Yeah, baby! Animal welfare activists are now a political force . . . although it's sad that we have to become lobbyists just to enact common sense laws like making hideous animal cruelty a felony instead of a minor misdemeanor. The Humane Society has formed a "legislative arm" to directly lobby, electioneer and elect candidates, and groups like this and this and this and (Hi there!) have been doing it all along. Yesterday was just the start.