The passage earlier this year of the federal anti-cockfighting bill was an
important step in stemming the spate of illegal, underground cockfighting
rings that thrive across the country. While that bill makes the interstate
transport of fighting animals illegal, a new federal bill takes this one
step further. S. 3118, introduced in the Senate on Wednesday (10/16) by
Senators John Ensign (R-NV), Wayne Allard (R-CO), and Maria Cantwell
(D-WA), is a companion bill to H.R. 5268, introduced in the House in
August by Reps. Robert Andrews (D-NJ) and Roscoe Bartlett (R-MD). S. 3118
and H.R. 5268 will amend the Animal Welfare Act to:
- authorize felony-level jail time (up to 2 years) for violations of
federal animal fighting law; - prohibit the interstate shipment of cockfighting implements, such as
razor-sharp knives or gaffs; and - update language regarding the seizure and disposition of fighting
animals. The felony provision is especially important, because
prosecutors are often unmotivated to pursue prosecution of misdemeanor
offenses. Since 1976, the federal government has pursued only three
dogfighting and no cockfighting cases, despite countless tips from
informants and requests to assist with state and local prosecutions.
WHAT YOU CAN DO:
Contact your two U.S. Senators and ask them to join as cosponsors of S.
3118. If you have not already done so, ask your U.S. Representative to
likewise cosponsor H.R. 5268. Let them know that animal fighting is a
barbaric activity that is unacceptable in a civilized society. All federal
legislators can be reached through the Congressional switchboard
(202-224-3121), and you can identify their names at www.Congress.org or by
calling The HSUS at 202-955-3666.
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