Republicans Are Coming for the Endangered Animals

Donald Trump’s transition team has been making everyone extremely nervous with its inquiries into employees who believe in climate change, “gender-related” programs, and the money spent on aid to Africa. Now, GOP lawmakers are picking up their cues and are beginning to push hard on legislation that will likely be successful under a Trump presidency, like threatening animals.
The Chicago Tribune reports that Democrats and environmental activists have managed to block many proposed measures intended to limit the power or dismantle the Endangered Species Act, which was established in 1973 in connection with the diminishing population of our national symbol, the Bald Eagle. But now, Republicans want to ditch the whole act:


The Endangered Species Act is often one of the few things standing between land and a big oil-seeking drill. Jamie Rappaport Clark, president of Defenders of Wildlife, told the Chicago Tribune, “Any species that gets in the way of a congressional initiative or some kind of development will be clearly at risk,” adding, “The political lineup is as unfavorable to the Endangered Species Act as I can remember.”
For example, Sen. Jim Inhofe, who is currently glad-handing Donald Trump’s EPA nomination Scott Pruitt at his confirmation hearing, has suggested “one species should be removed from the list every time another is added.” Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan has said he wants to limit applications to protect species to one at a time. 1,600 plants and animals in the U.S. are currently protected by the law, with hundreds more under consideration. Only 70 have ever been “recovered” and removed, as bringing an animal back from the brink of extinction is actually very hard!

Vanderbilt law professor J.B. Ruhl, considered the leading expert on the act, indicated to the Chicago Tribune that even a few small adjustments to the wording of the law will change it from something that can protect huge swathes of land to little more than a hunting limitation. As it turns out, laws are also a delicate eco-system

New Law Passed: Pet Stores Can ONLY Sell Rescued Animals. This Is Genius!

Here’s an idea whose time has finally.

Rather than have pet stores obtain animals from puppy mills, why not require them to get their dogs and cats from actual animal shelters that house thousands of animals, many of which end up being euthanized? Well Arizona is leading the way as it has now made it illegal to sell dogs or cats which are NOT from an animal shelter or a rescue! Beverly Hills also followed suit, banning pet stores from selling animals who were specifically bred for commercial purposes.The Arizona ruling upholds the ordinance which was passedd in 2013 but was challenged by a pet store called Puppies N’Love. Their argument was that the ruling violated interstate commerce law which is granted by the constitution. But there are many pet lovers cheering over this law as it will do away with the horrible puppy mills for profit model and pave the way for shelter animals to not be euthanized, but to be put in homes as pets.Phoenix sells about 23,000 dogs which are bought at pet stores every year. So you can see the thousands of homeless animals who will now have a chance to be taken out of the shelter system, where they usually spend months and even years waiting to be adopted. This law finds these animals homes much quicker while freeing up the already overcrowded situation in shelters.

Here’s a good summation statement made by Thelma Williams, a Phoenix Councilwoman:

“We have so many dogs in Arizona that need homes, we don’t need to import them.”

Maureen Beyers who is a Phoenix attorney representing the Humane Society, also made a statement regarding the ruling and how it will reverse euthanasia rates and put an end to the puppy mill system:

“The ruling is a great victory, not just for the city of Phoenix, but also for the Humane Society of the United States, which has worked tirelessly to help municipalities throughout the U.S. enact these laws (and defend challenges to them) to stem the trade of puppy and kitten mill animals and decrease animal euthanasia and overpopulation.”