H. R. 1532 The Animal Fighting Prohibition Act

The Animal Fighting Prohibition Enforcement Act,

Introduced in the House of Representatives (H.R. 1532) by Congressman Roscoe Bartlett (R-MD) and in the Senate (S. 736) by Senator John Ensign (R-NV), doubles the current prison time for those who engage in animal fighting from one to two years. The Act further makes it “unlawful for any person to knowingly sell, buy, transport, or deliver in interstate of foreign commerce a knife, a gaff, or any other sharp instrument attached, or designed or intended to be attached, to the leg of a bird for use in an animal fighting venture.”

Senator Ensign said on the Senate floor, “This legislation targets the troubling, widespread, and sometimes underground activities of dogfighting and cockfighting where dogs and birds are bred and trained to fight to the death. This is done for the sheer enjoyment and illegal wagering of the animals’ handlers and spectators….”

 

Animal Fighting Prohibition Enforcement Act - Amends the Animal Welfare Act to increase the imprisonment penalty for animal fighting violations from one year to two years. Makes it unlawful to sell, buy, transport, or deliver in interstate or foreign commerce a knife, gaff, or other sharp instrument used in a bird-fighting venture.

Revises enforcement provisions. Permits euthanasia for an animal in extreme pain. Includes the Internet or any technology as interstate instrumentality.