Animal Welfare Institute
The Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) has been dedicated to alleviating animal suffering caused by people since its founding in 1951.
Farmed Animal Anti-Confinement Legislation
Millions of pigs, calves, and chickens are forced to spend their lives confined in spaces so small they can't even turn around. Gestation crates, veal crates, and battery cages prevent animals from performing natural behaviors, thus causing injuries and significant physical and psychological stress. A growing number of states are passing legislation …
Horse-Drawn Carriages - Animal Welfare Institute
In many cities, horse-drawn carriages are seen as tourist attractions, evoking nostalgic images of days gone by. Yet, underlying these quaint notions is the reality for the horses: daily exposure to noise and pollution, heavy traffic, hard pavement, long workdays, constant heavy loads, and lack of access to pasture. All of these aspects are directly detrimental to horses’ welfare.
Canine Members of the Armed Forces Act - Animal Welfare Institute
On January 2, 2013, President Obama signed into law the National Defense Authorization Act for FY2013 (H.R. 4310), which authorizes the Secretaries of the various military services to transfer back to Lackland Air Force Base or another location for adoption any Military Working Dog (MWD) who is to be retired and for whom “no suitable adoption is …
Animal Fighting Spectator Prohibition Act - Animal Welfare Institute
On February 7, 2014, President Obama signed H.R. 2642, the Agricultural Act of 2014 into law. The Farm Bill, as it is more commonly known, included language from H.R. 366 and S. 666, the Animal Fighting Spectator Prohibition Act.
Animal Cruelty - Animal Welfare Institute
Animal cruelty involves gratuitously inflicting harm, injuring, or killing an animal. The cruelty can be intentional, such as kicking, burning, stabbing, beating, or shooting; or it can involve neglect, such as depriving an animal of water, shelter, food, and necessary medical treatment. Animal fighting, in which animals are trained or forced to attack each other in violent confrontations at ...
Crush Video Laws | Animal Welfare Institute
1. This would include, for example, a puppy mill operator who is engaged in interstate commerce and who drowns unwanted dogs. Exceptions are made, however, for normal veterinary or husbandry practices, hunting, trapping, fishing, predator or pest control, medical or scientific research, and actions to protect human life or property from serious threat.
Winter 2024 | Animal Welfare Institute
AWI reports from the 69th meeting of the International Whaling Commission. The outlook for animal welfare and the environment during a second Trump administration. Helping Mountain West communities become “Bear Smart.” USDA fails to clear confusion on animal welfare label claims. Horse advocates gather in DC and talk some horse sense into Congress.
Anti-whistleblower (“Ag-Gag”) Legislation | Animal Welfare Institute
Undercover investigations by animal advocates are a critical tool in exposing the cruel realities of factory farming. However, instead of passing laws to ensure farmed animals are protected from abuse and neglect on factory farms, industrial agriculture continues to introduce anti-whistleblower legislation (often referred to as “ag-gag” bills) to prevent the investigation and exposure of ...
China Overtakes US in Captive Orca Numbers
Dec 19, 2024 · Investigators have confirmed that, for the first time, China has overtaken the United States as holder of the highest number of captive orcas (22). A report released today by the China Cetacean Alliance (CCA) — a coalition of international and Chinese animal welfare organizations — indicates that most of these orcas are on …