MAINE

We strive to advance protections for wildlife and all animals in Maine

Black mother bear and cubs in tree-shutterstock
What We Do​

We strive to advance protections for wildlife and all other animals in Maine. We also work to engage the public in resolving significant animal and wildlife welfare issues in the state, increasing awareness and promoting engagement with state officials and stakeholders. To that end, we:

    • Connect animal-welfare advocacy organizations and individuals across the state to engage collectively in the Maine legislature in crafting and supporting landmark legislative initiatives for the protection of Maine’s wildlife.

    • Engage with state agencies and stakeholders to foster a more collaborative legislative agenda.

    • Engage and inform our supporters on our local and federal legislative agendas.

    • Collaborate with advocacy groups on the planning and advancing of legislative priorities for animals in Maine.
    • Engage with legislative committees to testify in opposition to legislation that is archaic, harmful to wildlife, or threatens existing animal welfare laws.

    • Inspire and educate the public on the corporate impacts of animal welfare.

Our State Director

Gina Garey

Gina Garey has been invested in the animal welfare movement since her work with Mainers for Fair Bear Hunting over a decade ago. She holds an MS in Animal Behavior and joined Animal Wellness Action after serving on the Maine State Council for the Humane Society of the United States, bringing deep experience with legislative efforts to improve protections for all animals in Maine.

She helped advocates gain experience in the legislative process through Humane Lobby Day training and spearheaded two crucial citywide ordinances in Portland, Maine’s largest city, banning the sale of puppy mill dogs and cats in 2016, paving the way for a statewide effort to end the sale of dogs and cats from mill operations across Maine, and banning the performance of exotic animals in traveling shows and circuses in 2017.

Want to learn more or get involved with Animal Wellness Action in Maine? Email [email protected]

TOP LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES FOR THE 132nd LEGISLATIVE SESSION

We have started our planning early for the next legislative session for 2024-2025! (Stay tuned for bill numbers and links to support our efforts, as well as bills that may be forthcoming that we will seek to oppose. All will be listed here.)

Our priorities include:

  • Getting the Lead Out of Maine. We are working to gain support in the legislature for a bill to expand the USFWS decision to phase out the use of lead ammunition and lead fishing tackle on the Rachel Carson and Great Thicket National Wildlife Refuges in Maine to the entire state. The time has come to get the lead out of Maine!
Take action on the federal level here
    • Establishing a Regulated Season for Coyote, including language that also eliminates incentivized killing of coyote with cash prizes by local businesses.

    • Introducing a stand alone bill to add coyotes to Maine’s existing wanton waste statute.

    • Introducing a bill to require two members who are non-consumptive users of wildlife to be appointed to the Advisory Council at the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, providing a balanced voice for wildlife conservation. (Non-consumptive users of wildlife are defined as individuals or groups involved in activities in which wildlife is watched, studied, or recorded without being killed.)

Ways to Take Action Now

  • Consider meeting with your state legislator(s) and let them know that animal issues are a high priority for you as their constituent. If you’re unfamiliar with who your legislators are, you can find them here by name or by the town they represent. Gina Garey would be happy to join you at the meeting or help answer any questions you may have.
  • Bring these issues to the attention of your neighbors by posting educational information on Nextdoor.com, raising the issue of animal protection at your next Town Council meeting, or talking to your friends about lead contamination in wildlife, or the hounding and trapping of coyote at the local Farmer’s Market. Many Mainers are not aware of what happens to animals in our state, and you have the power to create meaningful change in your community!
  • Write a letter to the editor about wildlife issues you are passionate about changing for the better!
Please donate to support our work in Maine and across the U.S.