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Margie Fishman
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Animal Welfare Institute
(202) 337-2332
[email protected]
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Latest News
UN World Heritage Committee to Mexico: Save Vanishing Porpoise or Risk 'In Danger' Status for Gulf of California World Heritage Site
Thursday, July 14, 2016
At its 40th session this week, the United Nation’s World Heritage Committee (Committee) directed Mexico to take immediate action to save the imperiled vaquita porpoise, or risk “in danger” status for its “Islands and Protected...
Half a Million People Urge US Fish and Wildlife Service Not to Abandon Red Wolves
Wednesday, July 13, 2016
A petition including nearly half a million signatures was delivered to the US Fish and Wildlife Service today, urging the agency to fulfill its legal duty under the Endangered Species Act to recover the critically...
Groups Demand More Aggressive Action From Mexico to Save Vanishing Vaquita Porpoise
Thursday, July 07, 2016
Conservationists rallied outside the Mexican Embassy today to highlight the plight of the vaquita marina, the world’s smallest and most endangered porpoise, found only in Mexico’s Gulf of California. The species population has declined more...
Coalition, 120,000+ Supporters Band Together to Improve the Certified Organic Label
Wednesday, July 06, 2016
A coalition of animal, environmental, and consumer protection organizations submitted a joint comment today to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) on its proposed rule to amend animal welfare requirements under the Certified Organic label...
AWI Applauds Public Safety and Wildlife Protection Act Introduction
Monday, June 27, 2016
Representatives Alma Adams (D-NC) and Nita Lowey (D-NY) have introduced the Public Safety and Wildlife Protection Act (H.R. 5560), a bill that would curtail the use of steel-jaw leghold traps and Conibear (also known as...
Court Asked to Stop US Fish & Wildlife Service from Capturing, Killing Wild Red Wolves
Tuesday, June 21, 2016
Conservation groups late yesterday asked the US District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina to stop the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) from capturing and killing—and authorizing private landowners to capture and...
New Report Details Norway's Efforts to Promote Whaling
Monday, June 13, 2016
Norway is now the world’s leading whaling nation, killing more whales in the past two years than Japan and Iceland combined. A new report released today calls on the international community to respond to Norway’s...
AWI Statement in Response to False Online Petitions
Wednesday, June 08, 2016
Over the past few months, the Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) has been the target of several online petitions, circulated on Change.org and spread through social media networks, which falsely claim AWI supports the cruel killing...
Lawsuit Challenges Monterey County's Contract with Federal Wildlife-Killing Program
Wednesday, June 01, 2016
Animal protection and conservation organizations filed a lawsuit today challenging Monterey County’s contract renewal with the US Department of Agriculture’s Wildlife Services—a notorious federal wildlife-killing program that has killed more than 3,000 coyotes, bobcats, mountain...
Groups File Notice of Intent to Sue to Protect Ocelots from Controversial Wildlife-Killing Agency
Thursday, May 26, 2016
The Center for Biological Diversity and the Animal Welfare Institute today filed a notice of intent to sue the US Department of Agriculture to ensure that endangered ocelots aren’t inadvertently killed as part of its...
Emergency Petition Filed to Save Plummeting Red Wolf Population
Tuesday, May 24, 2016
Conservation groups submitted an emergency petition today calling on the US Fish and Wildlife Service to take immediate steps to bolster flagging protections for the world’s only wild population of red wolves—which has declined by...
Santa Cruz Biotechnology Agrees to $3.5M Fine, License Revocation
Friday, May 20, 2016
The Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) lauds the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) for reaching a settlement agreement in its multiple cases against Santa Cruz Biotechnology, Inc. (SCBT)—one of the world’s largest research antibody suppliers—resulting in...
Senate Appropriations Committee Votes to Block Horse Slaughter for Another Year
Thursday, May 19, 2016
Today, the Senate Appropriations Committee voice voted in favor of an amendment to the FY17 Agriculture Appropriations bill to prohibit the USDA from spending any funds to inspect horse slaughter facilities. The committee has approved...
Vaquita Population Plummets to Just 60 Individuals
Saturday, May 14, 2016
Scientists have announced that fewer than 60 vaquita porpoises likely remain on Earth, down from 245 in 2008. The vaquita is the world’s smallest and most endangered porpoise, found only in Mexico’s northern Gulf of...
130,000 Call on Olive Garden to Adopt Ethical 'Good Food' Practices
Thursday, May 12, 2016
Washington, DC— Advocacy organizations and their supporters demonstrated at Olive Garden restaurants across the United States today to urge the chain and its parent company, Darden Restaurant Inc.,to improve food-sourcing and labor practices.
Taiwanese Humpback Dolphin Moves Toward Endangered Species Act Protection
Wednesday, May 11, 2016
The National Marine Fisheries Service today took a step toward protecting rare Taiwanese humpback dolphins, finding that listing the species under the Endangered Species Act may be warranted. The decision comes in response to a...
AWI Statement on Ringling Bros. Ending Elephant Acts
Friday, April 29, 2016
May 1 marks the end of elephants being hauled around the country to perform for Ringling Bros. circus. While we celebrate the termination of this cruel and archaic practice, tragically, the elephants will not be...
Mendocino County Cancels Lethal Predator Control
Wednesday, April 27, 2016
In a major victory for opponents of animal cruelty, the Mendocino County Board of Supervisors has agreed to perform a full Environmental Impact Report (EIR) under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and immediately suspend...
New Hampshire Withdraws Proposal for Bobcat Hunting and Trapping Seasons
Wednesday, April 13, 2016
The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department today withdrew a proposed administrative rule that would have allowed bobcat hunting and trapping in the state for the first time since 1989.
AWI Statement on Proposed Animal Welfare Regulations for the Certified Organic Label
Thursday, April 07, 2016
The Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) commends the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) for proposing requirements for the welfare of animals raised under the Certified Organic label. AWI generally supports the proposed regulations, which are based...