Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Dog fighting to become felony in Texas on September 1
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A bill passed unanimously by the Texas state legislature will make dog fighting a felony as of September 1.
Unfortunately, dogfighting is becoming more common across the state. But will the law have any effect? Catching fights is hard, and so is proving them, which the DMN's James Hohmann articulately explains in his story.
One of the big problems seems to lie with who will take responsibility. The Dallas police department view it as an animal control issue. But the animal control people don't carry guns and maintain that dogfighting is often a harbinger of other criminal activity such as drugs and gangs.
Here's a statistic: The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has taken in 385 pit bulls at its Dallas and McKinney shelters this year. One to two dogs with dogfighting wounds come into the shelter on Industrial Boulevard every three weeks.
Here's the other animal-friendly bills enacted by the Texas legislature, yay:
HB 1411 is an anti-tethering law that limits how long owners can leave a dog unattended and restrained outside. It's designed to prevent owners from keeping their dogs chained up outside between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. and from leaving them outside during storms. Dogfighters are known to chain up several pit bulls in their back yard all day, every day.
Senate Bill 1562 requires animal control officers be trained and certified.
HB 2328 creates separate statutes for cruelty against livestock and other animals. It used to be all the same thing, but this new law stiffens penalties for cruelty against nonlivestock animals, i.e. pets.
HB 1355 makes the owner of a vicious dog that attacks a human criminally negligent. Dog owners who knows their dog is dangerous can be charged with a second-degree felony if the dog mauls a human to death.
Posted by T.G.
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Comments
John McClelland Verified
I guess Michael Vick wont be playing in Texas anytime soon.
1 year ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
SonyaBlade Anonymous
That is so wrong. Dogs should have every right to fight each other if they want. Humans need to stop being so bossy of other animals and let them do what they want, so not cool yall.
1 year ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
kirk Anonymous
I think all dogs need to learn ENGLISH! If they want to be in this country, they need to speak the language of this country. They wouldn't need to fight if they spoke English.
1 year ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
eastside Anonymous
WOOF!
1 year ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
John McClelland Verified
Who let the dogs out? Who? Who?!
1 year ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
BrimstoneBroker Anonymous
FACT: "Animal Abusers" are often "People Abusers," in training. Some of the most proficient mass murderers had their start abusing animals. However, that's often undocumented in "public" accounts. {Check police records.}
Classifying that one are of animal abuse as a felony is a good start.
1 year ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
luniz Anonymous
They ought to make deer hunting a felony too. Also, kneejerking rules.
1 year ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
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