(May 14, 2009)—Citing his leadership and support of animal protection policies, the Humane Society Legislative Fund announced Thursday its endorsement of Gil Cedillo in the special Democratic primary election for California's 32nd District.

“Gil Cedillo is a friend of animal welfare and has a long history of supporting bills to protect pets, wildlife and farm animals from cruelty and abuse,” said Michael Markarian, president of the Humane Society Legislative Fund. “In order to pass humane laws, we need to elect humane lawmakers. Voters in the 32nd District who care about animal welfare should support Gil Cedillo for Congress.”

Throughout his ten years in the California State Assembly and State Senate, Cedillo voted in favor of legislation to:

• Strengthen the law against the slaughter of "downed" animals too sick or injured to stand or walk.
• Ban the use of toxic lead ammo in the habitat of the critically endangered California condor.
• Prohibit the chaining of dogs for long periods of time.
• Provide humane standards of care for animals sold in pet stores.
• Stop the declawing of wild cats kept as exotic pets.
• Require the addition of a bittering agent to antifreeze and engine coolant to prevent animals from being poisoned.
• Prohibit the use of animals in product testing if a scientifically valid alternative exists.
• Upgrade the state law to help law enforcement agencies combat illegal cockfighting.

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Media contact: Heather Sullivan: 301-548-7778, hsullivan@hslf.org

The Humane Society Legislative Fund is a social welfare organization incorporated under section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code and formed in 2004 as a separate lobbying affiliate of The Humane Society of the United States. The HSLF works to pass animal protection laws at the state and federal level, to educate the public about animal protection issues, and to support humane candidates for office. On the web at www.hslf.org.

HSLF is a nonpartisan organization that evaluates candidates based only on a single criterion: where they stand on animal welfare. HSLF does not judge candidates based on party affiliation or any other issue.

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