Attorney General Pam Bondi on Wednesday ordered the Justice Department to prioritize animal welfare enforcement, in a move she said will entail stepping up prosecutions and even doling out grants to animal welfare groups, according to a new memo sent to all staff. As part of the plan, Bondi said the government would create a law enforcement “tiger team” to assist with the execution of search warrants and seizures. She also called for the creation of a strategy committee, which will oversee the creation of an animal welfare prosecution manual and implement a national strategy to combat “animal welfare crimes.” Her memo also requires the Office of Justice Programs to fund grants for animal welfare groups and local law enforcement. That plan comes at a time when that same grant-making office is struggling with unprecedented delays in soliciting and awarding awards that are traditionally given to local police, juvenile justice programs and victims of human trafficking and other violence. Last year, the department abruptly terminated some 350 grants that paid for everything from community-based crime prevention programs with local law enforcement, to services for victims of crime and sexual violence, and assistance for mental health and substance abuse. “Animals are part of our families: we will always fight to protect the pets we love,” said Bondi, who owns two rescue dogs that have sometimes been spotted being walked around the Justice Department by employees. “I have fought against animal abuse my entire career and will never stop working to prosecute the sick individuals who prey upon innocent animals,” she added in a statement. The announcement by Bondi comes several months after the Justice Department helped spearhead a roundtable with officials from the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Health and Human Services and Lara Trump, who sits on the board of a nonprofit called Big Dog Ranch Rescue, according to a document seen by CBS News. At that meeting, they brainstormed many of the ideas laid out in Bondi’s memo on Wednesday, including the creation of a “tiger team.” Several other agencies, including the Department of Agriculture, also earlier on Wednesday announced efforts they would be taking to advance the initiative. The enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act is largely carried out by the Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), which sends employees to a variety of businesses, from dog breeders to zoos, to inspect them for compliance with the law. Most of the cases are handled administratively. Criminal animal welfare cases are typically handled by the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division or by U. S. Attorney’s offices. In the last few years, the bulk of the criminal cases involved animal fighting. In one case that stood out from most, the Justice Department during the Biden administration prosecuted animal research breeder Envigo over both animal welfare and environmental crimes after investigators discovered the mistreatment of thousands of beagles at one of its locations. In 2024, Envigo agreed to pay $22 million in fines $11 million of which represented the largest-ever Justice Department fine in an animal welfare case plus $13. 5 million more to support animal welfare and environmental projects, cover law enforcement expenses and improve its own facilities. Envigo in 2022 forfeited about 4, 000 beagles, some of which were adopted by celebrities including Meghan Markle and Prince Harry.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/bondi-orders-justice-department-to-prioritize-animal-welfare-enforcement/
Category: animal welfare
Riddhima Kapoor Sahni Writes About Teaching Kids Kindness And Compassion For Animals
As parents, we often focus on teaching our children how to read, write, share, and behave politely. But one of the most valuable lessons we can impart is kindness—especially towards animals and birds. This is something I have come to believe deeply over the years.
When children grow up respecting and caring for all living beings, they naturally become more compassionate, responsible, and grounded individuals. Animals and birds may not speak our language, but they communicate in their own ways. They experience hunger, pain, fear, joy, and love—just like we do.
When children learn to see animals as living beings rather than creatures existing on the sidelines of our lives, it changes how they perceive the world. They begin to notice small things—a thirsty bird, a hungry stray, or an injured puppy on the road. These moments of awareness are where empathy begins.
We have a pet dog who is not ‘just a pet’ but truly a member of our family. I often tell everyone that he’s our son—that’s how much love and space he holds in our hearts. Through him, my daughter has learned that animals respond to kindness just as humans do—with trust, affection, and loyalty.
Of course, kindness towards animals isn’t only about pets. I always remind my daughter that small acts of kindness matter—feeding the stray dogs or cats outside our building, leaving bowls of water out during the summer for birds, or simply making sure an animal in distress is helped.
These gestures may seem small, but they leave a lasting impression on young minds. They teach patience, empathy, and gentleness—qualities no textbook can impart.
I also believe that kindness towards animals naturally teaches children to value nature and the environment. When they learn that their actions can protect or harm another living being, they begin to see how everything in nature is connected.
A child who grows up caring for animals will think twice before littering, plucking flowers unnecessarily, or wasting food. That awareness shapes a more mindful way of living.
On the other hand, cruelty towards animals—even something as simple as throwing a stone at a stray or trapping a bird—chips away at empathy. It not only hurts the animal but also desensitizes children to suffering. That’s why open conversations about how animals feel and why they deserve respect are so important.
I’ve often told my daughter that a kind heart makes the world a better place—for everyone, human or otherwise. Watching her grow into someone who stops to feed a stray or smile at a passing dog makes me believe these small lessons truly matter.
After all, kindness isn’t just a value—it’s a habit. And when we teach our children to extend it beyond humans to include animals, birds, and all living beings, we’re helping them grow into better humans.
*Riddhima Kapoor Sahni is a jewellery designer and daughter of veteran actors Rishi Kapoor and Neetu Kapoor.*
https://www.freepressjournal.in/weekend/riddhima-kapoor-sahni-writes-about-teaching-kids-kindness-and-compassion-for-animals
Emeowtional Support Expurrts: 10+ stories from the online feline family about how cats served as their therapspspsts
Cats have this meowsterious and magical gift: they always know when their humans need comfort. A soft paw on the lap, a perfectly timed cuddle, or just their soothing purrs—our feline friends are natural emotional support expurrts. They may not have a fancy degree, but a cat’s love is the best medicine of all.
Here at I Can Has Cheezburger, we went around the office and asked our own expurrt cat pawrents about the times their cats became their little therapspspsts. The answers warmed our hearts and reminded us how special this bond really is.
Here are some of our favorite ameowzing stories:
– “My cat lies across my laptop when I’m stressed at work. It’s like she’s forcing me to take a break.”
– “He licked my tears away after a bad breakup. Sticky, but effective.”
– “When I was really sick, my kitty didn’t leave my side for two weeks straight.”
– “She always knows when my anxiety is up; she’ll come flop on my chest until I calm down.”
– “After my dad passed, my cat slept curled against me every night for months.”
– “Whenever I cry, my cat fetches a toy and drops it at my feet like he’s trying to cheer me up.”
– “She starts purring the second she sees me come home from a rough day.”
– “He wakes me up with nose boops when I oversleep. It’s his way of keeping me on track.”
These stories are a beautiful reminder of the unique and loving bond we share with our feline friends. Truly, cats are some of the best emotional support animals around!
https://cheezburger.com/42587141/emeowtional-support-expurrts-10-stories-from-the-online-feline-family-about-how-cats-served-as-their