Washington Exotic "Pet" Bill Moves One Step Closer to Passage
We Need your Help to get it Passed out of the Senate!

Great News - HB 1151 has passed out of the house and moves to the Senate for a hearing in the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday, March 30th at 3:30 pm. This is the last step to get this bill passed and we need your help once again!

HB 1151 will prohibit future ownership of large cats, wolves, bears, non-human primates, alligators, and other potentially dangerous wild animals kept in private possession. Washington is one of fifteen states that currently have no regulations prohibiting private possession of dangerous wild animals. Considering our expanding knowledge of and the recent news coverage about the risks associated with keeping wild animals as "pets," it’s time to pass this bill in Washington.

We ask you to do the following to help pass the bill:

1. Please contact your Senator. Please write, call or email him/her today and urge that s/he support HB 1151. Suggestions on what to say is provided below - please try to phrase the letter in your own words.

If you do not know yet who represents you, go to www.leg.wa.gov. Click on Find Out Who Represents You/District Finder. Enter your address and you will be given the names of your Senator. You can click directly onto your Representative’s or Senator’s name and then at the next screen, you will find their address, email address and phone number in Olympia. Or you can call the Toll-Free Legislative Hotline at 1-800-562-6000 and give the operator your address - he or she will tell you who your Senator is.

2. We need letters, calls, and emails to the Senate Judiciary Committee urging them to support HB 1151. If your Senator is on the Committee it is even more important that you write and state that your are a constituent.

Senate Judiciary Committee members:

Senator Adam Kline
360-786-7688
kline_ad@leg.wa.gov

Senator Brian Weinstein
360-786-7641
weinstei_br@leg.wa.gov

Senator Stephen Johnson
360-786-7692
johnson_st@leg.wa.gov

Senator Mike Carrell
360-786-7654
carrell_mi@leg.wa.gov

Senator Luke Esser
360-786-7694
esser_lu@leg.wa.gov

Senator James Hargrove
360-786-7646
hargrove_ji@leg.wa.gov

Senator Bob McCaslin
360-786-7606
mccaslin_bo@leg.wa.gov

Senator Marilyn Rasmussen
360-786-7602
Rasmusse_ma@leg.wa.gov

Senator Pat Thibaudeau
360-786-7628
thibaude_pa@leg.wa.gov

3) If you can attend the hearing, that would be great! The hearing will take place on Wednesday, March 30th, at 3:30 in the John A. Cherberg Building, 1st floor. If you can attend the hearing, please email Jennifer Hillman at jhillman@serv.net.

Below is suggested general wording for your comments, letter, or e-mail:

Thank you for your leadership in Olympia. I am very concerned about the private possession of wild and dangerous animals in our state and support HB 1151. Private possession of wild animals not only poses a public health and safety risk, but is inappropriate and inherently cruel to the animals. I am urging you to please support HB 1151 when it is offered for a vote. Additional points you may want to make in your calls, letters, or e-mails:

• Washington is one of fifteen states that currently have no regulations prohibiting private possession of dangerous wild animals. Considering our expanding knowledge of and the recent news coverage about the risks associated with keeping wild animals as "pets," it’s time to pass this bill in Washington.
• Potentially dangerous wild animals should not be kept as "pets." These animals pose public safety and health risks to their possessors and to the community at large. By their very nature, these animals are wild and inherently dangerous and do not adjust well to a captive environment.
• HB 1151 has long list of organizations and constituents who all support the bill - PAWS, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Washington State Veterinary Medical Association, Washington Association of Counties, Washington Association of Animal Control Agencies (WAACA), the Federation of Animal Control Agencies, the American Zoo and Aquarium Association, Woodland Park Zoo, Northwest Trek Wildlife Park, Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium, The Association of Sanctuaries, and hundreds of constituents.

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