Animal Welfare Institute

We’re hiring! AWI is accepting applications for three full-time positions for individuals who share our vision of a world where no animal suffers because of humans. 🔸 Website Administrator: This position is responsible for implementing website pages with custom layouts and functionality, troubleshooting website issues, designing and developing websites for special campaigns and coalitions, and overseeing external web development work. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/euqB_QfN 🔸 Donor Relations Associate: This position is responsible for gift processing and acknowledgement, data accuracy, and donor relations. It requires problem-solving abilities, attention to detail, organization, and strong communication skills. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/e797DG-g 🔸 Farmed Animal Science Fellow: This temporary, 1- to 2-year position will help develop and implement innovative legal, policy, and administrative efforts to protect aquatic and terrestrial farmed animals at the local, state, national, and international levels. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/eyQCiDDm

Millions of donkeys are brutally killed each year to meet the growing demand for ejiao, a gelatin made from donkey hides used in some traditional medicines and cosmetics. Donkeys are often stolen from families in impoverished communities who rely on them to make a living. If they survive inhumane transportation to slaughter, the donkeys are violently killed in underregulated and unsanitary conditions. Watch the video to learn more about this brutal and destabilizing trade. TAKE ACTION: Representative Don Beyer introduced the Ejiao Act in Congress to prohibit the sale and trade of ejiao products and donkey skins in the United States. Use AWI’s Action Center to contact your representative and urge them to cosponsor the Ejiao Act today: https://lnkd.in/dbA_H45t

This #WorldSeniorCitizensDay, AWI recognizes the important role companion animals can play in improving older adults’ quality of life. Unfortunately, there is significant overlap between animal abuse and elder abuse, as the bond between seniors and their pets is sometimes exploited by abusers. Cross reporting of animal and elder abuse can lead to more effective interventions for people and pets. Recognizing and reporting red flags could help you protect seniors in your community. Visit: https://lnkd.in/e-XXp3gY to learn the signs. To help individuals who are experiencing abuse get themselves and their companion animals to safety, AWI established and maintains the Safe Havens for Pets directory. This comprehensive list can help senior citizens and their pets find a nearby safe haven: https://lnkd.in/efCApYCx 📷: Duytrg Truong

Good news! The Biden-Harris administration recently announced $9 million in funding for whale-safe ropeless fishing gear and for modeling and monitoring projects to protect the critically endangered North Atlantic right whale. This money is a portion of the $82 million allocated by NOAA Fisheries for North Atlantic right whale recovery efforts, which the agency announced in September 2023. https://lnkd.in/eVyEsptE While this is a promising development, more work must be done. Two years have passed since NOAA first proposed amendments to strengthen the vessel speed rule to protect North Atlantic right whales, a critical step in saving the species from extinction. Use AWI’s Action Center to write NOAA and urge the agency to immediately finalize these amendments: awionline.org/saveNARWs

Transport is one of the most stressful times in a farmed animal’s life. Even healthy and physically fit animals find transport difficult, and these stressors are vastly amplified for animals who are young, weak, diseased, or injured. Thank you, Modern Farmer, for publishing this article about the welfare of farmed animals during transport, and for featuring our investigation with Animals' Angels monitoring a truckload of newborn calves on a 19-hour transport from a mega-dairy in Minnesota to a calf ranch in New Mexico. https://lnkd.in/eyFgu4u6 TAKE ACTION: Urge your federal representative and the USDA to protect vulnerable farmed animals during transport: https://lnkd.in/e-X_Qjbt

“Fads come and go, and they do with orcas, as well. And so this is a fad, but it's not fading. This fad isn't getting boring and that's a problem, because we really want them to get bored.” Thank you, WBUR 90.9 FM, for interviewing AWI marine mammal biology senior scientist Dr. Naomi Rose for this episode of On Point Radio. Naomi discusses the orcas who are ramming boats around the Iberian Peninsula and why their behavior is indicative of a playful—albeit dangerous—game. https://lnkd.in/ejmExsTh

Attention veterinarians, producers, policymakers, animal advocates, and more: August 21 at 8 p.m. ET, join the Veterinary Association for Farm Animal Welfare and USDA microbiologist Dr. Erica Spackman for a webinar about poultry vaccines and vaccination programs to combat the spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza (aka bird flu)—a promising approach for protecting animal welfare and public health. This live webinar is approved for 1 hour of RACE CE credit for veterinarians and veterinary technicians by the American Association of Veterinary State Boards. Learn more and register: https://lnkd.in/eRAn4Bxd

Today, AWI, American Wild Horse Conservation, Western Watersheds Project, KIMERLEE CURYL PHOTOGRAPHY, Carol Walker, and author Chad Hanson filed a notice of appeal with the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals in response to a lower court decision greenlighting a Bureau of Land Management plan to remove nearly 5,000 wild horses and eliminate 2.1 million acres of wild horse habitat in Wyoming’s Red Desert. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/eRz9aC2W

Following AWI’s record-breaking 2022 Giving Tuesday campaign, we distributed $70,000 to organizations dedicated to providing much-needed enrichment, shelter, food, and care to former laboratory animals. Read updates from the three beneficiaries and learn more about how your generous support has helped address the physiological and psychological needs of animals as they adjust to a well-deserved life away from the confines and stresses of labs: https://lnkd.in/eSBdqqc5

Attention researchers, animal care technicians, and more: Applications are now open for two funding opportunities for individuals seeking to improve the welfare of animals in experimentation. 🔹 The Refinement Research Award provides up to $15,000 to develop and test innovative methods of refinement to the care, husbandry, or housing of animals in experimentation to improve their welfare. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/eQH45bUJ 🔹 The Implementing Refinement Grant provides up to $8,000 toward the purchase of equipment or training of staff for the purpose of refining the care, husbandry, or housing of animals in experimentation to improve their welfare. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/e5vBeqzq Projects must be based in the US or Canada, and applications must be received by October 11, 2024.