To his millions of viewers and fans, Emmy Award-winning talk show host Montel Williams is a tough, no-nonsense former Marine who has stared down a potentially debilitating disease and who stands up for rights and responsibilities. And he's all of that. But Montel Williams has also been a great friend to animals and to The HSUS.

In the early 1990s, Williams first joined The HSUS in our campaign against puppy mills. He's also supported our efforts to pass state felony animal cruelty laws, helped pet owners prepare to protect their pets in disasters, promoted the safe confinement of cats, opposed the killing of animals for fur, and educated people about the connection between animal cruelty and human violence. In fact, Williams has hosted two shows on the violence connection: the first in 1999, for which he won a Genesis Award, and a more recent show featuring The HSUS's Dr. Randall Lockwood, in May, 2004.

Williams has also been generous with his personal time, attending or hosting HSUS events or appearing on our behalf. This multi-talented television personality, author, actor, and motivational speaker believes in giving back. And we can't thank him enough for all he's given to help animals.