Uncategorized /
Birds, Blood, and Bribes
It’s no secret that Virginia was a hotbed of illegal cockfighting until the one-two punch of felony laws passed by the U.S. Congress in 2007 and the Virginia General Assembly in 2008 started to push cockfighters out of the Commonwealth.
Ballot Measures /
Making Sense of the Muckslinging
The Agribusiness Big Shots opposing Proposition 2 are spewing out so much manure that it’s hard to keep up on this blog alone. And I don’t just mean the literal manure which is illegally dumped into local water supplies, and which is piling up to give their neighbors sore throats, headaches, and respiratory problems.
Ballot Measures /
Doctor, Doctor, Give Me the Truth
The battle of the airwaves is gaining pitch in California over Proposition 2—the groundbreaking measure to give farm animals a little relief from cruel confinement. But it’s always good to know a little bit about the people who are telling you how to vote.
Elections /
Joe Must Go
I led a press conference and spoke to a group of volunteers in Bloomfield Hills, Mich., this morning, announcing that the Humane Society Legislative Fund today launched a new TV ad opposing the reelection of Republican Congressman Joe Knollenberg in Michigan’s 9th District.
Uncategorized /
Rescue Ratchet
Army Sgt. Gwen Beberg of Minneapolis is ready to return home from duty, but she was hoping she wouldn’t be heading back alone. While serving in Iraq, Beberg had befriended and adopted a stray puppy named Ratchet. But the military snatched Ratchet before the pup could reach the Baghdad International Airport to catch a flight bound for the United States.
Uncategorized /
Scoring our Lawmakers on their Support for Animal Protection
The Humane Society Legislative Fund today posted a preview of its 2008 Humane Scorecard. The scorecard, which is published annually, provides the records of U.S. Senators and U.S. Representatives on major animal welfare policies. This most recent report card covers 2007-2008, the two-year span of the 110th Congress.
Ballot Measures /
Vote "Yesh!" on Prop 2
If you open your daily newspaper this coming week, chances are you will be greeted with a message of compassion for farm animals. That’s because Patrick McDonnell, the creator of the comic strip MUTTS, has dedicated a full week beginning this Sunday to the theme of protecting farm animals from cruelty.
Ballot Measures /
The Ballot Measure That's Fit to Endorse
A few months back, The New York Times columnist Nicholas D. Kristof called California’s Proposition 2 “the most important election this November that you’ve never heard of.” And now, the full editorial board of the newspaper of record is doing its part to make sure as many people as possible do hear about Prop 2. It’s certainly a rare move for a national newspaper to weigh in on a state election occurring on the opposite coast, underscoring the significance of Prop 2 for the entire country.
Uncategorized /
Million Mutt March
One of my favorite places in Washington, D.C., is the National Mall, with its monuments and museums, its natural beauty and historical significance. It was even better than usual on Sunday, when I joined animal lovers and their dogs at the 2008 Humane Society Walk for the Animals.
Ballot Measures /
The Best Medicine on TV
The YES! on Prop 2 campaign launched two new television ads this week in California, showing voters statewide the cruelties of factory farming. The ads are narrated by two California veterinarians—Dr. Kate Hurley, professor at the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, and Dr. Jeff Smith, past president of the California Veterinary Medical Association—telling voters that all animals deserve humane treatment, including those raised for food.
Elections, Talk Back /
Talk Back: Obama Endorsement Draws Big Response
Ever since the Humane Society Legislative Fund announced our endorsement of Barack Obama, our inbox has been full with emails from members on the issue. Many of you appreciated the information about the candidates’ records so you can share it with the animal lovers among your friends and family. Some lifelong Republicans are even crossing party lines for the first time to support the candidate who is better on animal issues.
Ballot Measures /
In Their Opinion, Prop 2 is a No-Brainer
The Santa Cruz Sentinel today became the latest California newspaper to endorse a vote of YES! on Proposition 2. While some other newspaper editorial writers fell for the scare tactics of Big Agribusiness on Prop 2, plenty of opinion leaders have taken a thoughtful and careful look at the measure and have come down on the side of protecting animals and food safety. I’d like to share with you some of the best excerpts from the editorials that have appeared so far in the campaign.
