01/31/2026
Animal cruelty laws in the United States were strengthened with federal legislation that classifies severe abuse as a felony offense. The law allows for penalties of up to seven years in prison for acts involving intentional harm, torture, or killing of animals.
The statute marked a significant shift in how animal abuse cases are prosecuted, enabling federal authorities to intervene in crimes that were previously handled only at the state level.
Source: United States Department of Justice