Animal Wellness Action

Animal Wellness Action (AWA) is a Washington, D.C.-based non-profit organization dedicated to preventing cruelty to animals through legislative advocacy and public policy. Founded in 2018, its core mission is to promote and enforce robust legal standards that protect animals, operating on the belief that fostering animal welfare contributes to a more civil society. The organization actively works to elect political candidates who support pro-animal policies at local, state, and national levels.

AWA's services primarily involve legislative advocacy, campaigning, and public education. They manage numerous campaigns targeting various forms of animal cruelty, including dogfighting, cockfighting, greyhound racing, factory farming, cosmetic testing, and wildlife trafficking. The organization also focuses on issues affecting companion animals, farm animals, and wildlife, working to expose abuse and build partnerships with other groups and agencies to advance its agenda. A notable area of their work includes advocating for legislation like the FDA Modernization Act 3.0, aimed at ending mandates for animal testing.

Led by founder and president Wayne Pacelle, Animal Wellness Action has established itself as a significant player in animal welfare policy. Recent activities include their involvement in the rescue of over 1,500 beagles from Ridglan Farms, a commercial breeding facility, and ongoing efforts to end taxpayer-funded animal testing. The organization also actively participates in political endorsements, with seven of its endorsed candidates winning U.S. House races in 2024. As a 501(c)(4) non-profit, AWA is structured to engage directly in political lobbying and election campaigns, distinguishing it from its sister 501(c)(3) organizations, the Center for a Humane Economy and the Animal Wellness Foundation.