Letter to the Editor: Praise for bill that would ban attendance at animal fights

Editor:

Dogfighting and cockfighting are despicable blood sporst, and unfortunately a loophole in Montana law is letting people get away with attending and participating in this illegal sport.

Montanans have a long tradition of caring for animals, so it is a disgrace that ours is the only one in the nation where it is legal to attend a dog fight. Rep. Tom Richmond, Sen. Doug Kary and Sen. Jonathan Windy Boy have a bill to make this right.

House Bill 378 would make it a misdemeanor punishable by up to a $500 fine to knowingly attend an animal fight.

Animal fighting is not just a crime against animals — it is often accompanied by other illegal acts involving illegal gambling, weapons and drugs. It is also well documented that animal abuse can lead to crimes against humans. We do not want to invite these criminals into Montana, and the way to keep them out is to invoke a penalty for even attending these events.

HB 378 has passed the House. Please call your senator in Helena and urge support for HB 378 to crack down on animal fighting in Montana.

Ursula Brese

Havre