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On May 3rd, President Bush signed into law a bill which makes it a felony to buy, sell or transport animals across state lines or international borders for the purpose of fighting. The new federal law also makes it a felony to sponsor an animal fight and to trade in gaffs or other weapons used in cockfighting.

pitbull.jpgThe need for a strong federal law is clear after a review of Florida newspapers this week. On Thursday, the Pensacola News Journal reported that police in Escambia County are looking for a man wanted on five felony counts of dogfighting, after a sheriff’s deputy found several pit bulls with broken bones, cuts and other injuries related to fighting at a property in Pensacola. Escambia County Animal Regulation and Control officials told the paper that they have seen a significant increase in dog fighting cases in the past few years.

On Tuesday, the Citrus County Chronicle reported that the Sheriff’s Office uncovered a cockfighting arena in Crystal River. The property owner, who was arrested on animal fighting charges, explained that he sells roosters “to a friend who transports them to Louisiana for fighting.” This is exactly the type of activity that is now illegal under the new federal law.

Also this week, the Orlando Sentinel reported that five men were arrested, and police are looking for an additional five individuals, relating to a raid last December in Apopka in which 70 pitbulls were seized (sadly, all but three puppies had to be euthanized). The paper called the investigation, “Central Florida’s largest dogfighting case ever.”

Animal fighting is a felony in Florida. ARFF offers a $1,000 reward in every county in Florida for information leading to arrests in cases of animal fighting. Click here for details.

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