Award Fittingly Presented at Animal Shelter in Lawson's District 

The Humane Society of the United States, the nation's largest animal protection organization with more than 10 million supporters including more than 169,000 in the Hoosier State, presented Rep. Linda Lawson (D-1) with its Humane State Legislator award.

The award recognizes legislators who have initiated path-breaking animal protection legislation and demonstrably advanced reform in the policy-making arena. Rep. Lawson is being honored for her long-standing commitment to animal welfare. Among the laws she sponsored and helped pass are Public Law 171, a legislative package that addresses various issues pertaining to animal cruelty, and PL 108, which enables and encourages Indiana's courts to mandate psychological counseling as part of the sentence imposed on criminals convicted of animal cruelty.

Anne K. Sterling, Indiana state director for The HSUS presented the award to Rep. Lawson during a ceremony Wednesday at The Humane Society Calumet Area in Munster before a crowd of press, animal welfare activists and the shelter's Board of Directors.

"We are pleased to recognize Representative Lawson's efforts to combat animal cruelty in Indiana," said Sterling. "The link between animal cruelty and violence against humans is well documented, and in that sense laws that protect animals may also help contribute to public safety."

"I am so pleased to receive this award from The Humane Society of the United States for my work to reform our state's animal cruelty laws," said Rep. Lawson. "As a longtime supporter of humane treatment of animals, it's especially fitting to receive this special honor in the company of my friends at the Humane Society Calumet Area. Dedicated animal care professionals like those here must deal with the victims of animal cruelty, and I look forward to working with The HSUS on animal protection legislation in the future to hopefully make the burden on shelters across Indiana a little lighter." 

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The Humane Society of the United States is the nation's largest animal protection organization — backed by 10.5 million Americans, or one of every 30. For more than a half-century, The HSUS has been fighting for the protection of all animals through advocacy, education, and hands-on programs. Celebrating animals and confronting cruelty — On the web at humanesociety.org.