This reader-based FAQ provides information on how to begin animal advocacy.
Dear Animal Legal & Historical Center,
I am troubled by the lack of animal laws in my state. I want to help get a law passed that better protects animals. No one seems to care. How can I get something done in my state for animals?
Sincerely,
A Friend of Animals
Dear Friend,
Thank you for writing. I am so pleased that you desire to make a change in your state. Our website operates solely as a digital law library, so we are unable to help you with any advocacy. I would be happy to give you some research information on how you may go about advocating for animals.
There is no one way to approach advocating or helping animals. You may be able to contact elected officials in your state to express your concerns over the lack of animal protection laws. You may be able to Google that legislator to find out his or her views on these issues. If you are looking to get a specific law passed, it may be helpful to look at a state that has such a law. For example, if you seek to pass an anti-tethering or chaining law for dogs, you can look at our Table of Dog Tethering Laws. If you want to help out dogs in hot cars, this Table of Pets in Parked Cars may help you draft some language to present to your elected official.
Sometimes change comes from within. A person can seek a political career where he or she can directly affect the passage of legislation.
There are national and local organizations that push for better animal laws. The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), an advocacy organization, has a Tool Kit that explores how to approach elected officials to lobby for animal-related legislation: http://www.humanesociety.org/action/toolkit/
The Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF) is a group of lawyers who file actual cases to stop animal abuse around the country. The ALDF also has a great page that explores how a person can become involved in animal advocacy: http://aldf.org/resources/advocating-for-animals/
Certain issues have grassroots organizations that work tirelessly on certain issues. There are many groups that target things like dog chaining, breed-specific legislation (BSL), and horse abandonment.
I hope this research information is helpful. Best of luck with your advocacy!
Rebecca F. Wisch
Associate Editor
Animal Legal & Historical Center