01/26/2026
Protecting Animals Against Threat (California – SB 221)
Effective January 1, 2026, California has expanded its legal protections for victims of domestic abuse and stalking through the implementation of Senate Bill 221. This legislation significantly broadens the definition of a “credible threat” within the state’s penal code to explicitly include threats made against a victim’s pet, service animal, emotional support animal, or horse.
Previously, state law contained a loophole: while threatening a family member contributed to a stalking charge, threatening to harm or kill a beloved pet did not always carry the same legal weight in establishing a pattern of harassment. This gap left many victims vulnerable, as abusers frequently weaponize the emotional bond between humans and their animals to maintain control. Senator Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh, the author of the bill, emphasized the necessity of this change, stating, “SB 221 recognizes that stalkers often target what victims love most, their pets, to use as a weapon of intimidation.”
The new law aligns California’s statutes with federal anti-stalking laws, acknowledging the well-documented link between animal abuse and interpersonal violence. According to data cited during the bill’s progression, a significant portion of stalking cases involve threats to family pets as a means to instill fear without directly threatening the human victim. By legally recognizing these threats as criminal stalking behavior, the state ensures that law enforcement can intervene earlier in high-conflict situations, providing a critical layer of safety for both human survivors and their animal companions.