UPDATES
- Hearing for Ohio bill that alters amusement ride classification for inspection fee purposes this coming Wednesday the 15th
House Agriculture Fowler Arthur, 2nd Hearing, Prop/IP Testimony (23:30:00 10/15/2025 Room 017)
COMMITTEE: Agriculture CHAIR: Roy Klopfenstein
DATE: Wednesday, October 15, 2025 TIME: 11:30 AM ROOM: Room 017
Link to testimony form - France to ban use of wild animals in circuses as well as the use of marine mammals in shows and fur farming
- Wild camel update: The last IUCN Red List assessment for the Wild Camel was conducted in 2008. At this time, it was given the “Critically Endangered” status due to the criteria of population reduction. This IUCN Red List criterion requires “a population size reduction of at least 80% within the next three generations”. Since then, with an increase in research and conservation action on this elusive species, thankfully this predicted devastating population decline has not happened.mThe new IUCN Red List assessment, led by the IUCN SSC Antelope Specialist group , has determined that the Wild Camel is considered Endangered due to its small size and fragmented population. Although this may seem a positive step, the species is still highly threatened with extinction.
- IUCN World Conservation Congress Adopts Groundbreaking Motion to Address the Wildlife Pet Trade Which Is Spiraling Out of Control
IN THE NEWS
Animal Activist Groups Grow in Number and Funding
Marine park plagued by animal deaths, welfare concerns closing after 70 years
States Are Banning Retail Sales of Dogs and Cats. It's Doing More Harm Than Good.
New York Post: California bureaucrats’ venomous rules are putting dogs in danger
Inside the Mission to Save America’s Forgotten Farm Animals - Video
What is really behind this clickbait headline? Rep. Nick Begich introduced a bill over the summer to update the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), a law that’s widely credited for reviving marine mammal populations and preventing extinctions since the 1970s. Nothing in the proposed changes are meant to dismantle these protections. Rather they are meant to address what industry groups view as outdated regulations that hurt local economies without offering significant gains for wildlife. The updates would clarify population targets, tighten the definition of “harassment,” and delay some fishing restrictions until more robust data is available, particularly where local fisheries are struggling. Supporters, including fishing groups and industry advocates, argue these adjustments are necessary for sustainable fisheries and economic stability, especially in regions like Alaska.
Study says Supreme Court ruling led to less Animal Welfare Act enforcement | Courthouse News Service
Animal rights activists have criticized the USDA for significantly reducing fines for Animal Welfare Act violations, a drop attributed to a recent Supreme Court ruling affecting how federal agencies enforce penalties. Instead of issuing fines, the USDA has relied more on official warnings, which advocates say are largely ineffective at deterring abuse or neglect of animals used in research, breeding, and exhibition. These groups argue that the shift leaves hundreds of thousands of animals at greater risk, especially as the USDA is already struggling with staff shortages; only about 70 inspectors are responsible for monitoring over 7,000 licensees. This in addition to the agency moving to three year license renewal periods because of said staffing issues and the removal of “teachable moments”, forcing inspectors to write up anything that could have been corrected on the spot. In the same breath, activists have pushed for broader standards, demanding that bird protections be added to USDA APHIS regulations without increasing the number of inspectors. They’ve also backed legislation to expand coverage to cold-blooded animals, adding to the agency’s workload without addressing chronic understaffing, an issue left unresolved by previous administrations. Critics point out that it’s unrealistic to expect the USDA to enforce expanding animal welfare rules effectively without the resources to do so. This ongoing tension highlights the challenges of balancing regulatory demands with the practical limits of agency capacity.
