We don't just help cats and dogs. Together with millions of supporters, we fight all forms of animal cruelty to achieve the vision behind our name: a humane society. Here's a look at some of what we’ve recently accomplished together. With your support, we can do so much more!
Spent fighting to end the private possession of big cats in the U.S. ended when the Big Cat Public Safety Act went into effect in June.
Received our training on how to bridge the gap between essential pet care and the people and pets who need it.
In the U.S. have set public plant-based menu and meat reduction goals after working with us.
Improving the lives of farm animals
After months of tireless efforts and unwavering dedication, we won our landmark Supreme Court defense of California's Proposition 12. The decision, announced in May 2023, upholds the nation’s strongest farm animal protection law and unanimously rejects the pork industry’s primary constitutional claim. The hard work, perseverance and passion of our teams and supporters like you played a crucial role in achieving this historic outcome.
Proposition 12—which was approved by 63% of California voters in 2018—requires that mother pigs, hens used for eggs and calves raised for veal be given at least enough space to stand up, turn around and extend their limbs. The law also bans the in-state sale of pork, eggs and veal produced through extreme confinement. Ever since we and our allies ensured the passage of Proposition 12, we have been defending it against some producers seeking to overturn it. You can donate now to help us achieve more wins for farmed animals.
Removing nearly 4,000 beagles from bleak conditions
Our Animal Rescue Team, with the support of our shelter and rescue partners, removed nearly 4,000 beagles during the summer of 2022 from a mass breeding facility that received multiple Animal Welfare Act violations for issues such as inadequate veterinary care and insufficient food. Many of these dogs were bound for animal testing laboratories across the country, but now they have the loving homes they deserve. You can help—tell the FDA to end animal testing.
Stopping the sale of puppy mill dogs in pet stores
We’ve helped California, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, New York, Oregon and Washington all pass laws that prohibit the sale of dogs and cats in pet stores, a major blow to cruel breeding facilities that churn out animals for profit with little to no regard for their wellbeing. We’ve also helped to pass similar laws prohibiting the sale of dogs and cats in pet stores in more than 450 localities across the U.S. You can help us protect dogs from the cruelty of puppy mills by urging your legislators to support the Puppy Protection Act.
Ending cosmetics testing on animals
With your support, Washington became the 12th U.S. state to prohibit the sale of cosmetics tested on animals. It joins California, Hawai'i, Illinois, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Oregon and Virginia. And, with your help, we continue to promote non-animal alternatives and build support for the bipartisan Humane Cosmetics Act, legislation to prohibit the production and sale of animal-tested cosmetics in the U.S. The Humane Cosmetics Act ended 2023 with more than 200 bipartisan co-sponsors, the support of 400 individual cosmetics companies, and the backing of the Personal Care Products Council, which represents 600 global cosmetics and personal care products companies. You can help—tell the FDA to end animal testing.
Stay up-to-date with the latest news and quick, simple actions you can take to help animals each week.
Protecting wildlife
A lawsuit we filed with our allies led to a federal judge reinstating Endangered Species Act protections for wolves throughout most of the lower 48 states, effectively prohibiting trophy hunting of the species across most of the country. The reinstatement, which spares hundreds of wolves from being slaughtered each year, grants wolves across most of the country a desperately needed reprieve, but there’s still work to be done. Wolves in the Northern Rockies states of Idaho, Montana and Wyoming still lack federal protections. Tell the U.S. Department of the Interior that wolves in the Northern Rocky Mountains need federal protections.
Keeping pets and people together
Through our programs such as Pets for Life and Rural Area Veterinary Services, we have been supporting hundreds of thousands of people and pets who do not have access to veterinary care and pet essentials for more than a decade. We’ve provided more than 500,000 pets and their families living in poverty with veterinary services such as spay/neuter and vaccinations at no cost to the pet’s family. We’ve also donated more than $40 million worth of pet supplies, including 14 million pounds of pet food. You can donate now to help keep people and pets together.
Ending the use of fur in fashion
Dolce & Gabbana, Neiman Marcus, Macy’s, Nordstrom, Gucci, Prada, Chanel, Coach, Burberry, Versace, Michael Kors, Armani and InStyle magazine are just some of the companies that we have worked with in announcing fur-free policies. With our support, California became the first state in the nation to ban fur sales in 2019, and we’re working hard to pass similar measures in other states across the country. You can help! If you’re interested on working toward a fur sales bans in your area, check out our ordinance toolkit, which provides an easy guide for taking action in your own community. You can also add your voice to the tens of thousands who are speaking out against the fur industry.
Helping the people and pets of Puerto Rico
With the support of over 25 organizations, we operated Spayathon for Puerto Rico, a multi-year effort that started in 2018 and provided nearly 60,000 cats and dogs with much-needed veterinary care, vaccinations, spay/neuter services and pet supplies, all at no cost to the animals’ families. Spayathon had an immediate positive impact by preventing hundreds of thousands of unwanted litters, many of which would undoubtedly contribute to the street dog and cat populations and shelter intake numbers.
Because of supporters like you, we’re helping animals every day in the United States and around the world. Get the latest news sent right to you by email or text message!
