Alabama Neighbor Outlaws Hog Dog Fighting

March 28, 2006

WASHINGTON (March 28, 2006)— The Humane Society of the United States today praised Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour for approving legislation that makes it illegal to fight trained attack dogs with trapped feral pigs, a "blood sport" known as hog dog fighting.  Representative Thomas Jackson (D-68) is sponsoring similar legislation to outlaw hog dog fights in Alabama.  H.B. 86 has passed the House of Representatives and is now pending in the Senate Judiciary committee.

With passage of S.B. 2210, Mississippi becomes the second state to outlaw hog dog fighting. Louisiana banned the practice in 2004.  Similar legislation is also pending in South Carolina.

"We thank Governor Barbour for signing this bill into law and taking a powerful stand against the awful spectacle of pitting animals against one another in fights that end in severe injury or death for the animals involved," said John Goodwin, deputy manager of animal fighting issues for The HSUS.  "We hope the Alabama legislature will now pass Rep. Jackson's bill to stop this horrible cruelty."

Hog dog fighting was first exposed when Mobile NBC affiliate WPMI-TV went undercover at a hog dog fight in Coffeeville, Ala.  The WPMI expose led to charges being filed against fight organizer Johnny Hayes.

Hog dog fighting has been documented in 10 states, mostly in the Southeast. Attorneys General in Florida, Texas and South Carolina have stated they believe the practice violates their states' animal fighting and cruelty laws.

At the federal level, Congress is considering the Animal Fighting Prohibition Enforcement Act of 2005 (H.R. 817 and S. 382), which was approved unanimously by the U.S. Senate in April, and is now pending in the House Judiciary Committee.  The legislation seeks to upgrade penalties for interstate or foreign commerce in dogs, birds, or other animals for fighting purposes, and to create a new crime for interstate transport of cockfighting implements. 

For more information on animal fighting issues, go to www.hsus.org

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The Humane Society of the United States is the nation's largest animal protection organization with more than 9.5 million members and constituents. The HSUS is a mainstream voice for animals, with active programs in companion animals, disaster preparedness and response, wildlife and habitat protection, marine mammals, animals in research, equine protection, and farm animal welfare. The HSUS protects all animals through education, investigation, litigation, legislation, advocacy and field work. The nonprofit organization is based in Washington and has field representatives and offices across the country. On the web at www.hsus.org.