We are excited this week to celebrate the incredible heroes fighting to save animals facing extinction. So far we have applauded the work of Mary Rice of the Environmental Investigation Agency, Dr. Sam Wasser, Director of the Center for Conservation Biology at the University of Washington and Taylor Hoang, a great local community leader and Executive Director of the Ethnic Business Coalition.
The Humane Society of the United States is an incredible organization of heroes fighting to save animals facing extinction. From New Jersey to California, from New York to Washington, The Humane Society is organizing efforts to pass bans on products made from elephants and other threatened species. In Washington, Jennifer Hillman, Managing Director for Grassroots Outreach and Engagement for The Humane Society of the United States, was one of the original signers of Initiative 1401 to save animals facing extinction.
Jennifer Hillman, as an author of the Yes On I-1401 Voters’ Guide Statement, wrote:
“The scale of the poaching crisis is immense. In one recent case, poachers poisoned a watering hole with cyanide, killing 300 elephants at once. Every fifteen minutes, on average, poachers kill another elephant for black-market ivory – sometimes even sawing off the animal’s tusks while it’s still alive. By penalizing those who traffic in these and other illegal animal products, I-1401 will help put an end to such cruelty and save these iconic animals from extinction.”
Jennifer has worked for and served as a volunteer board member for several Washington based animal organizations including the Progressive Animal Welfare Society (PAWS), the Feral Cat Spay/Neuter Project and the Northwest Animal Rights Network. Jennifer began working for The Humane Society of the United States in 2004 to protect Washington State wildlife laws passed by initiative from being overturned in the legislature. She successfully won the passage of several state bills including the nation’s strongest ban on exotic pet ownership, an increase in penalties for animal fighting and a bill to crack down on puppy mills. Following many successful leadership efforts to pass citizen initiatives to protect animals, in 2011 Jennifer was the campaign manager for I-1130 in Washington, leading to the introduction of the Federal Egg Products Inspection Act.
In addition to her daily work in Washington State and across the country to build momentum to pass I-1401 this November, Jennifer is also representing the campaign as a community spokesperson. Most notably, Jennifer spoke for Yes On I-1401 for the TVW Video Voters’ Guide, which you can watch HERE.
Please join us in celebrating Jennifer Hillman’s leadership to save animals facing extinction and remember that you too can make a difference this election by filling out your ballot in support of Initiative 1401!
