Stu Ostler

Northwestern State students meet Oklahoma Rep. Mike Brown.

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.

Nearly 150 volunteers descended on three southwestern capitals. Arizona had one of the highest turnouts among participating states, with 86 people volunteering to push bills that would strengthen laws on animal fighting, include pets in domestic violence protection orders, and ban people from selling animals alongside public highways or on private property without the consent of the owner. The volunteer lobbyists also urged lawmakers to ban the cruel practice of horse tripping–a spectator sport in which participants earn points by repeatedly tripping horses running in an enclosed ring.

“I can’t tell you how amazed I was to hear so many people say: ‘I have never done this before. This is so cool. This is great. I’m going to do it again’—all in one breath,” Southwest Regional Director Lou Guyton reported.

Arizona State Director Kari Nienstedt said the response from legislators was “overwhelmingly positive.”

In Kansas, 25 volunteer lobbyists urged lawmakers to support a bill that would strengthen laws against animal fighting. The Kansas volunteers also found themselves delving into state fiscal matters. Here’s why: The Kansas State Health Department has a paltry budget for the investigators who inspect animal breeders and other animal facilities. There are so few inspectors, in fact, that each one would have to do 360 inspections a year to keep up with the licensed facilities for which they are responsible, says Kansas State Director Mary Prewitt. And that doesn’t include necessary investigations into unlicensed facilities. Lobbyists encouraged their lawmakers to support funding for the department and inspections.

In Oklahoma, 35 volunteers traveled to Oklahoma City to support legislation to ban Internet hunting and prohibit dangerous wild animals as pets. Lobby Day attendees also visited with legislators, asking them to oppose a bill that would expand a current pound seizure law that requires animal shelters to relinquish animals for experimentation.
 
“Representative Mike Brown was so impressed with a group of students from Northeastern State University who have formed their own on-campus animal protection organization (NSU Students for Animal Welfare), he called a House photographer to his office to have his picture taken with them,” said Oklahoma State Director Cynthia Armstrong.