SUMMIT OF HUMANE LEADERS CONVENES IN SAN FRANCISCO TO URGE YES! ON PROP 2

SAN FRANCISCO – In the final days of the election season, the city of St. Francis—named “America’s Most Humane City” in 2007 by The Humane Society of the United States—will play host on THURSDAY, OCTOBER 30 to leaders of animal protection organizations from the Bay Area and beyond in support of the YES! on Prop 2 campaign to stop animal cruelty. Leaders will gather at The San Francisco SPCA’s Adoption Center and will fan out across the city to spread the message about the importance of passing Prop 2, a modest measure on the November ballot that will simply give farm animals enough room to stand up, turn around and stretch their limbs.

“Animal lovers know that we would never force our dogs, cats or other pets to live in cramped and filthy cages barely larger than their bodies for their whole lives, and that we shouldn’t force these inhumane conditions on pigs, veal calves or egg laying hens, either,” said Jan McHugh-Smith of The San Francisco SPCA.

Bay Area residents and leaders are particularly supportive of Prop 2, including the City and County of San Francisco, the City of Berkeley, Mayor Gavin Newsom, US Representative Barbara Lee, former US Representative John Burton, state senator Carole Migden and Assemblymembers Mark Leno and Loni Hancock. Prop 2 is supported by Bay Area farmers and farming organizations like Bill Niman and GreenLeaf. Dozens of Bay Area veterinarians have endorsed Prop 2, among a list that includes nearly 700 individual veterinarians statewide.

“Voters have an opportunity to stop animal cruelty on November 4th by voting YES! on Prop 2,” said Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of The Humane Society of the United States. “All animals, including those raised for food, deserve humane treatment.”

WHO:

Leaders of The San Francisco SPCA, The Humane Society of the United States, the ASPCA, the State Humane Association of California, the Sacramento SPCA, Oakland Animal Services, Marin Humane Society, the Animal Legal Defense Fund, Farm Sanctuary, Animals and Society Institute, Action for Animals, Animals Switchboard, Animal Place, League of Humane Voters. Also, Dr. Kate Hurley, Professor of Veterinary Medicine, UC Davis (title and affiliation for identification purposes only), San Francisco school board member and District 1 supervisor candidate Eric Mar and his daughter Jade, and endorsing San Francisco veterinarians.