UPDATE: The House has decided not to vote immediately on this legislation, and has passed it to a subcommittee. Hence, there's still time to act. I've posted details below: how you can contact representatives and urge them to support this crucial bill.
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Preventing PETA from killing pets in its home state of Virginia will be a major triumph, but it is only the first step. The animals they kill personally -- tens of thousands -- are simply a fraction of those that they cause to be killed nationwide.
Today, for instance, they are attempting to thwart legislation in Maryland that would protect pets from being killed unnecessarily in shelters. The bill would also protect cats in managed colonies from being rounded up and killed.
A House committee is currently considering the Maryland Companion Animal Protection Act (HB0876). As Nathan Winograd of the No Kill Advocacy Center explains:
That vote will help determine whether Maryland will, among other things, end convenience killing in shelters, including making it illegal for shelters to kill animals when rescue groups are willing to save them, making it illegal to kill community cats in a TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return) program, requiring shelters to provide prompt and necessary care to animals, and bringing transparency to shelter operations.
Of course, PETA is opposed -- this goes contrary to all that they believe in and practice. Their opposition, predictable and appalling, is expressed here.
Stopping PETA is not a local affair. They are the loudest voice in favor of shelter killing nationwide.
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WHAT YOU CAN DO IF YOU LIVE IN MARYLAND
1. Please fill out this form -- it goes directly to the members of the committee considering this legislation, and urges them to vote in favor.
2. You can find out who represents you, using this site. Please urge your legislator to sponsor and support bill HB0876.