HSLF opposes former fur industry spokesperson Karen Handel
WASHINGTON (June 1, 2017)—The Humane Society Legislative Fund, the nation's leading political advocacy organization for animals, endorsed Jon Ossoff over rival Karen Handel in the June 20 special election for Georgia’s Sixth Congressional District.
"Voters who care about the welfare of animals should support Jon Ossoff for Congress on June 20th," said Sara Amundson, senior vice president and executive director of HSLF. "Jon Ossoff will actively support common sense policies for animal welfare, including banning horse slaughter for human consumption and strengthening our federal anti-cruelty laws."
Ossoff has supported HSLF on a wide range of animal protection issues, while Handel has neglected even to respond to our inquiries about her positions on animal welfare. Prior to her role as Georgia Secretary of State, Handel served as the official spokesperson for the fur lobbying industry, the Fur Information Council of America.
The fur industry has been a prime defender of the use of steel-jawed leghold traps. These devices, outlawed in more than 80 nations, act like landmines for wildlife, painfully catching bobcats, beavers, and other targeted species but also indiscriminately killing non-target species, including endangered animals and pets. Some studies report that there are two non-target species caught for every target species. Every animal welfare group considers these traps egregious and inhumane.
Natural fiber and synthetic garments indistinguishable from animal fur have made the fur industry obsolete. Many leading fashion companies have embraced no-fur policies, including Giorgio Armani, Hugo Boss, and VF Corporation, the parent company of The North Face, Timberland, and Nautica.
In addition to expressing concerns about Handel’s lack of commitment to animal welfare, HSLF has proudly endorsed Jon Ossoff because of his support for a wide range of humane policies, such as:
- the Pet and Women Safety (PAWS) Act, which would help victims of domestic violence and their pets escape abusive situations;
- the Prevent All Soring Tactics (PAST) Act, which would prohibit soring or burning Tennessee Walking Horses’ legs and hooves with sharp objects or chemicals;
- the Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture (PACT) Act, which would prohibit malicious forms of cruelty including burning, crushing, drowning, suffocating, and impaling animals;
- cutting wasteful taxpayer-funded government programs that are harmful to animals, such as federal subsidies that trap and poison predators;
- protecting farm animals from the most extreme acts of cruelty;
- improving wildlife conservation and habitat protection programs; and
- developing alternatives to animal testing.
Media Contact: Anna West, (240) 751-2669, awest@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.
