International Society for Animal Rights seeks help from elected officials in its legislative efforts to better the lives of companion animals

Since the founding of International Society for Animal Rights (ISAR) in 1959, we have consistently been committed to using law and education to further the cause of animal rights. We’re active on the legislative front within the legal constraints on tax exempt 501(c)(3) by providing analyses, summaries, and critiques of all federal laws affecting animals, by drafting and disseminating model statutes on a variety of animal rights issues, by offering strategic and tactical advice to animal rights activists about how to introduce and enact animal protection statutes and ordinances, and by critically evaluating legislation drafted and introduced by federal and state legislators throughout the United States. ISAR’s dedication to animal rights also includes strengthening existing legislation.

Below are five important animal protection statutes developed by ISAR that we have recently begun submitting to elected officials across the United States in the hope of finding some who share our values and are thus willing to introduce and fight for their enactment on the municipal, state, and/or federal levels.

• Model Mandatory Spay/Neuter Statute: This law would dramatically reduce the number of millions of unwanted dogs and cats who, through no fault of their own, have a substantial adverse impact on the public health, safety, welfare, and environment.

• Model Adoption Sterilization Statute: This law would insure that every dog and cat adopted from a shelter, humane society, rescue organization, and similar organization, was spayed or neutered before release, thus preventing the birth of literally uncountable unwanted companion animals.

• Model Tax Deduction Statute: This law would cause countless animals to be spayed or neutered, resulting in preventing millions of unwanted births. There would be a concomitant savings of considerable taxpayer dollars that are now spent on catching, briefly maintaining, killing, and disposing of millions of unwanted companion animals.

• Department of Animal Affairs Statute: This law would create a single public entity with the know-how, power and resources necessary to take a coordinated approach to all animal-related issues arising in
  one jurisdiction.

• Mandatory Dog and Cat Microchipping: This law would deter pet abandonment, facilitate recovery of lost pets, and substantially ameliorate the suffering of those who lose a companion animal.

After reaching out to various mayors, county executives, governors, and municipal, state, and federal legislators, ISAR is beginning to receive responses from mayors, state senators, and other public officials. For example, Mayor William Holland of Hesperia, CA, has said that “I am a big believer in animal rights. I will be looking at what you’ve sent with great interest. We are in the process of overhauling our animal services department. We have many very dedicated employees who truly love animals. We will do a better job of supporting them. More to follow.”

We hope that when any of these ISAR-developed animal rights statutes find their way to the desks of elected officials they will look on them favorably because they are aimed at protecting the only other living species which we share this planet.