Why the Animal Protection Caucus Was Founded

Animals across Pennsylvania need a unified voice in Harrisburg, but that wasn't always the case in the state legislature. Individual Represenatitves and Senators would advance bills about specific animal issues and concerns with some success, but in 2021 Rep. Melissa Shusterman (D-Chester) decided to bring those elected advocates together as a caucus so combined concerns and efforts would lead to more effective laws.

The co-chairs of the bipartisan, bicameral Animal Protection Caucus for the 2025-2026 legislative session include Rep. Melissa Shusterman (D-Chester), Rep. Kathleen Tomlinson (R-Bucks), Sen. Nick Pisciottano (D-Allegheny) and Sen. Rosemary Brown (R-Lackawanna, Monroe, Wayne). A complete list of caucus members can be found here.

“We have some huge fighters for animal protection here in Harrisburg ready to increase the amount of effective animal welfare legislation in Pennsylvania,” said Shusterman. “We’ve made great strides to strengthen animal protection laws, but more can always be done. From adoption to animal cruelty, we stand ready to support the needs of our commonwealth’s furred, feathered and scaled friends.”

In the 2024-2025 legislative session, the Animal Protection Caucus strengthened the state’s dog law to improve enforcement of breeding standards and dog licensing and ensures protections for pets of domestic violence survivors. Additionally, progress was finally made toward ending cruel pigeon shoots in Pennsylvania. Press releases and news coverage can be found here.

The Animal Protection Caucus is now looking to build on those wins in the 2025-2026 legislative session. Some of the current legislative priorities include providing more funding for animal fighting investigations, allowing the Attorney General to assist in the prosecution animal cruelty cases and moving oversight of human society police to the Municipal officers’ Education and Training Commission (MPOETC), among others. You can view the legislative priorities here.

“We have a lot of work to do. We need to talk to one another and advocate across the aisle. We’re looking to make a large impact for all of Pennsylvania’s animals during this session,” Shusterman added. “And always remember: adopt, don’t shop.”