Michael Markarian: Animals & Politics

The Bond: On Sale Today

Today marks the release of Wayne Pacelle’s book, The Bond: Our Kinship with Animals, Our Call to Defend Them, published by William Morrow/Harper Collins. It draws on Wayne’s quarter-century of leadership in the animal welfare movement, and seeks to disentangle the contradiction between the love and celebration of animals in our society and the tolerance for businesses, enterprises and individual practices that harm pets, wildlife, and farm animals on a massive scale.

It’s also a marker of progress for animal welfare, as The Bond is one of the first major political books for animals, looking back on major political activity in the movement and calling folks to action on political advocacy for animals in the future. A quarter-century ago, the legislative activity and political organizing on behalf of animal protection had been scarce. Few groups focused on public policy issues, either at the state or federal level. Congress had passed laws such as the Humane Slaughter Act in 1958 and the Animal Welfare Act in 1966, but then had stalled on giving serious consideration to the emerging animal welfare issues of the day with few exceptions. The 1990s and 2000s, however, saw a raft of federal policies enacted dealing with animal fighting, retirement of laboratory chimps, pets in disasters, the trade in big cats, animal crush videos and more.

The ballot initiative process, too, had not been used frequently or successfully by animal advocates before the 1990s, even while the process itself had been available in many states and gaining popularity through the twentieth century. Only a handful of animal issues qualified for the ballot—dealing with vivisection, steel-jawed leghold traps, moose hunting, veal crates, and other issues—and all of them failed, except for a dove hunting ban passed by South Dakota voters in 1972 and repealed just eight years later. Beginning in 1990, however, under Wayne’s leadership, initiative and referenda have been used to usher in a series of public policy reforms for animals at the state level, dealing with cockfighting, puppy mills, factory farming, wildlife abuses, and more. The HSUS, HSLF, and The Fund for Animals have been involved in 42 statewide ballot campaigns and have won 30, for a win rate of 72 percent—the highest of any social movement that uses the initiative process—and the election outcomes have triggered other policy advances and corporate reforms around the country.

With the formation of groups such as HSLF and new political organizations at the state level, our movement finally has the tools available not only to influence legislation on animal issues but also to influence the election of candidates and work to elect humane-minded people to public office. In order to compete with well-heeled industries that put profits before animal welfare, it’s not enough just to have good ideas. We need to have a powerful political force for animals.

The HSUS and HSLF have always attacked the root causes of problems, not just the symptoms. While vital to our mission, rescuing individual animals is not enough. Our most important goal is to prevent cruelty to animals and stop animals from getting into situations of distress in the first place. That’s why it is critical that we work to pass local, state, and federal laws, make sure existing animal protection laws are properly enforced, and conduct public awareness campaigns and undercover investigations calling on corporations and individuals to be better citizens to animals, so that we can prevent large-scale cruelties. 

An early news story about The Bond by Ben Goad of the Riverside Press-Enterprise recounts The HSUS’s undercover investigation into the torment of spent dairy cows at a Chino slaughter plant that was the number two supplier of ground beef to the National School Lunch Program, which led to the largest meat recall in U.S. history and a series of federal reforms on humane handling and slaughter enforcement. It also jolted the American conscience on factory farming issues in the run-up to California’s vote on Proposition 2, which phases out the extreme confinement of veal calves, breeding pigs, and egg-laying hens. Goad writes:

Pacelle also credited the investigation with helping to pass Prop. 2.

Though the initiative had nothing to do with slaughter practices, it helped put a spotlight on animal treatment in agricultural plants, he said. He recalled watching the 2008 election results from the same Los Angeles hotel where, coincidentally, he writes, the California Democratic Party was celebrating the victory of President Barack Obama.

"The first county returns I looked for were those of the Inland Empire,” he writes. “In the end, Prop. 2 got 62.5 percent of the vote in Riverside and 62 percent in San Bernardino. They proved to be the bellwethers we thought they’d be.”

It was nearly unthinkable a quarter-century ago that states and food retailers would phase out the confinement of farm animals, that the United States would have a national ban on dogfighting and cockfighting, that we would see stronger regulation of puppy mills and the exotic pet trade, and The Bond chronicles this progress in the political arena. You can order The Bond online or pick it up at your local bookstore starting today, see Wayne on his nationwide book tour in the coming weeks and months, and be part of the movement to achieve even more political gains for animals in the next few decades.

Congress Goes to the Dogs

Tomorrow marks the official start of the 112th Congress. So I thought I would share a fun and inspiring video highlighting how one of the new GOP members, incoming freshman Rep. David Schweikert of Arizona's 5th Congressional District, took his dog, Charlie, to work with him in the Maricopa County Treasurer’s Office. Charlie, who was adopted from an animal shelter, was eventually promoted to the rank of “morale officer.”

Those of us at the Humane Society Legislative Fund and The Humane Society of the United States understand the benefits of allowing employees to bring their dogs to the workplace. Indeed, we wrote the book on it—Dogs at Work: A Practical Guide to Creating Dog-Friendly Workplaces—and about 10 percent of our headquarters workforce are canine colleagues. Like Charlie, they work for free, paid only in treats and belly rubs. The question is: Is Charlie coming to Washington, too?

Ellen: A Stellar Voice for Animals

Sarah Palin and Ellen DeGeneres might not have much in common when it comes to their views on animal protection. But what they do share is their role with other prominent women and political figures—including Hillary Clinton, Caroline Kennedy, Michelle Obama, and Condoleezza Rice—whose biographies are featured in the “Female Force” series of comic books by Bluewater Productions.

Comic gets her own comic: Animal advocate Ellen DeGeneres is featured in “Female Force.”

Ellen’s comic goes on sale March 31, and because of her strong commitment to the protection of animals, she has chosen The Humane Society of the United States to benefit from 30% of the net profits from sales of the book. The issue, written by Sandra C. Ruckdeschel and penciled by Pedro Ponzo, follows the comedienne from her youth in Louisiana, through the endless smoke-filled comedy club circuit, to her breakthrough sitcom and finally as an Emmy-winning daytime talk show host. The book sells for $3.99 and is available at comic book stores as well as book stores at many airports, Barnes & Noble, Borders, Books-A-Million, and online.

I’ve commented before on women lawmakers who are leaders for animal protection in Congress, and it’s no surprise that a strong animal advocate is now featured in a series about strong women in politics. Ellen has long been a force for animals, and was instrumental in the passage of California’s Proposition 2 in 2008. She covered the issue on her nationally syndicated talk show, hosted a Los Angeles fundraiser at a critical time for the campaign, and appeared in TV ads urging voters to support the measure—which passed overwhelmingly and phases out the extreme confinement of farm animals in crates and cages so small they can barely move an inch for their entire lives. 

Ellen and Portia de Rossi were honored in 2009 as joint recipients of The HSUS’s Wyler Award, which is given to public figures who have made news on behalf of animals. And just last weekend, “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” won the Genesis Award for Best Talk Show, for an episode exploring the inhumane treatment of animals in factory farms and featuring Ellen’s interview with Eating Animals author Jonathan Safran Foer.

We are grateful to Ellen for using her talents to make the world a kinder place for animals. Check out “Female Force” and celebrate Ellen’s life story and the powerful impact she has made.

The Life of Cleveland Amory: Q&A with Marilyn Greenwald

Animal advocate, Cleveland Amory.

For those of us who worked closely with Cleveland Amory, it’s satisfying to see a body of work being developed about his life, career, and impact on the animal protection movement. First, in 2006, journalist Julie Hoffman Marshall produced “Making Burros Fly: Cleveland Amory, Animal Rescue Pioneer,” a retelling of Amory’s high-profile animal rescues and his founding of the Black Beauty Ranch. Now, this month, the University Press of New England has published Marilyn Greenwald’s critical biography, “Cleveland Amory: Media Curmudgeon and Animal Rights Crusader.”

Greenwald, a professor at Ohio University’s Scripps School of Journalism, chronicles Amory’s life as a scion of the Boston Brahmins, his rise as a bestselling author and celebrated social critic, and his work as a crusader for the cause of animals. I worked for Cleveland at The Fund for Animals from 1993 until his death in 1998, and I was pleased that Greenwald’s book captured his humor, wit, and so much more about his personality. I was also pleased to learn more about his early life and career since I personally knew him in his twilight years and was most familiar with his animal protection work.

I hope you’ll read “Cleveland Amory,” and I’m sure you’ll enjoy it as much as I did. I had the opportunity to talk with Marilyn Greenwald about her book and about Cleveland’s life, and I’m pleased to share that conversation and her insights here with you on the blog.

Michael Markarian: Many readers of this blog know Cleveland Amory as an animal advocate, but your book contextualizes Cleveland within his broader experience and life story. The subtitle of the book refers to him as “media curmudgeon and animal rights crusader”—do you see those as two separate parts of his life, or intertwined in some way?

Marilyn Greenwald: Those two aspects of his life were at one time separate but they became intertwined. The actual term “curmudgeon” was part of the name of his Saturday Review column, “Curmudgeon at Large,” a free-wheeling column about culture, news, the arts, and his thoughts about life in general. He considered himself an old-fashioned “grump” who was skeptical (in a humorous way) about many contemporary aspects of life. Much of his other writing, including his reviews for TV Guide, could also be considered “curmudgeonly.”

But gradually, Cleveland did begin to incorporate his passion for animals into his writing, including his Saturday Review column and, to a limited degree, his TV Guide column. In the former, he did publicize his and others’ animal protection activities, and he did write about such controversial topics as the use of animals in laboratories. He was more subtle in the TV Guide column, where he would give negative reviews to hunting shows, like “American Sportsman,” or positive reviews to shows that portrayed animals in a fair and positive light, such as “Flipper.”

MM: The book follows Cleveland’s life as he moved from chronicler of the pastimes of the rich to celebrity profiler to animal person. In your view, how did those different aspects of his life and career fit together?

"Cleveland Amory: Media Curmudgeon and
Animal Rights Crusader."

MG: In some ways, his early career chronicling the lives of the privileged helped him develop his view that people were put on earth to help others, even in a limited way. The months he spent when he was a young man with the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, in particular, drove home to him the idea that a life spent summering, wintering, and playing games was a wasted and shallow life—that’s how he felt about the Windsors. Cleveland’s parents, although they did have status and some money, tried to instill the idea of helping others in their three children, so the concept was not new to Cleveland.

By the time he became a celebrity profiler for Parade, in late middle age, he began to respect those people who did manage to achieve fame and still have a bigger purpose in life. Many of the celebrities he profiled, including Jack Lemmon, Gregory Peck, Walter Cronkite, Katharine Hepburn, Doris Day, and others, led multi-faceted lives and were not self-centered “celebrities,” he believed.

In addition, many of his celebrity friends were more than happy to provide free publicity for his favorite cause—animal protection. Amory was one of the first animal advocates to realize and “use” the power of celebrity, because he knew those people had the ear of the public.

MM: Cleveland’s image as a curmudgeon obscured for many the degree to which he was a people person. We understand that he could connect with people, but would you agree that he genuinely liked being with others, and was a social person to a great degree?

MG: Absolutely. Every person I interviewed who knew him mentioned his charismatic personality, his wonderful sense of humor, and his caring attitude toward them.

Many told me about practical jokes he pulled on them, how he kept in constant contact with them, and how he just simply knew how to be a friend. And he loved parties and gatherings with friends and family. In addition, Amory tried to personally answer everyone who wrote or called him—fans and others he never met usually received a personal response from him and, in the case of some, a lunch invitation.

MM: You studied a great deal of Cleveland’s writings, interviews, and other source material. What did your research reveal about his work ethic?

MG: He really didn’t separate his personal life from his professional life. He loved writing and he loved his work in animal protection, and those activities dominated his life. And those to whom he was close were also involved in those activities. In many ways, he “worked” all the time, although I don’t think he considered it a job the way most people define it.  He worked a full day the day before he died.

MM: What do you think made Cleveland an effective communicator, with the ability to take lesser-known issues and make them part of the national discourse?

MG: The short answer to that is his sense of humor. He was very smart and clever, so he could use humor to get people to listen to him. He never bored them. Like many brilliant people, he was also very quick, and could come up with a funny response immediately. He also had the ability to let people know how issues affected them; in other words, he didn’t preach at them, but instead let them know how his cause directly affected their lives.

MM: The book reports on many of Cleveland’s opponents (sport hunters, animal researchers, and others) and quotes his saying that one is judged “by the quality of one’s enemies.” What did Cleveland’s enemies think of him and how did that shape his work?

MG: Cleveland was on the front lines of the animal protection movement because he was one of the first people to become a “face” of the movement. He gave speeches, wrote columns for newspapers and magazines, and spoke for the cause in a way that no single person had done. In that way, he was the one who was the target of the ire of those who disagreed with him. Many of his enemies accused him of being an egomaniac who sought the limelight; others said he twisted or exaggerated facts. Ultimately, Cleveland was so confident and self-assured and so devoted to the cause that he didn’t let his critics bother him. In fact, he loved a good debate with them, and nearly always responded to their criticism—often with humor. Usually, criticism just fueled his enthusiasm. He often said that when one does important work, he or she will always have enemies.

MM: The animal protection movement was relatively young when Cleveland became one of its leaders, and by the time he passed away in 1998 the cause had become much more mainstream. What impact did he have on the history of the animal advocacy movement and what progress did he see during his lifetime?

MG: Cleveland came to the movement in middle age, and knew instinctively that he needed to instill his passion for it in younger people so that they could carry on his work. He managed to let young people know how important the movement was through humor and through raw energy—he was constantly promoting it one way or another in speeches, rallies, and appearances. He also had a knack for spotting young people with drive and talent (for instance, many of the top officials of the HSUS today, including Wayne Pacelle, and you, Mike, worked with him at The Fund for Animals, the advocacy group he founded).

He was also a natural public relations man who knew that the grand gesture (for instance, airlifting burros from the Grand Canyon) would get publicity and sympathy for the cause. He was one of the first to realize the value of sound public relations in promoting the cause, and was one of the first to use the power of celebrity.

He saw a lot of progress during his lifetime; most notably, the protection of wild animals and marine mammals in addition to domesticated ones, and the importance of lobbying and ensuring the passage of legislation to protect animals. He was key in making the animal protection movement mainstream in the eyes of the public.

MM: What legacy did Cleveland leave, and how do you see his vision reflected today in the work of groups like The Humane Society of the United States and The Fund for Animals?

MG: In general, many of the key players in animal protection today worked for Amory decades ago; he taught them the ins and outs of the movement and how to succeed in it, and he instilled in them a passion for it. He also taught them that no abuse is minor, and that cruelty hurts everyone. He also taught them the value of moderation to draw public support; he realized that radical methods might alienate people who would otherwise be sympathetic to the cause.

Specifically, of course, the animal sanctuaries he helped found still exist across the country—most notably the Black Beauty Ranch (now the Cleveland Amory Black Beauty Ranch) east of Dallas, and the books he wrote that still deal with the movement and his philosophy of it are still read by many, many people each year. And The HSUS is still one of the first to respond to timely issues, such as the rescue of animals left homeless by Hurricane Katrina.

Go Forth and Advocate: A Q&A with Stephanie Vance

Stephanie Vance's dog, Ozzie.

Stephanie Vance, the AdVocacy Guru, used to work on Capitol Hill, but now she travels the country training advocates on how to participate in the legislative process and become effective citizen lobbyists. She has published a new book, “Citizens in Action: A Guide to Lobbying and Influencing Government,” and like her presentations and training events, it’s informative, engaging, and even fun. She took a few minutes to chat with me recently about the book and her upcoming appearance at the Taking Action for Animals conference, and I wanted to share some of her thinking with blog readers.

Michael Markarian: How did you get your start in training advocates and interest groups?
Stephanie Vance: After I got my degree in political science and with my parents strongly suggesting I get a job, I moved to Washington, D.C., where I worked at a lobbying law firm, as a lobbyist for NPR, and as a legislative aide for three different members of Congress. Through those experiences, I came to realize that people really do not understand the amazing power they have to make a difference on policy issues they care about. I figured if I told them how to be more effective, they’d be happier with their government and the world would be a better place.

MM: How can the average citizen really influence government policymaking?
SV: Effective advocacy really boils down to four key steps: knowing what you want, knowing who you’re talking to, knowing how to talk to them, and knowing how to follow up. In terms of knowing what you want, it’s critical to ask for something specific as opposed to simply “educating” elected officials on an issue. They need to know how they can best help on animal welfare issues. Knowing about your audience means that (a) you should always communicate with someone relevant to you (i.e., your own elected official) and (b) you should know something about their own interests, policy interests, and background. On animal welfare issues, for example, it’s good to know if they have a companion animal in their lives; it’s also good to know what bills they’ve introduced, not just on animal issues, but across the spectrum. For the third point, knowing how to talk to them, the main point here is to tell a compelling and personal story. And finally, following up is what really separates the effective from the ineffective advocates. People who are “politely persistent” get a lot further than those who ask once and never ask again.
 
MM: Why do you think that, contrary to popular opinion, government isn’t broken?
SV: Yeah, people often do a double-take at that assertion. In my opinion government is actually designed to be completely and totally inefficient. When the founding fathers got together and said “Hey, let’s make a government,” they wanted to make it very difficult to move legislation through the process. In fact, the lack of agreement and partisan bickering isn’t evidence that government is broken—it’s evidence that government is operating exactly as the founding fathers intended.

MM: What does “Citizens in Action” offer that wasn’t covered in your previous books?
SV: It’s a much more comprehensive look at the entire advocacy process. It offers insights into the three branches and three levels of government and really seeks to help people build a comprehensive advocacy effort. In addition, there’s more information on e-advocacy, including using social networks and tools like e-mail to get your message across.

MM: You have always been a big hit at the Taking Action for Animals conference. What can people expect to hear from you if they attend this year?
SV: I am so honored and pleased to continue to be a part of this conference and will keep coming back in some capacity until people tell me not to! This year, there’s a whole lot of new things to say about effective advocacy, especially in light of the changes in the Administration and Congress. And a “special guest” and I (that’s you, Mike) will be offering up “The Worst Congressional Meeting in the World.” Everyone will get at least a chuckle out of that, I promise—as well as some ideas for how to make their interactions with legislators even more effective. Oh, and we’ll do some “Message Mad Libs.” I can’t say more—people will have to come and see it for themselves!

MM: Can you give us an example of a highly effective congressional meeting, in which an advocate or group benefited from your training tips?
SV: I’m always so pleased when someone comes up to me and says, “Hey, I tried what you said and it worked! My congressman actually listened to me.” A perfect example of this was the League of American Bicyclists lobby day, where a group of biking enthusiasts were going in to see their member of Congress absolutely sure that he, as a conservative Republican, wouldn’t support funding for bicycle safety. But they went in with a positive attitude and some personal stories about the impact of biking in the community. They were pleasantly surprised to learn the congressman was an avid bicyclist and would strongly support them.
 
MM: What was the worst congressional meeting you’ve ever witnessed?
SV: Well, we’ll see a composite of all the worst at TAFA, but I’d have to say it was when someone walked in the office and was outraged they couldn’t meet with the member himself—that instead they’d be meeting with “just staff.” That “just staff” was me and I was the Chief of Staff at the time. He actually told me that this was a big waste of his time. And then, when I told him we had nowhere to sit in the office and would he mind standing in the hall, well, he lost it. He stormed out and we never saw him again. And he never got our support on his issues.

MM: What is the absolute worst thing to say in a congressional meeting?
SV: There are so many, but probably something like, “I know your boss takes money from the other side and will never listen to me on this issue, but I thought I’d just tell you what I think anyway, even though the congressman is a corrupt politician.” Yes, people actually say those kinds of things.

MM: Do you have any specific guidance for animal advocates that sets their issues apart from other interest groups?
SV: Animal advocates have so many things going for them. They have great and compelling stories, terrific nonpartisan issues, and a strong constituency-based advocate network. The one main piece of advice I have is that advocates need to continue to build on the professionalism of the movement. As an animal advocate myself, I know that we’re sometimes seen as a little “odd” (I’m odd, but for other reasons). The more we let people know that we’re serious, we have strong arguments to make, and we know how to play the political game, the more successful we’ll be. HSUS and HSLF have really taken the lead on that and I’ve noticed a big (and positive) difference.

MM: How is Ozzie?
SV: Thank you for asking! As adorable as ever. Although, I think he finished off another TV remote last week. But we love him more than television, so he can eat all the remotes he wants. We know they’re not good for him, though, so we do our best to hide them—it’s just that as an Australian cattle dog, he’s smarter than my husband and I combined and we can’t outwit him for long.

Stephanie Vance's new book.

MM: How can people learn more and continue to sharpen their advocacy skills?
SV: Well, buy “Citizens in Action,” of course :). But I also think that all the training HSUS and HSLF give advocates is fabulous, so people should take advantage of those opportunities. In addition to the free resources available through you all, there are free resources on my web site that I hope people will use. And the most important thing to remember is that as citizens we have an amazing power to make a difference. We just need to apply that power effectively and persistently: If we do, there are no limits to what we can achieve.