Advocacy Updates

August 2025

Lobby Day for Animals 2025!

In June, we co-hosted Lobby Day for Animals at the Massachusetts State House. Advocates joined us from all over the state to learn about animal protection bills and meet with their state legislators! The day was full of learning, optimism, and a passion for animals. Thank you to everyone who attended and made the day so impactful! Learn more about the day and legislation we promoted.

At the event, House Ways and Means Chair Aaron Michlewitz was named Legislator of the Year. Under his leadership, five animal protection bills were passed by the House of Representatives last year and became law. We thank Chair Michlewitz for his commitment to animals!

It was a great day for animals! Thank you to @lighth0useph0t0graphy for the awesome pics!

Protect Animals from Rodenticide Day

We’re still buzzing from the incredible energy of Protect Animals from Rodenticide Lobby Day! Advocates from across Massachusetts came together last month at the State House with one clear ask: that their State Senator and State Representative support, S. 644/H. 965: An Act restricting the use of rodenticides in the environment. This legislation, sponsored by State Representative Jim Hawkins and Senator Mike Moore, would restrict the use of Anticoagulant Rodenticides (ARs) in Massachusetts to protect wildlife, pets, people, and the environment. Check out our photos from the day, and tag @lighth0useph0t0graphy if you post any!

The hearing for this legislation has been scheduled for October 27 at 1pm in front of the Joint Committee on Environment and Natural Resources. Check out this toolkit on what to expect and how to prepare. We will continue to update this document as we get more information about the hearing.

Upcoming Events and Where We’ve Been

Learn How to Advocate for Animals

We have two webinars coming up! On September 23, we will be hosting an Advocate for Animals training webinar for folks new to the legislative process. On September 30, we will be hosting Advanced Advocate Training: Hearings and Testimony, where we will discuss legislative hearings more in depth, as well as how to deliver compelling testimony. Sign up here!

Have you seen us this summer?

What’s better than seeing the advocacy team in action? Seeing us with dogs! This summer, we hit the road—from Worcester VegFest to Couch Dog Brewing Company in Salem to community events in Cambridge — we shared updates on key animal protection bills and how to get involved. Partnering with our shelters, we brought adoptable dogs along to meet potential adopters and even shared the stage with The Dogist. Follow our Facebook group to keep up with our latest adventures!

Local Animal Protection News

Brookline Passes Foie Gras Ban

Congrats to Brookline for becoming the FIRST municipality in Massachusetts to ban the sale of foie gras as a stand-alone item or any product in which foie gras is an ingredient. Foie gras, which translates to ‘fatty liver,’ comes from domesticated geese or ducks (ducks are more commonly used) who have been force-fed in order to make their liver grow seven to ten times the normal size. The act of the force-feeding itself inflicts suffering in the moment, but the practice produces chronic health problems and pain. If you are interested in passing a foie gras ban in your city or town, email advocacy@mspca.org.

Animal Control Officer of the Year submissions are now open! The award was established to honor an animal control officer whose efforts in their local community throughout the year demonstrate: a dedicated, humane attitude toward the treatment and well-being of all animals; effective enforcement of pet responsibility laws; a commitment to public awareness and humane education programs; cooperative working relationships with other agencies, such as state and local government departments, other ACOs, and animal protection groups. Learn more and how to submit a nomination.

Cambridge Passes SGARs Ban

Congratulations to the Cambridge for passing a policy order asking the City Manager to formally ban the use of SGARs (second generation anticoagulant rodenticides) on all City properties and by all City contractors. Thank you to Vice Mayor Marc McGovern, the City of Cambridge, Arlington Loves Wildlife, and local advocates for working with us on this to protect Cambridge’s wildlife and support humane approaches to rodent control. Check out Mass Audubon’s toolkit for passing a rodenticide ordinance in your municipality.

Legislative Update: Hearing on Animal Bills

The Environment and Natural Resources Joint Committee hearing has been scheduled for key animal protection bills. On October 21, we expect the following bills will be heard:

S. 650: An Act banning the retail sale of dogs, cats, and rabbits in pet shops
S. 651/H. 967: An Act banning the retail sale of dogs, cats, and rabbits in new pet shops
S. 618: An Act banning the retail sale of dogs, cats, rabbits, and guinea pigs in pet shops
S. 640/H. 989: An Act promoting humane cosmetics and other household products by limiting the use of animal testing
S. 551/H. 990: An Act prohibiting the sale of newly farmed fur products
S. 616/H. 3935: An Act relative to ivory and rhinoceros horn trafficking
Please review this toolkit to learn more about the hearing and the bills being heard. We will continue to update this document as we get more information about the hearing.

Advocate Spotlight: Extern Ashley Krawshuk

Ashley joined us this spring and summer from the Tufts University Master of Science in Animals and Public Policy program. She is from Natick and attended Hamilton College in upstate New York, graduating in 2024 with a degree in Psychology. Regarding current Massachusetts animal bills, she is interested in wildlife (anti-rodenticide), pets and housing, and species restrictions in retail stores. She is especially interested in approaching animal welfare issues systematically and learning more about how advocacy works beyond the classroom. She has worked on many things this summer, included research projects and was instrumental in Lobby Day planning! She is leaving us at the end of the month, and we are very sad to see her go. Please join us in wishing her well in her future animal career!