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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
HONORING THE 30th ANNIVERSARY OF MARY MARGARET CUNNIFF AS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE NATIONAL ANTI-VIVISECTION SOCIETY
WHEREAS, Mary Margaret (Peggy) Cunniff has been the Executive Director of the National Anti-Vivisection Society (NAVS) for thirty years. She was instrumental in the development of the United States’ first-ever “Declaration of the Rights of Animals,” which acknowledged that all animals were entitled “to live free from human exploitation,” which was co-signed by more than 40 animal advocacy organizations, and which was presented to Congressional leaders on the steps of Capitol Hill in Washington, DC; and
WHEREAS, under Cunniff’s leadership, NAVS launched the Frog Fund, an initiative that she would then merge with the NAVS-supported Dissection Hotline to become the United States’ first and largest resource for alternatives to the use of animals in classroom dissection; and
WHEREAS, Cunniff serves as president of the International Foundation for Ethical Research, which was established to support the development, validation and implementation of vivisection alternatives; and
WHEREAS, under Cunniff’s leadership, NAVS established the National Research Library for Animal Advocacy at The John Marshall Law School; and
WHEREAS, under Cunniff’s leadership, the NAVS Sanctuary Fund was created to help animals-including those retired from research laboratories-in dire circumstances as a result of natural and man-made disasters, and provided a critical grant to Chimp Haven, allowing them to become the National Chimpanzee Sanctuary; and
WHEREAS, Cunniff led the development of the United States’ first comprehensive, regularly-updated guide to cruelty-free shopping; and
WHEREAS, under Cunniff’s leadership, NAVS founded the International Institute for Animal Law to promote the passage of laws that protect animals by advancing scholarship within the legal and legislative arena on behalf of animals, and launched the Animal Law Resource Center to provide authoritative information on laws and legislation pertaining to animals in the United States; and
WHEREAS, Cunniff was instrumental in bringing about rule changes to the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair, and having NAVS named as the only animal advocacy organization permitted to give awards at the annual fair; and
WHEREAS, Cunniff played a pivotal role in discussions on Capitol Hill that resulted in the signing of the Chimpanzee Health Improvement, Maintenance and Protection (CHIMP) Act, and subsequently led NAVS’ efforts in the development of Standards of Care and Maintenance for Chimpanzees in Sanctuaries; and
WHEREAS, Cunniff’s unwavering commitment to greater compassion, respect and justice for animals stands as a shining example of excellence to the animal advocacy and protection community; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Commissioners of Cook County, on behalf of the 5.2 million residents of Cook County takes great pleasure in honoring and celebrating the 30th anniversary of Mary Margaret (Peggy) Cunniff as executive director of the National Anti-Vivisection society and herewith expresses its sincere gratitude for the contributions she has made to the citizens of Cook County, Illinois; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a suitable copy of this Resolution be spread upon the official proceedings of this Honorable Body and that an official copy of the same be tendered to Peggy Cunniff.end