Child and Animal Abuse Detection and Reporting Act

This bill would add animal abuse data to the national clearinghouse that tracks child abuse and neglect. It tells the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to collect and share information on cases where animal abuse is related to child abuse. It uses a broad definition of animal abuse, including any act or failure to act that causes undue pain, suffering, or death to an animal—even if it doesn’t break a state or local law.

By linking these issues, the goal is to help child protection workers, researchers, and communities spot warning signs earlier and improve safety for children and animals.

• Who is affected: Families, child welfare agencies, researchers, and communities that use child abuse data.
• What changes: The national child abuse information system would also include data on related animal abuse, defined broadly.
• When: The change would take effect if and when the bill becomes law; no specific date is given in the text.