For the third time, U.S. Rep. Dave Joyce, a Republican whose district includes all of Trumbull County, introduced legislation to establish an animal cruelty crimes section at the U.S. Department of Justice to better protect animals.

“As a lifelong pet owner who considers our dog, Sam, part of the family, I am devastated by the prevalence of animal cruelty in our communities,” said Joyce, R-Bainbridge. “We must hold these criminals who commit these crimes of animal cruelty accountable and ensure our beloved pets are protected to the fullest extent.”

Joyce said his bipartisan Animal Cruelty Enforcement Act — with two Democratic and one Republican cosponsors of the bill — will improve “the federal government’s ability to crack down on animal cruelty and hold perpetrators accountable in a timely, efficient manner.”

Joyce and the other cosponsors introduced the bill twice before without it receiving a single committee hearing.

It was first introduced Feb. 11, 2021, and sent to the House Judiciary Committee and then referred April 23, 2021, to the committee’s Subcommittee on Antitrust, Commercial and Administrative Law. It was reintroduced July 2, 2024, and referred to the House Judiciary Committee.

Each state has laws in place prohibiting animal cruelty, but the DOJ enforcement of federal laws continues to experience lengthy delays with many federal crimes going unprosecuted, according to Joyce’s office.

A dedicated DOJ division would facilitate stronger enforcement of animal cruelty laws by providing specialized knowledge and a streamlined process for handling these offenses, Joyce’s office stated.

Studies show there is a close link between animal cruelty and violence towards people, according to Joyce’s office. By bringing charges against those who commit animal cruelty crimes, there is a better chance of preventing those with a propensity for violence from further harming animals or turning that violence against people, according to Joyce’s office.

The bill calls for the DOJ “to vigorously pursue investigations and prosecutions” of federal laws prohibiting animal cruelty and for the DOJ to coordinate with other federal agencies.

Wayne Pacelle, president of Animal Wellness Action and the Center for a Humane Economy and a supporter of the bill, said: “Without enforcement, our laws are just aspirations and criminals ignore them and charge ahead with their cruelty and chaos. Crimes of malice towards animals are predictors of violence toward humans so we are making everyone safer in our communities by robustly enforcing these laws.”