Lobby Day Harrisburg

In April, Rachel Higham, Community Liaison and Joan Smith-Reese, Executive Director of the Animal Care Sanctuary were in the Harrisburg at the capital for Humane Lobby Day and visited Senator Yaw and Representatives Pickett and Baker.

The Humane Society of the United States sponsors a Lobby Day every year for the animal advocates from around the state to meet with their legislatures in regard to local issues as well as those that affect animals statewide. This year we were there to stress the importance of asking them to support Senate Bill 626 to end the Pigeon Shoots, sponsored by Senator Pat Brown. This issue has been a black mark on PA since the shoots were discovered in 1989. In no other state is this terrible practice legal. We were pleased to see this bill move through the Judiciary Committee with almost unanimous support. We also asked for support with Senate Bill 71 sponsored by Senator Greenleaf to ban the simulcasting of greyhound racing in PA and the soon to be introduced Senate Bill sponsored by Senator Allaway to reduce the number of hours a dog can be tethered outside. Today they can be chained outside 24 hours per day in all inclement weather. The event was organized by The Humane Society’s State Director, Sarah Speed.