Protect our Pets Act

Whoever violates this section shall be—

(1) in the case of a first offense, fined under this title, imprisoned for not more than 10 years, or both; and

(2) in the case of a second or subsequent offense, fined under this title, imprisoned for not more than 15 years, or both.

Chapter 3 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 48 the following:

Whoever, in or affecting interstate or foreign commerce, or on Federal land, knowingly abandons a domesticated animal or commits an act of violence that endangers a domesticated animal, shall be—

(1) in the case of a first offense, fined under this title, imprisoned for not more than 10 years, or both; and

(2) in the case of a second or subsequent offense, fined under this title, imprisoned for not more than 15 years, or both.

This section does not apply with regard to any conduct that is—

(1) a customary and normal veterinary, agricultural husbandry, or other animal management practice;

(2) the slaughter of animals for food;

(3) hunting, trapping, fishing, a sporting activity not otherwise prohibited by Federal law, predator control, or pest control;

(4) medical or scientific research;

(5) necessary to protect the life or property of a person; or

(6) performed as part of euthanizing an animal.

In this section, the term domesticated animal means a living non-human mammal, bird, reptile, or amphibian, whether kept for pleasure or commercial purposes.

The table of section sections for chapter 3 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 48 the following: