Senator Joan Lovely is in her fifth term as State Senator for the Second Essex District, comprised of Beverly, Danvers, Peabody, Salem and Topsfield. Senator Lovely has been serving in the Massachusetts Senate since January 2013. After raising a family in Salem with her husband, Senator Lovely went back to school to earn degrees from Salem State University and the Massachusetts School of Law. She began her activism at the local level when she collaborated with neighbors and volunteers to rebuild a local playground for children and families in Salem.
As an animal lover, I am proud the Senate took steps this session to further protect our furry friends by passing several pieces of key legislation. This includes legislation that encourages research facilities that use dogs and cats to offer these animals up for adoption after finishing research, rather than automatically euthanizing them. This bill, which I was proud to co-sponsor and help advance, was signed by the Governor on August 8, 2022. In addition, the Senate passed legislation to ensure the safety of puppies and kittens during breeding, sale and boarding, and to discourage the illegal hunting and sale of game animals, including endangered species.