Animal Welfare

“As conscious participants in the world, we must extend compassion to one another and to every living thing. Human beings have the power to elevate this world from current conditions which impose suffering and cruelty upon members of the animal kingdom towards a new way of compassion and inherent respect. In elevating the cause of every creature, we elevate our own humanity.” – Dennis

Every one of us knows a story of animal cruelty; every one of us knows how official policies sanction cruelty to animals.  We must work to put compassion into action in our policies with respect to animals to make sure that all of God's creatures are given a chance to have dignity in our society.  

Elizabeth and Dennis have three rescue dogs, Harry and Lucy (Beagles) and George (a Cocker Spaniel) as well as a rescue cat (Falcon) as part of their commitment to making sure animals who were otherwise abandoned have a home. 

In Dennis' time in Congress, he has worked on a host of issues to protect animals, including leading the way to stop the importation of products from China made with the fur of dogs and cats.  He worked with the Humane Society to provide a public forum for violations of the oxymoronic Humane Slaughter Act.  He led the way in Congress in challenging the so called Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act and is pledged to work for its repeal.  He sponsored a Congressional screening of the movie “Pig Business”, which brought together animal rights activists, environmental and food justice groups. 

As a member of Congress, Dennis has cosponsored every piece of major animal protection legislation.