Sponsored by Rep. Mark Green (R-WI), this bill increases penalties to a felony level for the interstate traffic in animals for dog fighting, cockfighting, and hog-dog fights and the barbaric weapons used in cockfights.
We petition you to support Animal Fighting Prohibition Enforcement Act (H.R. 817) and do all you can to get this important legislation enacted early in the 109th Congress.
Sponsored by Rep. Mark Green (R-WI), this bill increases penalties to a felony level for the interstate traffic in animals for dog fighting, cockfighting, and hog-dog fights and the barbaric weapons used in cockfights.
Current law provides only misdemeanor penalties, which are too weak to provide a meaningful deterrent. This bill will establish felony penalties to help put an end to inhumane animal fighting. We anticipate your support.
Illegal animal fighting is a blood-sport in which animals are
specifically bred and trained to fight each other within an enclosed
pit or ring, for the benefit of individuals who place bets on the
animal they believe will win. The fights are extremely brutal, with
animals often fighting to the death.
In addition to the extremely violent nature of the animal cruelty
involved, illegal animal fighting events almost always include other
criminal activity, such as gambling, drugs, prostitution and illegal
firearms. (Large amounts of money exchange hands during these gambling
events, and where there is money, there are guns and other weapons
present.)
Additionally, it is quite common for children to be used during
these events, often as runners for the betting process. This brings up
the obvious issue of exposing children to illegal activities, and it
also contributes to their de-sensitivity to violence as they are
exposed to these brutal and bloody scenes of animals ripping each other
to pieces for money. Quite often, during a dog or cockfighting bust,
these young runners are overlooked during the questioning process -
which is part of what makes them desirable to use from an illegal
animal fighter's standpoint.
We petition you to support Animal Fighting Prohibition Enforcement Act (H.R. 817) and do all you can to get this important legislation enacted early in the 109th Congress.
