Results: Proposed Law Would Make Animal Cruelty a Felony Across the United States

The bill, known as the Preventing Animal Cruel and Torture (PACT) Act, is co-sponsored by Democrat Ted Deutch and Republican Vern Buchanan. PACT would criminalize "crushing, burning, drowning, suffocating and impaling animals." The measure would also address bestiality and other attempts to sexually exploit animals. Are you glad there is a proposed law change that will make abusing animals a felony - and result in tougher penalties?

The bill is getting support from both sides. Are you surprised that a bill like this would be supported by both Democrats and Republicans, who have been unable to agree on much of anything as of late?

The Humane Society Legislative Fund supports the measure, noting that while most states consider certain acts of animal cruelty a felony, some penalties are still considered misdemeanors. The bill earned 284 bipartisan co-sponsors and more than 200 law enforcement endorsements in the previous session of Congress, according to the group. However, former Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) kept it from coming to the floor for a vote. Goodlatte is no longer in Congress and supporters of the measure are more optimistic about its chances of passing this time around. If you are an American, do you hope that this bill passes this time around, or if you are one of our Canadian neighbors, would you like to see something similar take effect in Canada?

Do you think more should be done overall to protect animals from abuse?

Do you think penalties should be as severe for those who hurt animals as for those who hurt people?