Animal Welfare

Animals are a truly voiceless population. They intersect with communities at every sector - companion animals, wildlife, farm animals - and their well-being is largely predicated on the rules, regulations, and norms set forth by humans. It is our responsibility to consider animal welfare and protection at every intersection in our lives.

The Michelson Center for Public Policy champions lifesaving efforts, prevention of cruelty, and protection of our animal communities by supporting elected offices who craft lifesaving animal welfare legislation and working with government agencies to enact responsible public policy.

 

What We’re Working On

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Keeping Households and Families Together

Millions of households have surrendered companion animals to shelters due to a lack of available pet-inclusive rental housing. The Michelson Center for Public Policy will build on recent ordinances municipalities have passed requiring publicly-financed housing be pet-inclusive, removing barriers for low-income families and homeless pet owners to access fair housing.

Support cruelty-free cosmetics laws

MCPP is advocating to remove language in the Food and Drug Administration Safety and Landmark Advancements (FDASLA) Act of 2022 that would preempt, or erase, existing state restrictions on animal testing for cosmetics. The language would preempt the advancements made in California with the historic passage of SB 1249 (Galgiani) in 2018 that prohibited the sales of cosmetics that used animal testing after 2020. Dr. Michelson and the President of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine pens an opinion editorial on this critical issue in the Seattle Times: https://www.seattletimes.com/opinion/dont-roll-back-cruelty-free-cosmetics-laws/  

The Latest

News
Michelson Center for Public Policy Expresses Strong Support for AB 2012 (Lee): Rabies Control Data
Michelson Center for Public Policy Expresses Strong Support for AB 2012 (Lee): Rabies Control Data

Assembly Bill 2012 would require the Department of Public Health to resume collecting specified data, including in-take figures and categories of outcomes such as adoptions and euthanasia, from public animal shelters as part of their annual rabies control activities reporting.

Low-cost solution to L.A.’s animal shelter crisis
Low-cost solution to L.A.’s animal shelter crisis

Last week, individuals and organizations advocating for animals rallied at Los Angeles City Hall and asked our city leaders to do more to fix the overcrowding crisis afflicting our local shelters. As the largest private animal welfare foundation in Los Angeles for the past two decades, we feel compelled to weigh in.

Fall 2023 Newsletter
Fall 2023 Newsletter

Welcome to the Fall 2023 edition of our Michelson Center for Public Policy (MCPP) newsletter. Government is the great lever of change to catalyze sustainable, scalable, and replicable solutions.

Progress Made in 2023 Towards Creating a More Equitable California
Progress Made in 2023 Towards Creating a More Equitable California

Michelson Center for Public Policy applauds Governor Gavin Newsom and California State Legislature for enacting legislation to improve the lives of Californians and their pets

Pets and People Belong Together, No Matter Where they Live
Pets and People Belong Together, No Matter Where they Live

A Key Component to Addressing California’s Homelessness Crisis is Pet-Inclusive Affordable and Temporary Housing. The following is an opinion piece published in Capitol Weekly and authored by Brett Yates, CEO of Michelson Found Animals.

Michelson Found Animals Commends the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Unanimous Motion for a Plan to Reduce Euthanasia Rates at County Animal Shelters 
Michelson Found Animals Commends the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Unanimous Motion for a Plan to Reduce Euthanasia Rates at County Animal Shelters 

Michelson Found Animals Foundation lauded the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors for passing a motion to significantly reduce animal shelter euthanasia

Request to Top Democrats to put the FDA Modernization Act 2.0 on the House suspension calendar, send it to the President this year
Request to Top Democrats to put the FDA Modernization Act 2.0 on the House suspension calendar, send it to the President this year

Because it helps people and animals, the FDA Modernization Act 2.0 has received over 200 endorsements, including 21 biotech companies, 34 medical associations and patient advocacy groups, and 135 animal welfare organizations.

Welcome Alternatives to Animal Testing
Welcome Alternatives to Animal Testing

New legislation will allow more innovative and human-relevant testing platforms to expedite the development of promising drugs, write Dr. Gary Michelson and Dr. Aysha Akhtar.

Congressional Leaders Introduce Legislation to Keep Families and Pets Together in Public Housing
Congressional Leaders Introduce Legislation to Keep Families and Pets Together in Public Housing

Representatives Adam Schiff (D-CA), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Lauren Underwood (D-IL), and Cori Bush (D-MO) cited Michelson Found Animals Foundation’s (MFA) recent Pet-Inclusive Housing Initiative (PIHI) report when introducing a new bill that will allow families to keep their beloved pets in the home by prohibiting vague and sweeping restrictions against dogs based on breed or size.

Public Housing Should Remove All Pet Restrictions, Michelson Says at Pet Week on Capitol Hill
Public Housing Should Remove All Pet Restrictions, Michelson Says at Pet Week on Capitol Hill

Dr. Gary Michelson discussed Michelson Found Animals Foundation’s work on pet-inclusive housing policies and animal welfare during Pet Week on Capitol Hill.