Speak out! Less than a month left to pass new animal-friendly legislation
The Washington State legislative session is winding down—the session lasts until April 22. Many bills affecting animals did not make it through the committee stage, but there is still time to impact the bills below:
Please speak out for these bills today!
WA HB 1418 Protecting consumers from the keeping of dangerous wild animals
This legislation bans people from possessing and breeding potentially dangerous exotic animals, such as tigers or alligators. Often bought when they are young and easier to manage, these exotic animals may pose a threat to the public as they grow and begin to exert their natural behaviors. Exotic animals may also transmit diseases to humans, local wildlife and livestock. There is also a risk of accidental release into our communities during a natural disaster, or intentional release by their owner when an animal becomes too difficult or expensive to care for. Washington is one of 13 states that currently have no regulations banning private possession of exotic animals. This bill has successfully moved from the House into the Senate. Contact your senator and let him or her know how important this bill is to you.
PAWS' position: Support
Status: Placed on second reading by Rules Committee
View HB 1418 information on the Washington State Legislature's website.
WA SB 5188 Establishing a wildlife rehabilitation program
This legislation will establish a program to financially support the critical role that licensed rehabilitators perform in caring for sick, injured and orphaned wildlife. Wildlife rehabilitators work with thousands of wild species in need—mostly suffering from human-related injuries—and desperately need more funding to carry out their life-saving work. This bill is an exciting step toward supporting wildlife rehabilitation in Washington State. It has successfully moved out of the Senate and into the House. Contact your representative and let him or her know why this bill is important to Washington State's wildlife and you.
PAWS' position: Support
Status: Scheduled for executive session in the House Committee on Agriculture & Natural Resources
View SB 5188 information on the Washington State Legislature's website.
WA SB 5227 Increasing the penalty for animal abandonment
This legislation defines animal abandonment as the knowing, or reckless, desertion of an animal by its owner, in any place, without making provisions for the animal's adequate care. If this bill passes, the penalty for animal abandonment will be increased from "misdemeanor" to "gross misdemeanor." This bill has successfully moved out of the Senate and into the House. Contact your representative and let him or her know you support this bill and want it to move onto the House floor for a full vote.
PAWS' position: Support
Status: Scheduled for public hearing in the House Committee on Judiciary
View SB 5227 information on the Washington State Legislature's website.
Contact your legislator
By phone:
- Toll-free legislative hotline 1.800.562.6000
Hearing impaired: 1.800.635.9993
- Use the talking points above, under each bill, to help you prepare a brief statement ahead of time.
- Ask to speak with the aide handling the issue you are concerned about.
- Be courteous, brief and leave your phone, email and home address.
By e-mail or letter:
Also contact Governor Christine Gregoire for every priority you voice with your legislator.
Track the progress of bills at PAWS' 2007 legislative updates page.
Support animal-friendly education in our community!
The national trend toward more humane methods of studying science was reflected in a recent Everett Herald article about a local high school student who spoke out against dissection. The student from Marysville-Pilchuck High School expressed concern about dissecting, or cutting into, a dead rat in her biology class. She was informed by the school's administration that she could opt out and complete an alternative assignment for credit. Although in the past, legislation protecting a student's right to choose alternatives to dissection was introduced in Washington State, currently no laws exist. (In at least 13 states nationally, student choice policies have been enacted.)
Millions of animals, and hundreds of species, are dissected in classrooms each year. The most common species are frogs, cats and pigs. Frogs used for dissection are often captured in the wild, which can cause significant depletion of wild populations. Companion animals such as cats are trapped and euthanized using highly stressful and inhumane methods. Fetal pigs used for dissection are by-products of cruel confinement conditions in factory farms. Dissection in schools not only perpetuates the notion that animal life is expendable and of little value, but it also alienates compassionate students interested in life sciences. Alternatives do exist. Below are some steps you can take to speak out against dissection:
Explore humane science education alternatives
Review the Humane Society of the United States' informative dissection packet to gain more insight on dissection in education and humane alternatives.
Find free resources and materials for educators and students at Animalearn's website. This organization offers humane science education books, videos and educational kits, suitable for levels ranging from K-12, to university, and even veterinary and medical schools. The organization's Science Bank is home to the latest in high-tech, animal-friendly educational technology for the classroom, available at no cost.
Communicate with your school about dissection choice policies
Find out if your school has an opt-out policy for dissection without penalizing the student's scholastic credit. Using the New England Anti-Vivisection Society's information on student concerns to dissection and guidelines to student choice policies in schools, respectfully talk to your school's advisors, teachers, and principals about permitting students to choose humane alternatives.
Share your success stories
Tell PAWS about the action for animals you've taken in your community as a result of our Actionline email alerts. Were you inspired to speak out after you received a PAWS Actionline alert? And did you get a response? We'd love to hear about it! E-mail us at info@paws.org with "Actionline" in the subject line, and tell us about your experience and the outcome.
Thank you for speaking out for the animals!
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