Senate approves dog fighting spectator bill
9:30 AM
Posted: Tuesday, February 26, 2008
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) -- The Senate has approved a bill that would increase penalties for watching animal fights.
The measure would make it a felony to watch dog fights, cockfights or other illegal animal contests where an animal is tormented or killed. Under the measure, someone guilty of being a spectator at an animal fight could be sentenced to five years in prison.
Currently, the crime is a misdemeanor punishable by up to two years in prison.
It's already a felony for the owner of a building where a fight occurs, the owners of the animals, the promoter of the fight and anyone who transports animals to the fight.
"If you don't have the spectator support at one of these fights, it's probably going to go away," said state Sen. Joe Seng, D-Davenport.
The measure would make it a felony to watch dog fights, cockfights or other illegal animal contests where an animal is tormented or killed. Under the measure, someone guilty of being a spectator at an animal fight could be sentenced to five years in prison.
Currently, the crime is a misdemeanor punishable by up to two years in prison.
It's already a felony for the owner of a building where a fight occurs, the owners of the animals, the promoter of the fight and anyone who transports animals to the fight.
"If you don't have the spectator support at one of these fights, it's probably going to go away," said state Sen. Joe Seng, D-Davenport.
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Donna Jensen wrote on Feb 27, 2008 8:30 AM: