Groups that call themselves “animal protection” or “animal welfare” organizations often present themselves as compassionate advocates. In reality, many of them twist common terms to mask extremist agendas that have little to do with genuine animal welfare as defined by the American Veterinary Medical Association. The Congressional Animal Protection Caucus (CAPC) is one such vehicle—an alliance of lawmakers increasingly influenced by animal rights extremism.

Best Friends is not just focused on adoption—it claimed to actively restrict the public’s ability to own and purchase pets. In Utah, for example, the group pushed legislation to ban pet store puppy sales—even though pet stores in the state already complied with USDA regulations and inspections.

Animal Recovery Mission (ARM) is a radical animal extremist group that farmers, ranchers, and animal owners must be aware of. While relatively unknown outside South Florida, ARM gained national attention with its involvement in producing and distributing disturbing videos of alleged abuse at Fair Oaks Farm in Indiana.

The Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF), founded in 1979, is a legal advocacy organization that embraces an animal extremist ideology. Initially focused solely on animal issues, the group has more recently expanded into environmental activism as well. Through high-profile lawsuits, lobbying, and legal training, ALDF works to reshape the legal system in ways that advance its animal rights and environmental agenda.

American Wild Horse Conservation (AWHC)—recently rebranded from the American Wild Horse Campaign—presents itself as a voice for animal welfare, but its record reveals deep ties to radical animal rights groups and a consistent pattern of obstruction against genuine management solutions from the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and other stakeholders.

DxE’s motto is “Animal Liberation,” and their website organizes its messaging under three stark categories: Confinement, Greed, Death. Unlike some animal rights organizations that pursue incremental reforms, DxE explicitly rejects gradualism. Their long-term vision is to criminalize the consumption of animal protein and to elect their own members into political office.

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) was founded in the late 1800s with the noble goal of protecting animals. But in recent decades, its mission and culture have drifted away from direct animal welfare and toward corporate-style fundraising, lobbying, and extremist activism. Despite its name, the ASPCA is not affiliated with local SPCAs or community shelters. In fact, it operates just one shelter in New York City.

The group’s co-founder and president, Ingrid Newkirk, has openly declared that PETA’s ultimate goal is “total animal liberation,” which means eliminating virtually all forms of human-animal interaction. In practice, this would outlaw the consumption of meat, milk, cheese, eggs, butter, yogurt, and even honey, while banning hunting, fishing, zoos, aquariums, animal-centered sports, pet ownership, and life-saving animal-based medical research.

The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), recently rebranded as Humane World for Animals (HWA), is not what its name suggests. Despite using the phrase “Humane Society” in its branding, HSUS is not affiliated with local shelters, does not run animal shelters, and provides little direct aid to animals. Instead, it has long been exposed as an animal rights extremist organization that prioritizes politics, lobbying, and fundraising over actual animal welfare.

Western Justice stands with the 120+ wildlife, conservation, and land management organizations, representing millions of Americans, who are urging our federal leaders to uphold the law and restore ecological balance on our public lands. The health of these lands, and the survival of our native wildlife, depend on it.

Anti-human rewilding ideology originated in the Third Reich

Rewilding ecoterrorism threatens rural America

American Prairie intends to rewild millions of contiguous acres in rural Montana

The wolves and bears haven’t officially shown up yet, but the biggest predator of all has already arrived, and it’s called American Prairie.

TNC's carefully crafted image obscures a quiet war on agriculture, property rights, and science-based animal care

WEG has an unreasonable bias against ranching, and a strong affinity for wolves

CBD is a powerful menace, not just to natural resource industries, but to people and society.

The CBD is a multimillion-dollar nonprofit with a substantial portion of their income coming from government grants

Welfare environmentalist group WWP relies on taxpayers’ money to fund their incessant litigation

The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) has rebranded itself as Humane World for Animals