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Georgia Strengthens Dogfighting Law
Tuesday, May 06, 2008 - 02:57 PM
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information from the Humane Society of the U.S.:
Gov. Sonny Purdue has signed a bill strengthening the state's dogfighting law. Rep. Bobby Reese, R-Sugar Hill, and Sen. Chip Rogers, R-Woodstock, sponsored the anti-dogfighting measure.
The new law makes it a felony to own, possess, train, transport or sell any dog for the intention of dogfighting. The law also assigns first-time offenders a penalty of one to five years' imprisonment, a minimum fine of $5,000 or both.
In 2006, the Humane Society of the U.S. compiled rankings of state dogfighting laws. At that time, Georgia had the nation’s third weakest law, but in the aftermath of the Michael Vick case, Idaho and Wyoming enacted stronger laws, dropping Georgia to last place. The new law now places Georgia’s ranking among the states with the strongest dogfighting laws.
About Dogfighting:
- Dogfighting is a highly-organized criminal industry; more than 250,000 dogs are placed in dogfighting pits each year.
- The HSUS estimates that 40,000 people are involved in organized dogfighting and an additional 100,000 are street-level fighters.
- A Chicago Police Department study showed that 65 percent of people charged with animal abuse crimes — including dogfighting — were also charged with violent crimes against people.
Gov. Sonny Purdue has signed a bill strengthening the state's dogfighting law. Rep. Bobby Reese, R-Sugar Hill, and Sen. Chip Rogers, R-Woodstock, sponsored the anti-dogfighting measure.
The new law makes it a felony to own, possess, train, transport or sell any dog for the intention of dogfighting. The law also assigns first-time offenders a penalty of one to five years' imprisonment, a minimum fine of $5,000 or both.
In 2006, the Humane Society of the U.S. compiled rankings of state dogfighting laws. At that time, Georgia had the nation’s third weakest law, but in the aftermath of the Michael Vick case, Idaho and Wyoming enacted stronger laws, dropping Georgia to last place. The new law now places Georgia’s ranking among the states with the strongest dogfighting laws.
About Dogfighting:
- Dogfighting is a highly-organized criminal industry; more than 250,000 dogs are placed in dogfighting pits each year.
- The HSUS estimates that 40,000 people are involved in organized dogfighting and an additional 100,000 are street-level fighters.
- A Chicago Police Department study showed that 65 percent of people charged with animal abuse crimes — including dogfighting — were also charged with violent crimes against people.