The U.S. Senate has passed a bill making certain types of animal cruelty a federal felony.

It's called the Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture Act, or PACT.

The bipartisan bill was passed Tuesday afternoon and will now be sent to President Donald Trump's desk for his signature.

"It’s going to be the voice for animals that don't have one," said North Tonawanda Dog Patrol Officer Eric Salisbury.

You might remember Sam Sam, now known as Sophie.

"She's definitely come a long ways. Very difficult to handle cases like that," said Salisbury. 

Back in May, Salisbury found Sam Sam severely malnourished, weighing about 15 pounds. She had been kept in a cage for days.

"It was pretty horrifying how she looked in May. We are glad she's doing fine now. I don't know why they would ever abuse her, lock her away and not feed her. She's no issues," explained Maureen and Jon Stelianou, Sophie's new owners.

Sophie, now healthy at 50 pounds, is happy and loved. However, before the judge sentenced Sophie’s previous owners Jospeh Barwick and Dorthy Adama to jail time; the Stelianous weren’t sure if Sophie would get the justice she deserved.

"Extremely nervous because we had heard they might just get a slap on the wrist," said John Stelianou.

The PACT Act would make it a federal crime for "any person to intentionally engage in animal crushing,” which is defined as extreme torture.

"The laws were part of the problem; that it was frustrating because people were getting away with it," Salisbury said. 

While this wouldn't have applied in Sophie's case, animal rights advocates say it's a major step in the right direction to hold abusers accountable.

"We've had one that came in that lost a leg because someone threw it out of a car window on a highway," remembered Nancy Glynn, a volunteer at Tabby Town.

Tabby Town is a cat adoption center in Blasdell. They also work with rescue groups from around the area and sometimes take in surrenders.

Glynn hopes this bill will help stop animal abuse.

"You really don't understand what goes on with these poor animals until you work in an environment like this," she said.

The Stelianous hope the president signs the bill to send a wakeup call, so that a story, like Sophie’s, is one of a kind. 

"A lot of people regard these animals as property — but no, this is family," they said.