WASHINGTON—Today, The
HSUS called on Congress to work quickly to pass new federal
legislation introduced today to strengthen the federal law against
animal fighting. The bill, introduced by Rep. Robert Andrews (D-NJ),
along with Representatives Roscoe Bartlett (R-MD), Earl Blumenauer
(D-OR), Ben Gilman (R-NY), Christopher Smith (R-NJ), and Tom
Tancredo (R-CO), would amend the Animal Welfare Act to authorize
felony-level jail time for violations of the federal animal fighting
law. It would also ban the interstate shipment of sharp metal
implements – knives and gaffs - designed specifically to be used in
cockfights and strengthen provisions dealing with seizure and
disposition of fighting animals.
Earlier this year, Congress passed legislation as part of the
farm bill (P.L. 107-171) to ban any interstate shipment of fighting
birds or export of fighting animals (interstate shipment of fighting
dogs was already prohibited). It also increased fines for any
violation of this section of the Animal Welfare Act, raising the
maximum fine to $15,000.
“Dogfighting and cockfighting are gruesome and barbaric
activities that should receive no protection under the law,” states
Wayne Pacelle, a senior vice president of The HSUS. “This
legislation will put real teeth into the federal animal fighting
law, and, if enacted, will go a long way toward wiping out these
dreadful industries.”
According to The HSUS, there are 11 underground dogfighting
magazines, three above-ground national cockfighting magazines, and a
wide range of Web sites that promote the practices. Dogfighting is
illegal in 50 states, and it is a felony in 46. Cockfighting is
illegal in 47 states, and it is a felony in 26 states. Cockfighting
is legal only in Louisiana, Oklahoma, and parts of New Mexico.
“We are very grateful to Representative Andrews for leading this
new phase of the effort to stamp out dogfighting and cockfighting,”
states Pacelle. “The prohibitions in federal law against animal
fighting are now clear and unmistakable, but the penalty provisions
need to be strengthened, and this legislation achieves that
purpose.”
“It is fitting and appropriate that the federal government treat
dogfighting and cockfighting as felony offenses,” states Rep. Rob
Andrews. “It is well know that these forms of animal cruelty are
often associated with drug traffic, illegal firearms possession,
violence to people, and illegal gambling.”
Both the House and the Senate had approved felony-level jail time
for animal fighting, but that provision was stripped by farm bill
conferees, even though the conferees were charged only with
addressing matters where the House and Senate were in disagreement.
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| Wayne Pacelle: (202) 778-6112
Karen Allanach: (301)
548-7778 | | |
