New York becomes first state to ban declawing cats
“Cat declawing is a brutal procedure similar to severing a human finger at the first knuckle and has lifelong ramifications for cats.”
Animal rights & well-being
Estée Lauder signs onto pledge to end cosmetic animal testing
The Estée Lauder Companies will team with the Humane Society International in efforts to end cosmetic animal testing across the globe.
Canada bans the captivity and breeding of orcas, dolphins and other whales
The Ending the Captivity of Whales and Dolphins Act, first introduced in 2015, outlaws the practice, as well as the trade, possession, capture and breeding of cetaceans.
Last fur farm in Germany shuts down
The country introduced a ban on all fur farming in 2017, with a deadline for closures required by 2022 to allow farmers to transition into new, less cruel industries.
World-leading ivory ban becomes law in the U.K.
The act will introduce a total ban on dealing in items containing elephant ivory, regardless of their age, within the U.K., including export from or import to the U.K..
California becomes first U.S. state to ban sale of animal-tested cosmetics
The bill prohibits manufacturers from trying to “import for profit, sell, or offer for sale” any cosmetic that is tested on animals. The law goes into effect Jan. 1, 2020.
Massachusetts passes Question 3, banning small cages for farm animals
Question 3, the Massachusetts ballot question that would have banned the sale of foods derived from animals raised in cruel conditions, has passed handily, setting new rules on the size of cages in which farmers can raise chickens, cows, and pigs.