By now most of you have hopefully, reviewed our endorsement list for the upcoming election. I would like to mention some specific races that are very close, where our endorsed candidate will need all the votes he or she can get. The candidates we endorsed are those with the best voting record for animal welfare bills and/or a very positive response to our Humane Legislation Questionnaire. So if you are in any of the following districts, please consider casting your vote for these candidates. These are the animal welfare advocates we need in office.
District 1
House of Representatives, Position 1--Derek Stanford
District 2
House of Representatives, Position 2--Tom Campbell
District 6
Senate--Chris Marr
District 7
Senate--Barbara Mowrey
District 18
House of Representatives, Position 1--Dennis Kampe
District 23
House of Representatives, Position 1--Sherry Appleton
District 24
House of Representatives, Position 2--Steve Tharinger
District 25
House of Representatives, Position 2 --Dawn Morrell
District 26
House of Representatives, Position 1--Sumner Schoenike
House of Representative, Position 2 --Larry Seaquist
District 28
House of Representatives, Position 1--Troy Kelley
District 30
Senate--Tracey Eide
District32
House of Representatives, Position1--Cindy Ryu
District 34
House of Representatives, Position 2--Joe Fitzgibbon
District 35
House of Representatives, Position 1--Kathy Haigh
District 38
House of Representatives, Position 1--John McCoy
District 39
House of Representatives, Position 1--Eleanor Walters
District 40
House of Representatives, Position 1--Kristine Lytton
District 41
Senate--Randy Gordon
House of Representatives, Position 1--Marcie Maxwell
District 42
Senate--Pat Jerns
House of Representatives, Position 2--Kelli Linville
District 44
House of Representatives, Position 1--Hans Dunshee
District 45
Senate--Eric Oemig
House of Representatives, Position 1--Roger Goodman
District 47
Senate-Claudia Kauffman
House of Representatives, Position 1--Geoff Simpson
District 48
Senate--Rodney Tom
District 49
House of Representatives, Position 2--Jim Moeller
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Supreme Court decision
I guess most people are aware by now of the Supreme Courts decision to make animal cruelty videos protected speech. It is quite unbelievable to me that this could have happened. There is a good discussion of this http://www.animallawcoalition.com/animal-cruelty/article/558#comment-3800. It explains why the Justices made this decision and gives Justice Alito's dissent. The big interests won out. The NRA wanted this law struck down. I would like to hear from others, their thoughts on this decision.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
We are a cause on facebook
We are now a cause on facebook. Please check it out and join the cause. The bigger our numbers, the stronger our voice will be, so please spread the word to your friends about LOHV Washington State. If you haven't seen it yet we have a new look to our website home page. We will also be adding a page for local issues in legislative districts. If anyone is doing something locally that you would like to have posted please let me know. We should have this page up and running soon.
Monday, April 5, 2010
Yeah! Lewis County Commissioners
The Lewis County Commissioners adopted a county ordinance that tightened up on the language in the Washington State puppy mill bill. They changed the wording used in the state bill, which says that a person can own no more that 50 intact dogs age 6 months or more to there can be no more than 50 intact dogs on one property. This ensures that several people living on a property can't each own 50 dogs. This will hopefully start to limit the number of puppy mills we see here in Lewis County.
I would also like to thank everyone who wrote letters, called and attended the public hearing on this matter. You made a difference! A lot of dogs lives will be better because of you.
The next step will be to institute some type of annual certification for all breeders with an annual inspection. Right now there has to be legitimate reports and complaints of abuse and neglect occuring before the animal control officer can investigate and they still can't enter anyones property without being invited. This means they have to get a warrant to enter the property. An annual inspection would allow for regular access to their property to make sure they are complying with the law, which also requires kennel sizes to be certain size and that the dogs have exercise at least one hour a day. The commissioners will be looking into kennel licensing in the coming months. I will keep you posted.
I would also like to thank everyone who wrote letters, called and attended the public hearing on this matter. You made a difference! A lot of dogs lives will be better because of you.
The next step will be to institute some type of annual certification for all breeders with an annual inspection. Right now there has to be legitimate reports and complaints of abuse and neglect occuring before the animal control officer can investigate and they still can't enter anyones property without being invited. This means they have to get a warrant to enter the property. An annual inspection would allow for regular access to their property to make sure they are complying with the law, which also requires kennel sizes to be certain size and that the dogs have exercise at least one hour a day. The commissioners will be looking into kennel licensing in the coming months. I will keep you posted.
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Anti-tethering bill
The anti-tethering bill did not get very far along the process at the legislative session. It was introduced, but did not get assigned to a committee. This bill will come back next year. So we have the year to get the word out to everyone and gain support. After puppy mills this is the next abusive type of treatment of dogs that needs to be addressed.
The wild life feeding bill made it the farthest through the process, but due to the short session, did not get passed this session. Again these bills will be back next session.
The only way to help as many animals as possible is to pass humane legislation.
The wild life feeding bill made it the farthest through the process, but due to the short session, did not get passed this session. Again these bills will be back next session.
The only way to help as many animals as possible is to pass humane legislation.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Update
Of the three bills posted on the website, the spay and neuter bill has already been stopped in the Senate Agriculture and Rural Economic Development Committee and in the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee. The Chairman of those respective committees Senator Brian Hatfield and Representative Brian Blake have both stopped the bills from being passed out of their committee. The reasoning given by Brian Blake was that he didn't like the provision of for providing spay and neuter to feral and free-roaming cats due to their impact on birds. He would like them euthanized. However, by doing nothing, the feral population will keep growing and their will be an ever larger impact on birds. Senator Hatfield, on the other hand sited the poor economy. But of course there is already a significant cost to running shelters and euthanizing animals and the worse the economy the less people will have to spay and neuter their pets, hence the cost of the current system goes up. Makes no sense to me.
On a brighter note the other two bills are still in play. The anti-tethering bill is close to my heart and I would dearly like to see this pass. Tethering your dog for life is such an abusive practice. Its like solitary confinement for your entire life. These dogs are usually abused and neglected. Please take the time to call or e-mail your legislators about this bill. Just go to the www.lohvwastate.org for a link to Washington State Legislators.
On a brighter note the other two bills are still in play. The anti-tethering bill is close to my heart and I would dearly like to see this pass. Tethering your dog for life is such an abusive practice. Its like solitary confinement for your entire life. These dogs are usually abused and neglected. Please take the time to call or e-mail your legislators about this bill. Just go to the www.lohvwastate.org for a link to Washington State Legislators.
Monday, February 15, 2010
Just getting started
The League of Humane Voters of Washington State is just getting started. We are very excited to be a part of promoting and protecting the animals of Washington State.
The Mission of the League of Humane Voters® (LOHV) is to create, unite, and strengthen local political action committees, which work to enact animal-friendly legislation and elect candidates for public office who will use their votes and influence for animal protection.
Our goal for Washington State is to have an active political group in every legislative district that can reach the voters in their district and affect animal friendly laws and policies at the local level. We are seeking volunteers who would like to take the leadership in their districts. If you are interested please go to our website www.lohvwastate.org.
The purpose of this blog is to give up to date information on current bills from the 2010 legislative session that effect animals positively or negatively. The bills are posted on our website listed above and the blog will give information on the current status of the bill. We will also be following state and local elections of candidates who will promote animal protection.
Stayed tune for updated information on the bills. I would also like to hear from anybody who would like to talk about the current state bills or whats going with animal protection in their local communities.
The Mission of the League of Humane Voters® (LOHV) is to create, unite, and strengthen local political action committees, which work to enact animal-friendly legislation and elect candidates for public office who will use their votes and influence for animal protection.
Our goal for Washington State is to have an active political group in every legislative district that can reach the voters in their district and affect animal friendly laws and policies at the local level. We are seeking volunteers who would like to take the leadership in their districts. If you are interested please go to our website www.lohvwastate.org.
The purpose of this blog is to give up to date information on current bills from the 2010 legislative session that effect animals positively or negatively. The bills are posted on our website listed above and the blog will give information on the current status of the bill. We will also be following state and local elections of candidates who will promote animal protection.
Stayed tune for updated information on the bills. I would also like to hear from anybody who would like to talk about the current state bills or whats going with animal protection in their local communities.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)