They were like moths to a flame or, more accurately, butterflies to a native plant. No sooner had I unloaded two joe-pye weed perennials from my car last August than three tiger swallowtails dive-bombed the pots, as if to validate my purchase. If only my fellow shoppers knew what they were missing...

Much of what we do in the name of aesthetics comes at a cost to our overall well-being. From fad diets to chemical peels to cosmetic surgeries, beauty routines attempt to squash what’s natural in favor of an unattainable and short-lived “otherness.” The mindset isn’t limited to the treatment of our...

Want to see more butterflies, birds and other creatures in your yard? Bring in a few native trees and see what happens! Amazing and beautiful beings themselves, trees multi-task like crazy, providing many essentials of life—food, cover, shelter and nest sites—for creatures large and small. A tree to...

Backyard swimming pools are synonymous with summer fun. But they can be deadly for wildlife. Pool drownings are tragic, because they are preventable. Animals—from skunks, chipmunks and mice to lizards, frogs and snakes, or ducks, fledgling birds and even pets—can find themselves in a pool with no...

Dogs respond best to praise—and food or toys. Positive reinforcement training uses a reward for desired behaviors. Because the reward makes them more likely to repeat the behavior, positive reinforcement is one of your most powerful tools for shaping or changing your dog’s behavior. Rewarding your...

The numbers don’t tell the whole story of how HSUS disaster responders helped Florida residents after Hurricane Idalia pounded the region in late August. Before the storm hit, we coordinated and funded the transport of 75 adoptable shelter animals (60 dogs and 15 cats) to safer lodgings out of the...

Poultry (Each report is available as a downloadable PDF.) CHICKENS AND TURKEYS About Chickens [PDF] About Turkeys [PDF] Animal Welfare in the Chicken Industry [PDF] Animal Welfare in the Turkey Industry [PDF] Caponizing Chickens [PDF] Manual Catching of Poultry [PDF] Transport of Day-Old Chicks [PDF...

When Lovie Langston stumbled on an online listing for a white Maltese puppy, she was immediately captivated by the dog’s “beautiful face,” she says. Langston and her husband decided the pup, named Ziva, would be the perfect Christmas present for their family. In November 2021, Langston met Ziva at...

You don't need to get rid of your cats to avoid toxoplasmosis! Follow our tips for keeping yourself and your baby safe.

Reporters requesting information or interviews with subject matter experts can contact the Humane Society of the United States' Media Relations department using this form.

It began, almost certainly, in a bat. Then, just as SARS jumped to civets from bats, the virus that causes COVID-19 passed to another mammal, possibly a pangolin. Finally, late last year, the new coronavirus most likely jumped to humans in a wildlife market in Wuhan, China, a densely populated city...

The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) is committed to your right to privacy and to keeping your personal information private. You can visit the Humane Society of the United States website without telling us who you are or revealing any identifying information about yourself. However...

WASHINGTON — On January 1, California’s 2018 ballot measure Proposition 12, which set landmark prohibitions on the sale of food products from farm animals locked in cruel and extreme confinement, will be fully implemented in the state. Proposition 12’s egg and veal provisions have been in place for...

Keeping your pet cats inside is the best way to ensure their safety and protect wild animals in the area. But if you’re feeding community cats or your neighbors let their kitties roam—and you also enjoy putting out bird feeders—follow these tips to promote everyone’s safety.

It was the shot heard around the world. An American trophy hunter shot and severely injured Cecil with an arrow after he was lured outside Hwange National Park in Zimbabwe with elephant carcass bait. About 10 hours later, the hunting party tracked him down. A second arrow ended Cecil’s life. The...

Colorado’s mountain lions, bobcats and lynx are under threat from trophy hunting and need protection now.

Our fact sheets and resources help animal welfare advocates find the tools they need to create change, promote stronger animal protection policies and educate the public about puppy mills. Puppy Mills: Facts and Figures [PDF] Fact Sheet: Puppy Mills and Pet Stores [PDF] Problems with Unlicensed and...

Contents What is a puppy mill? What is the HSUS doing about puppy mills? Are there any laws that regulate puppy mills? There is a puppy mill in my area. How can I get the authorities to investigate and shut it down? I bought a puppy and they got sick. What can I do? Should I get a puppy or other...