Update 11/26/19: President Trump has signed the bill into law, in what is a huge victory to animals and animal rights advocates!
The Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture (PACT) Act (H.R. 724/S. 479)
The Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture (PACT) Act would build upon 2010 legislation and make acts of cruelty and abuse toward animals a federal offense. Violators could face felony charges, fines and up to seven years in prison.
Animal fighting is already illegal in the U.S. at the state and federal levels, and the Animal Crush Video Prohibition Act of 2010 banned the creation and sale of video depicting acts of cruelty and torture of animals. The PACT Act would make the underlying acts illegal as well and give federal prosecutors jurisdiction over certain animal abusers.
The PACT Act would give authorities additional powers to pursue abusers, such as the option to prosecute animal abuse that occurs across state lines or that which occurs on federal property. While all 50 states have laws against animal cruelty, the PACT Act could also be useful when the specific location of abuse cannot be determined.
The PACT Act will build on existing federal anti-cruelty law and provide important protections for animals. Please ask your representatives to support the PACT Act of 2019.
Animal fighting is already illegal in the U.S. at the state and federal levels, and the Animal Crush Video Prohibition Act of 2010 banned the creation and sale of video depicting acts of cruelty and torture of animals. The PACT Act would make the underlying acts illegal as well and give federal prosecutors jurisdiction over certain animal abusers.
The PACT Act would give authorities additional powers to pursue abusers, such as the option to prosecute animal abuse that occurs across state lines or that which occurs on federal property. While all 50 states have laws against animal cruelty, the PACT Act could also be useful when the specific location of abuse cannot be determined.
The PACT Act will build on existing federal anti-cruelty law and provide important protections for animals. Please ask your representatives to support the PACT Act of 2019.
Use this sample letter to tell your federal representatives to support the PACT Act and add a personal note to increase your impact:
Subject: Ban Animal Cruelty, Support the PACT Act
Dear [Representative]
As an animal advocate and supporter of animal rights, I strongly urge you to support the Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture (PACT) Act of 2019. Acts of cruelty and abuse toward animals have no place in our society and those who commit them must be held accountable.
The PACT Act would finally make crushing, drowning, burning, suffocating, impaling and other horrific acts against animals illegal at the federal level. Federal “anti-crush” video legislation in 2010 was a good first step toward ending these practices, but we need the PACT Act to make the underlying acts of abuse illegal as well. Instances of animal cruelty and abuse must be punished, regardless of whether they were filmed or recorded.
This legislation would give authorities new tools to go after abusers, which is important when considering that cruelty toward animals is linked to violence toward humans. This Act will protect animals and could even end up protecting people too. Preventing animal cruelty is one of my top priorities and I urge you to support the PACT Act of 2019.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your address]
[Your city, state, zip]
[Your email address]