Shelter animals share the love on Capitol Hill

When times get tough at the Capitol, the tough get … shelter animals.

Four-legged furry friends took over the Cannon House Office Building on Thursday for the ASPCA’s annual “Paws for Love” adoption event.

Ten Washington area-based animal shelters, as well as more than 50 adoptable animals, joined the Congressional Animal Protection Caucus to promote pet adoption — and, perhaps, ease the often tense relations among lawmakers.

“This event makes me happy. Most things I do up on the Hill these days make me depressed” caucus co-chairman Rep. Jim Moran (D-Va.) quipped. The longtime congressman wasted no time picking up the first puppy to cross his path as he entered the room.

“With all that’s going on up on the Hill, it’s such a relief to have a shelter dog when you get home, jump up into your arms,” Moran exclaimed. “Even if some days it seems like everybody hates you, at least there’s one being that loves you.”

Nancy Perry, senior vice president of ASPCA government relations, echoed Moran’s sentiments, saying, “We are helping Capitol Hill reduce its tension levels.” Perry added the event was a welcome respite from political battles and partisan fights: “It’s definite therapy for everyone on the Hill. Staffers are enduring long hours, very high levels of tension as we’re working through the fiscal-cliff issues and the most important thing you can do is to take a break, come over here and see what’s really important in life, and that’s saving lives.”

Rep. John Campbell (R-Calif.), Congressional Animal Protection Caucus co-chairman, was particularly happy to see so much love in one room. He told The Hill, “I think how we treat animals as a society is part of how we treat people.”

Amid the barking, licking and purring in the animal-filled room, he said, “You often find that the mistreatment of animals leads to the mistreatment of people. So not only is this important, I think, for those who care about God’s creatures, but I think it’s about how we treat each other.”