Senator Newman Rescue Pet Photo Competition

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

As any grateful pet owner can tell you, our pets quickly become essential members of our families, as they unfailingly provide us with comfort and laughter. According to research, 98% of pet owners consider their pets members of their families, and many make housing choices based on the needs of their pets. And yet, each year millions of pets enter California’s animal shelters. One of the most frequently cited reasons for relinquishing a pet is because of a housing, moving, or landlord issue. This is one of the reasons I was pleased, as part of last year’s legislative session, to author SB 971. The bill, which the Governor subsequently signed into law, requires that all new housing in California built with public subsidies be “pet-inclusive.”

With so many otherwise healthy and loving pets languishing in California’s shelters, there are few better things that you can do, both for an animal and yourself, than adopt a shelter animal. I can personally attest to this fact, since my own home includes my family’s four weird but loveable rescue Chihuahuas (pictured below), who despite their various individual quirks continually bring smiles to our faces and joy to our lives (while perhaps also sometimes inspiring terror in doorbell-ringers).

In that spirit, I’d like to invite you to submit a photo of you with your own rescued family pet(s). Submitted photos may be featured on our social media pages, with a collection of the best to be framed and displayed on the walls of the reception area of my Capitol office.

To submit, simply email your best photo of you and your rescued best friend(s) to Senator.Newman@senate.ca.gov or DM me a picture on Instagram to @senatornewmanca. My team and I look forward to seeing your adorable rescue pets and sharing their joy they bring with others.

All the best,

Josh Newman
Senator, 29th District