News from the Animal Welfare Institute

AWI Press Release: The Face of American Horse Slaughter: Shady Dealer Shifts Species but Modus Operandi Remains Unchanged

2012-01-23T16:13:00.001-05:00

Washington, DC (January 23, 2012) – Some politicians in Washington feel that restarting a horse slaughter industry on American soil is a good idea. We’d like to offer a small window into how the horse slaughter industry currently operates, as shady players make deals amongst themselves while duping innocent people into giving up their horses to be butchered. Read on…

A story recently surfaced about a 24-year-old Pennsylvania woman, Kelsey Lefever, who faces felony charges after allegedly collecting over 120 retired racehorses from well-meaning owners, promising them she would find good homes for the horses. Her intention all along, however, was to sell them to killer buyers. Their “good homes” turned out to be a slaughterhouse in Canada, where they met with a gruesome death in order to become a “delicacy” at restaurants abroad. In the police report, a witness indicates that Lefever told her, "I killed every one of those (expletive) horses—over 120 of them. If they only knew, every one of them is dead."

Her middleman is alleged to be one Bruce Rotz, Jr., who operates his killer buyer business from barns in Shippensburg, Pennsylvania. He is under contract to buy horses for the Canadian meat company Viande Richelieu.

Long before Rotz was a killer buyer, however, the Rotz family gained notoriety via another avenue of animal abuse: as Class B dealers. Rotz worked for his father, Bruce Rotz, Sr., who acquired dogs via an illicit supply chain and made tens of thousands of dollars a year selling the poor victims—many of whom were likely former companion animals—to research facilities for experimentation.

As dog dealers, the Rotzes had numerous run-ins with the law. The elder Rotz was fined $1,240 in 2005 for failing to meet minimum requirements under the Animal Welfare Act. The Rotzes acquired many of the dogs they sold from a family of notorious dealers in Missouri whose license was eventually revoked and a fine imposed for violations of the federal law, including failing to keep accurate records on hundreds of the dogs they sold.

In 2006, Bruce Rotz Sr. let his license to operate as a random source dog dealer expire, and he sold his business. Although Bruce Rotz, Jr. continued to work for the new owner for a while, he was already moving on to horses by then. Though he’s shifted species from dogs to horses, Rotz’s methods appear to be the same. He is part of a dirty business where animals come to him from questionable sources, and he sells them for profit. He frequents the nearby New Holland horse auction to acquire horses, including former racehorses, for the trade in their meat. Recently, according to the criminal investigation, Rotz bought horses from Ms. Lefever.

Rotz doesn’t appear to be any more concerned with where the horses come from than he was with the dogs—and because he is once removed from the known illegal activity, he appears to be successfully ducking prosecution. While Lefever faces prosecution for her fraudulent acquisition of the horses, Rotz remains free—a fine example of the sort of individual poised to take a lead role in a revised American horse slaughter industry.

“This makes you wonder why some Members of Congress are fighting so hard to restore an industry filled with crooked individuals like Rotz and Lefever, while thumbing their noses at those responsible owners who lost their horses into slaughter against their will,” said Chris Heyde, deputy director of government and legal affairs for AWI. “Thankfully, the majority of legislators are supporting passage of the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act which would protect horses from corrupt profiteers.”

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For more information:

Chris Heyde, chris@awionline.org, (202) 446-2142

AWI Press Release: Handful of Legislators Condemn Horses to USDA Approved Abuse

2011-11-15T16:23:00.000-05:00

Washington, D.C. (November 15, 2011) – It would appear that some in Congress are all talk when it comes to seriously reducing federal spending and decreasing the size of government. Despite overwhelming objections from the American public and the horse community, and despite Congress’ own supposed belief in fiscal restraint, the fate of America’s horses was undermined by three Members of Congress and their staffs behind closed doors this week. For years, an amendment to the annual Agriculture Appropriations bill has prevented tax dollars from being used to “inspect” horse slaughter facilities in the U.S. The House of Representatives voted this year to again include it in the Fiscal Year 2012 Agriculture Appropriations bill, but three members of the Conference Committee, Representative Jack Kingston (R-GA), Senator Herb Kohl (D-WI), and Senator Roy Blunt (R-MO), removed it from the final bill. A fourth member of the Conference Committee, Representative Sam Farr (D-CA), was the lone objector.

“I have been in Washington for a long time and this move baffles me. Both parties talked about making the hard cuts in federal spending and yet behind closed doors, three of the four men thought it was a good use of taxpayer dollars to ignore their colleagues and restore a federal program that will cost Americans at least $5 million a year and pull limited USDA inspectors from ensuring the humane treatment and safety of our nation’s food supply. To make matters worse, this was all done to appease a few foreign companies and Big Ag,” said Chris Heyde, deputy director of AWI’s government and legal affairs department. “This action shows the true nature of some elected officials—that they are more concerned about helping special interests than doing what they were elected to do.”

Some legislators are trying to disguise what they did as helping the horses, but there is substantial evidence of horses suffering at taxpayers’ expense when slaughter was permitted in the U.S. While a recent GAO report attempted to connect an increase in abuse to a cessation of horse slaughter in the U.S., the authors noted that there was no actual proof other than claims put forward by pro-horse slaughter proponents.

With this cynical move, there is now only one avenue left for ending the tragedy of the slaughter of horses for human consumption: Swift action on the GAO’s other recommendation—passage of the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act.

“AWI commends Representative Farr (D-CA), ranking member of the House Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee, for being the sole member of the Conference Committee to stand up for America’s horses and fiscal responsibility,” noted Heyde. “We look forward to working with Representative Farr and other Members of Congress on passage of the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act.”

The Animal Welfare Institute is calling on everyone who has horses and cares about the welfare of America’s horses to demand that Congress pass the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act immediately.

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For More Information:

Chris Heyde, chris@awionline.org , (202) 446-2142

Animal Welfare Institute Announces 2011 Schweitzer Awards

2011-11-09T14:27:00.001-05:00

Washington, D.C. -- On Monday, November 14, 2011, U.S. Assistant Attorney General Laurie Robinson, who heads the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs, will present the Animal Welfare institute’s (AWI) Albert Schweitzer Award to three outstanding prosecutors. Michelle Welch, Assistant Attorney General for the Commonwealth of Virginia, and Assistant Prosecuting Attorneys Raj Prasad and Amy Slameka from the Wayne County (MI) Prosecutor’s Office, are leaders - indeed, pioneers - in aggressively pursuing animal cruelty and animal fighting cases and raising awareness about the need to take such cases seriously.

In 1951, Dr. Albert Schweitzer gave his permission to AWI to strike a medal in his honor to be presented for outstanding achievement in the advancement of animal welfare. In granting his permission, Dr. Schweitzer wrote, "I would never have believed that my philosophy, which incorporates in our ethics a compassionate attitude toward all creatures, would be noticed and recognized in my lifetime."

This is the first time that AWI has honored members from this branch of law enforcement. The first honoree from law enforcement, in 1964, was, interestingly, also from Detroit: Patrolman John Mobley of the Detroit police department, who was recognized for his prompt reporting of the suffering and neglect of animals in an experimental laboratory, which led to improvements in their care. In 1965, Associate Supreme Court Justice Abe Fortas received the award for his previous work as author of the first bill requiring the humane treatment of animals in research.

Event Details:

Date: Monday, November 14, 2011

Time: 5:30 p.m.; program commences at 6:15 p.m.

Location: The Hill Center, 921 Pennsylvania Ave., SE, Washington, D.C. (1 block up from the Eastern Market Metro station)

Contacts:

Cathy Liss, (202) 446-2121; cathy@awionline.org

Nancy Blaney, (202) 446-2141; nancy@awionline.org

GUEST PRESENTER:

Laurie O. Robinson
Assistant Attorney General
U.S. Department of Justice

The Honorable Laurie O. Robinson is Assistant Attorney General of the Office of Justice Programs (OJP). Since joining OJP in January 2009, she has overseen the award of $2.7 billion in Recovery Act funds, launched an agency-wide initiative to integrate evidence-based approaches in OJP programs, and held a series of listening sessions with state, local, and national constituents. Ms. Robinson also served as OJP’s Assistant Attorney General from 1993 to 2000. Prior to her current appointment, she directed the Master of Science Program at the University of Pennsylvania’s Department of Criminology.

AWARD RECIPIENTS:

Rajesh Prasad
Assistant Prosecuting Attorney
Wayne County Prosecutor's Office

Raj Prasad has been an Assistant Prosecuting Attorney at the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office since 2005, currently assigned to the Homicide Unit. Raj co-founded the Animal Protection Unit with Amy Slameka. The Animal Protection Unit is a volunteer unit now consisting of four attorneys and an advocate who review and handle every animal related case from warrant stage to completion. Amy and Raj also work closely with local Humane Society investigators and animal control officers in training and advising them for their investigations. The Animal Protection Unit has achieved a 98 percent conviction rate over the past three years.

Raj is currently on the State Bar of Michigan's Animal Law Section. He is the chairman of the Animal Law Section's Prosecutor's Committee, and on its Legislative Committee. Prior to coming to Michigan, Raj was an Assistant State Attorney for five years in Tampa, Florida. He received his JD from Washington and Lee University School of Law and his BA from the University of Pennsylvania. Raj is a proud owner of two humane society dogs, Han Solo and Scout.

Amy Slameka
Assistant Prosecuting Attorney
Wayne County Prosecutor's Office

Amy Slameka has been with the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office since January 2001. She has been assigned to the felony trial division for the majority of her career. Amy is currently assigned to the Special Prosecutions Unit on a grant involving energy theft. Throughout her ten-year career, Amy has been paying special attention to all animal cases in the office. This culminated in her co-founding the Animal Protection Unit in 2008 with Raj Prasad. The Animal Protection Unit is a volunteer unit now consisting of four attorneys and an advocate who review and handle every animal-related case from warrant stage to completion. Amy and Raj also work closely with local Humane Society investigators and animal control officers in training and advising them for their investigations. The Animal Protection Unit has achieved a 98 percent conviction rate over the past three years.

Amy is an executive member of the Animal Law Section of the State Bar of Michigan, a Character and Fitness Committee Member of the State Bar of Michigan and a board member of the Grosse Pointe Animal Adoption Society. Amy received her J.D. from Michigan State University Law and her B.S. from Michigan State University.

Michelle Welch
Assistant Attorney General
Virginia Attorney General's Office

Michelle Welch is an Assistant Attorney General in the Virginia Attorney General’s Office. She is the Assistant charged with taking all animal law questions in Virginia. She is called on by agencies all over the Commonwealth to act as a special prosecutor in animal cruelty and animal fighting cases. She has been appointed a special Assistant U.S. Attorney to aid in dogfighting prosecutions. She frequently gives advice to local law enforcement authorities and prosecutors all over Virginia and across the nation. She also trains prosecutors and animal control and law enforcement officers on the state of Virginia animal law.

Michelle is a frequent speaker at many conferences, including the Virginia Animal Control Association, Virginia Federation of Humane Societies, and the Florida Animal Control Association. She also has spoken at ABA Animal Law Conferences and is asked to speak frequently at vet schools and many other groups. She is the vice president of the Virginia Animal Fighting Taskforce and a board member of VFHS. She is a vice-chair of the Animal Law Committee of the ABA. She frequently works with many animal organizations, including the Animal Welfare Institute. She is a senior faculty member for the Association of Prosecuting Attorneys (APA), and chairs the Animal Law Curriculum Advisory Committee for the APA. She is adjunct faculty for Animal Law at the University of Richmond Law School. She has served as adjunct faculty in the Criminal Justice Program at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia.

Welch also served as Deputy Commonwealth’s Attorney in the City of Richmond in charge of all animal abuse and dogfighting prosecutions, among other cases. She has testified before a Congressional caucus examining the enforcement of animal laws and the cooperation between state and federal partners. She has many other responsibilities in her current role with the AG’s Office, including agency work and civilly committing sexually violent predators under Virginia’s civil commitment statute. She is the point person for all animal law questions and is considered an expert on animal law.

View case examples from the 2011 Schweitzer Award Recipients here.

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Media Contact:

Nancy Blaney, AWI, (202) 446-2141

House Moves to Protect American Horses Here and Abroad

2011-09-19T13:19:00.001-04:00

American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act (H.R. 2966) Reintroduced

Washington, D.C. -- As Congress heads into their busy fall season, Representatives Dan Burton (R-IN) and Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), along with 55 bipartisan cosponsors have reintroduced H.R. 2966, the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act. The bill, similar to the one approved by a strong bipartisan vote in the House several years ago, would outlaw the slaughter of American horses here and - most urgently - would stop these horses from being exported for slaughter.

"I personally believe in the importance of treating all horses as humanely and respectfully as possible," said Rep. Burton. "That being said, I look forward to working with Rep. Schakowsky to end the cruelty, after decades of effort to stop these practices."

"The Animal Welfare Institute commends Reps. Burton, Schakowsky and their colleagues from both sides of the isle for their continued leadership and commitment to protecting America's horses," said Chris Heyde, the Institute's deputy director of government and legal affairs. "They realize the cruel slaughter of horses must stop. It is certainly not fiscally responsible or humane to resurrect slaughter in the U.S. Doing so would require new federal regulations and increased bureaucracy while spending millions of taxpayer dollars - all in an attempt to 'manage' rather than simply outlaw the abuses perpetuated by this industry."

Recently, the Government Accounting Office (GAO) issued a report assessing horse welfare since 2007 and the closure of the last three foreign-owned horse slaughter plants in the U.S. However, the GAO was not asked and did not consider the impact slaughter had on America's horses while plants were operating in the U.S., or the impact should slaughter be restored - both vital to understanding the welfare implications. In the end, one of two recommendations was to ban slaughter in the U.S. and the export of horses for the same purposes - what the Animal Welfare Institute has said for years and the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act would do. Our elected officials should follow GAO's recommendation that Congress "...consider instituting an explicit ban on the domestic slaughter of horses and exports of U.S. horses intended for slaughter in foreign countries."

"I am proud to join Rep. Burton in supporting this bill to put a stop to the cruel practice of shipping horses abroad for slaughter," said Rep. Schakowsky. "As a strong supporter of animal rights and a horse lover, I recognize the need to protect animals that aren't able to protect themselves. Protecting animals ought to be a bipartisan issue and this bill is a strong step in the right direction."

The Animal Welfare Institute is calling on all Americans to demand that Congress halt horse slaughter by passing H.R. 2966, the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act, immediately. For far too long, the few who profit from this cruel industry have been misleading Congress and the public, to the detriment of hundreds of thousands of horses. Since the Animal Welfare Institute began its national campaign to end horse slaughter in 2001, horse owners, veterinarians, agriculture organizations, equine rescues and the American public have all come together to help advocate for our horses. The American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act represents a critically important opportunity to safeguard American horses. The choice is clear. Rather than sanction cruelty, Congress must provide American horses permanent sanctuary from the slaughterhouse.

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Media Contact:
Chris Heyde, AWI, (202) 446-2142

Be sure to take action on the Senate version of the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act, S. 1176, and check back for the H.R. 2966 version as soon as it is available.

Protect America's Horses and Promote Responsible Government!

2011-09-12T17:05:00.000-04:00

Please tell your Senators to Support the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act

Dear Humanitarian:

Turn on the news and much of what you will hear from our elected officials in Washington, D.C. is "cut federal spending," "stop wasteful federal programs," or "decrease federal regulation." For those truly interested in cutting waste, we have a winning issue: banning horse slaughter. Not only does the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act (S. 1176) help end the abuse of over 100,000 American horses being hauled to and slaughtered in Mexico and Canada for human consumption, but this bill would also eliminate a federal program while saving the American taxpayer millions of dollars a year.

Amazingly, however, while some in Congress talk about cuts, a few of the same politicians are quietly trying to restore a USDA program that was eliminated six years ago. At the time Congress shut this program down, it was costing taxpayers $5 million a year, almost exclusively for the benefit of foreign interests. Restoring it now would cost much more - and require an increase in federal bureaucracy to boot. It is time for the American people to stand up for horses while taking a stand against those in Congress working both sides of the issue when it comes to federal spending.

Contact your Senators TODAY in support of S. 1176, the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act. For more background on the issue and the legislation, please visit www.awionline.org/horseslaughter.

WHAT YOU CAN DO:

Call both of your Senators today and urge them to help end horse slaughter, while saving the American taxpayer millions of dollars a year, by cosponsoring S. 1176, the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act.

To find your Senators' contact information, please visit AWI's Compassion Index. While there, you can also send them an email in support of the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act.

Remember, Paul Revere, a member of the original tea party, didn't walk from town to town alerting the colonists that the British were coming, he rode a horse! Please help us to alert everyone that the time has come to end horse slaughter. Be sure to share this Dear Humanitarian eAlert with friends, family and coworkers, and encourage them to take action today!

Sincerely,

Cathy Liss
President

Frog Leg Trade Decimates Species and Causes Ecological Chaos

2011-07-28T10:40:00.000-04:00

New report highlights dangers of international frog leg trade

Washington, D.C./Munich -- International wildlife conservation groups Pro Wildlife, Defenders of Wildlife, and the Animal Welfare Institute, issued a report today titled Canapés to Extinction: The international trade in frogs’ legs and its ecological impact. The report is the first comprehensive study of the frog leg market ever conducted and reveals an industry that is systematically devastating frog populations throughout the world and, subsequently, causing severe environmental impacts to natural ecosystems.

"Humans have been eating frogs for ages. But today the practice is not sustainable on a global scale," said Alejandra Goyenechea, acting director of international conservation programs for Defenders of Wildlife. "Billions of frogs are traded internationally each year for human consumption, and that industry is responsible for depleting wild populations, spreading deadly disease, and allowing invasive species to destroy the health of native ecosystems."

In recent years, the United States has imported an average of 2,280 tonnes (4.6 million pounds) of frog legs each year - the equivalent of 456 million to 1.1 billion frogs - and another 2,216 tonnes (4.4 million pounds) of live frogs for Asian-American markets. Most frog and frog leg imports to the U.S. come from China, Taiwan, Ecuador, Brazil, the Dominican Republic, Vietnam, Mexico and Indonesia.
During the last decade, the European Union imported an average of 4,600 tonnes (9.2 million pounds) of frog legs each year - the equivalent of 1 to 2.3 billion frogs. Indonesia is the world’s leading supplier, providing 84 percent of total imports to the EU with the vast majority of frogs being caught in the wild. Belgium, France and the Netherlands are the top importers in the EU.

"The decline of many frog species is a global problem that is being greatly accelerated by just a handful of European nations," said Sandra Altherr, director of wildlife programs for Pro Wildlife in Germany. "The capture and killing of native frogs is prohibited within the EU, so it is incomprehensible that we would be supporting environmentally disastrous practices abroad."

Until the mid-1980s, India and Bangladesh dominated the international frog leg export market. Severe exploitation resulted in the collapse of many wild frog populations in those countries, including two of the most sought-after species, the green pond frog and the Indian bullfrog. In turn, the decline of those species resulted in a dramatic increase in the use of pesticides, due to an explosion of insects and other agricultural pests previously kept in check by frogs. In 1985, the two frog species were protected with an Appendix II listing under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). India and Bangladesh subsequently banned exports, their native species have since recovered and the use of pesticides has been reduced.

However, in recent years, other countries have stepped in to fill the void and their frog populations appear to be headed for a similar fate. Indonesia, where billions of frogs are taken from the wild annually, and to a lesser extent China, Taiwan and Vietnam, where frogs are farmed very intensively, have now taken over the export market.

"We must take immediate action to protect frog species from being exploited for international trade," said D.J. Schubert, a wildlife biologist with the Animal Welfare Institute. "Wild populations across Asia are already in trouble, and unregulated trade puts native species in the U.S. at even greater risk from deadly diseases that have been wreaking havoc on amphibians worldwide. It will take a coordinated effort from governments and the world’s conservation community to prevent the extinction of imperiled frog species and to protect our native species from harmful invasives."

The report will be distributed to key government decision-makers, including those responsible for the implementation of CITES, with a request that they take immediate action to bring this unregulated trade under control. Considering that the frog species dominating the frog leg trade are not currently protected under CITES, there is an urgent need for governments to secure CITES protections for them.

Click here to download the full report.

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Media Contact:D.J. Schubert, AWI, (609) 601-2875, dj@awionline.org

U.S. House of Representatives Takes Action to Protect Animals Against Cruel Traps on National Wildlife Refuges

2011-07-26T09:22:00.000-04:00

Washington, D.C. -- Today, Congresswoman Nita Lowey (D-NY) introduced legislation to end the use of brutal traps on furbearing animals within federal wildlife refuges. The Refuge from Cruel Trapping Act, H.R. 2657, is intended to help to restore the original intent of the National Wildlife Refuge System by placing a ban on the use of cruel body-gripping traps on these public lands.

"The use of steel jaw leg-hold traps and other barbaric mechanisms has no place in National Wildlife Refuges or other public lands," said Congresswoman Lowey. "Body-gripping traps are cruel and inhumane, and it is time to end this brutal practice once and for all."

Currently, animals living within National Wildlife Refuges (NWRs) are at risk of falling victim to body gripping traps where they may be tortured for hours or days - struggling to be free of the long-drawn-out pain inflicted on them by the traps. More than half of our country’s refuges currently allow trapping using steel jaw leghold traps, Conibear traps and snares. Steel jaw leg-hold traps are designed to restrain the animal by the leg, and some animals who are caught may chew off their own limb to escape on three legs. Conibear traps are designed to crush the animal’s spinal column for a quick kill. However, the trap often misses and clamps down on the chest or pelvis, crushing bones and causing the animal excruciating pain and prolonged death. Snares are among the oldest form of trap, a simple noose made of thin wire, which tightens around an animals neck or body as the animal struggles to get away.

Federal legislation is needed to stop this barbaric practice, currently allowed on more than half of our nation’s 550 refuges. These inhumane traps have been banned or severely restricted in 89 other nations and in 8 states throughout the United States. According to a 1989 study conducted by the United States Department of Agriculture’s Animal Damage Control division, such traps are indiscriminate and on average take 10.8 non-target animals for each trapped target animal. Referred to as "trash" animals by the trapper, non-target wildlife often are simply thrown away. Non-target animals that may be caught include raptors, songbirds, and deer.

"The Refuge from Cruel Trapping Act is a critical step toward reducing the suffering inflicted on our nation’s wildlife," said Cathy Liss, AWI President. "The Animal Welfare Institute applauds Congresswoman Lowey for her leadership in seeking to protect both target and non-target animals from traps that cause extensive physical trauma."

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Media Contacts:
Chris Heyde, AWI, (202) 446-2142

U.S. Declares Iceland in Defiance of Global Commercial Whaling Ban

2011-07-20T11:49:00.000-04:00

Conservation and Animal Protection Groups Welcome Action and Demand Sanctions

Washington, D.C. -- U.S. Department of Commerce Secretary Gary Locke announced today in a formal declaration that Iceland is undermining the effectiveness of the International Whaling Commission (IWC) by hunting whales in defiance of the IWC’s global ban on commercial whaling. As a result, President Obama now has 60 days to decide whether to impose economic measures including trade sanctions against Iceland under conservation legislation known as the "Pelly Amendment." Conservation and animal welfare groups commend Locke’s declaration and urge the President to pursue sanctions.

"U.S. citizens overwhelmingly oppose commercial whaling," said Kitty Block of Humane Society International. "It is both inhumane and unsustainable."

Kate O’Connell of the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society said, "President Obama has a unique opportunity to demonstrate U.S. leadership on whaling. The American public expects nothing less."

"Iceland has now been deservedly identified as a rogue whaling nation," adds Susan Millward, Executive Director of AWI. "President Obama can end whaling in Iceland by imposing, as he is authorized to do, strident sanctions against Iceland until it complies with international rules."

The U.S. and other IWC member countries have tried for years to persuade Iceland to end its commercial whaling, which includes hunting of the endangered fin whale - the world’s second largest animal. Although the U.S. has previously deemed Iceland and other whaling nations to be conducting commercial whaling in defiance of the IWC ban, it has never imposed trade sanctions. Following a series of failed negotiating efforts, the Obama Administration may finally choose to take strong action against Iceland.

"It’s clear Iceland won’t stop whaling until the world demands it through strong economic pressure," said Taryn Kiekow of the Natural Resources Defense Council. "The U.S. must impose serious sanctions."

"Whales don’t belong to any one nation," said Leigh Henry of World Wildlife Fund. "Whale conservation requires global effort and the credibility of the IWC is of the utmost importance if it is to remain effective."

In 2009, Iceland dramatically increased its fin whale quota to 150 animals a year - more than three times the catch limit that would be recommended by the IWC’s approved quota calculation method if the commercial whaling moratorium was not in place. In December 2010, as Iceland’s self-allocated whaling quotas and exports reached record levels, 19 U.S. NGOs, representing tens of millions of U.S. citizens, filed a "Pelly petition" urging the Secretaries of Commerce and Interior to certify Iceland pursuant to the Pelly Amendment and encouraging the President to impose trade sanctions against Iceland and specifically against fisheries-related businesses linked to its whaling industry.

Iceland has killed 280 endangered fin whales and more than 200 minke whales since it resumed commercial whaling in 2006. In the last two years alone, it has exported over 1,200 tons of whale, blubber and oil, worth more than $17 million to Japan, as well as additional shipments to Belarus, the Faroe Islands, Latvia and Norway.

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Media Contacts:
Susan Millward, AWI, (202) 446-2123
Martin Montorfano, HSI, (301) 258-3152, mmontorfano@hsi.org
Jessica Lass, NRDC, (310) 434-2300, jlass@nrdc.org
Caroline Behringer, WWF, office: (202) 495-4514, cell: (443) 285-1928, caroline.behringer@wwfus.org

The Animal Welfare Institute, headquartered in Washington, D.C., was founded in 1951 and is dedicated to alleviating suffering inflicted on animals by humans.

Humane Society International and its partner organizations together constitute one of the world's largest animal protection organizations - backed by 11 million people. For nearly 20 years, HSI has been fighting for the protection of all animals through advocacy, education, and hands-on programs. Celebrating animals and confronting cruelty worldwide - On the Web at hsi.org. Follow HSI on Twitter. See our work for animals on your iPhone by searching "HumaneTV" in the App Store.

About World Wildlife FundWWF is the world’s leading conservation organization, working in 100 countries for nearly half a century. With the support of almost 5 million members worldwide, WWF is dedicated to delivering science-based solutions to preserve the diversity and abundance of life on Earth, halt the degradation of the environment and combat climate change. Visit www.worldwildlife.org to learn more.

The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) is an international nonprofit environmental organization with more than 1.3 million members and online activists. Since 1970, our lawyers, scientists, and other environmental specialists have worked to protect the world's natural resources, public health, and the environment. NRDC has offices in New York City, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Livingston, Montana, and Beijing. Visit us at http://www.nrdc.org/.

Established back in 1987, the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society (WDCS), is the leading global charity dedicated to the conservation and welfare of all whales and dolphins. http://www.wdcs.org/

BACKGROUND

The Pelly Amendment

Pelly Amendment of the Fishermen’s Protective Act 22 U.S.C. §1978, as amended Pub. L. No. 95-376, 92 Stat. 714 (Sept. 18, 1978)

The United States has acknowledged that the Pelly Amendment "has been one of our most effective tools in the effort to conserve the greatest [sic] whales" and, in addition to Iceland, has certified Japan, Norway and Russia for diminishing the effectiveness of the ICRW (the convention that established the IWC). The United States imposed trade sanctions under the Pelly Amendment against Taiwan in 1994 for diminishing the effectiveness of CITES for illegal trade in rhino and tiger parts.

Iceland’s Whaling

In 1982, the IWC imposed a moratorium on commercial whaling, effective from 1986/7. Iceland did not formally object to the moratorium, but left the IWC in 1992. In 2002, it rejoined the IWC and its accession documents included a reservation to the commercial whaling moratorium. Under international law, a party seeking to accede to a convention cannot take a reservation to a measure that is incompatible with the object and purpose of the Convention. The IWC’s convention does, however, allow objections to Schedule amendments by its members within a proscribed period after the adoption of the amendment. Iceland chose not to file an objection to the 1982 adoption of the moratorium and therefore became bound by it. By including a reservation in its accession notification, Iceland tried to change its previous acceptance of the moratorium. Eighteen countries, including the United States, registered a formal objection to Iceland’s reservation to the moratorium on commercial whaling, and Mexico, New Zealand and Italy do not recognize Iceland’s membership of the IWC.

Iceland’s continued, and expanding, commercial whaling (including of an endangered species) under its reservation to the moratorium on commercial whaling is conducted without IWC supervision and control of the whaling operation. Its commercial whaling is conducted in defiance of objections to its reservation recorded by eighteen contracting governments. These actions clearly diminish the effectiveness of the ICRW/IWC. Iceland has ignored all diplomatic criticism of its hunting, including several strongly worded official diplomatic protests (demarches) from a wide range of countries in 2003, 2006, 2009 and 2011.

Timeline

2002: Iceland rejoined the IWC with a reservation to the moratorium on commercial whaling.
2003: U.S. objected to the reservation contained in Iceland’s instrument of adherence. Iceland resumed special permit whaling, taking 36 minke whales.
2004: Iceland took 25 minke whales under special permit. The U.S. certified Iceland under Pelly for its special permit whaling but opted not to pursue trade sanctions.
2005: Iceland took 39 minke whales under special permit.
2006: Iceland took 60 minke whales under special permit and resumed commercial whaling under its reservation to the IWC’s moratorium; it took seven fin whales out of a self-allocated quota of nine and one out of 30 minkes under its reservation.
2007: Iceland took no fin whales and six minke whales under its reservation, and 36 minke whales in the last year of its special permit whaling.
2008: Iceland took 38 minke whales out of a quota of 40 and no fin whales under its reservation.
2009: Iceland dramatically increased its annual whaling quotas to 150 fin and 150 minke whales for 2009-2013. It took 126 fin and 81 minke whales.
2010: Iceland killed 148 fin and 60 minke whales.
March 2011: Iceland exported 289.13 tons, its largest single shipment of whale products to Japan since the IWC ban took effect.

Iceland’s Trade

CITES, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, responded to the IWC’s moratorium on commercial whaling by transferring all whales species to its Appendix I, thereby prohibiting international commercial trade in whale products. Japan, Norway and Iceland lodged reservations that allow them to trade legally in whale products with each other. Iceland’s recent exports of whale products to Latvia and Belarus which do not hold reservations to the CITES listing were illegal. Together with its escalating exports of whale products under reservation, Iceland is diminishing the effectiveness of CITES’ trade controls - grounds for Pelly certification and sanctions.

Iceland illegally exported 2.7 tons of whale oil to Belarus in 2006 and 2010 and 259 kg of whale meat to Latvia in 2010; Iceland has exported 1,200 tons of fin whale meat to Japan since 2008 under their respective CITES reservations; Iceland has exported eight separate shipments of whale oil to Norway since 2008, totaling 708 kg, under their respective CITES reservations; Iceland has exported 1,309 kg of whale meat to the Faroe Islands, a non-party to CITES.

The ‘Hvalur Group’

Iceland’s ‘Hvalur (meaning 'whaling') Group’, comprising Hvalur hf; Fiskhlutfelagið Venus; Vogun; Vænting; HB Grandi and Hampiðjan, is the product of decades-long corporate and familial connections linked to Iceland's fishing and whaling industries. In turn, these companies are themselves tied to major players in Iceland's seafood, banking and investment firms. Hvalur hf, the fin whaling company, is also one of Iceland's leading investment companies. HB Grandi is Iceland's largest fishing and seafood export company, controlling nearly 10 percent of the country's fishing quotas. The U.S represents four percent of Grandi's overseas markets. Hampiðjan is one of the largest fishing gear suppliers in the world.

AWI’s 60th Year Honored by Congressional Animal Protection Caucus Leaders

2011-07-07T15:22:00.002-04:00

Washington, D.C. -- Sunday will mark the 60th anniversary of the Animal Welfare Institute (AWI). In honor of this, the Congressional Animal Protection Caucus co-chairmen, Congressman Elton Gallegly (R-CA) and Congressman Jim Moran (D-VA), recognized AWI with a resolution commemorating the organization’s 60th year.

The resolution, entitled Recognizing the 60th anniversary of the Animal Welfare Institute (H. Res. 309), highlights AWI's unparalleled leadership in animal protection issues, speaks to AWI programs, and underscores AWI’s current bipartisan and responsible legislative initiatives.

Since its inception in 1951, AWI has been a leader in the field of animal welfare. It was the first group of its kind to approach Congress and urge members on both sides of the aisle to consider their responsibility to be kind to animals and to enact laws to stamp out senseless cruelty while putting an end to needless suffering. Along the way, founder Christine Stevens - who guided the organization for over 50 years until her passing in 2002 - became known as the "mother of the animal protection movement." She and the dedicated staff at AWI have helped raise awareness and pass some of the most landmark animal welfare laws in the U.S. - the Humane Methods of Slaughter Act, the Laboratory Animal Welfare Act, the Endangered Species Preservation Act, and the Horse Protection Act, to name a few.

"We are especially grateful to the Congressional Animal Protection Caucus and all of the many Members of Congress who have helped lend a voice to those who would otherwise not be heard," noted AWI’s president, Cathy Liss. "A special thanks is also due to the resolution sponsors, Congressman Gallegly and Congressman Moran, for their unwavering commitment to animal protection legislation over the years. Both have been incredible champions for the welfare of animals."

"As the co-chairman of the Congressional Animal Protection Caucus, I have come to view the Animal Welfare Institute as a vital institution, providing me and my colleagues with critical and timely information on fundamental animal welfare issues," said Congressman Gallegly.

Today, AWI continues its critical mission, working in a bipartisan fashion with Members of Congress to address animal suffering in a number of areas, including horse slaughter, laboratory animal handling and housing, trapping, marine mammal harvesting, farm animal husbandry, and animal transportation.

"I am pleased to recognize the Animal Welfare Institute on its 60th anniversary," said Congressman Moran. "AWI has been a tremendous asset on Capitol Hill - consistently on the vanguard in the fight to end senseless cruelty of animals - and I look forward to working with them in the future on the key animal welfare issues debated in Congress."

The Animal Welfare Institute is honored to be recognized for 60 years of service and commitment to animals and is energized now, more than ever, to carry on with the mission set forth by our founder, Christine Stevens - to alleviate the suffering inflicted on animals by people.

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Media Contact:
Christine Sequenzia, AWI, (202) 446-2140

AWI Asks Retailers to Consider Animal Welfare in Choosing Meat Suppliers

2011-06-29T07:27:00.001-04:00

Washington, D.C. -- The Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) is encouraging grocery store and restaurant chains to monitor the animal welfare record of their meat suppliers and refuse to deal with any company that repeatedly violates humane standards. In a letter to retailers, AWI president Cathy Liss urged retailers to not do business with companies on AWI’s list of repeat offenders of the Humane Methods of Slaughter Act, the federal law regulating the treatment of animals in slaughterhouses.

"Consumers are increasingly aware that they hold the power to impact animals' lives through their food choices, and they want retailers to only offer products from humanely treated animals," said Liss. "Until now, unless a retailer conducted its own audits, it had little or no information about a producer's animal welfare record to help the retailer make purchasing decisions. AWI is now making that information available to retailers and consumers alike."

To assist in assessing the welfare record of a meat supplier, AWI has created a list of all slaughter establishments that have been suspended by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for violations of the humane slaughter law. Plant suspension is one of the most serious enforcement actions the USDA can take and typically occurs in response to an egregious incident. In some cases, the suspension list provides a link to actual enforcement documents, obtained from the USDA through the Freedom of Information Act.

Examples of repeat offenders of the humane slaughter law include a large Minnesota plant with 18 noncompliance records and three suspensions within an eight-month period and a very small North Carolina plant with six suspensions in 18 months. Violations include using an electric prod to shock a pig multiple times on the face, beating and kicking a disabled pig, chaining and hoisting a still-conscious steer, and shooting a bull with a firearm a total of five times before rendering the animal unconscious.

"Retailers should strive to provide high-quality, sustainable and socially responsible products for their customers, and that means only offering meat from animals that have been humanely raised and slaughtered," added Dena Jones, farm animal program manager for AWI. "Unfortunately, the treatment of animals on the farm is not currently regulated in the U.S. - but slaughter is regulated and a meat company’s humane slaughter record should inform retailer procurement decisions."

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Media Contact:
Dena Jones, AWI, 202-446-2146 or dena@awionline.org

Senator Kirk Introduces Bill to End Inhumane Transport of Horses Via Double Deck Trailers

2011-06-28T17:10:00.002-04:00

Washington, D.C. -- Late Monday night, Senator Mark Kirk (R-IL) and Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) introduced The Horse Transportation Safety Act of 2011 (S. 1281) to ban double deck trailer transportation of horses in the United States. Senator Kirk has worked to end the use of double deck transports for hauling horses since serving in the House of Representatives, following a horrific double deck trailer accident that took place in his state.

"The Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) is elated that Senator Kirk has chosen to reassert his strong commitment to the issue since his election to the Senate last year," said Christine Sequenzia, federal policy advisor at AWI. "Humane horse transportation is one of our top priorities and we felt that committee passage of a standalone bill during the 111th Congress was an important step forward. We now look forward to seeing the Horse Transportation Safety Act of 2011 signed into law."

Double deck livestock trailers on the road today were built to meet the specific design and engineering requirements of short-necked livestock species, like cattle, sheep, and swine. Unfortunately, a few irresponsible haulers have used these trailers against manufacturer intent to transport horses, leading to inhumane travel conditions for equines and unsafe roadways for drivers. The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and the National Agriculture Safety Database (NASD) have recommended ceiling heights no lower than 7'-8' to transport horses safely, while average double deck trailer ceiling heights range from 4'7"-5'11". The U.S. Department of Transportation only requires bridges to have a vertical clearance of 14' in both rural and urban areas, making it impractical to build or modify a trailer large enough to transport equines on two levels.

"Besides being an inhumane way to transport horses, double-deck trailers pose a major safety threat to the drivers of the imbalanced, oversized vehicles, as well as to other motorists," said Senator Kirk. "Unfortunately, crashes due to these factors have occurred, and the results of the accidents are devastating. Following an accident in 2007 in Wadsworth, Ill., authorities worked for five hours before they were able to free the horses from the wreckage."

Today, most professional horse haulers believe double deck trailer transportation of horses has been banned. While there are a few state laws prohibiting the use of double deck trailers, there are no federal guidelines regarding the humane transport of horses, other than those going to slaughter. Even those are flawed; current USDA regulations banning double deck transportation only cover horses heading directly to a slaughterhouse. Horses bound anywhere else, or en route to a midpoint in their journey (such as an auction house or feedlot) legally may be hauled in a double deck trailer - notwithstanding the cruelty. The USDA has expressed a desire to strengthen regulations banning this inhumane practice, but has yet to take action on the matter.

The Horse Transportation Safety Act of 2011 (S.1281) is necessary to protect horses from being transported across the United States in a trailer having more than one level. To learn more about this issue or to write a letter to your Senator in support of S. 1281, please visit www.compassionindex.org.

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Media Contact:
Christine Sequenzia, AWI, (202) 446-2140

GAO Study Wastes Time and Tax Dollars

2011-06-27T08:59:00.000-04:00

Washington, D.C. -- After almost two years and tens of thousands of tax dollars, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) has released its report, HORSE WELFARE: Action Needed to Address Unintended Consequences from Cessation of Domestic Slaughter with two conflicting conclusions: restore horse slaughter or ban horse slaughter. Really?

The GAO was given the responsibility of assessing horse welfare from 2007 forward following the closure of the last three foreign-owned horse slaughter plants in the U.S. However, and vital to understanding horse welfare, the GAO was not asked to consider the impact slaughter had on America’s horses while plants were operating in the U.S. or what it would be like for the horses if restored. In the end, one of two contradictory recommendations was to ban slaughter in the U.S. and the export of horses for the same purposes (what the Animal Welfare Institute has said for years).
In addition to this being the best alternative for the horses, this will also virtually eliminate any regulatory burden whatsoever to the USDA. In this time of economic strife, it is ludicrous to expend taxpayer dollars to benefit a few foreign investors (whether the plants are located in the U.S. or abroad). The only way to stop the abuse inflicted on American horses by the slaughter industry is for Congress to pass the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act, banning horse slaughter domestically and prohibiting the export of horses to Mexico and Canada.

To offer the option of restoring horse slaughter in the U.S. as the other recommendation ignores the cruelty inflicted on American horses’ right under the nose of grossly underfunded and highly inadequate USDA inspection capabilities. There is ample documentation from the USDA, private investigations and the first hand observations by AWI staff, substantiating the inhumane treatment of horses at plants when they were operating in the U.S., and there is documentation of the inhumane treatment of horses at plants that are operating outside the U.S. First and foremost, it should be acknowledged that slaughter is not a form of humane euthanasia as claimed by horse slaughter advocates. Second, though the report touched on neglect and abuse of horses, all this does is introduce a separate horse welfare issue with no substantiated relevance to slaughter. Everyone agrees that neglect and abuse of horses is horrendous, however, it is happening irrespective of the horse slaughter issue and needs to be addressed - as the separate welfare issue it is.

The Animal Welfare Institute urges Congress to swiftly pass the S. 1176, the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act, sponsored by Senator Mary Landrieu (D-LA) and Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC). To do otherwise will only perpetuate animal abuse.

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Media Contact:
Chris Heyde, (202) 446-2142, chris@awionline.org

Bill Takes Aim at Animal Dealers with “Atrocious Record of Illegal Activity”

2011-06-22T08:11:00.000-04:00

Washington, D.C. -- The Animal Welfare Institute is pleased to report that Reps. Mike Doyle (D-PA) and Chris Smith (R-NJ) - in an effort to protect companion animals from illegal use in laboratory experiments - today reintroduced, H.R. 2256, the Pet Safety and Protection Act. This bill would prohibit notoriously shady Class B dealers from selling dogs and cats to researchers.

By law, Class B dealers are supposed to acquire the animals they sell only from other dealers, pounds, and individuals who have bred and raised the animals themselves. However, these dealers and their suppliers (called "bunchers") routinely flout the Animal Welfare Act, obtain animals through fraud, deception, and outright theft, and falsify their records. They keep the animals in horrendous conditions. The U.S. Department of Agriculture spends hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars each year unsuccessfully trying to regulate them and has acknowledged that it can’t guarantee that dogs and cats are not being illegally acquired for use in experimental procedures. Five of the eight dealers currently in operation are under investigation by the USDA, with one of them having recently been indicted on a number of federal charges, including identity theft. Another one who has been under investigation turned in his license though the case against him is still pending, and a third is halfway through a five-year suspension.

"Class B dealers have racked up an atrocious record of illegal activity and cruelty to animals," Congressman Doyle said today in reintroducing the bill. "Allowing this failed program to continue is simply unacceptable. That's why we're re-introducing the Pet Safety and Protection Act -- to shut down the Class B dealer disaster once and for all."

In May 2009, the National Academy of Sciences released a report entitled "Scientific and Humane Issues in the Use of Random Source Dogs and Cats in Research." At the request of Congress, NAS assessed whether there is a scientific need for NIH grant recipients to purchase dogs and cats from B dealers. It found that animals with similar qualities are available from alternative sources. The report stated: "The Committee therefore determined Class B dealers are not necessary as providers of random source animals for NIH-related research." In response to this report and continued Congressional concern, NIH is now phasing out the use of these dealers by its grant recipients.

The Pet Safety and Protection Act is essential to ensuring that there is a permanent end to this abuse-ridden pipeline. "Class B dealers have routinely failed to meet basic Animal Welfare Act Standards and there is no sign they will ever improve," remarked Congressman Smith. "Reputable research institutes do not use Class B dealers because of the serious problems associated with them and their troubled past. Closing them down once and for all will give people greater confidence in our research programs and go a long way toward reducing animal cruelty."

Animal Welfare Institute President Cathy Liss welcomed the bill's reintroduction: "Most researchers do not use Class B dealers to acquire dogs and cats, and it is time for the remainder who do to end their embarrassing association with these habitual violators of the law."

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Media Contacts:
Cathy Liss, (202) 446-2121
Nancy Blaney, (202) 446-2141

Senate Reintroduces Bill to Permanently Ban Horse Slaughter

2011-06-09T21:00:00.002-04:00

Washington, D.C. -- A bill to ban horse slaughter was reintroduced in the United States Senate today. Sponsored by Senator Mary Landrieu (D-LA) and Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC), S. 1176, the "American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act of 2011" will end the slaughter of American horses here and, most urgently, will stop these horses from being exported abroad for slaughter. The sponsors, who have long championed the cause, have the bipartisan support of 14 colleagues who are co-sponsoring the bill.

"As a lifelong horse lover and rider, this practice is appalling to me, and more importantly, the majority of Americans oppose it. We raise and train horses to trust us, perform for us, and allow us on their backs, and as such, they deserve to be treated with human compassion. When horse owners are faced with the sad reality of having to put their animals down, it should be by humane euthanasia," said Senator Landrieu. "I intend to work with Senator Lindsey Graham from South Carolina and my other colleagues to get this bill passed and permanently end the slaughter of our American horses."

The legislation comes at a time when horse slaughter no longer occurs on U.S. soil, but each year approximately 100,000 American horses are hauled to Canada, Mexico and beyond. Reports show that horses regularly travel for hundreds or even thousands of miles to the slaughterhouses on double-deck cattle trucks without food, water or rest. At some Mexican slaughterhouses horses are stabbed repeatedly in the spine until they are paralyzed, after which they are butchered while still fully conscious. This country’s three remaining horse slaughter plants - two in Texas and one in Illinois - were shut down in 2007 under state law.

"The slaughter of horses is not a substitute for humane euthanasia though it is often mischaracterized as such by opponents who are more concerned with wringing a few bucks from a suffering animal than doing what is right," said Chris Heyde, deputy director of government and legal affairs for the Animal Welfare Institute. "AWI commends Senator Landrieu and Senator Graham for their continued leadership and for reintroducing this very important measure."

For years, the pro-slaughter camp has led a concerted and disingenuous effort to resurrect the industry domestically and has used scare tactics in an attempt to defeat the federal ban. The federal legislation is desperately needed to stop the slaughter of American horses, irrespective of where the killing takes place.

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Media Contact:
Chris Heyde, (202) 446-2142, chris@awionline.org

House Appropriations Committee Approves Amendment Blocking Tax Dollars from Being Used to Continue Horse Slaughter

2011-05-31T22:22:00.005-04:00

Washington, D.C. -- In yet another resounding victory for America's horses, the House Appropriations Committee voted in favor of language sponsored by Representative Jim Moran (D-VA) prohibiting the U.S. Department of Agriculture from spending tax dollars on inspecting horse slaughter facilities. The language, originally passed into law back in 2005, has halted horse slaughter operations for years, but for some reason, was not included in the current Fiscal Year 2012 Appropriations bill approved by the House Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee late last week.

"The Animal Welfare Institute commends Representative Jim Moran for his introduction of the amendment restoring this important language before the full Committee," said Chris Heyde, deputy director of government and legal affairs for AWI. "Representative Moran and Representative Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) spoke strongly about the need for this bill while pointing out now is not the time to start spending tax dollars to prop up a foreign owned and driven industry that prays on the suffering of American horses."

While the amendment was approved by the House Appropriations Committee, AWI will remain vigilant to ensure horse slaughter proponents do not try other tactics to have it removed as the bill makes its way to the full House for a vote or even in the Senate when the time comes.

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Media Contact:
Chris Heyde, AWI, (202) 446-2142, chris@awionline.org

Equine Enthusiasts Energized by the 5th Annual Homes for Horses Conference

2011-05-17T13:23:00.000-04:00

Washington, D.C. -- Equine rescue owners and horse enthusiasts from around the country gathered in Orlando on May 5-7 to expand their network and share best practices at the fifth annual conference of the Homes for Horses Coalition (HHC). The HHC is sponsored by the Animal Welfare Institute and The Humane Society of the US.

Panel discussions spanned a wide range of topics vital to horse rescues, including an interactive lecture on increasing philanthropic resources; a grant maximizing discussion given by the ASPCA and former PetSmart Charities staff; a talk on making social media work, an overview of the US Trotting Association’s Standardbred re-homing efforts; and advice on how to efficiently run an equine rescue.

Networking to secure humane equine treatment
This was the first year the HHC conference was held in conjunction with the 2012 Animal Care Expo, allowing HHC members to attend a broader course load of animal sheltering panels. Also new to the Expo was a track specifically dedicated to equine welfare. Christine Sequenzia, federal policy advisor at the Animal Welfare Institute, spoke during the equine track on the topic of ending horse slaughter for human consumption. "It is wonderful to see such camaraderie among animal shelters and specifically among equine rescues. Together, we can work toward passing a federal ban on the cruel act of horse slaughter, while providing safe havens for at-risk horses," said Sequenzia.

Sharing ideas to build a stronger coalition
Attendees were quick to offer suggestions to build a stronger coalition at this year’s conference. Suggested concepts included building a national horse registry database with buy-in from breed groups, assisting with equine re-homing or the at-risk equine notification process; hosting webinars focused on social media techniques and technological tools; creating a best-practices document focusing on volunteer management and problem horse rehabilitation; and establishing a catalogue of humane horse trainers.

Jacque Schultz, senior director of the equine fund at the ASPCA, is a HHC conference favorite. Schultz said, "For a second year, the ASPCA was thrilled to offer scholarships to equine rescue volunteers from across the country as the Homes for Horses Conference is always a source of up-to-date information and networking opportunities. I was especially pleased to hear more about the growing trend in statewide equine welfare coalitions, an area where the ASPCA Equine Fund offers grant support."

"We are thrilled to have been able to participate in this year’s HHC Conference, which brought like minded experts together. Improving professionalism within the rescue community and extending our nationwide outreach were just two of the important topics discussed during this fantastic three day event. We have attended every conference since day one and we will be back next year too," said Jo Deibel, executive director of Angel Acres Horse Haven Rescue, Inc., and HHC steering committee member.

Founded in 2007 by AWI and The HSUS, the Homes for Horses Coalition is dedicated to ending horse slaughter and other forms of equine abuse while promoting growth, collaboration and professionalism in the equine rescue and protection community. The coalition currently has more than 150 members and is the only professional organization dedicated to providing training and support to the nation's equine welfare community.

The sixth annual Homes for Horses Coalition conference will be held in May 2012 in conjunction with the 2012 Animal Care Expo in Las Vegas, NV. To find out more, visit: http://www.homesforhorses.org/.

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Media Contact:
Christine Sequenzia, AWI, (202) 446-2140

Lawsuit Filed Over “Penning” Facility In Which Hunting Dogs Are Set Loose On Captive Coyotes, Foxes

2011-05-10T15:00:00.000-04:00

Indianapolis, IN -- National non-profit organizations Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF), Project Coyote, and Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) are filing a lawsuit today against the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and its director Robert Carter Jr. over the Department’s decision to waive state permit requirements for a controversial Greene County "penning" facility. In penning operations, wild foxes and coyotes are trapped so that packs of hunting dogs can be set loose on them. The captive wildlife, unable to escape the caged enclosures, frequently suffer horrific deaths while being ripped to shreds during these "field trials." Indiana residents and taxpayers who are deeply concerned about the cruel practice have joined the suit. The law offices of Lawrence Reuben are providing pro bono legal assistance.

Why are attorneys and activists howling mad about the bloody field trials happening at Linton, Indiana’s WCI Foxhound Training Preserve without a state-issued permit? After activists complained that the facility lacks a permit to "possess" -- i.e., physically contain -- wildlife outside of hunting season, as mandated by state law, the DNR asserted that the coyotes and foxes trapped in these cage enclosures are not technically "possessed" by the facility because there are small, unintentional perforations in their poorly-maintained wire fences. Today’s lawsuit alleges that, if the Department’s grievous misinterpretation of the law were allowed to stand, anyone in the state of Indiana could skirt the wildlife possession permit requirement simply by failing to maintain the fencing within which they have enclosed an animal. By removing the state’s wildlife permit requirement - intended to serve as a substantial disincentive to possessing wildlife - the Department’s conduct makes it more likely that humans and wildlife will be harmed or infected with communicable diseases.

This lawsuit comes just a week before the Indiana Natural Resources Commission (INRC) considers creating new rules that would sanction coyote and fox penning year-round, despite major public outcry against the practice. Recently, Florida permanently banned coyote and fox penning state-wide, and just last year, the Indiana DNR recommended that the INRC outlaw the practice. Meanwhile, wildlife experts contend that the practice of penning results in ethically indefensible animal cruelty, is ecologically reckless, and is counter to sound scientific wildlife management. "As a nation, we have banned dog and cock fighting because of their inherent cruelty," said Camilla Fox, Executive Director of Project Coyote and Wildlife Consultant with AWI. "Like these other brutal blood-sports, coyote and fox penning is unacceptably cruel and should be relegated to America’s dark past." Today, ALDF, Project Coyote, and AWI submitted a letter to the INRC - endorsed by more than 60 prominent scientists, biologists, veterinarians, and attorneys - calling on the INRC to reject the proposed rules and instead ban penning statewide.

Today’s lawsuit against the DNR, meanwhile, highlights the flaws in the current regulatory system, making a state-wide ban on the abusive practice of banning all the more urgent. "he Department of Natural Resources is vested with the responsibility of protecting Indiana’s wildlife,"says ALDF Director of Litigation Carter Dillard. "Instead, by ignoring the state’s permitting procedures, what they are doing is making it as easy as possible for this cruel operation to throw coyotes and foxes in a pen to be mauled to death."

Copies of the lawsuit and images of wildlife penning are available upon request.

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Media Contacts:
Lisa Franzetta, ALDF, (707)795-2533, ext. 1015 (office), (415) 203-5472 (mobile), lfranzetta@aldf.org
Camilla Fox, Project Coyote/AWI, (415) 690-0338 (cell), cfox@projectcoyote.org

ALDF was founded in 1979 with the unique mission of protecting the lives and advancing the interests of animals through the legal system. For more information, please visit http://www.aldf.org/.

Project Coyote is a national non-profit organization promoting active coexistence between people and wildlife and compassionate coexistence through education, science, and advocacy. For more information, please visit http://www.projectcoyote.org/.

The Animal Welfare Institute is a non-profit charitable organization founded in 1951 to alleviate the suffering caused to animals by humans. For more information, please visit: http://www.awionline.org/.

Bonnie-Jill Laflin, NBA's First Female Scout, Joins Animal Welfare Institute in Full Court Press to End Horse Slaughter

2011-05-05T14:59:00.002-04:00

Washington, D.C. -- The Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) is pleased to welcome television sports personality and NBA insider Bonnie-Jill Laflin to AWI’s campaign to end horse slaughter. Bonnie-Jill - the NBA’s first and only female scout - has been actively involved in the horse community her entire life. She will help AWI expand its efforts to educate the American public and Members of Congress about the continuing cruelty of horse slaughter.

"It is hard to fathom that we still permit the slaughter of American horses," said Bonnie-Jill. "Horses are powerful and intelligent, and a symbol of American freedom and spirit - they deserve more respect. I’m anxious to partner with AWI to build support for protecting these graceful and amazing athletes."

AWI began the national campaign to end horse slaughter in 2001, after witnessing the abuse of horses collected by killer-buyers at a livestock auction in Pennsylvania. Over the past decade, AWI has documented inhumane conditions at horse slaughter facilities and during horse transport throughout the U.S. and across the border. Although horse slaughter plants - operating in the U.S. as recently as 2007 - are dormant for now, the same numbers of American horses are being slaughtered. Sadly, the only thing that has changed is the location of the slaughterhouses - now across the border in Canada and Mexico.

"We are extremely grateful to have Bonnie-Jill join us on this campaign," said Chris Heyde, AWI’s deputy director of government and legal affairs. "As a knowledgeable horsewoman and management team member for one of the nation’s elite sports franchises, Bonnie-Jill can help us reach out to a whole new audience to shed light on this shameful practice."

With Bonnie-Jill on board, AWI will redouble our efforts to expose the horse slaughter industry and remind the public and Members of Congress that horse slaughter has not been banned in the U.S., and American horses are still being killed. Those profiting from the brutal practice continue to hide abuse and spread misinformation, but with Bonnie-Jill’s help, we can help take horse slaughter out of the game.

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Media Contact:
Chris Heyde, AWI, (202) 446-2142

Shun Lee West Restaurant Shuns Shark Fin Soup

2011-04-27T12:43:00.001-04:00

Washington, D.C. -- The Animal Welfare Institute and Humane Society International applaud Shun Lee West restaurant, of New York City, for removing shark fin soup from its menu. AWI and HSI have, for years, been campaigning for restaurants in the United States to stop selling shark fin products and consumers from purchasing them. Shun Lee West is a favorite restaurant for tourists and theater goers due to its prominent location by New York’s Lincoln Center.

"I received many calls urging us to stop selling shark fin soup because of the horrible way sharks are killed. I realized that it would be better for my business and for sharks to remove shark fin soup from the menu," said Henry Nuesch, operations manager for Shun Lee West.

"There is increasing support for shark protection as seen most recently in a survey in which more than 80 percent of the Hong Kong residents interviewed support a ban on the shark fin trade. Humane Society International applauds Shun Lee West for standing at the forefront of this movement by removing shark fin products from its menu," said Iris Ho, wildlife campaign manager of HSI.

At least 55 restaurants in New York City currently sell shark fin soup. The dish is on the menus of hundreds of restaurants in the United States although some states have acted to ban the controversial dish. Hawaii, The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and Guam have all banned the possession, sale and trade of shark fins and Washington State, California and Oregon have all introduced similar legislation.

"Shun Lee West is setting a great example for other popular restaurants and the public by taking this important step," said AWI wildlife research associate Serda Ozbenian. "Only when the demand for shark products is reduced will sharks stop being inhumanely hunted and killed for their fins."

Often the most expensive item on restaurant menus, shark fin soup is customarily served at Chinese weddings or banquets. The status symbol associated with consuming shark fins is the main driver of the multi-billion dollar international shark fin trade. The dish is highly controversial because of the cruel and wasteful manner in which shark fins are harvested and the precarious status of many shark populations.

More than 73 million sharks are killed annually, primarily for their fins, which are often harvested through "finning," a practice that involves slicing off the fins of a shark and discarding the animal at sea to drown or bleed to death. Unsustainable fishing methods have led some shark populations to decline by as much as 99 percent in recent decades.

Many restaurants, chefs, companies, celebrities and citizens are taking a stand against the consumption of shark fin products. As awareness grows, restaurants that continue to sell shark fin soup face the prospect of dwindling numbers of customers who just won’t tolerate shark fins on sale.

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Media Contacts:
Serda Ozbenian, AWI, (202) 446-2144, serda@awionline.org
Kristen Eastman, HSI, (301) 721-6440, keastman@humanesociety.org

The Animal Welfare Institute was founded in 1951 and is dedicated to alleviating suffering inflicted on animals by humans. The AWI website lists contact information for restaurants currently selling the soup, urging consumers to voice their distaste to the management. View the list at www.awionline.org/sharkfinsoup.

Humane Society International and its partner organizations together constitute one of the world's largest animal protection organizations - backed by 11 million people. For nearly 20 years, HSI has been fighting for the protection of all animals through advocacy, education, and hands-on programs. On the Web at www.hsi.org.

California High School Accepts Challenge to Stop Animal Dissections

2011-04-25T11:11:00.003-04:00

Washington, D.C. -- Rancho Verde High School in Moreno Valley, CA is the first school to accept a challenge by the Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) to discontinue animal dissections.

In conjunction with the “Race to Stop Dissections” contest organized by Save the Frogs!, AWI has partnered with Digital Frog International to provide a full Digital Frog 2.5 (voted BEST dissection alternative by eSchool News readers) license to the first 25 schools that commit to end all animal dissections. To join the race, visit www.awionline.org/stopdissections.

“AWI commends Rancho Verde High School for abandoning its dissection program and using dissection alternatives to teach biology. This type of animal-friendly education is more humane, more effective, environmentally friendly, cost-effective and does not teach students to rationalize the unjustified killing of animals,” said AWI President, Cathy Liss.

The Race to Stop Dissections contest encourages students and teachers to assist worldwide amphibian conservation efforts by getting their schools and school districts to abandon frog dissection programs. One school will win a full license for the Digital Frog 2.5, cash prizes and an opportunity to hear Save the Frogs! Founder Dr. Kerry Kriger speak at their school.

“Save the Frogs! aims to get every school in the United States to abandon their frog dissection programs by 2014,” said Dr. Kriger. The deadline for entries is December 1, 2011. Contest rules can be found at www.savethefrogs.com/dissections.

Investigations into the capture, transport, warehousing and killing of animals destined for dissection show that the procurement of animals for dissection causes unnecessary suffering and death. Millions of frogs are taken from wetland habitats, piled into sacks and inhumanely killed by immersion in preservative. Frog populations are rapidly disappearing worldwide and the use of frogs for dissection is a contributor in many parts of the world. Frogs play a crucial role in wetland habitats, both as consumers of insects and as food for other species, and their extinctions can wreak havoc on entire ecosystems.

Many students and teachers are questioning the educational value and ethics of using animals. Modern technology can teach students about the biology of living beings and the vital role that all animals play in the natural world. AWI, Save the Frogs! and Digital Frog International invite all students and teachers to participate in the Race to Stop Dissections.

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Media Contacts:
Serda Ozbenian, AWI, (202) 446-2144
Dr. Kerry Kriger, Save the Frogs!, (831) 621-6215
Celia Clark, Digital Frog International, 1-800-621-FROG(3764)

Animal Welfare Institute Launches New Web Feature to Help Victims of Domestic Violence Seek Safety for Themselves and Their Pets

2011-04-12T14:58:00.003-04:00

Washington, D.C. -- In special recognition of April as Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month, the Animal Welfare Institute announces the launch of a new feature on its website. The information and resources available through the Animals and Family Violence page are designed for families experiencing abuse against a spouse, child, elderly family member, or companion animals, as well as for the domestic violence shelter personnel, humane societies, law enforcement, and others who provide services to families in crisis.

Research and experience have both established that when animal abuse occurs in the family, other violence is also likely to be present, and vice versa. Because of the strong attachments they have with their pets, victims of domestic violence may delay leaving a dangerous situation because of fear for the pet’s safety. Victims and their families need help; so do their companion animals.

“AWI wants to provide practical tools and information to protect animals and their families,” stated AWI President Cathy Liss. “We are pleased to provide these resources to the many dedicated people who come in contact with victims of domestic violence and their companion animals.”

These tools include the National Safe Havens Mapping Project, a listing by state of safe havens for pets programs. Eventually this database will cover all states (it now covers 30) and will be searchable by zip code. The National Safe Havens Mapping Project will be an important tool for all of those who want to help domestic violence victims and their pets reach safety.

Other tools include the following: Safety Planning for Pets of Domestic Violence Victims; Questions about Pets to Ask Domestic Violence Victims Calling the Hotline or During Intake; Including Pets in Protection Orders; and “Guidelines for Human Service Personnel: Pets, Domestic Violence, and Children.” There is current information about states that allow inclusion of companion animals in Temporary Restraining Orders, a model Temporary Restraining Order, and model legislation for Temporary Restraining Orders.

The new webpage also provides opportunities to network with others in the larger community who are working to help domestic violence victims and their families through a listserv of directors of safe havens for pets programs, downloadable materials, and links to other useful websites, such as the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, the Association of Prosecuting Attorneys, the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges, and Ahimsa House.

David LaBahn, president and CEO of the Association of Prosecuting Attorneys welcomes the new resource. “When there is violence in the home, everyone suffers,” observed LaBahn. “As prosecutors, we know that abusers take out their rage on the family pets as a way to exert more power and control over children, spouses, even their elderly parents. AWI is providing a great service by making so many resources available in one place for victims of family violence as well as for prosecutors, law enforcement, and service providers. We appreciate their ongoing leadership in this area.”

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Media Contacts:
Mary Lou Randour, Ph.D., AWI, (202) 446-2127
Nancy Blaney, AWI, (202) 446-2141

Illinois House Passes Bill to Toughen Penalties for Dog Fighting

2011-04-01T11:00:00.002-04:00

Washington, D.C. -- The Animal Welfare Institute is pleased that the Illinois State House of Representatives passed HB 1907, a bill making dog fighting an offense under the Illinois Street Gang and Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) statute.

AWI Deputy Director of Government and Legal Affairs Chris Heyde praised the bill’s sponsor, Rep. Michael J. Zalewski (D-21), and Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez for initiating this aggressive step to give prosecutors enhanced tools for dealing with dog fighting and, most especially, with the leaders of dog fighting networks. Under RICO, higher fines and stiffer jail sentences are available, the state has more comprehensive investigatory powers, and a longer statute of limitation applies.

Heyde said, “Dog fighting causes immense suffering to countless numbers of innocent animals. It is also often accompanied by other crimes, and its very presence threatens the safety of the entire community. It makes sense to give law enforcement the most powerful tools possible to eradicate it.”

AWI urges the Senate to take swift action on this measure so the Governor can sign this important bill into law as soon as possible.

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Media Contact:Chris Heyde, AWI, (202) 446-2142

AWI Press Release: Willie & The Nelson Family Sing “Wild Horses”

2011-03-22T08:36:00.000-04:00

Country Music Legend Covers Stones Classic to Help Animal Welfare Institute Protect America's Horses

Washington, D.C. -- The Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) is honored to announce the exclusive release of the Rolling Stones’ classic "Wild Horses" - performed and produced by the legendary Willie Nelson and his family members. Willie & The Nelson Family are donating the proceeds from the sale of the song to AWI’s campaigns on behalf of wild and domestic horses. Willie and the entire Nelson family are long-time supporters of AWI and its efforts to end horse slaughter and preserve the right of wild horses to roam free.

"The BLM has been rounding them up at an alarming rate, supposedly for their own good. Sadly, there are more wild horses in holding pens than in the wild. Something is wrong with that, so we must act now before the BLM has managed these magnificent animals into extinction," said Willie Nelson. "It’s time for the cowboys to stand up for the horses."

The Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act was enacted in 1971 to halt the disappearance of these iconic animals from public lands in the American West. Since then, however, over 20 million acres of land set aside by Congress for wild horses have been removed from their range, even as the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) - the very agency charged with their protection - claims there is not enough land to support existing herds. The BLM is unnecessarily removing horses based on spurious claims of damage to range and other adverse impacts. The BLM’s mismanagement of America’s wild horses is largely designed to benefit a livestock industry that has for decades, exploited western public lands while profiting from massive subsidies funded by taxpayer dollars. Willie & The Nelson Family and AWI are calling on the BLM and the Obama administration to immediately halt all wild horse round-ups, restore the land provided by law to wild horses and to stop warehousing horses on private lands at even greater expense to the taxpayer.

"There is no greater voice than Willie Nelson when it comes to speaking for the underdog. For decades, Willie has fought to protect family farmers in America, while also advocating for the humane treatment of horses and other animals," said Chris Heyde, deputy director of government and legal affairs for AWI. "We are so grateful for the support of Willie and the entire Nelson family and we hope this song will raise awareness of the deteriorating situation facing wild horses and help turn things around before they disappear from their lands forever."

For more information about the problems facing wild horses and what can be done to improve BLM’s wild horse program, please visit www.awionline.org/wildhorses.

To download your very own copy of Willie & The Nelson Family singing “Wild Horses,” please visit www.awionline.org/willienelson today! You can download a copy from your favorite service such as iTunes, Amazon and CDBaby. Join us in our effort to save America’s wild horses before it is too late! Be sure to share this release with your local radio station and encourage them to play the song for America's wild horses.

Song Details:
Willie Nelson (lead vocals/lead guitar/co-producer), daughter Paula Nelson (lead vocals), son Lukas Nelson (lead vocals/harmony vocals), daughter Amy Nelson (harmony vocals/co-producer), grandson-in-law Matt Hubbard (vocals/bass/co-producer), son Micah Nelson (vocals/ Charango), daughter Susie Nelson (vocals), grandson Anthony Brewster (vocals), granddaughter Rebecca Thomas (vocals), great-grandson Zack Thomas (vocals), granddaughter Martha Jewelle (drums), grandson Nelson Fowler (vocals), grandson Bryan Fowler (vocals), great-grandson Dean Hubbard (vocals), Landis Armstrong (rhythm guitar/ vocals), Waylon Payne (harmony vocals) Mastered by Nick Landis at Terra Nova Digital Audio, Austin, TX, engineered and mixed by Matt Hubbard and released by Folk Uke Records.

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Media Contact:
Chris Heyde, AWI, (202) 446-2142 or chris@awionline.org

URGENT AWI eALERT: Protect the Wolf! Do not let Congress Carve Up the Endangered Species Act.

2011-03-09T16:29:00.000-05:00

Dear Humanitarian:

We are alarmed to report that the House of Representatives has just passed a bill to temporarily fund the government through September containing language that would exclude gray wolves in Idaho and Montana from protection under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and deny citizens their right to challenge this exclusion in court.

The language, part of the Continuing Resolution (H.R. 1), orders the Secretary of the Interior to reissue a rule published on April 2, 2009 that removed protected status for gray wolves residing in Idaho and Montana. This 2009 rule was previously overturned by a federal judge, who called it “a political solution that does not comply with the ESA." Now the House, in a blatant effort to sidestep the courts and strip citizens of their legal rights, has attempted to revive the rule and assert in the Continuing Resolution that the rule “shall not be subject to judicial review.”

The Senate will take up the Continuing Resolution along with other potential measures that could contain this language. It is imperative that the Senate DOES NOT include this or similar language in its version of the bill and that senators fight to ensure this language is not included in the reconciled bill sent to the president.

Congress has NEVER exempted an individual species or population from the Endangered Species Act. To do so sets a terrible precedent that could lead to a cascade of future species-specific legislative exemptions for the benefit of a variety of special interests. Those who want wolves removed from the ESA are permitted under the Act to file a petition presenting substantial scientific information to warrant the delisting of one or more wolf populations. Legislators should allow the science-based ESA listing/delisting process to proceed without interference. They should not seek to circumvent an established and carefully considered landmark law by attempting to push through politically expedient and hastily drawn exceptions.

The Animal Welfare Institute opposes legislative attempts to exempt wolves or regional populations of wolves defined by political borders from the provisions of ESA. We need your help to ensure this does not happen.

WHAT YOU CAN DO:

Because the Senate will be considering these measures at any moment, we recommend that you call your senators today. Please contact both of your senators and urge them to strongly oppose the insertion of anti-wolf language in the Continuing Resolution and vote against any attempt to exclude the gray wolf from the ESA. We have provided a few key talking points for your call below. Please give them your address and ask for a written response on the issue from your senator.

To find your senators please visit http://www.compassionindex.org/ or call the Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and ask to be connected to your senators’ offices.

Please be sure to share our “Dear Humanitarian” eAlert with family, friends, and co-workers, and encourage them to contact their senators, too. As always, thank you very much for your help!

Sincerely,
Cathy Liss
President

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TALKING POINTS:

Unraveling the ESA

The ESA is a landmark piece of legislation that has helped arrest the decline, prevent the extinction, and, in some cases, promote the recovery of myriad species, including the iconic bald eagle, the grizzly bear, the sea otter, and a cornucopia of others ranging from mollusks to the great whales. The Act is one of the most important laws for the protection of imperiled species ever promulgated by any country.

The ESA listing and delisting process uses science-based decision making, with public input, to determine if a species, subspecies, or distinct population segment and their habitat warrant protections afforded by the Act.

Science and Proper Procedure, Not Special Interests

Gray wolves have been listed under the ESA since the Nixon administration in 1974, when the first subspecies, the Northern Rocky Mountain wolf (C. l. irremotus) was listed. Since then, wolf numbers have risen and now stand at over 5,000 in the lower 48 states—still a fraction of their original numbers and occupying only a small portion of their historic range. Without the protections provided by the ESA, wolves could not have begun to resume their critical ecological role in wild America. Although they are subjected even now to unwarranted and heavy-handed lethal management techniques, the return of wolves to Yellowstone, central Idaho, and elsewhere has been among America’s greatest conservation victories.

Significant energy and expense went into getting wolves listed, as well as in developing and implementing recovery plans and monitoring progress over the past 30+ years. Exempting wolves now and re-exposing them to the threats that caused their original declines is short-sighted and irresponsible.

To view this eAlert on AWI's website, please click here: http://www.awionline.org/ht/display/ContentDetails/i/37602/pid/11187

URGENT AWI eALERT: Protect Gulf of Mexico Wildlife from Longlines!

2011-02-04T11:05:00.002-05:00

Dear Humanitarian:

Turtles, whales and other wildlife in the Gulf of Mexico have struggled to recover from the extensive, long-term damage done to their ecosystem by last year's BP oil disaster. They have been fighting another threat for much longer, however. Surface longlines, used by fishermen in the open ocean to catch swordfish and yellowfin tuna, also hook and kill large numbers of non-target species, including bluefin tuna, blue and white marlin, marine mammals, seabirds and endangered sea turtles.

In an effort to protect the highly depleted Western Atlantic bluefin tuna in their only known spawning grounds, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has proposed a requirement that longline fishermen in the Gulf use a device known as a "weak hook" - designed to bend and release the largest bycatch. Unfortunately, for a number of reasons, weak hooks are an ineffective solution to a very serious problem:

Weak hooks are experimental; their efficacy in reducing bluefin tuna mortality is unknown and may be highly variable.
Weak hooks will provide little or no benefit in preventing the deaths of other non-target marine life caught by surface longlines.
Weak hooks, in appearance, are nearly identical to standard longline hooks—thus making enforcement of the weak hook rule extremely difficult.

NMFS needs to do more. A year-round prohibition on surface longlines in the Gulf of Mexico is the only way to provide effective long-term protection from indiscriminate fishing gear. Alternative gear is available for fishermen to continue to catch targeted species without harming other wildlife. NMFS should facilitate the transition away from longlines and toward more selective fishing gear.

NMFS is accepting comments on its proposal until February 12, 2011. Please send a short letter urging NMFS to provide a strong, long-term solution to protect bluefin tuna and other Gulf wildlife by closing the Gulf of Mexico longline fishery.

Submit comments online at:

http://www.regulations.gov/#!submitComment;D=NOAA-NMFS-2011-0007-0001

OR by mail to:

Margo Schulze-Haugen
Supervisory Fish Management Officer, HMS Division
National Marine Fisheries Service
1315 East-West Highway
Silver Spring, MD 20910

Please share this "Dear Humanitarian" eAlert with friends, family and coworkers and encourage them to take action. As always, we are grateful for your help.

Sincerely,

Cathy Liss
President

Congress Passes the Shark Conservation Act! AWI Celebrates Bill to End Shark Finning

2010-12-21T16:58:00.000-05:00

Washington, D.C. -- The Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) is pleased to report that in the last days of the 111th Congress, both the Senate and the House of Representatives have passed the Shark Conservation Act of 2009. Both chambers approved the long-awaited bill by unanimous consent.

AWI and other shark advocates have been pushing for passage of this bill—which represents a giant step forward for shark conservation—since it was originally introduced in January 2009 by Representative Madeleine Bordallo (D-GU) in the House and Senator John Kerry (D-MA) in the Senate in April. Following its passage, Senator Kerry issued a statement: “Shark finning has fueled massive population declines and irreversible disruption of our oceans. Finally we’ve come through with a tough approach to tackle this serious threat to our marine life.”

The Shark Conservation Act will curb the practice of shark finning, by which living sharks’ fins are sliced off and their mutilated bodies thrown back into the ocean, where the sharks endure long, painful deaths. Shark finning kills an estimated 73 million sharks each year, driven by the demand for shark fin soup.

In 2000, President Bill Clinton signed the Shark Finning Prohibition Act, making it unlawful to possess a shark fin in U.S. waters without a corresponding carcass. Loopholes in the ban, however, prevented effective enforcement, and finning continued. As a countermeasure, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration issued regulations in 2008 mandating that sharks must be landed with fins attached in the Atlantic, Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico, but not the Pacific. The Shark Conservation Act extends this requirement to all U.S. waters, and prohibits the transfer of shark fins at sea.

“Finally we can say that the U.S. has an enforceable finning ban,” said AWI’s president, Cathy Liss. “Requiring that sharks be landed with their fins attached is the only way to truly enforce a finning ban and we are thrilled that the U.S. has set the bar for other countries to follow suit.”

The version of the bill that passed includes an exemption for smooth dogfish sharks, for which a small fishery exists in North Carolina primarily targeting the fish for meat. The exemption will allow these few fishermen to continue to separate fins of this species from carcasses at sea to conserve space on their boats. These fishermen will be responsible for demonstrating that the fins on their boat belong to the carcasses.

“We congratulate Congress, and applaud this landmark bill’s champions for their leadership in passing this important bill,” Liss added. “Though we are disappointed that the bill does not include a blanket ban on the removal of all shark fins at sea, it clearly signals that the U.S. is committed to ending the cruel and wasteful practice of shark finning.”

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Media Contact: Serda Ozbenian, AWI, (202) 446-2144

AWI Press Release: USDA Urged to Toughen Penalties for Humane Slaughter Violations

2010-10-04T13:02:00.001-04:00

(Washington, D.C.) - A new report by the Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) – Humane Slaughter Update: Comparing State and Federal Enforcement of Humane Slaughter Laws – indicates that, more than two years after the shocking depiction of inhumane practices at the Westland-Hallmark slaughter plant in California, enforcement of humane slaughter laws has increased at both the state and federal levels, but remains inconsistent and low in comparison with other aspects of food safety inspection. Furthermore, application of weak penalties (including typical plant suspensions of one day or less) is insufficient to deter repeat violators from continuing to commit inhumane acts.

AWI conducted the review, which was performed by analyzing data received through Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests, to judge the effectiveness of measures taken in the aftermath of the Westland-Hallmark incident, where workers were observed kicking, shocking and abusing animals too sick or injured to walk into the slaughterhouse. While federal suspensions for humane slaughter violations increased 7-fold after Westland-Hallmark, AWI found that the 15 federal food safety districts varied widely in application of humane slaughter laws. And, although state-level enforcement was up as well, some states offered no evidence of enforcing the law. Overall, federal inspectors were shown to be four times more likely than inspectors in state plants to take serious action in response to an egregious humane infraction.

Earlier this month, AWI presented a petition to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) describing how the agency can prevent future animal abuse in American slaughterhouses by implementing a few relatively simple and inexpensive reforms. First and foremost, AWI is recommending stronger penalties, including substantially longer suspensions and more frequent withdrawal of inspection, for slaughter plants that repeatedly violate humane slaughter laws.

“We have slaughter plants that are still operating after three, four and even five suspensions within a one-year period,” said Dena Jones, farm animal program manager for AWI. “Apparently shutting down a plant for a day or less isn’t enough of a deterrent to prevent repeat violations.” AWI is recommending that a second suspension result in removal of inspection for no less than 30 days and retraining of staff in humane handling and slaughter practices, and a third suspension result in withdrawal of inspection service for a period of at least three years.

In addition to stronger penalties, AWI is requesting USDA develop procedures for referring willful acts of animal cruelty to state law enforcement for prosecution, and that the agency work toward greater consistency among state-level humane slaughter enforcement programs. AWI is also urging USDA to post enforcement records on its website. “Making humane handling records available would not only assist the public in making more informed choices about the foods they purchase and consume but would encourage compliance by individual slaughterhouses with humane laws,” said Jones. Until USDA makes these records readily accessible to the public, AWI will post documents received through FOIA on its website at www.awionline.org/humaneslaughterviolations.

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For more information:
Dena Jones, 202-446-2146 or dena@awionline.org

AWI Joins Forces with Shelters and Rescue Organizations:

2010-09-20T09:39:00.010-04:00

Hundreds of Animals Rescued from Lab under Investigation for Abuse

Photo by PETA

(Washington, D.C.) - An enormous victory was achieved for animals when nearly 200 dogs and 54 cats were rescued from a North Carolina animal testing facility that closed its doors after an undercover investigation revealed apparent abuse of the animals by workers at the facility. Quick work on the part of the Animal Welfare Institute (AWI), in partnership with the Humane Society of the U.S. and more than a dozen animal shelters and rescues (see list below) succeeded in placing all of the rescued animals, offering hope that they will find loving homes and solace after their ordeal.

“This event serves as dramatic testament to what can happen when the humane community comes together to oppose cruelty,” says AWI President, Cathy Liss. “We applaud the dedicated efforts of animal welfare advocates who stepped up to take in these animals, and hope that the exposure of this situation will underscore the need for stricter enforcement to protect animals in research facilities.”

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) conducted the initial investigation[1] that exposed the apparent cruelty at Professional Laboratory and Research Services, an inconspicuous rural lab funded by large pharmaceutical companies to test insecticides and other chemicals used in companion animal products. For nine months, a PETA investigator worked undercover at the facility, and shot video showing animals in excruciating pain from procedures, as well as employees kicking, throwing, and dragging petrified dogs, violently slamming cats into cages, and screaming obscenities at the animals for showing fear and being uncooperative.

Following its investigation, PETA filed formal complaints with federal and state agencies, including the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and submitted evidence to the local prosecutor’s office. Soon thereafter, the USDA inspected the facility and instigated a formal investigation. In the meantime, the lab agreed to surrender voluntarily all its dogs and cats, and to cease research at the facility.

The deadline for placing the released animals was Friday, September 17, and AWI was alerted to the need to find shelter for the animals only three days earlier. AWI scrambled to place the hundreds of animals in shelters to avoid the possibility that they would be euthanized. For several days, AWI staff members frantically worked the phones, calling on its vast network and succeeding in getting all the animals placed. Over a dozen shelters and rescues groups from New Jersey to Florida were enlisted to take them in.

“AWI is extremely grateful to PETA for its initial investigation, to enforcement personnel at the USDA for taking swift action once the situation was revealed, and to the all the animal advocates who worked overtime to get these animals placed in shelters,” added Liss. “Through the actions of many, hundreds of animals were rescued and given the chance to receive the care and compassion all animals deserve.”

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For More Information:
Cathy Liss - (202) 337-2332

AWI was founded in 1951 and is dedicated to alleviating suffering inflicted on animals by humans. As a central pillar of its mission, AWI works to promote better care of animals in research facilities, and foster efforts to provide them with comfortable, humane quarters and the opportunity to engage in natural, species-typical behaviors, while sparing them unnecessary pain, fear and distress.

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[1] More information, photos and videos on PETA’s investigation of the lab is available online at: http://www.peta.org/features/professional-laboratory-and-research-services.aspx

Animal shelters and/or rescues that have taken in dogs and cats from the NC lab

Associated Humane Societies (NJ) 973-824-7080
Beagles to the Rescue (VA) 757-204-4411
Carteret County Humane Society (NC) 252-247-7744
Elizabeth City SPCA (VA) 757-344-3033
Guilford County Animal Shelter (NC) 336-297-5020
In Dogs We Trust (FL) 561-400-7732
Norfolk SPCA (VA) 757-622-3319
Triangle Beagle Rescue (NC) info@tribeagles.org
Virginia Beach SPCA (VA) 757-427-0070
Wake County Animal Control/Adopt. Ctr. (NC) 919-212-7387
Wake County SPCA (NC) 919-772-2326
Washington Animal Rescue League (DC) 202-726-2556

AWI eAlert: Apple iPhone and Android App: Animal Abuse at Your Fingertips!

2010-09-02T13:37:00.003-04:00

Dear Humanitarian:

Believe it or not, Apple iPhone and Android Market are selling an app called “Talking Tom Cat” featuring a cartoon cat that, well, the description speaks for itself:

“Tom is your pet cat, that responds to your touch and repeats everything you say with a funny voice.

You can pet him, poke and punch him or grab his tail.”

Yes, folks, you too can have hours of fun mistreating a cartoon cat. And get this: “He is especially fun for children of all ages.” Really, is this what apps are for?

The Animal Welfare Institute has already contacted Apple and Android (Google) Corporate Customer Service to express its surprise and disappointment that they would offer something as repugnant as a program that encourages aggression towards animals; we have asked that both services discontinue offering this product. A complaint file has been opened and we were assured that they review all such complaints.

Help us convince Apple and Android to pull “Talking Tom Cat” from the market by adding to that complaint file! Please call Apple Corporate Headquarters at 408-996-1010 and Google Corporate Headquarters at 650-253-0000 and ask for corporate customer relations. (We provide email addresses below for Apple, Android and the app’s developer, Outfit 7, but we think that, in this case, calls to Apple and Google headquarters will be more effective than emails.)

Be aware that “Talking Tom Cat” was developed by Outfit 7 and NOT Apple or Android; they are three separate companies. Apple and Android only market the app for their phones, but can stop them from reaching the public. While comments to Apple have been received politely, the same cannot be said of comments to Outfit 7, who has been belligerent towards consumers who raise concerns. Be careful when emailing Outfit 7 as their responses have been confrontational and deflective. If you receive a response from anyone at Outfit 7, please forward them to awi@awionline.org so we can submit them to Apple and Android.

Make your call or email polite but firm, expressing shock and dismay that Apple and Android would offer a product that encourages animal abuse—even if it is just a cartoon, this is where it can start—and asking that “Talking Tom Cat” be pulled. Suggest that they probably didn’t realize what this app was really like and you wonder who in the world would want to encourage such behavior.

To view the page on the Apple website where this is offered:
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/talking-tom-cat/id377194688?mt=8

To view the page on the Android Market website where this is offered:
http://www.android.com/market/#app=com.outfit7.talkingtom

To watch this thing in action:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRKqyEk4Ous

Email addresses for Apple, Android and the app developer Outfit 7:

http://www.apple.com/feedback/ipad.html

http://market.android.com/support/bin/request.py?contact_type=contact_policy

support@outfit7.com

Please be sure to share our “Dear Humanitarian” eAlert with family, friends, and co-workers, and encourage them to contact Apple and Android, too. As always, thank you very much for your help!

Sincerely,
Cathy Liss
President

AWI Press Release: Congress Must Act Now to Prevent Reckless Government Agency from Imperiling Survival of America's Wild Horses and Burros

2010-08-06T08:04:00.001-04:00

(Washington, D.C.) - The Animal Welfare Institute (AWI), along with leading Members of Congress, numerous wild horse advocacy organizations and the majority of Americans, is exceedingly frustrated with the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) gross mismanagement of America’s wild horses and burros. In a recent ad in the Washington, D.C., newspaper, The Hill, AWI called on Congress to take swift and decisive action to prevent the BLM from “managing” our nation’s wild horses into extinction.

"AWI has long been critical of the BLM's inability to responsibly manage wild horses on the range, and the agency's recent actions have amplified concern for the future of America’s wild horses," said Chris Heyde, deputy director of government and legal affairs for AWI. "BLM’s more aggressive campaign of rounding up and warehousing wild horses began under the Obama administration and Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar. Recent reports of horses dying during roundups due to broken necks and legs, sloughed hooves, and most recently water intoxication (allowing the horses to drink a toxic amount of water following a strenuous run), are unconscionable."

Thankfully, several members of Congress are stepping up to defend these national treasures. House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Nick Rahall (D-WV) and Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands Chairman Raul Grijalva (D-AZ) have led the way in holding the BLM accountable for its actions. They sponsored the Restore our American Mustangs Act (ROAM Act), which passed the House of Representatives by an overwhelming margin last year and have just sent a bipartisan letter signed by 52 of their colleagues to Secretary Salazar. The letter raises serious questions about the recent tragic deaths of several wild horses and addresses the dire need for an independent analysis of the wild horse and burro program by the National Academy of Sciences. As stated in the bipartisan letter, "We are concerned by the inability of your agency to acknowledge these disturbing outcomes, change what seems to be deeply flawed policy, and better manage the gathers so as to prevent the unnecessary suffering and death of these federally protected animals." AWI shares these concerns.

Yet despite all of this public and Congressional attention, the BLM continues to recklessly round up and remove thousands of wild horses from their legally mandated rangeland. In fact, Secretary Salazar has proposed spending millions of taxpayer dollars to build additional long term holding facilities in the Midwest and East to facilitate even more wild horse removals, which will add to the staggering 38,000 animals already in confinement.

Ever defiant, just last week, BLM Director Bob Abby sent a letter to all Members of Congress decrying increased public scrutiny of the wild horse and burro program. In this letter Director Abby wrote, "Some wild horse activists are waging a campaign in the court of public opinion, aimed at stopping the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) from gathering"wild horses and burros from overpopulated herds on Western public rangelands.”

"The Obama administration came into office promising greater transparency and accountability, which is entirely contrary to the BLM's preference to keep its abuse of wild horses and burros behind closed doors,” contends D.J. Schubert, AWI’s wildlife biologist. "If the BLM is convinced that its wild horse management program is essential for the good of the horses and the land, it should provide the public with reasonable opportunities to observe its roundups – the good, bad, and ugly – instead of complaining when advocates expose the program’s inherent cruelties and deficiencies," adds Schubert.

AWI asserts that, like its sister Department of Interior agency, the former Minerals Management Service (MMS), the integrity of the BLM’s wild horse and burro program has been compromised by its relationships with special interests that occupy or use wild horse and burro range. A few thousand wild horses are being blamed for every natural and unnatural problem facing the Western ranges, while ranchers, oil and gas companies, and other commercial entities abuse the public’s lands with inadequate oversight. The BLM’s obvious favoritism toward these more politically connected and financially lucrative industries continues to jeopardize the survival of America’s last wild horses and burros.

"Based upon its record, it is no wonder the BLM balks whenever the demand for genuine accountability is discussed," states Heyde. "While the BLM has repeatedly ignored the public’s demands, we hope that the requests of Members of Congress will not be so easily dismissed."

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For More Information:
Chris Heyde, Animal Welfare Institute, (202) 337-2332

House Committee on Transportation Unanimously Approves a Bill to Ban Hauling Horses on Double Deck Trailers

2010-07-29T17:49:00.000-04:00

(Washington, DC) – The Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) applauds Chairman James Oberstar (D-MN), of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, for bringing the Horse Transportation Safety Act (H.R. 305) before his Committee and supporting its swift unanimous passage.

"We are especially grateful for the leadership and commitment of the bill’s sponsors Congressman Mark Kirk (R-IL) and Congressman Steven Cohen (D-TN). Both have been incredible champions for the welfare of America’s horses," noted Christine Sequenzia, AWI federal policy advisor.

Several bipartisan cosponsors spoke in support of H.R. 305 during the hearing, including a poignant opening statement by Congressman Cohen. H.R. 305 passed by a voice vote with no amendments and is now headed to the House floor.

This crucial bill will ban the hauling of horses on double deck livestock trailers. Double deck trailers were designed to accommodate livestock, such as cattle, swine and other shorter necked species. According to USDA, horses can stand 8 feet tall and up to 12 feet when rearing. Consequently, the American Veterinary Medical Association’s literature review recommends that horses have a minimum of 7-8 feet of clearance. Double deck trailers, on the other hand, can have ceilings as low as 4 feet 7 inches. Currently, these trailers are being used to haul horses in overcrowded conditions—and in most cases to slaughter.

These unaccommodating conditions are not only dangerous for the horses, but to drivers, as well. Several catastrophic accidents involving double deck trailers have occurred in recent years. In 2006, a double deck truck hauling 41 horses in Missouri crashed and resulted in the death of 16 horses. In 2008, a double deck trailer carrying 59 horses in Illinois struck another vehicle after blowing through a stop sign. It took five hours to rescue the horses from this mangled truck; 9 horses died at the scene, and an additional 6 died later due to injuries sustained in the crash.

Today’s vote was critical to the safety of horses being transported, safety of drivers on our roadways, and safety of first responders who generally are not trained in equine medical attention. The USDA stated, "We do not believe that equines can be safely and humanely transported on a conveyance that has an animal cargo space divided into two or more stacked levels."

"Thanks to horse champions such as Chairman Oberstar and Congressmen Kirk and Cohen, we are one step closer to more humane methods of transport for equines and safer roadways for drivers," said Sequenzia.

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Media Contacts:
Christine Sequenzia, Animal Welfare Institute (202) 337-2332
Chris Heyde, Animal Welfare Institute (202) 337-2332

The Animal Welfare Institute has been alleviating the suffering inflicted on animals by humans since 1951. Please join us in our work to protect animals – visit our website to find out more and to sign up for AWI eAlerts: www.awionline.org.

Wild Horse Advocates Call for Suspension of All Summer Roundups, Full Transparency in Agency Operations

2010-07-13T22:41:00.001-04:00

Philanthropist and businesswoman Madeleine Pickens was joined today by the ASPCA, the American Wild Horse Preservation Campaign, the Animal Welfare Institute and many other organizations expressing their outrage over the deaths of at least seven mustangs in a Bureau of Land Management (BLM) roundup conducted Saturday in the Owyhee Complex in northeastern Nevada. The wild horses died of dehydration-related causes—including brain swelling, colic and acute water intoxication – as a result of being stampeded by helicopters for up to eight miles in 90+ degree desert heat.

In a sign on letter addressed to President Obama and Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar, Mrs. Pickens and the groups also harshly criticized the agency for cracking down on public access to observe and videotape roundup operations. The advocates released footage of a BLM representative stating publicly that public video of a prior roundup caused the agency to have “a really hard time trying to explain what’s happening.”

“The BLM simply does not want the American people to see what its wrongheaded policies are doing to our mustangs,” said Mrs. Pickens. “The horrific deaths of Owyhee horses recall the tragedy earlier this year in Nevada’s Calico Complex, where over 100 wild horses lost their lives and dozens of mares spontaneously aborted their late term foals in another deadly roundup."

“We are calling on the President and Secretary Salazar to immediately instruct the BLM to suspend all summer roundups to avoid a repeat of the tragedy at Owyhee,” Mrs. Pickens continued. “The entire wild horse program must be fundamentally reformed. America’s mustangs are still waiting for change.”

Over the next four months, the BLM intends to capture and remove 6,000 wild horse and burros from six Western states. At least half of these roundups are scheduled to take place in desert environments in the hot summer months. Public access to observe the roundup operations will be severely limited to a handful of staged opportunities, with broader access given to small number of handpicked “experts.”

The crackdown on public observation comes in the wake of public outrage and international media coverage of the Calico roundup, which ended in February. The controversy was fueled by release of photographs and video showing of wild horses, including young foals, heavily pregnant mares and older horses, being forcefully driven by helicopter out of the mountains of Nevada and into BLM trap pens.

“The BLM’s crackdown on public observation of roundup activities is unacceptable, and makes a mockery of President Obama’s stated commitment to open government and transparency in government operations,” added Suzanne Roy, Campaign Director of the American Wild Horse Preservation Campaign, whose grassroots efforts are endorsed by a coalition of more than 40 horse advocacy, animal welfare, conservation and historic preservation organizations.

Other supporters signing the letter include Mrs. Pickens’ Saving America’s Mustangs Foundation, The Cloud Foundation, Lifesavers Wild Horse Rescue, Return to Freedom, American Wild Horse Sanctuary, and In Defense of Animals.

The BLM wild horse program has been harshly criticized for its lack of fiscal sustainability. The agency now stockpiles more wild horses in government holding pens and pastures than are left on the range. The cost to taxpayers for this program is expected to exceed $70 million next fiscal year.

Wild horses comprise a small fraction of grazing animals on public lands, where they are outnumbered by livestock nearly 50 to 1.

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AWI Press Release: BP Agrees to Measures to Prevent Burning of Endangered Sea Turtles

2010-07-02T12:46:00.000-04:00

(New Orleans, Louisiana) - BP and the United States Coast Guard, defendants in a lawsuit filed by the Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) and other animal protection and conservation groups, agreed today to measures designed to prevent the burning of endangered sea turtles during efforts to remove oil from the massive spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

“We are pleased that BP and the Coast Guard have agreed to take a variety of actions to prevent the horrific burning alive of endangered sea turtles,” says AWI President Cathy Liss. As part of efforts to contain the oil spill that continues to devastate the Gulf, BP has been using “controlled burns” whereby oil is corralled by fire resistant booms dragged through the water by “igniter” boats and then lit on fire. Endangered sea turtles, including the Kemp’s ridley, one of the rarest sea turtles on Earth, are caught in the gathered oil and are unable to escape when the oil is set ablaze.

The law firm of Meyer Glitzenstein & Crystal, acting on behalf of the plaintiffs, negotiated the interim agreement with BP and the U.S. Coast Guard. The agreement was presented in federal court today to the Honorable Carl Barbier of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, who is presiding over the case.

By the terms of the agreement, BP and the Coast Guard stipulate that they will be ceasing burns until next week because of the weather. When the burns resume, the plaintiffs will be notified if there is a qualified biologist present for the purpose of locating and removing any turtles.

BP and the Coast Guard have further agreed to establish a standard operating protocol for the burns, and to convene a group of scientists to determine the necessary elements of the protocol to ensure the safety of the turtles.

In exchange for these measures, AWI and the other plaintiffs in the suit have agreed to withdraw their request for a Temporary Restraining Order calling for an immediate halt to the burns. The underlying suit, however, will remain in place.

“This agreement represents a critical stop-gap measure and a lifeline for these endangered turtles,” says Liss. “We hope this is the first step in the development of clear operating procedures that allow BP to remove oil without inflicting further harm on the turtles.”

The plaintiffs in the lawsuit are the Animal Welfare Institute, Animal Legal Defense Fund, Center for Biological Diversity and the Turtle Island Restoration Network.

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For More Information:
Cathy Liss, President, 202-446-2121
Tracy Silverman, General Counsel, 202-460-3231

AWI Press Release: The Animal Welfare Institute Files Suit against BP for Burning Endangered Sea Turtles Alive

2010-06-30T10:55:00.000-04:00

(New Orleans, Louisiana) - The Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) and other animal protection and conservation organizations have filed suit in federal court today against British Petroleum America, Inc., British Petroleum Exploration & Production and British Petroleum PLC (“BP”) for burning critically endangered sea turtles in the Gulf of Mexico, in violation of the Endangered Species Act and other federal laws.

“It is horrifying that these innocent creatures whose habitat has already been devastated by the oil spill are now being burned alive,” said AWI President, Cathy Liss. “They are critically endangered and must be protected.”

As part of BP’s efforts to contain the massive oil spill that continues to devastate the Gulf of Mexico, BP is using “controlled burns” whereby oil is corralled by fire resistant booms dragged through the water by shrimp boats and then lit on fire. Endangered sea turtles, including the Kemp’s ridley, one of the rarest sea turtles on Earth, are caught in the gathered oil and unable to escape when the oil is set ablaze.

The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana by AWI along with the Center for Biological Diversity, Turtle Island Restoration Network and Animal Legal Defense Fund, after notice was given to BP on Monday of its ongoing violations of federal law and the groups’ intent to sue.

Under the suit, the plaintiffs have charged BP with violating the federal Endangered Species Act and the terms of its lease with the United States government for the Deepwater Horizon facility, which lease requires BP to comply with all federal environmental laws. The plaintiffs have asked the court to prevent BP from continuing to engage in burning activities in the Gulf of Mexico which kill or injure endangered sea turtles. The plaintiffs have also filed a Temporary Restraining Order seeking an immediate halt to the burning until, at a minimum, mechanisms are implemented that will prevent any additional sea turtles from being burned alive.

“While cleaning up the catastrophic oil spill is critically important, so too is doing it in a way which doesn’t destroy wildlife in a flagrantly unlawful manner,” said Liss. “We hope that our legal efforts will serve to protect the endangered sea turtles whose very existence hangs in the balance.”

The plaintiff groups are being represented by the Washington, D.C. based public interest law firm of Meyer Glitzenstein & Crystal.

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For More Information:
D.J. Schubert, Wildlife Biologist, 609-601-2875
Tracy Silverman, General Counsel, 202-460-3231

The Animal Welfare Institute Mourns the Passing of Senator Robert C. Byrd (D-WV)

2010-06-28T12:02:00.001-04:00

The Animal Welfare Institute mourns the passing of Senator Robert C. Byrd (D-WV) and praises his long history of staunch support of animal protection legislation and the numerous impassioned speeches he delivered on the Senate floor on behalf of animals. From his forceful condemnation of dog fighting as brought to light by the case of Michael Vick, to his call for increased enforcement of humane slaughter laws, Senator Byrd was perhaps the most eloquent voice for animals in the U.S. Senate. He will be sorely missed.
To read Senator Byrd's floor speech on animal welfare issues, please visit http://www.awionline.org/ht/d/ContentDetails/id/2184/pid/2520

AWI Press Release: Congress Moves to Restore Ban on Animal Crush Videos

2010-06-23T14:54:00.000-04:00

UPDATE: On June 23, 2010 the House Judiciary Committee unanimously approved H.R. 5566, Prevention of Interstate Commerce in Animal Crush Videos Act of 2010. The bill now moves to the floor for consideration by the full House of Representatives. AWI will continue pushing for immediate action on this important legislation.

Members of Congress and constitutional experts testified on May 26, 2010 before the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security on the recent Supreme Court decision invalidating a law prohibiting interstate commerce in crush videos, dog fighting videos, and other depictions of extreme animal cruelty. (Crush videos portray scantily clad women in stilettos, or even their bare feet, literally crushing, stomping on, or impaling small, helpless animals to satisfy sadistic viewers with a bizarre sexual fetish.)

When this law was passed in 1999, at the request of prosecutors, the market for crush videos quickly dried up. The Supreme Court took up the case of an individual challenging his conviction for selling dog fighting videos, and overturned the law on grounds that it was overbroad and violated the First Amendment.

Within hours of the Supreme Court’s decision, the crush video market reopened. Two bills, H.R. 5092 (with 306 cosponsors) and H.R. 5337, have been introduced to restore the ban in a way that will pass constitutional muster.

“The Animal Welfare Institute is grateful to Subcommittee Chairman Bobby Scott and Ranking Member Louie Gohmert for holding this hearing to explore the constitutional issues raised by the Court’s decision,” said Nancy Blaney, senior policy advisor, Animal Welfare Institute. They and the other members who attended asked very serious and thoughtful questions, with a clear interest in crafting a new law that will accomplish the goal of closing down the production of depictions of extreme animal cruelty and punish those who traffic in them.

AWI lobbied for the original law and will push for quick passage of a new measure. The Washington, DC law firm of Patton Boggs LLP is providing legal advice to AWI as we work with the Committee and Members of Congress on this important legislative measure.

The Animal Welfare Institute has been working to alleviate the suffering inflicted on animals by humans since 1951. Please join us in our work to protect animals – visit our website to find out more and to sign up for AWI eAlerts: http://www.awionline.org/.

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For More Information:
Nancy Blaney or Chris Heyde, (202) 337-2332

AWI eAlert: Endangered Species and Companion Animals Need You to Take Action!

2010-06-17T13:22:00.000-04:00

Dear Humanitarian:

The U.S. Congress established the Multinational Species Conservation Funds, which provides grants to those dedicated to saving some of the world’s fastest disappearing and most treasured animals in their natural habitats, including certain tiger, rhino, sea turtle, elephant and great ape species. However, these magnificent animals still face an unprecedented international decline and need your help.

Representative Henry Brown (R-SC) and Senator Sam Brownback (R-KS) have introduced bills (H.R. 1454, S. 1567) authorizing the U.S. Postal Service to issue a semipostal stamp that would help raise money for critically important endangered species conservation. The Multinational Species Conservation Funds Stamp would be sold at a premium above the first class letter rate of 44 cents, with the supplement going to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to support grants for species conservation. Any funds raised by the stamp would act as an addition to the annual Congressional appropriation for these programs. This initiative is modeled after the Breast Cancer Research stamp, of which more than 800 million have been sold since its authorization in 1998, raising over $54 million for breast cancer research.

The legislation promotes awareness of these species and provides a convenient way for the public to contribute to projects supported by Multinational Species Conservation Funds, authorized by Congress and administered by the USFWS. The U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 1454, The Multinational Species Conservation Funds Semipostal Stamp Act, in December 2009 by a voice vote. It is time for the Senate to swiftly pass S. 1567, providing much needed assistance to endangered species conservation programs.

Protecting Companion Animals from Experimentation

When you contact your Senators’ offices, please also ask them to cosponsor S. 1834, the Pet Safety and Protection Act (PSPA), introduced by Sen. Daniel Akaka (D-HI). The PSPA will end the abuse-ridden system of Class B dealers of non-purpose-bred dogs and cats that supplies these animals for use in research. Class B dealers are supposed to acquire the animals they sell only from other dealers, pounds, and individuals who have bred and raised the animals themselves. However, the dealers routinely flout the Animal Welfare Act; obtain animals through fraud, deception, and outright theft; and falsify their records. They keep the animals in horrendous conditions. USDA spends hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars per year unsuccessfully trying to regulate them and has acknowledged that they can't guarantee that dogs and cats are not being illegally acquired for use in experiments.

WHAT YOU CAN DO:

Please call your Senators today and urge them to cosponsor S. 1567, the Multinational Species Conservation Funds Semipostal Stamp Act.
Also, ask your Senators to cosponsor S. 1834, the Pet Safety and Protection Act, to ensure that dogs and cats illegally obtained from their lawful guardians are not being sold for use in experiments. Mention, too, that a study by the well-respected National Academy of Sciences concluded that Class B dealers are not needed for researchers to obtain the dogs and cats they need. To send an email to your Senators on this bill please visit AWI’s Compassion Index.
Additional support for the House version of the Pet Safety and Protection Act, H.R. 3907, is urgently needed as well in order to achieve passage before Congress ends this year. Please contact your Representative and ask him/her to cosponsor H.R. 3907—or to say “thank you” if he/she has already done so. To send an email to your Representative on this bill please visit AWI’s Compassion Index.

To find your Senators and Representative and their contact information, visit the Animal Welfare Institute’s Compassion Index at http://www.compassionindex.org/.

Thank you for taking action on behalf of endangered species and companion animals! Please share our “Dear Humanitarian” eAlert with family, friends and co-workers. As always, we are grateful for your help.

Sincerely,
Cathy Liss
President

Official Whaling Stats Expose the Danger of Lifting Commercial Whaling Ban

2010-06-08T17:11:00.000-04:00

On-line resource illustrates success of ban in saving lives of hundreds of thousands of whales

(June 8, 2010) -With less than two weeks to go before representatives from more than 80 governments meet in Agadir, Morocco, to decide on a proposal to lift the 24-year ban on commercial whaling, conservation groups have released a range of simple on-line, independent statistics that clearly demonstrate not only how the current International Whaling Commission’s (IWC) ban has saved the lives of hundreds of thousands of whales, but also the inconsistencies behind claims that the new proposal will actually save the lives of whales.

The on-line animated graphs published today by the Animal Welfare Institute (AWI), Humane Society International (HSI), and the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society (WDCS), use figures from whaling nations and the IWC to provide the user with a clear overview of the numbers of whales killed from when the International Convention on the Regulation of Whaling was signed in 1946 to the present day. The real facts and figures illustrate how effective the current ban has been and sweep away claims by those who advocate lifting the current ban on the grounds that it has not been successful.

“This set of animated graphics is a simple reminder that it is important to stick to the real facts before calling for an end to what has proved to be one of the biggest successes in conservation history,” says Sue Fisher, Policy Director, WDCS North America.

Fisher adds: “Many governments are either being misled or are trying to mislead others by referring to ‘catch quotas’ when talking about actual whales being killed - the two are not the same. These graphs display not just the actual numbers of whales killed within the various categories – commercial, scientific and aboriginal subsistence whaling – but also clearly document the difference between the catch quotas self-allocated by the whaling nations and the actual numbers of whales killed.”

Susan Millward, Executive Director of the Animal Welfare Institute, explains: “By increasing the self-allocated catch quotas, whaling nations have been playing mind games with the figures and pressuring the rest of the international community into legalizing commercial whaling so that it does not get out of control. In fact, in some countries like Norway the actual number of whales killed decreased in the past years due to lack of demand for whale meat.”

According to Humane Society International Vice President, Kitty Block, “What we should be concentrating on is not lifting the successful ban that we currently have, but working harder on ways to force the three remaining industrial whaling nations to stop this cruel and unnecessary practice once and for all.”

Animated Whaling Graphs

The user-friendly tool provides information and animated graphs about:

Whaling Today and Yesterday
Total Catches (1946 – 2009)
Catches 1982 to 2009 within the following categories and by countries:

Commercial Whaling, Special Permit (“Scientific”) Whaling, Aboriginal Subsistence Whaling
Additional information on the IWC moratorium, the integrity of data used and commentary on the implications of the package proposed by the Chair of the IWC.

The animated graphs can be seen at http://www.awionline.org/whaling/graphs

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For further Information:
Susan Millward, AWI, T. +1-202-640-9606, E-Mail. susan@awionline.org
Kristen Eastman, HSI, T. +1-301-721-6440, E-Mail. keastman@humanesociety.org
Nicolas Entrup, WDCS, T. +49-171-1423-117, E-Mail. Nicolas.entrup@wdcs.org

AWI Press Release: OKLAHOMA HORSE TRAILER ACCIDENT HIGHLIGHTS THE NEED FOR FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE ACTION

2010-05-24T16:52:00.001-04:00

Washington, DC – The need for federal legislation ending the slaughter of and providing safer transportation for American horses came to the forefront again last Tuesday, as we witnessed another horrific accident involving an overturned cattle trailer carrying 30 horses.

At around 6:00 am on May 18, 2010, Christopher Dobbin of Missouri fell asleep behind the wheel of a stock cattle trailer hauling horses bound for slaughter in Mexico to a temporary feedlot in Texas. Eleven of the 30 horses died as a result of the careless and inhumane transportation methods used by Dobbin, who was issued a reckless driving citation. This unfortunate accident underscores the desperate need for quick and thorough legislative action to end the slaughter of American horses and provide safer transportation for equines.

“This unfortunate incident is one more unwelcome reminder of the need for swift movement on federal legislation. Pending bills would require better treatment of animals being transported, provide safer roadways for drivers, and criminalize acts that lead to the slaughter of America’s horses,” said Christine Sequenzia, federal policy advisor, Animal Welfare Institute (AWI).

AWI is actively working to achieve passage of the Horse Transportation Safety Act (H.R. 305), sponsored by Congressmen Mark Kirk (R-IL) and Steve Cohen (D-TN). H.R. 305 was introduced as a response to several earlier horrific accidents, including one in Illinois involving 59 draft horses being hauled in a double deck cattle trailer, 13 of whom died as a result. The Horse Transportation Safety Act would ban the transportation of horses in double deck trailers designed for shorter-necked species.

The Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act (S. 727/H.R. 503) was introduced by Senators Mary Landrieu (D-LA) and John Ensign (R-NV) in the Senate and Congressmen John Conyers (D-MI) and Dan Burton (R-IN) in the House. This bill would finally put an end to sending American horses over U.S. borders to be slaughtered for human consumption. Horses have not been slaughtered in the U.S. for human consumption since remaining plants closed their doors in 2005. However, killer-buyers are still able to purchase American horses at U.S. auction houses, condemning more than 90,000 equines to inhumane transportation, grueling holding facilities and, finally, the cruelty of slaughter.

The Animal Welfare Institute commends advocates for speaking out against the inhumane transportation methods used to haul the horses involved in this incident and denounces sending American horses to slaughter. To learn more about what AWI and our efforts to end horse slaughter, visit http://www.awionline.org/.

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Media Contacts:
Christine Sequenzia, Animal Welfare Institute (202) 446-2140

The Animal Welfare Institute has been working to alleviate the suffering inflicted on animals by humans since 1951. Please join us in our work to protect animals – visit our website to find out more and to sign up for AWI eAlerts: http://www.awionline.org/.

To view this release online, please visit:

100 + Environmental Groups Sign on to No Drilling Letter to US Senate

2010-05-12T16:48:00.001-04:00

WASHINGTON, DC -- The devastation caused by the explosion and sinking of the BP oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico will likely unfold as the worst environmental disaster in US history. Though wildlife rescuers are hard at work, many animals are expected to die, including highly vulnerable species such as the brown pelican, manatee, Kemp’s ridley sea turtle, and bluefin tuna. Financial support for clean-up efforts is not needed at this time since BP is, rightly, covering all expenses related to this tragedy. What is needed, however, is a strong public outcry against endangering the oceans in this way.

AWI joined over a hundred other groups on a letter (see below) asking the Senate to oppose all efforts to expand offshore oil and gas exploration and drilling off of our coasts.

Please send a similar message to your US Representative (House Office Building, Washington, DC 20515) and Senators (Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510). To find your Senators and Representative please visit AWI's Compassion Index.
_________________________________________________

May 3, 2010

United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510

Dear Senator:

On behalf of our organizations, and the millions of members they represent, we are writing you today to urge the United States Senate to reconsider any plans to include expanded offshore oil and gas exploration and drilling in any legislation. In light of the events surrounding the Deepwater Horizon rig in the Gulf of Mexico, our organizations urge you to oppose efforts to expand offshore oil and gas exploration and drilling off of our coasts. Expanding exploration and drilling into previously protected and remote areas is unacceptable when it is clear that we are not capable of responding to oil spills in a timely manner. The Senate faces a choice between leading America forward in a new clean energy economy or holding America back by preserving the failed energy policies of the past. This human and environmental catastrophe is proof positive that we must end our addiction to oil, enact a firm limit on carbon pollution, and ensure this type of disaster never happens again.

What began with the apparent tragic loss of 11 lives on April 21, 2010 now has the potential to be one of the worst environmental disasters in U.S. history. The unfolding catastrophe clearly illustrates that offshore drilling is an inherently dangerous, risky, and dirty business. Furthermore, these events raise numerous questions about the safety and environmental safeguards that are intended to protect our coastlines. If we cannot contain an oil spill in the very temperate Gulf of Mexico, how can we have any faith that a similar disaster does not await the "exploratory" drilling currently planned for the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas in the extreme conditions of the Arctic Ocean where we already know technology does not exist to clean up a spill in icy water.

Currently, the oil slick resulting from the Deepwater Horizon disaster continues to grow, posing hazards to marine wildlife. The slick of toxic oil has made landfall on the coastline of Louisiana and threatens the coasts of Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida. Exposure to the oil will likely have devastating impacts for coastal and marine wildlife and commercial and recreational fisheries.

Oil can persist in the environment long after a spill. This prolonged exposure to oil could result in major impacts on the coastal economies of the Gulf region. Gulf of Mexico fisheries are among the most productive in the world. In 2008, according to the National Marine Fisheries Service, the commercial fish and shellfish harvest from the five U.S. Gulf states was estimated to be 1.3 billion pounds valued at $661 million. The Gulf also contains four of the top seven fishing ports in the nation by landed weight. The Gulf of Mexico has eight of the top 20 fishing ports in the nation by dollar value of landings.

Accidents happen, and they will continue to happen in the future. Any expanded offshore exploration and drilling should be off the table. Instead, legislation should focus on emphasizing development of carbon-free energy technologies, including offshore and land-based wind power and solar power, consistent with the protection of wildlife and ecosystems, and the development of a meaningful national renewable electricity standard.

Provisions creating new incentives (such as state revenue sharing) or reduced safeguards for expanded offshore drilling are simply not acceptable. The energy bill reported by the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, the American Clean Energy Leadership Act (ACELA) of 2009, reverses the bipartisan agreement reached in the 2006 Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act (GOMESA). The language would allow drilling within 10 miles of Pensacola, and shrink the current 125-mile-wide buffer elsewhere along Florida's West Coast to 45 miles. Clearly, an accident similar to the Deepwater Horizon would devastate Florida’s coast regardless of buffers provided in the bill. We oppose inclusion of any such provisions in legislation considered by this Congress.

The numbers don’t lie. There is not enough oil off of our shores to make America energy independent or to reduce gas prices. But, clearly there is enough to damage ocean and coastal ecosystems and billion-dollar coastal economies. Instead of expanding offshore oil drilling, responsible climate legislation needs to focus on innovation and investment in clean, renewable, carbon-free energy that creates jobs and protects our coastal economies and ecosystems.

The Senate has a profound responsibility to build a clean energy future for our nation without sacrificing our oceans and coasts in the process. Now is the time for strong clean energy and climate policy. It is up to you to ensure that we put the United States on the path to economic, environmental and national security.

Sincerely,

Oceana
1 Sky
350.org
Alaska Wilderness League
Alaska’s Big Village Network
Animal Welfare Institute
Center for Biological Diversity
Center for Water Advocacy
Clean Ocean Action
Climate Solutions
Conservation Law Foundation
Cook Inletkeeper
Credo Action
Defenders of Wildlife
Earthjustice
Endangered Species Coalition
Environment America
Environment Arizona
Environment California
Environment Colorado
Environment Connecticut
Environment Florida
Environment Georgia
Environment Illinois
Environment Iowa
Environment Maine
Environment Maryland
Environment Massachusetts
Environment Michigan
Environment Minnesota
Environment Montana
Environment Nevada
Environment New Jersey
Environment New Mexico
Environment New York
Environment North Carolina
Environment Ohio
Environment Oregon
Penn Environment
Environment Rhode Island
Environment Texas
Environment Virginia
Environment Washington
Wisconsin Environment
Environment and Energy Study Institute
Environmental Caucus of the California Democratic Party
Friends of the Earth
Greenpeace USA
Green For All
Gulf Coast Environmental Defense
International Fund for Animal Welfare
International Forum on Globalization
League of Conservation Voters
Alaska Conservation Voters
Conservation Alabama
Arizona League of Conservation Voters
California League of Conservation Voters
Colorado Conservation Voters
Connecticut League of Conservation Voters
Florida Conservation Alliance
Georgia Conservation Voters
Conservation Voters for Idaho
Maine League of Conservation Voters
Maryland League of Conservation Voters
Massachusetts League of Environmental Voters
Michigan League of Conservation Voters
Conservation Minnesota
Missouri Votes Conservation
Montana Conservation Voters
Nevada Conservation League
Oregon League of Conservation Voters
Conservation Voters New Mexico
Conservation Council of North Carolina
Conservation Voters of Pennsylvania
Conservation Voters of South Carolina
Tennessee Conservation Voters
Texas League of Conservation Voters
Vermont League of Conservation Voters
Virginia League of Conservation Voters
Washington Conservation Voters
Wisconsin League of Conservation Voters
Wyoming Conservation Voters
League of Women Voters
Marine Fish Conservation Network
MoveOn.org
Montana Audubon
Natural Resources Defense Council
National Audubon Society
Northern Alaska Environmental Center
Ocean Champions
Ocean Conservation Research
Oil Change International
Pacific Environment
Physicians for Social Responsibility
Planning and Conservation League
Progress Florida
Redoil
Safe Climate Campaign
Sierra Club
Southern Alliance for Clean Energy
Southern Environmental Law Center
Spirit of the Sage Council
Sport Fishing Magazine
Surfrider Foundation
The Habitat Trust for Wildlife
The Wilderness Society
Waterkeeper Alliance
Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society
Western Nebraska Resources Council.
World Wildlife Fund

AWI Press Release: Animal Welfare Institute Calls on Perdue to Remove Misleading 'Humanely Raised' and 'Raised Cage Free' Claims from Chicken Packaging

2010-05-12T10:01:00.001-04:00

Washington, DC – In a letter to Perdue CEO Jim Perdue released today, Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) President Cathy Liss demanded that the company end its use of a misleading label claiming that certain of its chicken products are 'Humanely Raised' and 'Raised Cage Free.' This February, Perdue introduced new product packaging bearing these claims for release in grocery stores. AWI asserts that the 'Humanely Raised' label misleads consumers about how Perdue treats chickens, and the 'Raised Cage Free' label deceptively suggests a special benefit, when in fact no producers raise meat chickens in cages.

The letter launched AWI's effort to publicly expose Perdue for using misleading labeling claims to manipulate consumers who are trying to make humane choices in the market place. Perdue, the country’s third largest poultry producer, raises its chickens according to standards that are no better than other industrial chicken producers.

“These standards, devised by Perdue and the National Chicken Council (NCC), a private industry group, are not humane under any reasonable consumer understanding of the term,” Liss remarked.”Perdue’s lip service to humane treatment, by way of these deceptive claims, is merely an attempt to profit from the growing number of consumers who seek a better alternative to factory-raised chicken.”

According to NCC guidelines, Perdue chickens raised for marketing under the ‘Humanely Raised’ label can be confined in windowless sheds with less than one square foot of space per bird. These standards do not require access to fresh air or sunlight during the duration of the chickens’ lives. “The chickens are exposed to up to 20 continuous hours of dim, artificial light to further an unhealthy rate of growth,” said Liss. “They are bred for rapid growth that allows the birds to be slaughtered earlier but which results in health problems like lameness, heart attack, and even sudden death.”

This approach to husbandry satisfies NCC poultry welfare criteria because it represents conventional industry practice, but according to a recent national poll conducted for AWI by Edge Research, 70 percent of consumers said they think chicken labeled ‘Humanely Raised’ is produced under a standard of animal care that is better than typical chicken production practices. Moreover, 65 percent of those who frequently shop for chicken meat said the practice of housing chickens in sheds with less than one square foot of space per bird is totally unacceptable.

“Truth in labeling is critical so that consumers who want their grocery dollars to promote humane farming are actually supporting farmers who raise their animals under high welfare conditions,” said Dena Jones, AWI farm animal program manager.

Perdue’s new label and promotional materials also deceive consumers by boasting the term ‘Raised Caged Free.’ “Meat chickens are not and have never been raised in cages under any typical industrial or small-scale production systems in the U.S.,” remarked Jones. “Perdue’s ‘Raised Caged Free’ claim serves no other purpose than to capitalize on the popularity of the ‘cage free’ label for eggs by exploiting the average consumer’s unfamiliarity with modern animal husbandry."

AWI’s letter urged Perdue to take meaningful steps toward ensuring the welfare of its chickens but demanded that, until then, Perdue stop obscuring informed choice in the supermarket.

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Available materials include AWI's letter to Perdue, results of the consumer poll, a fact sheet on chicken welfare, and AWI's food label guide. http://www.awionline.org/ht/display/ReleaseDetails/i/20924/pid/200

Contact:
Dena Jones, 202-446-2146

AWI Job Announcement: Website and Communications Coordinator

2010-04-20T20:48:00.000-04:00

The Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) is seeking an energetic person to manage its website and online communications.

The candidate should possess expert proficiency in website applications, content management software and communication skills.

Adept at problem-solving and multi-tasking in a busy environment, the successful candidate must demonstrate a service-oriented and team approach in the support of AWI's goals.

Responsibilities include:

Managing AWI's website on day to day basis.
Maximizing website capabilities and increasing online activists.
Developing and posting web content under the direction of the Executive Director and relevant staff on technical content.
Generating and modifying graphic images for placement on the web site.
Preparing and sending email alerts to AWI membership.
Preparing and issuing press releases and, along with staff, work with media to promote the goals of AWI.
Creating, managing, and posting content for social networking sites.

Qualifications desired:

2+ years experience in web design and development. Entry-level candidate with exceptional skills and enthusiasm will be considered.
Ability to code in HTML, Flash and JavaScript a plus.
Fundamental knowledge of networking, DNS, and SMTP.
Excellent PC skills.
Excellent customer service and interpersonal skills.
Demonstrated interest in animal welfare.

To Apply:

Reply to this announcement by email to jobs@awionline.org or by mail to Animal Welfare Institute, Attn: Chris Heyde, 900 Pennsylvania Ave., SE, Washington, DC 20003; Fax (202) 337-2131. Applications that do not include all of the requirements listed below will not be considered.

PLEASE include:

Cover letter.
Resume (including references and salary history/requirements).
Two-paragraph writing sample on an animal-related topic of your choice.

AWI offers a competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits, located near Eastern Market Metro. View our website at http://www.awionline.org/.

Posted April 20, 2010

AWI eAlert: Stop the Great Whale Sell Out

2010-04-16T09:36:00.000-04:00

Dear Humanitarian:

Whales are under threat from a U.S. led compromise that will permit the resumption of commercial whaling. Please review this update and tell President Obama how much whales mean to you.

The Whaling Moratorium Is In Jeopardy

Within weeks the U.S. will decide whether to back a plan to resume commercial whaling - including in a whale sanctuary and on endangered species.

This unsavory plan represents capitulation to the three remaining whaling nations – Japan, Norway and Iceland – which continue to ignore international will by slaughtering whales and by undermining the International Whaling Commission (IWC). In response to a perceived impasse at the IWC and ostensibly to reduce the number of whales being killed, the U.S. and eleven other IWC nations have been negotiating for the past three years over the way forward. The result is a ten-year plan that will:

1.Suspend the whaling moratorium thereby sanctioning whaling on all currently hunted whales species, including threatened and endangered populations;
2.Allow whaling quotas to be set by whaling countries, not science;
3.Allow whaling in a whale sanctuary; and
4.Fail to close loopholes in the whaling convention that permit countries to whale for so-called scientific research and opt out of complying with IWC decisions.

U.S. Front and Center

The U.S. claims that it has yet to take a position on the deal, despite leading the negotiations and developing the package. Although many IWC member nations are following the U.S. and are capitulating to the whaling nations, others are standing firm in opposition. Since the whaling nations have manufactured the dysfunction of the IWC, capitulation will reward their years of bad behavior, return the world to the dark days of mass whale slaughter, and set a very bad precedent for other international treaties. The UK and Australia are vocally opposing the deal and the U.S. must join them and encourage other countries to do the same.

President Obama campaigned on a promise to continue to be a leader in whale conservation, saying in 2008 that "allowing Japan to continue commercial whaling is unacceptable.” He needs to be held to that pledge.

What You Can Do

Please write the President at The White House, 1600 Pennsylvania, Ave. NW, Washington D.C. 20500 or submit an online comment at http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact.

Tell him that a return to whaling is wholly unacceptable. He should oppose the package and take a hard line with the three whaling nations by using domestic trade legislation along with diplomatic pressure to get them to end their unnecessary, archaic and barbaric whaling practices.

Thank you for your help.

Sincerely,
Cathy Liss
President

Rally and March on The White House

If you live in the Washington D.C. area please join us for a rally on the National Mall and a March on The White House on Earth Day, April 22 at 12:30 pm. Call Susan Millward for details: 202-337-2332. Click here to view flyer.

AWI POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT: WRITER/EDITOR

2010-04-05T10:52:00.002-04:00

The Animal Welfare Institute is seeking applicants with strong writing and copy editing skills to fill a writer/editor position. The right candidate will be capable of working independently and taking initiative, as well as meeting tight deadlines and bringing a fresh approach to the table. Good organizational skills and attention to detail are essential. This is a full-time in-office position located in Washington, D.C. Salary range is $30,000-$60,000 commensurate with experience.
Responsibilities:

Write and/or edit text for publications including books, quarterly newsletters, brochures and the annual report.
Write and/or edit press releases, mailings, thank you letters to donors, and other materials as needed.
Stay informed on animal issues covered by the Animal Welfare Institute, as well as other animal-related news.

Qualifications:

Bachelors Degree (a plus if in English or Journalism).
Minimum two years writing and editing experience.
Demonstrated interest in animal welfare.

To Apply:

Reply to this announcement by email to jobs@awionline.org or by mail to Animal Welfare Institute, Attn: Lucy Enniss, 900 Pennsylvania Ave., SE, Washington, DC 20003. Applications that do not include all of the requirements listed below will not be considered.

PLEASE include:

Cover letter
Resume (including references and salary history/requirements)
Two-paragraph writing sample on an animal-related topic of your choice

Posted April 5, 2010

Country Music Artist Lends His Voice to Protecting America’s Wild Horses

2010-03-20T22:14:00.001-04:00

Washington, DC (March 20, 2010) - The Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) is pleased to add Country music artist Clay Canfield’s support to the organization’s ongoing efforts to protect America’s wild horses. Clay is donating a percentage of proceeds from his song, Wild Horses, to AWI.

“We can’t thank Clay enough for his support and commitment to protecting America’s wild horses. Animal welfare organizations often talk about providing a voice to those who have none, but with his song and music, Clay is literally doing just that,” said Chris Heyde deputy director of Government and Legal Affairs for AWI.

For decades, America's wild horses have faced tremendous pressure from the government, ranchers, the livestock industry, state wildlife agencies and others who do not support the protection of these iconic animals on Western rangelands. The situation turned catastrophic when the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announced that it was considering mass slaughter of wild horses in holding facilities as a means of balancing its books. Instead of restoring rangeland to the horses, a new proposal was recently offered by Secretary of Interior Ken Salazar to simply create additional holding facilities in the Midwest and East costing even more money and warehousing additional horses.

"Let's raise our glass to the spirit, and hope that it never will die...to the cowboy inside us, who shines through and guides us and helps all our dreams to fly. Together we have to preserve these wild horses which now are an endangered symbol of the American spirit."

Clay first noticed and fell in love with wild horses during a tour of the West in the 80s. Moved by the plight of wild horses after viewing the Marilyn Monroe/Clark Gable classic film “The Misfits,” he was compelled to make America aware of their troubles. He wrote and performed the song, Wild Horses, during concerts in the early 90s but never recorded the song until just last year when he wanted to help raise awareness.

“The BLM seems incapable of protecting and maintaining these national treasures on the public lands that are their home,” said Heyde. “Yet, the answer is simple and inexpensive: wild horses need less intervention by the BLM, more non-lethal management when necessary, and more freedom to roam their legal and traditional ranges.”

To download your own copy of Clay Canfield’s song Wild Horses and help make a difference for wild horses please visit www.awionline.org/wildhorses
and click on Clay’s photo.

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For More Information Contact:
Chris Heyde, 202-446-2142

AWI Press Release: Illinois Bill to Restore Horse Slaughter Withdrawn for Lack of Support

2010-03-12T08:05:00.000-05:00

Springfield, IL (March 12, 2010) – Yesterday State Representative Jim Sacia (R – Freeport) pulled his bill to legalize horse slaughter from the agenda for this legislative session. The Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) appreciates his recognition of horse slaughter as a controversial issue and his decision to withdraw it from consideration.

This was the third time in as many years that Representative Sacia had introduced legislation aimed at overturning the state’s widely supported ban on horse slaughter. In the two previous years, the House voted against his proposal. Support for maintaining the ban remains strong with the Illinois General Assembly and the Governor.

“We are much relieved by Representative Sacia’s decision today. We look forward to working together with all the members of the Illinois General Assembly on ways to improve the welfare of horses in the state.” said Chris Heyde, deputy director of Government and Legal Affairs for AWI. "We are looking at positive options and slaughtering them is certainly not the right step."

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For More Information:
Chris Heyde, 202-337-2332

Parties in Federal Lawsuit Concerning Beech Ridge Wind Energy Project Announce Agreement on Bat Protection and Turbine Operation

2010-01-27T12:09:00.000-05:00

WASHINGTON, D.C. – An agreement has been reached among all parties involved in federal litigation under the Endangered Species Act concerning the Beech Ridge wind project in Greenbrier County, West Virginia, that will provide for additional protection of the endangered Indiana bat and other wildlife while allowing some elements of the project to move forward and to begin producing renewable power in 2010.

The agreement, which has been filed in U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland, resolves outstanding federal litigation by setting forth protective conditions on which additional project construction and operation may occur while Beech Ridge applies for an Incidental Take Permit relative to the Indiana bat from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS). The parties in the federal case have agreed to cooperate in a constructive manner during the FWS permitting process.

Details of the agreement, which has been approved by the Court, can be viewed here or obtained either from the plaintiffs or defendants in the case.

* * * * *

The Animal Welfare Institute is headquartered in Washington, D.C. and is dedicated to alleviating suffering inflicted on animals by humans. Mountain Communities for Responsible Energy is based in Williamsburg, West Virginia and is dedicated to educating people about responsible wind energy development in West Virginia. Plaintiffs were represented in the case by Meyer Glitzenstein & Crystal, a public interest law firm in Washington, D.C.

Contact:
William Eubanks/Eric Glitzenstein, Meyer Glitzenstein & Crystal, (202) 588-5206
D.J. Schubert, Animal Welfare Institute, (609) 601-2875
John Stroud, Mountain Communities for Responsible Energy, (304) 645-7169

AWI PRESS RELEASE: Wildlife Coalition Condemns Coyote Killing Tournament as Ethically and Ecologically Indefensible

2009-12-30T11:01:00.004-05:00

Maine (December 30, 2009) – A national coalition of wildlife advocacy and conservation organizations representing more than 70,000 Maine citizens is calling for an end to a coyote killing tournament that is currently underway in northern Maine. Sponsored by the Jackman-Moose River Region Chamber of Commerce, the killing tournament began Dec. 16 and runs through Jan. 30, 2010. Prizes are awarded to those hunters who kill both the most coyotes and the largest individuals.

“Slaughtering coyotes as part of a ‘contest’ is ethically indefensible, ecologically reckless, counter to sound scientific wildlife management, and has no place in the 21st century," said Camilla Fox, founding director of Project Coyote, wildlife consultant with the Animal Welfare Institute, and co-author of Coyotes in Our Midst. "Coyote killing tournaments tarnish Maine’s reputation as a state that prides itself on tourism and wildlife watching,” said Fox. “It is unbelievable that a regional Chamber of Commerce is supporting this kind of scientifically unsound and unconscionable blood sport.”

Project Coyote has issued a statewide alert urging concerned citizens to contact the Jackman-Moose River Region Chamber of Commerce (1-888-633-5225) and also Gov. John Baldacci (207-287-3531) to call off the coyote killing tournament in perpetuity. In 2005, Gov. Baldacci came out against a coyote contest hunt in Washington County and directed the state Department of Inland Fisheries Wildlife to tell organizers to cancel the event. In Maine, coyotes can legally be hunted year-round in unlimited numbers. Coalition groups have started a citizen’s petition effort to change Maine’s laws to protect coyotes from abuse and cruelty.

"Randomly killing coyotes to supposedly boost deer populations is a sham,” said Dr. Marc Bekoff, Project Coyote advisory board member, internationally recognized canid ethologist, and author and editor of more than 22 books including Coyotes: Biology, Behavior and Management. “Coyote killing tournaments are antithetical to conservation biology and ecosystem-based science, and they are a totally ineffective management strategy given the species’ resiliency and ability to biologically rebound,” said Bekoff.

"Killing tournaments, disguised as either recreation or wildlife management, are a very poor commentary on those who partake in them,” said Daryl DeJoy, executive director of the Wildlife Alliance of Maine. We would like to see Governor Baldacci to emulate the late, great Governor Percival Baxter who felt that Maine’s wildlife’s should not be wantonly destroyed for recreation or entertainment."

"These events exhibit a blatant disregard for wildlife and the integrity of ecosystems by encouraging mass killing for prizes,” said Andrew Page, senior director of the Wildlife Abuse Campaign at The Humane Society of the United States. “Killing coyotes will do nothing to increase the white-tailed deer density or decrease coyote numbers — it will only advance an archaic idea that the value of animals is their dead weight.“

Organizations opposing the killing tournament include Project Coyote, the Animal Welfare Institute, the Wildlife Alliance of Maine, The Humane Society of the United States, The Maine Wolf Coalition, Friends of Merrymeeting Bay, and the Wild Dog Foundation.

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CONTACTS:
Camilla Fox, Project Coyote, Animal Welfare Institute; phone 415.690.0338
Marc Bekoff, University of Colorado, Boulder, Project Coyote (phone number through Camilla Fox)
Daryl DeJoy, Wildlife Alliance of Maine; phone 207.299.2291

If you are unable to view this release please visit: http://www.awionline.org/ht/display/ReleaseDetails/i/17630/pid/232

AWI Press Release: Wildlife Advocacy Organizations Petition U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to Halt Illegal Trapping of Canada Lynx

2009-12-10T10:55:00.000-05:00

Washington, D.C. — The Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) and the Wildlife Alliance of Maine (WAM) urged the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) today to enforce the Endangered Species Act (ESA) against the unlawful trapping of Canada lynx in traps set for other species. Lynx continue to be trapped and sometimes killed in traps set by recreational fur trappers, licensed by the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (IF&W), and the Service has failed thus far to stop this illegal activity.

“At least 47 lynx have been incidentally trapped in Maine over the last decade and each time this happens, the ESA is violated,” said Camilla Fox, wildlife consultant for AWI. “Since lynx were listed as a federally threatened species in 2000, they have been incidentally trapped in Maine. It is imperative that the Service take all necessary steps to prevent this unlawful harm from continuing.”

In response to litigation, IF&W agreed in 2007 to tighten its regulations with respect to Conibear kill traps which have captured and killed lynx in Maine, and to apply for an incidental take permit from the Service to mitigate illegal take and to shield the agency from further violating the ESA. In August 2008, IF&W submitted its current draft permit to the Service – a permit application on which the Service has not yet made a final determination. Because lynx continued to be trapped after IF&W tightened its trapping regulations, AWI and WAM filed a lawsuit against IF&W in August 2008 for ongoing violations of the ESA’s take prohibition. After a six-day hearing, federal district court Judge John A. Woodcock concluded that IF&W’s current trapping regulations have resulted and will continue to result in unlawful takes of threatened lynx.

“In light of Judge Woodcock’s determination that lynx will continue to be unlawfully taken under the current regulatory scheme, it is imperative that the Service invoke its enforcement authority against IF&W for ongoing takes of threatened lynx in violation of the Act,” said attorney William Eubanks of Meyer Glitzenstein & Crystal in his letter to the Service on behalf of AWI and WAM. “Otherwise, many lynx will continue to be illegally trapped, harmed, harassed, injured and even killed as a result of IF&W’s actions. It is incumbent upon the Service to exercise its statutory enforcement authority to ensure that such conceded violations are halted, and to send a clear message that neither private nor governmental actors may violate the ESA with impunity.”

While Woodcock ruled in the plaintiffs’ favor regarding liability, concurring that Maine’s current regulatory scheme for trapping furbearing animals is resulting and will continue to result in ongoing violations of the ESA, he ruled against plaintiffs with regard to a permanent injunction to further restrict traps in lynx habitat pending the issuance of an ITP. In addition to the letter sent to the Service, the organizations have appealed Judge Woodcock’s recent decision on relief to the First Circuit Court of Appeals.

“The most recent and best studies available in Maine show a 50 percent decrease in snowshoe hare populations and this and other factors, including trapping, are greatly affecting our dwindling lynx population ,” said Daryl DeJoy, founding executive director of WAM. “Lynx must be protected from indiscriminate traps.”

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The Animal Welfare Institute is a non-profit charitable organization founded in 1951 to alleviate suffering caused to animals by humans. More information is available at www.awionline.org.

The Wildlife Alliance of Maine is a non-profit organization advocating on behalf of Maine’s wildlife, and promoting a conservation ethic that represents non-consumptive wildlife users. More information is available at www.wildlifealliancemaine.org.

Photos available

Contacts:
William Eubanks, Meyer Glitzenstein & Crystal law firm, 202-588-5206, ext. 14 (office)
Camilla Fox, Animal Welfare Institute, 415-945-3232 (office)/ 415-690-0338 (cell)
Daryl DeJoy, Wildlife Alliance of Maine, 207-326-0779 (office)/ 207-299-2291 (cell)

Court Rules Massive Wind Energy Project in Violation of Endangered Species Act

2009-12-09T12:39:00.002-05:00

Judge Prevents Project That Will Kill Hundreds Of Thousands Of Bats From Proceeding Without Federal Permit

Washington, D.C. – Federal district court Judge Roger Titus of the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland has issued a comprehensive ruling that an industrial wind energy facility in Greenbrier County, West Virginia will kill and injure endangered Indiana bats, in violation of the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The court concluded that “the development of wind energy can and should be encouraged, but wind turbines must be good neighbors.” This is the first federal court ruling in the country finding a wind power project in violation of federal environmental law, and it highlights the critical importance of balancing the creation of renewable energy and protection of endangered wildlife species under the ESA.

The court recognized that “the two vital federal policies at issue in this case are not necessarily in conflict” because defendants Invenergy and Beech Ridge Energy could have sought a permit under the ESA which would “allow their project to proceed in harmony with the goal of avoidance of harm to endangered species.” The ESA provides for the issuance of permits that authorize projects in endangered species habitat, but only when the United States Fish and Wildlife Service attaches strict and enforceable conditions designed to minimize the impact on imperiled species.

In finding a violation of the ESA, the court held, based on extensive expert testimony and other evidence, “that, like death and taxes, there is a virtual certainty that Indiana bats will be harmed, wounded, or killed imminently by the Beech Ridge Project in violation of … the ESA, during the spring, summer, and fall.” Accordingly, the court held “that the only avenue available to Defendants to resolve the self-imposed plight in which they now find themselves is to do belatedly that which they should have done long ago: apply for a permit” under the ESA.

In holding that the project is “certain to imminently harm, kill, or wound Indiana bats,” the court relied heavily on testimony by leading bat biologists Dr. Thomas Kunz of Boston University, Dr. Michael Gannon of Penn State, and Dr. Lynn Robbins of Missouri State University. Dr. Kunz – whom the court has described as the “leading expert in the field of bat ecology in the United States” – testified that the project will not only kill endangered Indiana bats, but may kill more than a quarter of a million bats overall, including species already being decimated by threats such as the devastating disease known as white-nose syndrome.

Plaintiffs in the case – the Animal Welfare Institute, Mountain Communities for Responsible Energy, and caving enthusiast Dave Cowan – applauded the court’s ruling.

“As this nation embraces renewable energy which all of the plaintiffs support, it is critical that such projects be undertaken consistent with federal law to ensure that our rush to develop a green energy future doesn’t jeopardize imperiled species,” said D.J. Schubert, a wildlife biologist with the Animal Welfare Institute. “In this decision, the court sends an unequivocal message that the ‘green energy’ label does not exempt wind power from compliance with federal laws protecting wildlife and the environment,” added William Eubanks, an attorney with Meyer, Glitzenstein & Crystal which represented plaintiffs in this case. “Indeed, other wind power companies are complying with the ESA permitting process, the Congressionally mandated vehicle for minimizing harm to listed species.”

The court enjoined the construction of any additional wind turbines and prohibited the operation of all existing turbines between April 1 and November 15 until an Incidental Take Permit is obtained. Operating the existing turbines between November 16 and March 31 is not likely to impact Indiana bats since they hibernate during the winter months. Per an earlier agreement between the parties and the court, 40 of the 122 planned wind turbines have been erected to date, and those are generally farthest from known winter populations of Indiana bats.

“We do not oppose responsible development of renewable energy projects be they wind farms, solar farms, or tidal energy projects but there must be independent federal regulation of these project to avoid unintentional consequences to protected species,” said John Stroud, spokesperson for Mountain Communities for Responsible Energy. “This court has made clear to Beech Ridge and its parent company, Invenergy, that the ESA has teeth, that the Indiana bat will be harmed by this project, and that these companies don’t get a free pass to violate the ESA,” said Dave Cowan, an avid spelunker who has explored many of West Virginia’s caves.

* * * * *

Contacts:
William Eubanks/Eric Glitzenstein, Meyer Glitzenstein & Crystal, (202) 588-5206
D.J. Schubert, Animal Welfare Institute, (609) 601-2875
John Stroud, Mountain Communities for Responsible Energy, (304) 645-7169

The Animal Welfare Institute is headquartered in Washington, D.C. and is dedicated to alleviating suffering inflicted on animals by humans. Mountain Communities for Responsible Energy is based in Williamsburg, West Virginia is dedicated to educating people about responsible wind energy development in West Virginia. Plaintiffs were represented in the case by Meyer Glitzenstein & Crystal, a public interest law firm in Washington, D.C.

A copy of the opinion and order issued by the court can be obtained at www.awionline.org/beechridgebats

Shark Conservation Act of 2009 Approaches the Finish Line in Senate

2009-11-19T15:47:00.000-05:00

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Following the swift and unanimous passage by the House of Representatives in March of this year, the Senate’s companion bill, S. 850, the Shark Conservation Act of 2009, moved out of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee today by voice vote. The bill now moves to the floor where it awaits consideration by the full Senate. A vote has not been scheduled.

Senator John Kerry (D-MA), who introduced the bill and is a leading proponent of marine life protection, was also a sponsor of the Shark Finning Prohibition Act of 2000 signed by President Bill Clinton. Following passage of the initial bill, shark finning - whereby the fins of a living shark are routinely removed to create “delicacies” such as shark fin soup and the animal is discarded back into the sea to die an agonizing death – has been illegal in the United States since 2000 but enforcement was impeded by loopholes in the ban.

The passage of S. 850 ensures termination of the cruel and illegal act of shark finning in all U.S. waters as Congress intended in 2000, and encourages other nations to follow suit. It also provides for clear rules for enforcement officials who, under the present system, were unable to identify shark species once fins were removed. Accurate species identification ensures endangered species are not being harvested and finning is not occurring.

Animal Welfare Institute President Cathy Liss said, “Shark finning is a cruel, frivolous and painful assault on myriad shark species facing decline on a global basis, and we are pleased that their protection from shark finning is now imminent. We look forward to the Senate taking immediate action on this responsible and bipartisan legislation.”

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Media Contacts:
Christine Sequenzia, Animal Welfare Institute (202) 446-2140
Serda Ozbenian, Animal Welfare Institute (202) 446-2144

The Animal Welfare Institute has been working to alleviate the suffering inflicted on animals by humans since 1951. Please join us in our work to protect animals – visit our website to find out more and to sign up for AWI eAlerts: www.awionline.org.

AWI Press Release: Coyote and Fox Live Bait Training and Penning Condemned as Unethical & Ecologically Reckless

2009-11-11T16:00:00.001-05:00

Indiana Natural Resources Commission to Consider Ban on Practice Nov. 17th

Indianapolis, IN (November 11, 2009) — More than 40 scientists, veterinarians, and attorneys and a coalition of wildlife advocacy organizations including Project Coyote, Indiana Coyote Rescue (ICR), and the Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) have submitted a formal letter and data urging the Indiana Natural Resources Commission to support two formal petitions to prohibit the taking, killing and harassment of coyotes and red foxes for “penning” purposes and for use as live bait in the wild.

Current loopholes in Indiana’s wildlife regulations allow the capture and killing of coyotes and red foxes by dogs in the wild. Moreover, no rule or law exists prohibiting the trapping and selling of coyotes and foxes in state or across state lines to “penning” facilities where these wild canines are then used to “train” hunting dogs in “running pens.” Operators of the running pens often charge a fee for individuals to “train” their hunting dogs on the captive coyotes and foxes. Penned wild canids are often killed by being torn apart by the dog pack.

Signatories to the letter, including internationally prominent scientists Dr. Michael Soulé, Dr. Marc Bekoff, and Dr. Michael W. Fox state, “As scientists, veterinarians, and attorneys, we believe this practice — commonly referred to as ‘penning’ — violates the concept of ‘fair chase’ hunting and runs counter to fundamental concepts of wildlife management. We concur with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources that there are serious ecological, ethical, disease and health related issues associated with penning. We strongly support a ban on this practice….”

“As a society, we have decided that dog and cock fighting are ethically indefensible and we have banned these practices nationwide,” said Camilla Fox, Project Coyote founding director and wildlife consultant for the Animal Welfare Institute. “Ethics aside, this practice is ecologically reckless, and for that reason alone this practice should be immediately prohibited.”

On November 17th, the Indiana Natural Resources Commission will consider the formal petitions and decide whether to move forward with the petitions through the formal rulemaking process, reject them, or to send them back to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (INDNR) for further changes. For further details on the meeting, please see: www.in.gov./nrc/2354.htm.

The Indiana Department of Natural Resources has acknowledged that there are serious issues with penning, including disease transmission concerns, but does not supported a ban on the practice. However, the Midwest Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies passed a resolution in 2008 urging the adoption of state-by-state regulations prohibiting the importation or interstate movement of foxes and coyotes for the purpose of stocking coursing pens or for release and pursuit by hounds outside of coursing pens.

“This bloodsport — known as Live Bait Dog Training — has no place in civilized society,” said CeAnn Lambert, founding director of Indiana Coyote Rescue who has led the effort to ban this practice in her home state. “It’s time to close this loophole in our regulations and ban this practice once and for all.”

Project Coyote is a national non-profit charitable organization that fosters educated coexistence between people and coyotes and advocates on behalf of all native carnivores. For information, visit: http://www.projectcoyote.org/
The Indiana Coyote Rescue is an Indiana based non-profit charitable organization that educates and inspires the human population to understand and learn to treasure the unique contribution the North American Coyote makes to our ecosystem and to begin the process of ending the slaughter of these animals. More information: http://www.coyoterescue.org/

The Animal Welfare Institute is a non-profit charitable organization founded in 1951 to reduce the sum total of pain and fear inflicted on animals by humans. More information: http://www.awionline.org/

Video footage and photos available

Contact:

Camilla Fox, Project Coyote and the Animal Welfare Institute, 415-945-3232 (o)/ 415-690-0338 (c)
CeAnn Lambert, Indiana Coyote Rescue, (765) 566-3800

AWI Press Release: Bills Target Animal Dealers With “Sordid History”

2009-10-23T20:47:00.001-04:00

Washington, DC - Determined to provide better safeguards against companion animals being used in experiments Sen. Daniel Akaka (D-HI) and Rep. Mike Doyle (D-PA) reintroduced the Pet Safety and Protection Act (S. 1834/H.R. 3907) to prohibit Class B dealers from selling dogs and cats to researchers.

By law, Class B dealers are supposed to acquire the animals they sell only from other dealers, pounds, and individuals who have bred and raised the animals themselves. However, these dealers and their suppliers routinely flout the Animal Welfare Act, obtain animals through fraud, deception, and outright theft, and falsify their records. They keep the animals in horrendous conditions. The U.S. Department of Agriculture spends hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars each year unsuccessfully trying to regulate them and has acknowledged that it can’t guarantee that dogs and cats are not being illegally acquired for use in experimental procedures.

In reintroducing his bill, Rep. Doyle said, “Class B dealers have a long and sordid history of inhumane and illegal treatment of animals. It’s long past time when the Class B dealer system should have been phased out – the recent National Academies study makes that clear beyond a shadow of a doubt.”

In May 2009, the National Academy of Sciences released a report entitled “Scientific and Humane Issues in the Use of Random Source Dogs and Cats in Research.” At Congress’ request, NAS assessed whether there is a scientific need for NIH grant recipients to purchase dogs and cats from B dealers. It found that animals with similar qualities are available from alternative sources. The report stated: “The Committee therefore determined Class B dealers are not necessary as providers of random source animals for NIH-related research.”

“We must stop stray and stolen dogs and cats from being illegally sold to research facilities,” said Senator Akaka. “This bill does not impair or impede research. It will end the fraudulent and unethical practices of certain dealers and the unnecessary suffering of dogs and cats in their care.”

Animal Welfare Institute President Cathy Liss welcomed the bills’ reintroduction. “Most researchers do not use Class B dealers to acquire dogs and cats, and it is time for the remainder who do to end their embarrassing association with these habitual violators of the law,” Liss said.

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For More Information Contact:
Cathy Liss – (202) 446-2121
Nancy Blaney – (202) 446-2141

Visit AWI's Compassion Index to take action on these and other important animal protection issues.

AWI Press Release: Wildlife Advocacy Organizations file motion to Stop Start of Early Coyote & Fox Trapping in Maine to protect Imperiled Lynx from Deadly Traps

2009-10-15T14:55:00.001-04:00

Bangor, ME — The Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) and the Wildlife Alliance of Maine (WAM) filed a motion in federal district court in Bangor Maine today seeking a preliminary injunction (PI) to stop Maine’s early coyote and fox trapping season. Set to commence on October 18, this request for a PI is an effort to protect federally protected Canada lynx from leghold traps. AWI and WAM are co-plaintiffs in a case against the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife (DIFW) that seeks to stop the agency from continuing to violate the Endangered Species Act (ESA) by allowing trappers to use traps that trap, injure and sometimes kill Canada lynx- a species listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act since 2000.

“An immediate injunction is necessary to protect lynx and their young from traps set for coyote and fox during this early trapping season when lynx are more vulnerable,” said Camilla Fox, Wildlife Consultant for AWI who served as an expert witness in this case and two other similar cases. “Historically, more lynx have been incidentally trapped in October and November during the early coyote and fox season than any other months and the court has yet to rule on our federal case so we are forced to file this motion to protect lynx from deadly traps,” said Fox.

On August 11, 2008, AWI and WAM filed suit against DIFW to compel the agency to comply with federal law and take immediate action to protect Canada lynx. Through documents obtained through the Freedom of Information Act, the organizations showed that at least 44 lynx have been trapped in leghold and Conibear kill traps set for other species since 1999.Two lynx died in Conibear kills traps last winter. Of the 30 lynx trapped in leghold traps from 1999 through 2006, 20 lynx were caught in foothold traps in October during the early fox and coyote trapping season. During this time, lynx – who are curious animals by nature – are often attracted to the bait used for coyotes, foxes, and other species and there are more juvenile lynx roaming the Maine woods who may be more vulnerable. Young lynx are sometimes killed or orphaned when their parents are killed in traps.

“We feel this motion will accomplish two very important goals. It will give the judge the time he needs to make a decision based on the letter of the law, and more importantly, it will protect our dwindling lynx population from further harm from someone’s idea of recreation,” said Daryl DeJoy, Founding Executive Director of WAM.

Through the PI motion, plaintiffs are seeking to enjoin the early fox and coyote trapping season to provide sufficient time for the Court to issue its decision on the ESA case.

Maine’s resident lynx population is estimated at only 200-500 individuals. However, survey data shows that fewer lynx are reproducing and the population is likely in decline while snow shoe hare populations- the main source of prey for lynx – have declined by 50% in the last two years in Maine. “When lynx are facing such increasingly challenging odds, it is biologically reckless for the State to continue to allow the use of traps that are known to capture, injure, and sometimes kill lynx,” said Fox. “It is also illegal.”

The Animal Welfare Institute is a non-profit charitable organization founded in 1951 to reduce the sum total of pain and fear inflicted on animals by humans. More information is available at http://www.awionline.org/.

The Wildlife Alliance of Maine is a non-profit organization dedicated to advocating on behalf of Maine’s wildlife and to promoting a conservation ethic that represents non-consumptive wildlife users. More information is available at http://www.wildlifealliancemaine.org/.

Photos available

Contact:
Camilla Fox, Animal Welfare Institute, 415-945-3232 (office)/ 415-690-0338 (cell)
Daryl DeJoy, Wildlife Alliance of Maine, 207-326-0779 (office)/ 207-299-2291 (cell)

AWI Press Release: U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TAKES ACTION TO PROTECT ANIMALS FROM CRUEL TRAPS ON NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGES

2009-10-02T12:08:00.000-04:00

Yesterday, Congresswoman Nita Lowey (D-NY) introduced legislation to end the use of brutal traps on furbearing animals within federal wildlife refuges. H.R. 3710, the Refuge from Cruel Trapping Act, which was submitted with a total of 35 original co-sponsors, helps to restore the original intent of the National Wildlife Refuge System by placing a ban on the use of cruel body-gripping traps within the refuge system.

“The use of cruel body-gripping traps on animals living on public lands is shameful,” said Lowey. “It is inexcusable that steel jaw leg-hold traps and similarly barbaric mechanisms are still permitted for use in National Wildlife Refuges. It is time end this brutal practice once and for all.”

Currently, animals living within National Wildlife Refuges (NWRs) are at risk of falling victim to body-gripping traps where they may be tortured for hours or days—struggling to be free of the long-drawn-out pain inflicted on them by the traps. More than half of our country’s refuges currently allow trapping using steel jaw leg-hold traps, Conibear traps and snares. Steel jaw leg-hold traps are designed to restrain the animal by the leg, and some animals who are caught may chew off their own limb to escape on three legs. Conibear traps are designed to crush the animal’s spinal column for a quick kill. However, the trap often misses and clamps down on the chest or pelvis, crushing bones and causing the animal excruciating pain and prolonged death. Snares are among the oldest form of trap, a simple noose made of thin wire, which tightens around an animal's neck or body as they struggle to get away.

Federal legislation is needed to stop this barbaric practice, currently allowed on more than half of our nation’s 550 refuges. These inhumane traps have been banned or severely restricted in 89 other nations and in 8 states throughout the United States. According to a 1989 study conducted by the United States Department of Agriculture’s Animal Damage Control division, such traps are indiscriminate and on average take 10.8 non-target animals for each trapped target animal. Referred to as “trash” animals by the trapper, non-target wildlife often are simply thrown away. Non-target animals that may be caught include raptors, songbirds, and deer.

“The Refuge from Cruel Trapping Act is a critical step toward reducing the suffering inflicted on our nation’s wildlife and is a legislative priority for the Animal Welfare Institute (AWI),” said Cathy Liss, AWI President. Liss further added, “The Animal Welfare Institute applauds Congresswoman Lowey for her leadership in this effort.” H.R. 3710 was referred to the U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources where the language will be reviewed by committee staff.

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Media Contacts:
Chris Heyde, Animal Welfare Institute (202) 446-2142
Christine Sequenzia, Animal Welfare Institute (202) 446-2140

The Animal Welfare Institute has been working to alleviate the suffering inflicted on animals by humans since 1951. Please join us in our work to protect animals – visit our website to find out more and to sign up for AWI eAlerts: http://www.awionline.org/.

Origins Natural Resources, Inc. Flip Over Dolphins

2009-08-31T10:23:00.002-04:00

Washington, DC (August 31, 2009) – The Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) applauds skincare company, Origins, for abandoning plans for a swim-with dolphins prize at Cabo Dolphins in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.

Initially Origins had planned a promotional give-away of an opportunity to swim with the dolphins. AWI contacted the company regarding the cruelty inherent in the captive dolphin trade. Origins promptly responded by changing the prize, part of its “Leave it all Behind” sweepstakes, stating "…Origins would never intentionally participate in any activities that do not align with our Company's principles…we will no longer include this offer as part of the prize package.”

Many aquarium dolphins have been captured from the wild and suffer shock, stress, injury and even death because of the brutal manner in which they are seized. The dolphins at Cabo Dolphins came from Japan, renowned for its controversial dolphin hunts including Taiji, where entire pods of dolphins are regularly herded into a shallow bay. Some are sold to aquariums, including swim-with programs, for as much as $150,000 each and the fishermen kill the remainder by slashing their throats and stabbing them with spears.

Captive dolphins’ lives contrast starkly to those of their wild relatives. Highly intelligent animals with complex societies, wild dolphins travel up to 40 miles a day together and dive hundreds of feet in search of food but they are unable to do this in a small tank or sea pen. Aquarium dolphins are forced to perform tricks and interact with humans with no place to hide which can cause stress and stomach ulcers.

Since its launch in 1990, Origins has focused on providing animal and environmentally friendly plant-based cosmetic products. The company was the first major cosmetic brand to choose not to test their products on animals. “Origins has a long history of commitment to protect the planet and those who populate it,” said AWI’s President Cathy Liss, “so their compassionate decision to dissociate themselves from dolphin swim-with programs is in keeping with their philosophy.”

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The Animal Welfare Institute has been working to alleviate the suffering inflicted on animals by humans since 1951. Please join us in our work to protect animals – visit our website to find out more and to sign up for AWI eAlerts: www.awionline.org.

Media Contact:
Serda Ozbenian, Animal Welfare Institute (202) 446-2144

To view release online, visit: http://www.awionline.org/ht/display/ReleaseDetails/i/14697/pid/200

AWI Press Release: House Passes Legislation to Restore and Strengthen Wild Horse Protections

2009-07-17T21:16:00.002-04:00

Washington, DC – In a decisive move, the U.S. House of Representatives today approved a measure to restore basic protections for America's wild horses and burros. Led by Natural Resources Committee Chairman Nick Rahall, Jr. (D-WV), Representative Ed Whitfield (R-KY), and Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands Chairman Raúl Grijalva (D-NM) the Restore Our American Mustang Act, or ROAM Act (H.R. 1018), passed by a vote of 239 to 185.

"At a time when nearly as many wild horses are in captivity as are on the range – a situation which is unacceptable in terms of both animal welfare and fiscal responsibility – the Animal Welfare Institute welcomes this action, and we are grateful to the bill's champions and supporters," says Chris Heyde, Deputy Director of Government and Legal Affairs for the Animal Welfare Institute.

In FY08, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the agency responsible for the animals in question, spent nearly 75 percent of its $36 million budget warehousing horses removed from the range. The new legislation, which must now pass the U.S. Senate, would encourage the reopening of certain public lands to the mustangs, thus potentially decreasing the number in captivity. The bill also restores a crucial protection to keep wild horses from going to slaughter, which was stripped away several years ago. Although Congressional intent and public sentiment are clearly against sending wild horses and burros to slaughter the BLM has recently threatened to kill more than 30,000 horses in holding areas as a cost-saving measure.

"The BLM's wild horse program and policies are broken. The ROAM Act offers an opportunity for the agency to restore its credibility when it comes to managing America's mustangs," says Heyde. “We urge the Senate to act swiftly before the BLM takes further actions of detriment to the horses.”

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For More Information:
Chris Heyde – (202) 446-2142

For over 58 years, the Animal Welfare Institute has been the leading voice for animals across the country and on Capitol Hill. Please join us in our ongoing campaigns to reduce the sum total of pain and fear inflicted on animals by humans. Sign up for AWI eAlerts to receive the latest news on what you can do to help us protect all animals.

House to Vote on Bill to Protect Wild Horses

2009-07-16T23:20:00.001-04:00

Dear Humanitarian:

We have just learned that H.R. 1018, the Restore Our American Mustangs (ROAM) Act, sponsored by House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Nick Rahall, will be voted on before the full House of Representatives tomorrow (July 17, 2009). Chairman Rahall’s ROAM Act will responsibly restore many of the guaranteed protections originally established in the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971 that have been gutted by stealth riders and Bureau of Land Management's wanton mismanagement of these magnificent animals for decades. At a time when there are nearly as many wild horses in captivity as on the range this legislation is urgently needed.

WHAT YOU CAN DO:

Because time is of the essence please call your US Representative RIGHT NOW and urge her/him to support Chairman Rahall and vote “YES” on H.R. 1018.

To find your Representative please visit http://www.compassionindex.org/. While there, you can also send a quick email in support of the bill if you have not done so already. You can also call the Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and ask to be transferred to your Representative.

For more information on wild horses, please visit http://www.awionline.org/ht/d/sp/i/11223/pid/11223.

Additional Facts:

The Restore Our American Mustangs (ROAM) Act (H.R. 1018) will restore protections for our country’s wild horses and burros that were stripped out of the 1971 Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act in recent years.
The ROAM Act will ensure that our mustangs and burros are once again protected from slaughter.
The Act also seeks to reclaim land – some 19 million acres – taken away from these magnificent animals since the 1971 Act went into law.
At a time when there are nearly as many wild horses and burros in captivity as there are in the wild, this legislation is badly needed.
The ROAM Act makes sound fiscal sense, too; the Bureau of Land Management currently spends nearly half of its annual budget on caring for wild horses and burros removed from the range. This legislation will enable the BLM to keep more horses on the range which will be better for the welfare of the animals and better for American tax-payers.
Passage of the ROAM Act will mean that the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), which currently has primary authority for managing these animals, focuses once again on managing them as an integral part of the rangeland.

Please be sure to share this eAlert with friends, family and coworkers and urge them to call their legislator first thing!

AWI Press Release: Federal Lawsuit Filed Over Industrial Wind Project that Jeopardized Endangered Bats

2009-06-11T08:34:00.002-04:00

Washington, D.C. (June 11, 2009) – Charging that a massive wind energy project threatens endangered bats, the Animal Welfare Institute, a national animal protection organization, along with the West Virginia-based Mountain Communities for Responsible Energy and other conservationists, have filed what is believed to be the first federal lawsuit challenging an industrial wind energy project on environmental grounds. The lawsuit, brought under the Endangered Species Act (“ESA”) and filed in U.S. District Court in Maryland, contends that a massive wind power facility slated for Greenbrier County, West Virginia, will unlawfully kill and injure Indiana bats – a highly endangered species known to live in caves in close proximity to the project site.

As planned, the Beech Ridge wind project will include 124 wind turbines nearly four hundred feet tall along a twenty-three mile stretch of forested Appalachian mountain ridgelines. In addition to turbine construction, Beech Ridge Energy and its parent companies also plan to install habitat-destroying roads, buildings, and transmission lines that are necessary to operate the facility.

The project is especially concerning because of its impacts when considered in conjunction with White Nose Syndrome (“WNS”) – a disease that is ravaging bat species in the eastern United States at an alarming rate. Last week the House Natural Resources Committee convened an oversight hearing seeking a solution before time runs out for the Indiana bat and many other at-risk bat species.

Poorly sited wind power projects in the eastern U.S. have already killed and maimed scores of bats, and leading bat experts predict that, without reforms, hundreds of thousands more will be killed in coming years, imperiling populations already being decimated by WNS and other forms of habitat destruction. According to conservative estimates, the Beech Ridge project alone is expected to kill more than 130,000 bats over a twenty-year period.

Although properly sited wind power projects may help in mitigating global climate change, numerous projects are being built without adequately addressing wildlife and other environmental impacts. According to D.J. Schubert, wildlife biologist at the Animal Welfare Institute, “Wind power may be part of the solution to climate change, but locations such as the Beech Ridge project site are entirely inappropriate for industrial wind facilities. We cannot allow a new ecological crisis to be created in the name of solving an existing one.”

“We were hoping to avoid a federal lawsuit,” said John Stroud, spokesperson for Mountain Communities for Responsible Energy. “However, Beech Ridge Energy is currently moving forward with construction despite repeated requests to first bring the project into compliance with the Endangered Species Act to ensure that the Indiana bat is afforded the full protections of the law.”

* * * * *

The plaintiffs include the Animal Welfare Institute and Mountain Communities for Responsible Energy, and are represented by the Washington, D.C. public interest law firm of Meyer Glitzenstein & Crystal. All legal inquiries should be directed to William Eubanks. The complaint filed today can be downloaded here.

AWI Press Release: Bill to Restore Protections to American Icon Passes House Natural Resources Committee

2009-04-29T17:24:00.003-04:00

If you are unable to view this press release, please visit http://www.awionline.org/news/2009/roam_wild_horse_passes_committee.htm

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

BILL TO RESTORE PROTECTIONS OF AMERICAN ICONS PASSES

HOUSE NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE

Washington, DC (April 29, 2009) – The Restoring Our American Mustangs Act (H.R. 1018) today passed out of the House Natural Resources Committee. Known as the ROAM Act, the bill was introduced by Committee Chairman Nick Rahall (D-WV) and National Parks, Forests and Public Lands Subcommittee Chairman Raúl M. Grijalva (D-AZ) earlier this year. It is intended to restore protections for America’s wild horses and burros that were stripped out of the 1971 Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act in recent years.

“Protection and management of the wild horses and burros on our public lands is an important federal responsibility - but it is clear that the federal government has not been adequately meeting that responsibility,” said Chairman Rahall. “This legislation will remedy many of the critical lapses that are taking place under the 1971 Act by invoking a number of commonsense measures, including preventing the BLM from resorting to slaughter as a solution for management.”

Originally intended to prevent the sale of America’s wild horses and burros for commercial purposes, a key provision of the original 1971 Act was gutted when then Senator Conrad Burns (R-MT) attached a midnight rider to an Omnibus spending bill in 2004 that instructed the Bureau of Land Management to sell horses “without limitation”. In reality, this meant that the captured animals were destined for livestock auctions where they would be purchased for slaughter.

“Ever since the Burns rider became law it’s been a game of constant vigilance for the American public and members of Congress. The simple and right thing to do is to restore this provision while revamping and improving the larger statute. Not only will the ROAM Act ensure that our mustangs and burros are once again protected from slaughter, but it seeks to reclaim land – some 19 million acres – taken away from these magnificent animals since the 1971 Act was signed into law,” said Chris Heyde, Deputy Director of Government and Legal Affairs for the Animal Welfare Institute. “The Animal Welfare Institute is immensely grateful to Chairman Rahall and Chairman Grijalva for their leadership on this responsible legislation.”

At a time when there are nearly as many wild horses and burros in captivity as there are in the wild, the legislation has met with enthusiasm from the public and within the humane and wild horse advocacy community. Passage of the ROAM Act will mean that the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), which currently has primary authority for managing these animals, must focus on managing them as an integral part of the thriving natural ecological balance.

“It is imperative that we protect and preserve America's wild horses as a ‘living national treasure,’” said Subcommittee Chairman Raúl M. Grijalva. “The antiquated policies concerning these magnificent creatures must be change to reflect what Americans want for these horses today.”

The ROAM Act now moves to the full House of Representatives for consideration.

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For more information contact:

Chris Heyde, 202-446-2142

For over 58 years, the Animal Welfare Institute has been the leading voice for animals across the country and on Capitol Hill. Please join us in our ongoing campaigns to reduce the sum total of pain and fear inflicted on animals by humans. Sign up for AWI eAlerts to receive the latest news on what you can do to help us protect all animals: www.awionline.org/joinus.

AWI Press Release: Senator Kerry introduces the Shark Conservation Act of 2009

2009-04-23T17:07:00.003-04:00

If you are unable to view this release, please visit: http://www.awionline.org/news/2009/111th_Senate_Shark_Fin_Intro.htm

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Senator Kerry introduces the Shark Conservation Act of 2009

WASHINGTON, D.C. (April 22, 2009) – Sharks may soon receive much-needed protection from finning, a practice by which their fins are cut off while the animal is still alive. Their mutilated bodies are then thrown back into the ocean, where they endure long, painful deaths from blood loss, suffocation or predation by other species. This cruel practice kills an estimated 73 million sharks each year, and was therefore outlawed in the U.S. in 2000. Enforcement of the law, however, has been hampered by loopholes.

Today, Senator John Kerry (D-MA) introduced the Shark Conservation Act of 2009, which will close these loopholes and strengthen the federal ban on shark finning. “Shark finning fueled by the foreign fin trade has led to serious population decline and disruption of our waters,” the Senator said. “We need much stronger solutions to end this illicit trade and current protections haven’t gotten the job done. We need to get serious.” The House version of the bill, introduced by Representative Madeleine Bordallo (D-GU), was approved by the House of Representatives in March.

The bill requires that any fin aboard a vessel be naturally attached to the body of a shark, including fins that are transferred from one vessel to another. Enforcement officials have stated that this requirement is the only way to fully uphold a shark finning ban.

Since sharks are a top predator in the oceans, their removal damages the rest of the marine ecosystem. As animals who are slow to mature, with already small populations, sharks are extremely vulnerable to overfishing and exploitation. Unfortunately, millions of sharks are still targeted for their fins to meet the demand for shark fin soup, and millions more die annually as bycatch. Some species whose fins are highly prized include the spiny dogfish, as well as blue, hammerhead and whale sharks, which only reach sexual maturity at around 25 years of age.

“We are grateful to Senator Kerry for his leadership in seeking protection of sharks, and we look forward to the enactment of this vital law by Congress,” says Serda Ozbenian of the Animal Welfare Institute.

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For More Information:
Serda Ozbenian – 202-446-2144

Attempt to Overturn Illinois Horse Slaughter Ban Stalled in House

2009-04-03T18:13:00.003-04:00

Washington, DC (April 3, 2009) - The Animal Welfare Institute commends the Illinois General Assembly's House of Representatives for reaffirming their commitment to equine welfare by opposing an attempt to overturn the state's 2007 ban on horse slaughter on the House floor today.

On April 1, just after the day’s business began, state Representative Jim Sacia called for a vote on his bill to overturn the horse slaughter ban, which closed the last remaining slaughterhouse in 2007. However, when he realized he did not have the necessary 60 votes for passage, he employed a technical procedure called “tabling,” which removes the bill from consideration before failure. He did this so he could have more time to try and gain additional votes. He had until the end of the day today to try and have the bill considered before the House, which proved unsuccessful. However, the General Assembly remains in session until May 31, so we must remain vigilant to ensure this legislation does not come up again.

"It is a real shame to see Rep. Sacia waste so much of his colleagues' time on an issue advocating horse abuse, with so many pressing issues to consider before the end of the session. The original ban was strongly supported by the residents of Illinois and the majority of Americans. Overturning it would reestablish a cruel industry and only benefit a foreign owned horse slaughterhouse," said Chris Heyde, AWI's deputy director of Government and Legal Affair.

During the floor debate, advocates of horse slaughter told tall tales of horses being dumped all over the state and one even said without slaughter, residents would soon see cars hitting horses on highways. Sadly, fear and emotional spin are all horse slaughter advocates have on their side when debating this issue. None of the claims about increased abuse and abandonment have been proven true in Illinois or elsewhere. Certainly, subsisting one form of abuse – slaughter – for another – abandonment – is no excuse. The truth that horse slaughter is cruel and perpetuates irresponsibility is irrefutable, which is why support for ending horse slaughter remains high. The majority of legislators in Illinois realize this is a bad bill and we are sure this sentiment will continue to hold.

"Maintaining the state ban in Illinois is crucial because it closed the last operating horse slaughter facility in the US," noted Heyde. "This, along with the immediate passage of the federal Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act (H.R. 503/S. 727) will ensure an end to one form of preventable cruelty."

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For More Information:
Chris Heyde, 202-446-2142

Bill to Ban Horse Slaughter Introduced in US Senate

2009-03-26T17:37:00.010-04:00

Washington, DC (March 26, 2009) – A bill to ban horse slaughter was introduced in the United States Senate today. Sponsored by Senators Mary Landrieu (D-LA) and John Ensign (R-NV), S. 727, the Landrieu-Ensign "Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act" will end the slaughter of American horses here and abroad. The sponsors, who have long championed the cause, have the bipartisan support of 14 colleagues who are co-sponsoring the bill.

The legislation comes at a time when horse slaughter no longer occurs on U.S. soil, but each year tens of thousands of American horses continue to be hauled to Canada, Mexico and further abroad. Reports show that horses regularly travel for hundreds or even thousands of miles to the slaughterhouses on double-deck cattle trucks without food, water or rest. At some Mexican slaughterhouses horses are stabbed repeatedly in the spine until they are paralyzed, after which they are butchered while still fully conscious. This country’s three remaining horse slaughter plants – two in Texas and one in Illinois – were shut down in 2007 under state law. Since then, the pro-slaughter camp has led a concerted and disingenuous effort to resurrect the industry domestically, and has used scare tactics in an attempt to defeat the federal ban. The federal legislation is desperately needed to stop the slaughter of American horses, irrespective of where the killing takes place.

In her statement on the Senate floor (see below), bill sponsor Senator Mary Landrieu said, "America's horses are being beaten and dragged across the border into Mexico and Canada so that they can be inhumanely slaughtered for food. I will continue to fight in Congress to end this brutal practice and ensure that American horses will no longer be savagely slaughtered for human consumption."

While horse slaughter no longer occurs on U.S. soil the absence of a federal statute means that horses are shipped out of the country for slaughter. Reports show that horses regularly travel for hundreds or even thousands of miles to the slaughterhouses on double-deck cattle trucks without food, water or rest. At some Mexican slaughterhouses horses are stabbed repeatedly in the spine until they are paralyzed, after which they are butchered while still fully conscious.

"The time to put an end to the practice of slaughtering horses in America is long overdue," said Senator John Ensign said. "Horses have an important role in the history of our country, particularly the West, and they deserve our protection. As a senator and a veterinarian, I am committed to doing what I can for these magnificent animals."

The Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act will amend Title 18 of the U.S. Code to acknowledge horse slaughter as a form of animal cruelty. The legislation includes stiff civil and criminal penalties and gives law enforcement officials the authority to apprehend and charge violators.

“We have great confidence that the Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act will move quickly. The bill, which has had strong support from a majority of Congress and the American public, is long overdue. For years I have pleaded with the pro-horse slaughter camp to stop misleading the public but they are more concerned with wringing a few bucks from a suffering animal than doing what is right. Thankfully we have the majority of Congress advocating for change and this is the year that will happen,” said Chris Heyde, Deputy Director of Legislative and Government Affairs for the Animal Welfare Institute. “AWI commends Senator Landrieu, Senator Ensign and their colleagues for introducing this very important measure.”

An identical version, HR 503, was introduced earlier this year in the House of Representatives by House Judiciary Chairman John Conyers, Jr. (D-MI) and Representative Dan Burton (R-IN). There are currently 112 bipartisan cosponsors of the Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act in the House of Representatives.

To take action on this important bill visit AWI's Compassion Index.

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For More Information:
Chris Heyde, 202-446-2142

AWI Press Release: Exxon Valdez Oil Spill - Remembering the Millions Who Died and the Ongoing Devastating Consequences

2009-03-23T17:14:00.001-04:00

Washington, DC (March 23, 2009) – 20 years ago tomorrow, the single-hulled Exxon Valdez oil tanker collided with the Bligh Reef in Alaska, spilling 11 million gallons of crude oil into the pristine and ecologically significant Prince William Sound. The massive spill – caused by human error and lack of oversight - ruined one of America’s most treasured natural areas and caused the deaths of millions of animals. Some species are still unrecovered today and the environment remains blanketed in oil. The Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) remembers the more than 3,000 sea otters, 300 harbor seals, 250,000 murres, 14 orcas, and countless fish, benthic invertebrates, and other species who died, oftentimes horrible deaths, because of the spill.

A 2009 status report from the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council states, ”…Exxon Valdez oil persists in the environment and, in places, is nearly as toxic as it was the first few weeks after the spill”. Although two decades have passed, as much as 16,000 gallons of oil persists in the Sound's intertidal zones, continuing to poison wildlife.

Animals such as the harlequin duck have been slow to recover and show elevated levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from continued exposure to oil. The persistence of subsurface oils is particularly problematic for species like sea otters who dig for clams, exposing buried oil in the process. Pacific herring and the pigeon guillemot populations have still not recovered. The small AT1 population of orcas will likely become extinct, marking the death of a priceless genetic lineage and a complex society that has inhabited the region for thousands of years.

The Oil Spill Pollution Act was unanimously passed by Congress in 1990 in response to public concern over the spill. The Act contains provisions to prevent similar catastrophes from recurring including a conversion of oil tankers to double-hulled, the establishment of spill contingency plans, and the creation of regional advisory councils to monitor the actions of the oil industry. Although we may now be better prepared to respond to further spills, human and mechanical errors are still huge risks that can never be eliminated. "It took the deaths of over a million creatures for improvements to be mandated on the oil companies" said Serda Ozbenian, AWI Research Assistant "let them not have died in vain."

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Contact:
Susan Millward – 202-640-9606

AWI Press Release: Animal Welfare Institute Establishes Abandoned Horse Reward Fund

2009-01-30T16:07:00.002-05:00

Washington, DC (January 29, 2009) – The Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) announced today the establishment of the “Animal Welfare Institute Abandoned Horse Reward Fund.” Under the program, individuals providing information leading to the arrest and conviction of anyone who abandons a horse in violation of state law will be rewarded with up to $1,000 by AWI. "We've heard time and time again from those defending horse slaughter that our fight to end this cruel practice has led to an increase in abandoned horses. The truth is that the number of American horses going to slaughter now is the same or higher than before the domestic plants closed under state law. In fact, killer buyers seem to be buying more horses than when the plants were open,” said Chris Heyde, AWI’s Deputy Director of Government and Legal Affairs.

Under the program, individuals with evidence should first contact their local police department, provide as many details as possible about the horse abandonment situation and let the department know about the Animal Welfare Institute Abandoned Horse Reward Fund. In such cases, eligibility for rewards and specific reward amounts will be determined by AWI. For complete terms and conditions of this reward fund, please go to www.awionline.org.

“If horses are being neglected or abandoned and the law is being violated, individuals need to be held accountable. Caring for a horse or any animal is a lifelong responsibility and not something you toss aside when inconvenient. We hope our reward fund will assist in bringing criminals to justice,” said Chris Heyde.

The Animal Welfare Institute has been at the forefront of efforts to pass a federal law to end horse slaughter. While the few remaining horse slaughter plants operating in the US were shut down in 2007 under state law, the absence of a federal law means that American horses are still at risk of being slaughtered for human consumption, and more than 100,000 horses were exported to Mexico and Canada in 2008 for that purpose. In Canada, horses are often shot to death while in Mexico some plants still use the “puntilla” knife to stab the horse into a state of paralysis prior to being slaughtered while still fully conscious. The meat is then sold to high-end consumers in Europe and Asia. Congress is currently considering the Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act (H.R. 503), which will protect American horses from this brutal trade.

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AWI Press Release: National Coalition Calls on the Huntington to End Cruel Coyote Snaring Program

2009-01-27T12:05:00.006-05:00

LARKSPUR, Calif. (Jan. 27, 2009) — A national coalition of wildlife advocacy organizations has called on the Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens in San Marino, Calif. to cease its “Coyote Abatement Program” that involves killing coyotes caught in wire neck snares. Project Coyote, the Animal Welfare Institute and The Humane Society of the United States sent a detailed seven-page letter to The Huntington, outlining concerns that the program “has sorely neglected animal welfare as well as visitor safety concerns” and “embodies a poorly justified and ambiguous set of concerns over coyotes and the need for their removal.”

The 207-acre nonprofit research and educational center hires a private trapper to neck snare and kill coyotes at least twice a year in the spring and fall. The snaring program was brought to the attention of animal advocacy organizations by a former Huntington security guard, who attempted to free one of the neck-snared coyotes and was subsequently fired. The employee took photos and video of the neck-snared coyote and posted a video clip online, which can be viewed here.

“That an employee of The Huntington lost his job because he tried to alleviate the suffering of an individual animal from a neck snare speaks volumes about The Huntington’s total disregard for animal and human welfare,” said Camilla Fox, founding director of Project Coyote and wildlife consultant for the Animal Welfare Institute. “Aside from the cruelty of neck snares, indiscriminate lethal control efforts designed to reduce coyote populations are simply an unsound and most often ineffective management practice in reducing real or perceived conflicts.”

“It is rather ironic that The Huntington is using a primitive, highly non-selective trap to ostensibly protect public safety when such a device poses a serious hazard to both non-target animals and people,” said Sean Guinan, urban wildlife program coordinator for The Humane Society of the United States. “It is never appropriate to use cruel and non-selective snares when humane and effective alternatives exist.”

The Huntington’s website itself states, “We know of no instances in which coyotes, primarily nocturnal, have acted aggressively toward Huntington visitors or staff. However, as a safety precaution we have found it necessary to engage a private animal control firm in a regular program to have them removed from the property.” Issues regarding how often the snares are checked surfaced when Huntington personnel reported that a dead coyote caught in a snare was left lying on the property for weeks.

The three organizations offered to assist The Huntington with the development of a humane, innovative and proactive coyote coexistence plan and provided studies, templates and information used in other communities, but the Huntington declined the offer. The organizations are encouraging their members and area residents to express their concerns about the program to The Huntington management. More information can be found at ProjectCoyote.org, humanesociety.org and awionline.org.

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Project Coyote is a national non-profit fiscally sponsored project of Earth Island Institute that fosters innovative solutions to help people and coyotes coexist. On the web at http://www.projectcoyote.org/

For over 58 years, the Animal Welfare Institute has been the leading voice for animals across the country and on Capitol Hill. Please join us in our ongoing campaigns to reduce the sum total of pain and fear inflicted on animals by humans. Sign up for AWI eAlerts to receive the latest news on what you can do to help us protect all animals: www.awionline.org/joinus.

The Humane Society of the United States is the nation's largest animal protection organization — backed by 10.5 million Americans, or one of every 30. For more than a half-century, The HSUS has been fighting for the protection of all animals through advocacy, education and hands-on programs. Celebrating animals and confronting cruelty — On the web at humanesociety.org.

Bill to End Horse Slaughter Reintroduced

2009-01-15T08:49:00.003-05:00

Washington, DC (January 15, 2009) – The Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act (H.R. 503), was reintroduced yesterday by House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers, Jr. (D-MI) and Representative Dan Burton (R-IN). They first introduced the bill, which will ban horse slaughter, in the summer of 2008. It gained quick bipartisan support and passed out of the Judiciary Committee but did not move further as the legislative clock wound down. Committed to seeing the measure passed into law, Chairman Conyers has given the bill priority in his committee, as signaled by its reintroduction so early on the legislative calendar. With sixty-one original cosponsors, the bill already enjoys strong bipartisan support.

Although the few remaining horse slaughter plants operating in the US were shut down in 2007 under state law, the absence of a federal law banning the practice means that American horses are still at risk of being slaughtered for human consumption. In fact, more than 100,000 horses were exported to Mexico and Canada in 2008 for slaughter; In Canada horses are often shot to death while in Mexico some plants still use the “puntilla” knife to stab the horse into a state of paralysis prior to being slaughtered while still fully conscious. The meat is then sold to high-end consumers in Europe and Asia.

“There are naysayers who claim we should reopen the US plants rather than seek to ban all horse slaughter. Clearly, they’ve already forgotten how awful the plants here were,” said Chris Heyde, deputy director of Government and Legal Affairs for the Animal Welfare Institute.

Documents recently released under the Freedom of Information Act reveal just how brutal conditions were at the US plants before they were shut down. Hundreds of graphic photographs taken by U.S. Department of Agriculture employees at one plant show live horses with missing legs, with eyeballs hanging out, with skin ripped from the body and the birth of foals at the plant. Other photos show horses dead on arrival, having succumbed to the miseries of transport.

“The suffering of hundreds of thousands of our horses rests solely on the shoulders of those blocking this bill. Were it not for their stalling tactics horse slaughter would have ceased years ago. Meanwhile an American horse is slaughtered every five minutes. We commend Chairman Conyers and Representative Burton for taking the lead once again to end this cruel practice through introduction of H.R. 503, the Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act,” said Heyde.

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For further information contact:
Chris Heyde, 202-446-2142
Liz Ross, 202-497-6780

For over 58 years, AWI has been the leading voice for animals across the country and on Capitol Hill. Please join us in our ongoing campaigns to reduce the sum total of pain and fear inflicted on animals by humans. Sign up for AWI eAlerts to receive the latest news on what you can do to help us protect all animals: http://www.awionline.org/joinus.

US House of Representatives Strives to Strengthen US Shark Finning Ban

2009-01-07T17:28:00.001-05:00

WASHINGTON, D.C. (January 7, 2009) – On the opening day of the 111th Congress, Representative Madeleine Bordallo (D-GU), chairwoman of the House Natural Resources Committee’s Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife and Oceans, reintroduced the Shark Conservation Act of 2009 (H.R. 81). A similar measure, to strengthen the Shark Finning Prohibition Act, was passed by the House of Representatives on a voice vote in July 2008, however, the Senate was unable to take action on the bill before the session ended necessitating its reintroduction in this Congress.

In 2000, President Bill Clinton signed the Shark Finning Prohibition Act in an effort to curb the wasteful and inhumane practice of shark finning - whereby the fins of a living shark are removed and the animal is thrown back in the water to die. This legislation made it unlawful to possess a shark fin in US waters without a corresponding carcass. Unfortunately, enforcement has been hampered by loopholes in the ban and finning has continued. The Shark Conservation Act of 2009 strengthens the original ban by requiring that sharks be landed with their fins naturally attached to their bodies. Enforcement officials have stated that this requirement is the only way to enforce a shark finning ban.

In introducing the measure, Congresswoman Bordallo said, “Removing these top predators drastically changes the food web structure, marine diversity, and ecosystem health. Addressing the practice of shark finning is an imperative step toward the conservation of sharks and marine ecosystems.”Sharks are extremely slow to recover from overfishing because they mature late in life, grow slowly and have very small populations. Unlike other fish, sharks produce a handful of pups instead of a large number of eggs. Despite their biology and the increasing warnings from experts that sharks are disappearing, millions of sharks are targeted for their fins and millions more die annually as bycatch. The rising demand for shark fin soup has been cited as a leading cause of their demise.

“We look forward to working with Chairwoman Bordallo on this critical legislation and encourage Congress to act swiftly on its enactment,” said Serda Ozbenian of the Animal Welfare Institute. “In 2000, Congress acted appropriately on a bill that would end this practice. Sadly, in spite of the ban, some exploited a loophole and continued finning sharks. This bi-partisan bill will close that loophole to reflect what Congress originally intended.”

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For More Information:
Serda Ozbenian – 202-446-2144

For over 58 years, the Animal Welfare Institute has been the leading voice for animals across the country and on Capitol Hill to reduce the sum total of pain and fear inflicted on animals by humans. To learn more about us, please visit www.awionline.org.

Congressional Leaders Send Message to Bureau of Land Management

2008-12-05T15:16:00.002-05:00

Washington, D.C. (December 4, 2008) - Joining with a growing public chorus of outrage at a recent proposal by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and their Wild Horse Advisory board to euthanize up to 33,000 wild horses, several leaders in the US House of Representatives sent a letter to the agency stressing their strong opposition to any such effort.

Today, Congressman Nick Rahall, chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee and Congressman Raul Grijalva, chairman of the National Parks, Forests and Public Lands Subcommittee sent a letter to James Caswell, director of the Bureau of Land Management.
The chairmen said, “We continue to be concerned about your agency’s proposal to deal with problems facing the Bureau of Land Management’s Wild Horse and Burro Program by defaulting to a policy of mass euthanization of thousands of healthy horses. As recently as November 17, the Wild Horse Advisory Board and the BLM continue to support mass euthanization, even considering options to expand sale authority in ways that will lead to the extermination of more horses. The policy is not a solution – it is a failure.”

This powerful letter comes on the heels of an announcement by Madeleine Pickens in which she as stepped forward to provide a permanent and safe home to those horses in BLM holding facilities to ensure they are not killed as the agency tries to balance its books. “Mrs. Pickens is one of the most generous and compassionate individuals I have ever known,” said Chris Heyde, deputy director of Government and Legal Affairs for the Animal Welfare Institute. “Mrs. Pickens is acting out of pure selflessness. She has been a long time fighter for America’s horses and her commitment to protecting these national treasures is historic.”

In 1971, the American public and US Congress had to come to the rescue of America’s wild horses who were being wiped out by the BLM by enacting the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act. Thirty-seven years later, they are both coming to aid of them again from the mismanagement by the very same agency. There are many other options in dealing with wild horses on public lands and AWI will be working closely with Congress and other organizations to ensure the Agency is fixed so our horses and the public are not in this situation in a few years.

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For More Information:

Contact:
Chris Heyde, (202) 337-2332

For over 57 years, the Animal Welfare Institute has been the leading voice for animals across the country and on Capitol Hill to reduce the sum total of pain and fear inflicted on animals by humans. To learn more about us, please visit www.awionline.org.

Hayden Panettiere - a Hero for Whales and Votes in the Nation’s Capital

2008-10-27T12:09:00.005-04:00

Washington, D.C. (October 26, 2008) - Actress Hayden Panettiere, currently starring on the hit NBC series “Heroes,” led hundreds of participants in an aerial art event forming a giant human pilot whale beside the message “VOTE,” today in front of the U.S. Capitol building.

The pilot whale symbolizes the tens of thousands of whales and dolphins killed each year by Japanese fishermen and the event commemorates the one-year anniversary of Hayden’s actions in Taiji, Japan, where she paddled out with protestors on surfboards to protect a pod of pilot whales who had been captured by fishermen for slaughter and for sale to aquariums.

Hayden is passionate about protecting whales and dolphins. As a spokesperson for the Save the Whales Again! campaign, she has made repeated calls for the Bush administration to defend whales at the International Whaling Commission (IWC) and take action against the whaling countries of Japan, Norway, and Iceland for their persistence in killing whales for commercial gain.

“I turned 18 last year and I’m going to make my first vote count,” says Hayden. “I am looking forward to my visit to Washington to talk to those who will be voting in the upcoming election, to stress the importance of knowing where the candidates stand on the issues that are most important to them, and to be sure that come November 4th, they will actually go out and vote to ensure that their voices are heard.”

“Recent polls show that over 75 percent of registered voters oppose whaling, and over two-thirds want our government to do something about it.” said Jeff Pantukhoff, president and founder of The Whaleman Foundation and executive director of the Save the Whales Again! Campaign “yet to this point, the Bush administration has done little to stop the increasing slaughter and is now actively leading efforts that could result in a legalized return to commercial whaling.”

Over 25,000 great whales have been slaughtered for profit since the so-called ban on commercial whaling was instituted in 1986. “As current chair of the whaling commission, the US must stand up to whaling countries and lead the world in conserving whales and their habitats,” said Susan Millward, executive director of the Animal Welfare Institute and co-founder of the Save the Whales Again! campaign. “This illustrates how vital it is for Americans to elect leaders whose views actually reflect the will of the people and who will translate that will into policy.

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Save the Whales Again! is a campaign of The Whaleman Foundation and the Animal Welfare Institute.The Whaleman Foundation is a public non-profit oceanic research, conservation and production organization dedicated to preserving and protecting dolphins, whales and their habitats. The Washington D.C.-based Animal Welfare Institute began the Save the Whales campaign of the 1970s and 1980s and was founded in 1951 to reduce the sum total of pain and fear inflicted on animals by humans. Save the Whales Again! does not endorse a particular 2008 presidential candidate.

AWI Press Release: Ringling Brothers Stands Trial in Federal Court

2008-10-23T12:58:00.001-04:00

WASHINGTON (Oct. 23, 2008) – After more than eight years of legal wrangling, Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus and its parent company, Feld Entertainment, will finally stand trial to face charges that the circus abuses its Asian elephants in violation of the federal Endangered Species Act.

On Monday, Oct. 27, the plaintiffs, including the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Animal Welfare Institute, Fund for Animals, Born Free USA united with Animal Protection Institute, and former Ringling Bros. employee Tom Rider are scheduled to present their case in federal district court in Washington D.C.

The groundbreaking lawsuit alleges that Ringling Bros. circus violates the Endangered Species Act by abusively training and disciplining elephants with sharp implements such as bull hooks and by intensively and continuously confining and chaining the animals for hours and even days on end.

“We look forward to finally having the opportunity to establish at trial that Ringling Bros. inhumanely and unlawfully mistreats the endangered Asian elephants it uses to perform in shows all across the country,” said lead counsel Katherine Meyer of the law firm Meyer Glitzenstein & Crystal. “The elephants not only deserve to be treated in a humane manner, but they are entitled to be protected under the law and we hope that they will be afforded such protection once this case finally comes to an end.”

Over the years, the plaintiffs have amassed a wealth of evidence to support their claims including photographs, video footage, internal Ringling Bros. documentation and reports from the United States Department of Agriculture. In addition to such evidence, eyewitness testimony from former Ringling Bros. employees and testimony from leading elephant behavior experts will be presented by the plaintiffs at trial.

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Media Contacts:
Tracy Silverman, Esq.- AWI: (202) 460-3231, tracy@awionline.org
Anita K. Edson- ASPCA: (646) 522-5056, anita@aspca.org
Martin Montorfano- FFA: (301) 258-3152, mmontorfano@humanesociety.org
Adam Roberts- API: (202) 445-3572, adam@bornfreeusa.org

Hayden Panettiere - a Hero for Whales and Votes in the Nation’s Capital

2008-10-23T07:54:00.002-04:00

Washington, D.C. (October 22, 2008) - Actress Hayden Panettiere, currently starring on the hit NBC series “Heroes,” will lead hundreds of participants in an aerial art event and rally to form a giant human pilot whale beside the message “VOTE,” in front of the U.S. Capitol building this Sunday, October 26 at 12:30pm.

The pilot whale – of which Hayden will be the eye – symbolizes the tens of thousands of whales and dolphins killed each year by Japanese fishermen. The event commemorates the one-year anniversary of Hayden’s actions in Taiji, Japan, where she paddled out with protestors on surfboards to protect a pod of pilot whales who had been captured by fishermen for slaughter and for sale to aquariums.

Hayden is passionate about protecting whales and dolphins. As a spokesperson for the Save the Whales Again! campaign, she has made repeated calls for the Bush administration to defend whales at the International Whaling Commission (IWC) and take action against the whaling countries of Japan, Norway, and Iceland for their persistence in killing whales for commercial gain.

“I turned 18 last year and I’m going to make my first vote count,” says Hayden. “I am looking forward to my visit to Washington to talk to those who will be voting in the upcoming election, to stress the importance of knowing where the candidates stand on the issues that are most important to them, and to be sure that come November 4th, they will actually go out and vote to ensure that their voices are heard.”

The U.S. has historically been a world leader in protecting whales, but during the Bush administration, U.S. leadership on whale issues has significantly declined. Whales and dolphins face more threats today than ever before from climate change, ship strikes, entanglement in nets, overfishing, and chemical and noise pollution; yet Japan, Norway and Iceland continue to kill them in increasing numbers. William Hogarth, Ph.D., appointed by President Bush to head the U.S. delegation to the IWC, is now using his position as IWC Chairperson to host a series of closed-door meetings to negotiate a deal that could allow for an IWC-sanctioned resumption of commercial whaling.

“The fact the U.S. is leading this process is outrageous!” said Jeff Pantukhoff, president and founder of The Whaleman Foundation and executive director of the Save the Whales Again! campaign. “Recent polls show that over 75 percent of registered voters oppose whaling, and over two-thirds want our government to do something about it; yet to this point, the Bush administration has done little to stop the increasing slaughter and is now actively leading efforts that could result in a legalized return to commercial whaling.”

Over 25,000 great whales have been slaughtered for profit since the so-called ban on commercial whaling was instituted in 1986. “As current chair of the whaling commission, the United States must stand up to whaling countries and lead the world in conserving whales and their habitats,” said Susan Millward, executive director of the Animal Welfare Institute and co-founder of the Save the Whales Again! campaign. “This illustrates how vital it is for Americans to elect leaders whose views actually reflect the will of the people and who will translate that will into policy.”

Ms. Panetierre will also be appearing at American University on Saturday evening from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. to talk with students at an event sponsored by the university’s Women and Politics Institute.

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Click here for more details on the aerial art event.

Contacts:

Susan Millward, Animal Welfare Institute, (202) 640-9606, susan@awionline.org
Jeff Pantukhoff, The Whaleman Foundation, (808) 283-4465, whaleman@maui.net
Michelle Bega, For Hayden Panettiere, (310) 854-8165, mbega@rogersandcowan.com

Magna Entertainment Corp. Adopts Policy Against Horse Slaughter

2008-10-14T10:56:00.002-04:00

Washington, DC (October 14, 2008) – The Animal Welfare Institute commends Magna Entertainment Corp’s (MEC) adoption of a policy directly aimed at ensuring horses stabled and raced at any of Magna’s countless racetracks don’t end up in slaughterhouses. MEC owns and operates racetracks across the entire United States.

In a statement recently released, MEC wrote “any trainer or owner stabling at an MEC facility who directly or indirectly participates in the transport of a horse from an MEC facility to either a slaughterhouse or an auction house engaged in selling horses for slaughter will be prohibited from having stalls at any MEC facility. The policy also applies to any actions related to the transport of a horse from an MEC facility where the ultimate intended result is the horse's slaughter.”

Magna’s announcement comes on the heels of several actions within the racing industry in relation to horse slaughter. In June, Suffolk Downs of Massachusetts, a long time supporter of the Animal Welfare Institute’s campaign to end horse slaughter instituted the first policy banning those involved in horse slaughter from their track. Soon after this policy went into effect, a trainer was caught sending a horse to slaughter and was immediately banned by Suffolk Downs. Later in the month while Congress was considering legislation to ban horse slaughter, the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) surprised many by issuing a letter flipping on their long time support of legislation to end horse slaughter. The letter prompted a counter letter signed by 40 of the racing industry’s leading owners, trainers and jockeys expressing their support for all legislation aimed at banning horse slaughter.

“Magna and their Chairman and CEO, Frank Stronach are to be congratulated for this monumental humane stand. For years Magna has supported our efforts to ban horse slaughter and now they join the growing ranks of organizations such as Suffolk Downs who will no longer tolerate irresponsible individuals operating on their tracks,” noted Chris Heyde, deputy director government and legal affairs for the Animal Welfare Institute.

The Animal Welfare Institute calls on other organizations and horse industry leaders to join with Magna Entertainment Corp. and Suffolk Downs by barring those who wish to profit from the abuse and neglect of horses. “Nobody, including the racing industry, should turn a blind eye to the abuse and cruelty of horse slaughter. The racing industry can help by supporting federal legislation banning horse slaughter and by prohibiting those who supply the horse slaughter industry from racing anywhere in the United States, like Magna is doing,” said Heyde.

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Contact: Chris Heyde, (703) 836-4300

For over 57 years, the Animal Welfare Institute has been the leading voice for animals across the country and on Capitol Hill to reduce the sum total of pain and fear inflicted on animals by humans. To learn more about us, please visit www.awionline.org.

AWI Mourns the Loss of Leading Advocate for Horses

2008-09-06T19:34:00.002-04:00

Washington, DC (September 6, 2008) - It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of horseman and humanitarian John Hettinger, the nation’s leading advocate for the humane treatment of horses. John was the first person to join the Animal Welfare Institutes's national campaign to end horse slaughter in 2001. Since that time he never wavered in his commitment and only grew stronger in his desire and determination to end horse slaughter.

“I can honestly say no other person was more dedicated to horse welfare than John,” said Chris Heyde, deputy director of government and legal affairs for AWI. “We would talk almost every day about how we could pass the ban on horse slaughter and how we could improve the lives of horses. John’s death is a tremendous loss.”

Owner of Akindale Farm in New York, John was a leading Thoroughbred industry figure who never shrunk from his stand on animal welfare. He always stated that “his best friends have four legs.” Over the last few years he created a sanctuary for horses in need on his beautiful 800 acre farm. The stalls were always filled with enrichment items and music was pumped through the barn. The horses were always his priority.

“I was very lucky to have known him as a supporter of AWI’s efforts and as a friend. He was unique,” noted Heyde. “He is to be congratulated for awakening the industry to the abuse of horse slaughter. We look forward to working with the Thoroughbred industry to fulfill his dream.”

The Animal Welfare Institute sends its deepest condolences to his lovely wife Betty and loving family who always shared John’s deep respect for animals and nature.

“With John’s passing, AWI calls on everyone redouble their efforts for enactment of federal legislation banning horse slaughter. While it didn’t happen in his lifetime, John was certain it would happen. Now it is up to us to do just that.” said Heyde.

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For More Information:
Chris Heyde, (703) 836-4300

Tampa Restaurant Says No to Cruel Shark Finning

2008-08-25T15:42:00.003-04:00

Washington, D.C. (August 25, 2008) – The Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) is pleased to announce that the Ivory Mandarin Bistro in Tampa, Florida has decided to stop serving shark fin soup. Restaurant owners Steve Sritrairasri and Jeffrey Wu made the decision after receiving information from AWI about the inhumane and wasteful manner in which shark fins are acquired and the overfishing of many shark species to meet the demand for the controversial shark fin soup. “We were unaware of the many issues surrounding shark fin soup. After reading about it we decided to immediately stop offering it. It’s the responsible thing to do. These animals should not be slaughtered and pushed to extinction for a bowl of soup,” said Mr. Sritrairasri. “We hope other restaurants will join us and make Florida a shark friendly state.”

“We commend Ivory Mandarin Bistro for its compassionate decision. Mr. Sritrairasri and Mr. Wu clearly care about the marine ecosystem and it’s commendable that they have taken this responsible step,” said Serda Ozbenian, wildlife research assistant at AWI who leads the group’s shark fin campaign.The decision by Ivory Mandarin Bistro comes on the heels of new rules enacted last Thursday by Florida and 14 other members of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) that require all sharks caught along the Atlantic seaboard to be landed with their fins naturally attached. This requirement will help strengthen the US Shark Finning ban by preventing sharks in the Atlantic from being illegally finned.

AWI encourages consumers to avoid restaurants that sell shark fin soup. A list of restaurants to avoid can be found on the group’s website by clicking here: www.awionline.org/oceans/Fisheries/Shark_Fin.htm. The Institute has identified 16 restaurants in Florida selling shark fin products and asks that consumers email nosharkfinning@awionline.org if they find an offending restaurant not appearing on the list.

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Contact:
Serda Ozbenian, (703) 836-4300

For over 57 years, AWI has been the leading voice for animals across the country and on Capitol Hill. Please join us in our ongoing campaigns to reduce the sum total of pain and fear inflicted on animals by humans. Sign up for AWI eAlerts to receive the latest news on what you can do to help us protect all animals: http://www.awionline.org/joinus.

AWI eAlert: Please Contact Your Legislators This Month to Enlist Their Support for Animal Welfare Bills!

2008-08-14T08:01:00.006-04:00

Dear Humanitarian:

Summer in Washington, D.C. means two things: the temperature is soaring, and the U.S. Congress is out of town. However, before Members of Congress departed, a number of important bills were introduced, and we need your help to build support for them.
Because Members of Congress are in their home districts until after Labor Day, this is the perfect time for you to lobby them directly on behalf of the animals! Visiting with your Senators and Representative as a constituent in their home offices can have a significant impact. If you are able, please call their local headquarters today to set up a time to meet in person, asking them to support the following important pieces of animal protective legislation.

Additional materials on each bill can be downloaded from http://www.awionline.org/.

Horse Slaughter

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES: The Conyers/Burton “Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act of 2008” (H.R. 6598) – Just prior to the July recess H.R. 6598 was introduced by House Judiciary Chairman John Conyers (D-MI) and Representative Dan Burton (R-IN). The bill addresses the cruelty of horse slaughter by criminalizing the practice. Although H.R. 6598 is new, the concept of criminalizing horse slaughter is not, with the legislation echoing an earlier bill that also included similar penalty and enforcement language. For more information, click here.

What you can do: Ask your Representative to cosponsor H.R. 6598 and any legislative measure designed to end the slaughter of American horses for slaughter.

Note: H.R. 503, the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act, is still pending in the House of Representatives and has AWI’s support. However, H.R. 6598 has taken precedence given its increased opportunity to move through the legislative process.

IN THE SENATE: The American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act (S. 311) – A bill sponsored by Senator Mary Landrieu (D-LA) to end the slaughter of horses for human consumption abroad. Like its House counterpart (H.R. 503) and the Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act (H.R. 6598), this bill would end the slaughter of American horses for human consumption abroad.

What you can do: Inform your Senators about the cruelty of horse slaughter and ask them to cosponsor S. 311 and any legislative measure designed to end the slaughter of American horses for slaughter.

Shark Finning

The Shark Conservation Act of 2008 (H.R. 5741/S. 3231) - The measure would strengthen enforcement of an existing federal prohibition on removing the fins of a shark and discarding the carcass, which was first established in the Shark Finning Prohibition Act of 2000. For more information, click here.

What You Can Do: Ask your Representative and Senators to cosponsor H.R. 5741 and S. 3231.

Tracking Animal Cruelty

The Animal Cruelty Statistics Act of 2008 (H.R. 6597/S. 2439) – A bill requiring the U.S. Attorney General and federal law enforcement to track and maintain data on animal cruelty in order to facilitate analysis and prevention of such crimes. For more information, click here.

What You Can Do: Ask your Representative and Senators to cosponsor H.R. 6597 and S. 2439.

To find the names of your Representative and Senators and their district contact information, please visit www.compassionindex.org/search.htm or call the Capitol Hill operator at (202) 224-3121 and request to be connected to their offices. If you need further information, please contact the Animal Welfare Institute at (703) 836-4300.

If you are unable to visit with your legislators during the month of August a call, letter or email is helpful so they realize you care and want their support on these important issues. If your Representative or Senators currently cosponsor any of these bills, send him or her a note of thanks and ask for help in moving the legislation along Congress reconvenes in September. To take action on any of these bills online through AWI’s Compassion Index, you can visit http://www.compassionindex.org/.

Please share our “Dear Humanitarian” eAlert with family, friends and co-workers, and encourage them to contact their Members of Congress, too. As always, thank you very much for your help!

Sincerely,

Cathy Liss President

Animal Welfare Institute Testifies Before Congress in Favor of New Bill Containing Criminal Penalties for Horse Slaughter

2008-07-31T15:37:00.001-04:00

WASHINGTON, D.C. (July 31, 2008) – “Every five minutes an American horse is slaughtered to fill the demand of high-end European and Asian diners,” Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) federal policy advisor Liz Ross said today, testifying before the House Judiciary Committee Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security in support of a new bill to end the cruel transport and slaughter of America’s horses.

The Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act of 2008, H.R. 6598, carries criminal penalties for the purchase, sale, delivery or export of horsemeat intended for human consumption including fines and prison time. Introduced on July 24, 2008 by House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers, Jr. (D-MI) and Representative Dan Burton (R-IN), the bill would amend Title 18 of the US Code, providing US government officials and law enforcement officials with the tools necessary to ensure that American horses are protected from the brutal trade for their meat.

The bill has already garnered tremendous bipartisan support. “This issue has been vetted in Congress on multiple occasions and every time any measure to prohibit or restrict horse slaughter comes up for a vote the tally is overwhelming in favor of ending this form of animal cruelty,” Ross stated in her testimony.

“I am proud to be a co-sponsor of H.R. 6598,” said lead co-sponsor Representative Burton. “We must treat these magnificent animals with the respect and dignity they deserve.”

Not only is there legislative precedence for taking the Judiciary route to address the issue of horse slaughter – via an earlier incarnation of the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act that allowed for penalties to be assessed under Title 18 – but horse slaughter, in every respect, is a form of animal cruelty and ought to be recognized and treated as such, Ross explained.

“We thank Representatives Conyers and Burton, who have afforded the Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act of 2008 a fair opportunity to proceed, as well as Chairman Bobby Scott for his co-sponsorship and commitment to moving this important bill,” said Chris Heyde, deputy director of government and legal affairs for AWI. “Now that H.R. 6598 has moved from subcommittee, we hope the Speaker and the Senate will provide similarly swift consideration for a policy that is supported by the vast majority of Americans.”

Testifying before the subcommittee in favor of H.R. 6598 were, in addition to Ross; Dr. John Boyd, President of the National Black Farmers Association; Wayne Pacelle of the Humane Society of the United States and Dr. Nick Dodman of Veterinarians for Equine Welfare. The full text of their statements will soon be available at www.awionline.org.

Issue background:

Each year, more than 100,000 horses are purchased at auction by killer-buyers for export to Canada and Mexico, where they are brutally slaughtered for human consumption. In some cases, the killing method involves activities such as knife stabbing.

In the last Congress, the House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved a bipartisan bill banning horse slaughter for human consumption by a vote of 263 to 146. The bill was not taken up by the Senate before the end of the congressional session.

A 2006 national poll conducted by Public Opinion Strategies found that almost 70 percent of Americans already support a federal ban on horse slaughter.

Contact:
Chris Heyde, (703) 836-4300

For over 57 years, the Animal Welfare Institute has been the leading voice for animals across the country and on Capitol Hill to reduce the sum total of pain and fear inflicted on animals by humans. To learn more about us, please visit www.awionline.org.

URGENT AWI eALERT: Congress Takes Horse Cruelty Head On!

2008-07-29T08:18:00.009-04:00

Dear Humanitarian:

For seven years now, you have helped us fight hard to protect America’s horses from the cruel and preventable practice of horse slaughter. Sadly, the few individuals profiting from this industry have spent vast sums of money to mislead some in the horse industry and US Congress. They have turned a serious animal cruelty issue into a political game. Despite all of this, support continues to grow for a ban because no false stories or fabricated tales of “unwanted horses” can derail the simple truth – horse slaughter is cruel.

As of today, House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers, Jr. (D-MI) and Congressman Dan Burton (R-IN) have taken up the reins of this cause and committed themselves to ending horse slaughter by sponsoring H.R. 6598, the Conyers-Burton "Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act". This bill directly addresses the cruelty of horse slaughter – a consequence of the industry that even opponents of ending horse slaughter admit exists. This legislation is not new, as the original bill introduced in 2002 to end horse slaughter included enforcement language from Title 18 of the US Criminal Code for those found guilty of breaking the law. Chairman Conyers has simply removed the unnecessary language from the earlier versions to specifically target those causing the cruelty to horses.

Post this image and link (http://www.everyfivemintues.org/)on your own website and email to help spread the word.

Every five minutes, an American horse is brutally slaughtered for human consumption in plants in Mexico and Canada. Ironically, industry lobbyists admit to Congress that the foreign horse slaughter plants are cruel, yet the companies the lobbyists represent also own and operate these very plants across the border! Despite unsubstantiated claims of “unwanted” and “abandoned” horses, these foreign-owned plants and their killer-buyers continue to buy horses from all over America at an alarming rate to meet the demand for the animals’ flesh in fancy European restaurants.

Horse slaughter is a brutal process from beginning to end. Killer-buyers have no regard for the horses’ welfare; they just need to find as many of the animals as possible in order to fill a quota. Because the horses’ final destination is slaughter, no concern is paid to their treatment when they are collected, during transport, or in the slaughterhouse. A former equine investigator for the Pennsylvania state police summed this industry up perfectly when she said, “… horses were deprived of food and water because they were going to slaughter anyway. My conclusion is that the slaughter option encourages neglect…Money is the only objective of selling horses to slaughter. Those of us in the trenches have seen enough.”

Constituents concerned about the welfare of America’s horses must use this opportunity to speak up to their Members of Congress. The slaughterhouses, their lobbyists and the few pro-horse slaughter groups will be on Capitol Hill screaming loudly because they know support for ending horse slaughter is already strong. They know that if this issue is given a fair hearing and a fair vote, horse slaughter will end immediately.

Even though this fight has gone on for years, we must never forget that until Congress acts and passes a federal ban, horses are being hauled across the United States before being sent to Canada and Mexico to be slaughtered under even worse conditions. The slaughterhouses and their supporters hope to wear down horse advocates by stalling the political process. We must send a message that we will not stop until ALL horses are protected from slaughter.

WHAT YOU CAN DO:

Please call, write or email your Representative today, urging him or her to support H.R. 6598, the Conyers-Burton "Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act". Chairman Conyers and Congressman Burton intend to do everything in their power to move this measure through Congress as soon as possible. Be sure to mention the facts above and those found here.

Many Members of Congress have already supported a similar measure, so this is not a new proposal; click here to see if your legislator cosponsored the original bill. If your Representative is on the Judiciary Committee, please urge him or her to attend any upcoming hearing and speak out on this important legislation as well.

To find your Representative and learn his or her stance on horse slaughter, please visit http://www.compassionindex.org/. You can contact your legislators directly through the Compassion Index as well.

Write to:

The Honorable (name of US Representative)
US House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515

Please note: HR 6598, the Conyers-Burton "Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act" is NOT the same as H.R. 503/S. 311, the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act (AHSPA), but it will do the same thing – end horse slaughter. Many members already support the AHSPA, so garnering support should be straightforward.

Rescues/Organizations: The list of organizations and rescues supporting a ban on horse slaughter is tremendous, and we want to make sure your voice is heard on Capitol Hill, too. If you represent a rescue or organization, please take a minute to draft a letter of support for H.R. 6598, the Conyers-Burton "Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act" for us to share with the bill's sponsors and other Members of Congress. Address the letter to The Honorable Chairman Conyers and put it on organizational letterhead. Give personal experiences, include photos and share your work with us. Opponents of horse slaughter are not working every day with horses -- you are. Please email your letters and some pictures to chris@awionline.org or fax them without a cover to (888) 260-2271. We will ensure that Congress hears your support!

No matter how you contact your legislator, please be sure to provide him or her with your name and mailing address, and as a constituent, request a response on this issue. Please also share our “Dear Humanitarian” eAlert with family, friends and co-workers, and encourage them to contact their legislators, too. As always, thank you very much for your help.

Sincerely,
Cathy Liss
President
http://www.awionline.org/
http://www.compassionindex.org/

US House of Representatives Strengthens Shark Finning Ban - US Senate Follows Suit with a Companion Bill

2008-07-09T16:54:00.002-04:00

WASHINGTON, D.C. (July 9, 2008) – Yesterday, the House of Representatives unanimously voted in favor of H.R. 5741, the Shark Conservation Act of 2008. Introduced earlier this year by Subcommittee Chairwoman Madeleine Bordallo (D-GU), the measure tightens the Shark Finning Prohibition Act, which was signed into law in 2000.

Later in the day, Senator John Kerry (D-MA) introduced S. 3231, an identical version of the Shark Conservation Act, in the US Senate. Senator Kerry has a long history of advocating for the protection of marine life, including sharks, and he was a lead sponsor of the Shark Finning Prohibition Act.

Since the original bill’s passage, the cruel and wasteful practice of shark finning – whereby the fins of a living shark are removed and the animal is thrown back in the water to die – has been illegal in the United States, but enforcement has been hampered by loopholes in the ban. "Sharks are vital to the health of marine ecosystems, but the practice of shark finning is driving their decline worldwide," said Chairwoman Bordallo. The Shark Conservation Act offers sharks much-needed protection by imposing a ban on shark finning which requires that sharks be landed with their fins still attached to their bodies.

“It’s wonderful to see the House take this critical step forward in shark conservation. The Animal Welfare Institute commends Chairwoman Bordallo for her leadership on this important issue. We look forward to working with Senator Kerry and his colleagues in the Senate to secure enactment of the Shark Conservation Act of 2008.” said AWI president Cathy Liss.

Sharks are extremely slow to recover from overfishing because they mature late in life, grow slowly and have very small populations. Unlike their fish relatives, sharks produce a handful of pups instead of a large number of eggs. Despite their biology and the increasing warnings from experts that sharks are disappearing, millions of sharks are targeted for their fins and millions more die annually as bycatch.

Since the bill places no restrictions on shark fin imports, AWI still encourages consumers to avoid restaurants that sell shark fin products. A list of these establishments and a fact sheet on the practice of shark finning are available on the AWI website at www.awionline.org/oceans/Fisheries/Shark_Fin.htm. If you find a restaurant selling shark fin products that is not listed, please send an email with the contact information to nosharkfinning@awionline.org.

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For More Information Contact:
Serda Ozbenian, AWI: (703) 836-4300

Animal Welfare Institute Condemns BLM Proposal to Kill Thousands of Wild Horses in Holding Facilities

2008-07-02T15:21:00.001-04:00

WASHINGTON, D.C. (July 2, 2008) – For the first time in the history of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM)—the federal agency charged with protecting and managing wild horses in the United States—officials now claim that up to 30,000 horses currently in confinement may have to be “euthanized” to balance the agency’s budget.

The Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) vehemently opposes any proposal that would sanction the mass killing of our nation’s wild horses. “To set the record straight, euthanasia is mercy killing. That’s certainly not what’s being proposed here by any stretch of the imagination,” said Chris Heyde, deputy director of government and legal affairs for AWI. “It’s killing pure and simple to balance the books for an agency whose reckless management has caused immeasurable harm to a national treasure at considerable cost to the American taxpayer.”

In the last few years, the BLM’s national wild horse and burro program has changed leadership and direction—and tragically, wild horses have paid the price. To placate the demands of livestock interests and despite protests from wild horse advocates, the agency began rounding up animals from the wild at an unprecedented rate, leaving many herds with so few animals that their long-term health and viability are now in serious jeopardy.

Adoption demand could not keep pace with such drastic removals, requiring the BLM to contract for more and more private long-term holding facilities. Today, this misguided policy has shockingly resulted in more animals being held in confinement than run free in the wild. Now, BLM officials are seeking a magic bullet for the problem that they have irresponsibly created – adding a whole new subtext to the expression “They Shoot Horses, Don’t They?”

The 1971 Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act was passed unanimously by Congress to stop the mass slaughter and commercial exploitation of these magnificent animals. “Americans were outraged to learn what was happening then, and they will be even more irate to learn what the BLM is proposing today,” Heyde said. “Public support for the original Act is considered one of the largest grassroots campaigns on animal welfare issues in US history. It is time to reignite this passion if we are to save these magnificent animals from extinction on the range and in the wild.”

The proposal to resume killing the public’s wild horses will be discussed at the next National Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board meeting scheduled for September 2008. AWI encourages the public and the US Congress to act swiftly to protect our horses, whose lives are at risk at the hands of the very agency tasked with the responsibility to care for them.

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Contact:
Chris Heyde, (703) 836-4300

Bush Administration Supports Plan to Kill Humpbacks

2008-06-26T20:37:00.001-04:00

SANTIAGO, CHILE (June 26, 2008) – The Bush Administration today hit a new low by supporting a proposal in favor of killing humpback whales, the Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) reports. By giving its support, the United States broke ranks with the conservation-minded member nations of the International Whaling Commission (IWC) who voted against the proposal. Unfortunately, this is one of several actions that the United States has taken at this year’s meeting contrary to its long-held position of supporting whale conservation.

Already this week, Bush Administration lackeys at the meeting have worked to facilitate a closed-door “deal” to bring about the resumption of commercial whaling. They have also ignored IWC rules for reporting transgressions of the IWC Schedule by refusing to admit that the illegal killing of a gray whale by Makah tribal members was an infraction of the IWC Schedule. Finally, they have refused to promote transparency and openness within IWC deliberations by opposing attempts to include civil society to observe and participate in the work of the Commission.

“It’s no secret that President Bush’s administration has one of the worst environmental records in history, but to sacrifice whales and democracy to placate whaling countries, who have ignored repeated calls by many of the world’s governments to end whaling, is simply inexcusable,” said D.J. Schubert, a wildlife biologist with the AWI who is currently attending the meeting.

The proposal to hunt humpbacks was offered by Demark which sought the quota on behalf of the native people in its territory of Greenland – which already has quotas to kill minke, bowhead and fin whales. Recent studies indicate that a quarter of the meat derived from killing these whales for “subsistence use” ends up in supermarkets for commercial sale. Nations opposing the proposal did so primarily because Greenland has not demonstrated the need for additional meat.

The United States is one of 24 countries that will engage in secret meetings over the course of the next year in an attempt to develop a package deal to “fix” the IWC using a process devised and promoted by Dr. William Hogarth, US commissioner to the IWC and current chair of the international body. Hogarth’s plan attempts to “fix” a convention that is actually only at a stalemate because of the unwillingness of Japan, Norway, and Iceland to comply with international opinion and stop whaling – coupled with the failure of the current administration to use all its powers to permanently end commercial whaling.

For years, the United States was considered a leader in the worldwide effort to protect and conserve whales. However, lately its whale conservation agenda has been replaced by a plan of compromise and capitulation. Such a dramatic shift in policy is inconsistent with the beliefs of most of Americans and of the United States House of Representatives, which recently unanimously passed H. Con. Res. 350, demanding that the United States strongly support whale conservation, oppose any weakening of the commercial whaling moratorium approved by the IWC in 1982, and oppose any new form of whaling.

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Contact:

Susan Millward, (202) 640-9600

BUSH ADMINISTRATION SELLING OUT WHALES AND THE AMERICAN PUBLIC

2008-06-25T08:55:00.001-04:00

(Santiago, Chile) - As the 60th meeting of the International Whaling Commission continues its deliberations, the Bush administration is undermining decades of whale conservation progress as it seeks to cut a deal with whaling nations that could lead to the official resumption of commercial whaling. Their deal making will be done behind closed doors without public oversight or accountability as the Bush administration has abandoned American principles of openness and honesty in order to engage in secret deliberations.

“It’s no secret that President Bush has one of the worst environmental record of any administration in history, but to sacrifice whales and democracy to placate whaling countries who have ignored repeated calls by many of the world’s governments to end whaling, is beyond the pale,” states D.J. Schubert, a wildlife biologist with the Animal Welfare Institute. “If this administration is willing to sacrifice whales to achieve a political end, there’s no telling what damage it could do to wildlife as President Bush’s eight-year reign of terror ends.”
Already this week, the Bush administration has:

Ignored IWC rules for reporting transgressions of the IWC Schedule by refusing to admit that the illegal killing of a gray whale by Makah tribal members was an infraction of the IWC Schedule
Indicated that it plans on supporting Greenland’s request for an aboriginal subsistence whaling quota of 10 humpback whales despite evidence of a significant commercial element to Greenland’s current hunt and the gross over-estimation of its aboriginal need for whale products
Refused to promote transparency and openness within IWC deliberations by opposing attempts to include civil society to observe and participate in all work of the IWC and any working groups

“Despite promoting itself as a beacon of democracy and acting as a model for other countries in regard to transparency and openness in governmental operations, the Bush administration has decided to negotiate the future of the world’s whale in secret,” adds Susan Millward, a research associate with AWI. “The desire of the United States to conduct such deliberations without the accountability that comes from public scrutiny appears indicative of its intent to abandon its support for the whales in favor of support for the whalers.”

The United States is one of 24 countries who will engage in secret meetings over the course of the next year as they attempt to develop a package deal to “fix” the IWC through a process devised and promoted by Dr. William Hogarth, the U.S. Commissioner to the IWC and the current Chair of the international body. Dr. Hogarth’s plan attempts to “fix” a convention that is not broken and is only at a stalemate because of the unwillingness of Japan, Norway, and Iceland to comply with international opinion and stop whaling coupled with the failure of the current Administration to use all diplomatic and legal muscle to permanently end whaling by these rogue nations.

For years, the United States was considered a leader in the worldwide effort to protect and conserve whales. Under the Bush administration, however, the United States’ whale conservation agenda has been replaced by a plan of compromise and capitulation. Such a dramatic shift in policy is inconsistent with the will of the vast majority of Americans who strongly oppose whaling. Reflecting the will of the people on the issue, the United States House of Representatives, only days ago, unanimously passed H.Con.Res. 350 demanding that the United States strongly support whale conservation, oppose any weakening of the commercial whaling moratorium approved by the IWC in 1982, and oppose any new form of whaling.

“It is clear from the actions of the United States at this week’s IWC meeting that the will of the American public and of Congress itself is of no concern or consequence to the Bush administration,” claims Schubert. “Yet again the arrogance of the Bush administration is clearly on display as it undermines decades of conservation gains for whales in a matter of days, abandons its principles of transparency, and ignores the opinions of its own constituents and even Congress.” “In this case, it’s not just the interests of the American people that are being abandoned but also the future of the world’s whales.”

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For over 57 years the Animal Welfare Institute has been the leading voice for animals across the country and on Capitol Hill to reduce the sum total of pain and fear inflicted on animals by humans. To learn more about us, please visit www.awionline.org.

House of Representatives Pass Resolution in Support of Whales

2008-06-19T19:44:00.003-04:00

WASHINGTON, D.C. (June 18, 2008) – Answering a bipartisan call to encourage the United States to stand up for whales, the House of Representatives today passed H. Con. Res. 350 by unanimous consent. In light of the annual International Whaling Commission (IWC) meeting to be held in Chile this month, House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Nick Rahall (D-WV) and eight of his colleagues in the House of Representatives introduced the resolution to send the message that the United States must not be bullied into submission at the meeting by pro-whaling interests.

The United States is the current chair of the IWC, the international body founded over 60 years ago to be responsible for the conservation of whales. Since that time, a ban on commercial whaling has been instituted, two sanctuaries have been established, and attitudes toward whale conservation have improved. Yet while progress has been made, most of the great whales still face an uncertain future – one that is made worse by additional threats in the form of climate change, fishing gear entanglement, overfishing of prey species, ship strikes, toxic pollution, and lethal sonar.

However, the biggest threat to whales comes from the member nations of Japan, Norway and Iceland, which have flouted the whaling ban and continued to whale for commercial gain by exploiting loopholes in the IWC Convention. Since the moratorium was put into effect, these countries have killed more than 25,000 whales, including over 11,000 who were taken under the guise of “scientific research.” Just this month, Norway and Iceland also resumed trade in whale meat with Japan, in flagrant defiance of an international ban on such trafficking.

Although the United States has been an outspoken proponent of protecting the whales, most recently, US officials have not exercised this leadership position. In fact, rumored deals are said to have been initiated with the whalers. The ban is now in jeopardy, since the pro-whaling faction has recruited allied nations to join the IWC and convince fellow members that the body is unworkable and at an impasse. Once pro-conservation countries are now on the brink of capitulation and are in desperate need of leadership. Having led international efforts in the IWC to adopt the ban on commercial whaling, the United States is the natural choice for assuming this role, and it must do so before it is too late.

“This resolution serves to put the United States back on track and reaffirm its historically strong position in support of the whales. As current chair of the IWC; the United States holds a very important role and must extend all efforts to refocus the body toward its much-needed conservation aims,” said Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) Research Associate Susan Millward. “AWI commends the House for quickly enacting this important resolution.”

A similar resolution, introduced by Senators John Kerry (D-MA) and Barbara Boxer (D-CA), is currently pending in the Senate.

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CONTACT:
Chris Heyde, (703) 836-4300

Animal Welfare Institute and National Black Farmers Association Launch “Project Wanted Horse”

2008-06-19T19:36:00.004-04:00

Partnership Disproves Slaughter Industry’s “Unwanted” Horse Theory

Washington, D.C. (June 17, 2008) – The Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) and the National Black Farmers Association (NBFA) today launched a national partnership to help American horses in need by finding them homes on farms operated by NBFA members.

The announcement of the “Project Wanted Horse” partnership comes as the US Congress considers the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act (S. 311/ H.R. 503), working to disprove bill opponents’ arguments that the campaign to end horse slaughter has resulted in a glut of unwanted horses in the United States – and that slaughter is therefore necessary.

“One of the horse slaughter industry’s main arguments is that there are no homes for these animals,” said Chris Heyde, deputy director of government and legal affairs for AWI. “The coming together of our national organizations sends a significant message that these horses are valued and wanted.”

“Project Wanted Horse” will ensure that horses rescued by equine protection organizations, from the slaughter pipeline, or from an abusive situation are placed on farms operated by NBFA’s 94,000 members across the country. AWI will oversee the placement of horses with NBFA members. Each placed animal will be accompanied by a legally binding contract, ensuring quality lifetime care and that they will not be resold only to end up on the path to slaughter.

While horse slaughter no longer occurs in the United States, in 2007, more than 100,000 American horses were exported to Canada and Mexico, where they were killed, processed and exported for human consumption in Europe and Asia. Each year, thousands of horses are purchased at auction by killer-buyers, stolen from farms and acquired illegally. Across the border, they are often slaughtered using barbaric practices that are illegal in the United States, such as shooting and stabbing.

“Having seen the recent HBO ‘Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel’ segment on horse slaughtering, I had no choice but to act,” said Dr. John Boyd, NBFA founder and president. “Horse slaughter, in all circumstances, is a violent, brutal process. Horses play an important role in our members’ lives, not just because of their role on the farm, but because they are often part of our families. By joining with the Animal Welfare Institute, we hope to end the transportation and brutal killing of these animals for human consumption.”

The American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act (S. 311/ H.R. 503), pending in both chambers of Congress, would outlaw the transportation of horses either domestically or internationally for slaughter. The legislation is sponsored by Senators Mary Landrieu (D-LA) and John Ensign (R-NV), as well as Representatives Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), John Spratt (D-SC), Nick Rahall (D-WV) and Ed Whitfield (R-KY). S. 311 has 38 cosponsors in the Senate, including Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) and Senator John McCain (R-AZ), while H.R. 503 has 204 cosponsors in the House.

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For more than 57 years, the Animal Welfare Institute has been the leading voice for animals across the country and on Capitol Hill to reduce the sum total of pain and fear inflicted on animals by humans. Find out more at: www.awionline.org.

The National Black Farmers Association was founded in 1995. Today the NBFA has more than 94,000 members. For more information, please visit our Web site at: www.blackfarmers.org.

Supreme Court of the United States Declines to Hear Appeal on Illinois Horse Slaughter Ban

2008-06-16T11:49:00.001-04:00

Washington, D.C. (June 16, 2008) – The repeated attempts by Illinois-based Cavel International, Inc. to continue slaughtering horses in the face of a state ban on the practice and the will of the people of Illinois were quashed for a final time today, when the Supreme Court of the United States denied the slaughterhouse’s petition for certiorari.

On January 18, 2008, Cavel had appealed the earlier decision by the US Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, which upheld the decision by the US District Court for the Northern District of Illinois to reaffirm the constitutionality of an Illinois law preventing the slaughter of horses for human consumption.

“We are relieved and elated that the Supreme Court has decided this case does not warrant additional review,” said Tracy Silverman, general counsel for the Animal Welfare Institute (AWI). “We thank the Illinois attorney general’s office for its efforts arguing to uphold the state law preventing the slaughter of horses for human consumption.”

The American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act (H.R. 503/S. 311), a federal bill to ban horse slaughter in the United States and the transport of horses abroad for the same purpose, is pending in the US Congress. Its enactment is now essential to ensure horses who would have been sent to Cavel are not exported for slaughter in Canada or Mexico.

“While we don’t expect companies such as Cavel to stop trying to manipulate the legal and political systems, we hope other pro-horse slaughter organizations will now work with us to protect America’s horses from this cruel and predatory industry,” said Chris Heyde, AWI’s deputy director of government and legal affairs. “The American public has made clear its desire to close this industry down, and AWI is proud to be leading the charge to pass the urgently needed federal law to ban horse slaughter.”

The renowned law firm of Patton Boggs is representing AWI in this case.

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CONTACT:
Tracy Silverman, Esq. or Chris Heyde (703) 836-4300

Founded in 1951, AWI is an international non-profit organization dedicated to reducing the sum total of pain and fear inflicted on animals by humans. Its legislative division initiated, and has since led, the national campaign to end horse slaughter, as well as spearheaded the effort to enact the ban in Illinois. Please visit www.awionline.org.

House Natural Resources Committee Strips US Shark Finning Ban of Loopholes

2008-06-14T10:13:00.002-04:00

WASHINGTON, D.C. (June 11, 2008) – Today, the US House Committee on Natural Resources voted in favor of H.R. 5741, the Shark Conservation Act of 2008. Introduced by Subcommittee Chairwoman Madeleine Bordallo (D-GU), the measure will reinforce the Shark Finning Prohibition Act, which was signed into law in 2000.

Since the original bill’s passage, the cruel and wasteful practice of shark finning – whereby the fins of a living shark are removed and the animal is thrown back in the water to die – has been illegal in the United States, but enforcement has been hampered by loopholes in the ban.

Enforcement officials have stated that the only way to truly impose a shark finning ban is to require that sharks be landed whole, and an amendment to the Shark Conservation Act introduced by Representative Eni Faleomavaega (D-AS) contains this mandate. This key amendment requires that sharks be landed with their fins naturally attached and was also agreed upon by the committee.

“Personally I don’t like the way and manner in which sharks are being killed,” Faleomavaega told reporters. “But at least as a conservation measure…those fins better be on that shark.”

The Animal Welfare Institute (AWI), an animal advocacy group based in Washington, D.C., supports this critical and timely modification to the current US shark finning ban. “We commend the committee for approving this important bill and giving sharks much-needed protection,” said AWI President Cathy Liss.

Actress Bo Derek, activist against wildlife trafficking and longtime AWI spokesperson, also sent a letter to committee members in support of the bill. “It's very difficult to know how many there are left in the world. Some studies show that in the past 20 years, they're down 90 percent. They reproduce very slowly,” Derek explained. “I don't think sharks have a chance unless people just stop eating shark fin soup.”

While the bill would stop sharks from being finned in the US, imported shark fins served in the US could still be from finned sharks. AWI will continue its campaign to contact US restaurants currently serving the highly controversial “delicacy” of shark-fin soup, asking that they consider the precarious status of many of the targeted species and stop selling the dish immediately. A list of these establishments and a fact sheet on the practice of shark-finning are available on the AWI website at www.awionline.org/oceans/Fisheries/Shark_Fin.htm.

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Contact:
Serda Ozbenian, AWI: (703) 836-4300

Senator John Kerry Receives "Profiles in Compassion" Award for Supporting Animal Welfare

2008-06-11T08:12:00.002-04:00

WASHINGTON, D.C. (June 10, 2008) – The Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) has announced Senator John Kerry (D-MA) as the latest recipient of its “Profiles in Compassion” award, recognizing his strong commitment to protecting animals and their habitats. One of the few members of the US Senate to rate a perfect 100 percent on AWI’s Compassion Index, Senator Kerry recently introduced S. Con. Res. 86, a resolution that calls on the Bush Administration to stand up for whales at the annual International Whaling Commission (IWC) meeting to be held in Chile later this month.

"In the face of increasing pressure from pro-whaling nations, the US must reclaim its historic position as a leader in whale conservation and support the moratorium on commercial whaling. The time is running short to protect the world’s dwindling whale populations,” said Senator Kerry, who has been actively working on the whaling issue for years. In February, he was co-host with House Natural Resources Committee Chair Nick Rahall of a Save the Whales Again! press conference featuring actress Hayden Panettiere.

The United States is the current chair of the IWC, the international body founded over 60 years ago to be responsible for the conservation of whales. Since that time, a ban on commercial whaling has been instituted, two sanctuaries have been established, and attitudes toward whale conservation have improved. However, Japan, Norway and Iceland have flouted the whaling ban and continue to whale for commercial gain by exploiting loopholes in the IWC Convention. Under the moratorium, these countries have killed more than 25,000 whales, including over 11,000 who were taken under the guise of “scientific research.” Norway and Iceland have also resumed the trade in whale meat with Japan, in flagrant defiance of an international ban on such trafficking.

Although the United States was an outspoken proponent of protecting the whales, most recently, US officials have not exercised their leadership position. The whaling ban is now in jeopardy, since the pro-whaling faction has recruited allied nations to join the IWC and convince fellow members that the body is unworkable and at an impasse. Once pro-conservation countries are now on the brink of capitulation and are in desperate need of leadership.

Instead of steering the IWC away from surrendering, the United States is rumored to have initiated deals with the whalers to facilitate a resumption of whaling. Having led international efforts in the IWC to adopt the ban on commercial whaling two decades ago, AWI believes that the United States must stop capitulating to whalers, heed the US Congress, and act now before it is too late.

“Acknowledging the need for strong leadership on the issue of whaling, Senator Kerry’s resolution sends the message that the United States must not be bullied into submission by pro-whaling interests,” said Chris Heyde, AWI’s deputy director of legal affairs. “AWI commends Senator Kerry for his strong stance against whaling, as well as his support for other important animal protection measures, including an end to horse slaughter and dog fighting.”

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For More Information:

Chris Heyde, (703) 836-4300