As Summer Winds Down, We Wind Up!

Summer will soon be coming to an end:  return – to – school sales are in full swing, and final pool, beach and vacation times are upon us. The days are becoming shorter as Labor Day and fall approach.  And, the Pennsylvania legislature will resume session in mid-September. The lazy days of summer will soon be over, but – as summer winds down, we wind up!

Campaign season soon begins in earnest: the general election is less than 3 months away. As campaign season kicks up, there is much we all should do to make sure that Pennsylvania elects the most humane legislature ever.  At Humane PA, we are very busy working on election endorsements, a difficult but very exciting process.  A record number of candidates have completed endorsement questionnaires and we are thrilled to see sensitive and thoughtful responses by so many, not only reflecting a deep commitment to protecting animals in our state, but also a commitment to use their position as lawmakers to do so. We expect to release endorsements in late September.

As we wind up for election season and the legislature’s return to Harrisburg, here are action items we each can take:

1. Have the candidates in your district completed the Humane PA endorsement survey? It’s not too late for them to do so! Please contact your candidates and forward to them the endorsement link and urge them to take the survey immediately.
2. Schedule a meeting with a candidate – and find out his/her position on pending animal protection laws and what he/she will do legislatively to protect animals. Getting to them early, particularly when they need your vote, means you get their ear and often secures their positions. Candidates may be new to these issues, so we encourage you to also refer them to the Humane PA website, www.humane-pa.org.
3. Schedule a meeting with your current lawmakers, before they return to Harrisburg. There are many animal protection bills pending which could move and be passed this session. Tell your legislators that you support these bills and ask what he/she will do to help move them into law.
4. HB 1216, the Motor Vehicle Extreme Heat Protection Act, passed the House unanimously and is awaiting action in the Senate. Contact your state senator and ask him/her to support HB 1216. (link to legislators) The message can be simple: “I am your constituent – please support HB 1216, the Hot Car Bill.”
5. HB 2601, the Puppy Retail Sale Bill, and the Senate version of the bill, SB 1154, are pending. These bills will take a bite out of breeding mills by prohibiting the sale of dogs, cats and rabbits in pet stores unless sourced from shelters and rescues, and require advertisers to include license numbers. Please let your representative and senator know that you want them to support these bills.
6. Volunteer for the campaign of a humane candidate. Door knocking, phone banking, literature distribution can all help a humane candidate be elected into office. We’ll have more information to share after the Humane PA endorsements are released.
7. If you are not yet registered to vote, do so as soon as you finish reading this blog. Voting for a humane candidate on election day is critical to electing humane candidates into office!

As summer winds down, let’s all wind up and do our part to elect into office lawmakers who will introduce, co-sponsor and advocate for better laws for animals, lawmakers who will work to make a more humane PA!