House Earmarks $800,000 for Enforcing Federal Animal Fighting Laws, Narrowly Rejects Amendment Protecting Downed Farm Animals, Says HSUS

7/15/2003

From: Rachel Querry of the Humane Society of the United States, 301-258-8255, 240-447-2360 (cell), rquerry@hsus.org, http://www.hsus.org

WASHINGTON, July 15 -- Officials at The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) expressed mixed reaction following votes on two key animal protection measures in the House of Representatives late yesterday. The House passed an HSUS-backed amendment to provide for $800,000 in new funds for enforcement of the federal law against dogfighting and cockfighting, but it barely rejected a measure that would have halted the abuse of downed livestock at slaughterhouses. The votes came during debate of the Fiscal Year 2004 Agriculture Appropriations Act, which funds the Department of Agriculture.

The House approved the Blumenauer-Tancredo amendment on animal fighting by a vote of 222-179. By a narrow margin of 199-202, the House defeated an amendment, by Representatives Gary Ackerman (D-N.Y.) and Steve LaTourette (R-Ohio), that would have barred the processing of downed animals for human consumption. Too sick or injured to walk, "downed animals" are dragged, electrically shocked, beaten, and even bulldozed to move them to slaughter.

"The House of Representatives took an important step in the effort to combat illegal animal fighting, but the decision to reject the amendment to halt the abuse of injured livestock is callous and reckless," said Wayne Pacelle, HSUS senior vice president for communications and government affairs. "Injured and diseased animals should not find their way into the food supply." In 2002, the House and Senate both voted to include a prohibition against sending downed farm animals to slaughter in the Farm Bill, but the conference committee stripped that provision from the final version of the bill; many of those same legislators worked to defeat the amendment yesterday.

The animal fighting amendment provides $800,000 for USDA's Office of Inspector General to focus on animal fighting cases, working closely with state and local law enforcement personnel to complement their efforts. The HSUS strongly urged House members to approve the funding amendment, authored by Representative Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.) and Tom Tancredo (R-Colo.).

Dog fighting is illegal in all 50 states and cockfighting is illegal in 48 states. Federal law prohibits shipping roosters and dogs across state lines for fighting purposes and bans exports of animals bred for fighting. Many states have recently strengthened laws against animal fighting to give law enforcement officers the tools to crack down on animal fighting. Last month, governors in Florida and Oregon signed bills strengthening those states' animal fighting provisions.

"Since the animal fighting industry involves transporting animals over state lines to participate in fights, a combined federal-state approach is essential to cracking down on animal fighting," said Pacelle. "We're grateful to the House of Representatives for recognizing this urgent need and we urge the U.S. Senate to enact identical language."

The HSUS is the nation's largest animal protection organization with over seven million members and constituents. The HSUS is a mainstream voice for animals, with active programs in companion animals and equine protection, wildlife, animals in research and farm animals and sustainable agriculture. For nearly 50 years, The HSUS has protected all animals through legislation, litigation, investigation, education, advocacy and field work. The non-profit organization is based in Washington, DC and has 10 regional offices across the country. For more information, visit The HSUS' Web site - http://www.hsus.org.