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Dog Fighting
Sponsor: Representative Paul LeVota (HB 724), Representative Brian Nieves (HB 889), Senator Jane Cunningham (SB 201), Senator Scott Rupp (SB 63)
Status: Failed
Together these bills would seriously improve Missouri’s dog fighting law.
Both SB 63, SB 201, and HB 889 would emphasize the welfare of the victimized animals, requiring a court hearing within 30 days to determine what happens to animals seized. Currently, seized dogs in Missouri are held in isolation for months or years before all of the criminal charges are resolved, often adding to their physical and mental hardships. This is also a financial hardship on the agencies that agree to house these poor animals. Providing a disposition hearing for dog fighting cases would make the procedure consistent with how all other animal abuse cases are handled in Missouri.
SB 63 would also toughen the law by increasing the criminal penalty to a felony, from a misdemeanor, for being a repeat spectator offender at a dog fight. Both SB 63 and SB 201 were given a hearing in the Senate General Laws Committee. HB 724 would prohibit anyone from possessing dog fighting paraphernalia. This bill would also enhance the criminal penalties for all second or subsequent dog fighting offenses.
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