Animal fighting is an incredibly cruel activity that results in the abuse and injury of animals like dogs and chickens, but attendance at these barbaric spectacles has made animal fighting a lucrative underground business.
In the state of New York, attending an animal fight is only considered a "violation," penalized by a fine and resulting in no criminal record. But a new bill would make attending animal fights a misdemeanor, giving law enforcement a powerful tool to help end these events.
Most activities related to animal fighting -- like intentionally fighting animals, training animals to fight, and allowing one's property to be used for an animal fight -- are already felonies in New York. And being a spectator is a felony in many nearby states.
Those who attend animal fights perpetuate the abuse of innocent animals and shouldn't slide by without reasonable punishment. Tell New York legislators to make attending animal fights a misdemeanor crime.
Dear [Decision Maker],
As your constituent, I respectfully urge you to support A. 6287-B and compel Assembly leadership to post this important humane bill for a floor vote when the Assembly convenes this fall.
[Your personal comments will be inserted here.]
S. 3926-A passed the Senate on June 22. Unfortunately, despite passing successfully through the Assembly Agriculture and Codes Committees, the companion bill in the Assembly, A. 6287-B, has not been given a floor vote by Assembly leadership.
A. 6287-B/S. 3926-A would make it a misdemeanor to attend an animal fight. The State of New York currently considers attending an animal fight a "violation," which is penalized only by a fine and results in no criminal record. By contrast, most activities related to animal fighting--including intentionally fighting animals, training animals to fight, allowing one's property to be used for an animal fight--are already felonies in New York State. Furthermore, being a spectator at an animal fight is a felony in many nearby states, including Connecticut and New Jersey.
By attending these barbaric spectacles, spectators make animal fighting a lucrative underground business. In addition, animal fights create environments that promote other hazardous and illegal acts, such as the sale of illegal drugs, weapons possession and gambling, all of which pose serious threats to public safety. By making attendance at animal fights a misdemeanor, rather than an untraceable violation, A. 6287-B/S. 3926-A will give law enforcement an important tool with which to pursue and punish the spectators who drive the market for animal fighting.
