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Driving to work this morning, I heard the sad news that Congressman Tom Lantos (D-Calif.) had passed away from esophageal cancer. While Lantos will be remembered for many things—as an extraordinary public servant, as the only Holocaust survivor to serve as member of Congress, and as the powerful chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, to name a few—I will remember him as an extraordinary leader for the cause of animal protection.

Next Wednesday, lawmakers at 23 state capitols will get a visit from animal advocates.  Thousands of citizens across the country who care about animal protection will participate in our 2008 Humane Lobby Day, and will ask their own legislators to support bills dealing with dogfighting, pets in disasters, Internet hunting, fur labeling, and other important policy reforms.

Today, The Washington Post reported that Maryland state Delegate Tom Hucker (D-Montgomery County) is introducing a bill to require the labeling of fur garments, in response to rampant deception in the fur-trimmed apparel industry.  The Speaker of the House and the Chairman of the Economic Matters Committee both commented favorably on the reform, sending a signal that enactment of this important policy to protect animals and inform consumers is within our reach.

The dairy cow slaughter plant scandal grows. More than 150 school districts across the country have stopped serving beef from the Westland slaughter plant , in response to an HSUS investigation.

The shocking investigation into farm animal cruelty at a California meat packing plant that supplies the nation’s school lunch program continued to have ripple effects on Capitol Hill and around the country. Senator Tom Harkin (D-Iowa), Chairman of the Agriculture Committee, called for quick action and asked the USDA to investigate fully.

Humane advocates have argued for years that the slaughtering of
“downed” animals—those who are too sick or injured to walk on their own
to slaughter—should be banned.  There was another five-alarm call
Wednesday, when The Humane Society of the United States released the results of an undercover investigation
revealing that slaughter plant workers routinely tormented downed dairy
cows in an attempt to get them to stand up—kicking them, jabbing them

Last week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a new report tracing a recent outbreak of Salmonella to the illegal sale of tiny pet turtles. Since May, at least 47 people across the country have become ill after handling turtles. Children had to be hospitalized with symptoms such as bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramps, fever, and vomiting. 

On Wednesday, I traveled to Hartford and presented two Humane State Legislator Awards to Reps.

The primary season is in full swing, but we may have to wait for months before the question on everyone’s mind will be answered: Will a dog or cat occupy the White House? Could it be Seamus, Jet, Sonic, Sam, Coco, or Oreo?