Toomey: Protect All Animals from Abuse

Press Release

U.S. Senator Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) took to the Senate floor this morning to call for passage of his bipartisan bill to protect animals from abuse.

Sen. Toomey's Prevent Animal Cruelty and Torture (PACT) Act would outlaw a heinous form of animal abuse known as "crushing," where deranged individuals maim and torture animals. If enacted, this would be the first ever federal law to grant all animals federal protections against cruelty and abuse.

Unfortunately, in spite of the proposal's very broad bipartisan support, Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) objected to Sen. Toomey's request for passage.

During his speech, Sen. Toomey said:

"The act specifically bans the most appalling forms of animal abuse. It's often known as "crushing.' This is when a deranged individual actually tortures and sometimes sexually assaults household pets for some perverse enjoyment that they get."

"Stopping this kind of obscene animal abuse is not controversial at all. There are no Republicans objecting to this legislation. The next Democratic Leader on the other side is a cosponsor - Senator Schumer is a cosponsor of this legislation. There are 27 Democratic cosponsors. Over half of the Democratic caucus are cosponsors of this legislation. A majority of House members have cosponsored companion legislation."

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