Friday, February 11th, 2005
PAWS
Actionline
A great opportunity
to make a difference
for animals
PAWS Campaign Against Circuses That Use Performing Animals
Important Links
PAWS Animal Cruelty Resources and Links
Legislative Links
Washington State- House of Representatives
- Senate
Federal
- House of Representatives
- Senator Maria Cantwell
- Senator Patty Murray
Vote Smart is an excellent resource for all sorts of legislation.
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PAWS Mailing Address:
PO Box 1037
Lynnwood WA, 98046
PAWS Physical Address:
15305 44th Ave W
Lynnwood, WA 98037
Your action is needed to help strengthen Washington State Animal Cruelty Laws!
There is a bill being proposed currently in the Washington State Legislature to revise the animal cruelty laws. It is House Bill #1499 in the House and Senate Bill #5532 in the Senate (same version). This is important legislation strongly supported by the Washington State Federation of Animal Care & Control Agencies, as well as HSUS and many other animal welfare organizations.
HB 1499 & SB 5532 update several outdated or unclear portions of Chapter 16.52 in the Revised Code of Washington. The proposed bills elevate animal cruelty in the first degree to a class B felony (maximum sentence = 10 years and/or $20,000 fine) and applies to the most heinous of animal cruelty. Animal cruelty in the second degree will be elevated to a class C felony (maximum sentence = 5 years and/or $10,000 fine). Owners and/or operators of animal fights will be charged with a class C felony (it is now a gross misdemeanor). The provision that someone could claim "economic distress" as an "affirmative defense" is also removed in HB 1499 & SB 5532.
Why does the law need to be changed?
1. The current law does not provide sufficient penalties for cases of animal cruelty. In cases across the state (including recent cases in Spokane, Pasco, Wilkeson, Renton and Bellevue), those found guilty of animal cruelty are receiving lowered penalties or being released early from jail.
2. Lax penalties send the message to prosecutors and criminals alike that animal welfare is not important in our state. This encourages the acceptance of pleas to lower counts and lesser penalties.
3. Violence against any living being should not be tolerated. The cycle of violence often begins with animal cruelty. If we identify, punish and correct the behavior of animal abusers whenever and wherever we can, by the strongest and most effective means possible, we can help prevent the offenders from committing further acts of violence against animals and violent crime against humans.
The Need for Your Awareness and What You Can Do:
Already several bills regarding animals and animal cruelty have been introduced in Olympia. We need you to contact your legislators and encourage their support of HB 1499 and SB 5532. More specifically, please contact the members of the Senate Judiciary Committee (Senator Adam Kline, Chair) and the members of the House Judiciary Committee (Representative Pat Lantz, Chair) to urge them to hold hearings on these two bills. Hearings are needed first before committees decide whether or not to pass, reject or do nothing with the bill. The last day the legislature can consider bills for the 2005 session is March 16th.
If you would like to find out the status of any bill in the state legislature, or how to contact members of the Washington State Senate and House of Representatives representing your district, simply go to www1.leg.wa.gov. Or call the toll-free Legislative Hotline at 1-800-562-6000 to leave a message for your two Washington State representatives and one state senator asking them to support HB 1499 and SB 5532.
'Absolutely Puppies' Demonstrations Continue!
Date: Sunday, February 13th, 2005 (Day BEFORE Valentine's Day)
Time: 12:00pm - 2:00pm (Carpool from AFA office in the U-District at 11:30am; email or call if you need a ride)
Location: Absolutely Puppies Pet Store, 805 111 Ave NE, Bellevue, WA 98004
Contact: www.afa-online.org
Please join activists and animal lovers for a special Valentine's-themed protest against Absolutely Puppies (AP). Demonstrators will carry black hearts and signs reading:
"What Absolutely Puppies Does to Animals Breaks My Heart"
"Have a Heart, Adopt from a Shelter"
"Absolutely Puppies is Heartless."
Help send the message that it is highly irresponsible to buy pet store animals while there are millions of shelter animals who desperately need homes. We will also be alerting potential customers that AP sells sick puppies that most likely come from puppy mills.
History:
For the past year AFA (Action For Animals) has been investigating Absolutely Puppies (AP). They have reports from several sources that AP has sold sick puppies, including puppies with the highly contagious Parvovirus. Parvo can cause bloody diarrhea, depression and suppression of white blood cells. In very young puppies it can infect the heart muscle and lead to "sudden" death. Due to AP's secrecy with regards to the origin of the puppies they sell, AFA believes AP may be buying from puppy mills.
A Book Signing You Won't Want to Miss!
Ingrid E. Newkirk, president of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), will be talking about, reading from, and signing copies of her new book, Making Kind Choices: Everyday Ways to Enhance Your Life Through Earth- and Animal-Friendly Living at Third Place Books on Monday, February 14.
Date: Monday, February 14
Time: 7 p.m.
Place: Third Place Books
17171 Bothell Way N.E.
Lake Forest Park, WA
