"Bipartisan Buddies" Brings Adoptable Puppies to Capitol Hill

On Tuesday, May 12, lawmakers and staff from across the aisle snuggled puppies on Capitol Hill for an afternoon highlighting pet fostering and its critical role in helping U.S. animal shelters save more homeless dogs and cats as well as the mental health benefits fostering can provide for individuals. The event was co-hosted by longtime animal welfare advocate Alexis L. Booker, wife of New Jersey Senator Cory Booker, alongside Shelly Armstrong, wife of Oklahoma Senator Alan Armstrong, Vicki Risch, wife of Idaho Senator Jim Risch and Julie Fate Sullivan, wife of Alaska Senator Dan Sullivan.

Bipartisan Buddies was hosted alongside Best Friends Animal Society, a national nonprofit organization whose goal is to end the killing of dogs and cats in America's shelters and make the country no-kill*, and Brandywine Valley SPCA, which provides animal welfare and shelter services across the region and the District of Columbia. 

Attendees, including Senator Alan Armstrong, Senator John Bozeman, Senator Cory Booker, Senator Tina Smith, Senator Mark Warner, senate spouses and congressional staffers spent time with local adoptable puppies from Brandywine Valley SPCA, one of more than 6,000 shelter and rescue groups that Best Friends Animal Society partners with nationwide. 

Few things cut through the noise in Washington D.C. quite like a room full of puppies. However, "Bipartisan Buddies" was more than a feel-good moment; it gave lawmakers an opportunity to learn how fostering pets saves lives in animal shelters and why supporting foster programs matters in their own communities.  According to data from Best Friends Animal Society, shelter adoption rates are 30% higher when they have a full foster program over those that do not. 

Fostering provides dogs and cats with a temporary home to stay outside the shelter, whether for a few days, a few weeks, or longer, while they wait for adoption.  Foster homes give pets a chance to decompress in a home environment and are especially important for puppies, kittens, and pets with medical or behavioral needs who often struggle most in shelters. Fostering also helps shelters manage pet populations and relieve overcrowding, while giving staff valuable insight into a pet’s personality, habits, and needs to support more successful adoption matches. 

"The power of fostering extends beyond impacting one animal’s life. Every time I have fostered a dog it has brought a greater sense of purpose, fulfillment and community to my own life. I also have experienced the joy pets bring and the positive impact they have on your wellbeing,” said Alexis L. Booker. “Bipartisan Buddies was created to bring the entire capitol hill community together over a cause I think we can all support. Saving lives and spreading love is universal and I was so happy to partner with Shelly Armstrong and our community of Senate Spouses, Best Friends Animal Society, and the Brandywine SPCA to host this incredible day.” 

“Fostering is one of the fastest ways to save lives, and it is something almost anyone can do,” said Julie Castle, CEO, Best Friends Animal Society. “When people open their homes and hearts, even temporarily, it creates space in shelters and gives pets a better chance at finding a loving home. It’s encouraging to see leaders come together around a cause with a solution that is reachable and truly bipartisan.” 

The impact of fostering extends beyond saving pets’ lives. Research shows that spending time with pets can help reduce stress, ease loneliness, and create a sense of purpose. Held during National Pet Month and Mental Health Awareness Month, “Bipartisan Buddies” underscores the connection between people and pets while reinforcing animal welfare as an issue that brings people together. 

“The event wasn’t just a memorable afternoon on the Hill, it sent lawmakers back to their districts inspired to act,” said Castle. “Whether that means encouraging constituents to foster, partnering with local shelters or simply lending their voice to animal welfare, lawmakers have the ability to turn awareness into action at the community level.” 

For Brandywine Valley SPCA, bringing adoptable puppies to Capitol Hill was an opportunity to showcase how the community can directly support the saving of dogs and cats. 

"Fostering truly saves lives. Whether providing special medical care for animals recovering from treatment, caring for infant animals until they are ready for adoption, aiding in socialization, or providing a break from the stress of shelter life, fosters smooth the way to a forever home," said Adam Lamb, CEO, Brandywine Valley SPCA. “We invite you to join our mission—whether you have a weekend or a month to give, you can make a meaningful difference in an animal’s life." 

To foster and adopt locally in Washington, D.C. visit bvspca.org/dc or for more information about Best Friends Animal Society visit bestfriends.org. 

*No-kill is defined by a 90% save rate for animals entering a shelter and is a meaningful and common-sense benchmark for measuring lifesaving progress. Typically, the number of pets who are suffering from irreparable medical or behavioral issues that compromise their quality of life and prevent them from being rehomed is not more than 10% of all dogs and cats entering shelters. For any community to be no-kill, all stakeholders in that community must work together to achieve and sustain that common goal while prioritizing community safety and good quality of life for pets as guiding no-kill principles. This means cooperation among animal shelters, animal rescue groups, government agencies, community members and other stakeholders, all committed to best practices and protocols. 

About Brandywine Valley SPCA 

Now the largest animal welfare organization in the region, serving three states and the District of Columbia, the Brandywine Valley SPCA was founded in 1929, and is the first open-admission no-kill shelter in Pennsylvania and Delaware. In 2025, the BVSPCA cared for more than 27,000 lost, stray, owner-surrendered, abused, and neglected animals while achieving a 94% live release rate. In addition to sheltering, the BVSPCA provides families with safety net and low-cost veterinary services at its Animal Health Centers in Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Washington, DC. Learn more at bvspca.org.