Opening: “Hi, my name is [Name], I’m a resident of [City/Town], North Carolina, and I’m calling to ask Governor Stein to pardon Dolly, the bear from the Asheville area who is facing euthanasia.”

The Ask: “I’m asking the Governor to:

1. Grant Dolly a pardon and stop her euthanasia
2. Relocate her together, reuniting her with her cubs, since they’re too young to survive without her despite rumors that they are old enough.
3. Have her fitted with a GPS tracker so her safety and whereabouts can be monitored
4. Support a community partnership on BearWise prevention”

If They Ask Why (optional): “This isn’t bad behavior on Dolly’s part — it’s bear behavior responding to careless human behavior, and a lack of infrastructure to support residents in bear country to maintain properties safely. She was searching for food in a habitat that’s been fragmented by development. Other governors have made this same call before, in Minnesota, Alaska, and New Hampshire, and it strengthened public trust in wildlife management every time.”

Closing: “Thank you for taking my call — I hope the Governor will do the same for Dolly.”

Personalize it: “Personal stories make a big impact on staff logging these calls. If Dolly’s story means something specific to you, say so — it makes your call memorable, not just another tally mark.“