Press Releases

The International Whaling Commission (IWC) has unfortunately approved a request by the United States for an aboriginal subsistence whaling (ASW) quota for the Makah Tribe of Northwest Washington State.

The language to disallow funding for inspections, originally passed into law in 2005 with bipartisan support, has effectively halted horse slaughter operations on American soil for years—that is, until late last year when three legislators...

The Animal Welfare Institute commends the Illinois General Assembly for passing and sending to the governor legislation that allows the prosecution of leaders of dog fighting networks under Illinois’ anti-racketeering (RICO) laws, providing an important...

The Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) today requested a USDA Inspector General audit of the USDA Process Verified Program, which certifies some products as “humanely raised” when in fact they come from animals suffering on conventional...

The Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) and Project Coyote expressed grave concerns in response to the North Carolina Wildlife Resource Commission’s decision to allow unlimited night hunting of coyotes and feral pigs, which could begin this...

Conservation and animal welfare groups expressed concern today over news that Iceland’s endangered fin whale hunt will resume this summer.

As part of the “Horses on the Hill” event, celebrities, school children and citizen advocates joined Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., sponsor of the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act (S. 1176 / H.R. 2966), at the...

Mayor Vincent Gray has officially proclaimed April 28th, 2012 to be Save the Frogs Day in the District of Columbia to help bring awareness to the ecological importance of frogs. The Animal Welfare Institute and...

In recognition of April as Animal Cruelty Awareness Month, the Animal Welfare Institute announces the availability of the Animal Cruelty Crime Statistics: Findings from a Survey of State Uniform Crime Reporting Programs. For the first...

Last week the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) began posting on the agency’s website letters sent to slaughter plants found to be in violation of federal regulations governing the humane handling and slaughter...

The Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) commends Representatives Howard “Buck” McKeon (R-CA) and Loretta Sanchez (D-CA) for introducing the “Big Cats and Public Safety Protection Act” (H.R. 4122) last week. If passed, this legislation would prohibit...

The Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) commends the House of Representatives for unanimously passing H.R. 306, the Corolla Wild Horses Protection Act, introduced by Representative Walter B. Jones (R-NC). This bill will provide for a new...

The Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) is pleased to report that the American Energy and Infrastructure Jobs Act, H.R. 7, approved earlier today by the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee includes a prohibition on the hauling...

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...

On Monday, November 14, 2011, US Assistant Attorney General Laurie Robinson, who heads the US Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs, presented the Animal Welfare Institute’s (AWI) Albert Schweitzer Medal to three outstanding prosecutors.

White-nose Syndrome (WNS) is decimating bat populations, and the Animal Welfare Institute wants everyone to step up to help stop it by signing a petition to the White House before November 25 to tell the...

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...

On Monday, November 14, 2011, US Assistant Attorney General Laurie Robinson, who heads the US Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs, will present the Animal Welfare institute’s (AWI) Albert Schweitzer Medal to three outstanding...

Defying a worldwide ban on trade in whale products, Iceland is openly selling whale meat packaged for export in the departure area at Keflavik airport to travelers who, if they make the purchase, risk stiff...

The City Council of Calabasas, California, voted unanimously on Wednesday to prohibit any city funds from being spent on coyote trapping and to instead adopt a coyote management plan that shifts the focus from killing...