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Partying to Put an End to Puppy Mill Abuse

April 20, 2009

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HSLF executive director Sara Amundson (center) attended veteran hosts Bryan and Carla Wilson's party in Florida in Winter Park, Fl..

More than 40 states were represented and more than 100 parties were held nationwide as animal advocates from all across the United States gathered at the Humane Society Legislative Fund's Party Animals events April 19 to learn what they can do to help put an end to the cruel and inhumane puppy mill industry.

Puppy mills are facilities that mass-produce puppies for sale in pet stores, over the Internet, and directly to the public. Dogs are stacked in filthy wire cages, often with no veterinary care or human interaction, and they are treated not like pets but like a cash crop. Mother dogs are constantly bred and kept in continuous confinement. They are destroyed or discarded when they can no longer churn out puppies.

HSLF president Michael Markarian led the call from HSLF headquarters in Washington, DC. Markarian was joined on the call by HSLF's executive director, Sara Amundson, and congressmen Sam Farr (D-Calif.) and Jim Gerlach (R-Pa.), two of the leading advocates in Congress for putting an end to puppy mills.

Amundson joined in on the nationwide conference call from a party hosted by Bryan and Carla Wilson in Winter Park, FL. The Wilson's are nine-time Party Animals hosts, showing their true dedication over the years to helping animals of all shapes and sizes. 

But on this night, the focus was on puppies, an issue that Amundson has been working on tirelessly for two decades.

"We feel there is a new energy around this issue, and it's really our time to ensure that through our legislative advocacy and our other activity, we're showing the world this scourge called puppy mills and ensuring there is an end," said Amundson.

The momentum toward ending the cruel puppy mill industry has been building with increased speed of late, a point that Markarian emphasized as he talked about recent raids and the nearly three-dozen state legislatures that have taken up puppy mill legislation so far this year.

"There has really been a tidal wave of activity," said Markarian "In the last six months alone, there have been nine raids on puppy mills [nationwide]. Hundreds and hundreds of dogs have been rescued from these terrible factory farms and have been placed in new, loving homes.

"We really feel the time is right for public policy reforms. Not just to rescue dogs from these terrible situations, but to make sure that they don't end up in these circumstances. We've been going state by state and working hard in Congress to try to address these abuses."

Animal advocates then heard from two of the most ardent opponents of puppy mills, Congressmen Farr and Gerlach. Throughout their careers, Reps. Farr and Gerlach have been leaders of animal protection legislation in Congress, particularly the issue of stopping puppy mill cruelty. They are currently preparing to reintroduce the Puppy Uniform Protection and Safety (PUPS) Act in the 111th Congress, which would provide basic animal care standards for large-scale production facilities that sell puppies over the Internet and directly to the public, who currently escape any federal oversight. It would also require that all dogs at puppy mills get out of their cages for exercise at least 60 minutes a day.

The Party Animals team of Colleen Crinion, Jessica Feingold-Lieberson and Mary at the DC party.

Rep. Farr spoke about the need for a universal statute to curb puppy mill abuse, in part to help close the loophole in current federal law that allows internet sellers to operate freely.

"It's absolutely essential that we have a uniform protection. We've found with the internet a whole new technology for people being able to advertise and sell over the internet," said Farr. "We need to close that, and that's what [the PUPS Act] will do."

Rep. Gerlach, calling from his home state of Pennsylvania -- known to some as the puppy mill capital of the east -- reminded animal advocates that the ball is in their court.

"Now is the time for all of you that are out there around the country to give a call to your member of Congress [and ask them to cosponsor the PUPS Act]," said Gerlach. "There is nothing more important than citizen advocacy, and you all are very important in this process to get good legislation passed."

Following the congressmen's remarks, Markarian noted that both representatives are members of the newly formed Congressional Animal Protection Caucus, a bipartisan caucus in Congress comprised of members who are joining together to make a meaningful difference in animal protection.

Markarian summed up the purpose of this latest round of Party Animals house parties best when he told everyone on the call, "We know that we can do better for man's best friend."

Animal Advocates Gather for the Humane Bloc Party

October 19, 2008

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Animal advocates Liz Pardue, Jessica Lieberson, Jeff Lieberson and Janet Pardue at HSLF's offices on Capitol Hill.

Animal advocates from all across the United States gathered at the Humane Society Legislative Fund's Party Animals events October 19 to learn how they can effectively come together to form a "Humane Voting Bloc" to give animals a voice in the voting booth this November.

HSLF President Michael Markarian led the call from a party in Michigan's 9th Congressional District, where HSLF has been focused on defeating Congressman Joe Knollenberg, one of the worst enemies of animal welfare on Capitol Hill. Markarian was joined in Michigan by HSLF's executive director, Sara Amundson, and political director, Richard Patch, who were on the ground with volunteers from all across Michigan to help spread the word about Joe Knollenberg's terrible record.

Markarian opened the call by reminding animal advocates of a statewide ballot initiative in California which seeks to curb some of the worst abuses in agribusiness. Voters in the Golden State will have the opportunity to stop cruel and inhumane treatment of animals on industrial factory farms by passing Prop 2.

California voters will be asked whether animals should be given basic humane treatment, or should spend nearly their entire lives in cages so small they can’t even turn around and stretch their limbs. Veal calves are chained by the neck, pigs are kept in metal cages barely larger than their bodies, hens have less space than a letter-sized sheet of paper. Voting "Yes" on the Prevention of Farm Animal Cruelty Act will help protect animals from such extreme abuse.

Markarian then shifted the focus from ballot measures toward HSLF's goals of helping to elect humane legislators this election season.

"The stakes are so high for animals all over the country [this election season]", said Markarian. "We can never pass humane laws unless we elect humane lawmakers. We need to get the right people elected to federal and state office who are going to advocate for animal protection and who are going to vote on the side of the animals."

The presidential contest was among the races Markarian highlighted as he discussed the reasons behind HSLF's endorsement of the Obama-Biden ticket on Nov. 4.

Kelley Dupps shows off her "Animal Lover, Registered Voter" bumper sticker at the DC party.

"We looked at the candidates and we looked at the records of Senator Obama and Senator McCain, and Senator Obama has been more supportive of animal issues," said Markarian. "But what really cemented our decision was John McCain's selection of Sarah Palin as his vice presidential candidate. Governor Palin, in Alaska, has perhaps the worst record on animal issues than any of the 50 governors in the United States."

Markarian outlined Palin's retrograde policies, like encouraging the shooting of wolves from helicopters and denying protections for threatened polar bears.

"It would be a real setback to have Sarah Palin in the White House."

To close out the call, animal advocates then heard from the special guest for the Humane Bloc Party, cartoonist and comedian Dan Piraro, the creator of the "Bizarro" cartoon strip and a strong voice for animal protection and the humane treatment of all animals.

Piraro's nationally syndicated cartoon strip often highlights issues of animal protection, and his advice to animal advocates on the call in advance of Election Day was pretty straightforward: "Obviously, we know what we have to do. We have to vote."

Animal Advocates Stand Up for Farm Animals

April 28, 2008

Animal advocates in Washington, DC, gathered at HSLF's offices on Capitol Hill.

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More than 1,000 animal advocates in 43 states and the District of Columbia gathered at the Humane Society Legislative Fund's Party Animals events April 27 to show support for farm animals and to lend crucial backing to other pro-animal legislative efforts.

Leading the conversation was HSLF President Michael Markarian, who opened the nationwide conference call by discussing HSLF's efforts to pass laws promoting the humane treatment of farm animals, and by highlighting the recent investigation by The Humane Society of the United States that exposed the horrific abuse of crippled cows at a California slaughter plant and led to the largest meat recall in history.

Markarian also stated his belief that 2008 will go down in history as the year that the tide turned in favor of meaningful change for farm animal welfare in the United States.

"When we look back at 2008, we're going to think of this as the year that people really started making a difference for farm animals", said Markarian. "The investigation and beef recall sparked public outrage. People thought about the connectivity between how animals are treated and how we treat ourselves.

"These animals were abused in such horrible ways, and people saw these images on TV. That this was potentially tainted and diseased meat being fed to schoolchlidren, to the elderly, to the most vulnerable populations in society; it has raised awareness of the importance of this issue, the importance of how we raise animals for food."

Congressional Action

One of the leaders in standing up for farm animals on Capitol Hill is U.S. Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-3rd/Conn.). DeLauro is a longtime animal advocate, and currently serves as chairwoman of the House Appropriations Agriculture Subcommittee and is a co-founder of the Congressional Food Safety Caucus.

"The Hallmark/Westland case was like a perfect storm," said Rep. DeLauro, one of the original co-sponsors of the Downed Animals and Food Safety Protection Act (H.R. 661). "It really crystallized the inhumane treatment of animals, the violation of the downer cow policy and downer cows becoming part of the food chain, and the potential for tainted beef making its way into the school lunch program. It leads me to the conclusion that the system is broken, and we need serious reform."

Rep. DeLauro was clearly affected by the images from the investigation, and she has introduced the Food Safety Recall Information Act (H.R. 5762) to further address the problem of downed animals.

HSLF's "Party Animals" team of Jessica Feingold, Colleen Crinion and Melinda Fox (left to right).

"I was sickened. Downed cows tormented, kicked and abused in a shameful way. There is no excuse for this kind of cruelty and inhumane treatment."

Rep. DeLauro praised the efforts of organizations like HSLF and activists who joined the nationwide call, and underscored the importance of how groups and individuals can combine their efforts to make real change for farm animals in the halls of Congress. She called on all animal advocates to take part in the National Call-In Day for Downers on May 1.

"I want you to please consider this an official solicitation: make your voices heard. Make this issue a national priority," said Rep. DeLauro. "My colleagues in the Congress listen to what their constituents say. You have to make sure that they hear you. [Tell them] that the status quo is not acceptable. That cruel treatment of our animals cannot be standard operating procedures at any plant anywhere. None of us can afford to sit on the sidelines."

From Congress to California

Animal advocates were joined on the call by "Brian," The Humane Society of the United States' undercover investigator who helped expose the inhumane treatment of cows at a California slaughter plant -- leading to the largest beef recall in the nation's history. His voice and identity were disguised, to protect his personal safety and his ability to conduct future investigations into animal cruelty.

The work that "Brian" did revealed that slaughter plant workers routinely tormented downed dairy cows in an attempt to get them to stand up -- kicking them, jabbing them in the eye, ramming them with the blades of a forklift, and abusing them in other horrifying ways.

"USDA's inspection protocols at this plant were not focused on the protection of the live cattle that arrived and, as we saw from the recall, not focused on insuring the safety of the meat supply," said "Brian." "So many of [the instances of cruel treatment] that were captured on video could have been prevented if simple steps were taken by inspectors."

One experience in particular really drove home the importance of the issue for "Brian." He told animal advocates about his final day at Hallmark, when a pregnant cow marked for slaughter gave birth that day to a calf on her way to the killing pen. Rather than allow the mother to remain with the newborn calf, the pen manager separated the two, taking the cow to slaughter and leaving the calf behind.

"At that point I knew that it would be the last day that I worked there. I had captured so many instances of abuse, and our case was finalizing, but in my head, this kind of crystallized the need for more protection to be given, and it needed to be on a federal level on a larger scale than just individual cruelty charges brought against this plant.

"To stop these abuses requires that we all become active, so that the cows that are being born now are not going to be subjected to the type of abuses that were happening at Hallmark, and could very well be happening at other plants."

A Golden State Opportunity

The focus of the call then shifted toward a statewide ballot initiative in California which seeks to curb some of the worst abuses in agribusiness. Thanks to 4,000 California volunteers who gathered hundreds of thousands of signatures, voters in the Golden State will have the opportunity to stop cruel and inhumane treatment of animals on industrial factory farms this November.

California voters will be asked whether animals should be given basic humane treatment, or should spend nearly their entire lives in cages so small they can’t even turn around and stretch their limbs. Veal calves are chained by the neck, pigs are kept in metal cages barely larger than their bodies, hens have less space than a letter-sized sheet of paper. Voting "Yes" on the Prevention of Farm Animal Cruelty Act will help protect animals from such extreme abuse.

"Public policies need to reflect society's values," said Markarian. "We need California to pass this measure in November. We'll be urging millions of California voters to vote ‘Yes’ on November 4 to prevent cruelty to farm animals.

"There are nearly 20 million animals in these crates and cages in California, and we need to stop this abuse."

Paid for by Humane Society Legislative Fund and not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee. HSLF, 519 C Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20002.

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