Animal Welfare Institute

FUNDING OPPORTUNITY: AWI's Center for the Study of NIBRS Animal Cruelty Data is pleased to offer two $5,000 stipends for master's and doctoral students to utilize animal cruelty data from the FBI’s National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS) in their research. It is essential that analysis of NIBRS animal cruelty data play a central part in the proposed research project—AWI encourages use of this data to assess animal cruelty trends and inform more effective interventions to protect both animals and the communities in which they live. Applications are due January 31. Learn more and apply: https://lnkd.in/eUucJcr3

All too often, animals in slaughter plants suffer terrible abuse before they are killed. Rarely in such cases, however, do local officials pursue charges under state animal cruelty laws. AWI is urging the USDA to encourage enforcement of these laws by offering clear guidance on when such laws would not be preempted by federal law and by notifying local law enforcement of documented abuse. Learn more in the fall 2024 edition of the AWI Quarterly: https://lnkd.in/exntdFGA

Last week, AWI staff members Nancy Blaney, Government Affairs Program director; Zack Strong, Farmed Animal Program acting director and senior attorney; and Claire Coughlin, Companion Animal Program director, attended the 13th Annual National Animal Cruelty Prosecution Conference, organized by the Association of Prosecuting Attorneys (APA). During the conference, prosecutors, law enforcement, and allied professionals gathered to discuss the link between interpersonal violence and animal cruelty, as well as methods of successfully identifying and prosecuting animal cruelty and animal fighting cases. All three AWI representatives spoke during the conference—Zack addressed the lack of cruelty cases involving livestock or poultry at slaughterhouses due to the misconception that certain federal laws always preempt state animal cruelty laws, while Claire co-led a session titled “What Do the Numbers Say? Understanding Data Trends in Animal Cruelty Cases.” Nancy provided a summary of current national legislation pertaining to animal cruelty and animal cruelty prosecution practices. AWI is a longtime supporter of this conference, and Nancy co-chairs the APA’s Animal Cruelty Advisory Council. Learn more about our professional tools and trainings related to animal cruelty: https://lnkd.in/e8itmZmk

“Sharks are being killed by the spoonful.” AWI is happy to announce that PPK’s “Spoon Fin” poster, inspired by AWI’s shark fin campaign, won a prestigious Gold Award in the International 2025 Graphis Inc. advertising annual competition. In movies and on TV, sharks are often portrayed as fearsome predators of humans, but in reality, humans pose a much bigger threat to sharks: Each year, over 100 million sharks are estimated to die at the hands of humans, fueled in large part by the intense demand for fins to make shark-fin soup, a popular (and pricey) dish in some East Asian societies. Live sharks are often “finned” at sea—their fins sliced off and the mutilated sharks tossed overboard to experience a slow, agonized death. AWI is working to protect sharks, and the countless species that rely on them, by raising awareness of the threats they face, working to curb commercial fishery bycatch, and tracking restaurants that still offer shark fin soup.   A healthy ocean requires healthy shark populations. Take action in support of sharks by avoiding products containing shark liver oil (squalene) or chondroitin derived from shark cartilage, reducing your seafood consumption, and learning about the threats sharks face. Learn more on our website: https://lnkd.in/eHi9SbSx

November is #ManateeAwarenessMonth! This year, we’re spotlighting the African manatee—the least-studied and most endangered manatee species—and our support for the African Aquatic Conservation Fund (AACF). Despite protections across their 21 range states, African manatees face severe threats, including poaching, bycatch, and habitat loss. Through AACF’s groundbreaking research, led by its founder and executive director, Dr. Lucy Keith-Diagne, we’re gaining essential insights into these animals. AACF’s fieldwork covers diverse and remote habitats, from rainforests to desert rivers, building a sustainable network of African researchers developing population-level information to inform long-term conservation actions. 🌍 With support from AWI, AACF has trained over 100 African researchers and developed education programs reaching thousands of people each year. Conservation requires long-term commitment, and these efforts—plus those of other advocates—are bringing us closer to protecting African manatees. 💪 Learn more about this vital work here: https://lnkd.in/eKGx8CP9 📷: African Aquatic Conservation Fund

As Congress works to pass its fiscal year 2025 spending bills, AWI is working to ensure important animal welfare measures are included. The Senate Agriculture Appropriations report directs the USDA to research and develop humane nitrogen-based methods for situations in which farmed animals are killed en masse during disease outbreaks. Both House and Senate Agriculture Appropriation bills retain language blocking horse slaughter facilities from operating in the US for another year. However, neither the House nor Senate version of the bill provides sufficient funding for enforcement measures to combat soring abuse at walking horse shows. Learn more in the fall 2024 edition of the AWI Quarterly: https://lnkd.in/enJpfNFy

“[Chimps] quickly become very strong, very unpredictable, and people realize that they’re out of their depth. … Owners will often then keep these primates in cages full time or force them to undergo unnecessary procedures like tooth extraction. These are wild animals that do not belong in our homes.” – Kate Dylewsky, AWI Government Affairs Program Assistant Director, as quoted in The New York Times This NYT article illustrates the inherent harm in keeping primates as pets and using them for human entertainment. AWI hopes that the stories of chimps Eli, Susie, and those featured in #ChimpCrazy will spur Congress to swiftly pass the Captive Primate Safety Act. https://lnkd.in/dS2NGydX

🦃 Cage free. Free range. Organic. Do these terms on turkey labels mean what you think they do? As you prepare your Thanksgiving feast, it’s important to know what’s behind the labels to make choices that align with your values. 🧡 Tap through to learn the truth behind common food labels and make more compassionate choices. Discover more tips: https://lnkd.in/e_CGJMx7 

Good news: This week, on the final day of the legislature, the #Pennsylvania State Senate passed HB 1210, paving the way for Pennsylvania to become the 41st state to allow pets to be included in temporary restraining orders. This AWI-backed bill now awaits Governor Josh Shapiro’s signature to become law. Individuals experiencing interpersonal violence often hesitate to leave unsafe situations out of fear of what will happen to pets left behind. This bill will help families with pets find safety together. https://lnkd.in/ey4DTrF2

🌍💙 This #WorldKindnessDay, let's teach compassion that encompasses all living beings. AWI offers free humane education resources through our Teachers Pay Teachers platform—perfect for helping students develop empathy for animals and a deeper understanding of the natural world. 🐾 Our materials include worksheets, lesson plans, and a special module on alternatives to dissection, helping educators make a difference inside and outside the classroom. Start exploring here: https://lnkd.in/euQyZ37t #KindnessToAll #HumaneEducation #WorldKindnessDay 📷: A young girl named Clara reads aloud to Penny, a volunteer animal, during the Pets and Warriors program | US Army