Canines unleash dog diplomacy at Capitol in push for animal protection bills

SPOTTED: Some tail-wagging champs giving their “paw-print of approval” to a pair of animal protection bills, as a cluster of canines and “Queer Eye” star Carson Kressley unleashed some doggie diplomacy on the Capitol.

Kressley and “hero dogs” from American Humane visited the Rayburn House Office building on Tuesday to press lawmakers to pass the Working Dog Health and Welfare Act (S.2414) and the PETSAFE Act (H.R. 5175).

Proponents of the bipartisan legislation say the Senate bill would establish standards for dogs utilized by federal agencies — such as Transportation Security Administration patrol dogs at airports and search-and-rescue animals — and ensure they “receive the human treatment they deserve.”

The House bill would create a pilot grant program for mobile pet shelters for use during emergencies, according to American Humane. 

Some of the four-legged visitors joining Kressley at the Capitol included Moxie, a mini Goldendoodle service dog who saved the life of her human companion, Summer, a retired explosives-detection dog with the Marines in Afghanistan and Iraq that joined the Amtrak Police Department’s K-9 unit , shelter pet ambassador Ethan and Maverick, a Great Dane therapy dog for the United Service Organizations. 

Among the lawmakers seen getting in some pets with the parade of pups: Reps. Aaron Bean (R-Fla.), Mary Miller (R-Ill.), Deborah Ross (D-N.C.), Delia Ramirez (D-Ill.), John Joyce (R-Pa.) and Greg Pence (R-Ind.).