ADVISORY/Hollywood Stars, Politicians Meet "Dillon" The Dog Who Chewed Off His Leg to Escape Leghold Trap, Urge Californians to Vote Yes on Proposition 4.

--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Senator Tom Hayden, Alicia Silverstone, James Cromwell, Frances

Fisher, Andrew Keegan, Michelle Phillips, Loretta Swit,

Linda Blair, Earl Holliman and Terry Austin Speak Up at News

Conference

WHAT: A celebrity news conference to urge voter support of Proposition 4, the Protect Pets and Wildlife (ProPAW) initiative, which will protect wildlife and family pets by banning cruel and indiscriminate traps -- including the steel-jawed leghold -- for recreation or the fur trade, and two extremely toxic poisons which are harmful to animals and the environment. Exceptions are provided to resolve human/ animal conflicts, protect public health and safety, and to protect threatened and endangered species. Visual/photo opportunities will include a celebrity "meet and greet" with "Dillon," the dog who chewed off his leg in an effort to escape from a leghold trap; video of animals in traps (b-roll available at news conference); and a demonstration of the force of a brutal steel-jawed leghold trap.

WHO: Interviews/photo opps will be available with the following speakers/ guests:

-- "Dillon," the dog who chewed off his leg to escape from a

leghold trap

-- Senator Tom Hayden, Chair, Senate Natural Resources Comm.

-- Alicia Silverstone ("Clueless," "Batman & Robin"), James

Cromwell ("Babe," "Babe: Pig in the City"), Frances Fisher

("Titanic"), Andrew Keegan ("7th Heaven"), Michelle Phillips

("Knots Landing," "The Mamas and The Papas"), Terry Austin ("Knots

Landing"), Loretta Swit ("MASH"), Earl Holliman ("Police Woman"),

Linda Blair ("The Exorcist")

-- ProPAW representatives

WHEN: THURSDAY, OCT. 22 10 A.M.

WHERE: Bel Age Hotel Salon One 1020 N. San Vicente (at Sunset) West Hollywood 310/854-1111 (valet parking only; $6 per car)

WHY: Each year in California, more than 24,000 animals including bobcats, beavers and foxes are trapped for their fur with cruel body-gripping traps. Untold numbers of dogs and cats -- many of them family pets -- also get caught and die in these cruel and indiscriminate devices, as do threatened and endangered species. It's time for California to join the ranks of 88 countries and several states including Colorado, Arizona and Massachusetts and ban these barbaric devices from its landscape forever. Proposition 4 has been endorsed by veterinarians, municipal, state and federal legislators, scores of environmental and animal protection organizations from throughout California, the California Democratic Party, and national organizations including the Sierra Club, the Biodiversity Legal Foundation, and American Humane Association. It is sponsored by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Animal Protection Institute, The Ark Trust, Inc., Doris Day Animal League, The Fund for Animals, The Humane Society of the United States, and the International Fund for Animal Welfare.

Note to Editors: Please call for clearance; media in attendance must be cleared in advance. B-roll of trapped animals will be available at news conference.