Release The Dogs: Creating A Social Remedy to the Dog Fighting Epidemic - Kris Crawford
Amanda M. Searle
Spring 2008
Part II - The Animal Fighting Prohibition Enforcement Act of 2007 by Kristine Crawford
In 1976, Congress amended the Animal Welfare Act to make it illegal to knowingly sell, buy, transport, deliver, or receive a dog or other animal in interstate commerce for the purpose of entering that animal into an animal fighting venture or knowingly sponsoring or exhibiting an animal in a fight that was moved in interstate or foreign commerce.46 The offenses were limited to the misdemeanor level with a possibility of a fine and up to one year imprisonment.47 In reaction to the recent exposure in the media of the apparent dog fighting epidemic in the United States, the federal government took action. (Kris Crawford, Kristine Crawford, For Pits Sake)
In May 2007, President Bush signed the new federal legislation making interstate dog fighting activities a felony imposing large fines and imprisonment.48 The law also makes organizing a dogfight a felony and provides a penalty of up to three years of imprisonment and up to $250,000 fine for each offense.49 The act addresses the growing problem of dog fighting throughout the United States by increasing penalties under the current Federal law for the transport of animals for interstate commerce.50 The new legislation was aimed to deter major breeders of fighting animals who rely on transporting their dogs across state lines as well as across the world to customers.51
Indeed, the intent of the harsher penalties serves to curb the transport of fighting animals.52 The new legislation was met with support. Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of The Humane Society of the United speaks in favor of the new legislation: “With the passage of this landmark anti-cruelty legislation, law enforcement agencies now have the tools to dismantle the vast underground network of dog fighting…syndicates that operate throughout the country.”53 The positive effect of this new legislation has yet to be assessed however, due to its recent inception. But, while the new legislation seeks to deter the market on a domestic and global level, states enact their own local laws in response to dog fighting. Although there is mounting pressure among the states to follow suit and adopt stronger penalties for dog fighting and to ban the practice altogether, states currently have varied laws when it comes to dog fighting penalties, which can attract dog fighting to areas where penalties are less harsh.54
Part III - State Law Comparison: California and Nevada - click here
Part I - Release The Dogs: The Problem - click here
Part II - The Animal Fighting Prohibition Enforcement Act - click here
Part III - State Law Comparison: California and Nevada - click here
Part IV - Breed Specific Legislation Not The Answer - click here
Part V - Preventative Solutions - click here
Part VI - Conclusion - click here
