Humane Society Legislative Fund Endorses Jeff Merkley - Champion for Animal Welfare

Merkley Worked to Make Attendance at Dogfights a Felony

The Oregon Human Society Legislative Fund endorsed Jeff Merkley based on his outstanding record of working to protect pets and other animals in Oregon. Jeff led the fight to pass one of the nation's toughest laws to curb dogfighting, making attendance at dogfights a felony.

"Jeff Merkley has been a champion in promoting common-sense policies to protect animals from cruelty and abuse," said Michael Markarian, president of the Humane Society Legislative Fund. "For Oregon voters who want a proven leader on animal welfare issues to represent the Democratic party in the U.S. Senate race, it is critical that they nominate Jeff Merkley on the primary ballot."

"Dogfighting is repugnant and wrong," said Speaker Merkley. "Brutal acts like dogfighting have no place in our society. We've made Oregon a national leader in protecting animal welfare. I am proud to have the support of the Humane Society and animal welfare advocates across Oregon and I will carry this fight to the national level."

Visit the Humane Society Legislative Fund to read more about Jeff's work on animal protection legislation.

Jeff Merkley spent his early years in Roseburg, Oregon, a community where the children of loggers and mill workers learned the value of honest work, good neighbors, and strong families. Merkley earned scholarships and became the first in his family to go to college. He went on to serve as a national security analyst, first for the Pentagon and then for Congress. After returning to Oregon with his wife Mary, Merkley led Habitat for Humanity and worked with low-income families to rebuild neighborhoods and purchase their first home.

As Oregon's next U.S. Senator, Jeff Merkley will take on the special interests and fight hard for regular hardworking Oregonians. He will take on the big insurance and drug companies to make health care more affordable and accessible for all. He will end unfair trade deals that have cost Oregon 70,000 manufacturing jobs and will end tax breaks for companies that ship jobs overseas. And Merkley will end the war in Iraq, bring our sons and daughters home, and fulfill the commitment we have made to veterans and men and women in uniform.

Today, Jeff Merkley lives in East Multnomah County with Mary, a professional nurse, their two children, Jonathan age twelve and Brynne age ten, and their dog Sadie.

Posted May 6, 2008
Press