Bipartisan Katko bill aims to improve treatment of seized animals in the criminal justice system

U.S. Rep. John Katko (R-NY) recently introduced a bipartisan bill that would improve transitional care for animals seized from fighting or gambling rings.

The Help Extract Animals from Red Tape (HEART) Act, H.R. 4613, would cut down on the amount of time that animals seized from fighting or gambling cases must spend in shelters and would assign accountability for the cost of care.

“As a former federal prosecutor, I recognize that in cases that involve senseless cruelty to animals, the system unfairly places the financial responsibility of care for abused animals on the American taxpayer,” Katko said. “In central New York, this unjust burden is placed on many of our local shelters and nonprofit organizations who work tirelessly to provide safety, shelter and care for abused animals.”

Under current law, seized animals are treated as evidence by the criminal justice system. Animals are held at temporary shelters pending court action, and lengthy cases often leave animals sheltered for months with taxpayers and nonprofits footing the costs.

The HEART Act would reduce the amount of time the government has to notify interested parties of an animal seizure from 60 days to 30 days. It would also give judges authority to require the cost of animal care to be paid by those seeking ownership of the animals.

“I’m proud to stand alongside these organizations in introducing this legislation, which maintains important due process protections and shifts the cost of care for animals seized under federal animal fighting and gambling statutes from the taxpayer to the individual responsible,” Katko said.

U.S. Rep. Judy Chu (D-CA), who co-sponsored the bill with Katko, said the current system requires local animal shelters to pay for care costs, and it limits their ability to rehabilitate the animals.

“Court proceedings can take over a year, which means the cost of doing the right thing can total millions of dollars,” Chu said. “Additionally, shelters are unable to rehabilitate these animals until the proceedings have completed, which leaves animals stressed and hostile. It’s unjust that taxpayers and local shelters are picking up the tab for the care of these animals. This bill would help remedy that. I am so pleased to be able work bipartisanly with my colleague, Rep. Katko, to help keep animals safe and place responsibility where it belongs.”