Bills
| 3.23.22

Should the Dog & Cat Meat Trade be Prohibited? (H.R. 6720)

Do you support or oppose this bill?

What is H.R. 6720?

(Updated March 5, 2022)

This bill would prohibit the slaughter of dogs and cats for human consumption and the trade of dog or cat meat under penalty of a fine of up to $5,000 for each violation. State and local governments would still be able to enact their own animal welfare laws or regulations that are more stringent than the federal standard. An exception to the law would be made for Indian tribes in religious ceremonies.

Argument in favor

Federal law should prohibit the slaughter of dogs and cats for human consumption, and states should be able to implement more stringent animal welfare laws than the federal standard.

Argument opposed

The slaughter of dogs and cats for human consumption isn’t common in the U.S., so unless it becomes a problem there’s no need for federal, state, or local laws on the subject.

Impact

Dogs and cats; people who would slaughter dogs and cats for human consumption; Indian tribes; state and local governments; and the federal government.

Cost of H.R. 6720

A CBO cost estimate is unavailable.

Additional Info

In-Depth: Reps. Vern Buchanan (R-FL) and Alcee Hastings (D-FL) introduced this bill to ban the slaughter of dogs and cats for human consumption, as there are no laws currently prohibiting the practice, and wrote in a joint letter:

“While the slaughter of dogs and cats for consumption is not commonplace in the United States, it is not explicitly prohibited in federal law. Unbelievably, it is still legal to slaughter dogs and cats for the purpose of human consumption in 44 states across the country. This important legislation will prohibit the slaughter and trade of dogs and cats for human consumption, and provide penalties to ensure that individuals involved in the dog or cat meat trade are held accountable. Dogs and cats play a vital role in the collective experience of Americans and deserve protection and compassion.”

This legislation has the support of eight bipartisan cosponsors, including five Democrats and three Republicans.


Media:

Summary by Eric Revell

(Photo Credit: iStock.com / FatCamera)