HSUS Year-end news

[Guest guest]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 31, 1999

 

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Karen L. Allanach: (301) 548-7778

Rachel Querry: (301) 258-8255

 

ANIMAL PROTECTION CELEBRATES WINS, SUFFERS LOSSES IN 1999

 

At the end of the century, federal protection for some marine mammals weakened

while sea turtles helped to raise awareness about international trade. Some

states made strides on animal cruelty issues, reflected in positive legislation

and judicial response, while animal issues on the whole continue to establish a

growing presence in national and international debate, according to The Humane

Society of the United States, the nation’s largest animal protection

organization.

 

“The 20th Century has brought tremendous advances in animal protection,” said

Wayne Pacelle, a senior vice president with The HSUS. “There are many challenges

and disturbing trends ahead, but we’re encouraged by the growing number of

people who are actively working in communities across the nation for animal

protection,” he said.

 

Highlights and low points in 1999 include:

 

* Dog & Cat Fur Exposed, State And Federal Legislation Introduced Virginia and

Oregon passed bills in 1999 to prohibit the sale of products made of dog and cat

fur.

 

This came on the heels of an HSUS investigation revealed in December 1998,

http://www.hsus.org/current/dc_fur/title.html about the international cat and

dog fur trade that resulted in such coats and outerwear available for sale in

U.S. retail shops. The HSUS followed up with a second investigation in 1999 that

exposed the cat and dog fur figurine trade, and named national retailers

carrying the products. Federal legislation to ban dog and cat fur in the U.S.

has been introduced to Congress and is expected to be voted on this spring.

 

* Advances Against Animal Fighting

Federal legislation to combat cockfighting was introduced and gained support

from more than 200 sponsors in the U.S. House and Senate.The HSUS teamed with

professional wrestler Bill Goldberg to condemn animal fighting. Goldberg has

been a leader in speaking out against cockfighting, and 105,000 Oklahomans

agreed with him to end this cruel practice by signing a petition to put the

issue to a vote during the 2000 elections. In July, a Galt, Calif. man was

sentenced seven years in state prison for running an illegal dogfighting

operation. Cesar Cerda was sentenced by a Sacramento Superior Court judge in

exchange for a no-contest plea to 63 felony counts related to dogfighting and

other charges. This was the stiffest sentence to date for dogfighting, setting

precedence for other courts to follow.

 

* Evolutionary Fur Hits the Runway

In October, famed designer Oleg Cassini unveiled his line of faux furs at a gala

hosted by talk show host Montel Williams. The event raised close to $300,000 to

benefit The HSUS.

 

* Foie Gras Event Foiled at Smithsonian

Bowing to pressure from The HSUS, the Smithsonian Institution canceled its “Foie

Gras: A Gourmet’s Passion,” event scheduled for September. HSUS President Paul

Irwin publicly urged the Smithsonian to cancel the program because of the

inhumane treatment of animals associated with producing foie gras, which is made

from the fattened livers of geese and ducks.

 

* Whale Killing Condemned

The HSUS condemned the Makah Indian hunters for killing a gray whale in the

waters off Neah Bay, Wash. in May. Makah representatives sought for years to

resume a centuries-old Indian tradition that ended in the 1920s when gray whales

were near extinction from commercial hunting. The harpooned whale sank in

100-foot deep waters and the Makah were forced to call upon several large

commercial fishing boats to raise the body to the surface.

 

* In Aftermath Of Natural Disasters, The HSUS Responds

The HSUS was instrumental in organizing animal rescue efforts in the aftermath

of natural disasters including Hurricane Floyd and a tornado in Oklahoma. The

HSUS established Lost Pet Locators, photo indexes of rescued pets, to make it

easier for people to find their lost pet or for individuals and families to

adopt a pet in need of a home.

 

* Changes In Animal Testing

The HSUS helped to pressure the Environmental Protection Agency into making

major changes in its High Production Volume chemical testing program in order to

address serious animal protection concerns about this massive animal testing

scheme. Also, The HSUS’s active outreach to the scientific community has made

relieving the pain and distress of research animals a central issue in

laboratory animal welfare.

 

* President Clinton Bans Crush Videos

In December, a federal law passed that prohibits interstate commerce and

commercial gain from distribution of “crush videos” that depict animal torture.

The bill, which passed quickly through the House and Senate, bans the videos in

which animals are tortured and slowly crushed to death by scantily clad women

for the sexual gratification of viewers.

 

* Premarin Alternative Approved

The Food and Drug Administration approved Cenestin, a plant-based estrogen

replacement virtually identical to Premarin, the popular drug made from the

urine of pregnant mares. This humane alternative is one of many options

available to women considering hormone replacement therapy.

 

* State Wrap Up

Four states (New Mexico, Maryland, Maine, Virginia and Nevada) enacted state

laws to allow the courts to order psychological counseling for animal abusers,

while California mandates such counseling. Oregon’s Fish and Wildlife Commission

passed the nation’s strongest anti-canned hunting provision. Tennessee,

Louisiana and North Carolina enacted animal-friendly vehicle license plate

programs to benefit spay and neuter efforts.

 

* Sea Turtles Surface At WTO

Animal protection issues were championed by The HSUS during peaceful protests at

the often turbulent gathering of the World Trade Organization in December in

Seattle. Volunteers donned in HSUS sea turtle costumes were a visible staple of

the international trade conference that drew thousands of protestors from

environmental, animal and labor organizations.

 

* Dolphin Safety Compromised

The U.S. Secretary of Commerce weakened standards for the “Dolphin Safe” label

on American tuna cans, allowing tuna caught while chasing and netting dolphins

to be labeled the same as tuna caught with protective methods for dolphins. The

HSUS with the Earth Island Institute and others filed a lawsuit seeking to

preserve dolphin protection and “Dolphin Safe” standards for tuna labels.

 

* More Land For Wildlife

The Wildlife Land Trust accepted 10,208 acres for permanent protection in 1999.

In the U.S., the Trust added 334 acres of land in six states. Internationally,

the Trust entered into a conservation easement-like agreement to establish

sanctuary protection protocols for 9,554 acres within the Golden Stream Corridor

Preserve in Southern Belize. The Trust also received a donation of title to 320

acres in Northern Ontario, Canada. In 1999 an additional 7,173 acres were

brought to the Trust’s attention and 10,334 acres are currently being evaluated

for protection. The five-year-old Trust now protects 56,586 acres in 19 states

and three foreign countries.

 

* HSI Educational Efforts Touch Countries Around The Globe In 1999, Humane

Society International continued to work to reduce the suffering of companion

animals in developing countries through spay/neuter initiatives, training in

humane handling, and control techniques was carried out in successful training

programs and workshops in the Bahamas, Romania, South Africa and Taiwan.

 

 

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