Chronology of Historical Events in Animal Rights and Animal Welfare | 641 2000 The Great Ape Conservation Act establishes a $5 million conservation fund to assist in global projects to conserve great ape populations 2000 New legislation requires the immediate termination of the Department of Defense practice of euthanizing military working dogs at the end of their useful working life, and facilitates the adoption of retired military working dogs 2000 The Dog and Cat Protection Act of 2000 makes it unlawful to import into or export from the United States any dog or cat fur product, or to engage in the commerce of any dog or cat fur product 2000 ICCVAM Authorization Act of 2000 provides that the Interagency Coordinating Committee on the Validation of Alternative Methods (ICCVAM) shall among other things review and evaluate new or revised or alternative test methods; the ICCVAM was established by the Director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences 2002 Senate passes the Bear Protection Act; the bill eliminates the incentive to kill bears for their gallbladders by making it illegal to sell, import, or export the internal organs of a bear, as well as products containing bear parts 2002 Farm Bill includes a Resolution dictating that the Humane Methods of Slaughter Act of 1958 should be fully enforced, preventing the needless suffering of animals; it also requires the Secretary of Agriculture to track violations of the Act and report results to Congress 2002 Rhinoceros and Tiger Conservation Act, African Elephant Conservation Act, and Asian Elephant Conservation act are all reauthorized 2002 Four new laws are enacted, and cruelty to animals is now a felony in 37 states 2002 Sweden bans the use of great apes in biomedical research including a ban on the lesser apes, gibbons, and siamangs 2003 The Captive Wildlife Safety Act prohibits the interstate transport of exotic big cats for private ownership as pets 2004 The Marine Turtle Conservation Act states that its purpose is to assist in the conservation of marine turtles and the nesting habits of marine turtles in foreign countries by supporting and providing financial resources for projects to conserve the nesting habitats, conserve marine turtles in those habitats, and address other threats to the survival of marine turtles 2005 The House of Representatives passes an amendment to stop the use of taxpayers’ dollars to fund horse slaughterhouse inspection, effectively banning horse slaughter for one fiscal year if passed 2006 The Supreme Court of India bans breeding of animals in zoos 2006 Germany bans imported seal products from the country 2006 Arizona and Michigan pass animal protection laws in their respective states Arizona prohibits confining calves in veal crates and confining breeding pigs