News from the Animal Welfare Institute

AWI Press Release: Federal Lawsuit Filed Over Industrial Wind Project that Jeopardized Endangered Bats

2009-06-11T08:34:00.002-04:00

Washington, D.C. (June 11, 2009) – Charging that a massive wind energy project threatens endangered bats, the Animal Welfare Institute, a national animal protection organization, along with the West Virginia-based Mountain Communities for Responsible Energy and other conservationists, have filed what is believed to be the first federal lawsuit challenging an industrial wind energy project on environmental grounds. The lawsuit, brought under the Endangered Species Act (“ESA”) and filed in U.S. District Court in Maryland, contends that a massive wind power facility slated for Greenbrier County, West Virginia, will unlawfully kill and injure Indiana bats – a highly endangered species known to live in caves in close proximity to the project site.

As planned, the Beech Ridge wind project will include 124 wind turbines nearly four hundred feet tall along a twenty-three mile stretch of forested Appalachian mountain ridgelines. In addition to turbine construction, Beech Ridge Energy and its parent companies also plan to install habitat-destroying roads, buildings, and transmission lines that are necessary to operate the facility.

The project is especially concerning because of its impacts when considered in conjunction with White Nose Syndrome (“WNS”) – a disease that is ravaging bat species in the eastern United States at an alarming rate. Last week the House Natural Resources Committee convened an oversight hearing seeking a solution before time runs out for the Indiana bat and many other at-risk bat species.

Poorly sited wind power projects in the eastern U.S. have already killed and maimed scores of bats, and leading bat experts predict that, without reforms, hundreds of thousands more will be killed in coming years, imperiling populations already being decimated by WNS and other forms of habitat destruction. According to conservative estimates, the Beech Ridge project alone is expected to kill more than 130,000 bats over a twenty-year period.

Although properly sited wind power projects may help in mitigating global climate change, numerous projects are being built without adequately addressing wildlife and other environmental impacts. According to D.J. Schubert, wildlife biologist at the Animal Welfare Institute, “Wind power may be part of the solution to climate change, but locations such as the Beech Ridge project site are entirely inappropriate for industrial wind facilities. We cannot allow a new ecological crisis to be created in the name of solving an existing one.”

“We were hoping to avoid a federal lawsuit,” said John Stroud, spokesperson for Mountain Communities for Responsible Energy. “However, Beech Ridge Energy is currently moving forward with construction despite repeated requests to first bring the project into compliance with the Endangered Species Act to ensure that the Indiana bat is afforded the full protections of the law.”

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The plaintiffs include the Animal Welfare Institute and Mountain Communities for Responsible Energy, and are represented by the Washington, D.C. public interest law firm of Meyer Glitzenstein & Crystal. All legal inquiries should be directed to William Eubanks. The complaint filed today can be downloaded here.

AWI Press Release: Bill to Restore Protections to American Icon Passes House Natural Resources Committee

2009-04-29T17:24:00.003-04:00

If you are unable to view this press release, please visit http://www.awionline.org/news/2009/roam_wild_horse_passes_committee.htm

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

BILL TO RESTORE PROTECTIONS OF AMERICAN ICONS PASSES

HOUSE NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE

Washington, DC (April 29, 2009) – The Restoring Our American Mustangs Act (H.R. 1018) today passed out of the House Natural Resources Committee. Known as the ROAM Act, the bill was introduced by Committee Chairman Nick Rahall (D-WV) and National Parks, Forests and Public Lands Subcommittee Chairman Raúl M. Grijalva (D-AZ) earlier this year. It is intended to restore protections for America’s wild horses and burros that were stripped out of the 1971 Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act in recent years.

“Protection and management of the wild horses and burros on our public lands is an important federal responsibility - but it is clear that the federal government has not been adequately meeting that responsibility,” said Chairman Rahall. “This legislation will remedy many of the critical lapses that are taking place under the 1971 Act by invoking a number of commonsense measures, including preventing the BLM from resorting to slaughter as a solution for management.”

Originally intended to prevent the sale of America’s wild horses and burros for commercial purposes, a key provision of the original 1971 Act was gutted when then Senator Conrad Burns (R-MT) attached a midnight rider to an Omnibus spending bill in 2004 that instructed the Bureau of Land Management to sell horses “without limitation”. In reality, this meant that the captured animals were destined for livestock auctions where they would be purchased for slaughter.

“Ever since the Burns rider became law it’s been a game of constant vigilance for the American public and members of Congress. The simple and right thing to do is to restore this provision while revamping and improving the larger statute. Not only will the ROAM Act ensure that our mustangs and burros are once again protected from slaughter, but it seeks to reclaim land – some 19 million acres – taken away from these magnificent animals since the 1971 Act was signed into law,” said Chris Heyde, Deputy Director of Government and Legal Affairs for the Animal Welfare Institute. “The Animal Welfare Institute is immensely grateful to Chairman Rahall and Chairman Grijalva for their leadership on this responsible legislation.”

At a time when there are nearly as many wild horses and burros in captivity as there are in the wild, the legislation has met with enthusiasm from the public and within the humane and wild horse advocacy community. Passage of the ROAM Act will mean that the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), which currently has primary authority for managing these animals, must focus on managing them as an integral part of the thriving natural ecological balance.

“It is imperative that we protect and preserve America's wild horses as a ‘living national treasure,’” said Subcommittee Chairman Raúl M. Grijalva. “The antiquated policies concerning these magnificent creatures must be change to reflect what Americans want for these horses today.”

The ROAM Act now moves to the full House of Representatives for consideration.

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For more information contact:

Chris Heyde, 202-446-2142

For over 58 years, the Animal Welfare Institute has been the leading voice for animals across the country and on Capitol Hill. Please join us in our ongoing campaigns to reduce the sum total of pain and fear inflicted on animals by humans. Sign up for AWI eAlerts to receive the latest news on what you can do to help us protect all animals: www.awionline.org/joinus.

AWI Press Release: Senator Kerry introduces the Shark Conservation Act of 2009

2009-04-23T17:07:00.003-04:00

If you are unable to view this release, please visit: http://www.awionline.org/news/2009/111th_Senate_Shark_Fin_Intro.htm

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Senator Kerry introduces the Shark Conservation Act of 2009

WASHINGTON, D.C. (April 22, 2009) – Sharks may soon receive much-needed protection from finning, a practice by which their fins are cut off while the animal is still alive. Their mutilated bodies are then thrown back into the ocean, where they endure long, painful deaths from blood loss, suffocation or predation by other species. This cruel practice kills an estimated 73 million sharks each year, and was therefore outlawed in the U.S. in 2000. Enforcement of the law, however, has been hampered by loopholes.

Today, Senator John Kerry (D-MA) introduced the Shark Conservation Act of 2009, which will close these loopholes and strengthen the federal ban on shark finning. “Shark finning fueled by the foreign fin trade has led to serious population decline and disruption of our waters,” the Senator said. “We need much stronger solutions to end this illicit trade and current protections haven’t gotten the job done. We need to get serious.” The House version of the bill, introduced by Representative Madeleine Bordallo (D-GU), was approved by the House of Representatives in March.

The bill requires that any fin aboard a vessel be naturally attached to the body of a shark, including fins that are transferred from one vessel to another. Enforcement officials have stated that this requirement is the only way to fully uphold a shark finning ban.

Since sharks are a top predator in the oceans, their removal damages the rest of the marine ecosystem. As animals who are slow to mature, with already small populations, sharks are extremely vulnerable to overfishing and exploitation. Unfortunately, millions of sharks are still targeted for their fins to meet the demand for shark fin soup, and millions more die annually as bycatch. Some species whose fins are highly prized include the spiny dogfish, as well as blue, hammerhead and whale sharks, which only reach sexual maturity at around 25 years of age.

“We are grateful to Senator Kerry for his leadership in seeking protection of sharks, and we look forward to the enactment of this vital law by Congress,” says Serda Ozbenian of the Animal Welfare Institute.

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For More Information:
Serda Ozbenian – 202-446-2144

Attempt to Overturn Illinois Horse Slaughter Ban Stalled in House

2009-04-03T18:13:00.003-04:00

Washington, DC (April 3, 2009) - The Animal Welfare Institute commends the Illinois General Assembly's House of Representatives for reaffirming their commitment to equine welfare by opposing an attempt to overturn the state's 2007 ban on horse slaughter on the House floor today.

On April 1, just after the day’s business began, state Representative Jim Sacia called for a vote on his bill to overturn the horse slaughter ban, which closed the last remaining slaughterhouse in 2007. However, when he realized he did not have the necessary 60 votes for passage, he employed a technical procedure called “tabling,” which removes the bill from consideration before failure. He did this so he could have more time to try and gain additional votes. He had until the end of the day today to try and have the bill considered before the House, which proved unsuccessful. However, the General Assembly remains in session until May 31, so we must remain vigilant to ensure this legislation does not come up again.

"It is a real shame to see Rep. Sacia waste so much of his colleagues' time on an issue advocating horse abuse, with so many pressing issues to consider before the end of the session. The original ban was strongly supported by the residents of Illinois and the majority of Americans. Overturning it would reestablish a cruel industry and only benefit a foreign owned horse slaughterhouse," said Chris Heyde, AWI's deputy director of Government and Legal Affair.

During the floor debate, advocates of horse slaughter told tall tales of horses being dumped all over the state and one even said without slaughter, residents would soon see cars hitting horses on highways. Sadly, fear and emotional spin are all horse slaughter advocates have on their side when debating this issue. None of the claims about increased abuse and abandonment have been proven true in Illinois or elsewhere. Certainly, subsisting one form of abuse – slaughter – for another – abandonment – is no excuse. The truth that horse slaughter is cruel and perpetuates irresponsibility is irrefutable, which is why support for ending horse slaughter remains high. The majority of legislators in Illinois realize this is a bad bill and we are sure this sentiment will continue to hold.

"Maintaining the state ban in Illinois is crucial because it closed the last operating horse slaughter facility in the US," noted Heyde. "This, along with the immediate passage of the federal Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act (H.R. 503/S. 727) will ensure an end to one form of preventable cruelty."

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For More Information:
Chris Heyde, 202-446-2142

Bill to Ban Horse Slaughter Introduced in US Senate

2009-03-26T17:37:00.010-04:00

Washington, DC (March 26, 2009) – A bill to ban horse slaughter was introduced in the United States Senate today. Sponsored by Senators Mary Landrieu (D-LA) and John Ensign (R-NV), S. 727, the Landrieu-Ensign "Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act" will end the slaughter of American horses here and abroad. The sponsors, who have long championed the cause, have the bipartisan support of 14 colleagues who are co-sponsoring the bill.

The legislation comes at a time when horse slaughter no longer occurs on U.S. soil, but each year tens of thousands of American horses continue to be hauled to Canada, Mexico and further abroad. Reports show that horses regularly travel for hundreds or even thousands of miles to the slaughterhouses on double-deck cattle trucks without food, water or rest. At some Mexican slaughterhouses horses are stabbed repeatedly in the spine until they are paralyzed, after which they are butchered while still fully conscious. This country’s three remaining horse slaughter plants – two in Texas and one in Illinois – were shut down in 2007 under state law. Since then, the pro-slaughter camp has led a concerted and disingenuous effort to resurrect the industry domestically, and has used scare tactics in an attempt to defeat the federal ban. The federal legislation is desperately needed to stop the slaughter of American horses, irrespective of where the killing takes place.

In her statement on the Senate floor (see below), bill sponsor Senator Mary Landrieu said, "America's horses are being beaten and dragged across the border into Mexico and Canada so that they can be inhumanely slaughtered for food. I will continue to fight in Congress to end this brutal practice and ensure that American horses will no longer be savagely slaughtered for human consumption."

While horse slaughter no longer occurs on U.S. soil the absence of a federal statute means that horses are shipped out of the country for slaughter. Reports show that horses regularly travel for hundreds or even thousands of miles to the slaughterhouses on double-deck cattle trucks without food, water or rest. At some Mexican slaughterhouses horses are stabbed repeatedly in the spine until they are paralyzed, after which they are butchered while still fully conscious.

"The time to put an end to the practice of slaughtering horses in America is long overdue," said Senator John Ensign said. "Horses have an important role in the history of our country, particularly the West, and they deserve our protection. As a senator and a veterinarian, I am committed to doing what I can for these magnificent animals."

The Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act will amend Title 18 of the U.S. Code to acknowledge horse slaughter as a form of animal cruelty. The legislation includes stiff civil and criminal penalties and gives law enforcement officials the authority to apprehend and charge violators.

“We have great confidence that the Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act will move quickly. The bill, which has had strong support from a majority of Congress and the American public, is long overdue. For years I have pleaded with the pro-horse slaughter camp to stop misleading the public but they are more concerned with wringing a few bucks from a suffering animal than doing what is right. Thankfully we have the majority of Congress advocating for change and this is the year that will happen,” said Chris Heyde, Deputy Director of Legislative and Government Affairs for the Animal Welfare Institute. “AWI commends Senator Landrieu, Senator Ensign and their colleagues for introducing this very important measure.”

An identical version, HR 503, was introduced earlier this year in the House of Representatives by House Judiciary Chairman John Conyers, Jr. (D-MI) and Representative Dan Burton (R-IN). There are currently 112 bipartisan cosponsors of the Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act in the House of Representatives.

To take action on this important bill visit AWI's Compassion Index.

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For More Information:
Chris Heyde, 202-446-2142

AWI Press Release: Exxon Valdez Oil Spill - Remembering the Millions Who Died and the Ongoing Devastating Consequences

2009-03-23T17:14:00.001-04:00

Washington, DC (March 23, 2009) – 20 years ago tomorrow, the single-hulled Exxon Valdez oil tanker collided with the Bligh Reef in Alaska, spilling 11 million gallons of crude oil into the pristine and ecologically significant Prince William Sound. The massive spill – caused by human error and lack of oversight - ruined one of America’s most treasured natural areas and caused the deaths of millions of animals. Some species are still unrecovered today and the environment remains blanketed in oil. The Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) remembers the more than 3,000 sea otters, 300 harbor seals, 250,000 murres, 14 orcas, and countless fish, benthic invertebrates, and other species who died, oftentimes horrible deaths, because of the spill.

A 2009 status report from the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council states, ”…Exxon Valdez oil persists in the environment and, in places, is nearly as toxic as it was the first few weeks after the spill”. Although two decades have passed, as much as 16,000 gallons of oil persists in the Sound's intertidal zones, continuing to poison wildlife.

Animals such as the harlequin duck have been slow to recover and show elevated levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from continued exposure to oil. The persistence of subsurface oils is particularly problematic for species like sea otters who dig for clams, exposing buried oil in the process. Pacific herring and the pigeon guillemot populations have still not recovered. The small AT1 population of orcas will likely become extinct, marking the death of a priceless genetic lineage and a complex society that has inhabited the region for thousands of years.

The Oil Spill Pollution Act was unanimously passed by Congress in 1990 in response to public concern over the spill. The Act contains provisions to prevent similar catastrophes from recurring including a conversion of oil tankers to double-hulled, the establishment of spill contingency plans, and the creation of regional advisory councils to monitor the actions of the oil industry. Although we may now be better prepared to respond to further spills, human and mechanical errors are still huge risks that can never be eliminated. "It took the deaths of over a million creatures for improvements to be mandated on the oil companies" said Serda Ozbenian, AWI Research Assistant "let them not have died in vain."

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Contact:
Susan Millward – 202-640-9606

AWI Press Release: Animal Welfare Institute Establishes Abandoned Horse Reward Fund

2009-01-30T16:07:00.002-05:00

Washington, DC (January 29, 2009) – The Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) announced today the establishment of the “Animal Welfare Institute Abandoned Horse Reward Fund.” Under the program, individuals providing information leading to the arrest and conviction of anyone who abandons a horse in violation of state law will be rewarded with up to $1,000 by AWI. "We've heard time and time again from those defending horse slaughter that our fight to end this cruel practice has led to an increase in abandoned horses. The truth is that the number of American horses going to slaughter now is the same or higher than before the domestic plants closed under state law. In fact, killer buyers seem to be buying more horses than when the plants were open,” said Chris Heyde, AWI’s Deputy Director of Government and Legal Affairs.

Under the program, individuals with evidence should first contact their local police department, provide as many details as possible about the horse abandonment situation and let the department know about the Animal Welfare Institute Abandoned Horse Reward Fund. In such cases, eligibility for rewards and specific reward amounts will be determined by AWI. For complete terms and conditions of this reward fund, please go to www.awionline.org.

“If horses are being neglected or abandoned and the law is being violated, individuals need to be held accountable. Caring for a horse or any animal is a lifelong responsibility and not something you toss aside when inconvenient. We hope our reward fund will assist in bringing criminals to justice,” said Chris Heyde.

The Animal Welfare Institute has been at the forefront of efforts to pass a federal law to end horse slaughter. While the few remaining horse slaughter plants operating in the US were shut down in 2007 under state law, the absence of a federal law means that American horses are still at risk of being slaughtered for human consumption, and more than 100,000 horses were exported to Mexico and Canada in 2008 for that purpose. In Canada, horses are often shot to death while in Mexico some plants still use the “puntilla” knife to stab the horse into a state of paralysis prior to being slaughtered while still fully conscious. The meat is then sold to high-end consumers in Europe and Asia. Congress is currently considering the Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act (H.R. 503), which will protect American horses from this brutal trade.

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AWI Press Release: National Coalition Calls on the Huntington to End Cruel Coyote Snaring Program

2009-01-27T12:05:00.006-05:00

LARKSPUR, Calif. (Jan. 27, 2009) — A national coalition of wildlife advocacy organizations has called on the Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens in San Marino, Calif. to cease its “Coyote Abatement Program” that involves killing coyotes caught in wire neck snares. Project Coyote, the Animal Welfare Institute and The Humane Society of the United States sent a detailed seven-page letter to The Huntington, outlining concerns that the program “has sorely neglected animal welfare as well as visitor safety concerns” and “embodies a poorly justified and ambiguous set of concerns over coyotes and the need for their removal.”

The 207-acre nonprofit research and educational center hires a private trapper to neck snare and kill coyotes at least twice a year in the spring and fall. The snaring program was brought to the attention of animal advocacy organizations by a former Huntington security guard, who attempted to free one of the neck-snared coyotes and was subsequently fired. The employee took photos and video of the neck-snared coyote and posted a video clip online, which can be viewed here.

“That an employee of The Huntington lost his job because he tried to alleviate the suffering of an individual animal from a neck snare speaks volumes about The Huntington’s total disregard for animal and human welfare,” said Camilla Fox, founding director of Project Coyote and wildlife consultant for the Animal Welfare Institute. “Aside from the cruelty of neck snares, indiscriminate lethal control efforts designed to reduce coyote populations are simply an unsound and most often ineffective management practice in reducing real or perceived conflicts.”

“It is rather ironic that The Huntington is using a primitive, highly non-selective trap to ostensibly protect public safety when such a device poses a serious hazard to both non-target animals and people,” said Sean Guinan, urban wildlife program coordinator for The Humane Society of the United States. “It is never appropriate to use cruel and non-selective snares when humane and effective alternatives exist.”

The Huntington’s website itself states, “We know of no instances in which coyotes, primarily nocturnal, have acted aggressively toward Huntington visitors or staff. However, as a safety precaution we have found it necessary to engage a private animal control firm in a regular program to have them removed from the property.” Issues regarding how often the snares are checked surfaced when Huntington personnel reported that a dead coyote caught in a snare was left lying on the property for weeks.

The three organizations offered to assist The Huntington with the development of a humane, innovative and proactive coyote coexistence plan and provided studies, templates and information used in other communities, but the Huntington declined the offer. The organizations are encouraging their members and area residents to express their concerns about the program to The Huntington management. More information can be found at ProjectCoyote.org, humanesociety.org and awionline.org.

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Project Coyote is a national non-profit fiscally sponsored project of Earth Island Institute that fosters innovative solutions to help people and coyotes coexist. On the web at http://www.projectcoyote.org/

For over 58 years, the Animal Welfare Institute has been the leading voice for animals across the country and on Capitol Hill. Please join us in our ongoing campaigns to reduce the sum total of pain and fear inflicted on animals by humans. Sign up for AWI eAlerts to receive the latest news on what you can do to help us protect all animals: www.awionline.org/joinus.

The Humane Society of the United States is the nation's largest animal protection organization — backed by 10.5 million Americans, or one of every 30. For more than a half-century, The HSUS has been fighting for the protection of all animals through advocacy, education and hands-on programs. Celebrating animals and confronting cruelty — On the web at humanesociety.org.

Bill to End Horse Slaughter Reintroduced

2009-01-15T08:49:00.003-05:00

Washington, DC (January 15, 2009) – The Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act (H.R. 503), was reintroduced yesterday by House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers, Jr. (D-MI) and Representative Dan Burton (R-IN). They first introduced the bill, which will ban horse slaughter, in the summer of 2008. It gained quick bipartisan support and passed out of the Judiciary Committee but did not move further as the legislative clock wound down. Committed to seeing the measure passed into law, Chairman Conyers has given the bill priority in his committee, as signaled by its reintroduction so early on the legislative calendar. With sixty-one original cosponsors, the bill already enjoys strong bipartisan support.

Although the few remaining horse slaughter plants operating in the US were shut down in 2007 under state law, the absence of a federal law banning the practice means that American horses are still at risk of being slaughtered for human consumption. In fact, more than 100,000 horses were exported to Mexico and Canada in 2008 for slaughter; In Canada horses are often shot to death while in Mexico some plants still use the “puntilla” knife to stab the horse into a state of paralysis prior to being slaughtered while still fully conscious. The meat is then sold to high-end consumers in Europe and Asia.

“There are naysayers who claim we should reopen the US plants rather than seek to ban all horse slaughter. Clearly, they’ve already forgotten how awful the plants here were,” said Chris Heyde, deputy director of Government and Legal Affairs for the Animal Welfare Institute.

Documents recently released under the Freedom of Information Act reveal just how brutal conditions were at the US plants before they were shut down. Hundreds of graphic photographs taken by U.S. Department of Agriculture employees at one plant show live horses with missing legs, with eyeballs hanging out, with skin ripped from the body and the birth of foals at the plant. Other photos show horses dead on arrival, having succumbed to the miseries of transport.

“The suffering of hundreds of thousands of our horses rests solely on the shoulders of those blocking this bill. Were it not for their stalling tactics horse slaughter would have ceased years ago. Meanwhile an American horse is slaughtered every five minutes. We commend Chairman Conyers and Representative Burton for taking the lead once again to end this cruel practice through introduction of H.R. 503, the Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act,” said Heyde.

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For further information contact:
Chris Heyde, 202-446-2142
Liz Ross, 202-497-6780

For over 58 years, AWI has been the leading voice for animals across the country and on Capitol Hill. Please join us in our ongoing campaigns to reduce the sum total of pain and fear inflicted on animals by humans. Sign up for AWI eAlerts to receive the latest news on what you can do to help us protect all animals: http://www.awionline.org/joinus.

US House of Representatives Strives to Strengthen US Shark Finning Ban

2009-01-07T17:28:00.001-05:00

WASHINGTON, D.C. (January 7, 2009) – On the opening day of the 111th Congress, Representative Madeleine Bordallo (D-GU), chairwoman of the House Natural Resources Committee’s Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife and Oceans, reintroduced the Shark Conservation Act of 2009 (H.R. 81). A similar measure, to strengthen the Shark Finning Prohibition Act, was passed by the House of Representatives on a voice vote in July 2008, however, the Senate was unable to take action on the bill before the session ended necessitating its reintroduction in this Congress.

In 2000, President Bill Clinton signed the Shark Finning Prohibition Act in an effort to curb the wasteful and inhumane practice of shark finning - whereby the fins of a living shark are removed and the animal is thrown back in the water to die. This legislation made it unlawful to possess a shark fin in US waters without a corresponding carcass. Unfortunately, enforcement has been hampered by loopholes in the ban and finning has continued. The Shark Conservation Act of 2009 strengthens the original ban by requiring that sharks be landed with their fins naturally attached to their bodies. Enforcement officials have stated that this requirement is the only way to enforce a shark finning ban.

In introducing the measure, Congresswoman Bordallo said, “Removing these top predators drastically changes the food web structure, marine diversity, and ecosystem health. Addressing the practice of shark finning is an imperative step toward the conservation of sharks and marine ecosystems.”Sharks are extremely slow to recover from overfishing because they mature late in life, grow slowly and have very small populations. Unlike other fish, sharks produce a handful of pups instead of a large number of eggs. Despite their biology and the increasing warnings from experts that sharks are disappearing, millions of sharks are targeted for their fins and millions more die annually as bycatch. The rising demand for shark fin soup has been cited as a leading cause of their demise.

“We look forward to working with Chairwoman Bordallo on this critical legislation and encourage Congress to act swiftly on its enactment,” said Serda Ozbenian of the Animal Welfare Institute. “In 2000, Congress acted appropriately on a bill that would end this practice. Sadly, in spite of the ban, some exploited a loophole and continued finning sharks. This bi-partisan bill will close that loophole to reflect what Congress originally intended.”

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For More Information:
Serda Ozbenian – 202-446-2144

For over 58 years, the Animal Welfare Institute has been the leading voice for animals across the country and on Capitol Hill to reduce the sum total of pain and fear inflicted on animals by humans. To learn more about us, please visit www.awionline.org.

Congressional Leaders Send Message to Bureau of Land Management

2008-12-05T15:16:00.002-05:00

Washington, D.C. (December 4, 2008) - Joining with a growing public chorus of outrage at a recent proposal by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and their Wild Horse Advisory board to euthanize up to 33,000 wild horses, several leaders in the US House of Representatives sent a letter to the agency stressing their strong opposition to any such effort.

Today, Congressman Nick Rahall, chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee and Congressman Raul Grijalva, chairman of the National Parks, Forests and Public Lands Subcommittee sent a letter to James Caswell, director of the Bureau of Land Management.
The chairmen said, “We continue to be concerned about your agency’s proposal to deal with problems facing the Bureau of Land Management’s Wild Horse and Burro Program by defaulting to a policy of mass euthanization of thousands of healthy horses. As recently as November 17, the Wild Horse Advisory Board and the BLM continue to support mass euthanization, even considering options to expand sale authority in ways that will lead to the extermination of more horses. The policy is not a solution – it is a failure.”

This powerful letter comes on the heels of an announcement by Madeleine Pickens in which she as stepped forward to provide a permanent and safe home to those horses in BLM holding facilities to ensure they are not killed as the agency tries to balance its books. “Mrs. Pickens is one of the most generous and compassionate individuals I have ever known,” said Chris Heyde, deputy director of Government and Legal Affairs for the Animal Welfare Institute. “Mrs. Pickens is acting out of pure selflessness. She has been a long time fighter for America’s horses and her commitment to protecting these national treasures is historic.”

In 1971, the American public and US Congress had to come to the rescue of America’s wild horses who were being wiped out by the BLM by enacting the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act. Thirty-seven years later, they are both coming to aid of them again from the mismanagement by the very same agency. There are many other options in dealing with wild horses on public lands and AWI will be working closely with Congress and other organizations to ensure the Agency is fixed so our horses and the public are not in this situation in a few years.

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For More Information:

Contact:
Chris Heyde, (202) 337-2332

For over 57 years, the Animal Welfare Institute has been the leading voice for animals across the country and on Capitol Hill to reduce the sum total of pain and fear inflicted on animals by humans. To learn more about us, please visit www.awionline.org.

Hayden Panettiere - a Hero for Whales and Votes in the Nation’s Capital

2008-10-27T12:09:00.005-04:00

Washington, D.C. (October 26, 2008) - Actress Hayden Panettiere, currently starring on the hit NBC series “Heroes,” led hundreds of participants in an aerial art event forming a giant human pilot whale beside the message “VOTE,” today in front of the U.S. Capitol building.

The pilot whale symbolizes the tens of thousands of whales and dolphins killed each year by Japanese fishermen and the event commemorates the one-year anniversary of Hayden’s actions in Taiji, Japan, where she paddled out with protestors on surfboards to protect a pod of pilot whales who had been captured by fishermen for slaughter and for sale to aquariums.

Hayden is passionate about protecting whales and dolphins. As a spokesperson for the Save the Whales Again! campaign, she has made repeated calls for the Bush administration to defend whales at the International Whaling Commission (IWC) and take action against the whaling countries of Japan, Norway, and Iceland for their persistence in killing whales for commercial gain.

“I turned 18 last year and I’m going to make my first vote count,” says Hayden. “I am looking forward to my visit to Washington to talk to those who will be voting in the upcoming election, to stress the importance of knowing where the candidates stand on the issues that are most important to them, and to be sure that come November 4th, they will actually go out and vote to ensure that their voices are heard.”

“Recent polls show that over 75 percent of registered voters oppose whaling, and over two-thirds want our government to do something about it.” said Jeff Pantukhoff, president and founder of The Whaleman Foundation and executive director of the Save the Whales Again! Campaign “yet to this point, the Bush administration has done little to stop the increasing slaughter and is now actively leading efforts that could result in a legalized return to commercial whaling.”

Over 25,000 great whales have been slaughtered for profit since the so-called ban on commercial whaling was instituted in 1986. “As current chair of the whaling commission, the US must stand up to whaling countries and lead the world in conserving whales and their habitats,” said Susan Millward, executive director of the Animal Welfare Institute and co-founder of the Save the Whales Again! campaign. “This illustrates how vital it is for Americans to elect leaders whose views actually reflect the will of the people and who will translate that will into policy.

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Save the Whales Again! is a campaign of The Whaleman Foundation and the Animal Welfare Institute.The Whaleman Foundation is a public non-profit oceanic research, conservation and production organization dedicated to preserving and protecting dolphins, whales and their habitats. The Washington D.C.-based Animal Welfare Institute began the Save the Whales campaign of the 1970s and 1980s and was founded in 1951 to reduce the sum total of pain and fear inflicted on animals by humans. Save the Whales Again! does not endorse a particular 2008 presidential candidate.

AWI Press Release: Ringling Brothers Stands Trial in Federal Court

2008-10-23T12:58:00.001-04:00

WASHINGTON (Oct. 23, 2008) – After more than eight years of legal wrangling, Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus and its parent company, Feld Entertainment, will finally stand trial to face charges that the circus abuses its Asian elephants in violation of the federal Endangered Species Act.

On Monday, Oct. 27, the plaintiffs, including the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Animal Welfare Institute, Fund for Animals, Born Free USA united with Animal Protection Institute, and former Ringling Bros. employee Tom Rider are scheduled to present their case in federal district court in Washington D.C.

The groundbreaking lawsuit alleges that Ringling Bros. circus violates the Endangered Species Act by abusively training and disciplining elephants with sharp implements such as bull hooks and by intensively and continuously confining and chaining the animals for hours and even days on end.

“We look forward to finally having the opportunity to establish at trial that Ringling Bros. inhumanely and unlawfully mistreats the endangered Asian elephants it uses to perform in shows all across the country,” said lead counsel Katherine Meyer of the law firm Meyer Glitzenstein & Crystal. “The elephants not only deserve to be treated in a humane manner, but they are entitled to be protected under the law and we hope that they will be afforded such protection once this case finally comes to an end.”

Over the years, the plaintiffs have amassed a wealth of evidence to support their claims including photographs, video footage, internal Ringling Bros. documentation and reports from the United States Department of Agriculture. In addition to such evidence, eyewitness testimony from former Ringling Bros. employees and testimony from leading elephant behavior experts will be presented by the plaintiffs at trial.

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Media Contacts:
Tracy Silverman, Esq.- AWI: (202) 460-3231, tracy@awionline.org
Anita K. Edson- ASPCA: (646) 522-5056, anita@aspca.org
Martin Montorfano- FFA: (301) 258-3152, mmontorfano@humanesociety.org
Adam Roberts- API: (202) 445-3572, adam@bornfreeusa.org

Hayden Panettiere - a Hero for Whales and Votes in the Nation’s Capital

2008-10-23T07:54:00.002-04:00

Washington, D.C. (October 22, 2008) - Actress Hayden Panettiere, currently starring on the hit NBC series “Heroes,” will lead hundreds of participants in an aerial art event and rally to form a giant human pilot whale beside the message “VOTE,” in front of the U.S. Capitol building this Sunday, October 26 at 12:30pm.

The pilot whale – of which Hayden will be the eye – symbolizes the tens of thousands of whales and dolphins killed each year by Japanese fishermen. The event commemorates the one-year anniversary of Hayden’s actions in Taiji, Japan, where she paddled out with protestors on surfboards to protect a pod of pilot whales who had been captured by fishermen for slaughter and for sale to aquariums.

Hayden is passionate about protecting whales and dolphins. As a spokesperson for the Save the Whales Again! campaign, she has made repeated calls for the Bush administration to defend whales at the International Whaling Commission (IWC) and take action against the whaling countries of Japan, Norway, and Iceland for their persistence in killing whales for commercial gain.

“I turned 18 last year and I’m going to make my first vote count,” says Hayden. “I am looking forward to my visit to Washington to talk to those who will be voting in the upcoming election, to stress the importance of knowing where the candidates stand on the issues that are most important to them, and to be sure that come November 4th, they will actually go out and vote to ensure that their voices are heard.”

The U.S. has historically been a world leader in protecting whales, but during the Bush administration, U.S. leadership on whale issues has significantly declined. Whales and dolphins face more threats today than ever before from climate change, ship strikes, entanglement in nets, overfishing, and chemical and noise pollution; yet Japan, Norway and Iceland continue to kill them in increasing numbers. William Hogarth, Ph.D., appointed by President Bush to head the U.S. delegation to the IWC, is now using his position as IWC Chairperson to host a series of closed-door meetings to negotiate a deal that could allow for an IWC-sanctioned resumption of commercial whaling.

“The fact the U.S. is leading this process is outrageous!” said Jeff Pantukhoff, president and founder of The Whaleman Foundation and executive director of the Save the Whales Again! campaign. “Recent polls show that over 75 percent of registered voters oppose whaling, and over two-thirds want our government to do something about it; yet to this point, the Bush administration has done little to stop the increasing slaughter and is now actively leading efforts that could result in a legalized return to commercial whaling.”

Over 25,000 great whales have been slaughtered for profit since the so-called ban on commercial whaling was instituted in 1986. “As current chair of the whaling commission, the United States must stand up to whaling countries and lead the world in conserving whales and their habitats,” said Susan Millward, executive director of the Animal Welfare Institute and co-founder of the Save the Whales Again! campaign. “This illustrates how vital it is for Americans to elect leaders whose views actually reflect the will of the people and who will translate that will into policy.”

Ms. Panetierre will also be appearing at American University on Saturday evening from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. to talk with students at an event sponsored by the university’s Women and Politics Institute.

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Click here for more details on the aerial art event.

Contacts:

Susan Millward, Animal Welfare Institute, (202) 640-9606, susan@awionline.org
Jeff Pantukhoff, The Whaleman Foundation, (808) 283-4465, whaleman@maui.net
Michelle Bega, For Hayden Panettiere, (310) 854-8165, mbega@rogersandcowan.com

Magna Entertainment Corp. Adopts Policy Against Horse Slaughter

2008-10-14T10:56:00.002-04:00

Washington, DC (October 14, 2008) – The Animal Welfare Institute commends Magna Entertainment Corp’s (MEC) adoption of a policy directly aimed at ensuring horses stabled and raced at any of Magna’s countless racetracks don’t end up in slaughterhouses. MEC owns and operates racetracks across the entire United States.

In a statement recently released, MEC wrote “any trainer or owner stabling at an MEC facility who directly or indirectly participates in the transport of a horse from an MEC facility to either a slaughterhouse or an auction house engaged in selling horses for slaughter will be prohibited from having stalls at any MEC facility. The policy also applies to any actions related to the transport of a horse from an MEC facility where the ultimate intended result is the horse's slaughter.”

Magna’s announcement comes on the heels of several actions within the racing industry in relation to horse slaughter. In June, Suffolk Downs of Massachusetts, a long time supporter of the Animal Welfare Institute’s campaign to end horse slaughter instituted the first policy banning those involved in horse slaughter from their track. Soon after this policy went into effect, a trainer was caught sending a horse to slaughter and was immediately banned by Suffolk Downs. Later in the month while Congress was considering legislation to ban horse slaughter, the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) surprised many by issuing a letter flipping on their long time support of legislation to end horse slaughter. The letter prompted a counter letter signed by 40 of the racing industry’s leading owners, trainers and jockeys expressing their support for all legislation aimed at banning horse slaughter.

“Magna and their Chairman and CEO, Frank Stronach are to be congratulated for this monumental humane stand. For years Magna has supported our efforts to ban horse slaughter and now they join the growing ranks of organizations such as Suffolk Downs who will no longer tolerate irresponsible individuals operating on their tracks,” noted Chris Heyde, deputy director government and legal affairs for the Animal Welfare Institute.

The Animal Welfare Institute calls on other organizations and horse industry leaders to join with Magna Entertainment Corp. and Suffolk Downs by barring those who wish to profit from the abuse and neglect of horses. “Nobody, including the racing industry, should turn a blind eye to the abuse and cruelty of horse slaughter. The racing industry can help by supporting federal legislation banning horse slaughter and by prohibiting those who supply the horse slaughter industry from racing anywhere in the United States, like Magna is doing,” said Heyde.

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Contact: Chris Heyde, (703) 836-4300

For over 57 years, the Animal Welfare Institute has been the leading voice for animals across the country and on Capitol Hill to reduce the sum total of pain and fear inflicted on animals by humans. To learn more about us, please visit www.awionline.org.

AWI Mourns the Loss of Leading Advocate for Horses

2008-09-06T19:34:00.002-04:00

Washington, DC (September 6, 2008) - It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of horseman and humanitarian John Hettinger, the nation’s leading advocate for the humane treatment of horses. John was the first person to join the Animal Welfare Institutes's national campaign to end horse slaughter in 2001. Since that time he never wavered in his commitment and only grew stronger in his desire and determination to end horse slaughter.

“I can honestly say no other person was more dedicated to horse welfare than John,” said Chris Heyde, deputy director of government and legal affairs for AWI. “We would talk almost every day about how we could pass the ban on horse slaughter and how we could improve the lives of horses. John’s death is a tremendous loss.”

Owner of Akindale Farm in New York, John was a leading Thoroughbred industry figure who never shrunk from his stand on animal welfare. He always stated that “his best friends have four legs.” Over the last few years he created a sanctuary for horses in need on his beautiful 800 acre farm. The stalls were always filled with enrichment items and music was pumped through the barn. The horses were always his priority.

“I was very lucky to have known him as a supporter of AWI’s efforts and as a friend. He was unique,” noted Heyde. “He is to be congratulated for awakening the industry to the abuse of horse slaughter. We look forward to working with the Thoroughbred industry to fulfill his dream.”

The Animal Welfare Institute sends its deepest condolences to his lovely wife Betty and loving family who always shared John’s deep respect for animals and nature.

“With John’s passing, AWI calls on everyone redouble their efforts for enactment of federal legislation banning horse slaughter. While it didn’t happen in his lifetime, John was certain it would happen. Now it is up to us to do just that.” said Heyde.

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For More Information:
Chris Heyde, (703) 836-4300

Tampa Restaurant Says No to Cruel Shark Finning

2008-08-25T15:42:00.003-04:00

Washington, D.C. (August 25, 2008) – The Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) is pleased to announce that the Ivory Mandarin Bistro in Tampa, Florida has decided to stop serving shark fin soup. Restaurant owners Steve Sritrairasri and Jeffrey Wu made the decision after receiving information from AWI about the inhumane and wasteful manner in which shark fins are acquired and the overfishing of many shark species to meet the demand for the controversial shark fin soup. “We were unaware of the many issues surrounding shark fin soup. After reading about it we decided to immediately stop offering it. It’s the responsible thing to do. These animals should not be slaughtered and pushed to extinction for a bowl of soup,” said Mr. Sritrairasri. “We hope other restaurants will join us and make Florida a shark friendly state.”

“We commend Ivory Mandarin Bistro for its compassionate decision. Mr. Sritrairasri and Mr. Wu clearly care about the marine ecosystem and it’s commendable that they have taken this responsible step,” said Serda Ozbenian, wildlife research assistant at AWI who leads the group’s shark fin campaign.The decision by Ivory Mandarin Bistro comes on the heels of new rules enacted last Thursday by Florida and 14 other members of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) that require all sharks caught along the Atlantic seaboard to be landed with their fins naturally attached. This requirement will help strengthen the US Shark Finning ban by preventing sharks in the Atlantic from being illegally finned.

AWI encourages consumers to avoid restaurants that sell shark fin soup. A list of restaurants to avoid can be found on the group’s website by clicking here: www.awionline.org/oceans/Fisheries/Shark_Fin.htm. The Institute has identified 16 restaurants in Florida selling shark fin products and asks that consumers email nosharkfinning@awionline.org if they find an offending restaurant not appearing on the list.

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Contact:
Serda Ozbenian, (703) 836-4300

For over 57 years, AWI has been the leading voice for animals across the country and on Capitol Hill. Please join us in our ongoing campaigns to reduce the sum total of pain and fear inflicted on animals by humans. Sign up for AWI eAlerts to receive the latest news on what you can do to help us protect all animals: http://www.awionline.org/joinus.

AWI eAlert: Please Contact Your Legislators This Month to Enlist Their Support for Animal Welfare Bills!

2008-08-14T08:01:00.006-04:00

Dear Humanitarian:

Summer in Washington, D.C. means two things: the temperature is soaring, and the U.S. Congress is out of town. However, before Members of Congress departed, a number of important bills were introduced, and we need your help to build support for them.
Because Members of Congress are in their home districts until after Labor Day, this is the perfect time for you to lobby them directly on behalf of the animals! Visiting with your Senators and Representative as a constituent in their home offices can have a significant impact. If you are able, please call their local headquarters today to set up a time to meet in person, asking them to support the following important pieces of animal protective legislation.

Additional materials on each bill can be downloaded from http://www.awionline.org/.

Horse Slaughter

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES: The Conyers/Burton “Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act of 2008” (H.R. 6598) – Just prior to the July recess H.R. 6598 was introduced by House Judiciary Chairman John Conyers (D-MI) and Representative Dan Burton (R-IN). The bill addresses the cruelty of horse slaughter by criminalizing the practice. Although H.R. 6598 is new, the concept of criminalizing horse slaughter is not, with the legislation echoing an earlier bill that also included similar penalty and enforcement language. For more information, click here.

What you can do: Ask your Representative to cosponsor H.R. 6598 and any legislative measure designed to end the slaughter of American horses for slaughter.

Note: H.R. 503, the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act, is still pending in the House of Representatives and has AWI’s support. However, H.R. 6598 has taken precedence given its increased opportunity to move through the legislative process.

IN THE SENATE: The American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act (S. 311) – A bill sponsored by Senator Mary Landrieu (D-LA) to end the slaughter of horses for human consumption abroad. Like its House counterpart (H.R. 503) and the Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act (H.R. 6598), this bill would end the slaughter of American horses for human consumption abroad.

What you can do: Inform your Senators about the cruelty of horse slaughter and ask them to cosponsor S. 311 and any legislative measure designed to end the slaughter of American horses for slaughter.

Shark Finning

The Shark Conservation Act of 2008 (H.R. 5741/S. 3231) - The measure would strengthen enforcement of an existing federal prohibition on removing the fins of a shark and discarding the carcass, which was first established in the Shark Finning Prohibition Act of 2000. For more information, click here.

What You Can Do: Ask your Representative and Senators to cosponsor H.R. 5741 and S. 3231.

Tracking Animal Cruelty

The Animal Cruelty Statistics Act of 2008 (H.R. 6597/S. 2439) – A bill requiring the U.S. Attorney General and federal law enforcement to track and maintain data on animal cruelty in order to facilitate analysis and prevention of such crimes. For more information, click here.

What You Can Do: Ask your Representative and Senators to cosponsor H.R. 6597 and S. 2439.

To find the names of your Representative and Senators and their district contact information, please visit www.compassionindex.org/search.htm or call the Capitol Hill operator at (202) 224-3121 and request to be connected to their offices. If you need further information, please contact the Animal Welfare Institute at (703) 836-4300.

If you are unable to visit with your legislators during the month of August a call, letter or email is helpful so they realize you care and want their support on these important issues. If your Representative or Senators currently cosponsor any of these bills, send him or her a note of thanks and ask for help in moving the legislation along Congress reconvenes in September. To take action on any of these bills online through AWI’s Compassion Index, you can visit http://www.compassionindex.org/.

Please share our “Dear Humanitarian” eAlert with family, friends and co-workers, and encourage them to contact their Members of Congress, too. As always, thank you very much for your help!

Sincerely,

Cathy Liss President

Animal Welfare Institute Testifies Before Congress in Favor of New Bill Containing Criminal Penalties for Horse Slaughter

2008-07-31T15:37:00.001-04:00

WASHINGTON, D.C. (July 31, 2008) – “Every five minutes an American horse is slaughtered to fill the demand of high-end European and Asian diners,” Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) federal policy advisor Liz Ross said today, testifying before the House Judiciary Committee Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security in support of a new bill to end the cruel transport and slaughter of America’s horses.

The Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act of 2008, H.R. 6598, carries criminal penalties for the purchase, sale, delivery or export of horsemeat intended for human consumption including fines and prison time. Introduced on July 24, 2008 by House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers, Jr. (D-MI) and Representative Dan Burton (R-IN), the bill would amend Title 18 of the US Code, providing US government officials and law enforcement officials with the tools necessary to ensure that American horses are protected from the brutal trade for their meat.

The bill has already garnered tremendous bipartisan support. “This issue has been vetted in Congress on multiple occasions and every time any measure to prohibit or restrict horse slaughter comes up for a vote the tally is overwhelming in favor of ending this form of animal cruelty,” Ross stated in her testimony.

“I am proud to be a co-sponsor of H.R. 6598,” said lead co-sponsor Representative Burton. “We must treat these magnificent animals with the respect and dignity they deserve.”

Not only is there legislative precedence for taking the Judiciary route to address the issue of horse slaughter – via an earlier incarnation of the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act that allowed for penalties to be assessed under Title 18 – but horse slaughter, in every respect, is a form of animal cruelty and ought to be recognized and treated as such, Ross explained.

“We thank Representatives Conyers and Burton, who have afforded the Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act of 2008 a fair opportunity to proceed, as well as Chairman Bobby Scott for his co-sponsorship and commitment to moving this important bill,” said Chris Heyde, deputy director of government and legal affairs for AWI. “Now that H.R. 6598 has moved from subcommittee, we hope the Speaker and the Senate will provide similarly swift consideration for a policy that is supported by the vast majority of Americans.”

Testifying before the subcommittee in favor of H.R. 6598 were, in addition to Ross; Dr. John Boyd, President of the National Black Farmers Association; Wayne Pacelle of the Humane Society of the United States and Dr. Nick Dodman of Veterinarians for Equine Welfare. The full text of their statements will soon be available at www.awionline.org.

Issue background:

Each year, more than 100,000 horses are purchased at auction by killer-buyers for export to Canada and Mexico, where they are brutally slaughtered for human consumption. In some cases, the killing method involves activities such as knife stabbing.

In the last Congress, the House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved a bipartisan bill banning horse slaughter for human consumption by a vote of 263 to 146. The bill was not taken up by the Senate before the end of the congressional session.

A 2006 national poll conducted by Public Opinion Strategies found that almost 70 percent of Americans already support a federal ban on horse slaughter.

Contact:
Chris Heyde, (703) 836-4300

For over 57 years, the Animal Welfare Institute has been the leading voice for animals across the country and on Capitol Hill to reduce the sum total of pain and fear inflicted on animals by humans. To learn more about us, please visit www.awionline.org.

URGENT AWI eALERT: Congress Takes Horse Cruelty Head On!

2008-07-29T08:18:00.009-04:00

Dear Humanitarian:

For seven years now, you have helped us fight hard to protect America’s horses from the cruel and preventable practice of horse slaughter. Sadly, the few individuals profiting from this industry have spent vast sums of money to mislead some in the horse industry and US Congress. They have turned a serious animal cruelty issue into a political game. Despite all of this, support continues to grow for a ban because no false stories or fabricated tales of “unwanted horses” can derail the simple truth – horse slaughter is cruel.

As of today, House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers, Jr. (D-MI) and Congressman Dan Burton (R-IN) have taken up the reins of this cause and committed themselves to ending horse slaughter by sponsoring H.R. 6598, the Conyers-Burton "Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act". This bill directly addresses the cruelty of horse slaughter – a consequence of the industry that even opponents of ending horse slaughter admit exists. This legislation is not new, as the original bill introduced in 2002 to end horse slaughter included enforcement language from Title 18 of the US Criminal Code for those found guilty of breaking the law. Chairman Conyers has simply removed the unnecessary language from the earlier versions to specifically target those causing the cruelty to horses.

Post this image and link (http://www.everyfivemintues.org/)on your own website and email to help spread the word.

Every five minutes, an American horse is brutally slaughtered for human consumption in plants in Mexico and Canada. Ironically, industry lobbyists admit to Congress that the foreign horse slaughter plants are cruel, yet the companies the lobbyists represent also own and operate these very plants across the border! Despite unsubstantiated claims of “unwanted” and “abandoned” horses, these foreign-owned plants and their killer-buyers continue to buy horses from all over America at an alarming rate to meet the demand for the animals’ flesh in fancy European restaurants.

Horse slaughter is a brutal process from beginning to end. Killer-buyers have no regard for the horses’ welfare; they just need to find as many of the animals as possible in order to fill a quota. Because the horses’ final destination is slaughter, no concern is paid to their treatment when they are collected, during transport, or in the slaughterhouse. A former equine investigator for the Pennsylvania state police summed this industry up perfectly when she said, “… horses were deprived of food and water because they were going to slaughter anyway. My conclusion is that the slaughter option encourages neglect…Money is the only objective of selling horses to slaughter. Those of us in the trenches have seen enough.”

Constituents concerned about the welfare of America’s horses must use this opportunity to speak up to their Members of Congress. The slaughterhouses, their lobbyists and the few pro-horse slaughter groups will be on Capitol Hill screaming loudly because they know support for ending horse slaughter is already strong. They know that if this issue is given a fair hearing and a fair vote, horse slaughter will end immediately.

Even though this fight has gone on for years, we must never forget that until Congress acts and passes a federal ban, horses are being hauled across the United States before being sent to Canada and Mexico to be slaughtered under even worse conditions. The slaughterhouses and their supporters hope to wear down horse advocates by stalling the political process. We must send a message that we will not stop until ALL horses are protected from slaughter.

WHAT YOU CAN DO:

Please call, write or email your Representative today, urging him or her to support H.R. 6598, the Conyers-Burton "Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act". Chairman Conyers and Congressman Burton intend to do everything in their power to move this measure through Congress as soon as possible. Be sure to mention the facts above and those found here.

Many Members of Congress have already supported a similar measure, so this is not a new proposal; click here to see if your legislator cosponsored the original bill. If your Representative is on the Judiciary Committee, please urge him or her to attend any upcoming hearing and speak out on this important legislation as well.

To find your Representative and learn his or her stance on horse slaughter, please visit http://www.compassionindex.org/. You can contact your legislators directly through the Compassion Index as well.

Write to:

The Honorable (name of US Representative)
US House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515

Please note: HR 6598, the Conyers-Burton "Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act" is NOT the same as H.R. 503/S. 311, the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act (AHSPA), but it will do the same thing – end horse slaughter. Many members already support the AHSPA, so garnering support should be straightforward.

Rescues/Organizations: The list of organizations and rescues supporting a ban on horse slaughter is tremendous, and we want to make sure your voice is heard on Capitol Hill, too. If you represent a rescue or organization, please take a minute to draft a letter of support for H.R. 6598, the Conyers-Burton "Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act" for us to share with the bill's sponsors and other Members of Congress. Address the letter to The Honorable Chairman Conyers and put it on organizational letterhead. Give personal experiences, include photos and share your work with us. Opponents of horse slaughter are not working every day with horses -- you are. Please email your letters and some pictures to chris@awionline.org or fax them without a cover to (888) 260-2271. We will ensure that Congress hears your support!

No matter how you contact your legislator, please be sure to provide him or her with your name and mailing address, and as a constituent, request a response on this issue. Please also share our “Dear Humanitarian” eAlert with family, friends and co-workers, and encourage them to contact their legislators, too. As always, thank you very much for your help.

Sincerely,
Cathy Liss
President
http://www.awionline.org/
http://www.compassionindex.org/

US House of Representatives Strengthens Shark Finning Ban - US Senate Follows Suit with a Companion Bill

2008-07-09T16:54:00.002-04:00

WASHINGTON, D.C. (July 9, 2008) – Yesterday, the House of Representatives unanimously voted in favor of H.R. 5741, the Shark Conservation Act of 2008. Introduced earlier this year by Subcommittee Chairwoman Madeleine Bordallo (D-GU), the measure tightens the Shark Finning Prohibition Act, which was signed into law in 2000.

Later in the day, Senator John Kerry (D-MA) introduced S. 3231, an identical version of the Shark Conservation Act, in the US Senate. Senator Kerry has a long history of advocating for the protection of marine life, including sharks, and he was a lead sponsor of the Shark Finning Prohibition Act.

Since the original bill’s passage, the cruel and wasteful practice of shark finning – whereby the fins of a living shark are removed and the animal is thrown back in the water to die – has been illegal in the United States, but enforcement has been hampered by loopholes in the ban. "Sharks are vital to the health of marine ecosystems, but the practice of shark finning is driving their decline worldwide," said Chairwoman Bordallo. The Shark Conservation Act offers sharks much-needed protection by imposing a ban on shark finning which requires that sharks be landed with their fins still attached to their bodies.

“It’s wonderful to see the House take this critical step forward in shark conservation. The Animal Welfare Institute commends Chairwoman Bordallo for her leadership on this important issue. We look forward to working with Senator Kerry and his colleagues in the Senate to secure enactment of the Shark Conservation Act of 2008.” said AWI president Cathy Liss.

Sharks are extremely slow to recover from overfishing because they mature late in life, grow slowly and have very small populations. Unlike their fish relatives, sharks produce a handful of pups instead of a large number of eggs. Despite their biology and the increasing warnings from experts that sharks are disappearing, millions of sharks are targeted for their fins and millions more die annually as bycatch.

Since the bill places no restrictions on shark fin imports, AWI still encourages consumers to avoid restaurants that sell shark fin products. A list of these establishments and a fact sheet on the practice of shark finning are available on the AWI website at www.awionline.org/oceans/Fisheries/Shark_Fin.htm. If you find a restaurant selling shark fin products that is not listed, please send an email with the contact information to nosharkfinning@awionline.org.

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For More Information Contact:
Serda Ozbenian, AWI: (703) 836-4300

Animal Welfare Institute Condemns BLM Proposal to Kill Thousands of Wild Horses in Holding Facilities

2008-07-02T15:21:00.001-04:00

WASHINGTON, D.C. (July 2, 2008) – For the first time in the history of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM)—the federal agency charged with protecting and managing wild horses in the United States—officials now claim that up to 30,000 horses currently in confinement may have to be “euthanized” to balance the agency’s budget.

The Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) vehemently opposes any proposal that would sanction the mass killing of our nation’s wild horses. “To set the record straight, euthanasia is mercy killing. That’s certainly not what’s being proposed here by any stretch of the imagination,” said Chris Heyde, deputy director of government and legal affairs for AWI. “It’s killing pure and simple to balance the books for an agency whose reckless management has caused immeasurable harm to a national treasure at considerable cost to the American taxpayer.”

In the last few years, the BLM’s national wild horse and burro program has changed leadership and direction—and tragically, wild horses have paid the price. To placate the demands of livestock interests and despite protests from wild horse advocates, the agency began rounding up animals from the wild at an unprecedented rate, leaving many herds with so few animals that their long-term health and viability are now in serious jeopardy.

Adoption demand could not keep pace with such drastic removals, requiring the BLM to contract for more and more private long-term holding facilities. Today, this misguided policy has shockingly resulted in more animals being held in confinement than run free in the wild. Now, BLM officials are seeking a magic bullet for the problem that they have irresponsibly created – adding a whole new subtext to the expression “They Shoot Horses, Don’t They?”

The 1971 Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act was passed unanimously by Congress to stop the mass slaughter and commercial exploitation of these magnificent animals. “Americans were outraged to learn what was happening then, and they will be even more irate to learn what the BLM is proposing today,” Heyde said. “Public support for the original Act is considered one of the largest grassroots campaigns on animal welfare issues in US history. It is time to reignite this passion if we are to save these magnificent animals from extinction on the range and in the wild.”

The proposal to resume killing the public’s wild horses will be discussed at the next National Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board meeting scheduled for September 2008. AWI encourages the public and the US Congress to act swiftly to protect our horses, whose lives are at risk at the hands of the very agency tasked with the responsibility to care for them.

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Contact:
Chris Heyde, (703) 836-4300

Bush Administration Supports Plan to Kill Humpbacks

2008-06-26T20:37:00.001-04:00

SANTIAGO, CHILE (June 26, 2008) – The Bush Administration today hit a new low by supporting a proposal in favor of killing humpback whales, the Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) reports. By giving its support, the United States broke ranks with the conservation-minded member nations of the International Whaling Commission (IWC) who voted against the proposal. Unfortunately, this is one of several actions that the United States has taken at this year’s meeting contrary to its long-held position of supporting whale conservation.

Already this week, Bush Administration lackeys at the meeting have worked to facilitate a closed-door “deal” to bring about the resumption of commercial whaling. They have also ignored IWC rules for reporting transgressions of the IWC Schedule by refusing to admit that the illegal killing of a gray whale by Makah tribal members was an infraction of the IWC Schedule. Finally, they have refused to promote transparency and openness within IWC deliberations by opposing attempts to include civil society to observe and participate in the work of the Commission.

“It’s no secret that President Bush’s administration has one of the worst environmental records in history, but to sacrifice whales and democracy to placate whaling countries, who have ignored repeated calls by many of the world’s governments to end whaling, is simply inexcusable,” said D.J. Schubert, a wildlife biologist with the AWI who is currently attending the meeting.

The proposal to hunt humpbacks was offered by Demark which sought the quota on behalf of the native people in its territory of Greenland – which already has quotas to kill minke, bowhead and fin whales. Recent studies indicate that a quarter of the meat derived from killing these whales for “subsistence use” ends up in supermarkets for commercial sale. Nations opposing the proposal did so primarily because Greenland has not demonstrated the need for additional meat.

The United States is one of 24 countries that will engage in secret meetings over the course of the next year in an attempt to develop a package deal to “fix” the IWC using a process devised and promoted by Dr. William Hogarth, US commissioner to the IWC and current chair of the international body. Hogarth’s plan attempts to “fix” a convention that is actually only at a stalemate because of the unwillingness of Japan, Norway, and Iceland to comply with international opinion and stop whaling – coupled with the failure of the current administration to use all its powers to permanently end commercial whaling.

For years, the United States was considered a leader in the worldwide effort to protect and conserve whales. However, lately its whale conservation agenda has been replaced by a plan of compromise and capitulation. Such a dramatic shift in policy is inconsistent with the beliefs of most of Americans and of the United States House of Representatives, which recently unanimously passed H. Con. Res. 350, demanding that the United States strongly support whale conservation, oppose any weakening of the commercial whaling moratorium approved by the IWC in 1982, and oppose any new form of whaling.

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Contact:

Susan Millward, (202) 640-9600

BUSH ADMINISTRATION SELLING OUT WHALES AND THE AMERICAN PUBLIC

2008-06-25T08:55:00.001-04:00

(Santiago, Chile) - As the 60th meeting of the International Whaling Commission continues its deliberations, the Bush administration is undermining decades of whale conservation progress as it seeks to cut a deal with whaling nations that could lead to the official resumption of commercial whaling. Their deal making will be done behind closed doors without public oversight or accountability as the Bush administration has abandoned American principles of openness and honesty in order to engage in secret deliberations.

“It’s no secret that President Bush has one of the worst environmental record of any administration in history, but to sacrifice whales and democracy to placate whaling countries who have ignored repeated calls by many of the world’s governments to end whaling, is beyond the pale,” states D.J. Schubert, a wildlife biologist with the Animal Welfare Institute. “If this administration is willing to sacrifice whales to achieve a political end, there’s no telling what damage it could do to wildlife as President Bush’s eight-year reign of terror ends.”
Already this week, the Bush administration has:

Ignored IWC rules for reporting transgressions of the IWC Schedule by refusing to admit that the illegal killing of a gray whale by Makah tribal members was an infraction of the IWC Schedule
Indicated that it plans on supporting Greenland’s request for an aboriginal subsistence whaling quota of 10 humpback whales despite evidence of a significant commercial element to Greenland’s current hunt and the gross over-estimation of its aboriginal need for whale products
Refused to promote transparency and openness within IWC deliberations by opposing attempts to include civil society to observe and participate in all work of the IWC and any working groups

“Despite promoting itself as a beacon of democracy and acting as a model for other countries in regard to transparency and openness in governmental operations, the Bush administration has decided to negotiate the future of the world’s whale in secret,” adds Susan Millward, a research associate with AWI. “The desire of the United States to conduct such deliberations without the accountability that comes from public scrutiny appears indicative of its intent to abandon its support for the whales in favor of support for the whalers.”

The United States is one of 24 countries who will engage in secret meetings over the course of the next year as they attempt to develop a package deal to “fix” the IWC through a process devised and promoted by Dr. William Hogarth, the U.S. Commissioner to the IWC and the current Chair of the international body. Dr. Hogarth’s plan attempts to “fix” a convention that is not broken and is only at a stalemate because of the unwillingness of Japan, Norway, and Iceland to comply with international opinion and stop whaling coupled with the failure of the current Administration to use all diplomatic and legal muscle to permanently end whaling by these rogue nations.

For years, the United States was considered a leader in the worldwide effort to protect and conserve whales. Under the Bush administration, however, the United States’ whale conservation agenda has been replaced by a plan of compromise and capitulation. Such a dramatic shift in policy is inconsistent with the will of the vast majority of Americans who strongly oppose whaling. Reflecting the will of the people on the issue, the United States House of Representatives, only days ago, unanimously passed H.Con.Res. 350 demanding that the United States strongly support whale conservation, oppose any weakening of the commercial whaling moratorium approved by the IWC in 1982, and oppose any new form of whaling.

“It is clear from the actions of the United States at this week’s IWC meeting that the will of the American public and of Congress itself is of no concern or consequence to the Bush administration,” claims Schubert. “Yet again the arrogance of the Bush administration is clearly on display as it undermines decades of conservation gains for whales in a matter of days, abandons its principles of transparency, and ignores the opinions of its own constituents and even Congress.” “In this case, it’s not just the interests of the American people that are being abandoned but also the future of the world’s whales.”

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For over 57 years the Animal Welfare Institute has been the leading voice for animals across the country and on Capitol Hill to reduce the sum total of pain and fear inflicted on animals by humans. To learn more about us, please visit www.awionline.org.

House of Representatives Pass Resolution in Support of Whales

2008-06-19T19:44:00.003-04:00

WASHINGTON, D.C. (June 18, 2008) – Answering a bipartisan call to encourage the United States to stand up for whales, the House of Representatives today passed H. Con. Res. 350 by unanimous consent. In light of the annual International Whaling Commission (IWC) meeting to be held in Chile this month, House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Nick Rahall (D-WV) and eight of his colleagues in the House of Representatives introduced the resolution to send the message that the United States must not be bullied into submission at the meeting by pro-whaling interests.

The United States is the current chair of the IWC, the international body founded over 60 years ago to be responsible for the conservation of whales. Since that time, a ban on commercial whaling has been instituted, two sanctuaries have been established, and attitudes toward whale conservation have improved. Yet while progress has been made, most of the great whales still face an uncertain future – one that is made worse by additional threats in the form of climate change, fishing gear entanglement, overfishing of prey species, ship strikes, toxic pollution, and lethal sonar.

However, the biggest threat to whales comes from the member nations of Japan, Norway and Iceland, which have flouted the whaling ban and continued to whale for commercial gain by exploiting loopholes in the IWC Convention. Since the moratorium was put into effect, these countries have killed more than 25,000 whales, including over 11,000 who were taken under the guise of “scientific research.” Just this month, Norway and Iceland also resumed trade in whale meat with Japan, in flagrant defiance of an international ban on such trafficking.

Although the United States has been an outspoken proponent of protecting the whales, most recently, US officials have not exercised this leadership position. In fact, rumored deals are said to have been initiated with the whalers. The ban is now in jeopardy, since the pro-whaling faction has recruited allied nations to join the IWC and convince fellow members that the body is unworkable and at an impasse. Once pro-conservation countries are now on the brink of capitulation and are in desperate need of leadership. Having led international efforts in the IWC to adopt the ban on commercial whaling, the United States is the natural choice for assuming this role, and it must do so before it is too late.

“This resolution serves to put the United States back on track and reaffirm its historically strong position in support of the whales. As current chair of the IWC; the United States holds a very important role and must extend all efforts to refocus the body toward its much-needed conservation aims,” said Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) Research Associate Susan Millward. “AWI commends the House for quickly enacting this important resolution.”

A similar resolution, introduced by Senators John Kerry (D-MA) and Barbara Boxer (D-CA), is currently pending in the Senate.

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CONTACT:
Chris Heyde, (703) 836-4300