Purpose: This bill amends the Animal Welfare Act to make dog fighting a felony nationwide, prohibit possession of dogs for fighting, and prohibit being a spectator at a dogfight.
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Status: Referred to Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
Action: SUPPORT. Please contact your two U.S. Senators and urge them to support S. 1880. Ask your Senators to help protect dogs from being used as participants in the vicious and inhumane “sport” of contest fighting. Although dog fighting is banned by current law in all 50 states, in some states the laws need to be strengthened. Some of them allow the possession of dogs for fighting or allow attendance at dog fights. Because gambling fuels dog fighting, it is imperative to crack down on the spectators and individuals who participate in dog fighting.
Talking Points for your letter:
- S. 1880 will authorize felony-level jail time for dog fighting violations nationwide.
- Dogs used in these events often die of blood loss, shock, dehydration, exhaustion, or infection hours or even days after the fight.
- Some owners train their dogs for fights using smaller animals such as cats, rabbits, or small dogs. These “bait” animals are often stolen pets or animals obtained through “free to good home” advertisements.
- Dogs are killed in brutal ways if they fail to perform to the “standards” of those who use them for fighting.
- Dog fighting is not a sport; it is organized crime. Illegal gambling is the norm at dog fights. The animal owners and spectators wager thousands of dollars on their favorites. Firearms and other weapons have been found at dog fights due to the large amounts of cash present. In addition, illegal drugs are often sold and used at dog fights.
- The presence of fighting dogs in a community increases the risk of attacks not only on other animals but also on people. Children are especially at risk, because their small size may cause a fighting dog to perceive a child as another animal.