If you spend hundreds of hours volunteering at your local shelter, fostering animals, or advocating for pets — you should absolutely be researching the candidates you vote for. Animal welfare issues are decided by elected officials at every level of government, from city council all the way up to Congress.
We spoke with Shelby Bobosky, Executive Director of the Texas Humane Legislation Network on our Bark & Wag 15 Minute Vet Talk podcast about how every animal lover can get political for the animals they care about. Here is what she shared.
Why Animal Lovers Need to Get Political
Most people do not connect their legislators to animal issues — but they should. Laws about puppy mills, dog fighting, stray animals, spay and neuter programs, and animal cruelty are all decided by elected officials. The candidates you vote for have a direct impact on the animals in your community.
As Shelby put it — getting political for animals is not intimidating. With just a few minutes of research you can learn a tremendous amount about where your candidates stand.
How to Research Candidates on Animal Welfare
1. Look up your state's humane legislation organization
Over 30 states have organizations dedicated to promoting the humane treatment of animals through legislation and advocacy. Simply search "animal welfare legislation voters" plus your state name and your state organization should appear.
2. Check the Humane Society Legislative Fund (HSLF)
The HSLF maintains scorecards and voting records for congressional members on federal animal welfare bills. This is a great starting point for researching senators and congressional representatives.
3. Review voting records and scorecards
Scorecards typically show how your legislator voted on animal welfare bills in the previous legislative session. This keeps elected officials honest — they know advocates are watching their record.
4. Ask candidates directly
If you have a race with no incumbents and no voting history to review, attend town halls or public forums and ask direct questions such as:
• Do you own pets — and where did you get them?
• How do you feel about strengthening dog fighting laws?
• Would you support funding for spay and neuter programs?
• What is your position on puppy mills and pet store sales of puppies?
Questions to Ask Your Candidates
The right questions depend on the issues in your area, but here are some powerful ones:
• Do you own pets — and where did you get them from?
• How do you feel about mandatory spay and neuter ordinances?
• Do you support breeding permits for unaltered animals?
• What is your position on dog fighting legislation?
• Would you support city or county funding for spay and neuter programs?
• What is your stance on stray animal pickup and control?
Even a simple question like where a candidate got their pets can tell you a lot about their values.
Animal Issues Happen at the Local Level
It is easy to focus on national politics but many of the most important animal welfare decisions happen at the city and county level. Your city council members and county commissioners make decisions about:
• Animal control and stray pickup
• Breed specific legislation
• Spay and neuter programs
• Zoning for breeding facilities
Do not overlook local elections — they matter enormously for the animals in your community.
Listen to the Full Episode
Hear directly from Shelby Bobosky of the Texas Humane Legislation Network in the full Bark & Wag 15 Minute Vet Talk episode below!
http://traffic.libsyn.com/barknwag/voting1.1m4a.m4a.mp3
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