Michigan eyes tough new dog fighting laws

Michigan eyes tough new dog fighting laws

Published: Sunday, February 12, 2012 By Chad Selweski

State lawmakers are on the verge of adopting the toughest rules in the nation to crack down on dog fighting as they consider final approval of a legislative package that could become the model for the rest of the country.

The bills, initiated by state Sen. Steve Bieda, a Warren Democrat, would activate several legal tools to give law enforcement more power to shut down dog fights. Experts say that Michigan contains several "hotbeds" of organized dog fighting.

Animal rights groups have

praised the bills, which could receive final approval as early as next week in the state House.

"This is the best, most comprehensive approach I've ever seen," said John Goodwin, director of animal cruelty policy for the Humane Society of the United States.

The three bills already approved by overwhelming margins in the state Senate would:

Allow law enforcement to seize the assets gained from illegal animal fighting, with the forfeited funds assisting local or state government. This bill is intended to eliminate incentives, as dog fighting is largely motivated by gambling profits and sales of animals that are the offspring of fight winners.

Define animal fighting as a public nuisance. Under this bill, a private citizen or county prosecutor could bring suit against any individual using property for an illegal animal fighting operation.

Add animal fighting to the state's racketeering statute, providing for enhanced penalties similar to those applied to organized crime.

Bieda said that past attempts by the Legislature to crack down on dog fighting, despite high-profile police busts in Detroit and Monroe County, have not proven effective. By giving police the power to treat these gatherings as an organized crime setting, the new legislation could serve as a breakthrough.

"There's a correlation between dog fighting and illicit drugs, gambling, prostitution and organized crime," said Bieda, a former state representative. "These are organized events that make big money."

Goodwin, a veteran observer of police raids on dog-fighting operations across the nation, said Michigan's comprehensive approach may be the answer to ending dog fights.

"This is kind of a new approach but … it's one that's very logical, when you look at all the elements of dog fighting," he said.

Goodwin said that one state, Virginia, already applies racketeering charges to dog-fighting operations. Another, California, relies upon the public nuisance option. Several others allow for forfeiture of suspects' funds.

None employ all three law enforcement weapons, as Michigan might.

After the Senate approved the three-bill package in September, animal rights groups briefly celebrated the eclipse of the first legislative roadblock.

Cal Morgan, president and CEO of the Michigan Humane Society, said the state was one step closer to ending the "barbaric and heinous practice" of putting two dogs in a blood-spattered pit until one is severely injured or near death.

While House approval is awaited, Jill Fritz, Michigan state director for The Humane Society of the United States, has pointed out that a tough stand in Michigan could send a message nationwide. In addition to the dog-fighting operations active across the state, an underground dog-fighting magazine, called the Sporting Dog Journal, was published in southeast Michigan until authorities shut it down in 2009.

"While dog fighting is widespread in parts of Michigan, it is clear that the state Senate and many in law enforcement are dedicated to coming up with solutions to save animals from a cruel death in the fighting pits," Fritz said after Senate action. "People who care about animals now need to contact their state representatives and ask for rapid passage of these bills in the House."

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