Intro: A bipartisan bill heard by the Senate Judiciary Committee Monday would give law enforcement the tools to care for animals rescued from dogfighting.
Stephanie Levy has more from Jefferson City. According to the bill, the rescued dogs would be kept by local animal control for 30 days, instead of holding the dogs until the end of the owner's trial.
The bill's sponsor, Republican Senator Scott Rupp, says the bill would lift a large burden from local officials.
Reporting from the state captiol, I'm Stephanie Levy. Intro: The Senate Judiciary Committee heard a bill Monday night that would toughen the penalties for dog fighting in Missouri. Stephanie Levy has more from Jefferson City. The bill would make it a felony to be a spectator in a dog fight for a second time. Republican Senator Scott Rupp sponsored the bill.
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Description: You can relieve a lot of the law enforcement agencies that have to house these dogs or the rescue organizations or the vets that they send these dogs to to receive care and treatment because a lot of them are really beat up and banged up.
Last fall, police in Stoddard County uncovered 26 dogs who were victims of dogfighting. The Missouri Humane Society rehabilitated 22 of the dogs.
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| Description: We think by strengthening these penalties we can send a really important message to anyone who watches dog fighting activity that it is a serious crime and they will be treated under the same law as anyone who actively participates in such activity. |
Experts who testified at the hearing say there is a strong correlation between abusing dogs and abusing children. CaseS of dog fighting in Misouri have remained steady over the past decade.
The most recent case was in Stoddard County last fall, where police found 26 dogs as part of a dogfighting ring.
Reporting from the State Capitol, I'm Stephanie Levy.
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