Advocacy Updates

May 2024

Help Animals Through the Senate Budget

Senator Tarr has filed amendment #4 to the Senate budget, which would add $125,000 to the Massachusetts Animal Fund (MAF). This money is needed to help families who cannot afford critical health services for their animals, and to animals who are in shelters across the state. In 2023, the Fund received over 3,700 requests for assistance for local animals in need. One out of every four of the animals assisted needed urgent services for a life-threatening medical condition or spay/neuter so that they could stay with their families and not be relinquished.

Senators Montigny and Moore have filed amendment #856 to the Senate budget, after a stand-alone bill had critical provisions stripped from it. This amendment strengthens our animal cruelty laws by providing more tools to prevent situations from escalating. It protects animals from convicted abusers and addresses animals in cruel conditions. This amendment will give law enforcement, animal control officers, judges, and district attorneys more options when it comes to addressing animal situations before they become life threatening.

Please ask your State Senator to co-sponsor amendments #4 and #856 in the Senate Budget! Find out who your Senator is here. The Senate will debate the budget starting the week of May 20, so time is of the essence! Read more about these issues.

Success at Lobby Day for Animals 2024

Lobby Day for Animals 2024 was a success! Thank you so much to advocates who came from across the Commonwealth to meet with their legislators on Beacon Hill. During the day’s speaking program, we were fortunate to hear from experts about the importance of constituent involvement and how to speak up for animals! Below are some great photos of advocates meeting with their representatives and senators. You can see all the photos here!

Local Legislation Efforts Pay Off!

Advocates have been working hard on the local level in cities and towns to pass measures to protect animals! A big congratulations to:

• Attleboro advocates, who passed a ban on the sale of new fur products
• Lexington advocates, who passed a ban on the use of second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides (SGARs) on public lands
• Arlington advocates, who passed a ban on the retail sale of all mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish, AND a ban on the retail sale of new fur products
• Newbury advocates, who passed a measure to bring a home rule to the legislature so the town can restrict SGARs on all property
• Email us at advocacy@mspca.org if you’d like to start an initiative like this in your city or town!

Wildlife Corner

Leave Wild Babies Alone

If you come upon a baby wild animal who is alone, it can be tempting to “help.” But it is normal for babies to be left on their own — even for hours — while their parents get food. Once they are older, they’ll be up and about with their parents, but at a very young age their best chance for survival is to stay put. If, however, an animal is clearly injured or you know with certainty that the mother is dead, contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator or MassWildlife (508-389-6300). Do not move or touch the animal.

Learn more about orphaned or injured wildlife here.

 Avoid Wild Conflicts in Your Backyard

It can be frustrating if a nighttime visitor regularly indulges in your newly planted garden, but there are ways to humanely protect your plants. Use our Intruder Excluder to identify the animal and learn how to resolve conflicts — the specific approach may vary depending on the situation. No one solution will likely be entirely effective, so you may need to find a few that work together. And remember —tolerance of our wild friends goes a long way!

Check out more tips here!

In the News!

Lobby Day for Animals Takes Over State House!

Lobby Day for Animals was in the news: “Kara Holmquist, director of advocacy at the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, looks forward to the day every year. ‘Volunteers learn how powerful and important their voices are,’ she said, adding that legislators who know her can predict her approach. ‘They need to hear from their constituents about their concerns.’”

Dog Daycare Oversight

“The MSPCA says a doggie daycare needs to have a kennel license to operate. Although, that license doesn’t require supervision of the animals, trained staff or plans in case of an emergency.

MSPCA officials say keeping track of incidents like this is difficult. ‘There’s no central reporting place,’ said MSPCA Director of Advocacy Kara Holmquist. The MSPCA has been calling for more kennel safety by implementing minimum care standards.”

Removing No-Pet Policies Helps Keep Families Together

Arlington is working to pass a measure to require landlords to allow companion animals. “At a time when there is a housing crisis, for people with animals it’s even more difficult to try keep their family together,’ said MSPCA Director of Advocacy Kara Holmquist. ‘Problems with finding housing is almost always the number one reason for people surrendering their animals.”

Advocate Spotlight: ADAs Prioritizing Animal Cruelty

At the MSPCA-Angell’s annual Raise the Woof Gala, we were joined at by two Assistant District Attorneys (ADAs) who are making big changes for animals. Suffolk County ADA Amelia Singh and Northwestern ADA Erin Aiello both spearheaded their county’s Animal Cruelty Taskforce, with the goal of creating a more proficient understanding of animal cruelty investigations and prosecutions and identifying necessary legislative improvements to the state’s laws. We thank both ADAs for their advocacy and work to protect animals in the Commonwealth!

From left to right: MSPCA-Angell Law Enforcement Officers Martha Parkhurst and Nadya Ciulla, MSPCA-Angell Staff Attorney Lynsey Legier, Suffolk County ADA Amelia Singh, and Northwestern ADA Erin Aiello.