WindChill's Law Task Force

Several Legacy members have begun serious work on equine statute changes for the state of Wisconsin. We'll keep you posted as we go along in this process, and know that the recent disappointing legal proceedings have made us all the more determined to help make needed changes in our laws become a reality.

We'd like for you to send us any information you have gathered about any state statutes. To share information with the WindChill's Law Task Force, send it to the following email address:

horsesandfolks@gmail.com


Please include the state in the subject line, and information like statute numbers, dates, etc. in your email. It's time for changes, and WindChill is "spurring" us forward. Thank you all for everything you do!

Polly, Resource Coordinator

WindChill’s Law Task Force Summary
On a very cold day in January of 2009 the WindChill’s Law Task Force was formed. Our mission was to do what was necessary to get the Wisconsin animal abuse and neglect laws toughened up with the intent of better deterring people from ever putting another horse through what Windchill lived. Kathy Johnson, Trish Poylio, Robin Rusboldt, and JoAnn Paul agreed to research current statues in every state in the U.S, and I facilitated the group project. We set up a place to post what each researcher found that was valuable in each state, each person adding on to it. The WindChill’s Law Task Force met on January 18: The agenda: (a) brainstorm what we were looking for in the research and (b) discuss what was found, how it was found, etc.
Our goal: to create a document consisting of good statutes using what is found in other states, including state and statute numbers, taking the best of the best to create WI equine statutes that will serve as a model for other states as well.
The states were divided as follows:
Kathy: AL-FL (incl. D.C.), WV, WY; JoAnn: GA – MA, TN, TX, UT; Robin: MA – NH, VT, VA, WA; Trish: NJ – SD.
The coolest thing was our meetings: we discussed how to approach this monumental task, ideas built upon ideas from others, and everyone brought their work to the table with different expertise, knowledge, and skills, understanding that our goal would be best achieved together. All good websites were shared, and the researchers posted what they found on the Google document. Each state’s statutes were read with the current WI statutes right in front of the reasearcher, and the differences were noted.
We carefully created definitions, often taking pieces from different states. Different sentencing guidelines for different offenses were considered, and Rebecca Lovejoy, the prosecutor in WindChill’s case, showed us what she would have needed in order to effectively prosecute this case.
The research document ended up being 31 pages long! The last step was turning that behemoth collection into a comprehensive, concise document which contained the best of the best with state references to help our WI legislators back up this bill. That was my job, and it was much like writing my Master’s thesis, except I had wonderful research already done. I wrote, re-wrote, rearranged, re-wrote, and finally had what I thought contained everything in an orderly way without repeating and omitting. My amazing proofreader, Gary, asked perfect questions and pointed out discrepancies that I then corrected. The final 8-page document (including end note state and statute numbers) was submitted to and approved by the committee.
The WCL Task Force then presented the document to Kathi and Jeff, it was read and approved by Frank Boyle (retired WI Assembly Representative from this district), and will soon go to Nick Milroy, current WI Assembly Representative. The actual bill will be written in Madison by professional drafters with whom our committee will meet, and it will then be shared with Bob Jauch, our representative in the WI Senate. It is the plan that the bill will be introduced in both houses simultaneously, and then go to appropriate committees. The committees will hold public hearings, for which we will again travel to Madison. From there? New laws that will help keep other horses from ever living the abuse and neglect our baby WindChill endured.
Frank and Nick both remember WindChill, and Nick said he would be honored to sponsor this bill. We members of the WindChill’s Law Task Force did our best and worked very hard, truly feeling WindChill was guiding us each step of the way. And we all know he’ll stay the course right to the end.
Polly Niemi

Yesterday Polly and myself met with Nick Milroy. We had a lengthy meeting and went over the majority of the document. Nick pointed out several sections that could raise some opposition with various groups and suggested language changes. Polly finished those up last night and the final document was sent to Nick. It will go to the drafters today.
Once we get it back from the drafters, we will need to send it to any group that could have an issue with it and at least give them the chance to suggest changes that they would want to see in it to avoid an issue when the bill hits the floor.
At the same time we will need to send it to any WI group that we think will support it. Once Nick sends it out for co-sponsorship we need to have these people call their local legislator and ask them to get behind it. The more calls the better, and it all comes down to timing. So we need to be ready for all phases right away, I don't see us having much time between.
If you can think of any group or associations pro or con, please send them to myself or Polly, so we can forward them to Nick to get the contact information for us.

Last but not least............... I believe Nicks exact words were "People don't usually rewrite the statutes themselves!!!!!!!!!!!!" Everyone did an amazing job to bring this to where we are and I believe that we will meet with little or no opposition.
Kathi

What an extraordinary effort! This will make a difference. Well done!

Does PETA have a Wisconsin branch?

Colleen

Great Job, Kathi, Jeff, and the entire project team!

That is just AWESOME! I'm so proud of you guys! You stuck with it. I am so very, very proud of you. Windchill's star is shining brighter than ever !!!

I am so proud of Windchill's family, I am so looking forward to the passing of Windchill's Law. For the love of "Windchill" and all the horses out there.

Thanks to all of you who put in the hard work - Windchill would be really proud!! Keep us updated on when the rest happens.

I am proud too. That is alot of hard work.

I am so impressed with the efforts and dedication made from each and every one of this Team. It just warms my heart to think what you are in the process of doing and what will soon be accomplished. WHEN Windhill's Law is passed (not IF) - what a day that will be!

This just makes me smile with very happy tears....

Thank you all, for everything you are doing and for the love you have shown in the name of our beloved Windchill.

With much respect and appreciation,

Judi ~

We meet with Nick on Saturday to go over the questions the drafters had. Things are moving very quickly

This is such good news. It gives one hope that other states will adopt Windchill's Law - maybe, even in places like Montana.

Colleen

I am really excited about this. I have been tellling people about Windchill's Law and can't wait to spread the word when this happens. So an estimatation when this might go to the floor? January/February? Wouldn't this be awesome if this was passed around February? I'm not up on all this law stuff, so I don't have an idea with the timeline and all. I see the name Robin Rusboldt? Has she been at the BBQ's?

Awesome, Kathi. You are so focused and self-disciplined. The team did an outstanding job. I don't want to say names because I know I will leave someone out. .....but CONGRATULATIONS TO EVERYONE WHO WORKED SO HARD TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN AND GET THIS FAR....JOB WELL DONE!

Well guess what??????????
We have the first draft of WindChill's Law!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YIPPEEE
We meet with Nick tomorrow to go over it and find out just how much we can share at this point
We have a ton of outreaches at the end of this month that will have TV there and we are hoping to be able to talk to them about the Bill ......................we will keep you posted.
Kathi

I'm so excited Kathi, I can't wait to hear more.

any news on how the meeting went?

Just got home. My brain is mush. I'll give details in the morning.

This is exciting. Can't wait to hear more. And it's great that tv will be at a number of the outreaches.

Okay, this is the summary of what is in the draft. The points here are ones that we asked for and will be submitted for change. We have to remember that this may not be the way it looks when it ends up passing. This is just the FIRST draft and there will probably be lots of changes as it goes from committee to committee. But so far we are very happy.

1. Domestic volience restraining orders - would now includes the victims pets and threatening their pets.
2. Making a minor commit abuse now would be a felony (They are adding a section that it is a felony to commit abuse in the presence of a minor as well for the next draft)
3. The definition of "CRUEL" now would include the wording FAILING TO PREVENT, so there will be no passing the buck just because they watched but didnt actually commit the deed.
4. Abondoning an animal would be properly defined and a felony if any bodily harm comes to the animal as a direct result of the abandoment.
5. The judge would be able to require counseling.
6. Abuse and neglect that cause ANY bodily harm or death would be a felony. Right now the animal has to die as a direct result of the abuse for it to be a felony.

Wow, that's great. I hope it doesn't get changed too much, unless it's to make it even tougher that is.

Thank you Kathi for the update. Sounds good so far. Thank you everyone who worked on this & who continues to work on WindChill's Law.

Sounds great!

We have the next draft of WCL. It ROCKS!!!! I think it can be the final draft.

YAHOO!!!

been anxiously waiting to hear about this.

Prayers for WindChill's Law as it goes through the political shark-filled waters... May common sense and justice prevail!

Colleen

Congratulations everybody.

Mary

I am so excited. Yipeee!

With the cold cold temps, WindChill this morning is heavy on my mind. I haven't been to
http://www.thewindchilllegacy.org/ for about a month and this morning I saw this link posted on the WCL website.

http://www.thewindchilllegacy.org/Anima ... B_3662.pdf

It's beautiful;it's wonderful;it brings tears.

I'm always on the forum or facebook, thank you Darlene, I just burst out in tears.

This mean it has passed and everything? I'm not up on all this law stuff.

No Eilene it's not passed yet. Just going to the legislature. Maybe Jeff or Kathi can enlighten us on the process.

Yes, I am not all up on this stuff at all, I should learn though. I'm still in tears.

between the law, the quilt and the legacy posts on Facebook my eyes are red, whenever i look at the WindChill Legacy Forum site WindChill's eye always goes straight to my heart.

First, I saw this post this am and burst into tears. Then I saw the quilt and more tears, then Deb was asking about embeding I Believe in the raffle announcement somehow. I don't know how to do that, so I went and found the song I Believe and then I found Deb's video with I Believe and When Somebody Loves You I didn't watch just listened as I was sending it around. I love it with Jeff talking to him. Then I got out my glasses and really looked at the quilt and cried looking at Kathi's block.

WindChill's Law needs your help! Time is running short, and Representative Nick needs more support from other legislators in order to get it passed. Tuesday the Legacy sent out over 1000 letters to horse clubs, veterinarians, and mental health businesses in WI requesting them to call their legislators asking them to co-sponsor the bill. Because the legislators have only until this coming Wednesday to do this, we now need to phone these groups and ask them in turn to phone their members/employees requesting that they contact their legislators immediately.

The vets and mental health professionals need to be phoned tomorrow, and the horse clubs on Saturday so they can contact their members during the weekend. These calls are essential to get this most crucial legislation passed. Tomorrow is the day we need the most help because there are many businesses to call between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. CST. If you can help by making some calls, please send me an email at horseandfolks@gmail.com and let me know which day you are available. I will provide you with a script and a list of names later this evening. I'm sorry for the short notice, but we only became aware of this Sunday night.

One of the primary goals of The WindChill Legacy has been, from the beginning, to get legislation passed to toughen up animal abuse and neglect statutes. So many of you have offered to help with whatever we need: now we need you! I hope to hear from you!