https://www.humanechoice.org/blog.html Articles from The Humane Choices Foundation on animal welfare, climate, food security and social justice. en-ca Wed, 14 Oct 2026 18:40:46 GMT https://www.humanechoice.org/post.html?slug=online-animal-cruelty-the-dark-side-of-viral-animal-content https://www.humanechoice.org/post.html?slug=online-animal-cruelty-the-dark-side-of-viral-animal-content Wed, 14 Oct 2026 18:25:44 GMT Uncover what Lady Freethinker's 2026 documentary revealed about the growing epidemic of online animal abuse content hiding in your favourite social media apps. https://www.humanechoice.org/post.html?slug=what-is-sentient-ecology-bridging-animal-welfare-and-climate-resilience https://www.humanechoice.org/post.html?slug=what-is-sentient-ecology-bridging-animal-welfare-and-climate-resilience Mon, 05 Oct 2026 14:01:40 GMT For much of modern environmental science, nature has been something to observe. A forest can be measured; a river can be mapped; an animal can be studied; climate systems can be modelled; ecosystems quantified, and species populations tracked.  But what happens when we understand nature not as something to be studied, but as something that we are in a reciprocal relationship with? That question sits at the heart of Sentient Ecology, a broad and varied concept that challenges the conventional... https://www.humanechoice.org/post.html?slug=what-are-they-doing-to-horses https://www.humanechoice.org/post.html?slug=what-are-they-doing-to-horses Mon, 05 Oct 2026 01:01:59 GMT What are blood farms, and why are pregnant horses being used for their blood? Learn the disturbing truth behind this little-known practice. https://www.humanechoice.org/post.html?slug=cruelty-free-beauty-shift https://www.humanechoice.org/post.html?slug=cruelty-free-beauty-shift Mon, 28 Sep 2026 16:41:47 GMT Learn why switching to cruelty-free beauty is ideal for the future of science, animals, and the environment. Plus, discover tips, tricks and resources to make the switch seamless! https://www.humanechoice.org/post.html?slug=wang-wang-protecting-her-puppies-at-the-cost-of-her-life https://www.humanechoice.org/post.html?slug=wang-wang-protecting-her-puppies-at-the-cost-of-her-life Sat, 05 Sep 2026 18:02:26 GMT A stray mother dog in China, Wang Wang, was killed while protecting her puppies. Discover the sad story of her death and the global call for justice and stronger animal protections. https://www.humanechoice.org/post.html?slug=how-ending-factory-farming-could-help-eradicate-global-nutrient-scarcity https://www.humanechoice.org/post.html?slug=how-ending-factory-farming-could-help-eradicate-global-nutrient-scarcity Thu, 20 Aug 2026 15:57:19 GMT Billions of people lack essential nutrients while enormous amounts of land and crops are used primarily to feed mistreated livestock. Could changing how we produce and consume food help solve global nutrient scarcity? https://www.humanechoice.org/post.html?slug=illegal-fishing-invisible-suffering-why-gillnets-demand-greater-scrutiny https://www.humanechoice.org/post.html?slug=illegal-fishing-invisible-suffering-why-gillnets-demand-greater-scrutiny Tue, 11 Aug 2026 18:05:17 GMT Photo courtesy of Oceana Photo courtesy of Oceana Recent news from Ontario highlights a troubling reminder that illegal fishing is not just a regulatory issue—it’s an animal welfare crisis. Three men were collectively fined $7,610 and banned from fishing for one year after being charged with multiple violations in a provincial park. Their offences included obstructing a conservation officer, camping without a permit, tending a fire outside a designated area, and, most notably, the unlawful... https://www.humanechoice.org/post.html?slug=the-american-rodeos-entertainment-at-what-cost https://www.humanechoice.org/post.html?slug=the-american-rodeos-entertainment-at-what-cost Sat, 01 Aug 2026 19:42:52 GMT Are rodeos ethical? Discover how bulls and horses are bred, trained, and injured for entertainment during rodeo season and how animal welfare is a huge factor to consider. https://www.humanechoice.org/post.html?slug=ontario-wildfires-a-growing-threat-to-wildlife-and-communities https://www.humanechoice.org/post.html?slug=ontario-wildfires-a-growing-threat-to-wildlife-and-communities Sun, 19 Jul 2026 17:26:44 GMT How are the wildfires affecting wildlife and nature in Canada? Current news on the Ontario wildfires and the costs of forest fires to animals. https://www.humanechoice.org/post.html?slug=preparing-for-fifa-world-cup-2030-the-mass-killing-of-stray-dogs https://www.humanechoice.org/post.html?slug=preparing-for-fifa-world-cup-2030-the-mass-killing-of-stray-dogs Tue, 07 Jul 2026 23:29:34 GMT Morocco's preparations for the 2030 FIFA World Cup have sparked global outrage over the reported mass killing of stray dogs. Learn what's happening and why animal rights groups are calling for action. https://www.humanechoice.org/post.html?slug=can-a-picture-change-what-we-eat-exploring-the-research-behind-animal-imagery-and-meat-consumption https://www.humanechoice.org/post.html?slug=can-a-picture-change-what-we-eat-exploring-the-research-behind-animal-imagery-and-meat-consumption Sun, 21 Jun 2026 23:38:59 GMT The animal was always part of the story. The photograph simply made it visible. When most of us order lunch, we see a finished product: a chicken burrito, a beef burger, a pork sandwich. What we often don't see is the living animal that came before it. For researcher Siobhan Murray, that disconnect became the focus of an intriguing master's project at the University of East Anglia in Norwich, England. Her research examined a simple but provocative question: What happens when people are... https://www.humanechoice.org/post.html?slug=horse-collapses-and-dies-the-exploitation-of-carriage-horses-in-nyc-the-consequences https://www.humanechoice.org/post.html?slug=horse-collapses-and-dies-the-exploitation-of-carriage-horses-in-nyc-the-consequences Fri, 19 Jun 2026 04:00:00 GMT In the span of a month, there have been two fatal incidents involving horse-drawn carriages in Central Park. https://www.humanechoice.org/post.html?slug=the-myth-of-cage-free-and-free-range-chickens https://www.humanechoice.org/post.html?slug=the-myth-of-cage-free-and-free-range-chickens Tue, 09 Jun 2026 23:04:01 GMT Do cage-free and free-range chickens live better lives? Learn why these labels can be misleading and how factory farming still causes immense suffering. https://www.humanechoice.org/post.html?slug=the-downfall-of-veganism https://www.humanechoice.org/post.html?slug=the-downfall-of-veganism Fri, 05 Jun 2026 04:00:00 GMT How are plant-based restaurants being impacted by the so-called "Downfall of Veganism"? https://www.humanechoice.org/post.html?slug=the-cruelties-in-factory-farms https://www.humanechoice.org/post.html?slug=the-cruelties-in-factory-farms Mon, 01 Jun 2026 05:42:37 GMT 99% of livestock in the United States are confined in factory farms. In 2022, this was over 10 billion animals, which is more than the global human population. Animals in these factories are subjugated to mental and physical torture daily and it must be put to an end. https://www.humanechoice.org/post.html?slug=window-collisions-a-major-threat-to-wild-bird-populations https://www.humanechoice.org/post.html?slug=window-collisions-a-major-threat-to-wild-bird-populations Thu, 28 May 2026 04:00:00 GMT Window collisions are one of the largest threats to wild bird populations in North America. Discover what you can do to prevent window collisions. https://www.humanechoice.org/post.html?slug=how-to-respect-nature-this-spring-summer https://www.humanechoice.org/post.html?slug=how-to-respect-nature-this-spring-summer Thu, 28 May 2026 04:00:00 GMT Learn what you can do to respect nature this spring and summer, plus some ideas for how to spend time outdoors! https://www.humanechoice.org/post.html?slug=the-unethical-truth-about-chicken-farms https://www.humanechoice.org/post.html?slug=the-unethical-truth-about-chicken-farms Mon, 18 May 2026 20:18:39 GMT The truth behind chicken factory farms: 99% of chickens live in factory farms and 2,000 chickens are killed every second around the world. https://www.humanechoice.org/post.html?slug=billie-eilish-becoming-an-important-voice-of-animal-rights https://www.humanechoice.org/post.html?slug=billie-eilish-becoming-an-important-voice-of-animal-rights Wed, 13 May 2026 20:26:31 GMT “You can’t love animals and eat meat.” Billie Eilish’s recent comments on veganism and animal rights have caused intense backlash online, but she refuses to stay silent. https://www.humanechoice.org/post.html?slug=take-action-now-york-university-s-abuse-of-nine-macaques https://www.humanechoice.org/post.html?slug=take-action-now-york-university-s-abuse-of-nine-macaques Fri, 08 May 2026 14:44:35 GMT Ontario's York University under fire for the abuse of nine macaques in it's neuroscience research facility. https://www.humanechoice.org/post.html?slug=250-dogs-found-in-one-home https://www.humanechoice.org/post.html?slug=250-dogs-found-in-one-home Thu, 07 May 2026 14:12:49 GMT This post showcases an incident in April 2026, where 250 dogs were found crammed in a home. https://www.humanechoice.org/post.html?slug=animal-rights-success-story-1-500-beagles-from-ridglan-farms-are-getting-new-homes https://www.humanechoice.org/post.html?slug=animal-rights-success-story-1-500-beagles-from-ridglan-farms-are-getting-new-homes Thu, 07 May 2026 04:00:00 GMT An animal rights success story! 1,500 beagles from Ridglan Farms testing facility are getting a second chance at life. https://www.humanechoice.org/post.html?slug=animal-welfare-columbia-planning-to-kill-80-hippos-linked-to-pablo-escobar https://www.humanechoice.org/post.html?slug=animal-welfare-columbia-planning-to-kill-80-hippos-linked-to-pablo-escobar Wed, 29 Apr 2026 18:57:55 GMT A recent news article about the hippos at Hacienda Nápoles in Colombia, descendants of the original four brought over by Pablo Escobar in the 1980s https://www.humanechoice.org/post.html?slug=historic-floods-in-hawaii-spur-widespread-animal-rescue-efforts https://www.humanechoice.org/post.html?slug=historic-floods-in-hawaii-spur-widespread-animal-rescue-efforts Tue, 21 Apr 2026 17:50:42 GMT Hawaii is experiencing some of the most severe flooding in decades after a series of subtropical cyclones brought heavy, slow-moving storms to the islands. Torrential rains—reaching up to 30 inches in some areas—have submerged entire neighbourhoods, damaged hundreds of homes, and flooded farmlands, causing millions of dollars in losses. Forecasters warn that additional flash floods may hit in the coming days (Voiland 2026). https://www.humanechoice.org/post.html?slug=grindadr%C3%A1p-a-whale-to-the-slaughter https://www.humanechoice.org/post.html?slug=grindadr%C3%A1p-a-whale-to-the-slaughter Wed, 15 Apr 2026 16:08:43 GMT The Grindadráp (aka “The Grind”) is the hunting of long-finned pilot whales, and occasionally dolphins, carried out not by commercial industries but by local communities. Supporters describe it as tradition. Critics call it what it looks like: a coordinated killing of highly social marine animals (World Animal Protection 2025). https://www.humanechoice.org/post.html?slug=why-veganism-makes-people-uncomfortable-and-what-that-discomfort-is-telling-you https://www.humanechoice.org/post.html?slug=why-veganism-makes-people-uncomfortable-and-what-that-discomfort-is-telling-you Mon, 06 Apr 2026 19:56:48 GMT You have probably experienced it. You mention, in the most casual possible way, that you do not eat animal products. You are not lecturing anyone. You have not brought it up unprompted. Someone simply asked what you wanted to order. And yet, within moments, someone at the table is explaining why humans need protein, or telling you about their uncle's farm, or assuring you that they only buy "ethical" meat. https://www.humanechoice.org/post.html?slug=the-tradition-argument-when-history-is-used-to-justify-harm https://www.humanechoice.org/post.html?slug=the-tradition-argument-when-history-is-used-to-justify-harm Mon, 06 Apr 2026 19:38:11 GMT Tradition is one of the most powerful words in any debate about animal welfare. But being old does not make something right. Here is why that argument deserves more scrutiny than it usually gets. https://www.humanechoice.org/post.html?slug=why-we-love-dogs-but-eat-pigs-the-psychology-of-the-meat-paradox https://www.humanechoice.org/post.html?slug=why-we-love-dogs-but-eat-pigs-the-psychology-of-the-meat-paradox Sat, 21 Mar 2026 17:26:10 GMT Most of us consider ourselves animal lovers. So why do we extend compassion to some animals while putting others on our plates without a second thought? A pig and a dog playing. A pig and a dog playing. Picture this: a golden retriever plays fetch in the park, tail wagging, eyes full of trust. Now picture a pig solving a puzzle, a skill they have been shown to develop faster than dogs. Both animals feel pain, experience joy, form social bonds, and display remarkable intelligence. Yet one... https://www.humanechoice.org/post.html?slug=understanding-anti-speciesism-a-comprehensive-guide https://www.humanechoice.org/post.html?slug=understanding-anti-speciesism-a-comprehensive-guide Sat, 21 Feb 2026 17:36:23 GMT Anti-speciesism is the belief that all sentient beings, regardless of their species, deserve equal consideration and moral standing. This philosophy challenges the traditional view that human beings are superior to other animals, advocating for a more inclusive perspective that recognizes the intrinsic value of all life forms. https://www.humanechoice.org/post.html?slug=advocating-animal-rights-through-ethical-principles https://www.humanechoice.org/post.html?slug=advocating-animal-rights-through-ethical-principles Sat, 21 Feb 2026 17:36:21 GMT Animal rights refer to the belief that non-human animals have inherent rights similar to human rights. This perspective challenges the traditional view that animals exist solely for human use. The ethical principles that support animal rights can be categorized into several key areas. https://www.humanechoice.org/post.html?slug=compassionate-choices-reducing-systemic-animal-exploitation https://www.humanechoice.org/post.html?slug=compassionate-choices-reducing-systemic-animal-exploitation Sat, 21 Feb 2026 17:36:10 GMT Systemic animal exploitation refers to the widespread practices that prioritize profit over the welfare of animals. This exploitation manifests in various forms, including: