Big progress for animals in the United States! On Tuesday, October 22, the House of Representatives unanimously passed the PACT (Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture) Act), which would make animal abuse punishable as a felony at the federal level.
The act allows cases of severe animal abuse that occur across state lines or in areas under federal jurisdiction to be prosecuted in federal courts. Punishable acts include burning, crushing, mutilating, and killing animals and instances of sexual abuse.
While the bill has passed unanimously in the Senate twice before, the former chairman of the House Judiciary Committee did not support it. The current chairman, Representative Jerold Nadler (D-NY), co-sponsored the act, bringing new hope that the bill will finally become law.
In a press release, U.S. Representative Ted Deutch (D-FL), who headed the bipartisan legislation with Vern Buchanan (R-FL), said, “This bill sends a clear message that our society does not accept cruelty against animals. We’ve received support from so many Americans from across the country and across the political spectrum.”
He continued, “Law enforcement officers have sought a federal overlay to help them stop animal abusers who are likely to commit acts of violence against people. And animal lovers everywhere know this is simply the right thing to do.”
Buchanan agrees. “The torture of innocent animals is abhorrent and should be punished to the fullest extent of the law,” he says. “Passing the PACT Act sends a strong message that this behavior will not be tolerated.”
While individual states have their own animal protection legislation, shockingly, no comprehensive law exists at the federal level. This act is sorely needed.
Thank you to the over 35,000 readers who signed our petition and to everyone at both the grassroots and governmental level who helped make this progress a reality. If you have not yet signed our petition, please do so to urge lawmakers pass the PACT Act and finally provide legal protection for animals nationwide.
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GREAT NEWS!
I urge the Senate and President to sign into law that animal cruelty is a felony.in the US and will not be tolerated and offenders should receive maximum punishment under the law.
People who enjoy torturing animals are a danger to our society, our families and children.
Sincerely,
Marjory Kephart
I doubt that Trump will sign this. He is a monster too who has not done one thing to help animals
Let’s keep PUSHING for it — WHO in their right mind is FOR cruelty to Animals — EVEN Trump has to see this CLEARLY.
Signed & sharing!
Animal cruelty should be a Felony and require prison time. I understand prison time in California is a big joke however at least we are taking freedom from these animals for a while.
You call yourself human beings when you hunt down the innocent animals that are helpless. God put those animals on this Earth for us to enjoy and if you think you’re better or above it just because they’re helpless than Quan was going to come around and bite you in the a SS
You call yourself human beings when you hunt down the innocent animals that are helpless. God put those animals on this Earth for us to enjoy and if you think you’re better or above it just because they’re helpless than Quan was going to come around and bite you in the a SS
I’ll sign this if these laws are being established in Canada as well
Thanks to all, in the House of Reps, for caring enough to unanimously pass the PACT law. This is a very important step in animal welfare protection and I pray that it’ll soon become law.
Please stop the animal cruelty it is cruel, inhumane, sickening, senseless and down right evil
Crimes against defenseless animals need to be handled the same as crimes against defenseless children!
I hope it makes a difference for animals. It is one thing to pass a law but another to enforce it.
The laws have to be stiffened. Also to those immigrants that come from countries where dogs for example are abused, tortured and even worse, eaten! Get with the program or go home!
This is great news!
Long overdue – this should be law in every state in America.
This is GREAT NEWS!!!!
Animal Abuse must and should be a FELONY!!
Thank you
Kim Beach
Wonderful — YAY — there IS a God — THANK YOU.
PACT must be made the law of the land, every where in the USA
PACT must be made the law of the land, every where in the USA
PACT must be made the law of the land, every where in the USA.
Good news. Well done.
We can no longer let our government do NOTHING with regard to animal abuse. I would make the law for ALL cases of animal abuse including abandonment. This country does not realize that these were given to us by GOD! We cannot allow evil citizens or anyone for that matter to even think about any TYPE of abuse.
I would like the Senate, to get off their duffs and start doing their jobs that the citizens of the Unites States pay for. We should put them on a commission based salary, not productive work, no pay!
Father Douglas Bilyeu, M Div., MA, MSN, RN
Thanks to everyone who supported this vital legislation! One step closer to kindness to animals on the USA front as leaders in the World…..ANIMAL ABUSE WILL NOT BE TOLERATED!!!
along with charges should be mental evaluation & services.