Published Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Holland Ware's foundation gives $250,000 to combat animal fighting

The Times-Herald

The Humane Society of the United States will be able to significantly increase its work against illegal animal fighting thanks to a recent $250,000 grant from the Holland M. Ware Charitable Foundation.

The grant follows a previous gift of $200,000 given last year in the wake of the federal dogfighting case against Michael Vick.

Ware is a Hogansville businessman who has owned large tracks of forested land in Coweta County over the years.

The combined gift allows the national animal protection organization to double its reward to $5,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of animal fighters. Ware's gift will also provide increased training and investigative assistance to law enforcement nationwide.

The Holland M. Ware Charitable Foundation was established on Aug. 25, 2000, to promote the prevention of cruelty to animals, to assist communities in the care of needy animals, and to support state and local law enforcement agencies in the prosecution of animal cruelty cases. Founded by Holland M. Ware, the foundation embodies Ware's passion for philanthropy and animal rights advocacy.

"Dogs have always been cherished members of our family, and it is outrageous to me to think that they would be used in barbaric, bloody contests for the purpose of greed and a sick sense of entertainment," Ware said. "The Humane Society of the United States has shown its commitment and success with this issue and we are proud to provide this grant so that more animals do not have to become the victims of animal fighting."

Ware studied veterinary science in college. He has given large sums to both Auburn University and Emory University for medical and veterinary programs.

Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of HSUS, expressed his gratitude to the Ware foundation.

"We are enormously grateful for the generosity of the Ware foundation, and we will honor it by working every day to put an end to this most horrendous and inexcusable form of animal cruelty," Pacelle said.

The Humane Society of the United States is the nation's largest animal protection organization, with some 10.5 million members.