Contact Your State Representative
Thursday, March 15, 2012
By: Lisa Nichols

The Michigan Senate just passed three bills that would give law enforcement more tools in the fight against dog fighting.

The bills now await approval in the Michigan House, please contact your State Representative and encourage them to approve these bills.

Specifically the bills would:

• Allow law enforcement to seize the assets gained from illegal animal fighting, with the forfeited funds assisting local or state government. This bill is intended to eliminate incentives, as dog fighting is largely motivated by gambling profits and sales of animals that are the offspring of fight winners. (SB 356)
• Define animal fighting as a public nuisance. Under this bill, a private citizen or county prosecutor could bring suit against any individual using property for an illegal animal fighting operation. (SB 357)
• Add animal fighting to the state's racketeering statute, providing for enhanced penalties similar to those applied to organized crime. (SB 358)