FEDERAL BILL INTRODUCED IN NEW CONGRESS - FELONY ANIMAL FIGHTING

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Senators Cantwell, Ensign and Specter Introduce Animal Fighting Legislation

Bill Mirrors House Version Which Has Already Attracted More than 210 Cosponsors in First Week of Congress

WASHINGTON (January 11, 2007) – Today, U.S. Senators Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), John Ensign (R-Nev.) and Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) introduced legislation to strengthen the federal animal fighting law, which will help law enforcement agencies crack down on the gruesome blood sports of dog fighting and cockfighting. Animal fighting often involves other organized criminal activity and is found nationwide among urban and rural communities. Senators Richard Durbin (D-Ill.), David Vitter (R-La.), Wayne Allard (R-Co.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.) and Carl Levin (D-Mich.) are original cosponsors of the bill, the Animal Fighting Prohibition Enforcement Act. Senators Ensign and Allard are the only two veterinarians in the Congress.

“Animal fighting is a gruesome and barbaric activity, and federal legislation is needed to combat a surge in the practice throughout the nation,” stated Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of the Humane Society of the United States, which is the primary backer of the legislation. “States are responding to the epidemic in animal fighting by increasing penalties and it is time for Congress to give law enforcement agencies the tools they urgently need to combat organized fighting rings.”

Last Thursday, U.S. Reps. Elton Gallegly (R-Calif.), Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.) and Roscoe Bartlett (R-Md.) introduced identical legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives. Their bill, H.R. 137, already has more than 210 cosponsors -- a remarkable achievement in the first week of Congress.

Despite overwhelming bipartisan support in the 109^th Congress, including a unanimous vote in the Senate and co-sponsorship by 324 Representatives, the legislation did not come up for a vote in the House before Congress adjourned in December. Former House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Sensenbrenner blocked consideration of the legislation in the 109^th Congress.

The bill establishes a felony-level penalty of up to three years jail time for any interstate or foreign transport of animals for fighting purposes. Current federal law includes misdemeanor penalties for such actions. The bill also makes it a crime to move cockfighting implements in interstate or foreign commerce.

"Animal fighting is a brutal, inhumane practice and we need to strengthen the current law to make it more effective," said Senator Cantwell. "It's an unacceptable, appalling activity, and too often has connections to other illegal activity such as gambling, drug trafficking and violent crimes."

"As a veterinarian, I have seen the horrible results of animal fighting first hand," said Senator Ensign. "Animal fighting involves the cruel treatment of animals and poses serious health risks for animals and humans alike. These gruesome events are usually accompanied by illegal gambling, illegal narcotics and human violence. Individuals participating in these despicable practices should face criminal charges."

Sheriffs and police departments recognize that animal fighting is an interstate industry often associated with other crimes that require the federal government’s help to curb. In 2006 alone, nine murders related to illegal animal fighting occurred across the country.

The legislation is supported by The Humane Society of the United States, American Veterinary Medical Association, National Chicken Council, National Sheriffs’ Association, and more than 400 state and local law enforcement agencies covering every state in the country. Forty-eight states have felony penalties for dog fighting and 33 states have felony penalties for cockfighting.

The need for this legislation has become even more urgent as the illegal transport of cockfighting birds has been linked to the spread of deadly diseases, including bird flu. The only groups opposing the federal animal fighting bill are dog fighting and cockfighting interests.

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Media Contact: Karen L. Allanach (301) 548-7778, kallanach@hsus.org

The Humane Society of the United States is the nation’s largest animal protection organization with nearly 10 million members and constituents. The HSUS is a mainstream voice for animals, with active programs in companion animals, disaster preparedness and response, wildlife and habitat protection, marine mammals, animals in research, equine protection, and farm animal welfare. The HSUS protects all animals through education, investigation, litigation, legislation, advocacy and field work. The nonprofit organization is based in Washington and has field representatives and offices across the country. On the web at http://www.humanesociety.org/.

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