Building the Political Power of the Animal Vote – One Step at a Time

Humane PA has some ambitious goals that we believe are achievable. One of our most important goals is to get every lawmaker in the state to consider the positions of Humane PA and our devoted and passionate supporters before voting on any bill which relates to animals. We will also work diligently to get more animal welfare laws introduced and passed. Like you, we want our state to be a kinder and more humane place for animals.

Humane PA is already a strong presence in Harrisburg. Thousands of you respond to our action alerts and have become well versed in the political process. You have gotten to know your legislators, you campaign for humane candidates, you remind your friends and family and acquaintances to do the same, you raise your voices for animals. But, to achieve our goals, and to help animals as much as possible, Humane PA has to become even stronger. We need to become stronger financially and that requires the uncomfortable task of asking for your financial support.

To be as effective as possible, we need to be able to send Humane PA representatives to as many political events as possible. If the opponents of the humane treatment of animals get an ear of a legislator, we want the other ear. In short, we want Humane PA to be everywhere and in the forefront of every legislator’s mind. That is how more bills get introduced and passed, and defeat those who oppose humane legislation. That is how we will create a state that IS a more kind and more humane place for animals.

We have great foot-soldiers, but we now need to be in a financial position to meaningfully support candidates who are genuine humane candidates – and to oppose those who are not. After all, what better way to get more humane related bills passed than by electing lawmakers committed to improving the lives of animals and to a humane agenda – and removing those who stand in our way?

Humane PA already is a social media powerhouse, but we need to be able to reach even more Pennsylvania residents with our anti-cruelty message. We are currently over 25,000 strong, but we know that there are thousands and thousands of Pennsylvania residents who care deeply about humane issues, who have not yet come aboard. We want to reach everyone in the state and to mobilize as many people as possible when a bill we support – or oppose – is being considered by the legislators.

If you are like me, I suspect you are thinking – oh no, not another request for money to help animals! Many of us, like many of you, are stretched so thin already, using our hard-earned financial resources to help animals in so many ways, rescue, foster, TNR, etc. We know there are so many competing needs, because they are the same ones of concern to us. But, we truly believe that if there were better laws, laws which addressed many of the issues and problems that so many of us are out in the trenches working on, the competing needs would diminish and life would be better for all of Pennsylvania’s animals.

So, this is the “ask” that is very difficult– will you contribute to help us reach our goals? A donation of any amount – $5, $10, $15, $25 – or more will help get us there. Humane PA is an all-volunteer organization – no one takes a salary and our lobbyists donate their time and efforts – so every dollar donated goes directly to furthering our goals of making Pennsylvania a more kind, more humane and safer place for its animals.

 here to give animals a stronger voice in Harrisburg and thank you!

   Elissa B. Katz is the President of Humane PA and a partner in the law firm of Meranze, Katz, Gaudioso & Newlin, P.C. in Philadelphia. She is a regular volunteer with the Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society (PAWS), assisting with cat care and adoption applications at an adoption site.  She is also a board member of The Humane League.