Humane Society ad warns Trump presidency ‘would be a threat to animals everywhere’

An ad released by the Humane Society Legislative Fund warns that a Donald Trump presidency “would be a threat to animals everywhere.”

The HSLF, a lobbying affiliate of The Humane Society of the United States, endorsed Hillary Clinton for president Wednesday and released an attack ad highlighting Mr. Trump’s advisers’ views on animal protection and his sons’ fondness for trophy hunting.

“Trump’s sons, they’re trophy hunters of elephants and rare species. Don Jr. is floated to be Interior Secretary,” the ad states.

“Trump’s agricultural advisers support confining pigs … allowing cruel puppy mills, even making horse slaughter legal. It’s a frightening picture. A Trump presidency would be a threat to animals everywhere,” the ad concludes.

HSLF President Michael Markarian announced the group’s endorsement of Mrs. Clinton in a blog post Wednesday. He wrote that the Democratic nominee has long been a consistent supporter of animal protection policies who has owned pets much of her adult life.

“If elected, Trump would be the first president since Harry Truman without a pet in the White House,” Mr. Markarian wrote. “It’s hardly unusual for pets in our lives to humanize us, and to bring into sharper focus the importance of national policies to help animals. The Clintons seem to have long felt the pull of animals, while the Trumps have not, with two Trump sons being better known for killing animals as a recreational pursuit.”

Mr. Markarian compared Mr. Trump’s sons to U.S. hunter Walter Palmer, “the wealthy dentist who shot Cecil the lion” in Zimbabwe.

“Troublingly, Donald Jr. has even been floated as a possible Interior Secretary,” he wrote. “Both sons at the very least would be Trump’s top advisors and strategists on trophy hunting issues. The risk of having a globe-trotting trophy hunter at or near the helm at Interior, or having the ear of the President, should be a terrifying prospect for any animal advocate.”

The ad also takes aim at Lucas Oil founder Forrest Lucas, a reported front-runner for Mr. Trump’s Interior Secretary who founded the farmers rights group Protect the Harvest, as well as Oklahoma state Sen. Eddie Fields, and Summit Agricultural Group CEO Bruce Rastetter. All three were named to Mr. Trump’s Agricultural Advisory Committee in August.

“One ticket has a clear, compelling record of support for animal protection, while the other has assembled a team of advisors and financial supporters tied in with trophy hunting, puppy mills, factory farming, horse slaughter, and other abusive industries,” Mr. Markarian wrote.

Joe Maxwell, senior political director at the HSLF, told The Hill that while the group endorses House and Senate candidates from both parties, this is the first time it has endorsed a presidential candidate.

“We know this is a big step, but one that we felt we needed to make on behalf of our constituency and on behalf of our membership to encourage a vote for Hillary Clinton,” Mr. Maxwell said.