Animal
safety » Trio of bills originated with Humane Society concerns.
Dogs
and roosters will have an ally in state Sen. Gene Davis this upcoming
legislative session as the Democrats’ newly chosen minority leader introduces
bills aimed at toughening cockfighting laws and tightening restrictions on dog
tethering and puppy sales.
The
Humane Society of Utah asked Davis to sponsor the trio of measures after
learning Utah is one of only 15 states that doesn’t prosecute cockfighting as a
felony.
Humane
Society Executive Director Gene Baierschmidt said surrounding states have
already made it a felony and participants in cockfighting come to Utah because
they know the penalties are more lax.
Cockfighting
is illegal in all 50 states, and Baierschmidt said the practice of strapping
razors to roosters’ legs so they can slash each other to death is
"barbaric" and also said it encourages illegal gambling.
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