Animal advocates are sorely disappointed in the selection of Tom Vilsack as the new Secretary of Agriculture. Vilsack had an unsatisfactory record as Secretary of Agriculture during the Obama administration. During his previous eight-year tenure in this position, USDA’s enforcement efforts deteriorated with respect to the enforcement of the federal Animal Welfare Act (AWA) and the enforcement of federal humane slaughter laws.
Under Vilsack, USDA illegally adopted the “teachable moments” and “self-reporting” rules which sought to cover-up malfeasance on the part of inhumane dog breeders, animal researchers, and animal exhibitors. Vilsack’s priority was the interests of animal industries at the expense of the welfare of the animals.
Vilsack’s tenure under Obama was so horrific that his own Office of Inspector General (OIG) issued a scathing audit report charging that USDA was not effectively enforcing the AWA. OIG accused USDA of merely educating substandard dog breeders in the hopes of encouraging compliance with humane standard of care instead of citing and penalizing scofflaws in the dog breeding industry. OIG stressed the need for USDA to shift its “focus from education to an enforcement focus.” Not surprisingly, agricultural trade groups, including the American Farm Bureau Federation, praised the selection of Vilsack as Secretary of Agriculture.
In response, you can be assured that the Alliance will increase its vigor in advocating for the animals in Washington DC. Our federal lobbyist is already focusing on Congressional action to ensure that the Department of Agriculture effectively enforces all of our federal animal welfare laws. We will keep you posted on these developments.
