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!
This is how we will end puppy mills! We need the young people to take up the lead and make ending puppy mills a grassroots effort! Thank you Amanda!
Huge applause for Amanda at Carterville High School!! I hope she realizes how much good she is doing by promoting education & awareness (the news reached us here in Arizona!!). Thank you for all you do for the animals, Amanda. Your efforts have been noticed by many!! Good work!!!!
Thank you Amanda for caring about the animals, and, in turn, educating your class about puppy mills.
Congratulations, Amanda! I hope that your generation will be the one who will finally bring an end to the puppy mill industry. Great job!
Yes! From the kiddos come the change.
Inspiring.
Wow!
Thank you Amanda for all you done to educate the kids , their our future and it is going to end they will be the ones to help do it #endpuppymills
I HAVE A BEAGLE WHO IS 5 THAT I RESCUED TWO MONTHS AGO AFTER SHE HAD A LITTER OF PUPS AGAIN. WE ARE SURE SHE WAS A PUPPY MILL MOTHER. SHE HAS HEART WORM, HAD TAPE WORM, ALSO IS BLIND IN LEFT EYE DUE TO A RETINA THAT WAS DISCONNECTED BY TRUMA THAT SHE INDURED WHILE OWNED BY SOME PIECE OF SCUM. WE TREATED HER FOR ALL, AND WILL CONTINUE HER HEART WORM TREATMENT NEXT MONTH. WE ALSO HAD HER SPADE. HER PUPPY DELIVERY DAYS ARE OVER. SHE IS SO SWEET, SO LOVING AND HAS RESCUED US AS MUCH AS WE HAVE RECUED HER. WE JUST LOVE HER. I CANNOT UNDERSTAND HOW HUMAN BEINGS CAN BE SO CRUEL. THIS FUR BABY IS SOOOOO SMART, TOO. HUGS TO ALL.
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Great job
Awesome!
way to go – very proud of you Amanda
Great job, Amanda. We need more animal lovers to speak up. People think that buying a puppy that costs a lot, insures they are getting a healthy breed. Quite the opposite. Thanks for enlightening some, and keep on enlightening.
Your an inspiration Amanda, way to go!!!👍🏻💞🐕🐩
Wagnificient Amanda!
3 bum swings! 3 more!💜
Nose nudges,
CEO Olivia
As a retired middle school teacher, I’ve always encouraged my students to move on and do something to make a difference. Kudos to Amanda for her efforts in making a difference in thousands of dogs’ lives by putting an end to puppy mills. I’m fortunate to live in California where owning and operating a puppy mill is against the law. Fantastic Amanda!
A program for teens/young people sounds like a great idea!