GPA Indy Message FW: INDIANA ANIMAL LOVERS UNITE...AND QUICKLY, PLEASE!

Wed Feb 18 07:22:49 CST 2009

Hi everyone, the attached email is from one of our adoptors who is very politically active.  I know we are all animal lovers, and even though this doesn't pertain to greyhounds, please take a few minutes to read the email; click the link to find your state representative, and send him or her an email to let them know you support this bill regarding puppy mills.  I've done it and it only takes a few moments.  Thanks!  (And please send on to your contacts!)  Sharon  

From: elizabeth at emdesign.net
To: elizabeth at emdesign.net
Subject: INDIANA ANIMAL LOVERS UNITE...AND QUICKLY, PLEASE!
Date: Mon, 16 Feb 2009 21:25:50 -0500

TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE:
Indiana House Bill #1468  

Dear Friend,

 As some of you already know, I am an animal lover and devote my time and dollars to animal related causes.

This week there is critical legislation in the Indiana Senate that will help to put an end to the excessive animal cruelty and abuse made in puppy mills in Indiana. Indiana House Bill #1468 will grant law enforcement agencies the ability to do their job and limit the number of unaltered dogs owned by any puppy mill to 30 – a TREMENDOUS ADVANCEMENT IN THE BATTLE TO CLEAN UP PUPPY MILLS IN THIS STATE.  

Believe it or not – there is heavy opposition to this bill – and I would like to ask you to get personally involved in using your influence and personal action to send a message to the Indiana House that animal cruelty will not be tolerated by Hoosiers any longer!

As you may already know, Indiana is behind in anti -animal cruelty legislation (lagging behind many states including Kentucky and Tennessee).  While the term puppy mill has no legal definition in Indiana, puppy mills are houses of horror where dogs are confined in cages their entire lives, with little or no veterinary  care, no exercise, no sanitation, no temperature control and just enough food and  water to keep them alive.  The females are bred every single cycle, leaving no time for their little bodies to recover from the last pregnancy.    There are hundreds of puppy mills (current estimates are over 1000) in Indiana.  The largest houses up to 700 dogs.  There are many that house 100-300 dogs each. 

One of the most heartbreaking testimonies came last week during the committee hearing at the state house. A police officer went into great detail of how this year alone, she had retrieved a number of dogs tied up outside that had frozen to death. It was heartbreaking to  hear her plea for legislators to pass House Bill #1468 granting law enforcement  agencies the ability do their job. As for now, frozen, tortured and most abuses against animals are rarely punishable in our state.

Bill #1468 is now pending in the Indiana House of Representatives-there will be a vote this Thursday. The puppy mill amendment attached to bill #1468 would  limit the number of unaltered dogs owned by the puppy mills to 30.  A Commercial Kennel would be defined as one producing ten or more litters per  year.  The bill would require larger cages, daily exercise, annual vetting care, temperature control, proper nutrition and hydration, among other things.  It would also require annual registration fees of $50.  Our state needs this change!!

Without your voice, this bill could fail and the animals would go on living in horrific conditions.  Please call or email your state Representative TODAY.  The measure passed out of committee last week and will be voted on by the full House of Representatives this week. 

To find out who your representative is please go to http://www.in.gov/legislative/ and click on  "Who's Your Legislator" on the right hand side of the page. 
Then choose Indiana House and type in your zip code. 
When you find the name of your Representative, keep clicking on his/her name until you see the email option pop up.  The number to call for the Indiana House of Representatives is (317) 232-9600

I have spent the last couple of weeks at the Indian Statehouse and I have seen and heard firsthand how important it is to have citizens call, e-mail or write with their  opinions. Much to my surprise, State representatives really do pay attention to public opinion!

So from one animal lover to another, I am asking that you urgently, effectively and insistently employ your resource and circles of influence in calling, e-mailing or send an overnight letter to our state representatives asking  them to support bill #1468  and the puppy mill amendment that is attached to it.

Remember time is  of the essence-the next vote is this Thursday!!!

Please feel free to contact me with any questions. You can also contact my friend Wendy Piatek at Saving Paws.org for more information.  Wendy is a committed advocate for animals and one of the leading forces in this effort!

Much love from Above for you!

Elizabeth Mahoney
EM Design
259-0191

Virginia Gunther
Coaching for Life/Creative Consulting
317.501.2454 (Verizon)
317.250.5718 (sprint)

Wendy Piatek
Saving Paws
317-490-5140
wendy at savingpaws.org   or
info at savingpaws.org

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