A Young Animal Advocate in KY Is Being a Voice for Shelter Pets - National Humane Education Society

Paws Up!
January 18, 2020

To Ethan Branscum and his family for promoting shelter pets by contacting Representative Graviss to make them Kentucky’s official state animal.

Creating a more humane world for animals takes time. Animal welfare advocates span all ages, but it is the next generation who will be the changemakers for animals. In Kentucky, 7-year-old Ethan Branscum is one of those changemakers. He wants to help promote the importance of pet adoption by making shelter or rescue cats and dogs the official state animal. Ethan stated, “I hoped that people would be more inclined to get shelter pets and rescue pets if they were the state pet of Kentucky.” After contacting Representative Joe Graviss (D-Versailles), House Bill 27 was introduced. It has passed its first reading in the House. Currently, animal welfare legislation in Kentucky is weak or non-existent.

Take Action: Kentuckians contact your representative to show your support for H.B. 27 to make shelter pets the official state animal.