Animal Welfare Institute · [email protected]

April 3, 2024 at 5:02 PM

Help Protect Vulnerable Farmed Animals During Transport!

Urge the USDA and Dairy Industry to Adopt Criteria to Ensure Vulnerable Animals Are Fit to Travel Prior to Transport    Dear John,   Each year, millions of farmed animals are subjected to long, grueling journeys across the United States for various purposes, including for breeding, feeding, and sla…

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February 29, 2024 at 9:14 PM

Support Proposed Rule to Restrict Lethal Predator Management on Refuges!

Encourage USFWS to Take Cruel Traps out of Its Toolkit on National Refuges Dear John,   Our national wildlife refuges are intended to be truly special places: protected havens where wildlife can thrive and we can enjoy beautiful natural landscapes. Recently, the US Fish and Wildlife Service proposed…

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February 7, 2024 at 5:54 PM

Farmed Animal Welfare Laws Are Under Attack!

Tell Congress to Reject Controversial Bills Imperiling Farmed Animal Welfare Dear John,   Last year, the US Supreme Court upheld California's Proposition 12, which prohibits the sale of animal products produced from animals cruelly confined to battery cages, gestation crates, or veal crates. In doin…

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February 1, 2024 at 7:09 PM

Tell Congress: Whales Do Not Belong in Captivity!

Tell Congress Whales Do Not Belong in Captivity!     Dear John,   The Strengthening Welfare in Marine Settings (SWIMS) Act (H.R. 7145/S. 3694) was reintroduced this week! If passed, this bill would phase out the captivity of certain cetacean species: orcas (also known as killer whales), beluga whale…

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January 18, 2024 at 11:04 PM

Save Critically Endangered North Atlantic Right Whales from Extinction!

Save Critically Endangered North Atlantic Right Whales from Extinction!     Dear John,  According to data from the National Marine Fisheries Service, vessel strikes remain one of the leading threats pushing critically endangered North Atlantic right whales toward extinction. Fewer than 360 North Atl…

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January 4, 2024 at 8:09 PM

Help Fight Cruelty in Slaughter Plants

USDA Must Do More to Reduce Cruelty in Slaughter Plants   Dear John,   Billions of chickens and hundreds of millions of turkeys, ducks, pigs, cattle, and other animals are slaughtered for food in the United States each year. All too often, while they await slaughter and during the slaughter process,…

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December 27, 2023 at 5:13 PM

Thank You for Taking Action for Animals in 2023!

Thank You for Taking Action for Animals in 2023!   Dear John,   Thank you for using AWI's Action Center to take action on important animal protection measures and help reduce animal suffering. We could not do this work without the stalwart support of our advocates.  Every three months, we publish th…

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December 21, 2023 at 5:04 PM

Tell the National Marine Fisheries Service to Protect Marine Mammals Now!

Tell the National Marine Fisheries Service to Protect Marine Mammals Now!    Dear John,   The risk of getting caught in fishing gear as "bycatch" is the leading threat to whales, dolphins, and other marine mammals. Every year, more than 650,000 marine mammals worldwide die or suffer serious injury w…

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October 30, 2023 at 7:06 PM

Save Donkeys from the Brutal Skin Trade

Urge Your Representative to Cosponsor the Ejiao Act Dear John,   Donkeys are valued and trusted companions around the world, yet these animals are being slaughtered in huge numbers due to the growing demand for ejiao (pronounced "eh-gee-yow"), a gelatin made from boiling donkey hides. This product i…

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October 17, 2023 at 6:10 PM

Protect Wildlife and Pets from Body-Gripping Traps

Let's Get Brutal Traps off Refuge LandsDear John,   Land in the National Wildlife Refuge System (NWRS) has been set aside as a haven for wildlife and as a treasured space for all Americans to enjoy the great outdoors. No wild animal, pet, or person should have to experience a bone-crushing trap snap…

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October 12, 2023 at 8:13 PM

Urgent: Help Stop US Imports and Sale of Banggai Cardinalfish

Help Protect the Banggai Cardinalfish from Import and Sale in the US Dear John,   Indonesia's Banggai archipelago is the only wild home of the boldly striped and spotted Banggai cardinalfish. Their distinctive markings, however, make them a popular ornamental fish in public and private aquariums. In…

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October 4, 2023 at 8:21 PM

Urgent: Protect Wild Horses in Theodore Roosevelt National Park

Tell NPS Not to Eliminate Wild Horses in Theodore Roosevelt National Park  Dear John,   Theodore Roosevelt National Park (TRNP) is home to North Dakota's only wild horses. The approximately 200 horses in this 70,000-acre national park are a significant tourist draw. Yet the National Park Service is …

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September 14, 2023 at 7:30 PM

Support the USDA's Push to Crack Down on Horse Soring

Tell the USDA You Support Its New Horse Protection Act RuleDear John,   The US Department of Agriculture has finally proposed long-overdue and critical reforms to strengthen enforcement of the Horse Protection Act (HPA) and protect Tennessee walking horses from the myriad abuses associated with "sor…

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August 16, 2023 at 8:08 PM

Tell the Biden Administration to Save Endangered Salmon and Southern Resident Orcas!

Tell the Biden Administration to Save Endangered Salmon and Southern Resident Orcas! Dear John,  Your action is needed before August 31!  In 2005, the Southern Resident population of orcas, whose 75 current members inhabit the coastal waters of the US Pacific Northwest and Canada's Vancouver Island,…

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August 9, 2023 at 3:13 PM

Tell Congress to Oppose Legislation Pushing North Atlantic Right Whales Toward Extinction!

Urge Congress to Protect Right Whales & Oppose H.R. 4323/S. 1833 Dear John,   Since 2017, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has documented 115 dead, seriously injured, or sick North Atlantic right whales (NARW). NOAA estimates this count only accounts for one-third of total NAR…

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August 2, 2023 at 4:06 PM

Farmed Animal Welfare Laws Are Under Attack!

Tell Congress to Reject the Controversial EATS ActDear John,   Recently, the US Supreme Court upheld California's Proposition 12, which prohibits the sale of animal products from animals cruelly confined to battery cages, gestation crates, or veal crates. In doing so, the court affirmed that the co…

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July 27, 2023 at 4:06 PM

Tell the USDA: Don't Withdraw Rule to End Horse Soring!

Tell the USDA to Finalize, Not Withdraw, Rule to End Horse SoringDear John,   Your action is needed before August 21! In January 2017, the US Department of Agriculture, under Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, issued a rule to strengthen enforcement of the Horse Protection Act (HPA). The purpos…

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July 25, 2023 at 2:20 PM

Urgent: Protect the Endangered Species Act from Congressional Attacks

Urge Congress Not to Gut Fundamental Endangered Species Act Protections Dear John,   This week, the House is gearing up to vote on two resolutions, which already passed the Senate, that aim to gut fundamental protections under the Endangered Species Act.   S.J. Res. 9 would nullify the final rule is…

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July 18, 2023 at 11:14 PM

Tell the USDA to Protect Consumers from Misleading Food Labels

Tell the USDA to Protect Consumers from Misleading Food LabelsDear John,   Recent investigations by AWI into the label approval process of the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) revealed insufficient review by the agency of high-value animal-raising claims such as "free range," "pastu…

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July 14, 2023 at 12:23 AM

Protect Wildlife, Pets, and Families from Deadly "Cyanide Bombs"

Protect Wildlife, Pets, and Families from Deadly "Cyanide Bombs"Dear John,   In 2017, the Mansfield family had its life changed forever. Canyon Mansfield, 14 years old at the time, was out on a walk with his dog, Kasey, near his home in Idaho when he accidentally triggered an M-44, a chemical poison…

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July 6, 2023 at 5:08 PM

Take Action to End Mink Fur Farming

Urge Your Representative to Support Bill to End Mink Farming!Dear John,   A new bill in Congress seeks to address the public health and animal welfare crisis created by farming mink for their fur. The "Mink: Vectors for Infection Risk in the United States Act" (Mink VIRUS Act, H.R. 3783), introduced…

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June 27, 2023 at 5:07 PM

Help Stop Cruel Transport of Horses

Urge Congress to Cosponsor the Horse Transportation Safety ActDear John,   The bipartisan Horse Transportation Safety Act (H.R. 4241) has been reintroduced in the US House of Representatives. Led by Reps. Steve Cohen (D-TN), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), and Dina Titus (D-NV), this legislation would pro…

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June 21, 2023 at 5:08 PM

Tell the USDA to End the Use of Heat Stroke to Kill Farmed Animals

Urge the Agency to Better Protect Animals From Bird Flu!Dear John,   In early 2022, highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), a.k.a. "bird flu," once again began infecting chickens, turkeys, and other farmed birds around the globe. While previous HPAI outbreaks have typically slowed or stopped durin…

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June 13, 2023 at 7:50 PM

Tell the USDA to Protect Horses from Abuse

Urge USDA to Finalize Rule to Protect Horses from Abuse!Dear John,   In January 2017, the US Department of Agriculture, under Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, issued a rule to strengthen enforcement of the Horse Protection Act (HPA). The purpose of the rule was to crack down on the pervasive pr…

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June 8, 2023 at 8:51 PM

This World Ocean Day, Urge Congress to Protect Marine Mammals from the Climate Crisis!

This World Ocean Day, Urge Congress to Protect Marine Mammals from the Climate Crisis! Dear John,   With disastrous floods, hurricanes, and wildfires occurring worldwide, signs of climate change are everywhere. While out of sight for many, changes are also occurring offshore that pose serious threat…

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May 25, 2023 at 9:00 PM

Protect Wild Horses from Brutal Helicopter Roundups

Protect Wild Horses from Brutal Helicopter RoundupsDear John,   The Bureau of Land Management is tasked with managing the vast majority of our nation's federally protected wild horses and burros. But for decades, the agency has relied on a broken approach that involves removing these animals from th…

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May 23, 2023 at 4:11 PM

Call on Congress to Stop the Slaughter of American Horses

Urge Your Representative to Support the SAFE Act Today!Dear John,   The Save America's Forgotten Equines (SAFE) Act, H.R. 3475, has been introduced in the House of Representatives by Reps. Vern Buchanan (R-FL) and Jan Schakowsky (D-IL). This bill would ban horse slaughter in the United States, while…

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May 11, 2023 at 5:08 PM

Urge Congress to End the Abusive Practice of Soring Horses

Ask Your Representative to Cosponsor the PAST ActDear John,   "Soring"--which involves intentionally inflicting pain on a horse's hooves and front limbs to produce an exaggerated high-stepping gait known as the Big Lick--remains a persistent and rampant practice in Tennessee walking horse competitio…

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May 8, 2023 at 11:08 PM

Congressional Attacks on the Endangered Species Act are Increasing - Act Now!

Urge Congress to Preserve Endangered Species Act ProtectionsDear John,   I emailed you recently about a Senate vote on a resolution to eliminate Endangered Species Act protections for the lesser prairie-chicken. Unfortunately, despite an outpouring of opposition from advocates like yourself, that re…

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April 24, 2023 at 7:36 PM

Urgent: Protect the Lesser Prairie-Chicken from Congressional Attacks

Urge Congress Not to Remove Endangered Species Act Protections for the Lesser Prairie-ChickenDear John,   Protections for the lesser prairie-chicken are again under attack in Congress. This bird, which was listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) in 2022, has declined in abundance by 20% since…

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April 21, 2023 at 5:10 PM

Dimmitt, TX Dairy Fire: Take Action to Help Prevent Another Tragedy

Tell the Dairy Industry to Do More to Protect Cows from Barn FiresDear John,   Last week, a deadly fire happened at South Fork Dairy--a massive dairy factory farm in Dimmitt, Texas--killing an astounding 18,000 cows. This is the deadliest fire involving cattle since AWI first began tracking these i…

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April 14, 2023 at 6:06 PM

Help Stop Deceptive Labeling

Help Stop Deceptive Labeling!Dear John,   What image comes to mind when you see "free range," "pasture raised," or "humanely raised" on the label of a meat or poultry product? Cows contentedly grazing in an open field? Pigs basking in the sunshine? Chickens pecking at insects in the yard?  What you …

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April 6, 2023 at 9:10 PM

Tell the USDA to Improve Standards for Animals

Submit a Comment in Support of Improved Animal Care Standards Dear John,   The US Department of Agriculture, which is responsible for enforcing the Animal Welfare Act, is requesting comments on its plan to propose regulations to improve the handling of wild and exotic animals, as well as the trainin…

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March 6, 2023 at 6:10 PM

Urge Congress to Curb Large Factory Farms in the 2023 Farm Bill!

Tell Your Members of Congress to Support the Farm System Reform Act!Dear John,   Each year, over 9 billion animals are slaughtered in the United States for food. The vast majority of these animals are raised on concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs)--conventional, industrial agriculture faci…

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February 28, 2023 at 4:58 PM

Urgent Action Needed to Protect the Critically Endangered Taiwanese White Dolphin

Ask Congress to Urge Taiwan's Government to Protect the Critically Endangered Taiwanese White DolphinDear John,   Join the effort to save the endangered Taiwanese white dolphin (TWD)--a subspecies of the Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin that is found only on the west coast of Taiwan! With fewer than 6…

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February 22, 2023 at 11:25 PM

Wild Elephants Should Not Be Trophies or Zoo Exhibits - Act Now

Wild Elephants Should Not Be Trophies or Zoo Exhibits - Act Now! Dear John,   African elephants are imperiled due a multitude of threats, including poaching, habitat loss, and human-elephant conflict. They should not face additional threats from trophy hunters and those who want to capture them for …

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January 31, 2023 at 9:11 PM

Urge Congress to Protect Farm Animals from Extreme Weather!

Urge Your US Representative to Cosponsor the Emergency and Disaster Preparedness for Farm Animals Act (H.R. 243).Dear John,   Each year, hundreds of thousands to millions of farmed animals suffer and die during extreme weather events. In 2018, for example, approximately 5.5 million poultry and pigs…

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January 23, 2023 at 10:21 PM

Urgent: Protect Wild Horses in Theodore Roosevelt National Park

Tell NPS Not to Eliminate Wild Horses in Theodore Roosevelt National Park  Dear John,   Theodore Roosevelt National Park (TRNP) is home to North Dakota's only herd of wild horses. These beloved and unique equines--which have inhabited the park's badlands since long before TRNP was established--are a…

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December 18, 2022 at 2:53 AM

URGENT Action Needed to Protect Right Whales!

Take Action to Stop a Poison Pill That Will Condemn Right Whales Dear John,   As Congress works to finalize the Fiscal Year 2023 spending package, Sen. Collins (R-ME) is proposing concerning language related to the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan (ALWTRP). This rider would all but ensure t…

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December 14, 2022 at 11:38 PM

Urge Congress to Invest in Beaver Coexistence Measures

Urge Your Representative to Cosponsor the DAMS for Beavers Act! Dear John,   Beavers are a keystone species whose dams create ponds and wetlands that help replenish groundwater, serve as buffers against wildfires, and provide habitat for a wide variety of wildlife. Unfortunately, beaver activity can…

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December 5, 2022 at 6:12 PM

Urge Lawmakers to Support Responsible Wild Horse Management

Urge Lawmakers to Support Responsible Wild Horse ManagementDear John,   Rep. Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ), chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee, along with Reps. David Schweikert (R-AZ), Joe Neguse (D-CO), Steve Cohen (D-TN), Dina Titus (D-NV), and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), recently introduced…

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November 22, 2022 at 7:44 PM

DC Could Prohibit Fur Sales: Make Your Voice Heard

DC Could Prohibit Fur Sales: Make Your Voice Heard Dear John,   In urban societies, fur coats and trim are vanity products, and millions of animals suffer and die needlessly for these "luxury" garments. Animals farmed for their fur lead miserable, deprived lives in cramped, barren cages. Furs are al…

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November 2, 2022 at 11:46 PM

Only 8 Days Left to Act! Urge the USDA to Finalize Organic Animal Welfare Standards

Support Higher Standards for Organic Animal Products: Submit a Comment to the USDA by November 10! Dear John,   Thanks to members like you making your voices heard, the US Department of Agriculture is proposing to reinstate regulations (withdrawn by the previous administration) that would lead to s…

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October 25, 2022 at 4:13 PM

Ask Congress to AVERT Future Violence Against Animals and People

Ask Congress to AVERT Future Violence Against Animals and People Dear John,   Time and time again, we learn that individuals who have committed violent acts against others--whether a spouse, a parent, or the 21 schoolchildren and teachers gunned down this year in Uvalde, Texas--also have a history …

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October 14, 2022 at 1:57 AM

Will You Help Animals by Making a Plan to Vote?

Will You Help Animals by Making a Plan to Vote?  Dear John,  The election is just around the corner, and your vote can be incredibly important for animals!  Your legislators at the federal, state, and local levels make crucial policy decisions about everything from improving welfare standards for fa…

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September 27, 2022 at 10:14 PM

Call on Congress to Include Animal Welfare Improvements in 2023 Farm Bill

Call on Congress to Include Animal Welfare Improvements in 2023 Farm Bill Dear John,  In 2023, Congress must pass a new Farm Bill, as it is required to do every five years. The Farm Bill is a massive piece of legislation covering a vast range of programs in agriculture and other sectors.  AWI is al…

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September 22, 2022 at 3:16 PM

Encourage the Dairy Industry to Strengthen and Enforce Their Animal Welfare Standards

Encourage the Dairy Industry to Strengthen and Enforce Their Animal Welfare Standards Dear John,    Farmers Assuring Responsible Management (FARM) is an industry program that provides audits and certifications for dairy producers and processors based on standards in five categories, including anima…

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September 12, 2022 at 10:04 PM

Help Ban Wildlife Killing Contests on Federal Public Lands

Ban Wildlife Killing Contests on Federal Public Lands Dear John,   Every year, thousands of wild animals across the US are slaughtered in wildlife killing contests. These contests are organized events in which participants compete to kill animals within a certain timeframe. Cash or prizes are typi…

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September 8, 2022 at 8:15 PM

Urge the USDA to Finalize Organic Animal Welfare Standards

Support Higher Standards for Organic Animal Products by Submitting a Comment to the USDA! Dear John,   Thanks to members like you making your voices heard, the US Department of Agriculture is proposing to reinstate regulations, withdrawn by the previous administration, which would lead to significa…

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August 18, 2022 at 10:25 PM

Urge Indonesia's President to Protect Endangered Orangutans

Urge Indonesia's President to Protect Endangered Orangutans Dear John,   Orangutans, the only wild great ape species found in Asia, are under serious threat due to habitat loss, illegal killing, the pet trade, and wildfires used to clear land for agricultural and pulpwood production. Orangutans are…

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