It can be tempting to acquire a hamster on impulse. After all, they're the picture of cuteness: small, round, furry and inquisitive. But there are still some important questions to consider before you commit to bringing one home. Learn More About Hamsters Adopt Small animals like hamsters are often...

Some people might consider hamsters, guinea pigs and other small mammals as “starter” pets: tools to teach responsibility to their children, many of whom have begged for a furry friend. But their smaller size does not mean that these animals have fewer care requirements; their physical, behavioral...

Turtles may seem like low-maintenance pets, but those about to rush out and bring one home should consider that they require years (sometimes decades) of specialized care. Turtles can also transmit disease. Like all wildlife, these reptiles belong in their natural habitats. Adopt, don't shop Small...

Most cages marketed for guinea pigs are way too small. Guinea pigs need appropriate room to roam, with separate spaces for a nest, bathroom area and food and water. No animal is meant to live in a cage all the time, so make sure to provide your pig with time outside their enclosures at least once a...

Are animal experiments being conducted in your city/state or at your university or alma mater? Use the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)’s public search tool to find out! The Animal Welfare Act requires facilities in the U.S. that conduct experiments* on certain animals** to register with the...

Guinea pigs have a lot of appealing qualities: They're small, gentle and personable, just to name a few. Like all companion animals though, they require special care and attention. Here are some important questions to consider before adopting a guinea pig: Where should you get a guinea pig? Instead...

Thanks to widespread pet vaccinations, effective post-exposure treatment and the relative rarity of undetected bites by rabid animals, the number of human deaths from rabies in the United States caused has declined to an average of only one or two per year—far less than the number of human...

Gerbils can be good pets for children ages 8 and up and families without a lot of space. They are energetic, usually friendly, relatively low maintenance, seldom bite and love exploring. They aren’t for everyone, though. Here are questions to answer before you decide to adopt gerbils, and tips on...

Contents How many animals are used in experiments each year? Which animals are used in experiments? What kinds of experiments are animals used in? What kinds of institutions use animals in experiments? Where do laboratories get the animals they use in experiments? What is life like for animals in...

In 1966, amid a growing clamor from the American public and Congress to do something about the shady business of family pets being stolen and sold to research facilities, U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Laboratory Animal Welfare Act into law. Amended several times over the years, the...

At a pet store located next to a flea market in Burnside, Kentucky, on Wednesday morning, members of our rescue team encountered nightmarish conditions for dozens of animals. The details of the scene were heartbreaking to hear. The air inside the store was musty and difficult to breathe. A sulcata...

Cary Smith already cares for six dogs at home, but when she heard a plea from the Homeward Trails Animal Rescue in Fairfax, Virginia, as the coronavirus crisis broke, she knew she just had to step up. “They sent out a plea for fosters to take in dogs from their adoption center to make room for more...

Our latest undercover investigation of a Petland store, this one in Frisco, Texas, has revealed frail and ailing puppies, including dogs too sick to eat and suffering from vomiting and diarrhea. Also among the gruesome discoveries was a dead rabbit in a freezer – the ailing animal was left to die at...

In the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, shelters and rescues have pivoted swiftly to ensure that more animals get adopted and to make space for others in need. I’ve been reporting on this blog about shelters and rescue groups successfully placing animals into loving homes through expanded...

Today, we’re releasing a report and hidden camera footage of investigations we have carried out at Petland stores, including three new investigations in Sarasota, Florida; Novi, Michigan; and Tyler, Texas. As with our previous investigations of the national pet store chain, we again found animals at...

Back in the 1940s, when government scientists were asked to check cosmetics for safety, they turned to rabbits. Dr. J.H. Draize and colleagues at the Food and Drug Administration dropped chemicals into the animals’ eyes and applied them to their skin, then assigned scores to the redness, swelling...

The pandemic has hit so many Americans so hard. Among them is Liliana, a single mother in Los Angeles who lost her job as a seamstress in March. She couldn’t find employment despite her best efforts and then, to make matters worse, she became sick with the coronavirus.  Liliana and her daughter...

In a disturbing trend, pet stores say they are selling more puppies than ever before during the coronavirus pandemic that has forced many non-essential businesses to close doors. A phone survey of 34 puppy-selling pet stores in 14 states conducted by the Humane Society of the United States found...