Alicia Prygoski: Strategic Legislation (Part II): How You Can Be a More Effective Animal Advocate

Alicia returns for another L+L. In February, she gave us a behind-the-scenes look at the strategy that leads to successful animal advocacy at federal, state and local level.

Today’s focus is on how individual animal advocates or members of a local animal rescue or shelter — whose main focus is not on policy — can be strategic when you contact elected officials to urge them to support good legislation and oppose that which will harm animals.

Her insights include:

  • how to effectively get your message across to legislators even if you are not a constitutent
  • how to leverage your impact even when you send a form letter
  • what to consider if you are opposing a bill rather than supporting it
  • why it’s not impolite to contact officials multiple times on the same bill (within reason!)
  • what is different about local, state and federal elected officials (it’s not a huge difference!)
  • don’t forget to contact the Governor

We asked Alicia for one action that everyone should take. Her answer: Contact your U.S. Representative and U.S. Senators and tell them to oppose the EATS Act!