WASHINGTON - The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) is
calling on the U.S. Senate to pass bi-partisan legislation
introduced today to strengthen the federal law against animal
fighting by authorizing felony-level jail time for violations
of the federal animal fighting law.
In addition to strengthening penalties, the bill, introduced
by Senators John Ensign (R-NV) Wayne Allard (R-CO) and Maria
Cantwell (D-WA), would also ban the interstate shipment of
sharp metal implements - knives and gaffs - designed
specifically to be used in cockfights. Additionally, the bill
strengthens provisions dealing with seizure and disposition of
fighting animals. A companion version is expected to be
introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Last year, Congress included a provision on the Farm bill to
ban any interstate shipment or exports of fighting birds or
dogs, closing a loophole in the Animal Welfare Act in place
since 1976 that had allowed the export of fighting birds and
dogs and the shipment of fighting birds to states that still
allow the activity. Though the House and Senate passed
identical provisions to close the loophole and establish
felony-level penalties for violations of the law, conferees to
the Farm bill weakened the penalty provision. They also delayed
implementation of the interstate and export ban until May 2003,
presumably to allow dogfighters and cockfighters time to sell
their remaining fighting dogs and birds.
“This legislation targets the troubling, widespread and
sometimes underground activities of animal fighting,” Senator
Ensign stated. “As a Senator and a veterinarian, I am committed
to ensuring that those who engage in such a barbaric practice
are prosecuted and face stiff penalties. Our civilized society
must strongly condemn animal fighting.”
Senators Ensign and Allard are the only two veterinarians
serving in the U.S. Senate. Senator Allard sponsored the
original animal fighting bill in the last session and
championed the issue in the Senate.
“As a veterinarian, I view animal fighting as an inherently
cruel and inhumane practice. I believe it is time to bring
parity to the laws and give law enforcement greater leverage to
enforce the animal fighting provisions,” said Senator Allard.
For more than two decades, cockfighters exploited the
loophole in the law, claiming that they possessed fighting
birds for the purpose of transporting them to states or nations
that allowed animal fighting. More than 140 law enforcement
agencies supported the passage of last year's animal fighting
legislation as a means of cracking down on illegal dogfighting
and cockfighting.
“Dogfighting and cockfighting are not only cruel and
inhumane practices, but relics of an obsolete blood sport,”
Sen. Cantwell said. “Law enforcement has found a strong
connection between cockfighting and the large-scale manufacture
and distribution of illegal drugs, illegal gambling, firearm
sales, and other forms of violence. We need to end the needless
bloodshed associated with staged animal fights.”
Cockfighting birds are the likely cause of the recent
outbreak of the highly contagious exotic Newcastle disease, a
highly contagious virus that afflicts birds but not people, in
southern California and parts of Arizona and Nevada. The
disease has led to the destruction of more than 3 million
birds, and the state and federal containment and compensation
program has cost taxpayers more than $40 million. The HSUS has
called on the U.S. Department of Agriculture to crack down on
illegal cockfighting as part of their efforts to eradicate
exotic Newcastle disease.
According to The HSUS, there are 11 underground dogfighting
magazines, three above-ground national cockfighting magazines,
and a wide range of web sites that promote the practices.
Dogfighting is illegal in 50 states, and it is a felony in 47.
Cockfighting is illegal in 48 states, and it is a felony in 28
states. Cockfighting is legal only in Louisiana and parts of
New Mexico.
More than a dozen states are considering measures to upgrade
penalties against animal fighting and Wayne Pacelle of The HSUS
says the federal bill is a much needed companion to those
efforts.
“Dogfighting and cockfighting are gruesome and barbaric
activities that should receive no protection under the law,”
stated Pacelle, a senior vice president of The HSUS. “This
legislation will put real teeth into the federal animal
fighting law, and, if enacted, will go a long way toward wiping
out these dreadful industries.”
Several recent cockfighting busts indicate that illegal
cockfighting is flourishing:
• According to WPLG-TV, police in Miami responding to a
report of a shooting on March 7 found 50 fighting roosters,
large amounts of cash and a stadium set up for cockfighting.
Two men were wounded in what police suspect was a robbery
attempt.
• In Abbeville County, S.C. police broke up a cockfight last
weekend, arresting five and issuing more than 60 citations.
According to press reports, many of the people charged live in
Georgia, pointing to the need for tough penalties for violating
the ban on interstate commerce of fighting roosters.
• An eight-month investigation by the Napa County Sheriff's
Department led to a cockfighting bust in Napa Valley, Calif. on
February 22. Police seized over 1,500 birds and made one
arrest. They issued nine citations for misdemeanor
cockfighting.
