Your Voice Matters

After the election results are finalized in November, the Washington State Legislature will convene in January 2011 for its 105-day session. The newly-elected legislators, as well as incumbents, will want to know what you—the people who put them in office—have to say. So few citizens actually share their opinions with elected officials. It takes less than a minute to e-mail or call your legislators about issues that matter to you, and it can literally change the course of a bill that impacts animals. You can easily find contact details for your legislators at leg.wa.gov.

Please join PAWS and other area organizationsin support of these important animal-related issues coming up in 2011:

A spay-neuter bill which would fund 70,000 spay and neuter surgeries per year for cats and dogs of low-income residents, and for feral and free-roaming cats in Washington State. Let your legislators know that affordable, accessible spaying and neutering are humane, proactive solutions that would save our communities millions of dollars in preventable animal control and sheltering costs. Visit SaveWashingtonPets.org for more information.

A ban on feeding certain wild animals such as bears and Cougars, to prevent habituation of and reduce conflicts with these animals. This would give wildlife enforcement officers a means to investigate, educate and fine neighbors who intentionally feed potentially dangerous wildlife. Let your legislators know that reducing intentional feeding of certain wildlife, including Raccoons, will keep communities safe.

To keep abreast of these and other animal issues impacting animals in 2011, sign up for our Actionline e-news or keep watch of the PAWS Blog.