LCA Blog

With the summer months right around the corner, many are eagerly planning out their next vacation as they attempt to satisfy a serious case of wanderlust. And at the top of many tourists' bucket lists is the opportunity to interact with wildlife.

Egg farming is a multi-billion dollar industry that makes a profit off of exploiting the lives of female chickens. Last year, the U.S. egg industry produced nearly 9.1 billion dozen eggs, and since the average American consumes about 300 eggs each year, it's no wonder the industry is booming.

May is National Egg Month — and instead of contributing to the immense pain and suffering egg-laying hens experience on a daily basis, consumers can choose to vote with their dollar and not support the highly exploitative egg industry. 

On April 30, 2019, Maryland Governor Larry Hogan signed H.B. 213 — the Cownose Ray Fishery Management Plan and Moratorium on Contests — into law after the bill unanimously passed the Maryland Senate by a 47-0 vote.

On the heels of Los Angeles and San Francisco's recent fur bans — Council Speaker Corey Johnson has introduced common-sense legislation that would prohibit the sale of fur apparel in New York City!

Great news! On Tuesday, April 23, 2019, the Circus Cruelty Prevention Act (SB 313) unanimously passed the California Senate Judiciary Committee with a 7-0 vote!

April 22 marks Earth Day — an annual event that raises awareness for environmental issues like pollution and climate change. First celebrated in 1970, Earth Day is now a global celebration that aims to educate the public on ways they can better help protect the planet.

On Friday, April 12, 2019, Bill S-214 — commonly known as the Cruelty-Free Cosmetics Act — was introduced in Canada's House of Commons for debate by MP Marilyn Gladu, the Conservative Shadow Minister for Health, moving the country one step closer to banning the cruel and outdated practice of cosmetics animal testing.

On Thursday, April 11, 2019, two California legislators — Sen. Bill Dodd (D-Napa) and Assemblymember Adam Gray (D-Merced) — announced plans for a joint oversight hearing on horse racing safety next month following the 23 disturbing horse deaths at Santa Anita Park racetrack in Southern California. The two lawmakers also announced the introduction of Senate Bill 469 — new legislation that, if passed, would give the California Horse Racing Board emergency authority to suspend racing if dangerous conditions exist.

Following Millbank Fur Farm Ltd.'s request for an adjournment on Nov 21, 2018, the Canadian fur farm is scheduled to appear in court on Friday, April 12, 2019, for a judicial pre-trial hearing for the 14 charges of animal cruelty they are currently facing.

On April 9, 2019, the Circus Cruelty Prevention Act (SB 313) unanimously passed the California Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee with a 7-0 vote!

If enacted into law, the Circus Cruelty Prevention Act, which was introduced by California Sen. Ben Hueso (D-San Diego), will prohibit the use of wild and exotic animals (excluding domestic cats, domestic dogs, and horses) in circuses throughout the state.

From March 23 - 24, 2019, the #YULINDOG exhibit was featured in Bridge 8 Art Space, an art museum in Shanghai, China, ahead of this year's Yulin Dog Meat Festival a gruesome "celebration" held in Yulin, China each June on the summer solstice during which thousands of dogs are brutally tortured and killed for their meat.

On Tuesday, April 2, 2019, Canadian Bill S-203: Ending the Captivity of Whales and Dolphins Act advanced through the Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans unamended!

On March 28, 2019, the Maryland Senate unanimously passed a final version of the 2019 Cownose Ray Fishery Management Plan and Moratorium on Contests (HB 213) by a vote of 47-0 — extending the moratorium on the cruel and unncessary killing of Chesapeake Bay's precious cownose rays until the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) creates a definite fishery management plan for the species. The bill now goes to the desk of Maryland Governor Larry Hogan to be signed into law.

Canadian Bill S-203: Ending the Captivity of Whales and Dolphins Act is scheduled to undergo clause-by-clause consideration Tuesday, April 2 during the Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans hearing, and Marineland has issued a last-minute request for amendments to the bill.

Just two days after the reopening of Southern California's Santa Anita Park racetrack, another racehorse died Sunday, March 31 — bringing the horse death toll to 23 since the start of the season in December 2018.

Earlier this week, Head of Virunga National Park's Airwing Program and Chief Pilot Anthony Caere and park Rangers successfully rescued a six-month-old baby chimpanzee named Tony from the hands of wildlife traffickers.

On February 19, 2019, Sen. Ben Hueso (D-San Diego) introduced SB 313 (also known as the Circus Cruelty Prevention Act) in the California State Senate. If passed, the bill will ban the use of wild and exotic animals in circuses in California — but it won't happen without your help!

Despite the disturbing deaths of 22 horses since the season started in December 2018, Santa Anita Park race track is set to reopen on Friday, March 29, 2019, pending approval from the California Horse Racing Board (CHRB).

Following the cancellation of last week's scheduled meeting, the CHRB is set to meet on Thursday, March 28 to approve the reopening of the park. 

March 22 marks World Water Day — a global observance dedicated to raising awareness for the world's current water crisis.

With an apropos theme for 2019 of "Leaving no one behind," World Water Day aims to address the more than 2 billion people around the world that lack access to clean water.

Earlier this week, New York State Assemblymember Linda B. Rosenthal (D-Manhattan) introduced anti-fur legislation that, if passed, would ban the manufacture and sale of animal pelts statewide by January 1, 2021 — the New York Post reports.

This falls on the heels of California's proposed statewide fur ban — the Fur Products Prohibition Act, AB 44 — which recently passed its first hearing in the California Assembly's Water, Parks, and Wildlife Committee.