A great opportunity to make a difference for animals

E-mail your Senator TODAY to support HB 1151 in its Original Format

HB 1151, introduced by Representative John Lovick, will prohibit future ownership of large cats, wolves, bears, non-human primates, alligators, and other potentially dangerous wild animals kept in private possession. This important bill passed overwhelmingly in the Washington State House of Representatives at the beginning of the legislative session and moved on to the state Senate.

In the Senate, the bill was amended, making it into a "study bill," where a committee would be formed to study the issue before proceeding with legislation. The bill has already been thoroughly examined over the course of the past 5 years! This is completely unnecessary and would not achieve what has been needed in Washington for a long time: protection for animals and people. The Legislature must ensure once and for all that the private ownership of dangerous exotic animals is banned throughout the state. Thankfully, the House rejected the Senate's amendment and we now need to convince the Senate to recede from the amendments making HB 1151 a study bill and to reinstate HB 1151 to its original bill language.

Washington is one of 13 states that currently have no regulations prohibiting private possession of dangerous exotic animals. Considering our expanding knowledge of and news coverage about the risks associated with keeping exotic animals as “pets,” it’s time to pass this bill in Washington.

We ask you to do the following:
Please contact your state Senator. Please email him/her TODAY and urge that s/he support a motion to reinstate the original language of HB 1151 passed by the House. Suggestions on what to say is provided below — please try to phrase the letter in your own words. Time is of the essence!! The legislative session ends this week!

If you do not know yet who represents you, go to http://www1.leg.wa.gov/legislature/. Click on Find Your Legislator or 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.

Below is suggested general wording for your email:

I am very concerned about the private possession of wild and dangerous animals in our state and support the original language of HB 1151 passed by the House. I urge you to recede from the amendments making HB 1151 a study bill thereby reinstating HB 1151 to its original bill language when it is presented on the Senate floor for a vote.

Thank you for advocating for animals by contacting your legislators!