A legal victory for pet lovers in the U.S. comes about as the Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture law (PACT Act) goes into effect. On November 25, 2019, the law was presented before President Trump and signed into law. According to Daily Health Post, violation of the PACT Act can result in up to seven years imprisonment and a fine.

PACT was originally published as a bill by Rep. Vern Buchanan and Rep. Ted Deutch. It expounds upon the law put into affect on a federal level by the Obama Administration in 2010 that banned “crush videos”. According to CNN, “[crush videos featured] depictions of small animals being tortured to death by humans.

Animal cruelty is no longer just unacceptable. It is now illegal. With the President’s signature moments ago of the #PACTAct, animal abuse is finally a federal crime in the US. Americans have long supported stronger animal welfare protections. Now our laws reflect these values.

Ted Deutch, House of Representatives

Under PACT, “animal crushing”, including crushing, suffocating, impaling, drowning, burning, or otherwise inflicting serious bodily harm to a living animal is illegal. However, Daily Health Post notes that this law excludes animal slaughter in hunting and fishing or in fields of industry such as veterinary and agricultural.

Exceptions include slaughtering animals for food, treatment of livestock in the agriculture industry… Self-defense, predator and pest control, euthanasia, and scientific or medical research do not fall under the scope of PACT either.

Daily Health Post Editorial

PHOTO CREDIT: The Humane Society of the United States