The HSUS Praises Virginia Legislature for Unanimously Passing Strong Animal Fighting Bill

March 3, 2008

The HSUS Urges Gov. Kaine to Sign H.B. 656 Into Law

RICHMOND, Va. — The Humane Society of the United States praised the Virginia Senate for passing legislation that will make all organized animal fighting activities a felony. The Senate has taken the last step in the process of establishing what The HSUS considers one of the nation's most effective laws to eradicate cockfighting and dogfighting.

H.B. 656 was introduced by House Majority Leader H. Morgan Griffith (R-Salem) and passed on Feb. 12 by a vote of 93 to 2. Today, the State Senate passed the same bill by a vote of 40 to 0. A companion bill to H.B. 656, S.B. 592, was introduced by Sen. Tommy Norment (R-Williamsburg) and passed in the Senate on Feb. 2.  

The HSUS commends Rep. Griffith and Sen. Norment for their leadership in this endeavor. Additionally, The HSUS is grateful to Governor Tim Kaine, Attorney General Bob McDonnell and Agriculture and Forestry Secretary Robert Bloxom for their support of this legislative effort.

The bill will toughen Virginia's animal fighting penalties by making organized cockfighting a Class 6 felony, attendance at an organized animal fight a Class 6 felony, and allowing a minor to attend or participate in an animal fight a Class 1 misdemeanor.

Since its inception in 1954, The HSUS has combated to end animal fighting in our nation. However, the secretive nature of these sadistic underground industries had been an obstacle in previous efforts to strengthen Virginia's animal fighting laws. The high-profile Michael Vick dogfighting case provided the impetus necessary to make this latest legislative effort a success.

"Virginia is well on its way to having what we at The HSUS consider to be one of the best animal fighting laws in the country," said John Goodwin, manager of animal fighting issues for The Humane Society of the United States.  

Additionally, the bill will permit searches regarding animal cruelty cases to be continued after sunset without requiring an additional warrant, make it a Class 6 felony to use any device or substance to enhance an animal's ability to fight, provide for streamlining of the forfeiture of animals so that they do not have to be held for years without resolution to the case, and ensure that bond will now have to be posted if an owner is contesting the forfeiture of fighting animals. 

Animal fighting is associated with various social ills such as illegal gambling, organized crime, drug trafficking, illegal guns and homicides. Firearms and other weapons are common at animal fights, primarily due to the large amounts of cash present. A raid last year in Mecklenburg County resulted in the arrest of MS13 and Mexican Mafia members by the Department of Homeland Security. Illegal gambling, narcotics and children as young as the age of 4 were present at the pit.

Organizations backing this legislative effort include the following:

• The Humane Society of the United States
• Richmond Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
• Virginia Federation of Humane Societies
• Virginia Animal Fighting Task Force
• Virginia Animal Control Association
• Richmond Animal Care & Control
• Virginia Anti-Dogfighting Coalition
• Virginia Poultry Federation
• Virginia Sheriffs' Association
• Delmarva Poultry Industry Inc.
• Virginia Association of Commonwealth's Attorneys
• Twenty local and county law enforcement agencies throughout the state

 For more information on animal fighting, visit humanesociety.org/animalfighting.

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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.