Any law on the books is only as good as how well it is enforced and that often turns on whether enforcement of the law gets adequately funded. Two U.S. laws—the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) and the Humane Methods of Slaughter Act (HMSA)—are supposed to provide minimum, basic protections for millions of animals at commercial breeding facilities (such as puppy mills), laboratories, zoos, circuses, airlines, and slaughterhouses. However, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (the agency that enforces the AWA and the HMSA) needs adequate funding to carry out its responsibilities.

In addition, funds are needed to help ease a critical shortage of veterinarians, particularly in rural and inner-city areas. Having adequate veterinary care is a core animal welfare concern. Congress recently established a program to help veterinary school graduates cover their student loans if they locate in underserved areas or help the government deal with emergencies such as disease outbreaks or disasters. Congress provided initial funding for this program last year—now we need to keep that going.

TAKE ACTION:
Senators Rick Santorum (R-PA) and Carl Levin (D-MI) are circulating a letter for other Senators to co-sign to support animal welfare funding. Check this list to see if one or both of your U.S. Senators has already agreed to sign this letter. If they’re not on the list, please make a brief polite phone call to urge them to sign on to the Santorum/Levin group letter on animal welfare funding. If they’re already on the list, thank them!

Animal Welfare Act and the Humane Methods of Slaughter Act are laws meant to protect millions of animals at breeding facilities, laboratories, zoos, circuses, airlines, and slaughterhouses. But they’re only as good as the USDA’s enforcement of them, and the agency needs adequate funds to carry out this responsibility.

Funds are also urgently needed to continue a program to help ease the critical shortage of veterinarians in rural and inner-city areas, as well as in public health practice working on disease outbreaks, disasters, and bioterrorism concerns. Having adequate veterinary care is a core animal welfare concern.

For further information please click here to visit the website of Humane Society of the United States' legislation area.