During the 2013/2014 school year, three third grade students, Brooke, Claire and Maddie learned about the horrors of puppy mills in the book Chewy and Chica by Ellen Miles. They became aware that puppy mills' treat dogs very badly in order to make more money. The students came to me for help in trying to ban such operations. I suggested we research the Illinois law and write to local legislators. So we found the names and addresses and I helped the girls draft several emails asking what could they do to help stop puppy mills. Illinois Representative David Harris, wrote back that, inspired by the girls' letter, he looked at the law on puppy mill owners and found the penalty was very light so he was going to write and sponsor a new bill, HB4410 to give the penalty more "teeth" and better help prevent puppy mills. He explained the long process of a bill going to committees in the House and the Senate, and then the floor of the Illinois General Assembly for vote. In March, the girls testified in front of the Senate Agriculture Committee in Springfield, bringing a poster signed by the Patton students who supported the bill. Finally, on August 2, Governor Quinn signed the bill into law at PAWS Chicago, with the girls and Representative Harris present. See also Huffington Post article!
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December 2021
My Reading List!
AuthorI am the Library Media Center director at Patton School in Arlington Heights where I help students from kindergarten through 5th grade find terrific independent reading for enjoyment and information, and teach students the skills to use information and technology safely and productively and to connect, communicate and share with others. I have four grown children, a large black dog, (flat coat retriever) and a small striped cat. I am an obessive Chicago Cubs fan and I love to run. Patton LMC Summer Reading Blog |