Blogs

The tragic story of Strawberry the boxer and her unborn pups in 2020 sparked a powerful movement against the inhumane practices of puppy farming across Australia. Despite public outcry, inconsistent state regulations continue to leave countless animals vulnerable. However, Victoria is leading the charge for change with the Animal Law Institute’s (ALI) innovative ‘Anti-Puppy Farm Legal Clinic.’ By leveraging Australian Consumer Law, this groundbreaking initiative aims to hold unethical breeders accountable while advocating for stronger, unified protections for companion animals nationwide

The ethical considerations surrounding wool production extend far beyond the controversial practice of mulesing. In Australia, mulesing—a painful surgical procedure performed on sheep to prevent flystrike—is legal without pain relief in all states and territories except Victoria. Despite ongoing efforts to phase out and ban this mutilation, it remains prevalent in the industry. This raises the question: why does mulesing continue, and what other ethical issues are associated with wool production? Emma Hakansson, Founder and Director of Collective Fashion Justice, delves into these concerns in the latest Voiceless Blog. The article examines the practice of mulesing, its alternatives, and the broader ethical landscape of the wool industry. It highlights the selective breeding of Merino sheep, which exacerbates the problem of flystrike, and explores the industry's resistance to change despite viable alternatives like crutching and selective breeding for less wrinkled skin. The piece also addresses the industry's response to advocacy against …

Bullfighting, steeped in cultural tradition yet marred by cruelty, persists through the systematic grooming of future matadors in bullfighting schools. Found primarily in Spain and Mexico, these institutions introduce children as young as six to a world where violence against animals is reframed as art and entertainment. Through lessons rooted in speciesism and hands-on practice with defenceless calves, students are desensitised to suffering while perpetuating a blood-soaked legacy. As thousands of bulls face prolonged agony each year for public spectacle, the moral consequences of this practice call for critical examination

Thanksgiving is a time for gratitude, family, and tradition, with the turkey often taking centre stage. However, beneath the festive facade lies a stark reality: nearly 50 million turkeys are killed each year for this holiday alone, contributing to the 300 million slaughtered annually in the U.S. The pastoral images we associate with farming belie an industry marked by overcrowding, genetic manipulation, painful mutilations without anaesthesia, and heavy antibiotic use that poses risks to human health. Even “free-range” labels fail to reflect the harsh lives these birds endure. As we gather around our tables this season, it’s worth considering not just what’s on our plates but also the ethical and environmental consequences of these traditions—and exploring kinder ways to celebrate

As the festive season approaches, a stark contradiction comes into focus: while many celebrate peace and gratitude, the choices on their plates often tell a different story. Behind holiday traditions lies an unsettling reality—billions of animals endure lives of suffering and slaughter to satisfy human appetites. This ethical dissonance raises profound questions about humanity’s role in perpetuating cycles of violence that extend far beyond our dinner tables. Guided by the enduring words of Pythagoras—”As long as men massacre animals, they will kill each other”—and Tolstoy’s poignant observation that “as long as there are slaughterhouses, there will be battlefields,” *Upcoming Battlefields* examines how humanity’s treatment of animals reflects and reinforces broader societal conflicts. Drawing on insights from Will Tuttle’s *The World Peace Diet*, this article reveals how inherited dietary habits fuel systemic oppression, shaping institutions and deepening global crises. By challenging ingrained norms, it invites readers to reconsider their choices and …

Finding trustworthy and comprehensive resources is crucial for advancing impactful animal advocacy research. To streamline your efforts, Animal Charity Evaluators (ACE) has curated a selection of top-tier research libraries and data repositories designed to support both seasoned advocates and newcomers in the field. This article showcases these valuable tools alongside innovative platforms like Google Scholar, Elicit, Consensus, Research Rabbit, and Semantic Scholar. Whether you’re exploring new strategies or refining existing ones, these resources provide the foundation to elevate your work in improving animal welfare outcomes

Animals around the globe face immense challenges, but together we can make a difference. Supporting animal organisations not only helps rescue and protect vulnerable creatures but also drives transformative change through advocacy, education, and research. These organisations work relentlessly to promote compassion, improve welfare standards, and create sustainable solutions for animals in need. By donating today, you can amplify their impact and contribute to a kinder future for all living beings. Discover how your generosity can save lives and inspire progress in the fight for animal welfare

The moral landscape surrounding the consumption of animals is fraught with complex ethical questions and historical justifications that often obscure the fundamental issues at stake. The debate is not new, and it has seen various intellectuals and philosophers grapple with the ethics of animal exploitation, sometimes arriving at conclusions that seem to defy basic moral reasoning. One recent example is Nick Zangwill's essay in *Aeon*, titled "Why You Should Eat Meat," which posits that not only is it permissible to eat animals, but that it is a moral obligation to do so if we truly care about them. This argument is a condensed version of his more detailed piece published in the *Journal of the American Philosophical Association*, where he asserts that the long-standing cultural practice of breeding, raising, and consuming animals is mutually beneficial and thus morally obligatory. Zangwill's argument hinges on the idea that this practice respects a …

Shrimp, the most farmed animals on Earth, endure harrowing cruelty in the pursuit of mass food production. Each year, approximately 440 billion shrimp are raised and slaughtered, with nearly half succumbing to dire conditions before reaching maturity. Despite being recognised as sentient under the UK’s Animal Welfare Sentience Act of 2022, female shrimp are subjected to eyestalk ablation—a brutal procedure that removes their eyestalks to increase egg production but causes immense suffering and health issues. Mercy For Animals is calling on Tesco, the UK’s largest retailer, to end this inhumane practice and adopt more compassionate methods like electrical stunning during slaughter. By taking action now, we can push for meaningful reforms that protect billions of shrimp from unnecessary pain while driving change across global aquaculture practices

As the planet continues to warm, the consequences of climate change are becoming increasingly evident, not only for human societies but also for the myriad animal species that inhabit Earth. In 2023, global temperatures soared to unprecedented levels, approximately 1.45ºC (2.61ºF) above the pre-industrial average, setting alarming records in ocean heat, greenhouse gas concentrations, sea level rise, glacier retreat, and Antarctic sea ice loss. These changes pose severe threats to animal species worldwide, affecting their habitats, behaviors, and survival rates. This article delves into the multifaceted impacts of climate change on animals, highlighting the urgent need for action to protect these vulnerable species. We will examine how rising temperatures and extreme weather events lead to habitat loss, behavioral and neurological changes, increased human-wildlife conflict, and even species extinction. Moreover, we will explore how certain animals are adapting to these rapid changes and the crucial roles they play in mitigating climate …