Animal Advocacy Groups Praise Idaho Government for Taking a Bite Out of Dogfighting

February 25, 2008

BOISE, Idaho — Two animal protection organizations, The Humane Society of the United States and Idaho Humane Society, applaud governor Butch Otter and the state's legislature for enacting a law that now makes engaging in the act of dogfighting and possessing dogs for fighting a felony. This makes Idaho the 49th state to designate felony-level penalties for dogfighting. S.B. 1260 was championed by Sen. Brad Little in the Senate and supported by Rep. Darrell Bolz in the House of Representatives.

The two organizations also thanked the Idaho Sheriff's and Prosecutor's Association for their support of this legislative effort.

"Dogfighting is a cruel and reprehensible activity," said David Pauli, director of the Northern Rockies regional office for The Humane Society of the United States. "We are excited to see that local law enforcement and prosecutors now have the necessary tools to combat the sick, sadistic misdeeds involved in dogfighting."

The HSUS recently ranked the 50 states and the District of Columbia on the strength of their laws to combat dogfighting. As Idaho is now the 49th state to enact felony level penalties for dogfighting, The HSUS is hopeful that Wyoming will follow Idaho's lead. The new law also makes being a spectator at a dogfight a misdemeanor. Twenty-eight states are considering animal fighting legislation in 2008 and Idaho is the first state to enact an upgraded law this year.

"This felony dogfighting statute now accurately reflects the common opinion of our citizens: We abhor dog fighting, and we absolutely refuse to allow Idaho to exist as a safe-haven for the deviant and dangerous subculture that engages in this cruel blood sport," said Jeff Rosenthal, D.V.M., executive director of the Idaho Humane Society.  

Dogfighting Facts:

• Dogfighting is a highly-organized criminal industry; more than 250,000 dogs are placed in dogfighting pits each year.
• About 40,000 people are involved in organized dogfighting and an additional 100,000 are street-level fighters.
• A three-year study released by the Chicago Police Department showed that 65 percent of the people arrested for animal abuse crimes — including dogfighting — were also arrested for violent crimes against people.

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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.