Animal welfare group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals has tapped Las Vegas-based political consulting and public affairs firm RedRock Strategies for legislation recently introduced in the House that involves the use of animals in military training exercises.

PETA

The Norfolk, VA-based non-profit has retained RedRock to advocate on behalf of H.R. 1243, the Battlefield Excellence through Superior Training Practices (BEST) Act.

Introduced in February by Rep. Henry “Hank” Johnson Jr. (D-GA), the BEST Practices Act would require the Department of Defense to cease the Armed Forces’ current use of live animals for training first responders in the treatment of combat-related injuries.

Currently, the DoD injures, dismembers and kills more than 8,500 goats, pigs and other animals as a means of training troops. The BEST Practices Act would force the DOD to phase out the use of animal-based training methods entirely within the next five years, and replace animals with the use of high-tech, life-like patient simulators that can mimic everything from severe bleeding, breathing difficulties, responses to medications and even death.

The account will be managed by Michael Lisowski, who was a former senior legislative assistant to Rep Joe Heck (R-NV). Heck joined RedRock as president in February.

Washington political tabloid The Hill reported that PETA had not hired an outside lobbying firm since 2003.