On Wednesday, Jan. 30, the Lory Student Center Theater will host Wayne Pacelle, the president and CEO of the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS). The free event starts at 7 p.m. with doors opening at 6 p.m.The Humane Society is an establishment for those adopting animals or looking for animal care. Officially, it is the largest animal protection organization in the U.S. Services include: emergency response, rehabilitation centers, sanctuaries, campaigns to reform industry and more.Pacelle will speak on the topic of animal welfare around the nation, specifically farm animal welfare. He will also be available to sign copies of his new book after the event.According to Holly Tarry, the Colorado director of the HSUS, Pacelle and the HSUS’s goal is to support an economy that is more humane to animals.Pacelle’s speech is relevant to current initiatives in Colorado, Tarry said.

Since 2005, Pacelle and the HSUS have worked toward the passage of more than 500 laws to protect animals. Pacelle has campaigned against laws hostile to animal well-being in California, Oregon, Arizona and Oklahoma.

The HSUS has earned many honors throughout Pacelle’s presidency, including a four-star ranking –– the best possible –– from “Charity Navigator,” America’s largest independent charity evaluator. The HSUS has also been named one of the top ten most fiscally responsible charities by “Worth Magazine” and has a top ten ranking as a nonprofit brand.

“One of the biggest issues in the United States is animal welfare,” said CSU professor Bernard Rollin, a friend of Pacelle’s and an animal rights advocate and ethicist.  “ … It is important that students be knowledgeable about both sides to make educated decisions.”

According to Tarry, it is thanks to Rollin’s personal invite that Pacelle is speaking Wednesday night.

Collegian Writer Mariah Wenzel can be reached at news@collegian.com.