Senate unanimously OKs bill making animal cruelty a federal felony

The U.S. Senate passed a bill unanimously Tuesday that categorizes animal cruelty as a federal felony.

The Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture (PACT) Act was approved by the Senate after passing the House last month. The legislation would expand a current law passed in 2010 that bans animal fighting but only counts animal cruelty as a felony if a person videotapes the harm.

“There’s no place in a civilized society for maiming and torturing animals – period,” tweeted Sen. Richard Blumenthal, the bill’s co-sponsor.

“[Sen. Pat Toomey] & I’ve spent yrs working to hold the barbaric individuals who commit these crimes accountable. I’m glad Congress is finally sending the #PACTAct to the President’s desk to be signed into law,” he added.

Though all 50 states currently have laws that protect animals, the bill would allow federal authorities to not worry about state lines when prosecuting animal cruelty.

The legislation contains exceptions for hunting.