PAWS: Report Animal Cruelty

Animal Fighting

In 2005, the Washington State Legislature passed a new bill revising the old laws regarding Animal Fighting. The revised law is one of the toughest in the nation and makes it easier to catch and prosecute offenders. HB 1304 - Revised Washington Animal Fighting Laws Raises the crime of animal fighting from a gross misdemeanor to a class C felony and expands the crime to include a person who knowingly: Breeds, buys, sells, advertises, or offers for sale any animal with the intent that the animal will be used for fighting; Participates in, advertises, or performs any service in the furtherance of an animal fight; Transports spectators to an animal fight or accepts payment for admission to an animal fight; Keeps or uses a place for animal fighting or allows a place to be used for animal fighting; Serves as a stakeholder for any money wagered on an animal fight; and Takes or receives a stray or pet animal with the intent of using the stray animal or pet animal for animal fighting or for training or baiting for animal fighting. It removes the specific provision making it a crime to be a spectator at an animal fight (participation in an animal fight remains a criminal offense). It defines "animal" to mean dogs or male chickens.

Here are some steps to take if you suspect a neighbor or someone you know is involved in animal fighting:

Try to gather as much information while maintaining your own personal safety. Extremely dangerous people often run fighting rings and your own safety is just as important as the animals involved. Try to find out information such as: does the suspect have animals on the property, is he/she running animal fights on the property, does he/she have animal fighting equipment on the premises.
Once your have gathered any information contact the local police department as well as your local animal control agency.
Make sure to get the investigating officer/agent's name and badge/id number. In addition, make sure to ask what action will be taking place. When reporting animal fighting you want to follow up with the officer/agent to make sure action has been taken.
If you are not getting responses from local authorities after multiple attempts, contact animal welfare groups who may be able to help, such as the Humane Society and PETA.

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