Advocacy

Seattle Humane is championing the rights and well-being of pets and their people alongside our peers in the animal welfare community. We are committed to sharing information about the ever-evolving field of animal welfare, empowering our community to act as advocates for pets and the people who love them.

Advocacy at Seattle Humane

There are many policy areas that directly affect pets and their families in our region, and we have seen firsthand the systemic challenges our community faces in owning and caring for a pet in Washington state. Seattle Humane is actively working in conjunction with our peers to support animal welfare policy initiatives.

As we continue to build our coalition of animal welfare advocates, Seattle Humane has identified several key issues where we can champion positive change. At mid-session, the following bills are on track to help improve the lives of animals…

What's New?

Great News for Animals! HB 1201 is Passed by the Full Legislature, Protecting People and Pets During Emergencies

As part of our disaster preparedness strategy, and in conjunction with ASPCA, we advocated for HB 1201, a Washington state bill that ensures pet owners don’t have to choose between their safety and that of their animals during emergencies. This legislation requires local municipalities to provide emergency shelters that can accommodate people with companion animals during events like wildfires, earthquakes, or extreme weather. Companion animals are family, and many people hesitate to evacuate because they can’t leave them behind, sometimes risking their lives to rescue them. HB 1201 addresses this by creating “coshelters” where families can stay together, improving safety and encouraging faster evacuations. We are happy to celebrate that this bill passed the full legislature and now goes to the Governor Ferguson’s desk to be signed into law.

Learn more about HB1201 here.

Strengthening Animal Cruelty Laws in Washington State!

We celebrate that HB 1149, has successfully passed the Senate and is now on track to becoming law in Washington State! This bill will strengthen laws against animal fighting, close legal loopholes that have allowed abusers to avoid accountability, and prohibit convicted animal abusers and animal fighters from owning animals. This is a major victory for animals, and it wouldn’t have been possible without the dedication of those who took action. We congratulate Pasados’ Safe Haven for crafting this bill, and give a heartfelt thank you to Senator Dhingra, Representative Goodman, and bill sponsors Representative Hackney and Representative Low for their leadership in driving this vital legislation forward.

HB 1046 Passes! Ensuring Protection for Life-Saving Rescues

Seattle Humane is happy to celebrate the passage of HB 1046, an act providing legal immunity to individuals who rescue vulnerable people or domestic animals from vehicles. This important legislation ensures that those who take action to save animals in danger won’t face penalties for their lifesaving efforts. We sincerely thank Rep. Mari Leavitt and the several cosponsors of this bill for their dedication in moving this crucial piece of legislation forward. Their commitment to protecting people and pets is not only commendable but has the power to save lives. We look forward to this being signed into law.

These bills are moving forward, and we’ll keep you updated as they progress through the legislative process. With your support, we can help create a safer, more compassionate future for all.

Update on Efforts for More Pet Inclusive Housing

Seattle Humane is continuing to support the ASPCA’s efforts to create more equitable, pet inclusive housing in Washington state. Earlier this year, we worked together to lay the groundwork for removing housing barriers faced by pet owners and improve animal welfare in our state. As the next session approaches, we are speaking with legislators and continuing that momentum. Watch this page for updates!

Thank You Fur Fighters!

On July 24, Seattle Humane was proud to welcome the Fur Fighters Caucus, a bipartisan group of WA state legislators committed to supporting animal welfare issues, to our campus for their meeting. The Caucus, led by Rep. Amy Walen, was founded in 2021 to champion bills that protect animals in WA state. Caucus members were joined by local animal welfare advocates to review recent policy successes and discuss priority areas for the upcoming legislative session in January 2024. We are grateful to be aligned with our many peer organizations in pursuing these aims as we find new ways to grow our impact together.

Thank you to all the legislators, voters and animal welfare organizations working together to improve the lives of animals here in WA state. To learn more about recent legislative wins and animal welfare bills, visit the WA State Legislature online.

Get in touch

Want to Share Your Thoughts?

Email us at advocacy@seattlehumane.org. We look forward to hearing from you!

Learn More!

You’re invited to explore in your own time some of the resources we’ve found informative as we’re identifying our advocacy priorities and where Seattle Humane can have a lasting impact.