pstrongStand Firm for Animals’ Voices…and Lives./strong/p
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img src=”http://nyagainstdevocalization.weebly.com/uploads/9/5/5/0/9550024/3743530.jpg” alt=”dog” width=”200″ height=”154″ //div
pbVIDEO LINK: /ba href=”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gw4t-6rzDdo”Real stories, Real victims/a/p
pYour calls asking lawmakers to ban devocalization of dogs and cats in New York State are getting their attention. BUT”¦this humane legislation has far to go before the 2011-12 session ends in six weeks./p
pLawmakers are being pushed by the NY state veterinary association to defeat this humane legislation-vets profit from devocalization! They can do so by stalling it in committee OR by changing the language so it actually allows andlegitimizes this act of animal cruelty./p
pThat’s why some aides are trying to confuse pro-animal callers. Some have been rude. /p
pThey benefit if you become discouraged. They want you to shut up and go away. Don’t./p
pAnimals need you to stand your ground. They need your voice to protect theirs./p
pstrongREALITY CHECK/strong/p
p1) The Senate Agriculture Committee-which has held Senate Bill 6167A (S6167A) since January-indeed can release it even if it does not match the weaker Assembly Bill 3431B (A3431B). Fact is, the Assembly Agriculture Committee released the unmatched A3431B on April 26./p
p2) The Assembly bill does not have to pass before the Senate bill can be released from committee. /p
p3) Both bills must move without delay–through committees and onto the floor of their respective chambers–or this legislation cannot become law. /p
p4) If the already weakened A3431B is amended further, or S6167A is amended beyond the language of A3431B, the result will be an empty-or destructive-law that allows and legitimizes devocalization./p
pEMAILS ARE OFTEN IGNORED. ONLINE PETITIONS DON’T HELP.br /
CALL THE OFFICES, BELOW, THAT YOU HAVEN’T SPOKEN WITH…ASAP!br /
TIME IS FAST RUNNING OUT TO PROTECT ANIMALS’ VOICES AND LIVES./p
pBoth S6167A and A3431B must pass committees and a floor vote in their respective chambers before June 30. It’s your job to persuade lawmakers to keep these bills moving–without amendments that would actually hurt animals. /p
pTo ensure your message is clear, it’s important to say the following words exactly–including the letter at the end of the bill number. You can add other thoughts if you’d like, but be brief. And always be polite, even if aides aren’t. Don’t let them confuse you. Don’t debate. If you encounter resistance, just repeat your message and say thank you./p
pstrongSTART WITH THESE TWO POWER-BROKERS OF THE LEGISLATURE:/strong- /p
pAssembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, 518-455-3791: “I’d like the Speaker’s help ensuring A3431B passes as written this session, without further amendments, so it can become an enforceable law prohibiting devocalization.”/p
p- Sen. Majority Leader Dean Skelos, 518-455-3171: “I’d like the Senator’s help ensuring S6167A passes this session, mirroring but not amended beyond A3431B as written, so it can become an enforceable law prohibiting devocalization.”/p
pMAKE SURE TO CALL THESE TWO CHAIRS, WHO ALSO DETERMINE THE FATE OF THE LEGISLATION–AND DOGS AND CATS:/p
p- Senate Agriculture Committee Chair Patty Ritchie, 518-455-3438: “Please release S6167A from Agriculture promptly. I ask that it not be amended beyond the language of A3431B as written, so it can become an enforceablelaw prohibiting devocalization.”/p
p- Assembly Codes Committee Chair Joseph Lentol, 518-455-4477: “Please release A3431B from Codes quickly and favorably as written, without further amendments so it can become an enforceable law prohibiting devocalization.”/p
pTHESE TWO SPONSORS NEED TO “WORK” THEIR BILLS–OR THEY WON’T PASS–WITHOUT FURTHER CAPITULATION TO PRO-DEVOCALIZATION LOBBIES:/p
p- Senator Lee Zeldin, at 518-455-3570: “I appreciate that the senator introduced S6167A but I ask that he make sure it passes this session mirroring but not amended beyond A3431B as written so it can become an enforceable law prohibiting devocalization.”/p
p- Assemblyman Ken Zebrowski, 518-455-5735: “I appreciate that the Assemblyman introduced A3431B. I’d like him to ensure it passes as written this session, without further amendments so it can become an enforceable law prohibiting devocalization.”/p
pstrongHELPFUL HINTS/strong/p
pIf you get voicemail, leave a short message, then call again till you can speak with an aide. Don’t give up!/p
pMake sure your voice is counted–accurately. Ask the aide to read it back to you. And jot down his or her name too./p
pBe an informed advocate! Take a minute to a href=”http://nyagainstdevocalization.weebly.com/pending-new-york-devocalization-ban.html”learn about the issue and proposed amendments /athat would hurt animals./p