H.R. 8480 — Introduced in House

I 119th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 8480 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES April 23, 2026Mr. 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. .