The Animal Rescue League of Iowa and The Humane Society of the United States are calling on Gov. Chet Culver to sign legislation upgrading the state's penalties for being a spectator at dogfight. The bills, S.F. 2203 by Sen. Joe Seng, D-Davenport, and H.F. 2381 by Rep. Jim Lykam, D-Davenport, are headed to Gov. Chet Culver for his signature.
"Dogfighting is a despicable and indefensible practice," said Michael Markarian, executive vice president of The Humane Society of the United States. "Spectators finance dogfights through admission fees and gambling, and Iowa's law has been deficient in handling these people who cheer and enable this cruelty. We are grateful to state lawmakers for cracking down on the entire cast of characters involved in dogfighting."
While dogfighting and the possession of fighting dogs are both felony offenses in Iowa, it is currently only a misdemeanor to be a spectator at a dogfight. The people who fuel this criminal industry by attending dogfights — paying hundreds or thousands of dollars in admission fees and gambling, generating the bulk of the revenue for this illegal enterprise — are currently punished with a fine as low as $500, which is treated as simply a cost of doing business.
The new legislation would make the second offense for attending a dogfight a class D felony, punishable by a fine of up to $7,000 and a prison sentence of up to five years. The original bill would have made it a felony on the first offense, but was amended in the House.
"Animal fighting is cruel and inhumane, and should be punished with penalties that provide an adequate deterrent," said Sen. Seng. "We are letting spectators know that we are taking this crime seriously and we will be cracking down on this illegal activity."
Like any underground crime, dogfighting only thrives because people spend money on it. Spectators don't stumble across dogfights accidentally. They seek out the criminal activity at secret locations, and they often need passwords to enter. They provide cover for dogfighters who blend into crowds at the first sign of a police raid, and hinder law enforcement efforts because every violator at the bust claims to be there as a spectator.
"I am glad that our legislature has realized the true criminal nature of animal fighting. In addition to the obvious animal cruelty, dogfighting and cockfighting are often accompanied by other crimes, such as illegal gambling, drug traffic, and acts of human violence," said Rep. Lykam. "This bill is a great step forward for the animals and people of Iowa."
In organized dogfights, two dogs, usually pit bulls, are forced into a small arena to fight for the entertainment and gambling of spectators. The animals are put through a sadistic training regimen, and pumped full of stimulants to heighten their aggression. During the fights, they suffer broken bones, deep puncture wounds and other serious injuries. Losing dogs are said to lack "gameness," and are shot, electrocuted, hanged or abandoned to die slowly from their injuries.
"In addition to animal cruelty, other crimes involving drugs, guns and human-on-human violence are integral elements of these vicious gatherings," said Tom Colvin, executive director of the Animal Rescue League of Iowa. "The fights have become more common in border areas because people come to Iowa from neighboring states like Nebraska, where being a spectator at a dogfight is already a felony offense."
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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.
