Take Action: Animal Fighting "Tools" Outlawed in NY

Praise the New York legislature for outlawing animal fighting tools used in animal fight operations.

8/8/2012: 11,282 signatures sent to Senator Patty Ritchie. Please continue to sign for this important cause if you haven't already!

Goal: 60,000 • Progress: 57,070

Sponsored by: The Animal Rescue Site

Animal fighting is illegal in all 50 states — a conviction carries with it hefty fines and potential jail time.

Still, dog fighting and cock fighting happens every single day in the United States. It's clear that simply illegalizing the activity isn't enough to stop it for good. For one, it's extremely difficult to prove an owner is harboring dogs for the purpose of game fighting. But more often than not, true dog fighters will own fighting "tools" which give little doubt as to their involvement with the crime.

Such equipment includes cat mills, which provoke the biting of other animals, or razor sharp knives used to slash roosters' feet during a fight.

Say thank you to New York legislators for outlawing the possession of animal fighting-related items, and in support of outlawing them in all 50 states.

Dear Senator Patty Ritchie:

Thank you for standing up for animals in New York. Simply outlawing animal cruelty isn't enough to limit its pervasiveness. We need to pass additional legislation in all states modeled on your bill.

Case in point: animal fighting is illegal in all 50 states, but dog fighting and cock fighting continue to happen all the time in America. One reason is it's quite difficult to prove an owner is harboring dogs for game fighting unless law enforcement catches him or her in the act.

That's why we need more comprehensive legislation that addresses the other aspects of the animal fighting industry, such as the bill you recently passed that outlaws the possession of animal fighting-related equipment.

Though law enforcement might not be able to catch a dog fighter red-handed, most often those involved in the industry keep tools at their disposal to aid in the activity. Whether it be cat mills or knives, this paraphernalia unquestionably indicates participation in animal fighting.

Thank you for your continued commitment to keeping America's animals safe and healthy.