Would you like to hear some good news? Well, we’ve got some for you. There’s been some impressive progress for animals during 2023. And it’s thanks to the animal advocacy groups who’ve worked so hard to secure legal protections for animals in factory farms, laboratories, puppy mills, shelters, and more.
The Animal Legal Defense Fund—an effective community of lawyers fighting to advance the interests of animals— this week reported five highlights in their end of year social media review.
Here’s some of those 2023 highlights:
- After a 13-year campaign, New Jersey became the latest state to ban the extreme confinement of mother pigs and calves used for veal
- Oregon and New York joined eight other states in banning wildlife killing contests
- A court ruled that Craigslist puppy sellers illegally neglected the animals and defrauded families, banned them from selling animals, and awarded damages to buyers
- The U.S. Supreme Court declined to review a lower court’s decision regarding North Carolina’s Ag-Gag law — a statute that has restricted the plaintiffs, a coalition of public interest groups including the Animal Legal Defense Fund, from conducting undercover investigations by allowing employers and property owners to sue undercover investigators seeking to expose unethical or illegal activities in the workplace
- The U.S. Supreme Court also upheld California’s landmark Proposition 12 animal cruelty law affirming constitutional protection for undercover investigations and whistleblowing
Meanwhile New York’s Voters for Animal Rights (VFAR) have reported the following victories:
- A guinea pig sale ban in New York City and Boston City
- Banning of the sale of foie gras in Pittsburgh
- The arrest and prosecution of a carriage horse owner for “overdriving, torturing, and injuring animals, failure to provide proper sustenance.”
While this progress is excellent, we all know there is a long way to go before animals are afforded the compassion and rights they deserve.
So, here’s our wish list for progress we’d love to see in 2024!
- The beginning of the end of factory farms. Let’s end factory farming for the sake of the animals, the health of people, and the planet. To learn more, visit CIWF.com.
- The end of horse carriages in New York City. Horses don’t belong on the busy, noisy streets of New York City. In the age of electric alternatives, it’s time for the Central Park horses to enjoy a peaceful and loving retirement upstate. See VFAR for how you can help.
- An end to “dove releases.” The trend for releasing these gentle creatures for weddings, gender reveal parties, and other celebrations is cruel and unnecessary. Doves cannot fly well, are not adept at finding food, and are vulnerable to predators. They don’t stand a chance of survival when they are released. City Councils should prohibit the release of birds for commercial purposes. See VFAR for what you can do.
- State and Federal support to fund TNR (Trap, Neuter, Release) programs to support the incredible efforts of volunteer groups who sacrifice their own finances and well-being to protect homeless animals. This approach could sustainably and compassionately bring about an end to the suffering of millions of homeless animals here in the U.S.
In the words of Voters for Animal Rights, let’s just “be kind to all kinds!”
If you’d like to learn more about creating a kinder world for animals, people, and the planet, follow these amazing organizations mentioned here and help generate the political will to make the changes we need. We also invite you to take a peek at our favorite books for a better world on Bookshop.org for more reading and inspiration.
Love and Purrs,
Team Bunny XO
(Photo courtesy of Jametlene Reskp on Unsplash)
