Jessica Long's daughter participated in a livestock project organized by 4-H in Northern California. As part of the project, the child lovingly cared for Cedar, a brown and white goat with floppy ears. The 9-year-old girl lovingly raised Cedar, who soon became her cherished pet. To avoid Cedar being sold and slaughtered right after being auctioned off, Jessica decided to withdraw the young goat from the Shasta County District Fair. California's fair regulations currently classify goats as livestock bred for food consumption and are to be terminally sold. In a terminal sale, living livestock can only be picked up for transportation to processing facilities arranged by the fair. Jessica had offered to reimburse the expenses incurred, but fair officials demanded that law enforcement be called to remove Cedar. Cedar, the little brown pet goat, was callously slaughtered and processed as a market animal in July 2022 in accordance with Shasta County District Fair rules. Cedar the goat, pictured before being seized by sheriff’s officials and taken for slaughter, as detailed in a federal civil rights lawsuit. Credit: Advancing Law for Animals Jessica has since filed a suit claiming that law enforcement violated her and her daughter's right to due process and their right against unreasonable search and seizure. Cedar's story has sparked debate over the use of police resources in civil disputes, the rights of minors in contracts, and the emotional impact of forced livestock sales. Assembly member Ash Kalra has introduced a new bill, Bill 3053, which aims to modify Section 4501 of the Food and Agricultural Code. Firstly, the proposed changes require junior exhibitors to obtain consent from a parent or guardian before submitting their entries. The amendment also permits entries to be withdrawn before off-site transport. These changes aim to ensure young exhibitors' and their animals' safety and well-being. Lastly, Bill 3053 offers an alternative to traditional terminal sales for junior livestock exhibits at fairs. Bidders will have the option for live pickup, giving animals a choice that the Long's and Cedar were never given.

October is Pit Bull Awareness Month. This month challenges us to look beyond stereotypes and appreciate the love and companionship that pit bulls offer. Here are four fabulous facts to help educate, bring awareness, and spotlight this breed! What's in a name? "Pit Bull" is a catchall term that refers to multiple breeds. These include the American Pit Bull Terrier, American Bulldog, American Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, and English Bull Terrier. Mixed-breed dogs with similar characteristics also fall into this category. Preferred Breed for Therapy and Emotional Support: Pit Bulls are a preferred choice for therapists due to their emotional intelligence, composed nature, and close relationships with people. These qualities make them ideal for providing consolation and assistance to those in both individual and group therapy. Historical Canine Companions: Pit Bulls were cherished companions of historical figures such as Helen Keller, who had a pitbull named Sir Thomas. Additionaly renowned personalities includin Mark Twain and John Steinbeck, were also proud owners of pit bulls! Kid-Friendly and Loyal: Pit Bulls have a natural affection for their families, and their playful and loyal nature makes them ideal family dogs when properly trained. However, like any other breed of dog, pit bulls require proper training and constant supervision to ensure their behavior is appropriate in the presence of children. Ready to adopt? Head to your local shelter and meet a pit bull waiting for a loving home. Your new best friend is patiently waiting!

And they lived happily ever after... During their stay at the Sevier County Humane Society, two Tennessee-based visually impaired kittens named Radar and Hawkeye developed a close friendship. Both kittens had serious eye injuries when they arrived at the shelter at just ten weeks old. Sadly, Hawkeye lost partial eyesight in one eye, while Radar lost both eyes. Radar and Hawkeyes' Facebook pictures were seen by a Georgia woman who just happened to have experience caring for blind cats. She was so moved by the photos that she immediately called the shelter to set up an adoption appointment. In fact, she was so determined to adopt the pair that she refused to allow the incoming severe weather to stop her from reaching the shelter. The adorable kittens, now called Winks and Binks, are doing well in their new home and have rapidly adjusted to their environment. Spending time at the scratching post, where they play with the attached toys, is the duo's favorite pastime. To help the Sevier County Humane Society rescue more animals like Winks and Binks, visit: https://sevierhumane.org/donate/

Photo by Artiom Vallat on Unsplash While walking through our neighborhoods, it's common to see cats outdoors. Some of these cats are pets enjoying a leisurely stroll, while others might be missing the comfort and security of their homes. Then there are the community cats that neighbors collectively care for. Cue the obligatory Lord of the Rings nod: "Not all who wander are lost." When it comes to helping community cats, animal shelters are not always the best solution. Truly feral cats, with little or no socialization to people, are often considered unadoptable. For this reason, most shelters do not place community cats up for public adoption. Education and advocacy can make a real difference. By promoting the benefits of keeping pet cats indoors, we can help protect both their health and the wildlife that shares our neighborhoods. The Action Plan: What to Do When You Find a Cat Collar Check: Do you spot a collar? Look for an ID tag and reach out to the owner immediately. Neighborhood Engagement: Engage in conversations with your neighbors, mail carriers, and fellow local walkers. Photo Documentation and Found Reports: Capture and share a photo with local animal shelters. Flyer Campaign: Get creative with old-fashioned flyers in your area. Remember, a picture can convey a thousand meows! Social Media Sleuthing: Use platforms like Facebook, NextDoor, and others to broaden your search. Microchip Magic: If the cat is approachable, consider visiting the vet or shelter to check for a microchip. Alternatively, create a DIY collar with your contact information using the paper collar trick. Cat Mapping: Assist owners by guiding them to the cat's last known location. Rethink Free-Roaming: Suggest indoor living for the cat's safety and to protect small mammals and birds. Sterilized Community Cat: Help caretakers by offering food and shelter. Unsterilized Community Cat: Get involved with trap-neuter-return programs. Visit humanesociety.org/TNRindividuals for more information. Nursing Mom and Kittens: Seek specialized care and advice at https://www.humanesociety.org/resources/what-do-if-you-find-kittens The Reality of Missing Cats Did you know that 1 in 3 pets in America will go missing at some point in their lives? According to the American Humane Association, the reality is even more heartbreaking for cats: less than 5% of lost cats are ever reunited with their owners through shelters. This staggering statistic emphasizes the importance of microchipping, safe outdoor practices, and community awareness to help bring more cats back home. Specialized Resources for Lost and Found Cats PawBoost: This handy database alerts local pet finders and shelters about lost and found pets. PetFBI (Pet Finders Bureau, Inc.): A comprehensive platform for lost and found pets across the U.S. Tabby Tracker: A network for matching lost and found cats. Lost My Kitty: Services include flyer generation and alerts to local vets and shelters. Petfinder: A searchable directory of animals needing homes, including a feature for found pets. ASPCA: Provides a tool to search for local animal shelters and rescue organizations. AAHA Universal Pet Microchip Lookup Tool: Check a pet's microchip number across different databases. Your efforts can make a life-changing difference by reuniting lost cats with their families or by offering care and compassion to the community cats that need it most.

At the 2025 Sangamon County Fair, two capuchin monkeys were dressed in costumes and strapped to dogs racing around a small track, an act Illinois has since banned. Marc Ayers, Illinois state director for Humane World for Animals, attended the disturbing Banana Derby performance and said the monkeys repeatedly grasped at the guardrails as the dogs rounded the track. Big cats were still being used in traveling performances across Illinois. Culpepper & Merriweather Circus toured the state with performing big cats in 2025. The circus has a history of federal animal welfare violations involving its big cats. In a USDA case involving the circus, an administrative judge found that a surviving tiger cub named Tubbs received inadequate nutrition and became significantly underweight. The judge also found that the circus failed to have an attending veterinarian and a veterinary care plan for its big cats. The USDA confiscated Tubbs and relocated him to another facility. The judge concluded that the circus and its manager had willfully violated the Animal Welfare Act and ordered the circus's federal exhibitor license suspended for at least six months. Illinois has finally banned those types of traveling animal acts for several wild animal species. Governor JB Pritzker signed House Bill 4255 on June 26, 2026. The law took effect July 1 as Public Act 104-0485. The law covers cougars, elephants, jaguars, lions, tigers, nonhuman primates, bears, leopards other than Amur leopards, and hybrids of the covered animals. A lion is cruelly forced to perform for a live audience. Big cats are among the wild animals now covered by Illinois’ expanded traveling animal act ban. Photo: Norenko Andrey/Shutterstock. A traveling animal act involves transporting animals between locations for performances in connection with mobile or traveling animal housing. Covered performances include fairs, circuses, rides, trade shows, petting zoos, carnivals, parades, races, animal acts, and similar events where animals are required to perform tricks, give rides, or participate for the entertainment, amusement, or benefit of a live audience. Under the new law, a person who knowingly allows a covered animal to participate in a traveling animal act commits a Class A misdemeanor. Illinois enacted its original ban on elephants in traveling animal acts in 2017. That law took effect in 2018 and specifically covered African and Asian elephants protected under the federal Endangered Species Act. Bears, primates, and the big cat species added by the new law were previously not covered. Animal welfare groups, including Humane World for Animals and Lincoln Park Zoo, supported House Bill 4255. They cited the stress that repeated travel, confinement, and performances can place on wild animals. The law includes an exemption for performances held at a USDA-licensed, non-mobile permanent institution or fixed facility when that institution or facility conducts the performance. For example, a qualifying permanent zoo could conduct an animal presentation at its own facility.

An investigation into wildlife tourism and food sourcing in Southeast Asia has placed renewed scrutiny on David Marriott, chairman of Marriott International and a trustee of the National Geographic Society. The investigation, released June 9, 2026, by the International Council for Animal Welfare, examines wildlife tourism attractions and food suppliers in Thailand and Bali, Indonesia. Investigators say the facilities are connected to Marriott-linked travel offerings and the company’s food sourcing network. Investigators conducted fieldwork in Southeast Asia in March 2026 at tiger and elephant tourism sites, Kopi Luwak facilities, and egg suppliers. They documented welfare concerns at each, including battery cages at some egg suppliers despite Marriott’s public cage-free egg pledge. The International Council for Animal Welfare argues that Marriott’s tourism and sourcing practices conflict with the National Geographic Society’s conservation mission. An elephant performs before a crowd during a tourist show in Thailand while a handler holds a bullhook, a tool condemned by many animal welfare organizations. Photo Credit: International Council for Animal Welfare The investigation includes footage from tiger attractions promoted through Marriott-linked tourism. In one video, a worker appears to strike a tiger cub. Other tigers appear so subdued that investigators described their behavior as consistent with sedation. A tiger rests inside a barren metal enclosure at a tourist interaction facility in Thailand reviewed during the animal welfare investigation. Veterinary reviewers raised concerns about cramped conditions, a lack of enrichment, and close public interactions with tigers at the facility. Photo Credit: International Council for Animal Welfare Dr. John A. Knight, former veterinary officer with Regent’s Park Zoo and the Zoological Society of London, evaluated video evidence included in the investigation. In his assessment of Tiger Park Pattaya in Thailand, Knight wrote that several tigers appeared “unnaturally quiet” and displayed severely muted responses to stimuli. He suggested medication may have caused their condition but emphasized that investigators would need further evidence to determine whether any substances were used. He also found that several tiger enclosures lacked enrichment, limiting the animals’ ability to climb, explore, hide, and retreat from public interaction. A handler rides an elephant while holding a bullhook at a tourism facility in Thailand. Veterinary reviewers raised concerns about bullhooks, tethering, elephant rides, and repeated close contact with tourists. Photo Credit: International Council for Animal Welfare Elephants stand restrained in a holding area at a tourism facility in Thailand. Veterinary reviewers wrote that tethering can restrict normal movement and add to chronic stress in captive elephants. Photo Credit: International Council for Animal Welfare A separate veterinary review of Nongnooch Wonder World and other elephant attractions in Chonburi, Thailand, described the facility as clean, well-built, and well-organized, while also raising concerns about elephant rides, prolonged tethering, visitor safety, and stress-related behaviors in some elephants. That review also found that direct contact between tourists and elephants, including rides and close interactions, posed “significant public health risks and animal welfare issues.” Several veterinary assessments focused on Kopi Luwak tourism facilities in Bali, where civets are kept in captivity for tourist displays and Kopi Luwak production. The coffee is produced after civets consume coffee cherries and pass the beans through their digestive systems. Knight repeatedly described the enclosures as “depauperate environments” that failed to meet the animals’ behavioral and physiological needs. In addition, Knight also raised concerns about chronic stress, obesity, sleep disruption, lack of enrichment, and stereotypic pacing behavior. A nocturnal civet remains on display during daylight hours at a Kopi Luwak tourism site in Bali while a visitor reaches toward the animal. Repeated daytime exposure and interactions with tourists disrupt normal sleep and activity patterns in captive civets. Photo Credit: International Council for Animal Welfare The veterinary assessments note that palm civets are nocturnal, largely solitary animals that naturally spend their nights climbing and foraging. He found that repeated daytime interactions with tourists and confinement in small wire enclosures could disrupt normal rest, movement, and foraging patterns. Knight warned that the civets shown to tourists may represent only a small part of the wider Kopi Luwak supply chain and called for broader inspections of supplier facilities. Hens are confined in crowded battery cage housing at an egg supplier tied to Marriott’s network through the investigation’s supply chain review. Photo Credit: International Council for Animal Welfare A dead hen is visible inside a battery cage system at an egg supplier reviewed during the investigation. Photo Credit: International Council for Animal Welfare Marriott pledged to transition to cage-free eggs by the end of 2025. The company has not publicly confirmed full global compliance as of June 2026. The campaign now includes a public petition asking the National Geographic Society to review David Marriott’s role as a trustee. Advocates also plan to protest in Washington, D.C., during the opening of the Museum of Exploration.

Three mule deer were the first animals documented using a new wildlife overpass on U.S. 97 in Northern California while the project was still nearing completion, according to researchers from the UC Davis Road Ecology Center and the California Department of Transportation. A trail camera captures three mule deer crossing the new U.S. 97 wildlife overpass near Grass Lake in Siskiyou County. The project is California’s first wildlife overcrossing over a state highway. Photo courtesy of Caltrans District 2 The crossing is located near Grass Lake in Siskiyou County and is California’s first wildlife overcrossing over a state highway. U.S. 97 cuts through habitat used by mule deer, elk, black bears, mountain lions, gray wolves, bobcats and other native wildlife. The California Department of Transportation added several safety features to guide animals over the road. The project includes about two miles of wildlife fencing, jump-outs that allow animals trapped near the road to leave the fenced highway area, cattle guards and a concrete box culvert. Another major wildlife crossing project is underway in Southern California. The Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing over U.S. 101 will reconnect fragmented habitat in the Santa Monica Mountains and Simi Hills.

In February, California wildlife officials voted to extend threatened-species protections to roughly 1,400 mountain lions across the Santa Cruz Mountains, Central Coast, Santa Monica, San Gabriel, San Bernardino, Santa Ana, and Eastern Peninsular ranges. This decision followed a 2019 petition, temporary protections that began in 2020, and a state review that the California Department of Fish and Wildlife completed in December 2025. In February 2026, the California Fish and Game Commission unanimously voted to list the Southern California and Central Coast mountain lion population as threatened under the California Endangered Species Act. CDFW said in February that the commission would adopt its formal findings at a future meeting. Mountain lions have inhabited these areas long before highways crossed them. Today, roads kill mountain lions and isolate some populations. In May, vehicles struck and killed two young mountain lions in the long-term National Park Service study area within two days. A 6-month-old male kitten died on Las Virgenes Road between Mulholland and Lost Hills Road. Two days later, a young female, thought to be just under a year old, was struck on Mulholland Drive east of the 405 Freeway. She was one of the few mountain lions the National Park Service has documented in the Hollywood Hills. For small, isolated populations, deaths like these are not just individual losses. Each young lion that dies on a road is one less that might have reached new habitat, found an unrelated mate, and helped keep genetic diversity from shrinking further. When mountain lions cannot move between ranges to find unrelated mates, inbreeding can occur. Researchers studying Southern California mountain lions have documented kinked tails, undescended testicles, and abnormal sperm, all signs that inbreeding may be affecting reproduction. A mountain lion kitten peers from a den. Young lions are especially vulnerable when roads cut through the habitat they need to disperse and find mates. Photo credit: Byrdyak via Shutterstock The California Endangered Species Act listing means roads, housing, and other development in these mountain lion habitats may now face closer review if the projects could harm the cats, increase road deaths, or further divide the land they need to survive. Crews are building the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing over Highway 101 to reconnect mountain lions in the Santa Monica Mountains with habitat to the north. Caltrans expects to complete the project in late 2026.

Illinois lawmakers have approved a bill intended to broadly expand protections for wild animals by extending the state’s ban on using them in traveling shows. Governor JB Pritzker must now decide whether to sign it into law. If signed, Illinois House Bill 4255 would expand Illinois’ ban on elephants in traveling acts to also cover cougars, jaguars, lions, tigers, primates, bears, hybrids of these species, and most leopards. Amur leopards are excluded from the leopard category. The legislation, passed by both chambers of the Illinois General Assembly, would take effect on July 1, 2026. The bill applies to the listed animals when they are used in traveling performances, including shows that move animals between locations in mobile or temporary housing. Restrictions would apply to circuses, fairs, animal acts, rides, trade shows, petting zoos, carnivals, parades, races, public displays, and similar events where those animals are transported between locations. Bears are among the wild animals Illinois House Bill 4255 would add to the state’s ban on traveling animal acts. Animal welfare advocates say bears used in traveling shows can face confinement, stressful transport, and forced performances. Photo credit: David Tadevosian via Shutterstock. State Senator Linda Holmes said the bill builds on legislation she passed in 2017 to ban elephants in circuses and other traveling exhibitions that cannot provide adequate living conditions. Holmes said animals in these shows spend most of their lives in cramped, filthy cages under severe and chronic stress. Life on the road for these animals involves repeated loading and unloading, exposure to loud crowds and unfamiliar environments, public handling, and extended confinement in cages, trailers, or temporary housing. Lincoln Park Zoo, a supporter of the bill, states that research shows traveling acts often keep animals in conditions that do not meet basic welfare standards. The zoo also warns that exhibiting wild animals for entertainment can increase demand for them as pets, posing risks to people and contributing to wildlife trafficking. The bill targets traveling shows, not permanent facilities. Zoos and other USDA-licensed facilities could still exhibit animals on site.

The Rio Grande cooter (Pseudemys gorzugi) is a native freshwater turtle found in the Rio Grande drainage, including southeastern New Mexico, where biologists are studying its status and habitat needs. Photo Credit: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service This summer, biologists will return to the Black River in Eddy County to study one of New Mexico’s lesser-known native turtles. The Rio Grande cooter, one of New Mexico’s 10 native turtle species, is listed as threatened under the state Wildlife Conservation Act and has received less scientific attention than many other North American turtles. New Mexico wildlife officials and researchers from outside the state are working to better understand the turtle’s status in New Mexico. Dr. Ivana Mali of North Carolina State University spent seven years conducting population surveys in the Black River, with much of the work supported by the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish’s Share with Wildlife program. Her research produced data on survival, reproductive timing, diet, and distribution. The Rio Grande cooter lives in parts of the Rio Grande/Río Bravo watershed in New Mexico, Texas, and northeastern Mexico. Scientists once grouped it with a related turtle, the river cooter, but in 1990, they classified the Rio Grande cooter as its own species, Pseudemys gorzugi. New Mexico also lists the Rio Grande cooter as a Species of Greatest Conservation Need in the state’s 2025 Wildlife Action Plan. The species relies on rivers, streams, and pools with enough water for movement, cover, basking, and nesting. When water levels drop, dry stretches can form between pools, leaving turtles cut off from areas they need to survive. Drought and human-induced changes to springs, streams, rivers, and groundwater can reduce available habitat. In a 2021 Species Status Assessment, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service identified declining water levels and degraded water quality as the most significant threats to the Rio Grande cooter. Habitat loss, pollution, drought, climate change, and illegal collection also affect the species. Rio Grande cooters are part of the river food web as predators, prey, and scavengers. Their dependence on healthy streams and pools means the water problems affecting them can also affect other freshwater species in the Black River system. Mali is expected to return to New Mexico this summer for more fieldwork. The work will provide a roughly five-year update on her earlier Black River research. The new surveys will show whether the population has changed and help state wildlife officials decide what conservation steps to consider.

On March 27, Sgt. Claude Smith and Officer Ethan Martin of the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission rescued a bald eagle entangled in fishing line near the Haw River by the B. Everett Jordan Dam in Chatham County, North Carolina. NC Wildlife officers rescue a bald eagle entangled in fishing line on the Haw River, March 27. Photo credit: North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission via Facebook A bald eagle struggles in the Haw River after becoming entangled in fishing line near B. Everett Jordan Dam. Photo credit: North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission via Facebook The eagle was then taken to the American Wildlife Refuge for care. According to updates shared on the refuge’s official Facebook page, the bird is exercising her wings and gradually losing excess weight as part of her preparation for release. A full recovery for the eagle relies on rebuilding her flight strength and maintaining her ability to catch prey. Federal law states that an eagle must be capable of sustained flight and independent feeding before it can return to the wild. Wildlife hospitals regularly treat raptors for injuries caused by monofilament fishing line wrapped around wings or feet, as well as hooks lodged after birds seize fish that were hooked. Nest surveys have also documented fishing line woven into eagle nests, creating a hidden hazard for their young. To help protect wildlife, the North Carolina Monofilament Recovery and Recycling Program asks anglers to put used fishing line and tackle in special recycling tubes at boat ramps and fishing piers. Every piece properly disposed of helps keep eagles and other animals safe from harm. If you encounter injured wildlife in North Carolina, you can call the Wildlife Enforcement Division at 1-800-662-7137 or (919) 707-0040. To report a federally protected bird, contact the US Fish and Wildlife Service at (919) 856-4786.

With their round faces and gentle, lumbering movements, giant pandas have a natural charm that is difficult to resist. Only about 1,900 remain in the wild, and National Panda Day reminds us that our affection matters more than ever. A giant panda in a forest habitat, reflecting the bamboo ecosystems the species depends on for survival. Photo by Percy Bottle via Unsplash. Giant pandas live in the mountain forests of China’s Sichuan, Shaanxi, and Gansu provinces. Eating is almost a full-time job for the giant panda. An adult can eat up to 84 pounds of bamboo a day. Pandas reproduce slowly. Newborns weigh just a few ounces and rely on their mothers for months before becoming independent. For decades, human expansion has impacted the giant panda's survival. Roads, dams, and growing cities have fragmented panda habitat across central China, leaving panda families stranded and unable to connect with one another. This isolation shrinks their world and erodes the genetic richness they need to thrive. China later established the Giant Panda National Park, spanning more than 10,000 square miles, to help reconnect those isolated populations. In 2016, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) upgraded the giant panda’s conservation status from endangered to vulnerable, a meaningful milestone. The San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance helped to raise the panda cub survival rates from under 10 percent to over 90 percent. The Smithsonian’s National Zoo has worked with Chinese scientists on habitat restoration, disease monitoring, and breeding. The journey to save giant pandas continues, as habitat fragmentation and climate change threaten the bamboo forests they call home. How Can You Help Giant Panda Conservation? Adopt a panda through the World Wildlife Fund to support their veterinary care, feeding, and habitat protection. Join efforts to safeguard giant pandas by contributing to the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance or the Smithsonian's National Zoo Choose sustainably sourced bamboo to protect panda forests.