House Passes PACT Act To Make Animal Cruelty A Felony

House lawmakers have passed a bill to make animal cruelty a federal felony.

Some specifics that the PACT Act bans is crushing, burning, drowning and impaling animals, among other things.

The bill would also allow law enforcement to go after abusers who cross state lines.

Co-sponsor, Republican Congressman Vern Buchanan, says that it would also close a big loophole. His office says the bill would specifically ban animal cruelty recorded on video.

Previous laws have de-legalized creating and selling those videos, but not the acts of cruelty in them.

Violations could land violators in prison for up to seven years.

The bill will now head to the Senate.