Cat Kids Rescue

A new federal bill introduced in April 2026 could significantly raise the stakes for anyone who abandons or harms an animal on federal property or across state lines.

US Congressman Josh Gottheimer, representing New Jersey's 5th district, introduced the Protect Our Pets Act alongside Congressman Mike Lawler of New York. The legislation would make it a federal crime to abandon or endanger a pet at airports, national parks, train stations, or any other federal property. It would also apply to situations where someone transports an animal across state lines specifically to evade local penalties.

The proposed penalties are substantial. A first offense could carry up to 10 years in federal prison. Repeat offenders could face up to 15 years. The bill also calls for increased penalties in the most severe cases involving extreme acts of abuse.

A companion measure announced at the same time, the FBI Animal Cruelty Taskforce Act, would create a dedicated unit within the FBI specifically tasked with investigating animal cruelty cases, including dogfighting, cockfighting, and other forms of organized abuse. The unit would also provide training resources for local law enforcement agencies.

Gottheimer pointed to recent high-profile cases, including a dog abandoned at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas in February 2026, as evidence that federal tools are needed to address cruelty that crosses jurisdictional lines.

Research consistently shows that approximately 10 million animals die from abuse or cruelty in the United States every year. These bills represent an effort to close the legal gaps that have allowed some of the most serious cases to fall through the cracks.

(Source: Protect Our Pets Act announcement, Congressman Gottheimer, April 7, 2026)