Congratulations Massachusetts Lets All Follow!

It's now official: The Commonwealth will no longer tolerate the cruel practice of cutting vocal cords to stifle a dog’s or cat’s voice.

Gov. Patrick has signed An Act Prohibiting Devocalization (Logan’s Law).

This is huge. Logan's Law is the first effective statewide devocalization ban in the nation.

And it is your victory.

From 16-year-old Jordan Star, whose idea it was to file this bill, to 71-year-old Jordan Gallagher, our most indefatigable volunteer, this is your victory.

You passed this landmark legislation--and kept opponents' lobbyists from watering it down--with every call you made, every flyer you handed out, every alert you forwarded or posted to your Facebook page, website or blog over the past 16 months.

Some of you visited your legislators at the Statehouse or in their district offices. Friends of the Plymouth Pound (FPP) organized a group of constituents, who made the trip into Boston to meet with Senate President Murray, helping win critical support.

It was fitting: Logan's Law is named for the devocalized show dog rescued by FPP founder Gayle Fitzpatrick.

Who is Coalition to Protect and Rescue Pets, sponsor of Logan’s Law?

The Coalition is an unfunded, all-volunteer network of people who care about animals. The Coalition is every one of you.

Some of you first joined together under the CPR Pets banner in 2008 to prohibit the emerging pet rental trade--a business model that reduced dogs to the status of DVDs. Together, we passed that state law in an astounding five months. Other Coalition members are new to this effort.

You are individuals with and without dogs and cats of your own. You are animal behavior experts, groomers, pet shop owners and dog walkers. You are veterinarians who took a courageous stand.

And you are small, struggling animal shelters and rescue groups—in the trenches giving countless hours of your time to save dogs and cats. Some of you work without even a salary, digging into your own pockets to rescue, heal and give unwanted, abused and neglected animals the loving, secure homes we all deserve.

Together, you formed a Coalition of people determined to keep dogs and cats from being robbed of their voices for an owner's convenience or profit. And against all odds, you succeeded. You did it without funding.

You did it without direct mail, lobbyists, TV ads or slick campaign materials, proving it's not money that passes legislation: It's your voice and your will.

You passed a bill the "experts" said would never become law--with nothing more than your time, energy and the conviction that animals deserve protection from abuse, no matter what form it takes or by what euphemisms it is called. Let there be no mistake: Devocalization is animal abuse.

Please don’t stop now.

Use your talent and tenacity to file and lobby for humane laws at the municipal and state level. Bring Logan's Law to animal advocates in other states too.

And be vigilant: The special interests that fought to kill or dilute this bill may be back next legislative session to try again. Don’t let them succeed.

Animals need more than compassion to protect them from the whims of selfish, cruel and profit-driven people. They need laws—and laws won't happen without your advocacy.

Please thank the organizations that stepped up to support our effort:

Animal Law Coalition

Executive Director Laura Allen, Esq. drafted our bill and has worked every day to help us pass it since it was filed in December 2008. She posted, e-alerted and tweeted relentlessly—and provided sound legal advice, never asking for credit, happy to help without recognition. Laura is the expert voice on passing strong, effective animal-protective laws. Please learn about and support ALC’s legislative efforts nationally: www.animallawcoalition.com

HSVMA

Director Pam Runquist and Veterinary Consultant Dr. Barbara Hodges, DVM were our consultants on veterinary issues, researching, advising and enabling us to counter the many myths put forth by opponents. HSVMA also brought more than 200 Massachusetts veterinarians on board. Wonder if your vet is among them? Email CPRPets@aol.com for a list of vets who endorsed the bill. If yours isn’t named, express your hope that the next time a humane bill is on the docket, s/he will stand up to support it.

Companion Animal Protection Society, In Defense of Animals, Kinship Circle, MARC and NEAVS shared information about the bill with their Massachusetts members. Their outreach was essential for our success.

Petco welcomed us into its stores throughout Massachusetts to distribute information.

Thank you to our consulting experts.

Dr. Joel M. Woolfson, DVM, DACVS, Veterinary Surgeon
Dr. Nicholas Dodman, DVA, DACVB, DACVA, Veterinary Behaviorist and Anesthesiologist
Dr. Barbara Hodges, DVM, MBA, Humane Society Veterinary Medical Assn.
Pat Miller, CDBC, CPDT; Past President, Association of Pet Dog Trainers

Diana Cartier, Videographer
Laura Allen, Esq., Executive Director, Animal Law Coalition

And bigthanks to the following legislators, who championed this bill:

Rep. Bill Bowles, whowas instrumental in moving the bill onto the House floor

Rep.BillBowles@hou.state.ma.us
Sen. Bruce Tarr, who carried it in the Senate, Bruce.Tarr@state.ma.us
Rep. Will Brownsberger, Rep.WilliamBrownsberger@hou.state.ma.us
Rep. Jennifer Callahan, Rep.JenniferCallahan@hou.state.ma.us

Rep. Cheryl Coakley-Rivera, Rep.CherylCoakley-Rivera@hou.state.ma.us
Rep.Sean Garballey, Rep.SeanGarballey@hou.state.ma.us
Rep. Louis Kafka, Rep.LouisKafka@hou.state.ma.us
Rep. Gene O'Flaherty, Rep.GeneOFlaherty@hou.state.ma.us

We are also grateful to House Speaker Robert DeLeo (Robert.DeLeo@state.ma.us) and Senate President Therese Murray (Therese.Murray@state.ma.us) for their leadership, and to Sen. Frederick Berry (Frederick.Berry@state.ma.us), under whose chairmanship the Senate Rules Committee crafted legislation thatpreserves the integrity of this humane legislation.

Please take a minute to thank these legislators (email)and your own Rep and Senator (call and/or email) for hearing and supporting your concern for animals.

Last but not least...

Thanks to House Clerk Steve James and Senate Clerk Bill Welch and their staffs for their impartial help--and infinite patience--in guiding us through the legislative process.

It's not every bill that passes the House 155-1, and passes the Senate overwhelmingly too.

Logan's Law did because of you.

Congratulations!

Animal Umbrella, Revere
Baypath Humane Society, Hopkinton
Berkshire Humane Society, Pittsfield
Billerica Cat Care Coalition, Billerica
Boston Dog Rescue, Boston
Buddy Dog Humane Society, Sudbury
Dakin Pioneer Valley Humane Society, Springfield
Dog Orphans, Douglas
Forever Paws Animal Shelter, Fall River
Friends of the Plymouth Pound, Plymouth
Ipswich Humane Group, Ipswich
Kitty Connection, Medford
Marblehead Animal Shelter, Marblehead
MassPAWS, Winthrop
Melrose Humane Society, Melrose
MetroWest Humane Society, Ashland
MSPCA, Boston
New England Animal Rescue, Middleboro
New England Society for Abandoned Animals, Osterville
Norfolk County Humane Society, Canton
Northeast Animal Shelter, Salem
Poodle Rescue of New England, Somerville
Save A Dog, Sudbury
South Shore Humane Society, Braintree
Standish Humane Society, Duxbury
Sterling Animal Shelter, Sterling
Tiny Tigers Feline Rescue, Groton
Underdog ResQ, Boston
Worcester Animal Rescue League, Worcester

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