,i  #aaith ,,congress  #b;d ,session    
,h4 ,r4 #hdhj  ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of  
,,representatives  ,april #bc1 #bjbf,mr4
 ,gottheimer 7for himself and ,mr4      
,lawler7 introduced the following bill2 
which was referred to the ,committee on 
the ,judiciary  ,a ,,bill  ,to amend    
title #ah1 ,united ,states ,code1 to    
increase the penalties for animal       
crushing1 and for other purposes4  #a4  
,short title  ,this ,act may be cited as
 the ,protect our ,pets ,act4  #b4      
,increased penalties for animal crushing
 ,subsection 7c7 of section #dh of title
 #ah1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended 
to read as follows3  7c7 ,penalties     
,whoever violates this section shall    
be-- 7#a7 in the case of a first        
offense1 fined under this title1        
imprisoned for not more than #aj years1 
or both2 and  7#b7 in the case of a     
second or subsequent offense1 fined     
under this title1 imprisoned for not    
more than #ae years1 or both4  4  #c4   
,abandonment or endangerment of animals 

on ,federal land prohibited  7a7 ,in    
general ,chapter #c of title #ah1       
,united ,states ,code1 is amended by    
inserting after section #dh the         
following3  #dh;,a4 ,abandonment or     
endangerment of animals  7a7 ,offense   
,whoever1 in or affecting interstate or 
foreign commerce1 or on ,federal land1  
knowingly abandons a domesticated animal
 or commits an act of violence that     
endangers a domesticated animal1 shall  
be-- 7#a7 in the case of a first        
offense1 fined under this title1        
imprisoned for not more than #aj years1 
or both2 and  7#b7 in the case of a     
second or subsequent offense1 fined     
under this title1 imprisoned for not    
more than #ae years1 or both4  7b7      
,exceptions ,this section does not apply
 with regard to any conduct that is--   
7#a7 a customary and normal veterinary1 
agricultural husbandry1 or other animal 
management practice2  7#b7 the slaughter
 of animals for food2  7#c7 hunting1    
trapping1 fishing1 a sporting activity  

not otherwise prohibited by ,federal    
law1 predator control1 or pest control2 
7#d7 medical or scientific research2    
7#e7 necessary to protect the life or   
property of a person2 or  7#f7 performed
 as part of euthanizing an animal4  7c7 
,definition ,in this section1 the term  
domesticated animal means a living      
non-human mammal1 bird1 reptile1 or     
amphibian1 whether kept for pleasure or 
commercial purposes4  4  7b7 ,clerical  
amendment ,the table of section sections
 for chapter #c of title #ah1 ,united   
,states ,code1 is amended by inserting  
after section #dh the following3        
#dh;,a4 ,abandonment or endangerment of 
animals4  4