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Dogfighting laws get tougher
04/03/2008 18:04 - (SA)
Virginia - The state Senate approved tougher laws against dogfighting and cockfighting on Monday in Virginia, the state where football star Michael Vick ran his dog-fighting operation.
Governor Timothy M Kaine supports the legislation, which passed the Senate unanimously on Monday and previously had cleared the House of Delegates. It is unclear when he would sign it.
Several states have toughened their animal-fighting laws after the high-profile Vick case.
The suspended Atlanta Falcons quarterback is serving a 23-month federal prison term for running a dogfighting conspiracy in Surry County. He admitted bankrolling the dogfighting operation and helping execute dogs that fought poorly.
The bill would make attendance at any organised animal fight, not just dogfights, a felony.
Participating in cockfighting would become a felony. Currently it is a misdemeanour if gambling is involved, but otherwise cockfighting is legal.
The bill contains other provisions regarding how property searches are conducted in animal cruelty cases and the use of substances and equipment to improve the animals' fighting ability.
A federal law that took effect last year makes animal fighting activities that cross state lines felonies rather than misdemeanours.
Idaho made dogfighting a felony in a bill signed into law last week, leaving Wyoming as the last state where it is only a misdemeanour.
Cockfighting will be illegal in all states when Louisiana's ban takes effect in August, and it is a felony in more than 30 states.
- AP
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