In a major step for animal protection, the U.S. Department of Justice has launched a dedicated federal animal abuse task force to investigate and prosecute the most severe cruelty cases under the Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture (PACT) Act. This marks one of the strongest commitments yet by the federal government to take animal cruelty seriously, and to hold abusers fully accountable.
Announced by Acting U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli, the task force will enforce the PACT Act, a landmark federal law signed in 2019 that makes extreme animal cruelty a federal crime. This includes acts of abuse that cross state lines and the creation of disturbing “animal crush” videos that show animals being tortured for profit or entertainment.
The task force, based in the Central District of California, is one of the strongest moves yet to hold animal abusers fully accountable. This region, home to over 20 million people across seven counties, including Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, and San Bernardino, will now see a dedicated focus on rooting out serious cases of cruelty.
From neglected pets in urban neighborhoods to animals exploited in underground video markets, far too many are abused without justice. The animals are often forgotten victims, living in shadows and backyards, whose pain goes unseen and unpunished. This task force gives them a fighting chance.
Led by experienced prosecutors in the U.S. Attorney’s Office and supported by key partners like the FBI, USDA Office of Inspector General, Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office, LAPD, and City Animal Control, the task force is building a united front against animal cruelty.
This week, they took to the streets of Skid Row in Los Angeles for an outreach mission, checking on the welfare of animals, offering resources to pet owners in need, and removing one dog who was abandoned and left without care. It’s a sign of what’s to come: real, on-the-ground action to protect the vulnerable.
Animal cruelty is not just heartbreaking, it’s also closely linked to other violent crimes. By holding abusers accountable, this task force not only helps animals but also creates safer communities for everyone.
If you witness or suspect animal abuse, you can report it at tips.fbi.gov or call 1-800-CALL-FBI. Let’s continue to be their voice!
