THE NLEC IS A GROUP OF CURRENT AND FORMER LOCAL AND STATE PROSECUTORS, ATTORNEYS GENERAL, AND OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT PROFESSIONALS
Putting law enforcement professionals in the forefront of the nation's work to combat animal cruelty, the NLEC is chaired by former Oklahoma Attorney General Drew Edmondson and former Clatsop County (Ore.) District Attorney Josh Marquis and has 29 members.

Our mission:

• Fortifying the legal framework against animal cruelty
• Ensuring that all of our animal welfare laws are robustly enforced at all levels of government

Law Enforcement Agencies in 17 States Speak Out for Animal Cruelty Enforcement Act
Animal Wellness Action has been hard at work reaching out to law enforcement organizations across the country to boost support for the Animal Cruelty Enforcement Act, H.R. 1016, which would establish a dedicated division at the Department of Justice to assist in investigating and prosecuting federal animal cruelty crimes. It is well documented that legal standards proscribing cruelty are routinely underenforced, which has clear and direct implications for the animal victims of cruelty and neglect.

Go here to read more.

Center for a Humane Economy Files Legal Actions to Halt Illicit Sales of Kangaroo-Skin Soccer Cleats in California
The Center for a Humane Economy and Animal Wellness Action filed two lawsuits within three months against two largescale soccer retailers flouting California law by selling soccer cleats made from kangaroo skins. The origins of kangaroo skin soccer cleats are particularly cruel. Hunters in Australia kill 2 million kangaroos each year in their native habitats, sending the kangaroo skins to Nike, Puma and adidas to make shoes and sell them across the United States where they are legal, except for in the sunshine state.

Get the complete story.

Ryder’s Death Brings Rallying Cries of Justice Carriage Horses
News that a New York City carriage horse named Ryder died two months after collapsing on the streets of the city has brought forth rallying cries for justice. Ryder is the bay gelding who fell on Aug. 10 in New York City while pulling a carriage. His story is one of the most visible cases of suspected animal cruelty and his death has brought the issue of justice for Ryder and for all carriage horses into the spotlight once again.

More about our Carriage Horse work can be found here.

Family Pleads Guilty to Federal Charges in Major Cockfighting Case
In August, seven Alabama residents pled guilty in federal court to a range of charges related to their vast cockfighting empire that stretched from Central Alabama into Mexico and all the way to the Philippines. Animal Wellness Action and the Animal Wellness Foundation has urged the federal court considering the United States’ criminal case against Brent Easterling, William Easterling, and five other family members based in Verbena, Alabama, to mete out prison time and six-figure fines on the perpetrators.

What you need to know can be found here.

National Policy is Needed to Protect Beagles from Needless Animal Testing
The U.S. Department of Justice shut down a contract dog-breeding facility in rural Virginia and ordered the release of more than 4,000 beagles who would have otherwise been destined for invasive experiments in laboratories, mainly for drug development. While it’s a just outcome for the dogs, it’s no substitute for systemic reform.

Read here why FDA Modernization is an issue for us.

Fighting for the Big Cat Public Safety Act
National Law Enforcement Council cochair Drew Edmondson published a piece in The Oklahoman Oct. 16 on his support for the Big Cat Public Safety Act. You can read it here.