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BOSTON – Last month, Massachusetts State Senator Bruce Tarr (R-Gloucester) was presented with a special award for his work to protect animals at a State House event. The award was presented by a coalition of Massachusetts animal welfare organizations that work together to advocate for the humane treatment of animals.
The award acknowledges his tireless work, particularly regarding his Beagle Bill – a law that creates adoption opportunities for animals used in research laboratories. During the award ceremony, Tarr greeted Moira, a one-year-old beagle formerly used as a lab subject.
Non-profit organizing groups, including the Massachusetts Society for The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the Humane Society of the United States, the Animal Rescue League of Boston, and the Animal Legal Defense Fund commended Senator Tarr for his contributions.
Tarr’s an Act Protecting Research Animals, also known as the Massachusetts Beagle Bill law, provides laboratory animals, predominantly docile beagles, with a chance at life after the lab.
The law creates a path for animals used in medical and product testing experiments to be adopted. More than 60,000 dogs and nearly 20,000 cats are used in medical and product testing experiments in the US annually.
“Our beagle team cannot express how grateful we are for all of Senator Tarr’s support over the past 5 years,” said Cara Zipoli, Beagle Bill Coalition.
“It was a long road and long overdue, but we are all so thrilled to now call this the Beagle Freedom Law. Thank you, Senator Tarr.”
Senator Tarr’s commitment to animal welfare is evident in his efforts to combat animal cruelty and neglect. Inspired by the ‘Puppy Doe’ animal torture case, Senator Tarr filed an act Protecting Animal Welfare and Safety, or PAWS, a comprehensive legislation aimed at reinforcing animal abuse reporting and enforcement, ensuring that animal control laws adequately address animal torture and abuse.
Tarr subsequently built on the foundations of that law and secured the passage of PAWS II which created further protections.
Senator Tarr’s steadfast advocacy for animal advocacy was also recently acknowledged by the Massachusetts School of Law at Andover which presented him with an award at their 15th annual Animal Right Day event.