This afternoon, the U.S. House of Representatives became an animal house! The ASPCA, along with the Congressional Animal Protection Caucus (CAPC), hosted the fourth annual “Paws for Celebration,” a Capitol Hill animal adoption event that brings attention to shelter animals and honors rescue organizations locally and across the country. 

 

CAPC co-chair Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) spoke to the crowd, which included members of Congress, congressional staff, and 50 adoptable dogs and cats. This year’s event included a very special guest, former Senator and Majority Leader Bob Dole. During his service in Congress from 1961 to 1996, he spearheaded passage of several landmark legislative advances in animal protection.

 

 

Best of all, several animals found their forever homes today at Paws for Celebration. Huge thanks to the following local animal rescue groups that participated:

• Animal Welfare League of Alexandria

• Animal Welfare League of Arlington

• Fairfax County Animal Shelter

• Gentle Giants Draft Horse Rescue

• Homeward Trails Animal Rescue 

• Last Chance Animal Rescue

• Lost Dog & Cat Rescue Foundation

• Pinups for Pitbulls

• Prince George’s County Animal Shelter

• Washington Animal Rescue League

• Washington Humane Society

 

 

“I was so pleased to be a part of the Paws for Celebration event–a favorite event on Capitol Hill, featuring dogs and cats from shelters and rescues from the D.C. area," said Representative Blumenauer. "We were also honored to host Senator Bob Dole, a longtime animal welfare champion, demonstrating yet again the incredible bipartisan and unifying nature of doing the right thing by our animals.”

 

Want to be sure that your U.S. representative is aware of animal protection issues in Congress? Encourage him or her to join the Congressional Animal Protection Caucus today!