Major Companies Stop Selling Brushes Made from Badger FurGood news for badger-loving artists came this month when major retailers, including Michael’s, Ulta, Kohl’s, and Neiman Marcus, removed brushes made with badger hair from stores. This decision followed a campaign by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, in which they sent the companies a video of fur farms in China and urged the retailers to stop selling the brushes. The footage, captured during the organization’s investigation into the farms, show badgers being housed in tiny cages and enduring inhumane treatment by the staff, including being stabbed and beaten while conscious. Fur from such farms is used in some paintbrushes, makeup brushes, and shaving products. Target, another retailer, has begun removing its badger hair brushes listed by third party sellers. Company policy states that Target does not sell items with fur, feathers, hair, or whiskers unless they come from the food supply chain. Disneyland Paris Plans to End Horse-Drawn Trolley Rides by the End of 2026In world animal news, Disneyland Paris has decided to retire all of the horses used for pulling trolleys within the theme park sometime in 2026. This comes six years after the closure of Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show in Disney Village, a shopping and dining complex located outside the park. Live horses have pulled trolleys in the French Disney park since it opened in 1992, and have been a staple of Disney parks since the original Disneyland opened in 1955. In the U.S., they are frequently seen on Main Street U.S.A. and in parades. Disney fans are split on the announcement. Some argue that the horses will have a better life without pulling trolleys, while others complain this is a cost cutting measure that cheapens the guest experience. (We know which side of the argument we are on!) With this move, Disneyland Paris will join Hong Kong Disneyland and Shanghai Disneyland in not featuring horses. This decision is not an outlier. In 2025, France enacted a ban on pony rides for children in public parks. Also in 2025, Dutch theme park competitor Efteling retired its stunt show Raveleijn, which featured live horses and ravens. The park has not revealed if the replacement show will use animals. Disneyland Paris has not stated a reason for its decision, nor confirmation for where the horses will live after this year. We are hoping they will choose to retire them to a sanctuary. Goldfish Declared Sentient Beings in ArgentinaGood animal news landed for South American fish! Fede and Magui, two goldfish who had been living in a glass tank outside of a sushi restaurant, were legally recognized as sentient beings in a landmark Argentine ruling. The fishes’ former home was exposed to direct sunlight and traffic noise, which prompted animal advocacy group Empty Cages to bring charges against the restaurant in Buenos Aires, citing animal cruelty. According to piscine expert Carlos Aga, Fede and Magui’s home was “more or less the same as putting two polar bears in a cage inside a sauna.” The fish now live in Aga’s home aquarium, over 60 times the size of their tank outside the restaurant. The ruling is one of the first in Argentina history to declare fish as sentient creatures. Experts are hopeful that this case will set a precedent for future lawsuits over animal cruelty. Vegan Minions Treats Have Arrived in Movie TheatersIf you love bananas, Minions, and dairy-free snacks, you’ll be happy to hear that Klimon has released vegan ice cream at select theaters to celebrate the release of Illumination’s Minions and Monsters film. The lineup includes flavors Banana Ooh Na-Na, Bello Politan, Ooey Gooey!, and Maple Mayhem. Klimon has also featured their treat, Banana! Scream Pie. In addition to the Klimon products, ICEE has released a dairy-free banana flavored treat. The vegan snacks are available at participating theaters, including Cinemark, Regal, and Marcus Theatres. The Netherlands Bans Personal Use of FireworksGood news for animals in the Netherlands. Beginning August 1, 2026, Dutch citizens will be prohibited from purchasing, selling, or setting off fireworks. The bill was introduced by the Progressive Netherlands Party and the Party for the Animals. In 2025, it passed both chambers of parliament. The only exception is for groups who apply for permission to display fireworks in organized local gatherings, such as a city’s New Year’s Eve festival.
 Animatronic Elephants Added to Hindu Temples to Replace Live OnesGood animal welfare news came for Asian pachyderms. Some Indian temples have adopted life-sized robotic elephants in place of live ones. The animatronics, created by engineer Prasanth Prakashan, have moving ears and tails, and a mechanism allows them to squirt water from their trunks. Prakashan aims to soon get them walking. At $6,000 each, PETA donated 40 of them to Hindu temples in India. Elephants are revered with a religious status, but shrinking forests and dwindling wild populations have caused some to reconsider if the pachyderms should continue living at such temples. “They had trees and forests before,” said Rajkumar Namboothiri, priest of the first temple that adopted a robotic elephant. “Now, we have concrete jungles, heat, and noise…elephants are tortured and abused. It’s not right.” Live elephants also pose a danger to humans. The temple pachyderms are typically male, and annually go through a period of musth, during which time their testosterone soars to 60 times higher than usual. “These elephants are forced to stand there for hours in the heat, with large crowds, drums, and fireworks,” said Khushboo Gupta, vice president of policy at PETA India. “Any trigger could cause them to go on a rampage.” The robotic elephants have caused some controversy due to their use in religious settings. Some maintain that live elephants are important to Hindu rituals, while others insist they are safer for humans and provide real elephants with a chance for a better life. Scotland Outlaws Glue TrapsGood animal welfare news was passed down in Scotland this month when the nation announced that anyone who uses, distributes, or possesses a glue trap can expect a fine of up to £40,000, or even up to 12 months in prison. Glue traps use an adhesive so strong that animals who touch it instantly become stuck. The traps are meant to catch small animals who are considered “pests,” but they have no way of distinguishing what species they ensnare. The traps themselves do not harm animals, but attempted extrication can result in the loss of fur or feathers and even broken bones. By design, trapped animals die a slow, painful death from the lack of food and water or from exposure. “Glue traps are inhumane devices that inflict prolonged suffering on any animal unfortunate enough to become caught in one,” said a Scottish SPCA investigator. “We’ve seen first-hand the catastrophic injuries they cause, so today’s ban coming into force is a hugely important step forward for animal welfare in Scotland. No animal should have to endure this kind of suffering.” Lifelong Vegan Environmentalist to Direct New York City’s Food PolicyMore good vegan news for New York! Siddhartha Sanchez, the new NYC director of food policy, has advocated for racial, environmental, and economic justice for 20 years. He is also a lifelong vegan. “Food security is inseparable from racial and economic justice,” said Sanchez. “And for far too many New Yorkers–especially in low-income communities of color–access to healthy, affordable food remains out of reach.” Sanchez had been part of the Bronx River Alliance, an organization that, in 2009, completed the Concrete Plant Project, turning an abandoned industrial plant into a public space with free, harvestable food. “Siddhartha Sanchez has spent his career fighting for food justice, strengthening community-led solutions, and expanding access to healthy food,” said NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani. “I am proud to welcome him to this administration as we work to ensure that every New Yorker has access to food as a basic human right.” Chewy and Overstock Cut Ties with Marshall FarmsPositive animal welfare news arrived when online retailers Chewy and Overstock stopped carrying pet products from Marshall Farms. Marshall Farms (also known as Marshall BioResources) is the largest United States supplier of animals to laboratories. Investigations into the facility have revealed cruel practices, negligence resulting in preventable animal death, unethical breeding tactics, hazardous living conditions, and other violations of federal animal welfare laws. The facility supplements income by selling pet toys, treats, and other pet supplies under the brand name Marshall Pet Products. Retail giants PetSmart and PetCo continue to carry products from Marshall Farms, including live animals. Ontario Bans Unnecessary Surgeries for PetsGood animal news from Canada! Starting January 1, 2027, veterinarians in Ontario will be prohibited from performing declawing, ear cropping, and vocal alteration surgeries on cats and dogs unless they are determined to be medically necessary for individual cases. Declawing procedures for cats involve the removal of the animal’s toe bones, typically only on the front paws. There are numerous risks associated with the procedure, including development of arthritis, impaired ability to play and groom, and inability to climb objects. There are a few situations in which a declaw surgery could be beneficial, particularly if the cat has toe cancer or nail problems. Ear cropping is a common surgery for specific types of dogs that claim to “adhere to breed cosmetic standards,” such as for Great Danes, Dobermans, and American Pit Bull Terriers. Parts of the ear are trimmed so they stand up straight rather than flop. The procedure is typically performed on puppies between 6-12 weeks of age. Some vets claim that cropped ears can help prevent ear infections, but there is no evidence to support this. Canine devocalization is a procedure that involves the removal of some of a dog’s vocal fold tissue in order to reduce the volume of the animal’s barks. The procedure is only medically necessary if the patient has an airway obstruction or laryngeal paralysis. “This is a major win for animal welfare in Ontario,” said Dr. Janice Honda, President of the Ontario Veterinary Medical Association. “For years, veterinarians have raised concerns about procedures that cause pain, provide no medical benefit to the animal, and interfere with natural behaviors. We’re pleased to see the province take action that puts animal welfare at the center of the decision.” Egypt to End Camel and Horse Rides at Giza PyramidsEgyptian animals received some good news this month when it was announced that the country was going to phase out camel and horse rides within the vicinity of the Great Pyramids. Reportedly, the animals will be replaced with electric buses and carts to save the animals from having to be overworked in the desert heat. For now, the Great Pyramids at Giza will be the only heritage sites affected by the ban.
There you have it! The Protego Foundation’s July news roundup featured lots of good animal news, positive world animal news, and good news for vegans. From unnecessary animal surgery bans to robotic elephants, July was a good month for both humans and non-human animals. Which of our stories this month was your favorite? Let us know in the comments below! Written by Halley Powell
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The Protego Foundation and its activities are not licensed by, sponsored by or associated with Warner Bros., J.K. Rowling, or their affiliates. 'Wizarding World,' 'Harry Potter,' ‘Fantastic Beasts' and all related names, characters and indicia are trademarks of and © Warner Bros. - Harry Potter publishing rights © J.K. Rowling.
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The Protego Foundation and its activities are not licensed by, sponsored by or associated with Warner Bros., J.K. Rowling, or their affiliates. 'Wizarding World,' 'Harry Potter,' ‘Fantastic Beasts' and all related names, characters and indicia are trademarks of and © Warner Bros. - Harry Potter publishing rights © J.K. Rowling.
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