But that has now changed. Our federal law finally recognizes the need to protect these animals, which play a vital role in protecting our borders, airports, and national parks. Federal agencies mostly use horses and dogs. Police officers patrol on horseback to effectively control crowds and discourage unruly behavior. I just saw how effective they can be while I was at the Republican Convention in Philadelphia.
National parks use horses to find lost or stranded visitors.
Police dogs survey dangerous crime scenes involving drugs, bombs, and other high-risk situations. In fact, drug dealers often target dogs because of their effectiveness in sniffing out drugs. In 1998, a record eight police dogs were killed in the line of duty, according to the U.S. Police Canine Association. While we are protecting animals who help protect our children from the influx of drugs, we've also gone after sadistic people who find enjoyment in watching animals being tortured. Like the legislation to protect law-enforcement animals, I worked with the Humane Society of the United States and other Members of Congress to get legislation passed into law that protects animals.