Contacting Your Elected Officials:

   How To Contact your STATE Elected Officials:

• In Wisconsin, you can easily find your area's representatives and their contact information by going to: http://www.legis.state.wi.us./ and clicking on the "Who are my legislators?" button.

• Be sure to write or phone the Governor, as well as your legislators. Our Governor can be reached at:

  • Office of the Governor
    115 East State Capitol
    Madison, WI 53702
    608-266-1212 (Voice)
    608-267-8983 (Fax)
    http://www.wisgov.state.wi.us/contact.asp

• Historically, the MOST effective way to contact legislators has been by a formal "snail mail" letter. Please see What to Say and Sample Message, below, if you are uncertain as to how to write a letter that officials will pay attention to.

• The second most effective method of contact is a phone call. Read on for What To Say.

• If you do not feel comfortable writing a letter or calling you can e-mail but please be aware that this is generally considered the least effective and most "informal" way of communicating with politicians (though, with the anthrax scares, many legislators on the federal level now prefer email). Follow the same rules for an email as you would for a printed letter.

   Talking Points:

The following Talking Points are revised from a 2003 memo Memo sent to all WI legislators from Martha Hess, former Aide to Rep. Jeff Wood. We thank Ms Hess for allowing us to excerpt this memo.

• What is a Puppy Mill?

  • A "puppy mill" is a facility that continuously breeds female dogs and then houses the females and their puppies in deplorable conditions. Inadequate food, water, sanitation, year-round exposure to the elements and dilapidated housing are commonplace.

  • Many puppies sold from these mills suffer from chronic physical ailments and may be fearful of people and other animals. The animals are sold on farms or are transported in bulk caging [trucked] to pet stores across the country.

  • The breeders are raising "livestock" but selling their product as pets. The dogs are kept in cages with wire floors. They never get any exercise. Medical attention is non-existent. Water is minimal, probably frozen in wintertime. Food is scarce and usually moldy.

  • Once the dogs no longer reproduce for the miller, their lives are terminated. Some are rescued where they undergo extensive rehabilitation for aggressive and frightened behavior. Rescued dogs usually have only one or two rotten teeth left due to poor nutrition and lack of anything to chew on to keep their mouths healthy.

  • These inhumane and abusive conditions have been the subjects of television reports and newspaper articles nationwide. Resports show that breeders who are put out of business in states that enforce pet facility laws quickly move to other states where laws are inadequate or non-existent. We believe that is why we have seen such a sharp increase in new puppy mills here in Wisconsin.

• We need legislation that would correct problems and esure that animals will receive proper care before it reaches a criminal level. DATCP already oversees the humane treatment of animals and shares responsibility with local authorities. Unfortunately, when enforcing Chapter 951: Crimes Against Animals, an animal is almost dead before it is considered a crime.

• We need legislation that provides the manpower to investigate, inspect and fine those who do not stay in compliance. DATCP receives hundreds of calls each year complaining of puppy mills and other breeders of exotic animals and the heartbreaking conditions pets come from and the health of these pets. The public wants something done about the problem.

• We need legislation that provides rule making authority to set standards for pet facilities including proper shelter, ventilation, proper flooring, areas large enough for breeding and nutrition. People spend a lot of money on pets and they should be able to purchase an animal that has been properly cared for. No one wants to purchase a puppy or other pet and have it end up sick, aggressive or die at an unexpectedly young age.

• An effective Pet Facilities Law could be self-funded through licensing fees fees and from the income taxes derived from the sale of pets. In a three-year poll conducted by the Wisconsin Puppy Mill Project, 89% of those who sold pets through classified ads did not charge sales tax. Many of these puppy mills operate under the radar screen of state taxes, both personal income and state sales tax. Pets are a taxable item in Wisconsin. People who sell pets directly to the public through classified ads, the Internet, at roadside stands and flea markets are neither reporting their income or collecting and submitting sales tax to the State Department of Revenue.

   What To Say:

• 2008 is an election year. If your state representative is up for re- election: "Where do you stand on puppymills in Wisconsin and why?" Your reply to this question really MATTERS to me and could affect my vote!

  I Thank supporters of Pet Facilities legislation for their WISDOM in taking up the matter once again/ I request newly elected legislators to help reintroduce and co-sponsor a Pet Facilities Law.

• I support a self-funded Pet Facilities Law. I believe that licensing fees can and will cover the cost of the program and staff needed to manage it. These breeders are making money. A small portion of their income should be used for licensing. Every other business must buy licenses.

• I believe people who sell more than 50 dogs per year should be licensed and inspected, in fact, I hope that number would be lower.

• I understand that current work on legislation will cover dogs only. I believe ALL pet species should be given protection, NOT just dogs.

• This type of legislation will go a long way to protecting consumers, too. These measures are long overdue.

• I believe that not only will the Pet Facilities Law NOT use any funds from the state budget, but its enforcement may actually ADD to state tax revenues by forcing businesses to accurately report their income and charge state tax on their "products." Everyone dealing in pets should pay a fair share of taxes.

• Please take a look at www.NoWisconsinPuppyMills.com, which features information on Wisconsin's rapidly growing puppy mill industry. It also features links to recent media coverage on the abuse, neglect and suffering going on right now in Wisconsin's unregulated "puppies for profit" businesses.

• Insert any of the Talking Points, above, or add a personal experience of your own to let your representatives know why you feel so strongly about this issue.

• Be sure to give your name, address, and phone number. A anonymous letter won't even make it to your legislator's desk, and he probably won't pay much attention to it if your address isn't included.

   Sample Message:

       Below is a sample message to give you a starting point for your own sentiments regarding the need for regulation of the pet industry. Feel free to use any of the Talking Points or What To Say items above, as well as incorporating your own sentiments and experiences. Remember, always be respectful and courteous. Rude or abusive letters will hurt, rather than help, our cause.

       PLEASE always be respectful and courteous.