H.R. 8480

119 HR 8480 IH: Protect our Pets Act
 U.S. House of Representatives
 2026-04-23
 text/xml
 EN
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 I  119th CONGRESS  2d Session  H. R. 8480  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.
1.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the   Protect our Pets Act  .
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.
 .
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:
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.
  .