5. Formal Agreement
In dog fighting, a formal agreement is usually signed by
the owners of the dogs to be matched, often several
months in advance of the fight date.
6. Informal Side Bets
The second and most visible form of gambling at a
dogfight involves informal side bets among
individual spectators.
7. Promoters of animal fights usually
reap large sums of money from
concession sales, such as alcoholic
beverages, admissions fees, and sale
of paraphernalia.
8. $$$$$$$$$$$$
Another way those involved in animal
fighting ventures make money is by selling
animals and breeding services.
Champion fighting dog - $10,000+
Stud fees - $1,000+
Puppies - $150-$1,500+
9. DRUGS AND WEAPONS
• Violence associated with these activities
seems to be on the rise.
– Gang rape of a young woman in TX
10. Pitbull Problem Flash Video
the pit bull problem (what is man
without the beasts?) - flash
11. U.S. Supreme Court on Animal
Cruelty Videos – October 2009
• A Virginia man prosecuted for selling
videos of dog fighting challenged a federal
law that makes those videos illegal.
• ALDF link
15. Any person who engages in any of the
following conduct is guilty of a felony:
(a) For amusement or gain, causes any animal to
engage in fighting
Example: Tyler and Justin are walking down the streets of
Troy with Tyler’s pit bull dog named Blue. Another pit
bull is walking down the street in their direction. Tyler
looks at Jon and says, “Let’s see what they can do.”
Jon agrees.
16. Any person who engages in any of the
following conduct is guilty of a felony:
(b)Trains, (c) breeds or sells any animal
under circumstances evincing an intent
that such animal engage in fighting
17. Any person who engages in any of the
following conduct is guilty of a felony:
(d) Permits these acts (causes a
fight, trains, breeds, or sells) to occur on
premises under his control
Example: Jennifer organizes a cock fight at her party
Saturday afternoon. None of the animals in the fight are
hers, but she arranged the event.
18. FELONY
(e) Owns or
possesses any
animal trained to
engage in fighting
on premises where
fighting is being
conducted under
circumstances
evincing an intent
that such animal
engage in fighting.
20. It shall be a misdemeanor to:
• Own, possess or keep any animal under
circumstances evincing an intent that such
animal engage in fighting.
21. It shall be a misdemeanor to:
• Be a spectator and having paid an admission
or made a wager at a fight.
22. 2008: Violation Added
• Being present as a spectator
• Currently as the law stands, if you are a
spectator at an animal fight (without betting
slips or admission fee) AND have been
convicted within 5 years of this, the second
conviction is a misdemeanor.
23. Bill to Strengthen Section 351
• If passed into law, this bill would make it a misdemeanor to be
knowingly present as a spectator where an exhibition of animal
fighting is being conducted, regardless of evidence of betting or paying
admission fee. Just being there would be enough.
• This bill would also make it a felony to be present as a spectator for
any person who has been previously convicted of a being present at an
animal fight within the past five years.
24. In the U.S., fighting dogs are
almost exclusively American pit
bull terriers.
• Pit bulls used for
fighting are often kept
in a “yard” on
extremely heavy
chains. This is done to
strengthen neck
muscles as well as
keep the dogs from
attacking each other.
25. How to find out of dog fighting is
going on in your area
• Check local newspapers and the Want Ad
Digest for ads of “Game Bred” Pit Bulls.
• Check the Internet.
• Talk to Animal Control Officers.
• Check with the local Town Clerk.
• Check area airports to ascertain if pit bulls
are being flown in or out.
26. Law Enforcement: Be suspicious of
reports regarding stolen dogs in your
patrol area.
30. Due to the usually large group of
suspects that may be present at
illegal animal fighting
exhibitions, and the specialized
nature of these criminal
activities, there are a number of
common problems associated with
enforcement of animal fighting laws.
31. Common Problems:
Having enough law enforcement personnel
on the scene to detain and arrest all suspects
while ensuring officer safety and preserving
evidence
INTENT – responsibility of law enforcement
on scene to gather evidence to establish intent
THIS IS CRITICAL when you read Art. 26 Sec. 351
32. Search Warrants:
• When executing a Search Warrant, do not
allow the news media on the property.
• Photograph the entire scene as well as each
animal.
• Seize all evidence used for training
including; chains, collars, spring
poles, weight scales, breaking
sticks, drugs, magazines, trophies, computer
s, breeding records, carpet, components of
any pits, guns, other weapons, etc.
38. Suggested “On the Scene”
Questions:
Why are you here?
How did you get here?
How were you going to leave?
Who did you come with?
What did you see?
How long before you were detained did you
see it going on?
39. Retain copies
• Keep a copy of all records of originals
turned over to the police or ADA.
• Keep a copy of all photographs.
40. Coordinate with
Law Enforcement
• Because of the
specialized nature
of the criminal
activity, participant
s are often scattered
over a wide area
involving multiple
jurisdictions.
41. Think Outside the Box!
Additional Charges
Criminal mischief, arson, destruction of property
Child endangerment
Unlawful entry on property such as burglary or trespass
Assault with a dangerous instrument
Nuisance, noise, zoning, housing code violations
Local dog control laws
42.
43. Vick and the Federal Law
The Constitution enumerates powers – if it isn’t stated in the
Constitution, it can’t be done (theoretically).
44. U.S. Constitution
Article 1 Section 8
• Section 8. The Congress shall
have power to …
• regulate commerce with foreign
nations, and among the several
states, and with the Indian tribes.
• If you really want to study this:
• click here.
45. Federal Law Vick was in
prison for violating…
7 USCS § 2156 (AWA)
§ 2156. Animal fighting venture prohibition
(a) Sponsoring or exhibiting an animal in an animal fighting venture.
(1) In general. Except as provided in paragraph (2), it shall be unlawful
for any person to knowingly sponsor or exhibit an animal in an animal
fighting venture, if any animal in the venture was moved in interstate
or foreign commerce.
(b) Buying, selling, delivering, or transporting animals for participation in animal fighting
venture. It shall be unlawful for any person to knowingly sell, buy, transport, deliver,
or receive for purposes of transportation, in interstate or foreign commerce, any
dog or other animal for purposes of having the dog or other animal participate
in an animal fighting venture.
46. Animal Fighting Prohibition
Enforcement Act (2007)
• Felony penalties for interstate commerce, import and export related to
animal fighting activities
• It should make it much harder for criminals who engage in dogfighting
and cockfighting to continue their operations.
• Each violation of the federal law may bring up to three years in prison
and up to a $250,000 fine.
• The law took effect immediately (May 3, 2007).
47. Original charges:
April 2008
• (1) Conspiracy to travel in
interstate commerce in aid
of unlawful activities
(conspiracy to engage in
racketeering) and (2)
Conspiracy to sponsor a dog
in an animal fighting
venture
• Plea: single conspiracy
count for running a brutal
interstate dogfighting ring
with three co-conspirators
Example:Pam is having a party Saturday night which includes rounds of dog fighting. Andre arrives with his Grand Champion fighter and is waiting his turn in the ring, as the fights go on.
2007 Animal Fighting Prohibition Enforcement Act (2007)The law took effect immediately. It provides felony penalties for interstate commerce, import and export related to animal fighting activities, including commerce in cockfighting weapons. It will make it much harder for criminals who engage in dogfighting and cockfighting to continue their operations. Each violation of the federal law may bring up to three years in jail and up to a $250,000 fine for perpetrators.
