Novia and I are ecstatic to announce that the Humane Pet Sales Bill has passed in its Senate committee, meaning it has officially moved on to Senate Rules!
We had the honor of testifying in support of HB 1424 this past Tuesday to the Senate Business, Financial Services, and Trade committee, and we were so excited to hear about its quick passage just days after. Though this is an incredible step forward, our work is not yet done. In light of the news, many pet stores are working rapidly to set up as many new establishments as possible before the bill's potential finalization. Thus, we have contacted the senators of the Rules committee and requested that they please bring HB 1424 to the Senate Floor as soon as possible. The more voices the better, so we'd like to politely ask that anyone able echoes this request in messages to the Rules senators. Here is a link to their information. Here is an example message for your convenience: Dear Senator [LAST NAME], My name is [INSERT YOUR NAME HERE] and I am writing to you in support of the Humane Pet Sales Bill, which was introduced this legislative session as HB 1424. This crucial bill is now in the Rules committee, and I hope you will vote to pull it to the Senate Floor as soon as possible to protect consumers and animals alike from unscrupulous puppy mills. Without hurting reputable breeders, the Humane Pet Sales Bill would close the channel between puppy/kitten mills and the public by prohibiting any new stores from selling cats or dogs. This compromise would put a freeze on the current issue, preventing it from worsening. It is imperative that HB1424 pass promptly, as pet stores selling mill-bred puppies are attempting to quickly expand before it comes into effect. Thank you for your support of a more humane future! Sincerely, [INSERT YOUR NAME] Novia and I would like to express our sincere gratitude for all the support and guidance we've received throughout this lengthy process. The finish line is in sight, we just need your help!
0 Comments
We are overjoyed to relay that The Humane Pet Sale Bill (HB1424) has passed in the House! It is now beginning it's journey in the Senate, where it will start in the Business, Financial Services, and Trade Committee.
We would like to extend a special thank you to Representatives Amy Walen, April Berg, and John Lovick, who were among this bill's greatest supporters. Their work has been absolutely essential to the bill's success so far, and we could not be more grateful! The wonderful people at Pasado's Safe Haven have created a way for Washington citizens to easily send their thanks to all three legislators at once, which we highly encourage you to do via this link. As mentioned prior, the bill is now awaiting a hearing in the Washington Senate's Business, Financial Services, and Trade Committee. If you live in Washington State and want to support the Humane Pet Sales Bill, now is the time to contact your state senator to let them know! As always, constituent support will make the biggest difference in whether this crucial piece of legislation becomes law. Olympia, WA 3/11/21 Now is the time to let your voices be heard! The 2021 Humane Pet Sales Bill is awaiting a floor vote in the WA House of Representatives.
After several busy weeks, Novia and I are ecstatic to share some updates! This past month, we've had the pleasure of being interviewed for a Crosscut article shedding further light on the urgency of this legislation. All while remaining socially distant, we talked at length about our efforts and were even photographed with our furry family, as pictured above! We are so grateful to have been able to help spread the word about the Humane Pet Sales Bill, and are so grateful to Crosscut for the experience! In other exciting news, on February 11th we testified in the Consumer Protection and Business Committee. Though the committee hearing was virtual, Novia and I were just as humbled and excited to promote the passage of the bill! During this process, an amendment was made to the bill that limits its original source transparency measures. Despite this, we are still grateful for the new protections this bill offers for consumers and animals alike. Essentially, while not as comprehensive as we had intended, the bill will ensure the issue of puppy mill sales does not get worse in Washington, as it bans any new puppy-selling stores from opening. Additionally, it leaves a viable pathway for local progress efforts; something we are certainly optimistic about. As it stands, the bill is waiting to be voted on in the House. The bill must be passed in this chamber by March 9th, otherwise it will remain on the Floor until our next legislative session. Novia and I have been doing our best to urge our network to contact their legislators, but the more support, the better off we are! Letting your House Reps. know you are in support of HB 1424 is imperative, so we politely ask that if you are able to contact your Representatives, please do so (here's a link to our "How to Help" page to get started)! We are so hopeful for this bill and subsequent measures we can take to best ensure the wellbeing of consumers and animals in our state! This journey has been long and informative, and it is far from over. However, this next big push can make all the difference! Olympia, WA 3/4/2021 |