Mississippi Hopes To Pass Tougher Penalties For Dog Fighting! - National Humane Education Society

Paws Up!
February 14, 2018

To the Mississippi Senate for passing a bill to increase penalties for dog fighting.

In November 2017,  four men were arrested and 32 dogs and puppies were seized in Madison County, Mississippi, after officers from the county sheriff’s department discovered an alleged dog fighting ring. A 911 call from an anonymous person led police to the property, where they found four men encouraging two dogs to fight. During a search of the property, deputies found dog fighting paraphernalia including a handmade treadmill and supplements used by dog fighters to increase an animal’s muscle mass. Three breeding females, 15 puppies, and 14 adult pit bull and pit bull mixes were confiscated. Unfortunately, stories like this are not rare. Dog fighting exists in every state in the U.S. in both urban and rural areas. Dog fighting spectators are, despicably, lured by the specter of violence, and by the hope of cash reward from a winning bet.

According to a recent news article, the Mississippi Senate passed SB 2934 in a 44-7 vote to increase penalties for dog fighting in Mississippi. The bill must now pass the House and be signed into law by Gov. Phil Bryant.

Currently in Mississippi, dog fighting is a felony punishable by a one to three-year prison sentence and a fine between $1,000-$5,000. If SB 2934 passes, the maximum fine will be increased to $10,000, and the maximum sentence will be lengthened from three years to ten years. This bill would also allow criminal prosecution of anyone who owns, possesses, buys, sells, makes, or transfers dog fighting paraphernalia for the purpose of promoting dog fighting. 

The law would serve to both punish offenders, and dissuade dog fighting rings from coming to Mississippi. 

Take action. Citizens of Mississippi, contact your representatives and express your support of a new law to provide harsher penalties for dog fighting. Feel free to use NHES’ sample action letter below.

Re: SB 2934 to allow harsher penalties for dog fighting

Dear Representative _____________,
 
I am writing to encourage you to support SB 2934 to increase dog fighting penalties to a maximum fine of $10,000 and a maximum sentence of ten years. Dog fighting is one of the most heinous forms of animal cruelty in existence. Dogs are bred and born to live short, miserable lives and suffer violent deaths. What’s more, dog fighting is not just an animal welfare crime. As dog fighters are established in an area, they will likewise attract spectators with them, a market for other illegal activity, including drug trafficking, gambling, and gang activity. Dog fighting is traumatic for child witnesses, neighbors, and police officers who investigate. The local humane societies that must assume the cost of caring for seized animals also are affected. Ensuring prosecution and strict punishments for dog fighters in Mississippi better ensures justice for tortured dogs, and will render Mississippi an unappealing place for dog fighters to do business. I hope you will support SB 2934 to accomplish this goal.

Thank you for your consideration.

{Your Name}
{Your Address}