TESSERE’s Take on Advancing Animal Wellbeing: Lessons from Animal Welfare Act Administration and Enforcement Trends
Recent trends in the administration and enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act present zoos and aquariums with valuable opportunities for organizational excellence and advancing animal well-being.
In September’s ECHO Digital session, we were joined by James F. Gesualdi, animal welfare attorney, whose dedication to enhancing animal welfare through legal, regulatory, and strategic engagement and working constructively with the USDA and others uniquely positions him to share valuable insights into trends, lessons, and good practices.
TESSERE’s Take:
- Continuous Improvement Ensures Readiness in a Shifting Regulatory Landscape
A generational shift in USDA enforcement, combined with new leadership and evolving priorities, underscores the need for readiness, adaptability, and continuous improvement to stay ahead of stricter standards and expectations. - Transparency Strengthens the Community
Openly sharing compliance challenges and lessons learned fosters collective progress and unlocks opportunities for systemic advancements in animal wellbeing. - Fresh Perspectives Enhance Preparedness
Involving diverse teams in inspections and risk assessments improves preparedness and responsiveness and fosters stronger collaboration across departments. - Trust and Proactivity Go Hand-in-Hand
Proactive practices like self-inspections, preventative maintenance, and detailed documentation build trust with inspectors, enhance readiness, and bolster public confidence. - Independent Reviews Can Expose Hidden Opportunities
Outside experts bring objective analysis to challenging situations, uncovering valuable insights and offering transformative pathways to advance animal welfare.
