Press Release

WASHINGTON (February 26, 2019)—Today, the Animal Welfare Institute, Big Cat Rescue, Born Free USA, the International Fund for Animal Welfare, the Humane Society of the United States, Humane Society Legislative Fund and Performing Animal Welfare Society celebrate the reintroduction of the Big Cat Public Safety Act (BCPSA) in the U.S. House of Representatives. Championed by Representatives Michael Quigley of Illinois and Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, the bill would ensure that unqualified individuals are prohibited from obtaining and keeping dangerous big cats like tigers, lions, leopards and cougars.

The public is increasingly concerned about the plight of captive big cats and the sponsors of the Big Cat Public Safety Act have made it clear that they are listening. By reintroducing the BCPSA, Reps. Quigley, Fitzpatrick and 52 bipartisan cosponsors are calling for an end to the unregulated trade and nationwide abuse of captive big cats—an issue that continues to garner national headlines. The most recent shocking incident that put the community and first responders at risk occurred just two weeks ago when officials in Houston, Texas, discovered an adult tiger in a small, filthy, unlocked cage in a back room of an abandoned home.

In addition to keeping dangerous big cats out of private hands, the bill would prohibit the use of big cat cubs for the public to pet, feed, take photos of and play with. Allowing the public to handle and be photographed with tiger and lion cubs is an unscrupulous practice that has caused misery for untold numbers of animals and is the primary cause of surplus tigers flooding the U.S. exotic animal trade.

The abuse begins when the babies are prematurely and forcibly separated from their mothers, usually during or immediately after birth. The cubs can be used for public handling until they are just a few months old, at which point they are often discarded. Some end up warehoused at poorly run roadside zoos and pseudo-sanctuaries, or in the hands of unqualified people with private menageries. More babies must be continually produced to fuel this lucrative business. The practice also poses a safety risk; even very young big cats have sharp teeth and claws that can inflict serious injury and a number of tiger cubs used for photo ops have been found with ringworm infections.

Surplus tigers discarded by cub-petting operations can also fuel the illegal market for animal parts used in traditional Asian medicine. The rampant breeding of tigers in the United States, the lack of a system for tracking them nationwide and the reality that tigers are often worth more dead than alive mean there are ample opportunities for these animals to enter the black market.

“The many tigers produced by the cub-petting industry damage the credibility of the United States in working with other nations on international tiger conservation,” said Kitty Block, president and CEO of the Humane Society of the United States. “The inconsistency of our large population of captive tigers with our opposition to tiger trafficking and the abhorrent practice of tiger farming has not gone unnoticed by the countries that engage in them.”

“Big cats are some of the world’s most majestic wild animals. They should not be penned in as ‘pets’ or used for selfies for a fee taken from an unsuspecting public,” said Sara Amundson, president of the Humane Society Legislative Fund. “We applaud Representatives Quigley and Fitzpatrick for their work to end this inhumane treatment of captive big cats, and look forward to the day when wild cats are just that—wild.”

Facts:

• Since 1990, there have been at least 375 dangerous incidents involving big cats in the United States. 24 people have been killed, including four children, and hundreds of others have sustained critical injuries. In many cases, the animals were shot and killed, often by first responders who were not equipped to handle these situations but needed to protect the public. Among the most dramatic examples was an October 2011 incident in Zanesville, Ohio, in which the owner of a private menagerie released dozens of big cats near a community, requiring law enforcement to kill the cats and risk their own lives.
• Big cats are wild animals and they suffer when kept as pets. They are often purchased as babies by private owners who are not able to manage them once they’re fully grown. Consequently, the animals often languish in grossly substandard conditions, deprived of sufficient space, adequate veterinary care, a nutritious diet and behavioral enrichment.
• Roadside zoos and other substandard exhibitors routinely separate babies from their mothers prematurely so they can charge the public to pet and play with the cubs. This is a cruel and unhealthy practice that can cause lifelong physical and psychological problems—or even death—for the cubs. Young cats, who very quickly outgrow their usefulness in the cub handling industry, end up warehoused at substandard zoos, sold into the exotic pet trade or possibly even killed and sold for parts. All the while, the vicious cycle of constant breeding churns out more babies to be exploited.

Media contacts:

Animal Welfare Institute: Marjorie Fishman, margie@awionline.org, (202) 446-2128
Big Cat Rescue: Susan Bass, susan.bass@bigcatrescue.org, (813) 431-2720
Born Free USA: Garrett Johnson, Garrett@BornFreeUSA.org, (202) 368-6833
Humane Society Legislative Fund: Emily Ehrhorn, Eehrhorn@hslf.org, (202) 779-1814
Humane Society of the United States: Diane Summers, DSummers@humanesociety.org, (301) 257-1456
International Fund for Animal Welfare: Rodger Correa, rcorrea@ifaw.org, (202) 536-1926, (202) 834-6637
Performing Animal Welfare Society: Kim Gardner, kgardner@pawsweb.org, (916) 539-5305

##

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.

CINCINNATI (February 21, 2019)—Today the Procter & Gamble Company (NYSE: PG) joins with the Humane Society International #BeCrueltyFree campaign, to ban animal testing for cosmetics in all major global beauty markets by 2023.

The #BeCrueltyFree campaign was launched in 2012 with the aim of extending the European Union’s legal precedent – banning cosmetics animal testing and the sale of newly animal tested cosmetics – to countries where this practice is still allowed or even mandated by law. P&G’s support for #BeCrueltyFree will include joint education and capacity-building programs for non-animal alternatives, continued development of new animal-free approaches to safety assessment and advocating for the legislative end of cosmetic animal testing in key global beauty markets.

Kitty Block, President of Humane Society International and the Humane Society of the United States, said: “This partnership represents an important milestone in our efforts to end animal testing for cosmetics worldwide through our #BeCrueltyFree campaign. By working together with forward-looking companies like Procter & Gamble, we can make this ambitious goal a reality.”

Kathy Fish, Chief Research, Development and Innovation Officer, Procter and Gamble, shared “We are pleased to partner with the Humane Society International in the quest to end cosmetic animal testing. I’m proud of the passion and expertise our researchers have contributed already to this goal. I know they will continue to be a force for good, providing leadership and advocacy to help achieve our shared vision.”

For over two decades, P&G, HSI, the HSUS and Humane Society Legislative Fund have collaborated on the development and regulatory uptake of animal-free test methods. The organizations expect that by bringing their complementary strengths together, they will reach the end goal more quickly. A key focus will be gaining acceptance of new methods by regulators and enrolling many companies and governments globally to adopt cruelty-free public policies and practices.

Dr. Harald Schlatter, P&G Corporate Communications and Animal Welfare Advocacy, added: “We’ve invested more than $420 million over forty years in developing non-animal test methods. Our researchers have led or co-designed at least twenty-five cruelty-free methods that have replaced animal testing of cosmetic products. HSI and the HSUS have been powerful partners in advancing these methods globally. “

Troy Seidle, HSI Vice President for Research & Toxicology, said: “Animal testing of cosmetics not only causes unnecessary animal suffering, but it also represents outdated science. For more than 20 years, we have collaborated with Procter & Gamble to advance the development and regulatory acceptance of non-animal testing approaches, but in order to finally move proposed cosmetic animal testing bans into law in the United States, Canada, Brazil, Chile, South Africa and other influential markets, we need the active support of major industry leaders such as P&G. With the power of P&G’s household brands, I’m confident we can achieve a legislative end to cosmetic animal testing globally within five years.”

Media contacts:

Procter & Gamble

• Tracey Long, long.tl@pg.com, 513-983-9629

Humane Society International

• Canada: Christopher Paré, 438-402-0643, cpare@hsi.org
• Europe/UK: Wendy Higgins, +44 (0) 7989 972 423 (mobile), whiggins@hsi.org
• United States: Nancy Hwa, 202-676-2337 (direct), 202-596-0808 (cell), nhwa@hsi.org

Humane Society of the United States and Humane Society Legislative Fund

• Emily Ehrhorn, 301-258-1423 (direct), 202-779-1814 (cell), eehrhorn@humanesociety.org

##

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.

The Humane Society of the United States is the nation’s largest animal protection organization, rated the most effective by its peers. Since 1954, The HSUS has been fighting for the protection of all animals through advocacy, education and hands-on programs. We rescue and care for tens of thousands of animals each year, but our primary mission is to prevent cruelty before it occurs. We're there for all animals, across America and around the world. Celebrating animals and confronting cruelty—on the Web at humanesociety.org. Subscribe to the blog, A Humane Nation. Join The HSUS on Facebook. Follow The HSUS on Twitter. See our work for animals on your Apple or Android device by searching for our “Humane TV” app.

Humane Society International and its partner organizations together constitute one of the world’s largest animal protection organizations. For 25 years, HSI has been working for the protection of all animals through the use of science, advocacy, education and hands on programmes. Celebrating animals and confronting cruelty worldwide—on the Web at hsi.org.

P&G serves consumers around the world with one of the strongest portfolios of trusted, quality, leadership brands, including Always®, Ambi Pur®, Ariel®, Bounty®, Charmin®, Crest®, Dawn®, Downy®, Fairy®, Febreze®, Gain®, Gillette®, Head & Shoulders®, Lenor®, Olay®, Oral-B®, Pampers®, Pantene®, SK-II®, Tide®, Vicks®, and Whisper®. The P&G community includes operations in approximately 70 countries worldwide. Please visit http://www.pg.com for the latest news and information about P&G and its brands.

The Safeguard American Food Exports (SAFE) Act would permanently ban horse slaughter in the U.S. and end the export of horses for slaughter abroad

WASHINGTON (January 30, 2019)—Federal lawmakers introduced legislation today to permanently ban the slaughter of horses for human consumption in the United States and end the current export of American horses for slaughter abroad. Introduced by Reps. Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.) and Vern Buchanan (R-Fla.), the Safeguard American Food Exports (SAFE) Act, is supported by leading animal welfare groups, including the ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®), the Animal Welfare Institute (AWI), the Humane Society of the United States, the Humane Society Legislative Fund, and Return to Freedom Wild Horse Conservation.

In recent years, the number of American horses shipped to Canada and Mexico to be slaughtered for human consumption in foreign countries has dropped, making this an opportune time for Congress to close this legal loophole that causes so much suffering. These horses are not raised for food but are separated from the general population at auctions, often after a kill buyer outbids legitimate horse owners. Such horses often endure grueling journeys to slaughter plants, packed into large trailers in unfamiliar herds. Due to these fearful, stressful conditions they will bite and kick severely, injuring or even trampling each other en route. Once at the slaughterhouse, horses are herded into a “kill box” where they are shot in the head with a captive bolt gun in a careless attempt to stun them before slaughter – a process that can be imprecise due to the biology and fight or flight nature of equines. As a result, some horses endure repeated excruciating blows or remain conscious during the kill process.

“Horses have a special place in our nation’s history, and these majestic creatures were not raised as food for humans,” Schakowsky said. “The SAFE Act would prohibit any horse slaughter plant from opening; and also end the sale or transport of horses and horse parts in the U.S. and abroad for the purpose of human consumption. I am proud to reintroduce this bill and work with Congressman Buchanan to put an end to this practice.”

“The slaughter of horses for human consumption is a barbaric practice that has no place in America,” Buchanan said. “I will continue to lead the effort with Congresswoman Schakowsky to ban domestic horse slaughter and end the export of horses abroad for slaughter.”

“The ASPCA and our partners are heartened to see a massive increase in innovative programs to prevent at-risk horses from falling prey to the slaughter industry,” said Nancy Perry, senior vice president of ASPCA Government Relations. “But without the law as a backstop, horses will continue to suffer this fate regardless of how many we help. The vast majority of Americans oppose the brutal practice of horse slaughter, and we are grateful to Representatives Schakowsky and Buchanan for their steadfast commitment to ending this greed-driven cruelty to our horses.”

“Congresswoman Schakowsky and Congressman Buchanan are both tremendous champions for animal welfare,” said Cathy Liss, president of the Animal Welfare Institute. “Americans across the political spectrum want to see these noble animals protected from needless, gruesome and inhumane deaths. The SAFE Act would put a stop to the predatory and unsafe horse slaughter industry that butchers these animals for food.”

The SAFE Act would also protect consumers from dangerous American horse meat, which can be toxic to humans due to the unregulated administration of drugs to horses. Horses are not raised for food, and they are routinely given hundreds of drugs and chemical treatments over their lifetimes that are potentially toxic to humans if consumed. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration prohibits many of these drugs for use in animals intended for human consumption. Even products applied regularly, such as fly spray and de-wormers, contain toxic ingredients.

Sara Amundson, Humane Society Legislative Fund (HSLF) president, said: “It is time to ban the slaughter of American horses for human consumption which will take horses off of dinner plates in foreign countries. Horses are iconic species in the lexicon of American history and treated as companion animals here. We commend Representatives Schakowsky and Buchanan for their leadership in introducing the SAFE Act, which not only protects horses from the inhumane practices of slaughter, but also protects unsuspecting consumers from horse meat tainted with dangerous drugs that are not fit for human consumption.”

"That more than 80,000 American horses – including an unknown number who once roamed freely on our public lands – are shipped to their deaths in foreign slaughterhouses each year is an unnecessary betrayal of the animals that helped us build our country and continue to serve humanity,” said Neda DeMayo, president of Return to Freedom Wild Horse Conservation. “RTF applauds Representatives Schakowsky and Buchanan for recognizing the public’s overwhelming opposition to horse slaughter and continuing this bipartisan fight for the good of America’s horses and for human health.”

The ASPCA, AWI, The HSUS, HSLF, and RTF encourage the public to contact their U.S. representatives and urge them to cosponsor the SAFE Act, and to do all they can to secure its swift passage, in order to protect America’s horses and overall consumer health from horse slaughter.

Media Contacts:

Emily Ehrhorn, HSUS/HSLF, 202-779-1814; eehrhorn@hslf.org

Margie Fishman, Animal Welfare Institute, 202-446-2128, margie@awionline.org

Maureen Linehan, ASPCA, 646-706-4602, Maureen.Linehan@aspca.org

Cory Golden, RTF, 805-737-9246, outreach@returntofreedom.org

##

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.

The Humane Society of the United States is the nation’s largest animal protection organization, rated the most effective by its peers. Since 1954, The HSUS has been fighting for the protection of all animals through advocacy, education and hands-on programs. We rescue and care for tens of thousands of animals each year, but our primary mission is to prevent cruelty before it occurs. We're there for all animals, across America and around the world. Celebrating animals and confronting cruelty—on the Web at humanesociety.org. Subscribe to the blog, A Humane Nation. Join The HSUS on Facebook. Follow The HSUS on Twitter. See our work for animals on your Apple or Android device by searching for our “Humane TV” app.

Founded in 1866, the ASPCA® (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®) was the first animal welfare organization in North America and continues to serve as the nation’s leading voice for animals. More than two million supporters strong, the ASPCA is committed to its mission of providing effective means for the prevention of cruelty to animals throughout the United States. As a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation, the ASPCA is a national leader in the areas of anti-cruelty, community outreach and animal health services. For more information, please visit www.ASPCA.org, and be sure to follow the ASPCA on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

The Animal Welfare Institute (www.awionline.org) is a nonprofit charitable organization founded in 1951 and dedicated to reducing animal suffering caused by people. AWI engages policymakers, scientists, industry, and the public to achieve better treatment of animals everywhere—in the laboratory, on the farm, in commerce, at home, and in the wild. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for updates and other important animal protection news.

Return to Freedom Wild Horse Conservation (RTF) is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to wild horse preservation through sanctuary, advocacy, education and conservation. It operates the American Wild Horse Sanctuary in Lompoc, Calif. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for updates about wild horses and burros on the range and at our sanctuary.

WASHINGTON (January 9, 2019)—The board of directors of the Humane Society Legislative Fund has elected Charles A. Laue and David K. Robb to serve as chair and vice chair, respectively.

Laue’s career includes being the co-founder and Chairman of Stray Dog Capital and a Vice Chair at Asurion, LLC. Laue serves as a vice chair on the board of directors for the Humane Society of the United States and as chair of the board of Great Plains SPCA in Merriam, Kansas. Laue is also co-founder and president of The Quinn Foundation and Ringo’s Fund, both of which focus on charitable giving for animal and human welfare causes.

Robb’s career has spanned a wide range of industries, including financial services, manufacturing and technology. In recent years, his focus has been on the private equity funds where he serves as president of his firm. Robb has served on the North Carolina Zoological Society board for over 20 years and is a past chair. He is a member of the HSUS North Carolina State Council, and in addition to animal welfare boards, serves on a number corporate boards.

“Our staff look forward to this new era and greatly appreciate Chuck Laue and David Robb’s willingness to step into leadership at a pivotal time for animal protection on Capitol Hill,” stated Sara Amundson, president of HSLF. “And we extend our profound gratitude to David O. Wiebers, M.D. and Susan Atherton for years of extraordinary leadership as our outgoing chair and vice chair.”

Dr. Wiebers is emeritus professor of Neurology at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. During his career, he became nationally and internationally recognized as a leading clinician, teacher, clinical researcher, and administrator. He served as professor of Neurology, consultant in Neurology and Clinical Epidemiology, and Neurology Division Head, during which time Mayo Clinic Neurology was ranked #1 in the United States by U.S. News and World Report. Wiebers served as chair of the Humane Society of the United States’ board from 1999-2008 and has chaired the HSLF board since 2004.

Susan Atherton held executive management positions in the enterprise software and cloud computing industries for 25 years at NCR Corporation, GE Information Systems, Oracle Corporation, Rightpoint, and DoubleClick. She served as the first chair of the HSUS’ National Council. She is currently a member of the HSUS board of directors and has served as the vice chair of the HSLF.

The Humane Society Legislative Fund was formed in 2004 as a separate lobbying affiliate of the Humane Society of the United States. HSLF works to pass animal protection laws at the state and federal levels, to educate the public about animal protection issues, and to support humane candidates for office.

Laue and Robb will lead the organization in furthering its mission of giving animals a voice throughout the halls of Congress and with the thousands of federal and state lawmakers in a position to pass legislation to address the suffering and abuse of animals.

Media Contact: Emily Ehrhorn: 202-779-1814; eehrhorn@hslf.org

##

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.

WASHINGTON (November 16, 2018)—Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation introduced by Republican Congressman Sean Duffy of Wisconsin to delist most gray wolves in the lower 48 contiguous states from the protections afforded to them under the Endangered Species Act, and barring the public from seeking redress through our federal court system. The Humane Society of the United States and Humane Society Legislative Fund are urging the Senate to reject the legislation.

“This legislation is just the latest in a string of over 50 previous congressional attempts to undermine federal wolf protections. For a handful of legislators to not only remove federal protections for iconic wolves, but also undermine citizens’ rights to hold their government accountable is unacceptable,” said Kitty Block, acting president and CEO of the Humane Society of the United States. “We urge the Senate to reject this bill, and listen to the majority of Americans who want to keep wolves protected.

This bill – H.R. 6784, the innocuously named “Manage our Wolves Act - encourages indefensible cruelty by trophy hunters and trappers seeking bragging rights and the opportunity to pose over a wolf corpse for a photo or to display animal body parts. Wolves are highly sentient beings who enjoy membership in extended families. They require cooperation to feed and secure pack members, particularly their pups and yearlings, who cannot survive if their parents and other family members are killed.

“It’s a travesty that a House bill introduced in September with just four cosponsors secures floor time to put these imperiled wolves in the crosshairs of trophy hunters and trappers,” said Sara Amundson, president of the Humane Society Legislative Fund. “The American people have demanded that the Fish and Wildlife Service make a decision based upon scientific evidence that is open to a public comment process. Instead, 196 members of Congress passed a bill to deny ESA protections to gray wolves based upon political motivations.”

The latest cattle and sheep death loss data from the U. S. Department of Agriculture show that in the eight states where gray wolves live, losses of sheep and cattle from wolves amounted to just 0.04 percent of their livestock inventories. Ten times more livestock die from disease, birthing problems, weather events and theft than from all predators* combined, and scientific studies have shown that indiscriminate killing of wolves and other large carnivores actually increases livestock losses.

*The USDA-APHIS data show that “predators” include native mammalian (e.g., wild cats, bears, coyotes and wolves) and avian (e.g., eagles and vultures) carnivores and domestic dogs.

Media Contact: Kirsten Peek: 202.744.3875; kpeek@humanesociety.org

##

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.

The Humane Society of the United States is the nation’s largest animal protection organization, rated the most effective by its peers. Since 1954, The HSUS has been fighting for the protection of all animals through advocacy, education and hands-on programs. We rescue and care for tens of thousands of animals each year, but our primary mission is to prevent cruelty before it occurs. We're there for all animals, across America and around the world. Celebrating animals and confronting cruelty -- on the Web at humanesociety.org. Subscribe to the blog, A Humane Nation. Join The HSUS on Facebook. Follow The HSUS on Twitter. See our work for animals on your Apple or Android device by searching for our “Humane TV” app.

LOS ANGELES (November 6, 2018)—California voters resoundingly said “YES!” to Proposition 12, which ushers in the strongest farm animal protection law in the world. The passage of the transformational proposition builds on protections first passed by voters in 2008 to now ensure that pork, eggs and veal products produced or sold in the California marketplace come from facilities that do not confine animals in tiny cages for their entire lives.

“California voters have sent a loud and clear message that they reject cruel cage confinement in the meat and egg industries.” said Kitty Block, acting president and CEO of the Humane Society of the United States. “Thanks to the dedication of thousands of volunteers and coalition partners who made this victory happen, millions of veal calves, mother pigs and egg-laying hens will never know the misery of being locked in a tiny cage for the duration of their lives.”

Proposition 12 was led by a broad coalition of leading animal protection, environmental, food safety and sustainable farming organizations. It was supported by more than 600 California veterinarians and veterinary clinics, over 100 California family farmers and thousands of volunteers.

“The passage of Proposition 12 is ground-breaking for the welfare of animals and has raised the bar at an important time in our consideration of what farm to table means in this country,” said Sara Amundson, president of the Humane Society Legislative Fund. “Californians have resoundingly voted to acknowledge that further expanding the humane treatment of animals matters in our society and we applaud them.”

In addition to the successful campaign to pass Proposition 12, a dozen states now have laws cracking down on extreme confinement, and the biggest food retailers in the nation, including Walmart, Safeway, Costco, Burger King and hundreds of others, are requiring their meat and egg suppliers to eliminate cages.

Media Contact: Anna West: 240-751-2669 awest@humanesociety.org

##

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.

The Humane Society of the United States is the nation’s largest animal protection organization, rated the most effective by its peers. Since 1954, The HSUS has been fighting for the protection of all animals through advocacy, education and hands-on programs. We rescue and care for tens of thousands of animals each year, but our primary mission is to prevent cruelty before it occurs. We're there for all animals, across America and around the world. Celebrating animals and confronting cruelty -- on the Web at humanesociety.org. Subscribe to the blog, A Humane Nation. Join The HSUS on Facebook. Follow The HSUS on Twitter. See our work for animals on your Apple or Android device by searching for our “Humane TV” app.

TAMPA (November 6, 2018)—The Humane Society of the United States, Humane Society Legislative Fund and Doris Day Animal League are celebrating a tremendous victory in the campaign to end greyhound racing in Florida with the passage of Amendment 13.

“Because of the decisions of millions of Florida voters, thousands of dogs will be spared the pain and suffering that is inherent in the greyhound racing industry,” said Kitty Block, acting president and CEO of the Humane Society of the United States. “We are so grateful to the volunteers, campaign members, coalition partners, contributors and endorsers who came together in support of this historic effort to end the cruelty of greyhound racing.”

Florida is home to 11 of the remaining 17 greyhound racing tracks in the country. The groups hope that passage of Amendment 13 sounds the death knell for an industry that is responsible for inflicting pain, suffering and death on thousands of gentle greyhound dogs.

“The passage of Amendment 13 demonstrates that voters support animal protection laws and that they will see through the smokescreens and untruths of opponents who make last ditch efforts to confuse and misdirect,” said Sara Amundson, president of the Humane Society Legislative Fund. Amundson is also the executive director of the Doris Day Animal League, which made a $1.6 million contribution to Protect Dogs- Yes on 13 campaign the group that led the campaign to pass Amendment 13.

“The campaign team poured their hearts into this effort and it’s so gratifying to know their hard work has paid off,” said Kate MacFall, Florida state director of the Humane Society of the United States. “Greyhounds are sweet and loyal companions and the phase out of this industry provides an incredible opportunity for thousands of these gentle dogs to find loving homes.”

Media Contact: Anna West: 240-751-2669 awest@humanesociety.org

##

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.

The Humane Society of the United States is the nation’s largest animal protection organization, rated the most effective by its peers. Since 1954, The HSUS has been fighting for the protection of all animals through advocacy, education and hands-on programs. We rescue and care for tens of thousands of animals each year, but our primary mission is to prevent cruelty before it occurs. We're there for all animals, across America and around the world. Celebrating animals and confronting cruelty -- on the Web at humanesociety.org. Subscribe to the blog, A Humane Nation. Join The HSUS on Facebook. Follow The HSUS on Twitter. See our work for animals on your Apple or Android device by searching for our “Humane TV” app.

WASHINGTON (October 27, 2018)—Today the Humane Society Legislative Fund, the nation’s leading political advocacy organization for animal protection, released an ad highlighting Pete Sessions’ abysmal voting record. Pete Sessions has been in Washington for over 20 years and has abandoned his responsibility to the voters of Texas’ 32nd Congressional District, and to the animals so many of his constituents expect him to protect.

"Pete Sessions is out of touch on commonsense animal protection issues. He has repeatedly failed to vote for or cosponsor bipartisan legislation his constituents support, including eliminating animal fighting and cracking down on puppy mills,” said Sara Amundson, president of the Humane Society Legislative Fund. "Texans put their trust in Pete Sessions to protect their pets, horses and iconic wildlife species. But, time and again, he has put animals and consumers at risk with his indifference to their interests.”

Sessions, a member of the U.S. House of Representatives for two decades, has voted against vital animal protection legislation 40 times.

As the Chair of the House Rules Committee, he has prevented animal protection measures with significant bipartisan support, including protecting horses from slaughter for human consumption in foreign countries, from reaching the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives.

View the ad here.

View Pete Sessions’ inhumane voting record here.

Media Contact:Sarah Barnett sbarnett@hslf.org 240-654-7544

###

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.

Unprecedented move by world’s 2nd largest beauty brand hailed as “beginning of the end for cruel cosmetics”

WASHINGTON (October 9, 2018)—Personal care giant Unilever has announced its support for the #BeCrueltyFree campaign to end animal testing for cosmetics across the globe within five years. Humane Society International, the Humane Society of the United States and the Humane Society Legislative Fund lead the #BeCrueltyFree campaign. Unilever’s support includes an ambitious new collaboration aimed at accelerating regulatory acceptance of modern, non-animal approaches to consumer safety assessment.

Unilever, known for such popular brands as Dove, Degree and TRESemmé, is the second largest beauty company globally and the first among the sector’s top 10 to actively support legislative reform to prohibit animal testing for cosmetics. The organizations hope that this new collaboration will accelerate policy change in the cosmetics sector globally toward a shared goal of animal testing bans in 50 major beauty markets worldwide by 2023.

HSUS Vice President for Animal Research Issues Kathleen Conlee said: “We commend Unilever for making this commitment to ending cosmetic animal testing once and for all. We look forward to working with them to stop this unnecessary cruelty in the United States and across the globe and urge all cosmetics companies to join us in making cosmetic animal testing a thing of the past.”

“This is a tipping point in the fight to finally ban new animal testing of cosmetics and their ingredients and we applaud Unilever for throwing their weight behind this legislation in the U.S. and beyond,” said Sara Amundson, president of the Humane Society Legislative Fund. “We have been working decades for this moment which will end this use of hundreds of thousands of animals worldwide and we urge other companies to join Unilever in this quest.”

The new collaboration will include:

• Unilever’s support for passage of the U.S. Humane Cosmetics Act (H.R. 2790), which would prohibit both domestic animal testing for cosmetics as well as the sale of cosmetics that have undergone any form of new animal testing after the ban comes into effect, consistent with the precedent established in the European Union.
• Launch of a multi-year, open collaboration to develop capability across companies and regulatory authorities so safety decisions for cosmetics are based exclusively on non-animal approaches. Investment in the training of our future safety scientists in non-animal “next generation” risk assessments to build capability for the long-term.
• Unilever Chief Research and Development Officer David Blanchard added: “We are delighted to collaborate with the Humane Society family of organizations to bring the era of cosmetic animal testing to an end, and would welcome other companies, regulators, and other interested stakeholders that want to join this important initiative.”

HSI Vice President for Research & Toxicology Troy Seidle said: “Every company will tell you it supports alternatives to animal testing for cosmetics, but Unilever is the first of the beauty giants to throw its weight behind banning it altogether. With hundreds of thousands of animals still used in toxicity tests for cosmetic purposes each year around the world, Unilever is to be commended for standing with us to end this cruelty once and for all. We urge other large beauty brands to follow this example and join us on the right side of history.”

Across the globe, lawmakers in 37 countries so far have already enacted legislation to fully or partially ban animal testing for cosmetics. HSI played a key role in securing enactment of the final phase of the EU ban in 2013, and in subsequent victories in India, Taiwan, New Zealand, South Korea, Guatemala, and seven states in Brazil. Today HSI and its partners are driving forward legislative efforts in Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Mexico, the Philippines, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, and in the United States via HSUS and HSLF.

Last month, California became the first state in the United States to prohibit the sale of animal-tested cosmetics. As the world’s fifth largest economy, California’s decision to remove animal-tested cosmetics from its store shelves will no doubt have a huge impact and highlights the need and urgency for Congress to pass the Humane Cosmetics Act, federal legislation that would end the production and sale of animal-tested cosmetics in the United States.

Animal tests carried out in the cosmetics sector include eye and skin irritation experiments, in which a cosmetic product or ingredient is rubbed onto the shaved skin or dripped into the eyes of rabbits; skin allergy tests using guinea pigs or mice; and force-feeding studies lasting weeks or months. These tests inflict considerable pain and distress, which can include blindness, swollen eyes, sore bleeding skin, internal bleeding, organ damage, convulsions and death. Pain relief is seldom if ever provided, and at the end of a test the animals are killed, normally by asphyxiation, neck-breaking or decapitation.

• Unilever's press release is here.
• Unilever’s position on alternative approaches to animal testing (October 2018) is available here.

Media Contact:  Humane Society International: Nancy Hwa, 202-676-2337 (o), 202-596-0808 (c), nhwa@hsi.org

##

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.

The Humane Society of the United States is the nation’s largest animal protection organization, rated the most effective by its peers. Since 1954, The HSUS has been fighting for the protection of all animals through advocacy, education and hands-on programs. We rescue and care for tens of thousands of animals each year, but our primary mission is to prevent cruelty before it occurs. We're there for all animals, across America and around the world. Celebrating animals and confronting cruelty—on the Web at humanesociety.org. Subscribe to the blog, A Humane Nation. Join The HSUS on Facebook. Follow The HSUS on Twitter. See our work for animals on your Apple or Android device by searching for our “Humane TV” app.

Humane Society International and its partner organizations together constitute one of the world’s largest animal protection organizations. For 25 years, HSI has been working for the protection of all animals through the use of science, advocacy, education and hands on programmes. Celebrating animals and confronting cruelty worldwide—on the Web at hsi.org.

WASHINGTON (October 9, 2018)—Today the Humane Society Legislative Fund, the nation’s leading political advocacy organization for animal welfare, announced its endorsement of Gov. Phil Bredesen of Tennessee for election to the U.S. Senate.

Gov. Bredesen has long been a proponent of animal protection in Tennessee, and has pledged to continue this mission in the U.S. Senate. As governor, Bredesen signed H.B. 386 into law, mandating basic humane care standards for dogs kept by commercial breeders, and requiring these facilities to operate as legitimate businesses, subject to licensure and inspection. In 1999, as mayor of Nashville, he issued an executive order establishing the Mayor’s Advisory Board on Animal Control. The members of this advisory board recommended policy changes to maximize adoptions and govern animal control in the city, while increasing communication and coordination between groups that help animals.

"Phil Bredesen will be an effective voice for animals on behalf of the Tennesseans who love them," said Sara Amundson, president of the Humane Society Legislative Fund. "The Humane Society Legislative Fund is pleased to announce our support, and we encourage voters to back his election to the U.S. Senate."

In a stark contrast to Bredesen’s proven record of animal protection, his opponent Rep. Marsha Blackburn has repeatedly supported legislation that enables cruelty to animals. She blocked efforts to strengthen the federal law against the cruel practice of “soring” Tennessee Walking show horses—using caustic chemicals and other painful substances to injure the horses’ hooves and legs, thereby inducing a high-stepping gait. She supported an amendment to H.R. 3354 that allows hunters to kill defenseless hibernating mother bears and cubs in Alaska for sport alone. Blackburn also failed to support common sense measures to crack down on puppy mills, protect horses from slaughter for human consumption overseas, or protect women and pets from domestic violence.

For those in Tennessee who value the humane treatment of animals, this election carries high stakes. The Humane Society Legislative Fund encourages them to choose Phil Bredesen.

Media Contact: press@hslf.org

###

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.