Sample Letters

       Every letter of support counts, whether it's to legislators, newspapers, or venues that sell live animals. People DO pay attention, and legislators in particular give more thought to issues about which they receive several letters. Your letter might just be the one that educates a key decision-maker and sways an important opinion!

       We encourage you to read our Contacting Your WI Legislators page for Talking Points and tips on what to say that, though geared toward contacting legislators, can be incorporated into any type of letter. You might also want to read the article "Puppy Hell" in the Jan. 09 issue of Milwaukee Magazine for a good overview of the history of puppy mills in Wisconsin.

       Letters to the editor of your local newspaper can be an important tool. Some of our samples were composed especially to be sent to newspapers -- or, you can modify any of our other samples to create an effective Letter to the Editor. Take a look at your paper or its online version -- guidelines for that particular newspaper will be listed. There will likely be a 250 or 500 word limit, and you MUST sign the letter and provide your address and phone number for the paper to verify that you did, indeed, write the letter.

       Remember, always be respectful and courteous. Rude or abusive letters will hurt, rather than help, our cause.

    Choose a Letter:   

• Sample Letter for Newly-Elected Representative-- Congratulates / Welcomes new representative and expresses hope that WI will be a leader in anti-puppy mill legislation. Courtesy of Becky of the Best Friends Network.

• Sample Letter for Re-Elected Representative -- Congratulates re-elected representatives and expresses hope that WI will be a leader in anti-puppy mill legislation. Courtesy of Becky of the Best Friends Network.

• Sample Letter for Returning Representative -- Can be used for any legislator if you don't know whether he/she is newly elected, re-elected, or in the middle of his/her term. Welcomes representative to new session and expresses hope that WI will be a leader in anti-puppy mill legislation. Courtesy of Becky of the Best Friends Network.

• "Generic" sample Letter to WI Legislators in support of licensing, inspecting, and regulating pet breeding facilities

• Sample Letter to Editor, Christmas Petstore Puppies, courtesy of Becky of the Best Friends Network. This letter is geared toward discouraging people from giving Christmas puppies, but can easily be modified for Valentine's Day, birthdays, Easter -- any time of the year.

• Sample Letter to Editor, Free To Good Home

    How to Use Sample Letters Effectively   

       Please note that most of the following guidelines also apply to emailed letters.

1. Browse through sample letters to find the letter that best fits your needs.

2. Highlight the text on the screen, copy, and paste the letter of your choice into your word processing program. OR --

   • Read through all letters, Talking Points, and tips on what to say, then cut and paste paragraphs to fit your own "voice."

3. Enter the appropriate Date.

4. Enter the name, title and address of your intended recipient in heading of the letter. Always address your recipient respectfully. If writing to your state legislators, you can find contact information for your area's representatives by going to: http://www.legis.state.wi.us./ and clicking on the "Who are my legislators?" button.

5. Enter the name of your recipient after the word "Dear," using title and last name (ex: Senator Jones, Ms. PetStoreOwner, etc.). Letters to the editor are an exception -- generally, the salutation is just "Editor."

6. Change any of the content that does not apply or that you would prefer to modify. Briefly incorporate your own thoughts or experiences.

7. Try to keep your letter to one page -- your intended recipients are busy people and are unlikely to read all the way through long letters. Letters to the editor are generally limited to 250 - 500 words (though occasionally, a more lengthy letter is selected as a "guest editorial" if it is particularly well-written).

8. Again, we cannot emphasize strongly enough that you must always be courteous and respectful if you wish your voice to be heeded. Please, NO name-calling or words you wouldn't want to hear your young children use.

9. Enter YOUR NAME. Never send an anonymous letter. Unsigned letters are seldom taken seriously -- if they even reach their intended recipient's desk.

10. Enter YOUR ADDRESS. Please note that your legislator probably won't pay much attention to what you have to say if this information isn't included, and newspapers require it so that they can confirm that you did, indeed, submit the letter for publication.

11. PRINT LETTER, sign, make a copy for your own files, and send.

12. PLEASE ASK OTHERS to write. Print out additional letters and ask friends, neighbors, family members and co-workers to sign them. Offer to mail the letters for them, if necessary.

    Additional Resources for Letter-Writing:   

• Contacting Your WI Legislators -- includes Talking Points, and tips on what to say.

• "Puppy Hell", Milwaukee Magazine's excellent January 2009 expose on puppy mills in Wisconson

• HSUS Investigation Links Petland to Puppy Mills!

• Wisconsin Puppy Mill Project Position on PETLAND Pet Shops.

• Tips on Writing Letters to the Editor from the HSUS.

• Writing Letters With I-M-P-A-C-T (pdf) from the Kinship Circle

• PublishALetter.com Writing a letter to the editor is as easy as choosing the newspaper or magazine from a dropdown list, filling out a website form with your contact info and a 250-word letter, and hitting "send."