Intentional Animal Abuse and Neglect
Press ReleaseJune 23, 2022Companion AnimalsOne out of every five intentional animal cruelty incidents reported to police involves another criminal offense, according to a new study by researchers from the Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) and American University’s...
Animal Lives Among Those Upended by Ravages of War
Companion AnimalsRussia’s invasion of Ukraine has caused a nearly unfathomable level of suffering for both humans and animals within the war-torn country. Thousands of people, many of them civilians, have been...