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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 28, 2019)
A3 THE ASTORIAN • SATURDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2019 Students lead charge for beagle bill Requires labs to offer dogs for adoption before being euthanized By SAM STITES Oregon Capital Bureau In 2018, a group of Bea- verton fi fth graders navi- gated the intense and dra- matic legislative session to help a few animals fi nd good homes. The idea came w hen teacher Courtney Yeager of Beaverton’s Elmonica Ele- mentary was in the middle of teaching a unit on the United Nations’ g lobal g oals. Stu- dents chose to work on goal 15, which has to do with pro- tecting the earth and animals. As part of the unit, Yea- ger participated in a program called Skype in the Class- room to introduce her stu- dents to Shannon Keith, of the Beagle Freedom Project in Valley Village, Califor- nia. The nonprofi t advocates for the release of animals — particularly beagles selected because of their docile nature — used in research labs when they’re done and the animals are healthy enough to poten- tially live a second life. They learned about ani- mal testing of health and beauty products, and the effects it can have on the dogs. Students learned that a majority of the research animals are forced to live all their lives indoors with no sunlight, in small cages. They also learned that many of these animals could be given a second chance if they were adopted by loving families. Students were gung-ho to jumping into the fray. They wanted to be part of Keith’s organization and fi ght for legislation in several states to protect animals from eutha- nasia once laboratories were done with them. The effort became their end-of-year project in Yeager’s class. “It was truly amazing,” Keith said. “I thought, this will be really cool if this class of kids can get this bill started in Oregon. It speaks volumes to what children are capable of.” Going all in on legislation The students took the basic framework of the bill Beagle Freedom Project that was passed in nine other states and applied it to Ore- gon law. The result was Sen- ate Bill 638. According to Kelly Peter- son, state affairs director for the Oregon Humane Society, federal law only regulates the care and use of research ani- mals while they’re in a lab. It doesn’t provide protection to animals once the research is fi nished, other than mandat- ing euthanasia. The law is critical because it creates a relationship between labs and nonprofi t animal shelters. Cats and dogs used in research must be evaluated and if they’re found healthy enough, they’re given to local shel- ters to be put up for adoption. The new law also requires labs throughout Oregon to report the numbers of ani- mals they have to the sec- retary of state’s offi ce at the Pamplin Media Group Beagles, like these rescued from Wisconsin, have been used for animal testing in labs across the nation. A new law taking eff ect Wednesday requires the labs to off er animals for adoption before they are euthanized. end of each year. According to U.S. Depart- ment of Agriculture num- bers, in 2017 27 cats and 26 dogs were used in research at Oregon labs. To aid in their effort, the Beaverton students reached out to state Sen. Elizabeth Steiner Hayward, a Beaver- ton Democrat, who was just as excited as the young activ- ists about the prospect of the proposed legislation. Steiner Hayward’s rela- tionship with Elmonica Ele- mentary goes back a few years when she helped a fourth grade class scoop ice cream at a local Baskin-Rob- bins to raise money in sup- port of homeless students. She’s returned to the school to give speeches at assem- blies and talk to students about topics they’re passion- ate about. When Steiner Hay- ward got a call from Yeager’s class about an extracurricu- lar project to protect animal rights, she was all in. “Every person in elected offi ce, it’s our dream to see young people engaged in this way. There’s nothing that makes me happier than see- ing motivated young people engage in the political pro- cess one way or another,” Steiner Hayward said. Many people were sup- portive of the bill, includ- ing those in the statehouse and local organizations that agreed with its mes- sage including the Oregon Humane Society. Despite the support, she said, it still required a good effort to get it passed. “It took a lot of work to negotiate some parts of it, but we got to a good place and the kids were terrifi c. Everybody really loved the bill,” she said. ‘If you were in their shoes’ By everybody, Steiner Hayward really means every- body. After hearing public testimony from Yeager and a few of her students in March, the bill was carried unani- mously in both chambers. The law takes effect with the new year on Wednesday , and the students involved will be part of a Jan. 13 ceremonial signing of the bill at the State Capitol in Salem. Two of those that gave testimony were Ethan Park and Dakota Wright, now sixth graders in Beaverton schools. Park and Wright stood in front of a legislative body that wasn’t particularly affable and were able to per- Please ADOPT A PET! MADDIE Female grey and white Pit Terrier Write the next chapter in your love story. Indulge in a sweet devotion. suade them to act. “Like us, animals only have one life, and it shouldn’t be spent in a cage,” Wright told lawmakers. “Every dog deserves the chance to meet their best friend.” “If you were in their shoes,” Park asked, “would you want to be used and then discarded? Or have a chance at your life? Sharon Harmon, Oregon Humane Society president and chief executive offi cer, said she’s proud of the work done by these young activists to push for something they’re passionate about, effectively allowing these animals to retire with new families once they’ve done their service. “We all win when we look at animals as sentient beings. This certainly is a bright spot in the world today to know these kids are looking out- side themselves and look- ing to those who don’t have a voice to make sure they’re safe and protected,” Harmon said. Steiner Hayward agreed with Harmon and hopes that is a lesson seen by Orego- nians, both young and old, searching for a way to take something they’re passionate about and turn into action. “People in policymak- ing positions really do lis- ten to (your) voices and want to hear what’s important to them and how they can make a difference in the world around them because they see things we don’t, and they have the opportunity to dig in on issues we don’t,” she said. The Oregon Capital Bureau is a collaboration between EO Media Group, Pamplin Media Group and Salem Reporter. Come Join Us for Our YEAR END SALE! Out with the OLD In with the NEW!!! Some marked down items less than $5! 20% to 75% OFF * December 26 th - 31 st * - Excluding Kit-Cat Clocks See more on Petfinder.com CLATSOP COUNTY ANIMAL SHELTER • 861-PETS 1315 SE 19th St. • Warrenton | Tues-Sat 12-4pm www.dogsncats.org THIS SPACE SPONSORED BY CLATSOP ANIMAL ASSISTANCE off 20 Select % Signature Series THINK LOCAL! 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