September 30, 2009
Accomplishments in 2006
Here are some of the highlights of our work in 2006:
Smithfield announces phase-out of gestation crates for sows
We led the drive for an Arizona ballot initiative (Proposition 204) that resulted in 62 percent of voters approving a ban on sow gestation crates and veal calf crates. Smithfield Foods, the world’s biggest pig producer, quickly announced it would phase out the use of the crates for its 1.2 million breeding sows after the vote. Maple Leaf Foods, Canada’s largest pig producer, followed Smithfield’s lead.
More than 150 colleges, universities, and companies go cage-free
More than 150 colleges and universities—plus major companies including Whole Foods Market, Trader Joe’s, Ben & Jerry’s, and Bon Appétit’s 400 cafes—eliminated the use or greatly reduced the sale of battery-cage eggs. Corporate cafeterias at major corporations such as Yahoo, Oracle and AOL also implemented cage-free egg policies.
New York foie gras producer sued
The HSUS sued the state of New York to block more than $400,000 in public funds it awarded to the Hudson Valley company, the nation’s largest foie gras producer.
New Animal Protection Litigation team created
We created a new HSUS Animal Protection Litigation (APL) SWAT team consisting of 12 full-time attorneys and recruited hundreds of pro bono lawyers.
Legal wins
Our attorneys forced the USDA to mandate food and rest for livestock in long distance transportation; halted lethal research on Steller sea lions; blocked the opening of national wildlife refuges to sport hunting and closed two major cockfighting pits in Louisiana. A ban on captive or “canned” hunting in Oregon was secured; a massive Pennsylvania pigeon shoot halted, and the killing of wolves in several states prevented.
Humane Society Legislative Fund swings into action
The newly established Humane Society Legislative Fund began lobbying on Capitol Hill to secure legislation, support animal friendly Congressional candidates for office, and educate the public.
Doris Day Animal League merges with The HSUS
The Doris Day Animal League joined The HSUS family, bringing special expertise and long experience in fighting greyhound racing cruelty, animal testing of household products and cosmetics, and disaster relief.
Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards Act victory
As part of our post-Katrina campaign, we led the fight in Congress to achieve passage of the Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards Act to ensure adequate planning for moving companion animals out of harm’s way.
69 new state laws passed to protect animals
We helped pass 69 new laws in state legislatures, winning measures to protect pets during disasters in 10 states, strengthening animal fighting penalties, protecting wildlife, and other much-needed reforms.
Rural vet services program gives 31,000 free treatments to animals
Our Rural Area Veterinary Services program provided more than 31,000 free treatments to animals worth more than $1.1 million.
Dove hunting ban sticks in Michigan
In a major victory, nearly 70 percent of Michigan voters rejected a proposal on the November ballot to reopen the state to mourning dove hunting. It was a stinging defeat for the National Rifle Association, the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance, and Safari Club International who backed the measure.
Tax-code loophole closed to big game hunters
Our two-year investigation of a trophy hunting tax scam in which big game hunters financed their safaris with federal dollars resulted in Congress closing a loophole in the tax code, saving $49 million in public funds.
Routine mislabeling of fur exposed
Laboratory testing of fur trimmed jackets sold by some of the biggest names in fashion earned national publicity by revealing that much of the unlabeled or misrepresented fur was from raccoon dogs, a species mostly killed in China where live skinning has been documented.
Thousands sign on to Canadian seafood boycott
In our campaign to stop the merciless killing of seal pups in Canada, we secured pledges from more than 1,000 restaurants and grocery stores and 300,000 individuals not to sell or consume Canadian seafood.
Major Japanese whaling operation shuts down; product sales reduced
Humane Society International, in its continuing fight against Japanese whaling, successfully pressured a major Japanese company to end its whaling related operations and its parent company, one of the country’s biggest whale meat distributors, to get out of the business.
We also convinced the Japanese company that owns 7-Eleven to stop selling whale, dolphin, and porpoise products in its 1,300 stores. Our continued work with these and other Japanese supermarkets has reduced cetacean product sales by at least $6 million.
