Missouri Tries to Make a Dent in Dog Fighting
The Missouri legislature is considering changes to the state's dog fighting laws. One change would make it a Class D felony instead of a misdemeanor on a second and subsequent offense of being present for a dog fight including preparations leading up to it.
Another change would allow authorities - health department and law enforcement - with probable cause to believe there has been a violation of the dog fighting law, to go on to property to seize dogs and property or equipment thought to be used in dog fighting. Authorities could also obtain a warrant to search property if the owner has been charged with a violation of the dog fighting laws.
The new law would permit a disposition hearing for the dogs in 30 days. This means animal control would not be required to keep custody of dogs for months or years pending the resolution of charges. The bill is somewhat confusing because it implies if an owner does not post a bond or otherwise cover the costs of caring for the dogs during that 30 day period, they can be disposed of, presumably by euthanization. The bill says to keep the dogs in the shelter longer than 30 days the owner must not only cover the costs of care but also obtain a court order to keep them from being "humanely" killed.
The original bill provided that convicted dog fighters would be subject to Missouri's forfeiture laws, meaning any property - cash, homes, cars, etc - obtained from or used for dog fighting could be forfeited. The revised version which has been combined with several other bills does not contain this provision.
Seizure laws are typically important in stopping dog fighting. Authorities often don't seize dogs from fighters because they had no place to keep them and no way to care for them for long periods of time.
In October 2007, the Humane Society of Missouri assisted Stoddard County law enforcement officials in the bust of a dog fighting ring. Kathryn W. Warnick, President, Humane Society of Missouri, states, "Twenty-six dogs were seized and have been in our care since then. Costs to care for these animals have exceeded $40,000 and there is no end in sight. Five of these dogs still are in legal limbo with no hope for a loving home for the foreseeable future. These costs are prohibitive to law enforcement and animal welfare agencies seeking to end this brutal activity. The continued suffering of the animals is intolerable."
Even when they face charges for dog fighting or animal cruelty, without seizure laws, dog fighters can move dogs to the next county or state and continue their sordid blood sport. Now with these laws, dogs can be removed more easily from the cruelty of dog fighting. Dog fighters can be stopped when authorities can seize dogs and equipment.
There is still the problem of what to do about the dogs once they are seized. As the Missouri bill clearly contemplates, they will typically simply be killed. The placement of Michael Vick's dogs with various animal welfare organizations shows there is an alternative: Many of these dogs can be placed in homes or with organizations that can manage them and still provide them with a life free of terror and cruelty. The problem is there are simply not enough homes or organizations like this.
Click here for a copy of the bill, S.B. 819 which is now part of S.B. 982.
Click here to find Missouri Senators: Write or call in support of these changes to the dog fighting laws in S.B. 819, to allow seizure and impoundment of dogs believed to be used for fighting and increasing penalties for being present for dog fighting activities.