Portugal Makes Animals Part of Emergency Planning

Portugal has taken a major step for animals by requiring emergency plans to include their rescue, evacuation, and care during disasters. The new law recognizes that protecting communities means protecting both people and animals—and offers a humane model that other nations may soon be inspired to follow.

From Ranches to Rescue Dogs: How the Screwworm Crisis Exposes a Much Larger Problem

A New World screwworm case confirmed in a Texas dog has prompted quarantine orders and renewed fears of mass euthanasia in already overcrowded shelters. But beneath the immediate crisis lies a larger question: what happens when diseases tied to animal agriculture begin affecting the animals society values most?

Canada Geese in Flight

NYC’s New Wildlife Law Raises an Urgent Question: Who Gets to Define Humane

New York City’s new wildlife law promises humane treatment, but advocates warn that promise may be undermined if federal agencies linked to goose roundups, egg destruction, and lethal wildlife control are allowed to help shape the city’s future wildlife policies. As molting season places Canada geese at heightened risk, activists are calling for immediate mayoral action to halt cooperation with federal wildlife operations and redefine what “humane” truly means.

World News Wednesday: Vegan Media Breaks Through at the 2026 Telly Awards

Independent vegan media reached a major milestone this week as UnchainedTV secured 19 wins at the 2026 Telly Awards, signaling a broader cultural shift toward ethical entertainment and values-driven storytelling. From cooking shows and travel series to investigative animal-rights programming, the award sweep reflects how vegan media is increasingly moving beyond activist niches and into the mainstream cultural landscape.

Punch and the Politics of Belonging

Punch’s story was told as heartwarming triumph. But Japanese macaque societies are governed by hierarchy, alliance, and survival — dynamics intensified in captivity. This editorial explores the biology behind so-called “bullying” and the structural pressures that shape vulnerability in confined social mammals.

Surveillance Wrapped in Sentiment

A Super Bowl commercial framed AI-powered neighborhood surveillance as an act of compassion — helping reunite lost dogs with their families. But beneath the emotional storytelling lies a deeper ethical question: when does feel-good technology become normalized surveillance, and who gets a say in its expansion?