Animal cruelty bill now federal law

A bipartisan bill that makes some animal cruelty a federal crime has been signed by President Donald Trump.

The Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture Act was introduced in the House by Republican Rep. Vern Buchanan and Democratic Rep. Ted Deutch to expand a 2010 law signed by President Barack Obama that had banned videos of animals being tortured, The New York Times reported.

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The acts themselves are now felony offenses and can be punishable with fines and up to seven years behind bars, CBS News reported. The crimes are not limited to dogs and cats, but include abuse against any non-human mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians.

The bill passed unanimously in both the House and Senate, The New York Times reported.

While all states have some felony animal cruelty laws, the new law will deal with animal abuse cases that cross state lines or are international, ABC News reported.

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