
Penalties Increased for Spectators of Animal Fights
Throughout the country, if you stage or participate in an animal fight, you go to jail. And in 49 out of 50 states, it is a crime to attend a dogfight or a cockfight (I have no idea what’s going on with Montana.) However, the penalty against attending these brutal, deadly – and illegal – events is about to go way up.
In legislation already approved by the U.S. Senate as part of a farm bill, the penalty for attendance at a dog or cockfight will be as high as a fine of $100,000 and a year in jail. That goes up to $250,000 and a tripled jail sentence if a child is brought along.
The Los Angeles Times has more details:
A similar measure — the Animal Fighting Spectator Prohibition Act — is pending in the House, where it is backed by nearly 200 lawmakers from both parties.
The legislation would help ensure that animal-fight organizers “cannot escape justice by disappearing into the crowd attending the event,” the bill’s chief sponsors, Reps. Tom Marino (R-Pa.) and Betty Sutton (D-Ohio), said in a letter to colleagues.
In Los Angeles County, sheriff’s deputies breaking up a backyard cockfight last year found spectators as young as 13 and 14 along with about 45 live fighting birds and 11 dead ones.
I think this kind of penalty is long overdue, but at the same time at least we can celebrate the progress toward an end to animal cruelty. What’s your take on this increase in penalty? Share in the comments below.
Photo credit: By Mdk572 (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
Tags: animal, animalfights, dog, healthcare, petcare
Penalties Increased for Spectators of Animal Fights http://t.co/qNU444qw via @sergeantspet
This is VERY good news. Thank you for sharing!
I think the increase in penalty is great. I agree with it 100 percent, especially the $250,000 if a child is brought along. It’s just terrible to even think about! What does that say to a 13 or 14 year old child!?
Penalties Increased for Spectators of Animal Fights http://t.co/Z2eXQhKk via @twitter_username
Penalties Increased for Spectators of Animal Fights http://t.co/Z2eXQhKk via @sergeantspet #pets #dogs #PHCBlogs
I agree with the increase. Wish it could even be more! Animal fighting and anything associated with it is wrong on so many levels!
That’s awesome keep up the good work!
This is awesome! Wish it could be a manditory jail time instead of an “up to” sentence because some places still think animal abuse should only be a $5 fine …. but this is a great start.
It is about time!
This is a horrible crime against innocent animals. Show NO mercy against animal abusers.
Wow!!! Great news am soo happy.
PUERTO RICO!!!! I hate when visiting over there..if u go to d beach…. Alll uc is so many dogs suffering from: HUNGER,HEAT,FLIES,THIRSTY & in BAD CONDITIONS!!!! PPL walk & c these dogs & just keep walking like they dont even seem to b there…SHAME SHAME 2 PUERTO RICO IN THIS KIND OF SITUATION….Y LET THESE ANIMALS ROME THE STREETS & BEACHES in such a horrible cindition.. VERY SAD!!! They need to also enforce this LAW in PUERTO RICO & other places where they aloud these cruelty situations 2 happen!!!! Sometimes out of so many ppl living in puerto rico….u may find Some who may care…BUT these poor animals r just laying around just waiting to die..I believe they may not even have animal control over there..d situation there is tht bad when it comes down to dogs…thts cruelty to animals :((((
Our latest blog post Penalties Increased for Spectators of Animal Fights http://t.co/CBiTRcej
KUDOS to the individuals who fought to make this happen. Thank you!
Agree -increase the penalty.
great thanks to share
amen
100% in the penalty!!! Send spectators straight to jail , then prison, no bond or bail!!! Let them feel the pain & suffering, they cause the animals!!!
http://www.facebook.com/Healthhonest
Penalties Increased for Spectators of Animal Fights http://t.co/Z2eXQhKk via @sergeantspet #pets #dogs…
i hope there is no animals in montana,i thought that would be a nice place to visit but…..
RT @sergeantspet: Penalties Increased for Spectators of Animal Fights http://t.co/Z2eXQhKk via @sergeantspet #pet #dog #PHCBlogs
The penalities could never be high enough. And I hope montana pulls its head out of the sand and joins the Human race.
“@sergeantspet:Penalties Increased 4 Spectators of Animal Fights http://t.co/QH1SqXWe #pet #dog #PHCBlogs” U sicken/kill pets. Both r horrid
Hooray!
awesome!and far too long in the making.