[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 27 (Tuesday, February 13, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E345]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      A TRIBUTE TO VIOLETTA KOVACS

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                            HON. TOM LANTOS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 13, 2007

  Mr. LANTOS. Madam Speaker, I invite my colleagues to join me in 
paying tribute to a wonderful Hungarian author, Violetta Kovacs. Ms. 
Kovacs devotion to man's best friend is dutifully communicated in her 
eloquent prose and knowledge of dogs.
  As the President of the Hungarian Journalist Association's Animal 
Welfare Division for the last 10 years, she has played an integral role 
in the introduction and enactment of the Hungarian Animal Welfare Act. 
This important piece of legislation finally criminalized acts that, 
until then were merely moral transgressions, the torture of animals in 
Hungary.
  Madam Speaker, her passion for animals can be seen in her legislation 
and also her superbly written and popular books, like: From Guide Dogs 
to Dog Stars, Sounds of a Dog's Heart and Dog Commando. In these books 
she calls attention to the loyalty, bravery and sacrifice inherent in 
the character of dogs. Dogs are always on man's side helping to prevent 
crimes, capturing criminals, collecting evidence and rescuing those 
lost or stranded in the wilderness. They were at the side of firemen 
and other search and rescue teams that worked so valiantly during those 
dark days after September 11th, searching relentlessly for survivors.
  Madam Speaker, in Dog Commando, Violetta paid tribute to the K9 teams 
and rescue dogs she witnessed combing the ruins of the horrible 
terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. Those 
powerful moments made her realize what we really owe our best friends 
and this cannot be forgotten, even in our most tragic hours. Reading 
her book we witness the true stories of Officer Frank McDermott and 
Mark Day with their beloved four-legged partners and their colleagues 
from all over the world. These fine people talk about their dogs with 
deep emotions, sometimes with tears, each and every one indicating an 
invisible, unique and everlasting bond between man and animal.
  Madam Speaker, as the co-chair of the Congressional Friends of 
Animals Caucus, I invite my colleagues to join me in paying tribute to 
Violetta Kovacs for her endless efforts in animal protection, and to 
the K9 and rescue dogs of the world for their service to the mankind.

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