Ensign seeks to ban interstate sale of animal-fighting tools

Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2005 | 9:41 a.m.

WASHINGTON -- Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., wants to ban interstate sale of tools designed for dog and cock fighting and create tougher consequences for those who participate in the activity.

Ensign, who was a veterinarian before entering politics, said he is "fully committed to bring about the demise of this abhorrent activity."

He re-introduced a bill Tuesday that makes transportation of animals for fighting a felony, creates a maximum penalty of two years in prison and bans the sale of knives and other tools used in animal fights.

"Animal fighting is a cruel and disgusting practice that should have no place n our society," Ensign said in a statement Tuesday.

He has introduced the bill before, but it has not succeeded. The Senate included it in a larger bill during the last session of Congress but it was taken out during final negotiations.

Ensign's office said the bill, known as the "Animal Fighting Prohibition Enforcement Act of 2005," has support from 158 police and sheriffs' departments across the country, the Agriculture Department, the National Chicken Council, the American Veterinary Medical Association and the Humane Society of the United States.

"Not only is animal fighting itself gruesome, but it often involves illegal gambling, illegal narcotics and human violence," Ensign said. "Children are brought to the fights for entertainment, and some dog fighters allow trained fighting dogs to roam neighborhoods and endanger the public.

"There are also growing concerns about the potential for cockfighting to spread virulent diseases that jeopardize poultry flocks and public health. There is no end to the list of reasons why animal fighting must be stopped."