H.R. 8480

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8480 Introduced in House (IH)]

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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.''.
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