Event speaks for animals

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First Connecticut Voices for Animals Day held in Hartford

State Sen. Joseph Crisco, Jr. (D-17), right, meets Porkchop, a 1-year-old Shar Pei-Pitbull mix available for adoption through the Hartford-based Protectors of Animals, and the dog’s handler during Voices for Animals Day in Hartford last month. –CONTRIBUTED
State Sen. Joseph Crisco, Jr. (D-17), right, meets Porkchop, a 1-year-old Shar Pei-Pitbull mix available for adoption through the Hartford-based Protectors of Animals, and the dog’s handler during Voices for Animals Day in Hartford last month. –CONTRIBUTED

HARTFORD — State Sen. Joseph Crisco, Jr. (D-17) joined the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, local animal advocates and state lawmakers in Hartford last month for the first-ever Connecticut Voices for Animals Day.

The ASPCA hosted the event to raise awareness of the cruelty inflicted upon dogs in inhumane commercial breeding facilities.

“When we voted last year to create a task force to study these facilities we took a good first step toward ending this disturbing practice,” said Crisco in a press release. “I hope that as we continue to raise awareness of these facilities, more public pressure will be placed on lawmakers across the country to take action. It is time for other states to follow Connecticut’s example.”

The ASPCA encouraged lawmakers to support a phase-out of the sale of commercially-bred animals in the state’s pet shops as a way to curb the cruel treatment of dogs in large-scale facilities known as puppy mills, according to the release.

In 2013, the legislature called for the establishment of a bipartisan task force to examine the source of dogs and cats sold in Connecticut’s pet shops, the release stated. After several public hearings and meetings, the task force recommended that all new pet shops obtain their dogs from shelters and rescue organizations.