Fights to enforce NYC foie gras ban & win governor’s signature to prevent octopus farming also still underway NEW YORK CITY, N.Y.––”New York City Council speaker Julie Menin just publicly endorsed Romanch’s Law, formerly known as Ryder’s Law, the bill that would finally end the horse-drawn carriage industry in New York City,” exulted newly designated […]
Ogle County last in Illinois to move rears re steer-tailing, alleges SHARK
Four other counties “have taken significant steps” to reduce steer-tailing cruelty, says Steve Hindi ROCHELLE, Illinois––Showing Animals Respect & Kindness [SHARK] on May 18, 2026 heralded the arrival of rodeo season with a rare announcement of good news on the steer-tailing front. “As we enter our fifth year of exposing the illegal animal abuse at […]
Ridglan Farms beagle purchase: smokescreen for Farm Bill disaster
1,500 beagles win; 76 million pigs lose. WASHINGTON D.C.; MIDDLETON, Wisconsin––Even as the U.S. House of Representatives on the morning of April 30, 2026 passed the 2026 Farm Bill, by a vote of 224-200, which if also passed by the U.S. Senate would erase Wayne Pacelle’s signature political achievements on behalf of 76 million farmed […]
Make cruelty unprofitable again, by Lewis Bollard
How to crack the cruelty collective action problem Lewis Bollard heads the Farm Animal Welfare Program at Open Philanthropy. Lewis Bollard’s ANIMALS 24-7 guest column, below, originally posted to Bollard’s own Substack blog, spotlights a situation in the United Kingdom paralleling what would happen in the United States if U.S. House of Representatives Agriculture Committee […]
Year of the Fire Horse arrives early, hits “Big Lickers” in North Carolina
36 walking horses killed, with seven survivors, in barn fire at former “Big Lick” world champion Callicutt Stables SEAGROVE, North Carolina––The Year of the Fire Horse in the Chinese astrological calendar cycle formally begins on February 17, 2026, but arrived two days early in Seagrove, North Carolina, where a fire breaking out around 12:45 p.m. […]
Brigitte Bardot, 91, movie star for 20 years, animal advocate for 52 years
Brigitte Bardot: provocative on film, but even more provocative for animals, for more than twice as long PARIS, France––Brigitte Bardot, 91, a fashion model for four years, a film actress for 20 years, and a full-time animal advocate for the last 52 years of her life, died on December 28, 2025 of undisclosed causes at […]
NY governor Hochul upholds higher renters insurance premiums for pit bulls
Hochul earlier blocked higher homeowners insurance premiums for pit bulls ALBANY, New York––New York state governor Kathy Hochul, on December 12, 2025 bucked precedent, including her own, by vetoing a bill to prohibit renters’ insurance policies “from discriminating against insureds or potential insureds based upon the harboring or owning of specific dog breeds,” mostly pit […]
Zoe Rosenberg gets 30 days; she & Wayne Hsiung both hit with restitution
Relatively light jail sentence, but 6-figure restitution to be paid to poultry firms SANTA ROSA, California––Sonoma County Superior Court judge Kenneth Gnoss on December 3, 2025 in Santa Rosa, California, sentenced Direct Action Everywhere activist Zoe Rosenberg, 23, of Berkeley, California, to serve 30 days in jail, 60 days in a “jail alternative” program, and […]
South Africa livestock transport put back under NSPCA inspection authority
South African High Court rules against the live transport industry, in favor of the National Council of SPCAs MAKHANDA, South Africa––The South African National Council of SPCAs on November 18, 2025 rejoiced over a verdict from Eastern Cape Division of the High Court in Makhanda restoring the ability of the NSPCA to investigate cruelty to […]
Lame ducks, dragons, & the fight over future of NYC horse-drawn carriages
New York City council health committee vote kills “Ryder’s Law,” but not the issue NEW YORK, N.Y.––If Chinese dictator Mao Zedong (1893-1976) was correct in his admonition that “Dragons and dying empires lash hardest in their death throes,” either the New York City horse-drawn carriage industry or activism against it may be just about done […]