Protect our Pets Act

Josh Gottheimer

Democrat · NJ · Representative

Source: Congress.gov · FEC

• Michael Lawler (R-NY-17)Original· 2026-04-23

Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

2026-04-23

Source: Congress.gov

Protect our Pets Act This bill increases federal criminal penalties for animal crushing. The term animal crushing includes conduct to purposely crush, burn, drown, suffocate, or impale living animals. The bill also establishes a new federal criminal offense for abandoning or endangering domesticated animals. Current law imposes criminal penalties—a fine, a prison term of up to seven years, or both—for animal crushing. Under this bill, an individual who commits an animal crushing offense is subject to a fine, a prison term of up to 10 years, or both for a first offense; and a fine, a prison term of up to 15 years, or both for a second or subsequent offense. Additionally, the bill establishes a new federal criminal offense for knowingly abandoning a domesticated animal or committing an act of violence that endangers a domesticated animal. A violator is subject to criminal penalties—a fine, a prison term of up to 10 years, or both for a first offense; and a fine, a prison term of up to 15 years, or both for a second or subsequent offense. The bill provides exceptions, including for conduct that is (1) the slaughter of animals for food, (2) medical or scientific research, (3) necessary to protect the life or property of a person, or (4) performed as part of euthanizing an animal.

Plain-English rewrite of the Congressional Research Service summary published on Congress.gov. Cached and reviewed.

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [H.R. 8480 Introduced in House (IH)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 8480 To amend title 18, United States Code, to increase the penalties for animal crushing, and for other purposes. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES April 23, 2026 Mr. Gottheimer (for himself and Mr. Lawler) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To amend title 18, United States Code, to increase the penalties for animal crushing, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Protect our Pets Act''. SEC. 2. INCREASED PENALTIES FOR ANIMAL CRUSHING. Subsection (c) of section 48 of title 18, United States Code, is amended to read as follows: ``(c) Penalties.--Whoever violates this section shall be-- ``(1) in the case of a first offense, fined under this title, imprisoned for not more than 10 years, or both; and ``(2) in the case of a second or subsequent offense, fined under this title, imprisoned for not more than 15 years, or both.''. SEC. 3. ABANDONMENT OR ENDANGERMENT OF ANIMALS ON FEDERAL LAND PROHIBITED. (a) In General.--Chapter 3 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 48 the following: ``Sec. 48A. Abandonment or endangerment of animals ``(a) Offense.--Whoever, in or affecting interstate or foreign commerce, or on Federal land, knowingly abandons a domesticated animal or commits an act of violence that endangers a domesticated animal, shall be-- ``(1) in the case of a first offense, fined under this title, imprisoned for not more than 10 years, or both; and ``(2) in the case of a second or subsequent offense, fined under this title, imprisoned for not more than 15 years, or both. ``(b) Exceptions.--This section does not apply with regard to any conduct that is-- ``(1) a customary and normal veterinary, agricultural husbandry, or other animal management practice; ``(2) the slaughter of animals for food; ``(3) hunting, trapping, fishing, a sporting activity not otherwise prohibited by Federal law, predator control, or pest control; ``(4) medical or scientific research; ``(5) necessary to protect the life or property of a person; or ``(6) performed as part of euthanizing an animal. ``(c) Definition.--In this section, the term `domesticated animal' means a living non-human mammal, bird, reptile, or amphibian, whether kept for pleasure or commercial purposes.''. (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of section sections for chapter 3 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 48 the following: ``48A. Abandonment or endangerment of animals.''. <all>

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