Will You Be a Voice for Animals? - National Humane Education Society

Dear Friend of Animals,

Helping defenseless animals begins with your voice! Writing, emailing, and calling your elected officials about animal welfare issues and legislation can make a huge difference for animals in your city, state, and country as a whole. 

Not sure where to start? Here are some tips to help you get started: 

Writing an Action Letter

• Keep to one point in your letter.  Get to the point immediately in the first paragraph.
• Always be respectful, even if you dislike something that your recipient has done. Never make threats.
• If you are writing about a specific decision, bill, or situation make sure you identify it in the first paragraph of your letter or email.
• Briefly state your personal interest in the issue. Include legitimate facts. Be careful not to rant or exaggerate.
• Make sure you ask the recipient to do something—a specific call to action—at the beginning and again at the end of the letter.

Writing an Email

• Email is a more informal mode of communication. Often you can send a representative, CEO, or other official a message quickly via a form on the organization’s website.
• When composing an email from an address, use proper capitalization, punctuation, and correct spelling.
• Follow the same format you would employ in an action letter.

Making a Phone Call

• When making a phone call to express your thoughts on an issue, it’s often helpful to have an outline of your main speaking points.
• Keep phone calls brief. An effective phone contact can take place in a two-minute phone call.
• Main points should include who you are, whether you support or oppose a certain issue, a brief statement as to why you support/oppose the issue, and the action you wish your representative to take.

Find your state and federal legislators here!