After loosing her best friends (2 dogs named Sam & Jessie) due to anti-freeze poisoning, Haley Ham searched for a way to prevent the same thing from happening to someone else’s animals or worst their children. Haley immediately learned of a bittering agent, called denatonium benzoate. When added to anti-freeze, this normally sweet tasting toxin turns bitter which deters animals and children from drinking more of the lethal poison. The only problem with this solution was that there were no current laws requiring makers of anti-freeze to add this agent into their product. This did not stop Haley Ham. For the past year she has worked diligently to support and pass Tennessee bill 2808, also called “The Haley Ham Bill”. This bill would require anti-freeze companies to put denatonium benzoate in every anti-freeze product they make. At last update the bill was in the TN State House of Representatives await a hearing date.
In recognition of Haley’s achievements and work on getting bill 2808 passed, P.E.T.A. has decided to award her The Compassionate Kid Award. P.E.T.A. representatives found Haley’s work with this bill to be courageous and pro active in helping animals and children nationally. This award is given to a select amount of children who raise awareness or help further causes related to animal welfare. Haley is one of the first children to receive this award in Sevierville/Knoxville.
Recently, the United States Humane Society of America awarded Haley with a K.I.N.D. (Kids In Defense of Nature) award. The award was given to Haley based on her efforts of getting the Haley Ham bill passed. The U.S. Humane Society recognizes the importance of Haley's work and bill 2808.