Mother Nature couldn’t keep New England animal welfare advocates from participating in The HSUS’ first National Humane Lobby Day, but she had the power to delay their involvement just a little bit.

On the Feb. 13 national lobby day, animal advocates from across the country gathered in 20 state capitols to discuss humane animal issues with their elected officials, but Maine, Rhode Island and Vermont animal advocates were hit with a crippling snow storm and some couldn't march to their mailboxes, let alone to their state capitols.

As New England residents shoveled out from their snowed-in homes, citizen lobbyists regrouped. A week later, on Feb. 20, Vermont advocates held their own Humane Lobby Day. Fifteen volunteers lobbied their legislators to give science students the choice to opt out of live dissection, and ban inhumane puppy mills and cruel coyote hunting derbies.

On Feb. 27, Rhode Island advocates converged on their statehouse. The 16 volunteers got a crash course on citizen lobbying and pending legislation. One pending Rhode Island bill would require manufacturers to add a bittering agent to engine coolant. The sweet-tasting chemicals attract small children and animals, leading to accidental deaths. Another bill would ban inhumane puppy mills from operating by making it illegal to breed more than 20 litters, or 100 puppies, in a year.

Maine advocates also had puppy mills on their minds, and, on March 5, they showed their hardiness by making it through another ice storm to talk with legislators about it. While the bad weather kept some home, a team of nine incredible women focused state lawmakers' attention on a bill that would ensure ethical and humane dog breeding. Maine has been host to four large-scale puppy mill seizures in the past six months. The Maine legislation would establish a task force to review current laws relating to dog breeding and puppy mills, and make recommendations on future legislation to ensure humane breeding standards.

Citizen lobbyists got the chance to humanize and animalize pending legislation by using their personal experiences to talk with lawmakers: One Vermont attendee had been denied an alternative to dissection when she was in high school, which turned her away from her goal of becoming a botanist. Another Vermont attendee lived in the town that hosted a bloody coyote derby, and she talked about how horrified she was over this wanton waste of wildlife. Those who represented humane agencies gave first-hand descriptions of the cruelty they've seen inflicted on mass-produced puppies.

New England legislators reacted favorably to the advocates' efforts. Maine legislators who met with animal welfare experts saw the bill that addresses puppy mills as a positive step, and were happy to see animal advocates, the state Animal Welfare Program and reputable breeders working together to make Maine a more humane place for dogs.

Although many participants were anxious about meeting with lawmakers, some realized their fret wasn't necessary. One Rhode Island advocate who works at a café near the statehouse was nervous, but got excited when she realized her senator was also a regular customer at the café—a real animal lover with whom she’d shared many pet stories.

Participants in all three events said they felt more connected to the law-making process and their legislators. Several said afterward that it had been easier and less intimidating than they thought it would be. One participant said: “I can't even begin to tell you how rewarding today was. Thank you!”