Valley Humane Society Advocates for Animals at the Capitol During Animal Advocacy Day

On Tuesday, March 3, 14 Valley Humane Society board members, volunteers, advocates, and staff traveled to Sacramento to take part in Animal Advocacy Day, joining more than 100 advocates from across California to speak up for animals.

Throughout the day, advocates met with 96 legislative offices, sharing why stronger animal welfare policies matter and encouraging lawmakers to support key legislation.

Valley Humane Society was proud to co-sponsor Animal Advocacy Day—an event that brought together organizations, volunteers, and community members united around improving protections and resources for animals across California.

A special thank you goes to Bill Wheeler and Black Tie Transportation, who generously donated a transport vehicle and driver for the day trip to the Capitol. Thanks to their support, our crew arrived in comfort and style, rested and ready for a full day of advocating for animals.

Preparing to Advocate

The day began with a kickoff event where advocates connected with one another and heard from elected representatives and animal welfare leaders championing legislation that supports animals across California.

Valley Humane Society’s President & CEO, Melanie Sadek, spoke during the kickoff session, helping welcome advocates from across the state and emphasizing the importance of working together to advance policies that improve the lives of animals and the people who care for them.

For many members of the Valley Humane team, the experience was new. Most of our participants were attending Animal Advocacy Day for the first time, stepping into the legislative process and learning how individuals and organizations can help shape policies that impact animals statewide.

Advocates were then briefed on the four bills that would guide conversations with legislative offices throughout the day.

 

Canine Comfort Teams Support Advocates

Several members of Valley Humane Society’s Canine Comfort Pet-Assisted Therapy program also attended Animal Advocacy Day, bringing their pet- therapy dogs to support advocates throughout the event.

The therapy teams offered moments of connection and calm during a busy day of meetings and advocacy, helping remind everyone in attendance of the human-animal bond that inspires this work.

Key Animal Welfare Bills

Valley Humane Society advocates spoke with legislative staff about four bills aimed at improving animal welfare across California.

• AB 2010 – The SNIP Act
  Updates regulations for high-quality, high-volume spay/neuter clinics, allowing them to operate in larger surgical spaces without the current requirement for a fully enclosed operating room — helping clinics serve more animals while maintaining all existing safety and veterinary standards.
• AB 928 – The Cockfighting Cruelty Act
  Gives law enforcement and animal control agencies additional tools to address illegal cockfighting, including abusive “fowl yard” practices that confine and condition roosters in ways that cause significant suffering. Exemptions are included for legitimate poultry operations, hobbyists, and educational programs.
• SB 1135 – Wildlife Coexistence Program
  Establishes a permanent statewide Wildlife Coexistence Program within the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, promoting humane conflict-prevention strategies to address growing human-wildlife conflicts.
• AB 1733 – Veterinary Volunteer Continuing Education
  Creates a dedicated continuing education category for veterinarians and RVTs who provide free spay and neuter services to shelters and rescue groups, encouraging more professionals to volunteer their skills.

Meeting With Local Legislators

After the briefing, the Valley Humane Society team headed to the Capitol Annex to meet with staff from our local legislators’ offices, walking them through each bill and its importance in protecting animals throughout our state.

We are grateful to our local legislators’ offices, including Representative Jerry McNerney, Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan, Assemblymember Tim Grayson, and Assemblymember Liz Ortega, for taking the time to welcome us and hear about these important issues.

Voices From the Day

One of the most meaningful parts of Animal Advocacy Day was hearing from volunteers and advocates about what the experience meant to them.

“I loved meeting so many more people who share the same passion as me.”
— Elise, high school student, Valley Humane volunteer, and animal advocate

“I liked learning about the bills, and the process of how everything worked.”
— Ronna, long-time dog care volunteer and animal advocate

“Meeting new people and seeing democracy in action.”
— Tosh, Valley Humane’s data coordinator and animal advocate

“I loved experiencing the energy in the room and meeting my local legislators.”
— LiWen, Valley Humane volunteer and animal advocate

Why Advocacy Matters

As an active member of the California Animal Welfare Association (CalAnimals)—a coalition of more than 300 public and private shelters and animal care agencies—Valley Humane Society plays a key role in shaping policies that impact animal welfare statewide.

Supporting Animal Advocacy Day reflects our commitment to not only caring for animals in our own community but also advancing legislation that ensures better outcomes for animals throughout California.

Our team left Animal Advocacy Day inspired and reminded of why this work matters—and proud to stand alongside the advocates, organizations, and legislators working toward a more humane California.