When the Storm Comes

As a rare and powerful winter storm moves across a wide swath of the country, The Humane Herald looks beyond forecasts and infrastructure to examine what preparedness rooted in care looks like — for people, companion animals, and wildlife — in regions both accustomed to winter weather and newly vulnerable to its extremes.

Holiday Consumerism vs. Planetary Reality: Why Ethical Gifting Matters More Than Ever

Mid-December marks the peak of America’s most waste-intensive season — a surge in trash, factory-farming output, and environmental harm often hidden behind holiday cheer. Ethical gifting offers a way to resist the cycle and align the season with compassion, sustainability, and planetary reality.