Currently, state legislature is responsible for animal cruelty laws. I would like to see the federal government step in and make animal cruelty and neglect a felony. There isn't a valid reason not to. Cruelty is cruelty.
My dogs are like my children. Can you imagine your children being beaten and abused, and then watch the abuser get off with the equivalent of a slap on the wrist with a ruler?
"71% of pet-owning women entering women’s shelters reported that their batterer had injured, maimed, killed or threatened family pets for revenge or to psychologically control victims; 32% reported their children had hurt or killed animals." - http://www.americanhumane.org
Is this something we want to allow in our country?