Changing Laws
Is Animal Cruelty on the Rise?
Animal cruelty cases are becoming a major concern in 2025 across the United States. From Florida, Michigan, Texas, to California, rescue organizations are fighting against neglect, abuse, and abandonment, which have been leading to high euthanization rates because of overcrowded shelters and strained resources. Just this year, there have been several gruesome animal abuse cases, causing outcry within the Los Angeles community. Notably, a Santa Ana man is accused of kidnapping and murdering local neighborhood cats, dogs have been dragged from the back of cars on the highway, and another case details that up to 130 cats were discovered in a U-Haul van, where these cats were dead or emaciated.
Why is violence against animals seemingly on the rise? Perhaps social media and communication devices are more readily available than they were in the past, allowing for greater exposure to animal abuse and cruelty crimes. Perhaps, there are more animal advocates and rescue workers willing to speak out against it. Either way, there is no reason for animal abuse to continue at any level. Animal welfare advocates are fighting for animals globally and have made strides in laws that prohibit the consumption, torture, abuse, and neglect of canines and felines. However, while the progress is commendable, there is still more work to be done.
Changing Laws Across the United States
In some states, new legislation is breaking the silence for these voiceless victims. For example, earlier in 2025, a Georgia man, named Vincent Lemark Burell, was sentenced to 475 years in prison for facilitating dogfights, the longest sentence in the world, signaling that the law is becoming intolerant to animal abuse.
In April 2025, the New York State Senate passed several bills aimed at enhancing animal welfare efforts, clarifying existing legislation, and strengthening penalties for animal cruelty. Additionally, the New York Senate passed bill S.3158, which designates animal fighting as a criminal offense, paving the way for stronger sentencing penalties.
In May 2025, Governor Ron DeSantis signed Florida Senate Bill Trooper’s Law and Florida House Bill Dexter’s Law. These bills strengthen penalties for animal abuse and cruelty. Dexter’s Law provided the grounds to create an animal abuser database to document offenders.
The state of Washington has also rolled out ESHB 1149, which increases penalties for animal abuse and related offenses, extends sentencing durations, and prohibits convicted animal abusers from owning animals. It also allows law enforcement to enter private property without a warrant when an animal is in imminent danger of harm.
California is a good example of a state that is straying behind in animal welfare. Although Governor Newsom has signed several bills that promote animal welfare, extending to horses, octopus farms, animal testing, and incentivized projects to reduce roadkill, California has yet to provide a bill that strengthens penalties for animal cruelty and abuse. California has high euthanasia rates and overcrowded shelters due to irresponsible breeding, leaving animals stranded, neglected, and vulnerable to harm.
Federal Laws Passed the Animal Cruelty Enforcement Act of 2025 to Target the Issue of Animal Abuse
The legislative bill titled H.R. 1477 establishes a new section in the Environment and Natural Resources Division of the Department of Justice to enforce federal laws concerning animal cruelty. The Animal Cruelty Enforcement Act of 2025 is important because it transforms animal cruelty abuses from a state or local issue into a federal crime, and highlights the link between animal cruelty and other serious crimes. Nevertheless, it sets the tone that animal cruelty is a nationwide problem.
The Future of Animal Cruelty Laws
Collectively, new trending animal cruelty laws are imposing stricter penalties and longer sentencing durations. These tougher laws showcase that animal abuse is no longer tolerated in society, as it hinges on other serious crimes harmful to the community. With more legal definitions of animal abuse, people can better educate themselves on proper treatment of animals and recognize abuse. The Global Paw Act aims to utilize this platform as a means to advocate for new legislation, provide updates on passed legislation, educate people on domestic animal care, and advocate for the end of animal cruelty globally.
