Sutton: Vick Case Shows Need for the Dog Fighting Prohibition Act

Press Release

Sutton: Vick Case Shows Need for the Dog Fighting Prohibition Act

Today, Congresswoman Betty Sutton, sponsor of H.R. 3219, the Dog Fighting Prohibition Act, issued the following statement on NFL star Michael Vick's plea agreement with federal prosecutors.

"Michael Vick has admitted to financing a dog fighting operation and to participating in the brutal murder of dogs, and for his actions, he is going to jail. Dog fighting is not only morally reprehensible, it is serious criminal activity, and perpetrators must be prosecuted and punished accordingly," Sutton said.

"Although the focus has been on the disturbing circumstances surrounding the Michael Vick case, he is not the only individual perpetrating this vicious criminal blood sport. Dog fighting is prevalent throughout our country."

"This case has shed light on the difficulty federal prosecutors have in building a case against those involved in dog fighting. Loopholes in current law force federal authorities to prove that dogs were transported across state lines and to prove that perpetrators actually owned the dogs involved."

"That is why Senator John Kerry and I introduced the Dog Fighting Prohibition Act in July. This legislation will close the loopholes in federal law by ensuring that anybody who knowingly sponsors or exhibits an animal in, or views a dog fight or fighting venture, is equally culpable and will be held responsible. To end this blood sport once and for all, we must make it clear that everyone who is involved in propping it up are held accountable."

"The Dog Fighting Prohibition Act targets the commercial and gambling aspect of dog fighting that makes it so lucrative by making it a federal crime to buy, sell, transport, train or possess fighting dogs, or to participate as a spectator at a dog fight. It also eliminates the requirement that federal prosecutors prove dogs were transported across state lines, and toughens the penalties from a maximum of three, to a maximum of five years in prison."

"I hope that Michael Vick's high-profile guilty plea, the increased vigilance called for by our legislation and stepped-up efforts by animal rights groups and the federal government will dissuade others from participating in dog fighting and bring an end to these disgusting spectacles."

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