Animal Fight Attendance Ban

Late last week, a new bill was signed into New York state law, which takes the ban on animal fighting a step further—attending a dog fight or cockfight will now result in a misdemeanor offense. The ASPCA had lobbied New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo to increase the severity of the punishments associated with the cruel sport. While animal fighting is a felony throughout the US, attendees would only be punished with a violation and a small fine in NY, prior to the new law. “Animal fighting is an extremely cruel, but lucrative, underground business,” says Debora Bresch, senior director of ASPCA Government Relations. “This new law will allow law enforcement to pursue and punish the spectators who drive the market for animal fighting, keeping it alive.”