Sen. Clayton Hee, D-23rd (Kane'ohe, Kahuku), has been presented with the Arthur P. McCormick Award for Lifetime Achievement for his legislative work relating to protection of animals.

Hee was recognized last month during a Hawaiian Humane Society Animal Welfare Heroes of 2008 Awards ceremony at the Willows Restaurant.

In 2007, Hee introduced a bill to change the law to make cruelty to pet animals a felony and to recognize that certain pigs could be called pets. This year, he introduced the law that now makes cruel treatment of equine livestock, such as horses, mules and donkeys, a felony.