TruthaboutPetFood.com

Dear Ms. Mark:

Thank you for contacting me to express your support for animal rights. Your opinion is very important to me, and I appreciate the opportunity to respond to you on this critical issue.

You will be pleased to know that I have been a strong and vocal advocate of animal rights. I believe that all animals should be treated in a humane and respectful manner. I am proud to have introduced S.2439, The Tracking Animal Cruelty Crimes Bill, which gives law enforcement a critical tool for combating animal cruelty and preventing violent crime by directing the FBI to add animal cruelty crimes to the Uniform Crime Reporting Program. I have also been an advocate of legislation that deals with more specific animal rights abuses. For instance, I cosponsored S.1880, the Dog Fighting Prohibition Act and Federal Dog Protection Act. The bill makes all participation in dog fighting a federal felony. I am appalled by the horrible abuse committed against animals, and I strongly believe that all animals should be treated in a humane and respectful manner. Please be assured that I will work with my colleagues on passage of this and other legislation that promotes animal rights.

Recently, I received the Humane Champion Award from the Humane Society of the United States for my leadership on animal cruelty reporting and for my perfect score on the Humane Society of the United States 2007 Humane Scorecard. I look forward to continuing to fight for animal rights and live up to this honor.

Again, thank you for sharing your thoughts with me. I appreciate your support, and please rest assured that I will keep your views in mind. I invite you to visit my website http://menendez.senate.gov to learn of other issues of importance to New Jersey.