Winner of the Congressional Dog Photo Contest - “Como” of the office of Rep. Charlie Melancon, (D-LA) took home the “Best Briefed” award. Photo © Jody Comeaux-Stacoffe
The District of Columbia has long acknowledged the value of dogs and was one of the first locations in the nation to recognize the extreme abuse involved in dog fighting. It has been possible to prosecute people who fight dogs at the felony level in the District of Columbia since 1892.
Above and beyond their place as family companions and in traditional service occupations, dogs in the District of Columbia serve in an ever-widening spectrum of therapeutic roles. The physical and emotional benefits to humans that come from relationships with dogs are now recognized and utilized by psychiatric facilities, assisted living centers, hospitals, schools and even prisons.
Today, dogs contribute more to the welfare of individuals and society than perhaps any other time in the history of the human-dog bond. Increased awareness of the importance of humane care and control of dogs, the enactment and enforcement of leash laws, and dog bite prevention education, have all been instrumental in drastically reducing the number of reported dog-related injuries in the District of Columbia and throughout the nation.
National Canine Research Council