Humane Society of the United States

Open Season: Do Laws Against Animal Crushing Videos Violate Free Speech?

Ashley Nicole Richards, who filmed herself torturing and killing kittens, puppies, cats and dogs, was the first person brought up on revised federal crush-video charges -- which backfired magnificently.

Galveston Cop Wins Humane Society Award for Busting Big Cockfighting Ring

Galveston Police Sgt. Joel Caldwell has won an award from the Humane Society of the United States for his role in organizing a December raid of a facility that had 350 roosters raised for cockfighting. Caldwell was the first officer in Texas to make an arrest under a 2011 law banning the raising o ... More >>

Dogs Seized From Spindletop Need a Loving Home, So What's Your Deal?

A dozen dogs seized from the Spindletop Dog Refuge last month are still at the Montgomery County Animal Shelter and in need of forever homes. So what the heck are you waiting for? They all vary in breed, age, and temperament, but they're all the same in one crucial way: they've all languished in th ... More >>

Spindletop Lawyer Issues Statement That Would Make Oscar Mayer Proud

Zandra Anderson, attorney for the woman whose dog refuge was raided and shut down after nearly 300 dogs were found to be neglected, has issued a statement defending her client (and friend) and accusing the Houston Press and others of error-plagued reporting. Published on the No Kill Houston Facebo ... More >>

No Sanctuary at Spindletop

People dropping dogs off at the refuge trusted they were sending them to the best place possible. Not exactly.

Spindletop Dog Refuge For Pit Bulls: What Went So Horribly Wrong?

For at least twenty years, Spindletop Dog Refuge was known as one of the few places in the country where rescued pit bulls had a second chance for a happy life. But somewhere along the way, Spindletop's owner, Leah Purcell, lost control and the refuge appears to have turned into a place where dogs w ... More >>

Brown's Pricey Vacay

Spindletop, County Reach Last-Minute Agreement

Spindletop Refuge owner Leah Purcell agreed to relinquish 287 dogs seized from her Willis ranch, but she still may face criminal charges under a last-minute agreement reached today. Those who had placed dogs at Spindletop might be able to pick them up as early as this weekend, provided they have pr ... More >>

Dog Rescuers Shocked and Worried after Spindletop Dog Refuge Raid

Dog rescuers throughout the country are worrying today over the fates of dogs they placed at the Spindletop Refuge in Willis, where authorities say hundreds of dogs were found living in their own waste in cramped, stacked crates, near a mass grave with an unknown number of bodies. The 298 dogs sei ... More >>

Pop Rocks: Why the Long Face? Eight Famous Horses We'd Like to Eat

Were you thinking horse meat was going to stay off the menu in American restaurants indefinitely? Neigh: Horses could soon be butchered in the U.S. for human consumption after Congress quietly lifted a five-year-old ban on funding horse meat inspections, and activists say slaughterhouses could be u ... More >>

Pop Rocks: The "Mane" Course -- Eight Famous Horses We'd Like To Eat

Were you thinking horse meat was going to stay off the menu in American restaurants indefinitely? Neigh: Horses could soon be butchered in the U.S. for human consumption after Congress quietly lifted a 5-year-old ban on funding horse meat inspections, and activists say slaughterhouses could be up a ... More >>

Down on the Farm

The Humane Society and big agriculture slug it out over animal rights.

The Foie Gras Problem

Photo by J.C. ReidI love foie gras. Is that bad? Foie gras is the fattened liver of a goose or duck. The fattening is brought about through the technique of gavage, or force-feeding the animal, in this case with corn. The resulting food product is a true delicacy which has a rich, meaty/salty flavo ... More >>

BARC Sucks

The city's animal shelter just can't get its act together

Not Exactly a Hallmark Moment: Video of California Meat Packing Plant Ain't Pretty

Greyhound Racing

Tracks and breeders struggle as attendance declines

Master Cockfighter

After more than 70 years, Mike Ratliff prepares to retire from his blood sport

Horse Flesh

Texas struggles with what to do with its overabundance of Equus caballus, while Europeans wait with open mouths

Take Our Katrina Kwiz!

Cry of the Wolves

These rescued animals needed protection -- from their own sanctuary

In the Doghouse

An animal typically has three days before he leaves the city pound, dead or alive. What happens during that time continues to cause concern.

Cloning for Cash

A&M's pet project spawns a company to mix DNA with possible IPOs

Oprah Does Amarillo

It's the Queen of Talk versus the Meat Men, and outside the courtroom, master media manipulator Winfrey is already the clear winner.