11 Best Of Is Animal Cruelty A Felony In All 50 States Best Resolution Image. As a result of the PACT Act federal law enforcement and prosecutors will finally have the tools they need to go after those who commit malicious acts of animal cruelty within federal jurisdiction with the full force of felony penalties. While all 50 states have felony provisions against animal cruelty theres no federal ban against animal cruelty and torture.
Animal-rights groups say the signing of this bill is a defining moment for animal welfare and addresses a gap between state and federal laws. Only four states reserve felonies for second-time violators. All 50 states now have felony animal cruelty provisions.
10 jurisdictions for the first time created felony penalties for cases involving extreme animal cruelty or torture.
SHREWSBURY TOWNSHIP YORK COUNTY Pa. There was a gap in the law. Theres a national consensus that animal abuse should indeed be treated as a serious crime. Many law schools now offer specific courses on the subject all 50 states have animal cruelty felony provisions most of felony provisions are for malicious willful or aggravated animal cruelty language varies from state to state when only four had such penalties in 1986 and the FBI just this year started collecting data on arrests for animal cruelty which was previously lumped into the other crimes.