pTime’s Running Out to Protect NYS Dogs Cats From Vocal Cord Mutilation./p
iframe width=”560″ height=”315″ src=”http://www.youtube.com/embed/Gw4t-6rzDdo” frameborder=”0″ allowfullscreen=””/iframep
Meet Lola Porter: Both of These Dogs Were Devocalized Dumped./p
pstrongUrge the NYS Senate Agriculture Committee to Release the Devocalization Ban–and Prevent This Cruelty–NOW/strong/p
pstrongCall May 21-24/strong/p
pMake sure other animal lovers do too by a href=”http://bit.ly/K4inM2″posting this link/a to your Facebook page./p
pCountdown to June 21: That’s when the 2011-12 NYS legislative session ends. Without your continued activism, it could also be the end of our hope for an enforceable law banning devocalization. This practice is so cruel, it has long been illegal in many countries and since 2010 in Massachusetts. It’s time for New York to step up./p
pYou may have contacted certain NYS lawmakers already. /p
pHere’s why you now need to call members of the Senate Agriculture Committee:/p
pSenate Bill 6167A (S6167A) can’t pass unless it gets a floor vote before the session ends in just four short weeks. That can’t happen until it’s released from the Agriculture Committee and after that, the Senate Codes Committee. It needs to move without delay./p
pProblem is, Agriculture has held S6167A since January, with no sign of letting go./p
pAn aide reportedly told pro-animal callers this humane bill is “not important enough to consider.”/p
pWe respectfully disagree./p
pWe think protecting dogs’ and cats’ voices, wellbeing and lives is plenty important. Please help lawmakers understand that./p
pstrongFIRST: Tell These Two Powerful Senators That You’d Like NYS to Prohibit Devocalization of Dogs Cats NOW./strong/p
pTell the office of Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos at 518-455-3171: “I’d like the senator’s help ensuring S6167A becomes law this session, without amendments that would change its intent or reduce enforceability.”/p
pTell the office of Senate Agriculture Committee Chair Patty Ritchie at 518-455-3438: “Please ask the senator to release S6167A from Agriculture favorably now, without amendments that would change its intent or reduce enforceability. It deserves a floor vote!”/p
pBe Sure to Call Committee Members Too.br /
They’ve Heard From Pro-Devocalization Lobbies.br /
Now They Need to Hear From Pro-Animal Voices!/p
pAgriculture committee members have been lobbied relentlessly by the veterinary association to defeat this humane bill-vets profit from devocalization! They need to hear from you. Emails are often ignored and online petitions don’t influence lawmakers. But every call counts. /p
pstrongWhich Committee Members Should You Call? Start With …/strong/p
p… your own senator (in Albany, not Washington) if s/he is on this list. Don’t know who that is? Type your address in the Find My Senator form here: a href=”http://www.nysenate.gov/”http://www.nysenate.gov//a/p
pstrongThen Call the Rest If You Can. If You Can’t Call Them All … /strong/p
pPlease make at least two calls–in addition to Senators Ritchie and Skelos. Here’s a way to ensure each senator gets some./p
pIf you have a dog, call numbers 1-2.br /
If you have a cat, call numbers 3-4.br /
If you have both, call numbers 5-6.br /
If you have neither, call numbers 7-9-then adopt a pet from a local shelter or rescue group! /p
pSenate Agriculture Committee/p
p1. Sen. Tony Avella, 518-455-2210br /
2. Sen. Patrick M. Gallivan, 518-455-3471br /
3. Sen. Shirley L. Huntley, 518-455-3531br /
4. Sen. Timothy M. Kennedy, 518-455-2426br /
5. Sen. Thomas. F. O’Mara, 518-455-2091br /
6. Sen. Michael H. Razenhofer, 518-455-3161br /
7. Sen. James. L. Seward, 518-455-3131br /
8. Sen. David J. Valesky, 518-455-2838br /
9. Sen. Catharine Young, 518-455-3563/p
pWhat to Say to an Aide: “Please ask the senator to release S6167A from Agriculture favorably now, without amendments that would change its intent or reduce enforceability. It deserves a floor vote!”/p
pSome aides may try to confuse you; some are argumentative. Don’t debate. Repeat your message politely and say “thank you.” /p
pGet voicemail? Leave a brief message, then call back till you speak with an aide. Don’t give up!br /
Be an informed advocate. a href=”http://nyagainstdevocalization.weebly.com/pending-new-york-devocalization-ban.html “Read about the issue and amendments /athat would hurt animals./p
pa href=”www.nyagainstdevocalization.weebly.com”New York Against Devocalization/a/p
pFriends of Animals/p