As the Trump administration continues its push to gut the Endangered Species Act (ESA) via multiple regulatory changes, AWI is grateful to Reps. Fitzpatrick and Quigley, who have introduced the bipartisan Safeguarding Endangered Species Act (H.R. 9901).

TAKE ACTION: For decades, animals on factory farms have endured cruel confinement. American voters and lawmakers have shown their support for improved housing conditions for farmed animals—but the pork industry is working to undo this progress.

TAKE ACTION: Today’s commercial whalers kill thousands of whales each year using explosive harpoons. These devices are meant to result in an instant, painless death—but reality is often far different, as many whales die agonizing, prolonged deaths over minutes or hours.

Outstanding news for octopuses!🐙 Following years of pressure from scientists, NGOs, and members of the public, Spanish seafood company Nueva Pescanova confirmed that it has abandoned its plans for what would have been the world’s first large-scale commercial octopus farm.

Exciting news: Our new website is live! Expanded information. Improved accessibility. Vivid imagery. New ways to help make a difference for animals.

Anticoagulant rodenticides, a type of rat poison, cause a prolonged, agonizing death by internal bleeding—and tragically, this squirrel is not the only one to suffer this fate in DC. Wildlife, pets, and even children are regularly exposed to these poisons.

Just one week after finalizing a major rollback of Endangered Species Act (ESA) protections, the Trump administration has now announced two more rules that further erode our nation's strongest and most effective conservation law.

TAKE ACTION: As the Pacific Northwest faces declining salmon populations, some have blamed sea lions and seals. However, scientific evidence indicates that human-based threats, such as dams and habitat degradation, are driving this decline.

Earlier this week, AWI’s equine program director, Dr. Joanna Grossman, testified before the New York City Council in support of Romanch’s Law (Intro 943), which would phase out horse-drawn carriages in the city.

TAKE ACTION: Whalers in Iceland are back on the hunt—and it’s as cruel as ever. As the whale death toll climbs, Iceland’s veterinary authority confirmed that a male fin whale was shot with exploding harpoons four times and suffered for 30+ minutes before dying.

AWI recently joined Born Free USA, Lincoln Park Zoo, and other allies on Capitol Hill to meet with 45 congressional offices about the much-needed Captive Primate Safety Act—legislation to end the serious welfare and public safety threat posed by keeping primates as pets.

The infamous Iberian orcas are known for their boat-ramming behavior. But a new interaction with one of these orcas, White Gladis, is enriching our understanding of these animals—and challenging the notion that they are out for revenge. #WorldOrcaDay More info: www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0tv...

BREAKING: Earlier today, in a blow to imperiled species, the Trump administration issued a new rule that changes how the Endangered Species Act (ESA) is implemented, undermining the original intent of the law.

On this day in 1951, Christine Stevens founded the Animal Welfare Institute to combat the cruel treatment of animals used in experimental laboratories. She did not stop there, however.

Today, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced that 28 beluga whales at Marineland of Canada will be imported to four public display facilities in the United States.

Good news: Last Friday, Illinois @govpritzker.illinois.gov signed a bill to end the use of nonhuman primates, bears, and certain exotic cats in traveling shows! TY to State Representative Kelly Cassidy and State Senator Linda Holmes for championing this legislation!

Congrats to the 15 recipients of this year’s AWI Scholarship! 🎉 These students plan to pursue careers focused on protecting animals and improving animal welfare through veterinary science, wildlife biology, law, and more. Learn more: awionline.org/news/awi-awa...

In 1986, a 20-foot-tall inflatable beaver named Betsy began touring cities across America—and across the pond—alongside AWI representatives to bring awareness to the widespread use of an inhumane, appalling device used to trap millions of animals for their fur each year.

Our hearts go out to Marie Marseille and her family, who recently lost their beloved dog Jameson to a horrific—and preventable—officer-involved shooting of a family pet in Los Angeles.

In May, AWI called on the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) to retract its “strong support” for a cruel law that could negatively impact countless numbers of farmed animals. To date, we have not received a response. Read our full statement: awionline.org/news/awi-cal...

TAKE ACTION: Your help is needed to protect prairie dogs, beavers, lesser prairie-chickens, and other wildlife on the Cimarron and Comanche National Grasslands in Kansas and Colorado.

Good news: The discussion draft of the Senate Farm Bill does not include the Save Our Bacon Act (H.R. 4673), which seeks to nullify state laws such as California’s Prop 12 that protect farmed animals from certain cruel confinement practices, including veal and gestation crates.

TAKE ACTION: A new report from the Government Accountability Office recommended that legislative updates be made to alleviate the suffering of the hundreds of millions of animals who endure long, grueling trips across the US each year.

AWI is horrified by the recent news of a teenager’s death after being thrown from a horse-drawn carriage in Central Park. The horse was pulling a family of four when he spooked and bolted away from his driver, who had exited the carriage to take their photo.

For many older adults, pets serve as a source of deep emotional connection and companionship. However, this bond is sometimes exploited by abusers—including family members or caregivers—to exert power or control.

TAKE ACTION: A more humane future for America’s horses is on the horizon—and we need you to voice your support. The US House of Representatives is considering a transportation package that includes language that would bar the transport of horses to slaughter for human consumption.

Yesterday was #WorldOceanDay! AWI joins our partners in the @antarcticasouth.bsky.social Coalition (ASOC) to demand action to protect the Antarctic Peninsula, where industrial krill fisheries are outcompeting wildlife for one of the ecosystem’s most essential food sources.

If you’ve ever spoken up about an animal protection issue using AWI’s website, you’ve experienced how easy it is to send an email to your legislators—but it wasn’t always that simple!

America’s wild horses and burros are facing unprecedented threats to their very existence—which is why we’re working on Capitol Hill to secure a future where they can continue to roam, free from brutal helicopter roundups, slaughter, and lethal “management.”

TAKE ACTION: In January, Rep. Gosar introduced H.R. 7159, the so-called “Protecting Local Zoos Act,” a thinly veiled attempt to return to an America where roadside zoos can profit from a vicious cycle of cruelty—all for the sake of a few selfies.