Fred Hudson and Kevin Chambers to bring experience, commitment to animal-protection campaigns
Washington D.C. — Animal Wellness Action and the Center for a Humane Economy announced the hiring of two new colleagues to further the groups’ efforts on national and state issues impacting matters of animal welfare.
Kevin Chambers | Oklahoma State Director/Assistant Director of International
Kevin Chambers brings decades of global and local business, government, and animal advocacy experience to Animal Wellness Action and the Center for a Humane Economy. A former U.S. diplomat and global business expert, Chambers grew up in Oklahoma but has lived and worked around the world. He represented the United States as a member of the U.S. Foreign Service in China, Japan, Sweden, Kazakhstan, Romania, and Angola after earning a master’s in international management from the Thunderbird School of Global Management and a B.S. in wildlife ecology from Oklahoma State University. He also served as a Chinese translator for the U.S. Army Security Agency and was stationed in South Korea. Before joining the Foreign Service, Chambers was the director of international trade and investment for Oklahoma and Missouri, serving five governors. He is the author of five books on international business, travel, history, and languages.
Chambers has been a volunteer cruelty investigator and animal advocate for decades. He was a key advocate in the effort to pass a ballot measure to outlaw cockfighting in Oklahoma in 2002 and has gotten behind the scenes and witnessed the barbaric features of cockfighting firsthand.
Chambers’ dual roles will focus on ensuring animal-welfare laws are maintained or strengthened when it comes to cockfighting and other animal abuses in the state. In addition, his extensive experience in government outside of the United States will be employed to aid the organizations’ multinational campaigns, including eliminating the slaughter of kangaroos to make soccer shoes and the rescue and protection of elephants in Thailand.
“Kevin is not only a tremendous talent as an animal advocate, but he is as dogged and determined as they come,” said Wayne Pacelle, president of Animal Wellness Action and the Center for a Humane Economy. “He is a high-impact performer on animal welfare.”
“Animal Wellness Action and the Center for a Humane Economy are pressing animal-welfare issues on a number of fronts, at home and abroad,” said Chambers. “I’m excited to contribute my efforts not only in my home state of Oklahoma, but across the world, protecting animals by advocating for better standards and laws wherever we can.”
Fred (Freddie) Hudson | Director of Equine Welfare
Freddie Hudson is a former driver/trainer who grew up in the harness racing industry and was the protege of Hall of Fame driver/trainer Del Insko. He has written for several harness racing publications and authored multiple books, including Amazon bestsellers “Roosevelt Raceway: Where It All Began” and his most recent, “The Superfecta Trial.”
Hudson is a strong supporter of equine welfare and rescue programs and has spoken several times on Capitol Hill representing the harness racing industry on equine welfare legislation. He lobbied in Washington D.C. with Animal Wellness Action and the Jockey Club on both the Horseracing Integrity Safety Act (HISA) and Save America’s Forgotten Equines Act (SAFE Act.) Hudson is the founder and CEO of the U.S Harness Racing Alumni and host of the weekly Harness Racing Alumni Show. He also acts as an adviser to several harness-horse owners and has organized several fund raisers for the Standardbred Retirement Foundation, for which he is spokesman.
Hudson will play a critical role in the organizations’ monitoring of horse deaths related to racing and the implementation of Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act, including the safety of tracks, the use of banned drugs, and penalties and suspensions for trainers and owners. He also will focus on ending the export of U.S. horses to Canada and Mexico for slaughter.
“It is with great honor that I join the Animal Wellness Action team with the goal being to end the export of our horses to Mexico and Canada for slaughter and to reduce risks to horses in competition by working to halting illegal doping and other reckless practices that reflect a deep disregard for the animals at the center of the enterprises,” Hudson said.
“Fred Hudson knows horses and racing, and he’s an asset to every American who wants to see higher standards of care in American racing,” added Wayne Pacelle. “Every day, he’s going to remind people that care for horses should be the first, second, and third priority of those who make a living from them.”