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Legislation


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	Legislation is an effective weapon in the battle against animal fighting and cruelty.

Victories come more slowly with legislation than they do in individual cases, but a well-written law can affect thousands of animals at once. Working behind the scenes, the Animal Cruelty and Fighting Campaign brings your voice—and our expertise—to the halls of Congress and state legislatures nationwide to strike down cruelty.

In 2007 and 2008, we saw a number of legislative victories, most notably the passage of the federal Animal Fighting Prohibition Enforcement Act, a momentous victory against illegal animal fighting. We also saw New Mexico and Louisiana become the 49th and 50th states to ban cockfighting, respectively, while Hawaii, Utah and Alaska passed felony animal cruelty laws. Meanwhile, Georgia, Idaho and Wyoming passed felony dogfighting laws, and Virginia passed a felony cockfighting law.

2009 promises to be equally successful, as members of the 111th Congress continue to consider legislation to further increase the penalties against dogfighting. Also in 2009, animal cruelty and/or animal fighting bills will be under consideration in:

Alabama — felony cockfighting bill*: died
Alaska — felony animal cruelty bill* (first offense): legislature adjourned; bill held over
Arkansas — felony animal cruelty bill* and felony cockfighting bill: signed into law
Georgia — felony cockfighting bill: legilslature adjourned; bill held over
Idaho — felony animal cruelty bill*
Illinois — felony animal fighting spectator bill: awaiting governor's signature into law
Indiana — felony animal fighting spectator bill and a bill to enhance the felony animal cruelty law: signed into law
Iowa — pet protection order bill
Kansas — felony cockfighting bill: signed into law
Mississippi — felony animal cruelty bill*: died and felony cockfighting bill: died
Missouri — felony animal fighting spectator bill and forfeiture of fighting dogs bill: died
Montana — abandonment and/or starvation of horses bill
Nebraska — pet protection order bill: died; animal abuse reporting bill: held over; and bill to strengthen animal fighting laws: held over
New Hampshire — bill to enhance animal cruelty law
New Jersey — pet protection order bill, bill to enhance animal cruelty law, and animal fighting bill
Oregon — felony cockfighting spectator bill and horse abandonment bill: signed into law
Rhode Island — bill to enhance animal cruelty law
South Carolina — cockfighting bill* and pet protection order bill: died
South Dakota — felony animal cruelty bill*: failed
Tennessee — felony cockfighting bill*: legislature adjourned; bill held over

*The HSUS Animal Cruelty and Fighting campaign considers these bills a special legislative priority.

Updated June 16, 2009.

See the Video

Fighting Issues, not Animals

Ranking of State Cockfighting Laws

Cockfighting State Laws Sept 09

Ranking of State Dogfighting Laws

State Dogfighting Laws

New Mexico Cockfighting Raids Make History