We need your help! The Ollie’s Law bill hearing will take place on Tuesday, September 26, 2023. This is our big chance to make our voices heard, and implore the Municipalities Committee to move this bill forward.         

We can't do this alone. Help us get Ollie's Law passed by sending a letter to the representatives, senators, or committee members in your area.          

          

Here are the 2 most important ways that you can help us get Ollie’s Law passed:

1) Send a Letter to Your Elected Officials: Click here to find your state representative and state senator (based on your mailing address), and send them a letter or email today urging them to support this bill.         

2) Send a Letter to the Municipalities Committee: Click here to see which legislators are on this Committee. Whether your Reprensentative or Senator are on the committee or not, testimony on Ollie’s Law can be submitted via email to municipalitiescommittee@gmail.com.         

  • Include the bill number and the word “Testimony” in the subject line of your email.
  • Address your comments to House Chair Rep. Carole Fiola and Senate Chair Sen. Jacob Oliveira.
  • The Committee will accept written testimony through Tuesday, October 3, 2023, at 5:00 PM.

         

How to Write Your Letter (Outline):

Need help writing your letter/testimony? Here's an outline you can use (with an example script below).   

   

Dear Chair Oliveira, Chair Fiola, and members of the Committee [or, insert the name of the representative or senator you are writing to],         

  • MAKE IT CLEAR WHAT YOU ARE WRITING ON
    [For example, “I am writing to support S. 1309/H. 2019: An Act relative to Kennel Safety — Ollie’s Law.”]

  • NOTE YOUR REASONS/EXPERIENCE
    [This is a good place to talk about your own personal experience, whether it is because of your dog being injured, because you care about animals generally, volunteer with animals, have worked in a dog daycare/boarding facility, etc.]

  • WHAT THE BILL DOES/WHY YOU THINK IT SHOULD PASS
    [Add a few points about what the bill does that will benefit our community. Reference our     Ollie's Law Fact Sheet  for inspiration and ideas.]

  • YOUR "ASK"
    [Ask your representative to support Ollie's Law. For example, “I urge you to support these bills so that they may advance through the legislative process and become law.”].


 Respectfully Submitted,         

[Your Name,          

Address,         

Email or phone - how they can get in contact with you]         

          

        

If you can, personalize the above script with details from your own experience.      

Here's an example letter script using the outline above.         

         

        

Example Letter Script

Dear Chair Oliveira, Chair Fiola, and members of the Committee,         

I am writing to urge you to support Bill S.1309/H.2019, An Act relative to Kennel Safety — Ollie's Law.         

Bill S.1309/H.2019 is reasonable for businesses and necessary to protect the health and safety of pets, pet owners, and employees at pet care businesses in our state. As a pet owner, it is upsetting to think that when I drop my dog off at a facility, there are no statewide standards in place to ensure the facility has safety protocols for my pet. This bill will create a committee of animal care and industry experts to advise MDAR in crafting and maintaining very basic safety regulations, attainable for a business of any size. Without state oversight, beloved pets will continue to suffer preventable injuries, sicknesses, and deaths due to a lack of regulation and a lack of standards for these business owners to follow.         

Ollie's Law will allow MDAR to assist Animal Control Officers in addressing problematic cases for regulated businesses, and facilitate proper reporting of incidents at a business that result in enforcement action. The bill will not change kennel licensing requirements, limit business owners from operating pet care facilities, or regulate private breeders.         

Bill S.1390/H.2019 covers all relevant pet care facilities that accept money in exchange for caring for our animal family members. Massachusetts pet owners deserve to feel safe when dropping off our beloved pets at these facilities. Equally, the employees at these facilities deserve to have proper training in how to respond in an emergency situation, and the trust that their employers have safety protocols in place to support them.         

I urge you to report these bills out favorably, before another pet owner or worker at a pet care facility in Massachusetts suffers a preventable tragedy.                 

Respectfully Submitted,         

[Your Name, Address, Email or phone - how they can get in contact with you]