Urge Congress to Pass New Anti-Animal Cruelty Legislation

Animal cruelty isn’t just a heartbreaking tragedy, it’s a serious crime and is often linked to other violent offenses, including domestic abuse, child abuse, and even homicide. Yet despite growing awareness and the FBI’s classification of animal cruelty as a top-tier crime, federal coordination to stop malicious animal abuse remains dangerously insufficient.

Members of Congress have taken notice and introduced the bipartisan FBI Animal Cruelty Taskforce (FBI ACT) Act, introduced by Reps. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) and Don Bacon (R-NE). This legislation would formally establish an Animal Cruelty Crimes Unit within the FBI. This dedicated task force will investigate and help prosecute the worst acts of animal cruelty across the country.

The FBI ACT would empower federal law enforcement to work more effectively with local and state agencies to bring perpetrators of cruelty to justice. From organized dogfighting and cockfighting rings to sadistic acts of torture often posted online, this task force will target the most violent and intentional animal abuse. This law and the task force it creates will help prevent future violence against both animals and people.

We cannot let these crimes continue to go unchecked. People who commit acts of cruelty against animals are more likely to commit other violent crimes. The FBI has already recognized this connection by tracking animal abuse cases through its National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS), but without the FBI ACT, critical cases are still falling through the cracks.

This is a commonsense, bipartisan bill that puts public safety and compassion front and center. It’s backed by law enforcement leaders, animal welfare organizations, and advocates nationwide. Now it’s time for Congress to act.

Please sign the petition to call on Congress to pass the bipartisan FBI ACT Act and create a dedicated federal task force to stop malicious animal cruelty.