Humane Tomorrow Watchdog: The Voice for Animals
Your voice makes a difference
Action needed! The Safe Outdoor Dogs Act is making its way through the Texas Legislature. Find out how you can help here.
Humane Tomorrow saves hundreds of dogs and cats each year, but a single piece of legislation can be significant to thousands of animals. A single letter, phone call, or visit from YOU can make a difference to thousands of animals.
Believe it or not, your elected representatives do listen to you. Because most people do not take the time to contact them, they truly appreciate and listen to those who do. It’s often only those who stand to gain financially who contact legislators, and they don’t usually have the animals’ best interest at heart. That’s why it is so important that those of us who care about animals make ourselves heard.
Laws Matter!
On a state level, Humane Tomorrow partners with Texas Humane Legislation Network to promote laws protecting animals. How do laws matter?
- The Dog or Cat Breeders Act requires minimum care standards for animals in large-scale breeding facilities (puppy mills).
- Animal cruelty is a felony in Texas thanks to THLN’s work in improving our cruelty statute.
- Funds from animal-friendly license plates go to help spay and neuter thousands of dogs and cats each year.
- Horse slaughter is illegal in Texas thanks to THLN’s continued vigilance.
There are thousands of rescue groups in Texas, with hundreds of thousands of supporters. Together we are powerful! Please encourage your friends to visit www.thln.org and get involved.
We encourage everyone to support THLN by:
- Making a monthly or yearly donation to THLN
- Signing up for Action Alerts
- Meeting with representatives and local officials to discuss animal issues when the legislature is not in session
- Supporting THLN’s efforts for ALL animals, recognizing that compassion for animals must extend beyond just companion animals
On a national level, the Humane Society of the United States, the Humane Society Legislative Fund, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, In Defense of Animals, and the Animal Legal Defense Fund work tirelessly to protect animals from abuse. We encourage you to visit their websites and sign up to receive notices when action is needed at the national level.
Check out the most recent Humane Scorecard!
And don’t forget to get involved locally, which is where many of us can make the most immediate impact!
- Find out if your city has an Animal Shelter Advisory Board, which is required for most cities in Texas with an animal shelter, and attend their meetings—or better yet, apply to sit on the board! You don’t have to be an animal or legal expert; you just need to be someone with an interest in animals in your community.
- Your local animal ordinances can be found on most cities’ websites…read them and don’t be afraid to try to strengthen them by contacting your city council members or speaking at the next council meeting.
- Encourage your sheriff and district attorney to take animal cruelty cases seriously and prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law. They are elected officials too!
- Learn about the connection between animal abuse and other crimes, such as domestic abuse, and partner with other organizations that might have a shared interest in seeing stronger laws and enforcement.
- Visit your representatives’ local offices. You can easily make an appointment by calling their offices, and they are always happy to give you a few minutes of their time. You don’t have to be an expert; just pick one issue that you are really interested in or concerned about, and let them know you care about it and why. If they have questions that you can’t answer, don’t worry! That just gives you a reason to follow back up with them later when you can find the answers…and Humane Tomorrow, THLN, and other groups will be happy to help you get those answers. You can email watchdog@humanetomorrow.org and we’ll be happy to either provide you with the information you need or refer you to someone who can.