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MD is next!
FROM HSUS
Animal Advocates in Maryland: Animals Need Your
Help
Dear Animal Advocate:
Please join The Humane Society of the United States for a
meeting on how you can make a tremendous difference for animals in
Maryland. Your voice, and that of your neighbors, friends and
relatives, has the power to enact laws that will improve the
protection for animals in this state. With this in mind, we invite
you to join us at one of our two "Maryland Legislative Agenda"
meetings, each in a different part of the state to make it easier
for you to attend (details are attached). The legislators in your
district are in key positions to advance critical legislation for
the animals, and we want you to know the most effective ways in
which to communicate your message to them.
In the meetings we will provide you with a basic "lobby 101" for
citizen activists, and discuss some of the bills that will be
introduced in the 2005 session. A quick summary of some of those
bills include:
Legislation to Stop the Bear hunting: The administration held
its first bear hunt in fifty years this fall, killing twenty bears
and sadly the first reported death was a ninth month old cub. This
hunt ended a half of century of protection for Maryland's black
bears. However, current estimates indicate that there are less than
400 bears in the state and these bears face threats from development
and habitat fragmentation and intensive hunting in bordering states,
in addition to being among the slowest mammals to reproduce. Last
years hunt was misguided and unnecessary, and legislation will be
introduced to require legislative approval for any future bear hunts.
Prohibition on Exotic Wildlife as Pets: While exotic wild animals
may appear cute and cuddly while young, but they often grow to be
larger, stronger, and more dangerous than owners expect or can
manage. Disease and parasites that they carry can be dangerous to
human health, and recognizing animal illnesses is often difficult.
Providing appropriate and humane care requires considerable
expertise, specialized facilities, and total dedication. This is
very difficult for the average pet owner, and the animals invariably
suffer because of it. All too often the life of a wild pet is
miserable, languishing in a back yard cage or garage, or circling
endlessly in a small cage or aquarium. Legislation will be
introduced to strengthen address the private possession of certain
wild animals.
Intensive Confinement of Pregnant Pigs: On just a handful of
factory farms in Maryland, pregnant pigs (the "breeding stock") are
kept in 2ft x 7ft metal crates (commonly called gestation crates)
for almost 4 months at a time (the entire length of each pregnancy).
They are moved to another cage to have their piglets, only to be
inseminated again and put back in the tiny crate for the duration of
the next pregnancy. This cycle can go on for up to five years,
forcing pigs to spend at least 80% of their lives unable to turn
around or take more than a step forward or backward. A bill to
mandate more room for these animals was narrowly defeated last year,
and will be reintroduced.
Your involvement is crucial to passing these bills, and
fortunately, very little of your time is required. Some people
think, "No, I'm not that kind of person -- I'm just not political"
or "I don't know anything about legislation or these issues, so I
better not go." But PLEASE, come to a meeting. ANY person who cares
about animals at all is needed and it doesn't matter one bit if
you've never been involved in legislation or politics before. It's
easy to make a difference for the animals. We need everyone to be a
part of this effort! Please attend one of these meetings to learn
about animal protection bills, meet other animal advocates in your
area, and discuss the best ways to convey your message to
legislators.
We hope to see you there as we come together to make 2005 a
positive year for the animals!
Andrea Kozil
Grassroots
Coordinator
Julie Janovsky
Senior State Legislative Specialist
ANIMAL PROTECTION ACTIVIST MEETINGS
Monday, January 10th 7 PM until 8:30
Davis Community Library
6400 Democracy Blvd
Bethesda, MD 20817
240-777-0922
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