Once again in today's editorial, the editorial staff of the Richmond Times-Dispatch shows thoughtful compassion in expressing the need for tougher dogfighting penalties and stronger enforcement while getting at the root of the issue. The ability to draw audiences with an appetite for brutality means that the criminals who operate dogfighting rings continue to find greater profits than penalties for their cruelty.
The Humane Society of the United States’ efforts to strengthen federal laws on animal fighting on Capitol Hill have made news this week. The Animal Fighting Spectator Prohibition Act of 2011, introduced by Representatives Tom Marino (R-Pa) and Betty Sutton (D-Ohio), would make it a crime to be a spectator at an organized animal fight and would make it an additional crime to bring a child to one of these barbaric events. Passage of H.R. 2492 would seriously strengthen existing federal law against animal fighting by providing a significant deterrent to misguided and depraved individuals who might otherwise contemplate this type of horrific cruelty.
The Richmond SPCA’s partnership with the HSUS in 2008 successfully led to the passage by Virginia’s General Assembly of one of the toughest pieces of animal fighting legislation in the country. The state law makes all forms of animal fighting crimes and attaches Class 6 felonies to those with any in a list of aggravating factors such as the use of performance enhancing drugs, the presence of minors, or the presence of gambling activity. The law also provides law enforcement professionals more effective tools to combat animal fighting. Additionally, the passage of this bill in 2008 means that it is already a crime in the commonwealth to be a spectator at an animal fight. Thanks to the joint efforts of the Richmond SPCA, the HSUS and the impassioned support of our constituencies over a period of many months, Virginia took a forceful stand against the sadism of animal fighting.
Congress needs to pass The Animal Fighting Spectator Prohibition Act of 2011 in order to toughen existing federal law and fill the gaps that presently exist. Our communities and precious animals everywhere depend on it.
Tabitha Hanes is the director of communications, and Tamsen Kingry is the chief operating officer of the Richmond SPCA. To read their biographies or those of our other regular bloggers, please click here. Before posting a comment, please review our comment guidelines. Please note that our comment policy requires a first and last name to be used as your screen name.
Comments