Legislative Action to Stop Hog-Dog Fighting

©2005	Inside Edition

December 28, 2005

The exposure of hog-dog fighting on television shows like Inside Edition has caught the attention of the American public in a dramatic way.  Most Americans are horrified to learn that such a barbaric form of animal cruelty exists in this day and age—and that it's still legal in most states. The tremendous public outcry has prompted legislators at the state and federal level to take action to stop hog-dog fighting.

In 2005, members of Congress introduced the federal Animal Fighting Prohibition Enforcement Act, a bill that will create felony-level penalties for those caught trafficking in fighting animals across state lines. The bill would also apply to interstate trade in implements used in organized animal fights. The Animal Fighting Prohibition Enforcement Prohibition Act is a crucial component in the overall battle against organized animal fighting rings, which have connections throughout the entire country.

The U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passed the Animal Fighting Prohibition Enforcement Act in April, but the bill has stalled in the U.S. House of Representatives, yet to be voted upon.

In 2004, Louisiana passed legislation specifically banning hog-dog fighting along with dogfighting. In 2005, similar legislation making hog-dog fights illegal was introduced in Alabama, Mississippi, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Arizona—all states in which hog-dog fighting is known to thrive. Although none of these bills passed in the 2005 legislative session, they will be re-introduced in the 2006 legislative session.

What You Can Do

1. Citizens of every state can contact their federal (not state) Representative and ask that she or he support H.R. 817, the federal Animal Fighting Prohibition Enforcement Act. If you do not know who represents you in Congress, click here for our legislative lookup tool. Click here to see if your Representative has already signed on in support of H.R. 817.

2. If you live in Alabama: Legislation banning hog-dog fighting was considered in 2005, and it will be re-introduced in the 2006 legislative session. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Thomas Jackson, is H.B. 86. Check here for more information and updates. 

Alabamans wishing to end hog-dog fighting in the state can contact their state Senator and state Representative in support of the Senate and the House bill respectively. Look up names and contact information for your legislators here.

3. If you live in Mississippi: Legislation banning hog-dog fighting was considered in 2005, and it will be re-introduced in the 2006 legislative session. Although bill numbers have not yet been assigned to the Mississippi hog-dog legislation, check here for updates.  We will update bill numbers and bill status frequently throughout the legislative session. 

Once bill numbers are assigned, Mississippians wishing to end hog-dog fighting in the state can contact their state Senator and state Representative in support of the Senate and the House bill respectively. Look up names and contact information for your legislators here.

4. If you live in South Carolina: In 2005, Senator Larry Grooms introduced S. 229, a bill to ban hog-dog fighting. Although this bill failed to pass, it will be carried over to the 2006 legislative session for consideration. Contact your state Senator and your state Representative in support of S. 229. To look up names and contact information for your state legislators, click here. Click here for regular updates on S. 229 and other animal protection legislation in South Carolina. 

5. If you live in Tennessee:  S.B. 1522, legislation to ban hog-dog fighting in the state, sponsored by Senator Curtis Person, passed the Senate in 2005. Representative Brian Kelsey introduced the House version of the bill, H.B. 2163, which will need to pass the state House during the 2006 session. Please contact your state Representative and urge him or her to support H.B. 2163. To look up names and contact information for your state legislators, click here. Click here for regular updates on S.B. 1522 and H.B. 2163.

6. If you live in Arizona: Legislation banning hog-dog fighting was considered in 2005, and it will be re-introduced in the 2006 legislative session. Although bill numbers have not yet been assigned to the Arizona hog-dog legislation, check here for updates. We will update bill numbers and bill status frequently throughout the legislative session. 

Once bill numbers are assigned, Arizonans wishing to end hog-dog fighting in the state can contact their state Senator and state Representative in support of the Senate and the House bill respectively. Look up names and contact information for your legislators here.

See the Video

Hog Dog Rodeo

Related Links

Dogfighting Fact Sheet