Thousands of animal welfare documents were removed from the U.S. Department of Agriculture website recently  by the USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS).  See their explanation here  by clicking  on USDA Animal Care Search Tool-Deactivated. 

The documents included inspection records, research facility annual reports, regulatory correspondence, and enforcement records relating to the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) and Horse Protection Act (HPA) laws.

Animal welfare groups, researchers, and the general public previously had access to the information and used it for multiple purposes such as ensuring that USDA is enforcing laws enacted to protect animals. 

Russ Kick, creator of a government transparency blog called  The Memory Hole 2, has republished some of the information here. 

The Michigan group  Attorneys for Animals has interviewed Puppy Mill Awareness founder Pam Sordyl for her reaction to USDA's removal of access to the documents. Article author Molly Tamulevich writes " With one decree, an agency responsible for regulating animal welfare has become an agency that sequesters information about animal welfare. Puppy Mill Awareness will keep picketing, they will keep investigating, and they will continue to work on behalf of Michigan's dogs and puppies. For the foreseeable future, however, they will have to do so with no support from the very agency whose regulations they are helping to enforce."

Read the entire article "What the USDA Purge of Animal Welfare Records Means to One Michigan Group: An Interview with Puppy Mill Awareness Founder"  here.

Other coverage includes HSUS blog here and Motherboard  here. 

Michigan Pet Fund Alliance is always touched by the generosity of businesses and their willingness to support us in creative ways. We would like to thank the following establishments for recent assistance.

Healthy Dogma, a family-owned and operated pet food business in Lake Orion, is hosting an ongoing donation canister for Michigan Pet Fund Alliance. The Healthy Dogma founders  believe that pets deserve long, healthy and vibrant lives, and that they thrive when fed natural, whole foods.  They sell only the highest quality products, ensuring that customers get the healthiest food, treats, and supplements available. Providing both online and retail shopping options, Healthy Dogma also offers a   fundraising program   for non-profits: earn 50% on all Healthy Dogma Barkers (dog treats) sold. Thank you, Healthy Dogma!

Marco Promotional Products selected Michigan Pet Fund Alliance as a Difference Maker for January 2017 . In addition to recognition on their website and social media, Marco gives their Difference Makers $500 of customized promotional items to help raise awareness for their cause. Your organization can apply for this opportunity as well; more information is here. Thank you, Marco Promotional Products!