Mississippi Passes Law to Combat Hog-Dog Fighting

April 3, 2008

The HSUS Praises Miss. Governor for Signing Bill Into Law

The Humane Society of the United States applauds Mississippi lawmakers for a law outlawing hog-dog fighting. Governor Haley Barbour signed the law, which passed the state legislature with strong bipartisan support on Monday. This lesser-known variant of animal fighting consists of setting trained attack dogs loose on trapped feral pigs to tear them to shreds in a timed contest. The pigs are often stripped of their tusks, leaving them defenseless.

Hog-dog fighting had previously been banned in 2006, but the prohibition was set to expire this year. The legislature has continued the ban through 2012.

"We applaud Mississippi lawmakers for rightly continuing the prohibition on  hog-dog fighting, a vicious blood sport that has plenty of animal cruelty, but no socially redeemable value," said John Goodwin, manager of animal fighting issues for The HSUS.

H.B. 947 was sponsored by Rep. Joseph L. Warren, D-Mount Olive.

Under the new law, those guilty of hog-dog fighting face a maximum fine of $1,000 and/or a maximum imprisonment of six months.

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The Humane Society of the United States 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.