Congressmen Propose Bill That Would Make Animal Cruelty a Felony In The U.S.

Finally, two lawmakers have introduced a bill that would make animal cruelty and bestiality a felony nationwide. Reps.Ted Deutch, (D-Fla.) and Vern Buchanan (R-Fla.), the bill's co-sponsors, say if someone is convicted they would spend up to seven years in prison. “The torture of innocent animals is abhorrent and should be punished to the fullest extent of the law” said Rep. Vern Buchanan on twitter.

The bill would make those convicted of crushing, burning, drowning, suffocating and impaling animals punishable by up to seven years in prison. If passed, the bill would also close a loophole in a 2010 law that currently only punishes abuse seen in videos. It earned 284 bipartisan cosponsors and more than 200 law enforcement endorsements in the previous session of Congress.

Massive Stop Forward

Sick individuals have been safely flying under the radar and got away with horrific abuse. There is a strong correlation between animal abuse and human violence. Strengthening our animal laws will benefit the people and keep future mass murderers off the streets.   Shelters around the nation receive hundreds of animal abuse cases, adding even more stress to the ongoing funding issues they all face. These animals need extensive medical care and require serious rehabilitation before they are ready for adoption. Some are euthanized due to the nature of their injuries. The legislation contains certain exceptions for veterinary care, hunting and actions necessary to protect life or property from a serious threat from an animal.

Hard Time  

Animal abuse cases are difficult to deal with and report.  Animals cannot speak nor have the luxury of complex problem solving skills so most cases never see the court room.  Some are left to starve or freeze to death and cannot scream for help or contact the police. In states where animal cruelty is considered a misdemeanor, individuals who commit intentional cruelty crimes against animals can receive, at most, one year in jail and a $1,000 fine. Often, perpetrators receive no more than probation.

There are crimes that even the hardest of criminals will not tolerate. Sex offenders often get a taste of prison justice, where the inmates relentlessly beat on the offender and make their time worse than it already is. Even though seven years may not seem harsh enough, it is a step in the right direction. In the past, animal abusers would get a slap on the wrist and continue their vicious and evil torture tactics. Often, they seduce the animal like a child rapist and record their crimes for the world to see.  Now it’s our turn to fight for these animals.

Contact Your Representatives

It’s imperative that the bill passes so we can fight these criminals and put them where they belong, prison. Contact your representatives and show them your support of the bill. Congress must act and they will only act if we the people make our voices heard. Pets are more than just animals. They are family that keeps us together, they are the friend that never judges who we are, and they are our little angels. It’s time for us to give back and finally put a dent in this horrific problem. We must protect our family and bury these criminals under the prison. 

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