The bill will next be heard by the State Senate Appropriations Committee on Monday, July 14, 2008. Please contact your State Senator and the members of the Senate Appropriations Committee today. Don't wait.

Everyone should do all of the following:

• Contact your State Senator
• Call your State Senator
• Contact the members of the Appropriations Committee

Go to your State Senator's local District Office. Take a one page letter that explains how AB 1634 hurts working dogs. Talk to the staff member who is tracking this bill. Don't be emotional or angry. Be polite. Don't threaten to withhold your vote, but do make them understand how important this is to you. If it is impossible for you to visit—really, how can it be impossible—then fax your letter.

Enter your street addres to find your State Senator and your Assembly Member. It will open a new window with the names and contact information.

If at all possible, please try to visit the Senator's Capitol or District office. You do not need an appointment.

• Write a letter to take with you
• Visit during regular business hours
• Identify yourself as a constitutient. This is important.
• Ask to speak to the Senator or the staff member handling AB 1634.
• Be calm and polite. We are all passionate about our dogs, but you must keep your cool. They will not be swayed by anger or other emotions.
• Stick to the points in your letter. You will be more pursuasive if you are clear and well organized.
• Thank the Senator or staff member for their time. Do not expect them to make any commitment.
• Leave a copy of your letter
• Let us know about your visit

We cannot emphasize enough that this is the most effective thing you can do. Nothing matters more than going to visit your State Senator.

If you absolutely cannot visit the Capitol or one of the District offices of your assembly member, then you can fax a letter. This is less effective. Visit if at all possible.

Everyone should call your State Senator. This takes almost no time. Call during regular business hours. A staff member will answer. All you have to say is something like this:

I am calling to register my opposition to AB 1634.

The staff member will usually ask your name and address to verify that your are a constituent. That's it. It only takes a minute and every call is counted. They may ask you the author of the bill: Assembly Member Lloyd Levine. If at all possible please visit or fax as well.

Use this letter as a starting point for your letter to the committee. Please make some changes to personalize it, but keep the central point the same. We understand that it may not be what is most important to you, but it is what is convincing to the Senators. They must hear this message.