President-elect Barack Obama announced two more Cabinet appointments today—perhaps the two most eagerly awaited appointments for animal advocates because of their relevance to the protection of domestic animals and wildlife. We congratulate former Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack, the next Secretary of Agriculture, and U.S. Sen. Ken Salazar of Colorado, the next Secretary of the Interior, who were both named earlier today.
Last week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Office of Inspector General released its long-awaited audit of slaughter practices and procedures, launched after The Humane Society of the United States uncovered rampant cruelty to sick and crippled cows at the Hallmark/Westland meat packing plant in Chino, Calif., earlier this year.
The current economic crisis is taking its toll on animals of all kinds, as pets are evicted from foreclosed homes, livestock are abandoned to starvation, and there’s even a proposed tax on veterinary care. But for some animals, the money crunch has come to their rescue.
President-elect Barack Obama’s Cabinet is taking shape, and about half of the top jobs have now been filled. The positions likely to come next, such as Secretary of Agriculture and Secretary of the Interior, will have the most direct impact on animal welfare. And there’s talk that Interior and other environmental posts may be announced this week.
In the waning days of the Bush administration, there is much speculation over whether high-profile convicts—like former Cheney chief of staff Lewis “Scooter” Libby and former Rep. Randy “Duke” Cunningham (R-Calif.)—will receive presidential pardons. But the lame-duck tradition of granting pardons and commuting prison sentences has already begun, and some of the first beneficiaries are poachers who committed federal wildlife crimes.
I led a press conference this morning, packed with television cameras at The Humane Society of the United States’ headquarters in Washington, D.C., to announce the results of a new eight-month investigation into puppy mill cruelty.
The current economic crisis has impacted many aspects of our lives, and pets are no exception. Pet food and regular veterinary care are necessities, not luxuries, for the companion animals in our lives, and we can’t skimp on these costs without jeopardizing the health and safety of our pets. Animal shelters are filling up with dogs and cats who were abandoned or relinquished when their families lost their homes due to foreclosures.
President-elect Barack Obama has eleven weeks between the election and inauguration to pick his Cabinet and key White House personnel. If history is any guide, the first few appointments are likely to be high-profile posts such as Secretary of State and Attorney General, while those that most directly affect animal welfare—Secretaries of Agriculture and the Interior—won’t come until week six or later.
