How to Change the Law: A Citizen’s Guide to Animal Welfare Reform

We get this question all the time: “How do I get a law changed?” People see injustice. They see abuse. They see animals dying in shelters or suffering in transport vans or sold by shady rescues operating with zero accountability and they want to fix it. But what they usually don’t see is the roadmap.

At LAW, we don’t just litigate. We lobby. We draft. We push policy. And we teach people how to take their outrage and turn it into legislation that sticks.

Here’s how to do it in New York (and most states).

1. Know your issue and define the fix

Before you write a law, you have to understand what’s broken. Not just emotionally, but technically.

Ask:

• What’s already on the books?

• Who’s responsible for enforcing it and why are they failing?

• What would a functional version of this law look like?

• What language would actually change outcomes?

Example:

You want to stop kill shelters from euthanizing animals without giving fosters or adopters a chance. The problem isn’t just cruelty, it’s a lack of mandatory notification requirements, no hold periods for at-risk pets, and weak penalties for violations. That’s where your bill needs to start.

2. Draft your proposal like a lawyer, not a blogger

Anger gets attention. Precision gets results.

You don’t need to be a lawyer to draft a legislative proposal, but you do need to write it like one. Use clear definitions. Include enforcement mechanisms. Don’t rely on “should” or “encouraged to” language. Use “shall” and “must.”

Include:

• Who the law applies to

• What it prohibits or requires

• Penalties for violation

• How it will be enforced

• A funding source if relevant

• A timeline for implementation

LAW helps clients and coalitions draft what we call "pre-enforceable" language — bills that don’t just sound good, but work in the real world.

3. Find the right legislator and pitch hard

You need a sponsor. Not all lawmakers will touch animal issues. Some see them as low-priority. Others are quietly backed by agricultural or pet industry lobbyists.

Start with:

• Your City Council member (for local ordinances)

• Your State Assembly member or State Senator (for statewide laws)

When you approach them:

• Bring a short policy memo

• Include real-world examples or horror stories from your district

• Show broad support, petitions, letters, expert statements

• Offer a clear PR hook, legislators need to see how it helps them look good

LAW often accompanies clients to pitch meetings, especially when media or legal backing increases the chance of sponsorship.

4. Build pressure before the bill is even introduced

Your goal is to make it politically risky not to act. You do this by:

• Publishing op-eds and open letters

• Launching social media campaigns tied to specific dates or events

• Partnering with whistleblowers, veterinarians, or former shelter workers

• Hosting town halls or press conferences

• Getting coverage in local news and policy journals

• Filing public records requests to expose data that backs your reform

The more noise you make, the more legislators know the public is watching. That changes votes.

5. Prepare for sabotage and dilution

The moment your bill gets traction, expect pushback.

• Industry lobbyists will try to weaken the language.

• Opposing legislators may propose amendments that strip enforcement.

• Animal welfare “insiders” might oppose your bill out of ego, politics, or funding fears.

You must:

• Stay firm on the core elements of your proposal

• Have experts ready to testify during hearings

• Mobilize the public when amendments gut the bill

• Work with experienced legal advocates who know Albany’s games

6. When it passes, enforce it.

Laws are useless if they’re ignored.

• Once your bill becomes law:

• Monitor implementation

• File FOIL requests to check compliance

• Report noncompliance publicly

Work with LAW or your attorney to initiate enforcement actions if needed

Push for follow-up legislation if loopholes remain

Most change doesn’t come from a single bill. It comes from smart, strategic reform layered over time. Your first win might not change the world, but it can change the next case, the next animal, the next shelter protocol.

LAW can help

If you’ve got a reform idea and you’re ready to go beyond petitions and hashtags, we’re here. We’ll help you:

• Research

• Draft

• Find legislative partners

• Build a campaign

• Fight for passage

• Enforce what gets signed

You don’t need to be a lawyer or a lobbyist. You just need to be relentless and strategic.

LAW handles the rest.