Animal Welfare

If you’re a vegetarian, should your pet be one too? This is a controversial issue and animal rights activists are divided. Here are some of the arguments for and against feeding your pet a vegetarian diet. Yes, pets should eat a plant-based diet Buying meaty pet food supports the same meat industry that vegetarians and […]

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department was shooting burros located in the Big Bend Ranch State Park in an effort to decrease the burros’ impact on the resources and sites at the park. The good news is that the agency has agreed to suspend the policy of killing the burros. In cooperation with the TPWD, […]

The Horse Protection Act, passed 40 years ago, was meant to eliminate the practice of “soring” horses. As the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) explains, the “soring” of horses consists of using chemicals and other substances causing extreme pain in horses’ hooves and legs. It is used in show competitions to give them […]

Retired racehorses often begin “second careers” in other sports, as studs/broodmares or as therapeutic pets. At the Welfare and Safety of the Racehorse Summit at Keeneland June 28, 2010, speakers stressed the need for racehorses to be treated well in order for them to have the ability to start a second career. If pushed too […]

I had a Pet Photo Day at a local Pet Supplies “Plus” store recently and there was a dog and cat rescue group celebrating the opening of their new facility within the store. The store owner had generously donated a large portion of his property to construct an area to house kittens and cats that […]

Host Anna Vitale of the Mindlight TV show featured New York State Senator Tony Avella and Edita Birnkrant, New York Director of Friends of Animals explaining about the New York City horse-drawn carriage industry. Discussed were the ongoing efforts of FoA working with Senator Avella to pass a state law banning horse-drawn carriages. Legislation is […]

The United States is considering a ban on the use of wild animals in traveling circuses. The ban already exists in many countries throughout the world. While the circuses of ancient Greece and Rome featured trained animals, circuses originally began with acts by jugglers, acrobats, trapeze artists, tightrope walkers and clowns. In other words, the […]

While a few states have penalty laws for spectators at animal fights, there is no federal law making it a penalty to attend them. Admission fees and wagering on the fights are the fuel that spurs the continuation of dog fighting and cockfighting. There is a bill before Congress, the Animal Fighting Spectator Prohibition Act, […]

February 21, 2012 – a day to celebrate. Ohio’s Governor John Kasich signed HB 14 into law, ending discrimination against pitbulls. Prior to this law pitbulls were considered dangerous based solely on the breed. Best Friends Animal Society, vigorous in their stand against banning breeds, states that the new law also prohibits convicted felons from […]

The question of whether horse-drawn carriages should be banned has been in the news lately. Glee star Lea Michele has recently starred in a PETA campaign supporting a ban. An announcement has been made that Prince William and his fiancee, Kate Middleton, will travel to their wedding by car instead of by carriage. Although the […]