AWI Quarterly Term Archive
Quick Read
Supreme Court Strikes Down Law Banning Crush Videos
Companion AnimalsOn April 20, the US Supreme Court, in United States v. Stevens, handed a victory to animal abusers when it overturned the federal statute (18 U.S.C. §48) prohibiting the creation, sale,...
Victory! Florida Bans Coyote and Fox Penning
Terrestrial WildlifeJune 23 was a momentous day for coyotes and foxes in Florida, as the state's Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) voted unanimously to enact a ban on coyote and...
USDA Fails to Enforce Animal Welfare Act Against Problem Breeders
Companion AnimalsOn May 20, the Obama Administration pledged to fully enforce the Animal Welfare Act (AWA). Not a minute too soon, it turns out. Two days later, the USDA’s Office of...
Oil Disaster Devastates Gulf – AWI Sues BP to Protect Endangered Turtles
Marine WildlifeThe Deepwater Horizon offshore oil drilling platform exploded in the Gulf of Mexico in the evening hours of April 20. The rig, under contract to British Petroleum (BP) since late...
Organic Standards Evolving
Farmed AnimalsDespite popular belief that an organic label ensures animal welfare, this is not the case. Organic rules pertaining to animals have been limited to use of organically-grown feed without animal...
Smithfield Fouls
Farmed AnimalsA record-breaking $11 million has been awarded to plaintiffs suffering from horrendous odors emanating from hog factories in Berlin, Missouri. The case, filed in 2002 against Premium Standard Farms, a...
Tyson Foods’ Chicken: Raised with Antibiotics
Farmed AnimalsDespite corresponding feeding practices in large-scale industrial operations, in 2007, Tyson Foods sought to capitalize on growing consumer concern about the excessive use of antibiotics by marketing its chicken as...
Controversial San Clemente Dam to Go
Marine WildlifeIt was reported in January that government officials and the California American Water Company (Cal Am) had reached an agreement regarding the future of the San Clemente Dam on the...
Stingrays Demonstrate Their Cognitive Abilities
Marine WildlifeIn December, scientists studying the cognitive abilities of South American freshwater stingrays identified the fish’s ability to use tools. Researchers provided the stingrays with a plastic pipe, sealed at one...
Trainer’s Death Revives Cetacean Captivity Debate
Marine WildlifeTilikum, SeaWorld’s largest killer whale, weighing over 12,000 pounds, killed one of his trainers in February, as spectators watched with horror. He grabbed his trainer, Dawn Brancheau, a veteran trainer...