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When 13-year-old Theresa Edwards learned about the cruelty of puppy mills, she wanted to do whatever she could to help stop them. She enlisted the help of her friend Audrey Long, and they started writing to their lawmakers. Thanks to their hard work, Washington state now has a new anti-puppy mill law going into effect in 2010!
What was the process you went through to help pass the puppy mill bill?
Theresa: We got started in March of 2007 when I told Audrey what I had learned about puppy mills. We decided to write a letter to send to our state representatives and senator telling them about the issue of puppy mills in Washington, hoping for them to support or introduce a bill regarding breeding facilities that would set higher standards for animal care in these places. The two representatives replied kindly but made no commitments. However, Senator Jeanne Kohl-Welles gave us a promising answer. She said that by that time, it was too late in the 2007 session for anything to be introduced, but that she would try again next year.
In February 2008, we found out that there was to be a senate hearing in the state capitol about a bill that was introduced by Senator Kohl-Welles, SB 6408. It was a "lemon law," intended to protect consumers if they had unknowingly purchased an animal that was sick. It was not exactly what we were hoping for, but knowing we had to start somewhere, Audrey and I made a quick decision to travel to Olympia the next day and testify in support of the bill. We had no notes or prepared testimonies, and improvising in front of a full hearing room (especially with a King5 camera in your face) is easier said than done! It was our first taste of the legislative process.
That April, we were both honored with the PAWS Youth Helping Animals award in Seattle. SB 6408 died in the second committee, but our hope for humane legislation was not extinguished with it! In late December last year, Audrey and I outlined a plan of action. This year, we decided, was the year we were going to succeed. We were not going to give up without a fight. We were going to get a law passed! While Audrey continued with research, I wrote a persuasive letter that explained the issue of puppy mills in Washington and specified exactly what requirements we wanted in the law to help reform them. We sent them again to our district senator (Kohl-Welles) and representatives, along with the governor. Once the session started, we were notified of SB 5651, "providing humanitarian requirements for certain dog breeding practices". Incredibly, it addressed every single issue the letter had included, plus more!! We were thrilled. We returned to Olympia to testify again before the senate rules committee. We checked the status of the bill daily, writing letters and calling the senator's office. Finally, it was sent to the senate floor for a vote. It passed!
SB 5651 then went through the same process in the house. We testified again before the house rules committee, and made a presentation to a fifth-grade class at our elementary school. Now that it was halfway to becoming a law, we worked harder than ever writing letters and emails to the representatives. The bill had to pass in the house!
The hard work paid off, and an amended SB 5651 passed in the house and was sent back to the senate for a final vote. The senate had to approve the changes made to the bill while it was deliberated in the house. Desperate for the bill to pass, we made calls to each and every Washington state senator asking them to support SB 5651 when it was time for a vote. At last, in April, it passed the senate for the second time. It was going to become a law!
The bill was signed by the respective leaders and sent to the governor for approval. On April 30, 2009, Audrey and I watched as Governor Gregoire signed the bill into law at a special ceremony. It was probably the happiest moment of my life. After those two years, it was truly our dream come true. We had done it!
The law will take effect January 1, 2010. Audrey and I have decided to continue our project, now focusing mainly on the crucial education of the public about puppy mills and the consequences of mass breeding facilities. We made brochures and handed them out at a small fundraiser we had to raise money for the local PAWS animal shelter, and are planning to make more presentations at our old elementary school. We can't wait until next year's legislative session, where we are both planning on becoming pages in Olympia to learn more about the legislative process, maybe as preparation for a career as a legislator or at least, an active animal rights lobbyist. Until then, we'll certainly be keeping ourselves busy with this issue that has touched our hearts
How did you learn about puppy mills?
Audrey: In third grade I did a research report on puppy mills, and I remember when I was younger wondering how they could make dogs in a factory (not understanding the term). I probably saw the word in a book and, wondering what it meant, looked it up online.. Pretty much everything I know about puppy mills comes from Internet sites, newspaper articles, and first-hand accounts provided by some who testified with us for SB 5651.
Theresa: I just remember somehow finding out about these horrible places where dogs were bred over and over for their whole lives. It might have been through an organization like PAWS (Progressive Animal Welfare Society), or in the news. We definitely got a lot of information in the beginning from The HSUS Stop Puppy Mills site. It seems like such a long time ago!
What other animal issues concern you?
Theresa: I’m definitely concerned about issues that tie in with my main focus of puppy mills, such as factory farming, horse slaughter, animal overpopulation and homelessness, and testing on animals. I think it’s so cruel and wrong that humans are mass-producing animals and exploiting their bodies, whether to produce offspring, inject them with Botox in labs, or force them to produce products for us to eat. I believe this whole industry of exploitation and abuse is the root of many serious issues in our country and in our world: global warming, animal homelessness due to overpopulation, and even obesity and health problems because we consume so many processed animal products.
Audrey: If it harms a animal- it’s a concern. I'm horrified by what awful things humans have done to animals; killed them for fun, fed them our chemical products, and bred them with a stone heart. I am a vegetarian because I feel it is wrong to kill animals or confine them in such horrid conditions. Sometimes it can be hard to stick with a vegetarian diet when the rest of my family eats meat, but in the end I know it will pay off. Animal testing (especially when not required) is another issue I care about. Why should animals, who will never benefit from any of the products they are given, test items meant for human consumption.? It just doesn't seem right to me.
How do you plan to help animals in the future?
Audrey: Theresa and I plan to continue the education part of our campaign against puppy mills, and lobby for any laws concerning the well-being of animals. Instead of gifts at birthday parties, I'll ask guests to donate to PAWS, our local animal-welfare society. I also plan to volunteer at a local shelter as soon as I'm qualified.
Theresa: I’m really excited about the continuation of our puppy mills project through education. We’re preparing to make presentations to several schools in the community, and we want to have a booth in a neighborhood festival next year. Recently we had an Italian Soda stand with the proceeds benefiting a local shelter, where we got to talk to people about the issue and hand out our brochures. We’re planning to do more fundraisers for animal shelters and definitely keep circulating brochures to spread the word. Outside of that work, I’m planning to volunteer at a shelter this fall and my family is currently fostering two sick adult cats until they can be adopted.
What advice can you give to teens who want to speak up for animals?
Theresa: Go for it! Pick a cause that touches your heart and make a plan about what you’re going to do. What do you want to change to stop or fix the problem? Pass a law? Raise money? Educate the public? When we first got started two years ago, we had no idea that we were going to help get a law passed. Even when it’s hard, if you are passionate about working on that cause, never give up. With patience and persistence, you can really change the world!
Audrey: Never take no for an answer. In testifying for the puppy mill bill, I encountered many people who just said "No, this law isn't good enough" or "It will never pass". All you have to say is, I think it will! Never be afraid to express your personal beliefs; if someone says the animal shelter is full of pit bulls, tell them otherwise. It's not easy being a teen activist, but if you put a little effort in, you can do it! All you need is a cause, and some courage.
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