Part 2: Gaining Traction

Want to get some better laws passed in your county? Or even just carry forward state laws to your county so that your animal control can enforce them better? Follow this guide to get started.

Connect with local advocates in your county via GroupMe:

Upstate West: GroupMe

Upstate East: GroupMe

Upper Savannah: GroupMe

Midlands: GroupMe

Central South: GroupMe   

Pee Dee: GroupMe

Grand Strand: GroupMe

Lowcountry: GroupMe

South Coast: GroupMe

1) Go to your county council meetings and speak during open comment. Make sure to carve out your schedule once a month to do so. Invite your trusted advocates! Wear a your CODE RED T-shirt (or anything red!).

Beware: some councils will not let you speak unless you’re on the agenda (as in have a law on the agenda). Some counties have separate meetings for public comment.

This is where your trusted council member can help explain the rules! When you design a speech, realize most limit you to 2-3 minutes, often on the dot, so rehearse! And stick to factual talking points. Ex: “We need a dog identification law with ID tag or microchip because we have too many stray dogs roaming with no ID. Easy to ID dogs can be reunited with their owners before animal control or a stay in the shelter is needed. Thus saving tax dollars.” You may need to speak many times before you ever see a law be introduced for first reading!

2) Make posts on social media explaining your efforts and why the laws are needed. Be ready for keyboard warriors and opposition - it’s best to just delete comments and don’t engage unless it’s friendly discussion and education. Share your posts in advocacy and local social media groups. Ask people for their contact information and add them to your contact list of advocates!

3) Start meeting with and/or volunteering with your shelter regularly. Start learning what happens in your shelter. Learn processes. Learn community needs. Ask questions and be ready to listen and take notes. Encourage your advocates to do the same. Get involved in the shelter. Collect contacts for your advocacy list from the shelter. Understand that the laws will impact the community as well as your local shelter and animal control the most. Be engaged. This is where it’s also really important to make sure you and your advocates are not bashing the shelter on social media and/or at council meetings - the shelter and animal control are supposed to be your ally, not your adversary.

4) Start learning the processes of how laws are passed in your county. Find the rules of your county council (many are online). Be ready for three separate readings of your ordinance, and possible subcommittee or committee meetings with public comment. Learn the typical days of council meetings and mark them on your calendar. Call the county clerk for any questions.

5) Canvas the building where the meetings are so you know where to park (including handicap parking), how to get there, and where to meet. You’ll need to relay this information to others. Start attending meetings so you can understand the format of meetings. Save an agenda if you can. You may be able to meet your council member or recruit others!

That’s all for now.

Stay tuned for the next part of this advocacy series Part 3: Planning the Language

Email scawa2026@gmail.com if you have any questions!