Congress·In Committee·H.R. 8480

Protect our Pets Act

Animal Welfare: Increased Penalties for Abuse and Abandonment

Apr 23·View on Congress.gov·Read full text

Next up: A house committee

The Protect our Pets Act is currently in the early stages of the legislative process. It was recently sent to the House Committee on the Judiciary for review. The bill is actively moving forward as it waits for the committee to discuss it.

Legislative Progress

House

Senate

President

Law

Could go either way

The bill has support from both parties, which is rare and helpful. However, many bills like this are introduced every year and never make it to a final vote because of a crowded schedule.

Key Points

This bill increases the maximum prison time for animal crushing, which involves the intentional killing or torture of animals. First-time offenders could face up to 10 years in prison, while repeat offenders could face up to 15 years.
It creates a new federal crime for abandoning or endangering pets on federal lands, such as national parks or forests. This applies to anyone who knowingly leaves a pet behind or commits an act of violence that puts a domesticated animal in danger.
The law defines domesticated animals to include mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians kept as pets or for business. It specifically excludes normal activities like farming, hunting, and medical research from being considered crimes under this act.

Impact Analysis

Govbase has not yet run an impact analysis on this legislation.

Milestones

2 milestones2 actions

Apr 23, 2026House

Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Apr 23, 2026

Introduced in House

The bill was officially filed and given a number. It now enters the legislative queue.

No votes, news coverage, or related bills recorded for this bill yet.

Source Information

Document Type

Congressional Bill

Official Title

Protect our Pets Act

Bill NumberHR 8480

Congress119th Congress

ChamberHouse of Representatives

Latest ActionReferred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Data Sources

Congress.gov

Official legislative information

Read Full Bill Text

Sponsor

Cosponsors

(1)

R: 1

Analysis generated by AI. Always verify with official sources.