The Humane Society Legislative Fund expresses its thanks to Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., for working to pass an amendment to the Farm Bill to crack down on illegal dogfighting and cockfighting. This amendment is based on a bill co-authored by Cantwell, the Animal Fighting Spectator Prohibition Act, which will make it a federal crime to attend a dogfight or cockfight, and a felony offense to bring a child to an animal fight. The Senate passed the amendment by a vote of 88 to 11, and we congratulate Cantwell for her leadership.
Forty-nine states, including Washington, already have penalties for animal-fighting spectators. But there is a loophole in the federal animal fighting law that does not yet address this problem. Spectators are willing accomplices who finance animal fighting operations through their admission fees and gambling wagers, and provide cover to animal fighters who blend into the crowd during a law enforcement raid. We need to give federal and state law enforcement agencies the tools they need to crack down on the entire cast of characters involved in animal fighting.
Animal welfare supporters are grateful to Cantwell for fighting against animal cruelty and standing up for the values of kindness and compassion.
Michael Markarian
Washington, D.C.
