Caucus to Fight Animal Cruelty

The movement to crack down on animal cruelty just got a new ally. Humane Society Legislative Fund president Michael Markarian today announced on his blog the newly-formed Congressional Animal Protection Caucus, co-chaired by Reps. Jim Moran (D-VA) and Elton Gallegly (R-CA). The bi-partisan caucus will work to raise awareness of animal welfare issues in Congress, including cracking down on puppy mills and stopping the export of horses for slaughter.

In the last few days alone, a pet chimpanzee critically mauled a Connecticut woman, 300 dogs were rescued from a North Carolina puppy mill, and Saks and Bloomies were among the NYC department stores exposed for mislabeling fur garments.

The Humane Society of the United States president Wayne Pacelle says the caucus comes at a time when Americans are increasingly united in a belief that all animals deserve humane treatment. “The newly constituted Congressional Animal Protection Caucus will help better align our federal policies with public opinion, and we are excited to work closely with its leaders and with the entire Congress to combat cruelty and abuse," he said.