WASHINGTON (Sept. 11, 2014) -- The Humane Society Legislative Fund, the nation’s leading political advocacy organization for animal welfare, announces its endorsement of Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber for re-election. Citing his support of animal protection policies, the HSLF urges voters in Oregon to support Kitzhaber in November’s general election.
“During his time as governor, John Kitzhaber has been a stalwart advocate for animal welfare, and Oregon has become one of the top five states in the nation on animal protection policy,” said Wayne Pacelle, executive vice president of the HSLF. “We urge voters who care about the humane treatment of animals to re-elect Governor Kitzhaber.”
While serving as Oregon’s Governor, Kitzhaber has:
- Signed a bill into law to restricting the chaining and tethering of dogs throughout the state. He invited a group of schoolchildren to the bill signing ceremony, using it as an opportunity to teach children that sometimes laws have to be passed to ensure people are kind to animals. (HB 2783B)
- Signed a bill into law which prohibits people from possessing, selling, trading or distributing shark fins. The Governor’s office took the added step of filing a written statement of opposition when the Obama Administration threatened to pass a regulation which would have nullified all state laws dealing with shark fins. (HB 2838)
- Signed a bill protecting human and animal survivors of domestic violence by adding companion, service and therapy animals to the Family Abuse Prevention Act. (SB 616)
- Signed legislation to ban a cruel rodeo event called horse tripping, which involves roping the front legs of a galloping horse, causing it to crash violently into the ground. An avid horse lover, Gov. Kitzhaber took action to ensure the law was enforced after some rodeo organizers and a county sheriff indicated that they might not follow the law. (SB 835)
- Repeatedly registered his opposition to bills that would repeal Measure 18, a law passed by Oregon voters in 1994 to ban the use of dogs to hunt bears and cougars and bait to hunt bears. He has stated that the wishes of the voters on this matter should be respected and upheld.
Media Contact: Martin Montorfano, (202) 676-2347, mmontorfano@hslf.org
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HSLF is a nonpartisan organization that evaluates candidates based only on a single criterion: where they stand on animal welfare. HSLF does not judge candidates based on party affiliation or any other issue.
The Humane Society Legislative Fund is a social welfare organization incorporated under section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code and formed in 2004 as a separate lobbying affiliate of The Humane Society of the United States. The HSLF works to pass animal protection laws at the state and federal level, to educate the public about animal protection issues, and to support humane candidates for office. Visit us on all our channels: on the web at hslf.org, on our blog at animalsandpolitics.com, on Facebook at facebook.com/humanelegislation and on Twitter at twitter.com/HSLegFund.
Paid for by Humane Society Legislative Fund and not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee. HSLF, 1255 23rd Street, NW, Suite 455, Washington, DC 20037.
