State Senate Bill 5211, which would ban the use of live animals given invasive medical procedures during paramedic trainings, made it through the state house but is stuck in Rep. Timm Ormsby (D-Spokane)’s Appropriations Committee.
Here’s his number: (360) 786-7946. If you know anyone in Spokane, encourage them to call too: That’s the area he represents.
It’s tight, but there’s still time for him to get this bill out of his committee and up for a vote.
Please call and leave a quick message today! Let’s get SB 5211 passed!!
Amazingly, House Bill 2097 that threatens the endangered status of wolves in Washington state is still alive in the state Senate. It’s passed the full House and is now up for a second reading before the full Senate.
Even if you’ve already written, now is the time to call your state senator (type your address in here) and let him or her know that you oppose this bill. Leave a message tonight (Sunday) so they get it in the morning, or call first thing Monday before they vote.
While you’re on the phone, ask them to vote FOR HB 1026, which is also up for a Senate vote. It would prohibit a city or county from prohibiting the possession of a dog based upon its breed, imposing requirements specific to possession of a dog based upon its breed, or declaring a dog dangerous or potentially dangerous based upon its breed unless certain conditions are met.
Photo credit: Jo-Anne McArthur / We Animals
A bill by Washington Rep. Joel Kretz, R-Wauconda, that asks the state to revisit whether wolves are endangered in Washington has passed the state house and is moving through the Senate, on track to pass.
H.B. 2097 calls for the Department of Fish and Wildlife—which has overseen the killing of wolves on behalf of Washington ranchers whose cattle graze on state land—to determine whether wolves are no longer endangered either statewide or in parts of Washington.
It also calls for more resources to implement nonlethal deterrents to wolf-livestock management, which would be a relief given that a former Washington State University wolf expert said he thought such deterrents were not being implemented properly.
A better solution would be for ranchers to stop grazing their livestock on public land. Barring that, if they do raise their cattle on public land, they could accept the risk that a small percentage might be lost to wolves. The state’s ratio of cattle to wolves is about 1 million to 120, according to the Center for Biological Diversity. Yet 20% of the wolves have been killed, most of them for a single rancher.
The center calls for wildlife officials to “follow the science by ramping up nonlethal measures, opening their decisions to scientific peer review and public comment and do more to protect our endangered wolves, which after all is the agency’s mission.”
H.B. 2097 gets it half right. Asking an agency that’s acted on behalf of ranchers to decide whether to delist the wolves as endangered is the other half, and the reason to kill the bill.
Please contact your Washington state legislators (find them here) and ask them not to pass this bill.
From Citizens to Alternatives to Animal Research and Experimentation:
“In a groundbreaking move, global drug developer Vanda Pharmaceuticals, Inc. has filed a lawsuit and taken a principled stance against the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its senseless demand that the company conduct an additional nine-month, large animal toxicity study in order to proceed with clinical trials for Vanda’s new drug, tradipitant.
The FDA’s decision means that dozens of animals, most likely dogs, will be put to death after enduring painful side effects from high levels of the drug.”
Support Vanda by filling out this form to be sent to the FDA and the Health and Human Services Secretary.
“While harsh and inhumane, the stipulation is also unnecessary. Vanda has already conducted numerous FDA-required animal tests, including three- and six-month trials with rats, mice and dogs at 300 times the human dosage amounts, and (according to the company) with no significant safety concerns.
It is highly unlikely that outcomes from an additional nine-month trial would deviate from previous results, but it is 100% certain that dozens of dogs will die a miserable death because of it.
CAARE emphatically supports Vanda’s lawsuit and has already reached out to the company letting them know we will back their position to the fullest extent.
We’re asking you to join us in supporting Vanda’s historic stance opposing the FDA’s senseless requirement for additional animal tests.
Fill out the form above to send your letter to FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb and Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar, letting them know you support Vanda’s efforts to waive these additional animal tests.
Vanda has released an open letter that unequivocally states its position, and urges all concerned individuals to get involved: “The FDA has relied on industry complacency for too long. Vanda refuses to sacrifice young beagles or other animals in a study that serves no scientific purpose. … Vanda is therefore standing up to the FDA and hopes that other scientists, drug companies, animal advocates, and the public will do the same.””
Thank you to CAARE for bringing this oppportunity for action to light!
Cooper Tires and others are sponsoring Professional Bull Riders (PBR) at the “Tacoma Invitational” on March 30 and 31.
Let’s speak up for the bulls, who are cinched with tight straps or ropes and spurred to make them buck. They often sustain serious injuries, from burns to neck and back damage.
That’s not to mention the electrical “hotshot” used in the chute to cause tremendous pain.
They’re often so bruised and injured that they’re sold to slaughterhouses.
Please speak out using PBR’s social media outlets:
And write to the businesses that support this treatment of animals:
These bills either made it into committees or have a chance. Either way, they need an extra push to pass or fail in the current session of the legislature — so please call (if you have time) or email soon!
Find your legislators here — and fill out a single simple form for all three of your representatives.
ASK LAWMAKERS TO OPPOSE
HB 1323: Would provide funding for Woodland Park Zoo, which is a PRIVATE zoo with a horrible track record with elephants and other animals. More information here.
ASK LAWMAKERS TO SUPPORT
HB 1919: Would expand the circumstances under which a person may commit an Animal Fighting offense to include, among other things. Read more here.
HB 1026: Prohibits a city or county from prohibiting the possession of a dog based upon its breed, imposing requirements specific to possession of a dog based upon its breed, or declaring a dog dangerous or potentially dangerous based upon its breed unless certain conditions are met.
SB 5004: Save Washington Pets says: “This important bill authorizes public animal shelters and nonprofit humane societies to provide expanded veterinary services to benefit low-income pet owners. Under current law, services are limited to spay/neuter, electronic ID (microchipping) and vaccinations. Those restrictions are lifted under this bill.”
HB 1476: [NEEDS TO GET OUT OF COMMITTEE BY NEXT WEEK!] would prohibit contracts that use dogs or cats as security or collateral, so that these pets cannot be repossessed.
SB 5211: Prohibits the use of live animals to practice invasive medical procedures in paramedic training programs.
SB 5212: Promotes the adoption of dogs and cats that have been used for science or research purposes.
If you have time to write more, here are talking points:
THANKS for you help in stopping the zoos from getting more of our tax dollars which they will use to confine and breed/capture wild animals.
The PRIVATE Woodland Park Zoo has its hand out for more taxpayer welfare in the upcoming King County Parks Levy.
Please urge the King County Council to remove the zoo from getting more tax dollars in the parks levy – money that should go to our beloved PUBLIC parks.
Twitter: @kingcountywa
Email: https://blue.kingcounty.gov/about/contact/
Woodland Park Zoo has already received more than $51 million dollars from King County taxpayers since 2008. In addition, Seattle taxpayers (who are also King County taxpayers) have forked over $133 million dollars to the zoo since 2002. The zoo also benefits from rent-free use of the valuable land on which it sits, rent-free buildings, and free ownership of its inventory: the animals.
It’s time for the PRIVATE zoo to be self-sustaining. Woodland Park Zoo’s gate attendance has declined over the past decade. The public is not supporting the caging and suffering of wild animals as they once did so it’s time to STOP financially supporting the Zoo.
Sample email:
Dear County Council,
Woodland Park Zoo is a private zoo, but it already uses valuable land rent-free. The parks levy should be for our beloved city parks, not a private zoo. Let this private zoo fund itself privately.
Sincerely,
Your Name
The Pike Place Market Foundation is hosting a misnamed “Pigs Day Out” on March 1 to “celebrate” the year of the pig. Included in the event is pig racing. They will be using pigs from “All Alaska Racing Pigs.” While they claim the pigs receive VIP treatment, these pigs are also sent off to “backyard farms,” where they will likely end up in the slaughterhouse. And “climate controlled living environments” and racing on wood shavings, certainly don’t make up for the stress of being forced to race in front of a screaming crowd.
Please contact the Pike Place Market Foundation and POLITELY let them know how you feel about pigs being treated as entertainment:
christi.beckley@pikeplacemarket.org
or use their contact page:
When: Sunday, Feb. 24., 4-6 p.m.
Where: Papas Hot Potatoes, 500 NW 65th St., Seattle
Please join us for a letter-writing party on behalf of the animals over dinner at Papas Hot Potatoes in Ballard.
Letter writing is a simple and powerful way to make change for the animals! You’re welcome to bring your laptop, but NARN also provides stationery, pens, stamps and sample letters.
Topics for letters at past parties have included support for the orcas and wolves, opposition to the creation of new animal laboratories, and raising the spirits of activists and comrades who have been jailed for their pro-animal and political actions.
Check out the yummy menu at Papas Hot Potatoes: https://www.papashotpotatoes.com/menu/