Advocacy in the Time of Coronavirus* – Attorneys for Animals

*With apologies to the Nobel laureate and Columbian writer, Gabriel García Márquez

“Since we all have time on our hands, do you think it’s a good time to write to our legislators? Or would it be better to get the letters/emails written and put aside until the legislature reconvenes?”

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It started with that question from one of our members. How to strike the proper balance between acknowledging the reality that our elected representatives and other policy makers and officials will be consumed with the pandemic, while taking appropriate (and sometimes creative) actions to continue advocating for animals.

We contacted several current legislative aides and a former state legislator. Here are the responses, keeping in mind that, as one said, “This is uncharted territory”. We’ve put together some guidelines to help you navigate these unprecedented times.

Here are excerpts from their responses:

“It depends. Even if the legislature were to meet for session, I doubt they keep a regular committee schedule and only focus on extremely urgent matters. So, I think a targeted letter campaign to a committee chair could be effective given they have time on their hands. However, [be prepared as] they could simply use the irregularity of the [legislative] schedule as an excuse not to take up legislation.”

“It could be beneficial to prime members on your issues in the interim. It really depends on what the issue is and who you are targeting. You could always turn in letters now and also again in the fall.”

“As far as advocacy is concerned, legislative offices are still responding to emails, and [likely] phone calls as well. This is uncharted territory on advocacy issues, but personal emails will at least be acknowledged. [A] request for a phone call, even conference call or Zoom meeting might be honored.”

*Our treatment of farmed animals and wildlife is, or should be, under scrutiny now, in Lansing and Washington DC.*

While there is no definitive answer, here are 10 guidelines:

Be sensitive to the ongoing pandemic and proceed accordingly; even a usually supportive official may be less available or receptive now.
If you have established a relationship with the legislator, reach out and see how she/he and the staff are doing. Remind them of your interest in animal issues and ask if they are open to a discussion now. Whether or not you have contacted your officials before, take the time to thank them for past support of animal welfare issues.
Tie our issues to the pandemic in conversations with friends and family, with your elected officials, in letters to the editor. We see many, including those with the ability to effect change, paying unprecedented attention to the relationship between our treatment of animals and the outbreak of disease.
- Issues include:
  - Wet markets as the likely “incubator” for the COVID-19 coronavirus;
  - Captive wildlife and exotic animals in circuses, roadside zoos, fairs can carry diseases;
  - Industrial agriculture and the confinement of animals has led to zoonotic diseases and slaughterhouses are hot-spots of COVID-19 outbreaks to workers;
  - Domestic Violence victims, including animal family members, are at much greater risk now;
- Examples of responses include:
  - PETA recently filed a petition for rulemaking to the USDA asking the agency to promulgate emergency regulations temporarily suspending all direct physical contact between the public and big cat cubs in response to the COVID-19 pandemic;
  - AFA joined with PCRM in calling for an investigation of Wayne State University for violating the governor’s executive order to “suspend activities that are not necessary to sustain or protect life,” by continuing to subject dogs to painful heart failure experiments; and by endangering its employees who are required to conduct these experiments.
Many of us are living under state or local orders. They have a significant impact on animals and those who care for them, and provide an opportunity for advocacy. In Michigan, for example, a coalition of animal advocacy groups and shelters, including AFA, sent a letter to the governor in March urging her to include those who care for animals as “essential workers” and not subject to the general stay-at-home order; and in late April sent another letter asking that restrictions on veterinarians performing spay/neuter surgeries be relaxed.
Pay attention to what members of Congress and agencies are writing about animals; you may be pleasantly surprised. Over the last month:
- Nearly 80 members of Congress are urging the House Speaker to include funding for Emergency and Transitional Pet Shelter and Housing Assistance grants in the next emergency funding package;
- A bipartisan group of 60+ US lawmakers are calling on world health organizations for an immediate ban on the international wildlife trade and wet markets;
- Recent CDC guidelines for pet owners during the pandemic advises people to “treat pets as any other human family members.”
Some business-as-usual is continuing, providing opportunities for advocacy:
- Ask your US senator or representative to co-sponsor animal-friendly bills that were previously introduced (note, this isn’t an option in the Michigan Legislature where co-sponsorship is only available at the time of bill introduction);
- The Michigan Natural Resources Commission continues to meet. Its April meeting was live-streamed with a full agenda, including public comments. The meeting schedule is here; although it shows in-person meetings in May and thereafter, check back for updates and consider attending on-line and — even better — submitting a comment.
The “Tiger King” phenomenon: despite the pandemic, this reality show has been big news and generated much discussion (both pro and con). One positive result has been an uptick of interest in the Big Cat Public Safety Act, which has been introduced in the past five sessions of Congress but had gone nowhere. Legislators report more calls about the bill, which would restrict private ownership and public interaction with big cats. Keep an eye out for other non-pandemic-related news that might tie into a discussion of pro-animal legislation and policy.
Keep alert for efforts to undermine protections for animals that are unrelated to the current pandemic, and respond accordingly. For example, the USFWS recently posted a proposed rule to greatly expand hunting and fishing in National Wildlife Refuges across the country. The deadline to respond is June 8. AFA is preparing a comment in opposition.
Use the time to educate yourself; there are incredible opportunities to learn about animal law, specific issues and the work on animal organizations, via webinars; keep up with legislation (we will continue to update the Legislative Tracker™); and with the news.
Use the opportunity to develop coalitions and partnerships; as noted above, AFA joined in letters to the governor regarding the stay-at-home order; and with PCRM to challenge the continuation of invasive experiments on dogs during the stay-at-home order.

In short: #StaySafeAndAdvocate!