WASHINGTON, DC—The Humane Society of the United States has presented U.S. Rep. Elton Gallegly (R-Ventura & Santa Barbara Counties) with a 2009 Humane Law Enforcement Award.

Gallegly was awarded the honor “for his role in the passage of the Animal Fighting Prohibition Enforcement Act in 2007 in addition to his continued leadership on animal fighting and animal cruelty issues, such as crush videos,” according to the Humane Society.

“Representative Gallegly has been a stalwart advocate for animals throughout his career in Congress,” said Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of the Humane Society. “We are proud to present him with this award for his remarkable work in protecting animals and giving law enforcement the tools they need to put animal abusers behind bars.”

“I appreciate this honor from the Humane Society and Wayne Pacelle’s continued leadership on this issue,” Gallegly said.

“Animal cruelty has no place in a civilized society,” Gallegly said. “Numerous studies have shown that people who abuse animals often escalate to violence against people. Jeffrey Dahmer, Albert ‘Boston Strangler’ DeSalvo, Ted Bundy, David ‘Son of Sam’ Berkowitz and Ted ‘Unabomber’ Kaczynski all had a history of torturing animals.

“In addition, other crimes often go hand-in-hand with animal fighting, including illegal gambling, drug trafficking and acts of human violence. Virtually every arrest for animal cruelty has also led to additional arrests for at least one of these criminal activities. Moreover, gratuitous cruelty toward animals dehumanizes all of us and is simply wrong.”

In 2003, the Humane Society honored Gallegly with its Lifetime Achievement Award. Next week, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments on Gallegly’s law that bans the interstate commerce of crush videos and other depictions of animal cruelty that are made only to glorify the cruelty.

Other 2009 Humane Law Enforcement Award recipients are:

• New Mexico Attorney General Gary King and Dona Ana County Sheriff Todd Garrison for their work in combating illegal animal fighting and cruelty.

• Morrill County, NE, Sheriff John Edens, for his investigation of a massive cruelty case involving more than 200 neglected mustangs.

• Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller, for his groundbreaking use of tax law to close down a cruel puppy mill and rescue hundreds of dogs.

• Monmouth County, NJ, SPCA Chief Law Enforcement Officer Victor “Buddy” Amato, for his tireless commitment to enforcing New Jersey’s animal cruelty law.

• Chief prosecutor for the South Carolina state grand jury Jennifer Evans for her leadership resulting in nearly 30 prosecutions of South Carolina dogfighters—an unprecedented accomplishment for ridding the state of this violent crime.