Program Term Archive

Strengthening Laws, Regulations, and Enforcement

Ridglan to Relinquish State Breeding License

Animals in Laboratories

Ridglan Farms—one of two remaining US breeders of beagles for research—will cease its large-scale breeding-for-sale operations by July 2026, following grave allegations of animal neglect and cruelty (see AWI Quarterly, fall...

IUCN Reaffirms Long-Tailed Macaques’ Endangered Status

Animals in Laboratories, Endangered Species, Terrestrial Wildlife

In October, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the global authority on wildlife conservation, officially reaffirmed the “endangered” designation of long-tailed macaques (LTMs)—a monkey species used extensively for biomedical...

AWI Report Analyzes Diminished AWA Enforcement

Animals in Laboratories

The US Department of Agriculture’s long history of ineffective Animal Welfare Act (AWA) enforcement against noncompliant breeders, dealers, exhibitors, and research facilities appears to have reached a new low. AWI...

Animals in Labs Laws, Regulations, and Guidelines

Animals in Laboratories

A range of laws, regulations, and guidance documents govern the use of animals in research and aim to improve their care and welfare. In the United States, federal laws such...

Case: Santa Cruz Biotechnology, Inc.

Animals in Laboratories

Santa Cruz Biotechnology (SCBT) was one of the world’s largest suppliers of research antibodies derived from animals. For more than a decade, SCBT received numerous citations from USDA inspectors over...

Cases Against Chronic Violators

Animals in Laboratories

AWI has followed, publicized, and at times directly encouraged, enforcement cases against entities found to have repeatedly neglected, harmed, or otherwise endangered animals bred for or used in laboratories, in...

Case: Envigo/Inotiv Dog Breeder

Animals in Laboratories

In May 2022, a federal court in Virginia granted the US Department of Justice a temporary restraining order against Envigo RMS, LLC for violating the Animal Welfare Act and its implementing regulations...

Case: Moulton Chinchilla Ranch

Animals in Laboratories

On October 8, 2021, an administrative law judge permanently revoked the dealer license of Dan Moulton, owner of Moulton Chinchilla Ranch (MCR), one of the nation’s primary suppliers of chinchillas for...

Animal Welfare Enforcement Improvement Act

Animals in Laboratories, Companion Animals

The Animal Welfare Enforcement Improvement Act (AWEIA) protects animals from unscrupulous dealers and exhibitors, and closes existing loopholes in the US Department of Agriculture licensing process that endanger animals and...

Analyses and Reports on USDA Enforcement

Animals in Laboratories

AWI has chronicled in reports, letters to government officials, media outreach, and AWI Quarterly articles, the USDA’s lax enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act throughout the years.