USA – The PACT Act would make it a federal crime for “any person to intentionally engage in animal crushing if the animals or animal crushing is in, substantially affects, or uses a means or facility of, interstate or foreign commerce,” according to a fact sheet of the bill.
In October the bill was introduced to the House were it passed unanimously, and now today the Senate has passed the same bill unanimously sending it to the President to sign into law.
“Over the course of 30 years in animal protection, I have encountered terrible animal cruelties, but acts of intentional torture are the most disturbing because they demonstrate how some people treat the most vulnerable in our society,” Amundson said in a statement. “These malicious acts deserve federal scrutiny and action. Federal prosecutors and law enforcement officials will finally have the tools they need to bring those responsible for cruelty to animals to justice.”
The only drawback to the bill is that it is limited to interstate commerce and federal property and would not interfere with local animal laws or enforcement.
The bill is a expansion of the 2010 Animal Crush Video prohibition act.
