In animal rights victory, the Senate unanimously passes bill making animal cruelty a federal felony

In a major win for animal rights, the Senate unanimously passed a bill making animal cruelty a federal felony. Next step for the bill? Donald Trump’s desk.

The Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture (PACT) Act is a very necessary expansion on the 2010 Animal Crush Video Prohibition Act. You might remember this 2010 bill because, as the name suggests, it refers to and banned both creating and distributing “crush videos” of animals, which is as disturbing as it sounds. However, that 2010 bill did not actually ban the act. The PACT Act includes the horrific acts themselves, like crushing, burning, drowning, suffocating, impaling or sexually abusing animals, and applies to mammals, reptiles, and amphibians. It basically works to close a huge loophole.

If Trump signs the bill, authorities will have federal jurisdiction to pursue suspects without being bound by state laws. Authorities would also be able to prosecute criminals if the abuse occurs on federal property. If you’re convicted under the bill, you’d face a maximum of seven years in prison, fines, and the felony charge.

There are some exceptions to the bill. For example, hunting, fishing, trapping, and other animal “sport” activities that are not otherwise banned by federal law are exempt. Veterinary procedures, pest and predator control, scientific and medical research, and the killing of animals for food are also not banned. 

The PACT Act was a bipartisan effort, introduced by Florida Reps. Ted Deutch and Vern Buchanan. "Preventing animal cruelty is not partisan; it's part of our values as a country. I'm proud that this legislation moved so swiftly through Congress, with such broad bipartisan support," Deutch said in a statement.

The bill first passed the House of Representatives on Oct. 22. The House version also passed unanimously. 

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