by Bob Christiansen, co-founder, The Boca Fund (See also How to heal pets, heal the humane community, & heal the veterinary profession and Is the Veterinary Profession Serving All Companion Animal Medical Needs in America Today?, subtitled “A Case for Full-Service, Low-Cost, Non-Profit Community Veterinary Care Centers,” by Bob Christiansen.) For anyone involved in animal […]
Rich Avanzino, 84, one of the suspected “fathers” of bastardized no-kill
Avanzino in 23 years at the San Francisco SPCA helped to create the “no kill movement,” but in 17 years as founding president of Maddie’s Fund tended to discredit the concept PLEASANTON, California––Maddie’s Fund on September 29, 2026––nine days after Richard Avanzino’s actual death, announced that “Rich Avanzino, affectionately and widely known as the father […]
“March to End Animal Testing” reaches Marshall BioResources
Bill to ban federally funded biomedical research on dogs & cats introduced in D.C. NORTH ROSE, New York––The human population of North Rose, New York, officially listed as 571, is expected to double and perhaps triple or more on September 26, 2026, as the 207-mile “March to End Animal Testing” concludes with a three-mile hike […]
Why are those men in black swinging chickens over their heads?
Yom Kippur, Kapporos, & what Jewish animal advocates are doing about it NEW YORK, N.Y.––Yom Kippur, to be celebrated in 2026 from sundown on Sunday, September 20, until dusk on Monday, September 21, 2026, is to observant Jews the holiest and most solemn day of the year. To the other 97.5% of Americans, if baseball […]
Ed Duvin: “I saw the best minds of animal advocacy destroyed by madness”
The no-kill movement is not yet old enough to be suffering from advanced dementia This will be a different essay than I normally write, not carefully constructed and edited, but a stream of thoughts shared with fellow activists. Why? Issues that should elicit a sense of urgency in the movement, from the rising bloodshed by […]
Wendell Berry, Gloria Steinem, & animal rights: idols meet (meat) reality
Berry raised animals for slaughter. Steinem believed “Animals are not ours to eat, wear, experiment on, or use for entertainment.” Neither Wendell Berry and Gloria Steinem, each deceased at 92, on August 31, 2026 and September 2, 2026, respectively, were known primarily––or perhaps even at all––for their considerable influence on the late 20th century rise […]
Is your allegiance to movement leadership or those you serve? by Ed Duvin
Choose wisely, as homeless animals have no choice. Editor’s note: ANIMALS 24-7 guest columnist Ed Duvin began his long career in social justice movements in civil rights and anti-poverty work during the Lyndon Johnson presidential administration. He later advised animal advocacy organizations including the Humane Society of the U.S., the No-Kill Conference, and In […]
Behind the Calgary & Omak Stampede wild rushes of frightened animals
Neither Stampede’s signature event resembles any authentic Old West or Native American tradition OMAK, Washington; CALGARY, Alberta––The 2026 “stampede” subset of the rodeo season, consisting most notoriously of the annual Calgary Stampede and Omak Stampede, ended on August 16, 2026 with the fourth and last running of the year of the Omak “Suicide Race.” Riders […]
Showdown day at the Not Okay Corral comes to Congress
The “Save Our Bacon Act” a.k.a. the “SOB Act,” and the FIGHT Act head a long list of Farm Bill 2026 showdown items WASHINGTON D.C.––Thursday, August 6, 2026 is mark-up and amendment day, for reconciliation of the Senate and House of Representatives versions 2026 Farm Bill. That makes August 6, 2026 the showdown day at […]
Where do the Democratic Socialists of America stand on animal issues?
Activist, author, & Slaughter-Free America blogger Jon Hochschartner looks for answers ANIMALS 24-7 preface: Founded in 1982, but emerging only recently as a leading political influence on the U.S. national scene, the Democratic Socialists of America campaign in primary elections and caucus in elected office as Democrats. Yet, drawing distinct lines between themselves and traditional […]