Monday, March 26, 2012

How Lobbying In Person Can Save Animals

If you wondering what you can do to save the most animals without an animal welfare background –I have your answer. Average citizens, like yourself, can play a big role in the lives of companion animals at this year’s Humane Lobby Day in Lansing on April 17th, 2012 by speaking face-to-face with your elected officials.

Great laws don’t get passed because someone drafted up a law. Our law makers need to know you are an animal lover who is expecting change. They do keep track of letters, emails and phone calls (pro and opposed) to each introduced bill. They need to know you care.

No experience is required. We will give you a one page fact sheet on each pending bill. No worries, you may have other constituents with you. If not, you can always write down all their questions and someone else will follow up with them. The most important part is that you are there and are supporting these bills IN PERSON!

Taking a day off of work sends a big message – animal issues are a priority. You can plan on telling your senator and representatives why each of the following are so important:

1) The Puppy Protection Act (HB 5230 and 5231, SB 891 and 892)

These bills would regulate large-scale breeders to ensure that animals in their care receive proper treatment, including adequate food, water, shelter and veterinary care. Currently,
Michigan has no regulations in place on large-scale breeders. The Puppy Protection Act will ensure that these animals are treated humanely, crack down on irresponsible breeders, and prevent puppy mills – mass breeders who keep animals in deplorable, unimaginable conditions – from setting up shop here in Michigan.

2) Pet Lemon Law Act (SB 574)

This bill is also referred to as the Pet Warranty Law or Pet Consumer Protection Act. It will offer consumer protections for purchasers of dogs and cats.  People who purchase sick or diseased animals from pet shops, breeders or dealers would have specific recourse against the sellers offering options for the purchaser: returning the animal for a full refund or, replacement, if available or, recovery of veterinary expenses. E
ighteen other states have Pet Lemon Laws in place.

3) Antifreeze Bill (SB 421)

This bill will prevent poisonings by bittering antifreeze. Antifreeze has a sweet taste that is attractive to animals and children, but less than a teaspoon can be fatal. The bill would require the addition of a bitter-tasting chemical to antifreeze to render it unpalatable. 15 states have now passed similar laws requiring the bittering of antifreeze, including Midwestern states like
Wisconsin and Illinois.

4) Ending Gas Chambers (SB 423 and 424)
“Grant’s Bills” requires euthanasia by injection in animal shelters and by Class B dealers. No
Michigan shelter pet is safe until this practice is banned. There is no excuse to gas animals—a more humane and less expensive euthanasia method is readily available. The vast majority of Michigan shelters already use the more humane method of euthanasia by injection. Nineteen states have passed laws prohibiting the gassing of shelter pets …most recently, Alabama. If they can do it, so can Michigan!

You can RSVP here

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Find an Anti-Puppy Mill Group in Your State

Puppy Mill Awareness of Southeast Michigan is certainly not the only grassroots group protesting pet stores and educating the public about puppy mills. The National Puppy Mill Project Grassroots Committee was able to find 49 grassroots groups working against puppy millers in different ways!


Some groups not only protest, but conduct investigations, rescue, educate and others are lobbying and passing legislation. Some are joining forces.

This month Wisconsin Citizens Against Puppy Mills leaders came to town to learn about how we launch and hold pet store education campaigns.

Here is a list of the many grassroots organizations working to end commercial breeding:


StateOrganization
ArizonaAZ Puppy Mill Rescue
CaliforniaAnimal Defense Team
Boycott Barkworks Pet Stores
ConnecticutAgainst Puppy Mills
Boycott Puppies of Westpoint
CT Citizens Against Puppy Mills
Second Chance Animal Rescue of Connecticut
Westport Coalition Against Puppy Mills
ColoradoColorado Citizens for Canine Welfare
FloridaFlorida Against Pet Stores and Puppy Mills
IllinoisThe Puppy Mill Project
IndianaDefend the Dogs
PetShopPuppies Michiana (northern Indiana)

PetShopPuppies, Inc.
IowaIowa Voters for Companion Animals
MassachusettsPuppy Mill Rescue
Companion Animal Protection Society (CAPS) HQ
MichiganPuppy Mill Awareness Meetup of Southeast Michigan
MinnesotaAnimal Folks Minnesota
Minnesotans Exposing Petland
MissouriPetShopPuppies, Inc.
MontanaMontana Cause for Paws
NebraskaNebraska Voters for Companion Animals
New HampshirePuppy Mill Dog's Voice
New JerseyNew Jersey Consumers Against Pet Shop Abuse
PuppyMillRescue, Inc.
New YorkNew York City Puppy Mill Awareness
No More Tears Rescue
Staten Island Puppy Mill Demonstrators
WNY Citizens Against Puppy Mills
OhioAdvocates of Holmes County Exposed
Ban Ohio Dog Auctions
Columbus Dog Connection
Columbus Top Dogs
Help Stop Puppy Mill Store in Ohio
Ohio Voters Against Puppy Mills
Puppy Mill Fighters
Stop Ohio Puppy Mills
OklahomaOklahoma Puppy Mill Truth
PennsylvaniaNorthern Pennsylvania Puppy Mill Watch
Pet Store Protest
Puppy Mill Awareness Day
United Against Puppy Mills (UAPM)
Texas Texans Exposing Petland
WisconsinWisconsin Citizens Against Puppy Mills
Wisconsin Puppy Mill Project
Wisconsin Voters for Companion Animals