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Christine founds the Animal Welfare Institute (AWI), a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating more humane housing and handling conditions for animals used in laboratories.

AWI publishes its first Information Report newsletter. In 1981, this flagship publication would transform into the AWI Quarterly magazine.

Christine establishes the Society for Animal Protective Legislation (SAPL) as a sister organization to AWI; it constitutes the first organization in the United States dedicated to the passage and promotion of animal welfare legislation.

The Humane Methods of Slaughter Act is signed into law by President Eisenhower, following sustained campaigning by AWI. The law requires that meat sold to the US government come from livestock (though not poultry) that was humanely handled and stunned prior to slaughter.

AWI publishes Humane Biology Projects to promote sound scientific training through projects that don’t cause animal suffering.

The Laboratory Animal Welfare Act signed into law by President Johnson, following persuasive advocacy by AWI. The law sets minimum standards of care and housing for dogs, cats, primates, rabbits, hamsters, and guinea pigs on the premises of animal dealers and laboratories. To prevent theft, it requires identification of all dogs and cats handled in commerce by any dealer, and it requires dealers to be licensed and laboratories to be registered.

AWI publishes Animals and Their Legal Rights, a survey of US animal protection laws. Three more editions of the book are published in subsequent years.

AWI and allies launch the Save the Whales campaign calling for an end to commercial whaling.

President Nixon signs the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act. This AWI-supported legislation aims to protect and manage populations of wild horses and burros.

Christine attends the 22nd meeting of the International Whaling Commission in London to advocate a global ban on commercial whaling.

President Nixon signs the Endangered Species Act (ESA), legislation to protect and recover endangered and threatened species and the ecosystems upon which they rely. In testimony before Congress in support of the legislation, Christine had stated, “To turn the tide of extinction, a substantial edifice of rational protection has to be built. Each building block must be solid and strong.” Today, the ESA remains one of the strongest and most effective conservation laws in the world.

The Animal Welfare Act is amended to, among other things, (1) extend coverage to animals held by carriers, intermediate handlers, and animal brokers; (2) expand the definition of dogs covered by the law to “all dogs including those used for hunting, security, or breeding purposes”; (3) prohibit commerce in animals for use in animal fighting; and (4) require all federal agencies using animals in laboratories to show full compliance with the AWA.

The Humane Methods of Slaughter Act is amended to extend the requirements of the 1958 law to all commercial US slaughter establishments (not just those selling to the US government), as well as to foreign meat packers exporting to the United States. USDA inspectors are empowered to stop the slaughter line if they observe animals being slaughtered or handled in a manner inconsistent with the law.

The National Science Teachers Association adopts A Code of Practice on Animals in the Schools, drafted by AWI Scientific Committee member Dr. Orlans.

Future AWI president Cathy Liss starts internship at AWI

AWI publishes the Endangered Species Handbook to raise awareness of species that humans are pushing toward extinction.

The Improved Standards for Laboratory Animals Act (ISLAA) is signed into law as a component of the Food Security Act, an omnibus farm bill. Passed with substantial input from AWI scientists , ISLAA amends the Animal Welfare Act to, among other things, require registered research facilities to appoint institutional animal care and use committees to engage in internal oversight. The facilities must provide exercise opportunities for dogs and psychological enrichment for primates. Researchers are required to consider alternatives and consult with a veterinarian before beginning any experiment on an animal that could cause pain. They must adhere to USDA standards for pre- and post-surgical care, pain relief, euthanasia, and use of the same animal for more than one major operation.

AWI publishes Factory Farming: The Experiment that Failed, documenting the grim conditions under which animals are kept in industrial agriculture and recommending practical alternative methods.

With key support from AWI, CITES member nations vote to impose an unprecedented international ban on commercial trade in ivory. The ban is still in place today—an indispensable component of the effort to fight poaching and protect elephant populations in Africa.

AWI cofounds the Species Survival Network, an international coalition of organizations (today numbering nearly 90) that works to strengthen CITES and address the increasing threat of wildlife trade to global biodiversity .

Following efforts by AWI and other groups to mobilize a groundswell of public support for the legislation, the International Dolphin Conservation Act is signed into law to establish a global moratorium on methods of tuna fishing that kill dolphins and require imported tuna to be “dolphin-safe.”

At the ninth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to CITES, AWI, in coordination with the Species Survival Network, presents the first Clark R. Bavin Wildlife Law Enforcement Awards to 10 individuals in recognition of their commitment and dedication to combating wildlife crime. The award is named for the late chief of the Office of Law Enforcement of the US Fish and Wildlife Service, who pioneered the use of complex sting operations to catch wildlife criminals.

The first edition of The Case Against Marine Mammals in Captivity is published by the Humane Society of the United States, setting forth compelling scientific evidence of the harm associated with holding marine mammals in zoos, aquariums, and marine theme parks. Later, marine mammal biologist Dr. Naomi Rose, coauthor of the report, joins AWI’s staff, and AWI and World Animal Protection publishes fifth and sixth editions of the report, with the current version available in seven languages .

AWI publishes The Animal Dealers: Evidence of Abuse of Animals in the Commercial Trade 1952–1997, a shocking exposé of cruelty, fraud, and negligence in the trade of dogs, cats, primates, birds, and reptiles.

AWI launches the Refinement Database, a curated collection of scientific articles, books, and other publications on improving the welfare of animals in research through refinements to housing conditions and handling techniques. Since its launch, the database has grown substantially and continues to be updated regularly.

The Chimpanzee Health Improvement, Maintenance, and Protection (CHIMP) Act passes Congress by unanimous consent and is signed into law two weeks later. This AWI-supported law establishes a national sanctuary system for chimpanzees no longer used in research.

AWI’s founder and president, Christine Stevens, who led the organization for over 50 years and came to be known as the “Mother of the Animal Protection Movement,” dies at the age of 84. AWI’s longtime executive director, Cathy Liss, is subsequently appointed president.

The Society for Animal Protective Legislation merges with AWI after nearly 50 years in operation as a companion organization.

With support from AWI, the Captive Primate Safety Act is first introduced in Congress by Reps. Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) and Rob Simmons (R-CT) to prohibit interstate commerce in primates for use as pets.

AWI launches the Christine Stevens Wildlife Awards to provide grants for research projects aimed at developing and field testing humane methods of resolving conflicts between wild animals and humans. Eventually, the program expands to include research projects to develop and test less intrusive techniques to study wildlife.

AWI launches a searchable online database of restaurants in the United States that serve shark fin soup and encourages people to boycott such establishments, in an effort to call attention to the inherent cruelty of shark finning and the devastating effect of the fin trade on shark populations. Today, the database is one of the most visited areas on AWI’s website.

AWI founds Whales Need US at St Kitts IWC meeting

AWI cofounds the Homes for Horses Coalition (HHC), a network of equine rescue, sanctuary, and animal welfare organizations across the nation dedicated to ending horse slaughter and other forms of cruelty to equines. HHC currently has over 500 members.

AWI releases a first-of-its-kind analysis of federal and state oversight of the welfare of livestock at slaughter The report is now in its fifth edition.

AWI partners with the Humane Education Network on A Voice for Animals, an annual contest offering high school students around the world an opportunity to win cash prizes for essays, videos, or photo essays that explore strategies to protect imperiled species and mitigate animal suffering.

AWI publishes Kamie Cat’s Terrible Night, a children’s book written and illustrated by Sheila Hanaka about the misadventures of a cat who gets lost and yearns to be home. The book reinforces concepts of kindness to animals and responsible cat care; Subsequently, AWI produces supplemental lesson plans and activities for both the Kamie Cat and Pablo Puppy books and Spanish-language versions of the books and supplemental materials. 2010: AWI publishes The Magic of Touch: Healing Effects of Animal Touch and Animal Presence, by Viktor and Annie Reinhardt. The book presents evidence on the calming, stress-buffering, and life-enhancing effect of touch among animals, among humans, and between animals and humans. A second edition of the book is published in 2017.

Responding to a lawsuit filed by AWI and other animal protection and conservation groups, BP and the US Coast Guard agree to measures designed to prevent the burning of endangered sea turtles during efforts to remove oil from the massive Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

Country music legend Willie Nelson and family record a version of The Rolling Stones’ song, “Wild Horses,” donating proceeds from the sale of the song to AWI’s campaigns on behalf of wild and domestic horses. (Dave Tilford’s offer to sing backup on the record is politely but firmly rebuffed.)

Sens. Mark Kirk (R-IL) and Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) introduce the Horse Transportation Safety Act, AWI-supported legislation to ban unsafe and inhumane double-deck trailer transportation of horses in the United States.

AWI releases A Consumer’s Guide to Food Labels and Animal Welfare to help consumers who purchase meat, dairy, and eggs decipher label claims and locate products from animals raised and handled under more humane conditions. AWI continues to update and publish the guide.

AWI begins tracking barn fires nationwide and publishes a report on the findings that offers recommendations for improved fire safety to better protect farmed animals. The report is now in its third edition.

AWI and other animal protection groups release a report from an investigation at WCI Foxhound Training Preserve, an Indiana penning facility. The report reveals extreme animal suffering and provides strong evidence that wild coyotes are being illegally confined and killed by hunting dogs at the facility.

AWI and the Kenya Wildlife Service publish A Dangerous Life, a graphic novel aimed at middle school-aged readers, about an American teen’s trip to Africa and her discovery of the terrible price elephants pay because of the global ivory trade.

AWI publishes Label Confusion, a report highlighting the USDA’s failure to verify the accuracy of animal welfare and sustainability claims on meat and poultry products sold in the United States. The report is now in its third edition.

AWI publishes Monkeys Don’t Wear Diapers: Heartwarming and Heartbreaking Stories from a Monkey Sanctuary, by OPR Coastal Primate Sanctuary founder and director Polly Schultz and AWI laboratory animal advisor Dr. Kenneth Litwak, to highlight the tragic consequences of the primate pet trade.

After the 2012 publication of David Kirby’s book Death at Seaworld and the 2013 release of Gabriela Cowperthwaite’s documentary Blackfish—both involving marine biologist Dr. Naomi Rose, who would join AWI’s staff later in 2013—SeaWorld announces that it will end its orca breeding program, signaling a phase-out of the keeping and display of orcas in all its parks.

California Gov. Jerry Brown signs groundbreaking legislation—championed by AWI—prohibiting the breeding and theatrical performance of captive orcas in California, as well as their export, consistent with federal law, out of North America.

AWI sues the USDA for not responding to a 2014 AWI petition asking the department’s Food Safety and Inspection Services to require independent certification to address misleading claims about animal welfare on meat and poultry packages. The following February, the USDA responds to the petition but declines to engage in rulemaking to address the issue.

AWI leads a successful effort to persuade the National Marine Fisheries Service to list the Taiwanese white dolphin as endangered under the Endangered Species Act.

Following a lawsuit filed by AWI and co-plaintiffs, the Bureau of Land Management abandons plans to use mares rounded up from Oregon’s Warm Springs Herd Management Area for cruel surgical sterilization experiments.

Delegates at the eighteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to CITES vote to prohibit the capture of elephants from Zimbabwe and Botswana for export to zoos and circuses around the world. Prior to the vote, AWI participates extensively in deliberations to help secure this outcome.

Following advocacy efforts by AWI and other groups, the Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture (PACT) Act is signed into law by President Trump to explicitly ban certain egregious acts of animal cruelty, including the creation and distribution of “crush videos.”

AWI and co-plaintiffs sue the USDA for failing to protect pigs who are too sick or injured to walk at slaughterhouses. In March 2023, the district court would rule against the plaintiffs.

Following an AWI-led coalition campaign, Colorado bans wildlife killing contests involving furbearers, including coyotes, bobcats, foxes, and prairie dogs. AWI and coalition partners go on to achieve similar bans in other states.

AWI is instrumental in securing passage of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act—historic legislation aimed at cleaning up thoroughbred racing in the United States through federal oversight to control administration of drugs and establish racetrack safety rules.

Citing a pattern of chronic Animal Welfare Act (AWA) violations, an administrative law judge permanently revokes the dealer license of Dan Moulton, owner of Moulton Chinchilla Ranch (MCR), one of the nation’s only dealers of chinchillas for experimentation. This action comes on the heels of Investigative reporting by AWI that had repeatedly raised concerns about the abysmal conditions at MCR and the USDA’s failure to enforce the AWA against this dealer.

AWI and other animal protection organizations release an open letter to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), adding their voices to the more than 3,500 veterinary professionals who have signed a petition created by Veterinarians Against Ventilation Shutdown that calls on the AVMA to reclassify the practice of killing animals by inducing heatstroke—known as ventilation shutdown plus (VSD+)—as "not recommended."

In a long-awaited victory for sharks across the globe, President Biden signs into law the Shark Fin Sales Elimination Act into law, prohibiting the commercial trade of shark fins and products containing shark fins in the United States.

AWI’s president, Cathy Liss, retires after 41 years with the organization and two decades at the helm. Susan Millward, director of AWI’s Marine Wildlife Program , is subsequently appointed to lead the organization as chief executive officer and executive director. Cathy remains on the AWI board of directors.

Rep. Adriano Espaillat (D-NY) introduces AWI-backed legislation, the Mink VIRUS Act, to phase out US mink farms within one year and establish a grant program to reimburse farmers for the full value of their operations.

The USDA finalizes the long-awaited Organic Livestock and Poultry Standards Rule for animals raised under the National Organic Program. AWI provided extensive input toward development of the rule, which requires outdoor access and prohibits certain types of mutilations, extreme confinement, and transport of animals unfit to travel.

In response to a petition filed by AWI and allies, the Atlantic humpback dolphin is listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act.

AWI launches the Center for the Study of NIBRS Animal Cruelty Data , a first-of-its-kind resource offering easy access to the animal cruelty crime data collected via the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS) nationwide crime database to encourage research on animal cruelty crimes that will inform intervention efforts.

After sustained pressure by AWI and other equine advocates, the USDA finalizes new regulations under the Horse Protection Act to safeguard Tennessee walking horses from the abusive practice of soring. Implementation, however, is delayed.

Biomedical company Envigo RMS LLC pleads guilty to conspiring to violate the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) following a Department of Justice investigation into conditions at a beagle-breeding facility in Virginia. Envigo’s parent company, Inotiv, guarantees payment of a record $35 million in penalties, including $11 million for conspiring to violate the AWA. AWI had reported extensively on the situation and repeatedly called on the USDA to take substantive action.

The Council of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) votes unanimously to investigate Mexico’s failure to protect the critically endangered vaquita porpoise—three years after AWI and its allies submitted evidence that Mexico is not honoring its USMCA obligations related to vaquita protection.

For the second consecutive year, Iceland’s largest whaling company, Hvalur hf., announces that it will not hunt fin whales due to global economic conditions that make it unprofitable. Hvalur’s actions follow decades of campaigning by AWI and others to turn public opinion against commercial whaling.

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis signs bipartisan AWI-supported legislation to establish criminal penalties for selling, possessing, transporting, importing, or exporting threatened and endangered species.

In response to a lawsuit brought by AWI and allies, the US Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit rules that the BLM violated federal law by failing to consider a core requirement of the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act in its plan to permanently remove wild horses from more than 2 million acres of public lands in Wyoming’s Checkerboard region.

Following years of advocacy from AWI and other organizations, the National Institutes of Health changes its policy to allow grant funds to be used for the rehoming and retirement of animals used in laboratories.

The twentieth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to CITES adopts all of AWI’s priority listing proposals, resulting in international trade protections for a number of species.