Cockfighting Means Jail Time
By: Meghan Dill
Updated: May 22, 2007
For six years the Humane Society of the United States has worked on Capitol Hill to strengthen penalties for animal cruelty.
President Bush signed the Animal Fighting Prohibition Enforcement Act on May 3. This federal law allows for felony level penalties for interstate dogfighting and cockfighting.
This law was already put to the test here in Arkansas. Just last weekend, a cockfighting raid netted more than 80 people, 23 vehicles and tens of thousand of dollars in cash.
Cockfighting is when roosters are bred for aggression, and knives are strapped to their feet and they go at each other until death.
This type of animal cruelty along with dogfighting will now receive punishment in some cases up to three years in jail per violation. While this law is a big step on the federal level, in Arkansas,on the state level, animal cruelty is still only considered a misdemeanor.
Arkansas is one of only a few states without felony charges.
President Bush signed the Animal Fighting Prohibition Enforcement Act on May 3. This federal law allows for felony level penalties for interstate dogfighting and cockfighting.
This law was already put to the test here in Arkansas. Just last weekend, a cockfighting raid netted more than 80 people, 23 vehicles and tens of thousand of dollars in cash.
Cockfighting is when roosters are bred for aggression, and knives are strapped to their feet and they go at each other until death.
This type of animal cruelty along with dogfighting will now receive punishment in some cases up to three years in jail per violation. While this law is a big step on the federal level, in Arkansas,on the state level, animal cruelty is still only considered a misdemeanor.
Arkansas is one of only a few states without felony charges.
