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Save This PageDogfighting is illegal in Virginia, but spectators could soon find themselves on a shorter legal leash if the General Assembly passes tougher reforms.
Under existing law, people caught at a dog or cockfight face no charges. Under proposed legislation announced during a news conference yesterday, going to any kind of animal fight would be a misdemeanor.
The Michael Vick case shone a spotlight on the scope of animal fighting as well as deficiencies in the state's related laws, Attorney General Bob McDonnell said.
"Animal fighting is essentially a blood sport. It is well connected to criminal activity, particularly illegal gambling. Our neighboring states have taken aggressive steps to crack down on this and we don't want Virginia to become a magnet for animal fights," said McDonnell, a dog owner.
"We also understand that animal fighting and cruelty to animals, left unabated, begins to facilitate the coarsening of society -- a tolerance that can lead to other crimes against human beings."
Under the legislation, anyone allowing a minor to attend or become involved in animal fighting also would face the same charge. The penalties include no more than 12 months in jail, a fine of up to $2,500 or both.
A coalition including state legislators, the attorney general, animal protection agencies and anti-animal fighting groups support the legislation. It comes less than a year after NFL star Vick's Surry County home was raided in connection with a dogfighting ring. More than 50 dogs were seized as well as dogfighting paraphernalia. Vick is now in prison after having pleaded guilty to conspiracy.
House Majority Leader H. Morgan Griffith, R-Salem, and Senate Minority Leader Thomas K. Norment, R-James City, are patrons of the respective House and Senate bills. Both seek to crack down on animal fighting by making all parties criminally responsible.
The legislation also deals with the care of any seized animals and provides law-enforcement officials with more effective tools to fight the problem. In addition to charging spectators:
"What we're seeking to do in 2008 is to draw a bright line in the commonwealth of Virginia to prohibit this form of conduct," said Norment, adding that he wore a bright, salmon-colored shirt to help emphasize the point. "What this [legislation] will state unequivocally is that this is unacceptable."
While other animal fighting legislation failed in 2007, Griffith said the climate is different now.
"I believe we can do it this year," he said. "We'll send them up as felonies, which is what I believe they ought to be. . . . We're not talking about a couple of chickens being thrown in a pen and seeing what happens. They use drugs to beef these [animals] up and they put razor blades on their talons so they can cut each other. It's just not right."
Contact Penelope M. Carrington at (804) 649-6027 or pcarrington@timesdispatch.com.
