WASHINGTON-How do the choices you make in everyday life affect
animals? During its 50th anniversary year, The HSUS is asking
people to take an online quiz to discover their “Humane Living
Pawprint.”
The 21-question quiz (www.humanepawprint.org)
inquires about a range of everyday choices we make that can
have an affect on the welfare of animals. Shopping, pet care,
recycling, home products, yard landscaping and vacation choices
are just some of the topics explored in the quiz.
The success of the organic foods industry and the demand for
cosmetic and beauty products not tested on animals show that
people are becoming conscientious in their choices. Compassion
for animals is also evident in the number of U.S. families who
have pets. Dogs are at home in more than 40 million American
households and cats cozy up in more than 35 million U.S. homes.
”We make choices every day that impact animals. In most
cases we’re not even aware of that impact. The Humane Pawprint
shows people that even simple changes can make a big
difference,” says Patricia A. Forkan, a senior vice president
for The HSUS.
The quiz gets people thinking of how they make an impact on
the world. It provides suggestions to help animals and the
environment.
“We know that there are a lot of compassionate consumers out
there who are looking to make their lives and the world around
them even better and we hope we’ve given them a valuable tool,”
Forkan said.
In the spirit of the Olympics, quiz-takers will receive a
gold, silver or bronze rating depending on their chosen
answers. Answers will lead the quiz-taker to learn more about
humane issues and alternatives that benefit animals, people and
the environment —and ask them to retake the exam after they’ve
made some changes and try to improve their score. The last
question encourages people to share their comments or stories
about the choices they’ve made that have a positive impact on
animals. These stories will be displayed on The HSUS web site
at www.hsus.org.
The Humane Living Pawprint quiz will be accessible from the
first week of September through The HSUS's 50th Anniversary on
November 22, 2004. Quiz-takers in the Los Angeles area will be
invited to attend the Spotlight Humane event (see www.spotlighthumane.org)
on October 10, where fashionable, cruelty-free products will be
highlighted.
The Humane Society of the United States is the nation’s
largest animal protection organization with more than eight
million members and constituents. The HSUS is a mainstream
voice for animals, with active programs in companion animals
and equine protection, wildlife and habitat protection, animals
in research and farm animals and sustainable agriculture. The
HSUS protects all animals through legislation, litigation,
investigation, education, advocacy and fieldwork. The
non-profit organization, which is celebrating its 50th
anniversary in 2004, is based in Washington, DC and has 10
regional offices across the country.
