U.S. House Renews Efforts to Combat Animal Fighting

Thursday, January 24, 2013 - 11:00am
Dog in cage

Great news, animal advocates! Yesterday U.S. Reps. Tom Marino (R-PA), Jim McGovern (D-MA), John Campbell (R-CA) and Jim Moran (D-VA) reintroduced the Animal Fighting Spectator Prohibition Act, an ASPCA-supported bill to strengthen our federal laws against animal fighting.

While it’s already a federal crime to actively participate in an animal fight, it’s the spectators who drive the enterprise and make it profitable. This bill would make it a federal offense to attend an organized animal fight and impose additional penalties for bringing a child to a fight.

The Senate passed this bill in the previous Congress, but even with over half the House in support, Congress was unable to pass a final bill. Reintroducing this bill in the early days of the new Congress gives us an opportunity to build on the momentum from the last Congress and help finally close the federal loophole for animal fighting spectators.

Ask your own House representative to support this important humane legislation! Visit the ASPCA Advocacy Center right now to quickly email your U.S. rep in Washington and urge him or her to cosponsor the Animal Fighting Spectator Prohibition Act.

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Advocacy
Animal Cruelty
Dog Fighting
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Comments

Fri, 01/25/2013 - 13:08 — crayolabud (Visitor)
I'd like to know why this is still an issue. We have the intelligence to invent computers, medical advancements and yet we still have barbarions enjoying the act of watching loving creatures being tortured. What is wrong with them? I'd like to see our local governments more active in this fight. Maybe visit the schools and talk to the children about this horrific act. Leaders of this féree and great nation, please listen to your conscience and hear our cries (animal fighting, laboratories puppy mills, entertainment) to STOP animal abuse of all kinds today.

Fri, 01/25/2013 - 13:15 — Kim (Visitor)
No bill there should be a law

Fri, 01/25/2013 - 13:16 — Sue (Visitor)
It is horrible, and it is wrong! That being said, those of us, and trust me there are alot of us! Must continue to work hard and eliminate animal abuse of all kinds!

Fri, 01/25/2013 - 13:35 — Madhu (Visitor)
The viciousness and cruelty of subjecting these hapless animals to fight all for human pleasure and dollar. How can one enjoy watching two animals tear each other down.

Fri, 01/25/2013 - 14:48 — Mary (Visitor)
The "humans" who participate to any degree in animal abuse would serve a better purpose to society when they ,by law,must dedicate their lives to serving the animAl populations , educating and advocating for,under strict and closley monitored programs, the damage done to society as a whole for their sadistic behavior. Their lives are spent living in a " kenel" with animals, eating from bowls the same food, defacAting in their "kennel" along side as well as cleaning out the kennel space. My bet is that a level of empathy would develop even in the most low down perps. Remember, this is a life sentence. Upon sentencing, a locating chip is placed in the brain making escape impossible. Do you think this would pass muster with the ACLU?

Fri, 01/25/2013 - 15:30 — don (Visitor)
I'd like to know which congress-clowns would OPPOSE this legislation...they ought to be tarred and feathered!!!

Fri, 01/25/2013 - 15:37 — Codruta Onaga (Visitor)
Wrong, wrong, wrong, stop this already! and penalize people for doing this !

Fri, 01/25/2013 - 16:05 — Tania (Visitor)
I am appalled by such cruelty. This is inhumane. These animals are defenseless.. innocent creatures. Please, please stop these fights...

Fri, 01/25/2013 - 16:15 — Erin (Visitor)
I agree with all of them on this whole thing

Fri, 01/25/2013 - 17:20 — Nicholas LaPolla (Visitor)
Please without our protection animals will be abused we cannot turn a blind eye to this we must be the voice for these innocent beautiful beings

Fri, 01/25/2013 - 18:05 — Diane (Visitor)
Just today one of my third grade students told me his uncle in Puerto Rico trains pit xzbulls for fighting.This little eight year old saw nothing wrong with this.

Fri, 01/25/2013 - 20:09 — april lerma (Visitor)
Why do people feel the need to watch this type of cruelty and call it sport. If it were their childern would they still do it? I think anyone caught either dog fighting or watching it should be fined or better yet sent to jail. The long term affects that that does to an animal is simply unforgiveable.

Fri, 01/25/2013 - 21:40 — Jagdish Mittal (Visitor)
To stop animal fighting is urgent need of the day

Fri, 01/25/2013 - 22:06 — ruth (Visitor)
Anybody who enjoys animal abuse.........in my opinion has mental issues. This people are a menace to society. We have enough trash to deal with in todays society. People that think that this is entertaining.....only God knows what else they think is entertaining. We need to get rid of them. Punishment should fit the crime. We should do to them what they do to the poor innocent animals. Justice should prevail.

Fri, 01/25/2013 - 22:14 — Louis Cimino (Visitor)
Given our loathsome history of war, violence against each other, and especially against animals I am thoroughly ashamed and embarrased to me a member of the human race. I do not wish bad in anyone because of my Karma. But when I viewed the Peta video of Ringling Circs workers beating elephants, I prayed the elephants would stomp these pathetic humans to death.

Fri, 01/25/2013 - 22:34 — Nikki Buckingham (Visitor)
As adults we must speak for those that can't speak for themselves. We must be the VOICE for children,the elderly and animals. Our humanity depends on it!!

Sat, 01/26/2013 - 00:58 — Linda J (Visitor)
Martin Luther King Jr. is quoted as saying, “Never, never be afraid to do what's right, especially if the well-being of a person or animal is at stake. Society's punishments are small compared to the wounds we inflict on our soul when we look the other way.”

Sat, 01/26/2013 - 03:54 — Kathy (Visitor)
These people need to start paying for their actions. They need to enact alot stiffer penalties for animal abuse in any form!!!

Sat, 01/26/2013 - 14:28 — Colleen Malone-Engel (Visitor)
And while they're at it, PLEASE let's get the booksellers ~ mainly AMAZON ~ to stop selling the books and videos that teach people how to do it!!!

Sat, 01/26/2013 - 19:45 — E & L berger (Visitor)
Those who participate in animal fighting should be punished and exiled from normal socirty.

Sun, 01/27/2013 - 11:51 — Tucker (Visitor)
SICK A HOLES!! THIS BETTER

Sun, 01/27/2013 - 11:56 — Tucker (Visitor)
THIS BETTER END ONCE AND FOR ALL NOW!!!! YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH D.F. ATTENDING,THE HEAD OF IT,TAKING THE MONEY,WATCHING,GOT THE DOGS, WHAT EVER IT IS, HAVE THE TOOLS, WHATEVER IT MAY BE PART OF IT OR WATCHING IT, YOUR ASSES GO TO JAIL FOR A LOOOONG TIME!!!! THIS NEEDS TO GET STRICTER AND HARSHER PUNISHMENTS AND NO AND IF OR BUTS!!!!!! START KNOCKING THESE EFFERS OUT,EVERYWHERE!!!!!! BAM,BAM,BAM!!!!!!

Sun, 01/27/2013 - 17:27 — Jill (Visitor)
When are we, as a civilized society (sometimes I wonder), going to stop torturing animals??? This is absolute madness!! We are their voice, people!! We must keep our legislatures feet to the fire until they pass MEANINGFUL laws to protect animals AND those laws are enforced! Please do all you can to support wonderful non-profit orgs like ASPCA, Humane Society and so many others out there that fight every day for the protection of animals.

Sun, 01/27/2013 - 17:56 — Cynthia W. Wright (Visitor)
Please this vile activity once and for all time!

Sun, 01/27/2013 - 17:57 — Cynthia W. Wright (Visitor)
I meant to say, "please HALT this vile activity once and for all time". But you knew that.

Sun, 01/27/2013 - 18:13 — Laurie Armer (Visitor)
I agree.....torture and abuse the humans that do this. It's probably the only way they will feel ANYTHING!!! The human species is NOT the self-proclaimed species and it is the human race that needs culling!!! IN FACT, it is in the U.S. that there is a mini-StoneHenge erected with writings in all languages, that states it's mission to save the planet from us, is to cull the human population to an extremely lower number. It is the ONLY waya to save this planet and the truly-deserving life forms within it......the animals.

Sun, 01/27/2013 - 21:43 — Rose Mayfield (Visitor)
What's it gonna take for everybody to wake up & do something about these 2 problems with our pets?!! Just cuz you don't see it doesn't mean it's not happening. I'm sick to death of these problems continueing & these scums getting away with it. They get free money on the suffering of these pets. God depends on us to take care of these problems, too. He sent them here as companionship for us!! Email your Congressman, Senators, Governors whoever's in office & let them know they need to get this taken care of.

Mon, 01/28/2013 - 05:44 — Mike Mann (Visitor)
STOP ANIMAL ABUSE NOW!AHORA!!PRONTO!!!STOP THE VIOLENCE!!!COMPASSION IS IN FASHION!!SAVE OUR WORLD!

Wed, 01/30/2013 - 01:23 — Robert Waltermi... (Visitor)
These so called people should not be put in jail, they should be put to death, so they stop killing animals for Fun!!

Wed, 01/30/2013 - 09:12 — Barbara Straughn (Visitor)
PLEASE - if this misery and torment is allowed to continue - ask yourselves just how civilised we really are? There should not even be a necessity for a petition in this enlightened age. Yes they do feel FEAR PAIN and SUFFERING and yes they are capable of love and affection!!! Please support this petition. Thank you very much.

Wed, 01/30/2013 - 14:36 — Terry White-Lee (Visitor)
Dog fighting is barberic and without question inhumane. I have one bumper sticker on my car "Death Penalty for Animal Abuse" my new Motto !!!!!!

Fri, 02/01/2013 - 10:09 — Linda Long (Visitor)
Boy I full heartedly agree with you. they should be given the death penalty, and not a easy death either , make those bastards suffer like they make these poor animals suffer. but even worse!!

Fri, 02/01/2013 - 10:07 — Linda Long (Visitor)
what is wrong with humans, for gods sake stop this inhumane torture act. Punish those bastards to the fulles, anyone that mistreats an human should be punished the same way as if it was a human, In fact worse, because these animals have NO VOICE TO YELL FOR HELP like a human. in fact we need less humans on this world and more animals. you don't see animals killing each other off, like humans with their guns so you have any brains and compassion save these poor helpless animals. why don't you sit in a dark dungeon for a yr see how you like!!!!!!!!!!

Fri, 02/01/2013 - 10:20 — Lorraine Grassley (Visitor)
This issue needs to be settled NOW! This is an inhuman practice and people who watch and take children to watch need severe consequences!

Fri, 02/01/2013 - 10:23 — cindy polcyn (Visitor)
this is not a sport. it is animal cruelty. those who do this to animals need to be severely punished ,pay to have the animals taken care of and those who think this is a sport should be arrested for watching and if they brig children child abuse charges also. these people do need to be educated. if you are capapble of doing this to animals, the next step for some of them is to hurt a person.

Fri, 02/01/2013 - 18:40 — Tori (Visitor)
People who abuse any animals need to be punished and punished so badly that they will think twice beofre they even think of abusing another animas, we need more peole to fing for these innocent creatures of God.

Fri, 02/01/2013 - 18:42 — TORI (Visitor)
WE NEED MORE PEOPLE TO FIGHT FOR INNOCENT CREATURE OF GOD. GOD DID NOT PUT THESE CREATURE ON HIS EARTH FOR HEARTLESS/SOULESS HUMANS TO ABUSE.

Fri, 02/01/2013 - 23:50 — Barbara Ottenio (Visitor)
Let me keep you in a cage without food and not see the light of day and then tell me how you feel....

Sun, 02/03/2013 - 22:33 — tammy d. (Visitor)
it is so sick and disturbing. how anyone could know anything about this is disgusting.these so called people should be locked up forever.

Fri, 02/08/2013 - 05:28 — sl786982 (Visitor)
Computer science research will have to address management design principles and cost as first-order considerations in computer systems design.

Fri, 02/08/2013 - 21:16 — Virginia (Visitor)
If they would only lift the ban on ownership of Pit Bulls in the many states and counties of our country people would see it is not the dog's nature to be mean, it is the people who raise them.

Wed, 02/13/2013 - 21:23 — jaime (Visitor)
I believe there should be strict penalties for first timers who commit animal abuse or neglect, including jail time, seriously it just may make others stop and think and change their minds, unless they don't mind one bit of being incarcerated

Fri, 04/12/2013 - 13:00 — Patricia Gann-M... (Visitor)
What is our nation coming to. People who have no better things to do then be cruel and evil to defenseless animals. Anyone who will be cruel to an animal is to be considered dangerous. God created animals for a purpose.

Sun, 04/21/2013 - 04:09 — asid (Visitor)
Definitely great post. It affects a lot of urgent issues of our minds. We can not be indifferent to these challenges. Your article gives good ideas and concepts. Very informative and practical.

Mon, 04/22/2013 - 07:20 — Hurtig lån (Visitor)
the people that participate in this abuse should spend some time in prison see how they like it.

Mon, 04/22/2013 - 08:46 — Article Directory (Visitor)
I'm signing this petition to stop the. Abuse on animals!!

Tue, 04/23/2013 - 10:36 — Space heaters (Visitor)
Animal fighting is disgusting. Anyone who is caught doing it should be treated as if they had been doing the same to a human <a href="http://www.reznor.co.uk/">space heaters</a>

Sat, 04/27/2013 - 03:31 — truly rich club (Visitor)
the people that participate in this abuse should spend some time in prison see how they like it.

Mon, 04/29/2013 - 15:04 — energie solaire (Visitor)
we shouldn't abuse any animals any more in the 21. century

Thu, 05/02/2013 - 03:57 — הקליקי כאן (Visitor)
The only way it will help to protect you is that you will not be tempted to sun bake since you will have your tan already.

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