Delaware Lawmakers Pass Bill Cracking Down on Animal Fighting Audience

June 17, 2008

The Humane Society of the United States Urges Gov. Minner to Sign H.B. 276 , Making Delaware the 25th State with Felony Penalties for Attending Dogfights 

(June 17, 2008) — The Humane Society of the United States praised the Delaware Senate for today passing a bill that would make it a felony to attend an animal fight, sending the bill to Gov. Ruth Ann Minner for her signature. H.B. 276, which makes being a spectator at an animal fight a Class G felony punishable by up to two years in prison, was sponsored by Rep. Nancy Wagner, R-Dover, in the Delaware House of Representatives and by Sen. Karen Peterson, D-Stanton, in the state Senate.

“Dogfighting and cockfighting are animal cruelty at its worst and those who attend these horrible spectacles are not innocent bystanders,” said Ann Chynoweth, director of The HSUS’s Animal Cruelty and Fighting campaign. “As a Delaware native I am proud that my state has taken such great strides to deter this violent crime that impacts so many animals statewide. We urge the Governor to sign this important legislation into law and crack down on the entire cast of characters involved in dogfighting and cockfighting.” 

Twenty-four other states already have felony penalties for attending dogfights. Spectators of animal fights are willing participants in this crime, and also finance the organized criminal industry by paying thousands of dollars in admission fees and gambling wagers on the fights. In states that lack felony penalties for animal fighting spectators, dogfighters and cockfighters often blend into the crowd when an animal fight is raided. In those situations, animal fighters can claim they were only attending as spectators, thereby avoiding any meaningful punishment and making it difficult for law enforcement agents to differentiate between offenders. The bill targets those attending organized, deliberate animal fights — which are often held in secretive locations with passwords needed to enter — yet protects bystanders who may have inadvertently come across a street fight.

Animal fighting “contests” are abhorrent spectacles in which animals are pitted in bloody duels — often to the death — for human entertainment and gambling. These cruel and illicit encounters are spawning grounds for other criminal activities including drugs and violence, which drag down entire communities. Credible studies show and law enforcement experts agree that people who engage in this kind of violence against animals are likely to also be aggressive toward people.

In November 2007, Rep. Mike Castle, R-Del., joined The HSUS to announce the establishment of a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of an animal fighter.

About Dogfighting:

• Dogfighting is a criminal industry; more than 250,000 dogs are placed in dogfighting pits each year.
• The HSUS estimates that 40,000 people follow organized dogfighting circuits across the U.S. while an additional 100,000 meet on neighborhood streets, alleys and hideaways.
• A Chicago Police Department study showed that 65 percent of people charged with animal abuse crimes — including dogfighting — were also charged with violent crimes against people.

About Cockfighting:

• Tens of thousands of people are involved in cockfighting nationwide.
• Common cockfighting practices include breeding birds for viciousness, drugging them to heighten aggression, and fitting their legs with razor-sharp knives or gaffs resembling ice picks on their legs.
• Law enforcement raids across the country have revealed that cockfights, which are frequently attended by children, often involve gambling and — as a result of the large amount of cash present — firearms and other weapons are also often present.
• Law enforcement officials have documented a strong connection between cockfighting and the distribution of illegal drugs. 
• Breeding and transporting fighting roosters for cockfighting is implicated in the spread of diseases such as Exotic Newcastle Disease, which can decimate the poultry industry.

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The Humane Society of the United State s is the nation's largest animal protection organization — backed by 10.5 million Americans, or one of every 30. For more than a half-century, The HSUS has been fighting for the protection of all animals through advocacy, education, and hands-on programs. Celebrating animals and confronting cruelty — On the Web at humanesociety.org.