Kentucky Senate Bill 243 would amend the state’s cruelty to animals provisions to broaden crimes relating to animal fighting and attendance at animal fighting events. The bill was referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee.
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Hawaii Bills Would Create Criminal Penalties for Bird Fighting
Hawaii House Bill 1980 and Senate Bill 2684 would amend the state’s animal cruelty statute to create new criminal penalties relating to bird fighting. The bills have not yet been assigned to committees.
Delaware Bill Would Impose Felony Penalties on Possession of Animal Fighting Paraphernalia
Delaware Senate Bill 198 would amend the state’s criminal prohibitions on animal fighting to impose felony penalties on the possession, sale, and manufacture of animal fighting paraphernalia. The bill was referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Arizona Bill Would Add Animal Fighting to List of Racketeering Predicate Offenses
Arizona Senate Bill 1026 would revise the state’s organized crime statutes to include animal fighting and cockfighting committed for financial gain to the list of racketeering predicate offenses. The bill was pre-filed on January 2, 2024.
Spain’s New Animal Welfare Law Takes Effect
A new animal welfare law governing the recreational use of animals has taken effect in Spain. The law prohibits the use of wild animals in circuses, bans the sale of dogs, cats, and ferrets in stores and online, and allows pets in establishments like restaurants and bars. It also imposes fines of up to 200,000 euros (approximately $212,000) for the mistreatment of domestic animals. Certain aspects of the law, including its insurance, registration, and owner training requirements, have not yet taken effect. The law exempts bullfighting and hunting with dogs.
Bill Would Repeal Animal Welfare Act Prohibition on Bird Fighting in U.S. Territories
H.R. 5650 would amend the federal Animal Welfare Act to repeal the application of the prohibition on bird fighting to U.S. territories like Guam and Puerto Rico, which have unsuccessfully challenged the federal ban in court. If enacted, the federal ban would apply only to states and territories where bird fighting also is prohibited at the state or territorial level as well as to the knowing sponsorship or exhibition in fights of birds that have moved in interstate commerce. The bill was introduced by Delegate James Moylan and has been referred to the House Agriculture Committee.
Vet Tech Convicted of Federal Dog Fighting Crimes Sentenced to Twenty Months in Prison
Carlos Warren, a Virginia veterinary technician, was sentenced in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia to twenty months in prison and three years of supervised release in connection with his conviction for animal fighting crimes. In addition to hosting dogfights on his property, Warren allegedly took advantage of his job as a vet tech to steal medication and supplies used to treat dogs during fights until they lost or refused to fight, after which he killed them by electrocution and other cruel means. He also distributed a publication called “The Connector” throughout the United States, which advertised dog fighting results, breeding information, and the availability of steroids and other illegal substances.
Bill Would Strengthen Federal Animal Fighting Laws and Create AWA Citizen Suit Provision
Senate Bill 1529, the “Fighting Inhumane Gambling and High-Risk Animal Trafficking (FIGHT) Act” would amend the Animal Welfare Act to create a citizen suit provision to help stop animal fighting ventures, end the shipment of mature roosters through U.S. mail, enhance forfeiture provisions, and prohibit simulcasting and gambling on animal fights in the U.S. regardless of where broadcast signals originate. The bill was introduced by Senators Cory Booker and John Kennedy, and Senators Andrea Salinas and Don Bacon previously introduced the House version of the bill. The bill has been referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
Bill Would Authorize Citizen Suits Against Animal Fighting Ventures
House Resolution 2742, the “Fighting Inhumane Gambling and High-Risk Trafficking (FIGHT) Act,” would amend the Animal Welfare Act to add a citizen suit provision to enjoin violations of the statute’s prohibitions relating to animal fighting ventures. The bill was introduced by Representative Don Bacon and has been referred to the House Agriculture Committee.
North Carolina Bill Would Expand Cockfighting-Related Felony Crimes
North Carolina Senate Bill 654 would revise the state’s animal fighting laws to criminalize facilitation of a minor at a cock fight, and would make it a felony to possess, train, purchase, sell, or transport a cock for use in a fight. The bill has been referred to the Senate Rules and Operations Committee.