Animals have lost a stalwart advocate with the passing of Arizona Rep. Raúl Grijalva. From working to strengthen the Endangered Species Act to demanding action for animals suffering around the world, he made a real difference.
It was Grijalva who wrote a letter to the U.S. Department of Agriculture asking that Nosey, an arthritic and aging elephant who was being hauled around the country, be given a comprehensive examination to determine whether she should be confiscated. She was eventually rescued and is now thriving in a sanctuary.
The compassionate representative also championed realistic and cost-effective human simulators to replace archaic U.S. military medical training in which thousands of live animals are shot, stabbed, and killed each year; called on the National Institute of Mental Health to end cruel and pointless psychological tests on animals; and urged the National Institutes of Health to send 300 baby monkeys used in sadistic maternal-deprivation experiments to reputable sanctuaries.
Mr. Grijalva’s compassion was far-reaching. He condemned China’s Yulin Dog Meat Festival and called on the Chinese government to end the trade in dog meat, in which more than 10 million dogs are killed for meat every year.
Mr. Grijalva will be sorely missed, but we hope his unrelenting efforts encourage other members of Congress—as well as all Americans—to take a stand against cruelty to animals in all its forms.
Sincerely,
Ingrid Newkirk
President, PETA
