LCA Blog

Founded by LCA in 1988 to raise awareness for the issue of pet theft and educate the public on how best to protect their companion animals from the hands of unscrupulous thieves, National Pet Theft Awareness Day (PTAD) is observed annually on Valentine's Day—a day that often sees a considerable spike in pet thefts.

On Saturday, February 8, 2020, the Professional Bull Riders' (PBR) Unleash the Beast tour will bring its exhibition of animal cruelty to the Staples Center once again for the Iron Cowboy bull riding competition.

A message from our friends at GREY2K USA Worldwide:

According to state records, a greyhound dies every ten days at West Virginia dog tracks. Even worse, this cruelty is subsidized with $15 million each year that could instead be used for vital services like fixing roads, investing in health care, or funding substance abuse treatment.

LCA has filed a complaint with the Ontario Ministry of the Solicitor General against Marineland Canada based on performances of cetaceans (i.e., whale, dolphin, or porpoise).

LCA has released the results of an undercover investigation into the practices at Escarpment's Edge Dairy (EED), a goat farm in Caledon, Ontario.

LCA's investigator witnessed goats being dragged and pulled by their legs, goats crawling on their knees with overgrown hooves, and goats with lesions and infections.

LCA and S. Korean sister organization, Animal Liberation Wave, have filed a lawsuit against a Kyungpook National University (KNU) professor after a whistleblower exposed live experiments on dogs obtained from a dog meat market.

Dear Friend,

In the midst of the holiday season, we find ourselves at the end of another year. Looking back, we know that supporters like you make it possible for us to continue our vital work to end animal suffering, and we thank you.

Your help is urgently needed to STOP the Ontario government from passing freedom-crushing legislation that would make it a crime to EXPOSE animal abuse!

On Friday, Novembe 29, 2019, LCA—along with a coalition of animal rights organizations and activists—led the 33rd Annual Fur-Free Friday protest in Beverly Hills.

Today is #GivingTuesday!

Giving Tuesday is a global giving moment to support the causes you love—like LCA's work to end animal cruelty!

Your help is urgently needed to STOP Marineland of Canada from exporting five, captive-born beluga whales to the United States!

On Monday, November 25, 2019, President Trump signed the Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture (PACT) Act into law, making animal cruelty a felony nationwide.

On Monday, November 25, 2019, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio signed a landmark package of animal protection measures into law, promoting animal welfare throughout the five boroughs.

Legislation included in the historic animal package enacted into law are Intro 1378A, a bill that bans the sale of cruel force-fed foie gras; Intro 1202A, a bill to stop pigeon poaching; Intro 1425A, the carriage horse heat relief bill; and Intro 1478A, a bill that creates a Mayoral Office of Animal Welfare, among others. 

In a press release, Mayor de Blasio said: "I'm proud to sign this legislation that further solidifies our commitment to the humane and fair treatment of animals across our city....I look forward to continuing our work with elected officials and communities to protect animals and built on New York City's leadership in animal rights."

LCA is thrilled to be part of the coalition, led by Voters for Animal Rights, that has worked tirelessly to see the foie gras ban passed. New York City is now the largest city in the world to ban foie gras and violators of the ban will be found guilty of a misdemeanor and face up to $1,000 in fines, plus up to one year in jail.

The coalition is grateful to Council Member Carlina Rivera for championing Intro 1378A through the City Council, Speaker Corey Johnson for including it in his incredible animal package, and to all bill sponsors, the NYC Council, and Mayor de Blasio for signing it into law. Thank you to all that testified before the City Council and to those who reached out to their council members in support of the foie gras ban—the coalition couldn't have done it without your help!

Photo: Unsplash

Thanksgiving is supposed to be a time for peace and gratitude—but for 46 million turkeys in the U.S. alone, Thanksgiving means suffering and pain. 

From the moment they hatch until they are brutally slaughtered, turkeys live short, miserable lives in deplorable conditions on crowded, disease-ridden factory farms. Separated from their mothers, baby turkeys are hatched in large incubators and have their beaks painfully cut off before they are even 72 hours old in order to keep them from attacking one another. They are then packed into small, filthy sheds and fattened up—some growing so large their legs can't support their weight. 

At slaughter time, the torture only gets worse. Turkeys are violently shackled upside-down on a hanging conveyor belt while fully conscious and are dipped into an electrified water bath to stun them. Then, a mechanized blade slits their throats and the birds are plunged into a scalding water tank to prep them for feather removal. Many of them wind up being boiled alive.

Turkeys and other animals are smart, sensitive creatures that do not deserve to be tortured for the sake of someone's dinner. If you're still looking for a reason to keep cruelty off your plate, here are five amazing facts about turkeys that prove they're just like us.

Keep cruelty off your plate this holiday season!

• Choose delicious, plant-based alternatives for your Thanksgiving feast. Most grocery stores carry vegan holiday roasts in the freezer aisles or produce section.

• Make every day cruelty-free! Download LCA's free Eat Cruelty-Free Guide to help you get started.

• Spread the word by educating your friends and family about veganism.

Click here to learn more about factory farmed animals.

Photo: Pixabay

An estimated 46 million turkeys are brutally slaughtered in the United States each year so that they can be consumed for Thanksgiving dinner.

On Tuesday, November 5, 2019, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed the Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture (PACT) Act to make animal cruelty a federal felony.

Stand up for animals on December 3, 2019 for #GivingTuesday!

Giving Tuesday is a global giving moment to support the causes you love—like LCA's work to end animal cruelty!

UPDATE: On Tuesday, November 5, 2019, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed the PACT Act. The bill now goes to the desk of the president to be signed into law.

On Tuesday, October 22, 2019, the U.S. House of Representatives unanimously passed the Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture (PACT) Act. A companion bill has now been introduced in the Senate for consideration.

Happy Halloween!

Please remember to keep your companion animals safe on Halloween night!

On Wednesday, October 30, 2019, the New York City Council passed a landmark package of measures that will spare countless animals from suffering each year—including Intro 1378A, a bill that bans the sale of cruel force-fed foie gras in NYC.