Political pressure? USDA reposting animal welfare data

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The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) today has been reposting some of the tens of thousands of animal welfare documents previously removed from its website.  In an official announcement from APHIS they were,

“posting the first batch of annual reports of research institutions and inspection reports for certain Federal research facilities that the Agency regulates under the Animal Welfare Act.  The reports posted are part of a comprehensive review of the documents the Agency removed from its website in early February and are in the same redacted form as before.”

The agency claimed the entire search tool database had been removed on February 3, 2017 as part of a review to decide which information would be appropriate for reposting. At that time, thousands of publicly searchable records for zoos, research laboratories, commercial breeders including puppy mill facilities and circuses with the agency were deleted citing “privacy concerns.”

In the past, the data base had been a resource for journalists and animal advocates groups including animal rescue organizations in uncovering animal cruelty. Animal advocacy groups including the Humane Society of the United States accompanied by 101 United States representatives, 18 senators and animal advocates across the nation have publicly condemned the agency’s decision.

As to the “first batch” of records restored on Friday, annual reports and inspection records have been restored. Wayne Pacelle, the CEO and president of the Humane Society of the United States calls the reposting of the records a “step in the right direction,” but has no intention of backing down until all the data is restored. Records still missing include information about research laboratories that use animals, puppy mills, zoos, horse soring and those activities relevant to the Animal Welfare Act and the Horse Protection Act.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals has sued the agency and states it will not drop the suit until the USDA complies. In a statement Brittany Peet, director of captive animal law enforcement at the PETA Foundation in Washington, D.C. released the following statement:

“Under duress, the USDA is now attempting to get away with reposting only a tiny fraction of the animal welfare records it suddenly and indefensibly deleted … and that does not satisfy PETA [People for the Ethical Treatmeant of Animals] or the other plaintiffs in the pending lawsuit against it.

And then there are bipartisan politicians speaking out in defense of the animals:

“While I’m glad the USDA is starting the process of restoring some information online, there is no excuse for the agency’s abrupt actions to reduce transparency and prevent Americans from knowing about animal abuse,” stated Representative Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.).

In addition, Representative Vern Buchanan (R. Fla) states this still isn’t enough and posted in a statement:

“…This website protects animals and the database should be fully restored. At the end of the day, putting a few document back online is not good enough.”

It would appear this barrage of criticism isn’t going to stop until all records are restored. What do you think? Please weigh in. The previous articles are this very important issue can be found below.

Read prior stories here:

USDA removes inspection reports and information from website

Trump USDA pick has animal-rights activists worried

Humane Society challenges USDA for hiding animal welfare data


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15 COMMENTS

  1. I’m glad they were bombarded by animal activist’s complaints and are reacting to the pressure this put on them to reinstate the information/reports. We meed to be able to access those records to uncover animal cruelty.

  2. The USDA is pissed off because of undercover investigations that have shown the violations that factory farms are still guilty of! This can’t be allowed to continue! Americans have the right to these reports under the freedom of information act! The USDA must be made to post these reports!

  3. SCROTUS has never had a pet. Its children are well known animal abusers, including daughter Ivanka, whose clothing line features fur from animals skinned while alive. These ‘people’ aren’t fit to be our first family: they don’t have the empathy nor compassion it takes. I know people haven’t let up, and I know there are senators who have legislation about this. DO NOT LET UP ON THE USDA! I sent them an email and let them know what I thought. Let your legislators know! This administration is appalling in so many ways. Let them know what you think!!!

  4. STAND UP AND FIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    YOUR SILENCE WILL NOT PROTECT YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    YOUR SILENCE WILL NOT SAVE ANIMALS IN DIRE NEED FROM INHUMAIN AND CORRUPTABLE HUMANS.
    USE YOUR WORDS, USE YOUR HIGHER INTELLIGANCE,
    AND FIGHT,
    FOR THOSE WHO CAN NOT!

      • it wasnt broken in the last 8 years under obama.
        Its this president who scrubs data and public information. Its this president who sheilds animal abusers and profiteers. Are you happy? An evil and unscrupuless dictator is now our president.
        Now see how much your life changes, for the worse.

      • He was a child Indonesia and his step dad fed him the dog meat and your point? His dog was for show? He admitted eating dog meat in 2012. “Bo” was adopted 2009.

  5. Our country, our people
    our lands, our animals trusted to us. are in the hands of a tretchious, guiltless, shamless dangerious dictator.
    For the first time in american history,
    we have to fight a president.
    For our most basic american rights.
    We the people of the united states have to fight this president for
    THE TRUTH!

  6. General george washington and all the revolutionaries and all the families whose blood and guts that have been spilled across the rocks and beaches from brooklyn to the south and and up and down the eastern united states sea coast must be so fuckin pissed at all of us right now. They watch in horror. In what we have done and what we have failed to do.

    • We can do far better taking care of innocent animals in America. Teaching this might help us do better at taking care of other people as well. Some rule of law is necessary but we can not legislate morality or values into humans. We can create culture change and norms.
      No more wars. We have now learned how corrupt and unnecessary most wars are. No more.

  7. TRUMPS FRIENDS AND FAMILY BELIEVE PUPPY MILLS, SLAUGHTERING WILD ANIMALS, INHUMANE ANIMAL FARMING, CRUEL HORSE TRAINING AND RACING ARE PEOPLE’S RIGHTS !!! THE ANIMALS HAVE NO RIGHTS !!! HE IS HEARTLESS AND IS SENDING US BACKWARDS IN TIME 50 YRS.

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