RELEASE: During Animal Cruelty Prevention Month, Gottheimer Announces New Legislation to Protect Pets From Abandonment and Abuse

Above: Gottheimer announces the “Protect Our Pets Act” with his dog Rosie.

WESTWOOD, NJ  — Today, U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) announced new bipartisan federal legislation and actions,to crack down on animal abuse and ensure that those who harm or abandon animals are fully held accountable.

Speaking during Animal Cruelty Prevention Month, Gottheimer emphasized that protecting animals is about protecting communities as a whole.

Watch Gottheimer’s announcement here.

“Our pets aren’t just animals. They’re family,” said Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5). “When someone is sick enough to abuse or abandon a helpless animal, it’s not just about that animal — that’s a flashing warning sign that something deeper is going on.”

Gottheimer continued, “Right now, there are far too many gaps. People dump animals on the side of highways or move them across state lines and think they can get away with it. Not anymore.”

Gottheimer concluded, “In Jersey, we don’t tolerate this sick behavior. We fight back. If you hurt an animal, there will be real consequences.”

“The worst of humanity is on display when someone abuses or abandons a defenseless animal. Families across the Hudson Valley know pets are part of the family, and they deserve to be protected. This bipartisan bill ensures there are real consequences for these horrific acts and closes the gaps that have allowed abusers to get away with it for far too long,” said Congressman Mike Lawler (NY-17).

Across the United States, roughly 10 million animals die each year from abuse, abandonment, or cruelty, with hundreds of thousands more subjected to unsafe and inhumane conditions. Recent cases in Sussex County, New Jersey — including dozens of dogs abandoned without food or water — underscore the urgent need for stronger federal action.

In February 2026, a 2-year-old Goldendoodle named “Jet Blue” was abandoned at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas.

• The owner (identified as Germiran Bryson) left the dog tied to a luggage rack and abandoned..
• The suspectwas arrested and charged with misdemeanors for animal abandonment, resisting a public officer, and other charges.The Goldendoodle was adopted by Officer Skeeter Black, one of the police officers who responded to the scene.

First, Gottheimer announced the Protect Our Pets Act, co-led by Congressman Mike Lawler (NY-17), would:

• Makes it a federal crime to abandon or endanger animals on federal property or across state liness such as airports, federal parks, and train stations.
• Establishes serious penalties, including up to 10 years in prison for a first offense and up to 15 years for repeat offenders.
• Increases penalties for the most horrific acts of animal abuse such as crushing, burning, drowning, suffocating, impaling, or sexually exploiting animals.

Second, Gottheimer is leading the bipartisan FBI Animal Cruelty Taskforce Act, co-led by Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis (NY-11), would:

• Establish a dedicated task force within the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to investigate and build cases of animal cruelty against abusers, including dogfighting, cockfighting, crush videos, and other acts of animal abuse. 
• Develop training resources to help local law enforcement identify and combat animal abuse in their communities.

Third, Gotttheimer is sending a letter to the DOJ and the new Attorney General, making it clear that combating animal cruelty, abandonment, and endangerment needs to be a priority.

• Once confirmed, the new AG should implement the FBI Animal Cruelty Taskforce and ensure that the DOJ has a team of prosecutors and FBI agents that can take down animal abusers. 

These federal legislation and actions help target existing gaps in state and local laws that allow abusers to evade meaningful consequences by crossing jurisdictions or exploiting weak penalties.

The Congressman also highlighted the broader public safety implications of animal cruelty, noting that it is often linked to other forms of violence, including domestic abuse and child abuse.

Data on domestic violence and child abuse cases reveal that a staggering number of animals are targeted by those who abuse their children or spouses.

• In one survey, 71% of domestic violence victims reported that their abuser also targeted pets.
• In one study of families under investigation for suspected child abuse, researchers found that pet abuse had occurred in 88% of the families under supervision for physical abuse of their children.

Gottheimer has been a longstanding advocate for animal protection, helping lead the federal PACT Act signed into law in 2019, and maintaining a perfect 100/100 lifetime score from the Humane World Action Fund.

Gottheimer was joined by Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella, Bergen County Assistant Prosecutor Seth Victor, Bergen County Commissioner Joan Voss, and Westwood Councilwoman Erin Collins. 

Below: Gottheimer announces the “Protect Our Pets Act.”

Gottheimer’s full remarks as prepared for delivery can be found here:

Good morning, everyone. 

It’s so nice to be back in the beautiful town of Westwood, with some of our great leaders: Bergen County Commissioner Joan Voss, Westwood Councilwoman Erin Collins, Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella, Bergen County Assistant Prosecutor Seth Victor, and, most importantly, the animals we fight for each and every day.   

Look, I always say this: You can tell a lot about a community by how we treat the most vulnerable. Our children, our seniors, and, yes, our pets, too.

Because, as I’m sure many of you know, our pets aren’t just animals. They’re family. Let’s be honest: most of the time, they are easier to deal with than our actual families. 

They’re the dog waiting by the door when you get home – always happy to see you, no matter what, and no teenage lip. They’re the cat curled up on your couch, while you sip your coffee. They’re family. They’re a part of our lives, our communities, and what makes Jersey the place we call home.

And here’s the truth. When someone is sick enough to abuse or abandon a helpless animal, it’s not just about that animal. That’s also a flashing warning sign that something deeper is going on. 

Every year in the United States, about 10 million animals die from abuse, abandonment, or cruelty. Ten million.

And about 250,000 animals are victims of hoarding  – living in conditions that are completely unsanitary, unsafe, and uninhabitable.

This is real. It’s widespread. And, it’s unacceptable.

We’ve seen it right here in our backyard.

Just two weeks ago in Sussex County, dozens of dogs were found abandoned. Thirty-two dogs. Left in crates across multiple towns. No food. No water. Just dumped like they didn’t matter. Imagine the type of person you have to be to walk away from an innocent animal, knowing they are going to suffer and possibly die because of you. 

Think about that. Thirty-two dogs, helpless and alone. They were relying on people to protect and care for them, and those people failed. 

I am very grateful that law enforcement helped track down and arrest those responsible, and I look forward to seeing them brought to justice. I also hope those innocent dogs find safe, loving home that they deserve.  

Unfortunately, though, that’s not an isolated story.

We’ve seen dogs left on the side of the road, barely alive. Animals neglected until they’re just skin and bones — their ribcages almost bursting through their skin. This is happening more than people realize. It’s happening right here in Jersey and across the country.

Earlier this year, I’m sure you read about this story: a 2-year-old Goldendoodle, now named “JetBlue,” was abandoned by his owner at the Las Vegas Airport, after she tied him to a luggage rack and left the airport. How could someone do that? 

Thankfully, the owner was later arrested and charged with animal abandonment, and the dog was adopted by a responding police officer named Skeeter. But, all she faced for ditching her dog were state misdemeanors, and she was even not required to post bond at the time of her arrest. You kidding me? 

Here’s the part people don’t always connect. Animal cruelty doesn’t just happen in a vacuum.

Roughly 70 percent of people who commit domestic violence are also animal abusers. Many start by first abusing animals. 

In families under investigation for child abuse, 88 percent also had evidence of animal abuse.

So, when we’re talking about animal cruelty, we’re also talking about breaking cycles of violence before they happen.

That’s why, as part of Animal Cruelty Prevention Month, I’m proud to announce new federal bipartisan legislation — the Protect Our Pets Act — to crack down on this animal abuse and finally ensure that people who commit this type of cruelty to America’s pets are truly held accountable.

The Protect Our Pets Act, which Mike Lawler from New York is co-leading, makes it a federal crime to abandon or endanger an animal when it happens on federal land or across state lines. 

That means ditching or endangering a pet at an airport, a federal park, a train station, or any other federal property. It will carry a punishment that fits the crime  – 10 years in prison for a first offense, and up to 15 years if you’re a repeat offender. We’re also increasing penalties for the most horrific acts of abuse. In fact, about 85 percent of people arrested for animal cruelty have prior arrests, and about 70 percent already have felony records.

So, under my new legislation, if you are abandoning, maiming, burning, drowning, suffocating, impaling, or sexually exploiting animals, and you’re convicted, you’re going to the slammer, and I won’t feel bad about it. 

Right now, under many existing state and local laws, there are far too many gaps. In Jersey, animal abandonment is just a misdemeanor, punishable by up to 6 months. People exploit those gaps. They dump animals on the side of highways, they move them across state lines, and they think they can get away with it. Not anymore.

Second, I’ve also introduced the bipartisan FBI Animal Cruelty Taskforce Act, with Nicole Malliotakis from New York.  This bill creates a dedicated task force inside the FBI focused specifically on animal cruelty.  The team will investigate abuse cases, build prosecutions, coordinate with local law enforcement, and make sure nothing slips through the cracks.

Right now, far too often, these cases fall apart because federal, state, and local agencies aren’t connected, or because the resources just aren’t there.  This fixes that.

Third, I’m sending a letter to the Department of Justice and the new Attorney General, making it clear that combating animal cruelty, abandonment, and endangerment needs to be a priority.  Once confirmed, the new AG should implement the FBI Animal Cruelty Taskforce and ensure that the DOJ has a team of prosecutors and FBI agents that can take down animal abusers. 

Finally, let me just say that today’s announcement builds on progress we’ve made since I’ve been in Congress.  

I proudly helped lead the PACT Act, which made extreme animal cruelty a federal crime, with penalties of up to seven years in prison.  That was signed into law in 2019. It marked a big step forward, closing some major gaps in federal law — especially for cases that cross state lines.

I’m also a proud member of the Animal Protection Caucus, the Dog Lovers Caucus, and the Congressional Working Dog Caucus. I also co-chair the Law Enforcement Caucus.

Through these groups, we’ve pushed real legislation.

And, I’ve fought for Jersey families when it comes to the cost of caring for their pets, including pushing back against unreasonable pet insurance rate hikes, so it’s easier for families to keep their pets cared for and healthy.

I’m proud to have a lifetime perfect score — a 100/100 — from the Humane Society, because this isn’t a one-off issue for me. This is something I’ve consistently fought for, and are here fighting for again today.

But we’re not done, because as long as there are stories like the JetBlue in Vegas or the ones we saw in Sussex just last month. We’ve got more work to do. And, it can’t just be during Animal Cruelty Prevention Month.  

In Jersey, we don’t tolerate this sick behavior. We fight back. You hurt an animal, there will be real consequences. Not just some slap on the wrist or a small fine.

I hear it all the time from families right here in Jersey. We love our pets. Families want to know they’re protected. And that’s what today is all about. 

We’ll keep making sure that all animals are treated with the care, the dignity, and the basic decency they deserve. There is nothing red or blue about protecting our pets. 

Here in the greatest country in the world — and especially here in New Jersey — if we continue to work together, I know that our best days will always be ahead of us.

Thank you, God bless you, your families, your pets, and the United States of America.

###