# 119-hr-8480: Protect our Pets Act

119-hr-8480, Protect our Pets Act, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Gottheimer, Josh [D-NJ-5] (D-NJ); status introduced (as of 2026-09-21).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-8480
- As of: 2026-09-21
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-hr-8480
- Congress: 119
- Title: Protect our Pets Act
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2026-04-23
- Sponsor: Rep. Gottheimer, Josh [D-NJ-5] (D-NJ)
- Cosponsors: 1
- Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2026-09-21

## Summary

**Stronger federal penalties for animal cruelty.** This bill would raise prison terms for the crime of animal crushing and create a new federal offense for abandoning or endangering domesticated animals on Federal land or when the act affects interstate or foreign commerce. - Pet owners and families: adds a federal backstop so extreme abuse or abandonment that crosses state lines or happens on Federal land can lead to federal charges. - People who harm animals: first offenses carry up to 10 years in prison and second or later offenses carry up to 15 years. - Federal prosecutors and land managers: the new crime applies to acts "in or affecting interstate or foreign commerce" and to conduct on Federal land, expanding when federal authorities can act. - Scope and exceptions: "domesticated animal" includes mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians kept for pleasure or commercial use. Normal veterinary care, agricultural husbandry, slaughter for food, hunting or trapping, research, protecting life or property, and euthanasia are excluded.

## Cosponsors (1)

- Rep. Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17] (R-NY), 2026-04-23T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- Stronger federal penalties for animal harm: benefit, medium. If enacted, this bill would raise criminal penalties for animal crushing. A first conviction could bring up to 10 years in prison and a fine. A second or later conviction could bring up to 15 years in prison and a fine. The bill would also create a new federal crime for knowingly abandoning or comm…

## Related bills

- 119-hr-3151: SHIPS for America Act of 2025
- 119-hr-4669: FEMA Act of 2025
- 119-hr-9237: Take Care of America’s Veterans Act
- 119-hr-6644: 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act
- 119-hr-3077: Agriculture Resilience Act of 2025
- 119-hr-3633: Digital Asset Market Clarity Act

## Sources
- [119-hr-8480 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/8480)

## Related
- [119-hr-3151: SHIPS for America Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-3151)
- [119-hr-4669: FEMA Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-4669)
- [119-hr-9237: Take Care of America’s Veterans Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-9237)
- [119-hr-6644: 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-6644)
- [119-hr-3077: Agriculture Resilience Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-3077)
- [119-hr-3633: Digital Asset Market Clarity Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-3633)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-8480 (as of 2026-09-21).