Program Term Archive

Companion Animals

Horse Protection Act Enforcement Plummets

Companion Animals, Equines

Nearly 50 years ago, Congress passed the Horse Protection Act (HPA) to protect horses from the abusive practice of soring, which involves intentionally inflicting pain on the animal’s legs to...

A Voice for Animals Contest Prize Winners Announced

Press ReleaseJuly 11, 2019Companion Animals, Marine Wildlife, Terrestrial Wildlife

The Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) and the Humane Education Network (HEN) announced the winners of the 2019 A Voice for Animals contest. The annual contest offers monetary awards to high school students age...

Bill Identifies Animal Abuse as Child Abuse Risk Factor

Companion Animals

To facilitate better information about the co-occurrence of child abuse and animal abuse, Representatives Ann McLane Kuster (D-NH) and John Katko (R-NY) introduced the Child and Animal Abuse Detection and...

Cross Reporting Workshops Address Animal Abuse and Family Violence

Companion Animals

A highly successful series of workshops in March in Ohio has led to lasting connections that could improve interventions and lead to prevention in cases of animal abuse and family...

Quality of Life Scale for Aging and Ailing Pets

Companion Animals

We all want to do well by our furry companions. We want to have as much time as possible with them, but also want to make sure that they do...

AWI Supports Bipartisan Bill to Protect Children and Animals from Abuse

Press ReleaseMay 16, 2019Companion Animals

The Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) endorses the Child and Animal Abuse Detection and Reporting Act of 2019, introduced today by Representatives Ann McLane Kuster (D-NH) and John Katko (R-NY). This...

Animal Welfare Institute Supports Bill to Keep Primates Out of Pet Trade

Press ReleaseMarch 14, 2019Companion Animals, Terrestrial Wildlife

The Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) supports the reintroduction of the Captive Primate Safety Act (CPSA), which addresses the cruel and dangerous problem of pet primate ownership in the United States. Sponsored by...

John Thompson: The Game Changer

Companion Animals

On March 7, AWI presented the Schweitzer Medal to John Thompson in recognition of his extraordinary efforts to improve law enforcement’s recognition of animal cruelty as a crime of violence and its...

Puppy-Mill-Placating Measure Nixed in Michigan

Companion Animals

Before leaving office, former governor Rick Snyder vetoed a pair of bills that were pitched as efforts to strengthen oversight of pet stores but which in fact would have allowed...

Law Enforcement Leader Receives Prestigious Albert Schweitzer Medal

Press ReleaseMarch 8, 2019Companion Animals

John Thompson, a seasoned public safety leader who has brought the hidden atrocity of animal cruelty to the forefront of law enforcement, was honored Thursday with the Albert Schweitzer Medal. This...