07/11/2022
HELP LAB TESTED DOGS AND CATS FIND A PATHWAY TO A LOVING HOME!
Our President and CEO, Julia Willson, recently wrote an op-ed for the Lansing State Journal regarding Teddy’s Law. Here is what she had to say about this important bill.
Those of us who work in animal shelters see animals in pain every day. We continue our work because, in many cases, we are able to transform these heartbreaking stories into happy ones. Injuries can be healed and homeless animals can be adopted. As we watch the animals in our care thrive, we gain strength to continue our work because we have the power to transform hopelessness into hopefulness.
Unfortunately, despite the fact that there are animal welfare organizations across the state that could prevent it, there is a population of dogs and cats in Michigan who are dying needlessly: those used in laboratory testing. In 2019, an undercover investigation exposed the fact that, despite being adoptable, 32 beagles in a Michigan laboratory were scheduled to be euthanized after experiments on them had ended. It took tens of thousands of phone calls from an outraged public to get them out.
Last month, another undercover investigation at a laboratory in Indiana exposed a similar situation: 80 healthy beagle puppies scheduled for euthanasia in May. Their fate is still unknown.
There is no plan in place to help laboratory animals find homes once their time in a lab has ended. No national mandate, no statewide law, and no requirement by the Michigan Department of Agriculture. Laboratories are not required to report what happens to the animals in their care when they are no longer useful, they only report the number of dogs and cats who enter their doors.
What we do know is that the euthanasia of laboratory animals is routine, and that without legal requirements in place to protect these animals, there is no standard pathway for them to be placed into the loving homes that they deserve.
Last year, Reps. Kevin Hertel and Tommy Brann introduced Teddy’s Law (HB 4881 and HB 4882), bills that would require laboratories to transfer adoptable dogs and cats to the care of an animal shelter after testing has ended and report those animals to the Department of Agriculture. Despite bipartisan support for Teddy’s Law, the legislation has not even been granted a vote in committee.
Please join me in asking members of the House Regulatory Reform Committee and all Michigan elected officials to take action to pass Teddy’s Law. Animal shelters across the state, including The Capital Area Humane Society, are waiting with open arms to accept these dogs and cats into our family and ensure that they receive the best possible vet care, behavior evaluations, and placement into new homes.
It’s awful to watch an animal suffer while being powerless to help. The Michigan Legislature is not powerless. A simple yes vote, a few minutes of their time, will mean the difference between life and death for dogs and cats in our state.
To help us move this important bill forward, please contact some of the committee members on the list below:
• Rep. Michele Hoitenga (Republican) District-102 (517) 373-1747
• Rep. Joe Bellino (Republican) District-17 517) 373-1530
• Rep. Matt Hall (Republican) District-63 (517) 373-1787
• Rep. Mike Mueller (Republican) District-51 (517) 373-1780
• Rep. Pauline Wendzel (Republican) District-79 (517) 373-1403
• Rep. TC Clements (Republican) District-56 (517) 373-2617
• Rep. John Damoose (Republican) District-107 (517) 373-2629
• Rep. Pat Outman (Republican) District-70 517) 373-0834
• Rep. Tenisha Yancey (Democrat) District-1 (517) 373-0154
• Rep. Alex Garza (Democrat) District-12 (517) 373-0852
• Rep. Angela Witwer (Democrat) District-71 (517) 373-0853
• Rep. Richard Steenland (Democrat) District-22 (517) 373-0854
• Rep. Stephanie Young (Democrat) District-8 (517) 373-3815
Here are some other ways you can help:
• Call Representative Roger Hauck, Committee
Chair, at (517) 373-1789, or email at
[email protected].
• Call the Bill Sponsor, Representative Tommy Brann, and express
your support at (517) 373-2277.
• Write a letter of support and email it to Representative Brann’s
office at [email protected].
Thank you so much for your support!