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Thank You for Sponsoring Goldie's Act (H.R. 349)

Dear Representative,
As your constituent, I want to thank you for being a lead co-sponsor of Goldie’s Act (H.R. 349), which would protect commercially bred animals--like dogs in puppy mills--from cruelty. This legislation would strengthen Animal Welfare Act (AWA) enforcement and better protect animals in U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)-licensed facilities from persistent abuse and neglect. Goldie, a Golden Retriever after whom this legislation is named, suffered and died at a USDA-licensed facility because the USDA failed in its responsibility to protect her and hundreds more dogs at the same facility from neglect. Hundreds of thousands of other animals in USDA-licensed facilities are still at risk. Right now, USDA-licensed facilities are not inspected with regularity, some going years without an inspection. Even when facilities are inspected, current USDA policies prevent certain violations from being documented. And when violations are documented, the agency rarely takes action, allowing non-compliant facilities to operate with impunity and animals to suffer. Goldie’s Act would ensure much-needed enforcement reform by requiring frequent and meaningful inspections, immediate assistance for visibly suffering animals, penalties for violators of the law, and cross reporting with local law enforcement. Animal protection is a priority for me, and I appreciate you leading the charge to improve welfare for our nation’s vulnerable animals.

Please Co-sponsor Goldie’s Act (H.R. 349) to Protect Dogs

Dear Representative,
As your constituent, I am writing to urge you to co-sponsor Goldie’s Act (H.R.349) to protect vulnerable animals from abuse and neglect. Right now, hundreds of thousands of animals are languishing in U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)-licensed facilities--such as cruel puppy mills--because the agency is not fulfilling its responsibility to protect them. Goldie’s Act is bipartisan legislation that would strengthen Animal Welfare Act (AWA) enforcement to prevent more animals from suffering and dying under the USDA’s watch. This bill is named after “Golden Retriever #142,” now known as “Goldie.” She suffered and died at a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)-licensed puppy mill because the USDA failed to protect her and hundreds more dogs at the same facility from neglect. USDA inspectors found Goldie “extremely emaciated” and observed her deteriorating condition over several months but did not record her condition on an official inspection report and did not seek help for her. The USDA is charged with enforcing the AWA, a law established to protect animals kept for commercial, exhibition, and research purposes; but over the years, the USDA has watered down its own enforcement programs and procedures, eroding protections for these vulnerable animals. Right now, USDA facilities are not regularly inspected. Even when facilities are inspected, current USDA policies prevent certain violations from being documented. And when violations are documented, the agency rarely takes action, allowing non-compliant facilities to operate with impunity as animals suffer. For the sake of the hundreds of thousands of animals housed in USDA facilities, we must pass Goldie’s Act to ensure that the USDA is upholding its existing responsibility to safeguard animals against suffering; but that can only happen if the provisions in Goldie's Act—frequent and meaningful inspections, immediate assistance for visibly suffering animals, deterring penalties for violators of the law, and cross reporting with law enforcement—are adopted. Animal protection is a priority for me, and I urge you to help these vulnerable animals by co-sponsoring this critical bill.

Please Help Protect Dogs and Other Animals from Suffering

Dear Representative,
As your constituent, I am writing because I am deeply concerned that hundreds of thousands of vulnerable animals are languishing in U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)-licensed facilities—such as cruel puppy mills—and the agency is not fulfilling its responsibility to protect them. I urge you to take action this Congress to protect these animals, including by cosponsoring Goldie’s Act, when it is reintroduced in the Senate. This bipartisan legislation would strengthen Animal Welfare Act (AWA) enforcement to prevent more animals from suffering and dying under the USDA’s watch. Goldie’s Act is named after “Golden Retriever #142,” now known as Goldie. She suffered and died at a USDA-licensed puppy mill because the USDA failed to protect her and hundreds more dogs at the same facility from neglect. USDA inspectors found Goldie “extremely emaciated” and observed her deteriorating condition over several months but did not record her condition on an official inspection report and did not seek help for her. The USDA is charged with enforcing the AWA, a law established to protect animals kept for commercial, exhibition, and research purposes, but over the years, the USDA has watered down its own enforcement programs and procedures, eroding protections for these vulnerable animals. Right now, USDA facilities are not regularly inspected, some going years without an inspection. Even when facilities are inspected, current USDA policies prevent certain violations from being documented. And when violations are documented, the agency rarely takes action, allowing non-compliant facilities to operate with impunity as these animals suffer. For the sake of the hundreds of thousands of animals housed in USDA facilities, we must pass Goldie’s Act to ensure that the USDA is upholding its existing responsibility to safeguard animals against unnecessary suffering; but that can only happen if the provisions in Goldie's Act—frequent and meaningful inspections, immediate assistance for visibly suffering animals, deterring penalties for violators of the law, and cross reporting with law enforcement—are collectively adopted. Animal protection is a priority for me. I urge you to help these vulnerable animals by supporting this critical bill when it is reintroduced.