WASHINGTON, DC - October 29, 1999 - Wisconsin Congressman Jerry Kleczka was presented Thursday night with the first ever 1999 Legislative Achievement Award for Leadership for Animal Protection presented by the Humane Society of the United States.

The award goes to Kleczka for his sponsorship of HR 1622, the Dog and Cat Protection Act of 1999, which would  ban the disturbing and often deceptive practice of using dog and cat fur to manufacture coats, toys and other merchandise imported to the US.

"With the support of the Humane Society and millions of Americans, it is my hope that this bill will be made law in this Congress," Kleczka said.

Kleczka authored the legislation in response to a Humane Society investigation detailed in a report broadcast on Dateline NBC. Kleczka's bill would prohibit the importation, manufacture, transport or sale of products made with dog or cat fur. The legislation provides for penalties of up to $25,000 for each violation, and criminal penalties of up to one year in jail, with additional fines at the court's discretion.

"The thought of slaughtering these animals, which many of us call friends, for use in items we might wear or give to our children as toys is deplorable," said Kleczka, who is accompanied periodically to his Capitol Hill office by Colby, his pet sheltie.

Among the 100 million households in the US, 31 million households own 53 million dogs and 27 million households own 59 million cats, according to the Veterinary Medical Association, meaning that nearly six  in 10 households in the US have a dog or a cat.

Kleczka also was cited by the Humane Society for his support of legislation relating to steel leghold traps, lethal predator control aimed at wolves, the protection of dolphins.