Those howls you heard while leaving the Cannon House Office Building on Tuesday night were not from any committee. The barks and catcalls were from the crowd of Congressional pets and the owners who love them.

The pets and their humans were gathered for the Humane Society of the United States’ Congressional Pet Photo Contest award ceremony, an epic competition of adorableness.

The room was filled with dogs of all sizes (but not the kitties or horses sadly). The society gave out 17 awards to cats, dogs and one horse, complete with impressive glass statuettes and pet-friendly goodie bags.

Even those who didn’t place left happy and pumped for next year’s rematch.

“Abby is only a year old, so she’s got time to improve her poise and charm,” Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.) tells HOH. This was the first time that little Abby — full name Abigail Adams Connolly — entered the competition. Abby’s a bichon-poodle mix. Even though she couldn’t quite pull off a win this time, Connolly has high hopes for her future. It wouldn’t be the first time a Connolly bichon-poodle won, as the late George Washington Connolly won Best Campaign Dog for 2010.

Abby may just need to spend more time chasing Liberty, the 5-month-old labradoodle of Rep. James Lankford (R-Okla.). Liberty won this year’s People’s Choice Award. This was Liberty’s first time in the competition, and she’s already a winner!