House votes to ban slaughter of dogs and cats for food

The House voted unanimously on Wednesday to ban people from slaughtering dogs or cats for food, or from being involved in any transaction related to dog or cat meat.

The House approved the Dog and Cat Meat Trade Prohibition Act, which was sponsored by Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Fla. Under the bill, people could be fined up to $5,000 for each violation.

"While this practice is completely unacceptable in the United States, only four states explicitly ban it," Rep. Ralph Abraham, R-La., said on the House floor.

"We treat our pets as members of the family," added Rep. Stacey Plaskett, D-V.I., who noted that 68 percent of Americans have a pet. "That's why I'm surprised to learn that we don't already have a law on the books that prevents the killing of dogs and cats for their meat."

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