Raghib Allie-Brennan

As a first-term lawmaker, animal rights activists quickly recognized Allie-Brennan's advocacy. In his first year in office he introduced legislation to protect against the inhumane treatment of animals by unscrupulous breeders and pet stores by prohibiting the sale of such animals in the State of Connecticut.

In accepting the award Rep. Allie-Brennan said "I am humbled and very appreciative of this honor. Together, the Danbury Animal Welfare Society and Humane Society excel in their efforts to safeguard animal rights while matching abused and abandoned animals with their forever homes. I am proud to be an animal rights advocate and will continue introducing and fighting for legislation in Hartford to ensure their safety and well-being."

“Rep. Raghib Allie-Brennan is championing efforts to fight puppy mill traffickers here in Connecticut,” says Annie Hornish, Connecticut State Director for The Humane Society of the United States. “These pet shops are few in number, outliers in their own industry. Requiring humane sourcing by pet shops aligns with the current business practices of the overwhelming majority of pet shops and is a pro-business measure that not only helps animals but protects consumers.”

"State Rep. Raghib Allie-Brennan is a friend of DAWS," says Bill Jasper, President of the DAWS Board of Directors. "Soon after being elected in 2018, he quickly established himself as an outspoken advocate for animal welfare, introducing legislation that will ban pet stores from selling inhumanely bred animals. Last summer, he teamed up with Broken Symmetry, a Bethel pub, to sponsor DAWS on one of its charity nights, where the pub donated 10% of that evening’s revenue to DAWS. We are thrilled to hear about his award and appreciate his state-level advocacy for homeless animals."