When 15-year-old Amanda, a student at Carterville High School in Illinois, was asked to write a bill as an assignment for her government class, she chose ‘Ending Puppy Mills’. Amanda is an advocate for animals so she decided to use this opportunity to educate her classmates about the puppy mill crisis. Below she tells us about the project and the outcome:
“In my government class, I was assigned a project where the state of Illinois is split into 2 different states, north and south. We, the students then got into groups of 2 to create bills, which we then presented to our class and to the teacher. All the government classes were given certain topics to write their bill based on. 4th hour (my class) received animals, human services, nature, and others. My partner and I had no idea what to pick and then, out of nowhere, I decided to choose ‘Ending Puppy Mills’. My partner agreed – she thought it was a good idea. We then decided she would write the bill brief and I’d write the bill.
“When I presented the bill in front of just my classmates I was terrified. I was scared they wouldn’t like my bill and would end it. But to my surprise, they passed it. I was even more excited when it passed in the general assembly!
“Harley’s dream of Ending Puppy Mills is something my family and I are strongly for, and I am extremely proud that I’m making an impact by teaching my fellow classmates what a Puppy Mill is. Many of them didn’t know what it was! I think all of this is a great step in the direction of ending Puppy Mills for good.”
Amanda
Carterville High School
Carterville, Illinois
We love that Amanda contacted us to share her story, and it’s prompted us to consider creating a Harley’s Heroes program designed especially for teens who want to spread the message about puppy mills to their peers. Coming soon!