The USDA Is Still Hiding Animal Welfare Records from the Public – Why This Is an Issue and What’s Being D
Arianna Pittman
March 5, 2018

For nearly a decade, the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) housed an online search tool where the public could access inspection reports and legal documentation concerning entities licensed under the Animal Welfare Act. Then, suddenly, in February 2017, the search tool was disabled and the records were no longer accessible to the public, with the USDA claiming privacy concerns as the reason for the documents being removed.

It was a shock to organizations and advocates, who relied on the reports to show people the horrors of puppy mills and expose the mistreatment of animals in roadside zoos and other attractions. They also brought to light the number of animals used in research facilities and the conditions…