On the first-ever national Humane Lobby Day, animal activists from across the country gathered in 20 state capitols and had an opportunity to discuss animal issues with their elected officials. What they all learned was that one voice truly can truly make a difference.

It isn’t every day that agriculture officials get together with advocates for animal protection. But it happened at Humane Lobby Day in Colorado, where the 53 volunteers who turned out heard presentations from some high-profile guests. Colorado Agriculture Commissioner John Stulp talked to the group about the possibility of Colorado banning the intensive confinement of farm animals, a top priority for The HSUS.

Also, two top HSUS officials, Hunting Campaign Director Andrew Page and Hunting Campaign Deputy Director Danielle Thompson, debuted a new HSUS educational video that tells the sad truth about canned hunts, which allow people to shoot animals who are confined inside fenced enclosures.

After the presentations, the volunteers fanned out in the Capitol to talk issues with lawmakers. They didn’t lobby on specific bills, since two bills aimed at implementing modest reforms for animal welfare did not receive favorable committee action this year, and animal advocates are rallying to make sure their voices are heard and lawmakers pass these important measures next year.

HSUS had been pushing a bill to ban canned hunting and another bill that would give students a choice to not participate in animal dissection in science classes.

“We did get a lot of really good feedback on the bills,” said Colorado State Director Holly Tarry, “and that will help us next year.”

In Utah, 46 volunteers descended on Salt Lake City.

“About 22 of those were brand new activists,” said Northern Rockies Regional Director Dave Pauli. “It was very nice to have that many new faces.”

The volunteer lobbyists talked to lawmakers about strengthening animal cruelty laws to make animal torture a felony, as well as getting Utah to ban animal fighting.

“It was a great motivating tool for these new activists,” Pauli said. “One of the first-time activists got three lawmakers to come out (of the chamber) to talk to her. She was thrilled.”