The 2022 Legislative Session will be a hybrid. Unlike last year’s totally virtual format, buildings will be open to the public, with virtual committee hearings in the House for the
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Category: Ongoing Issues
Some animal rights issues may not be up for votes in the legislature because not enough attention has been brought to them. Raising awareness helps get them in front of our legislators and hopefully result in real change.
Maryland General Assembly Convenes Facing COVID Challenges on January 13, 2021
Maryland Votes for Animals 2021 Legislative Preview The Maryland General Assembly continues to face challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Maryland Constitution requires that the legislators be present in
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COVID-19 is NOT a Valid Excuse to Support Puppy Mills!
We hope that other states follow Maryland’s lead in passing legislation to prohibit the sale of puppies and kittens in pet stores. Thanks to Governor Larry Hogan for signing the
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Huge Win for Maryland!
A federal judge has dismissed a court challenge to Maryland’s law passed in 2018 prohibiting the sales of puppies and kittens in pet stores. “Protecting consumers, reducing financial support for
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Maryland General Assembly Session Convenes on January 8, 2020
Maryland Votes for Animals 2020 Legislative Preview The 2020 Session opens with new leadership in the House under Speaker Adrienne Jones and the Senate under President Bill Ferguson. With changes
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Popular Pesticide Has Dire Effects on Songbirds
Maryland Votes for Animals was proud to work on the Pollinator Protection Act of 2016, which limits the use and sale of neonicotinoid pesticides within the state of Maryland. As
Continue readingMaryland is Highlighted in States that Passed Legislation in 2019 – Humane Society of the United States
Kitty Block, President and CEO of the Humane Society of the United States, discusses legislation that passed in 2019. Overall, it was a successful year for animals with legislation passing
Continue reading10 States Now Have Laws to Encourage Adoption of Research Animals
Last year, Maryland became the 7th state to pass The Beagle Bill allowing healthy dogs and cats an opportunity to be adopted into loving homes after they have served their
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2018 End-of-Session Report
Three’s a Charm – Big Wins for Maryland’s Animals Thanks to YOU, our dedicated team of advocates, organizations, and legislators, 2018 was a HISTORIC year for animals in Maryland! Three
Continue readingJoin Us in Annapolis for Humane Lobby Day 2018!
Calling all Maryland animal advocates! Humane Lobby Day is Wednesday, February 14th. Registration is open. This is your chance to meet with your legislators about bills that will impact animals in
Continue readingBaltimore City Paves the Way for Maryland Puppy Mill Legislation
Way to go, Baltimore City! Animal advocates in Maryland will be working during the 2018 Legislative Session on a statewide bill to require that dogs and cats sold at pet
Continue readingSpay and Neuter Grants Program
Important and Time Sensitive Information for Maryland Shelters and Rescues: The Maryland Department of Agriculture just announced a request for proposals (RFP) for projects to be funded under the Spay
Continue readingCold Weather Pet Safety
Winter weather has arrived! The American Veterinary Medical Association has issued the following advisory: Like people, cats and dogs are susceptible to frostbite and hypothermia and should be kept inside.
Continue readingMaryland Black Bear Trophy Hunting Starts Monday: DNR Allowing Unlimited Numbers To Be Killed Again This Year!
Starting Monday, Maryland’s Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is once again allowing Maryland’s black bears to be trophy hunted in Western Maryland. Like last year, there will be no quotas
Continue readingDog Fighting, A Compassionate Conversation
Make Possession of Animal Fighting Paraphernalia Illegal in Maryland and Close the Loophole in Our Dogfighting law. Dogfighting is cruelty on an extreme scale and brings organized crime, guns, and drug
Continue readingGestation Creates
They Have To Go In children’s movies and storybooks, pigs are portrayed in a jovial way as being intelligent and able to interact with humans and other pigs in a
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CHAINED NO MORE! “Anti-chaining laws help protect dogs from cruelty and enhances public safety by preventing aggressive animal behaviours that can result from inhumane tethering.” — Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger Imagine living your
Continue readingPuppy Mills
How Much Is That Puppy In The Window? Puppy mills are breeding operations where the animals are kept in over-crowded and unsanitary cages without adequate veterinary care, food, water or
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Sport Killing of Maryland’s Black Bears
After hunters killed practically all of Maryland’s black bears, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) closed bear hunting season in the early 1950s, and placed our state’s black bears
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Maryland’s Deer and How to Protect Them
Whitetail Deer In Maryland Where did our whitetail deer come from, who brought them, and why? While for decades, seeing a whitetail deer in Maryland was a rarity, it isn’t
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