The U.S. Senate unanimously passed the Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture Act (PACT), which would make several kinds of animal cruelty a federal felony in the United States with a punishment of up to seven years in prison.
The PACT Act, introduced by congressmen Vern Buchanan and Ted Deutch and now pending President Donald Trump’s signature, would illegalize purposely hurting animals – known as “animal crushing”. The federal law would also make the creation and distribution of animal crush photos and videos illegal.
“This is a milestone for pet owners and animal lovers across the country,” says Buchanan. “For the first time, a national law has been passed by Congress to protect animals from cruelty and abuse.”
