Animal Cruelty Bill Has Some Teeth (and Claws)

Last Thursday, I watched history happen as President Bush signed the Animal Fighting Prohibition Enforcement Act (H.R. 137) into law. This marked the final hurdle in a six-year battle by The Humane Society of the United States and our allies to enact meaningful federal penalties for animal fighting.

The law takes effect immediately and should provide an enormous deterrent for the tens of thousands of people involved in this criminal industry. The vast underground enterprise generates abhorrent animal cruelty, drug trafficking, illegal gambling, public corruption, and even violence and murder.

The legislation establishes a felony-level penalty of up to three years of jail and up to a $250,000 fine moving fighting animals or cockfighting implements in interstate or foreign commerce.

Animal fighting crimes are rampant in the United States, with individuals arrested nearly every week under state laws. Dog fighting is illegal in all 50 states and cockfighting is outlawed in every state except Louisiana, although there is mounting pressure in that state to ban the practice. It is fitting and appropriate that we now have a national policy condemning and criminalizing this form of organized animal cruelty.

I am grateful for the President’s support, and also grateful for the steadfast Congressional leadership on this issue. Senators Cantwell, Ensign, Specter Feinstein, and Vitter and Representatives Gallegly, Blumenauer and Bartlett worked tirelessly to pass this important legislation.