Some good news coming out of Hawaii. The surf is up and so is animal welfare law. Hawaii's natural beauty can give you a false impression. It is not as much a great paradise as you think when the animals in that state do not have ample protection from abusers. In fact, the Humane Society of the United States judged Hawaii as the state with the weakest animal welfare laws.
Well, that's going to change very soon. Come July 1st, a new law comes into effect that will make animal abusers, particularly dog fighting aficionados, look over their shoulders. Governor Neil Abercrombie signed Senate Bill 1069 into law this week with the Hawaiian Humane Society shepherding the bill into fruition.
The law prohibits using bait dogs to train other dogs for fighting. If you haven't met a bait dog before, then you wouldn't know that they can be the most gentle and friendly dogs, usually they are pit bulls themselves. Furthermore, the law grants the police authority to arrest anyone attending or betting on a dogfight. Damn, that's a good one.
Blood-thirsty patrons can no longer excuse their sorry selves, can't deflect responsibility, can't plead that the blood is only on the organizers' hands. Well, the new equation is spectator = conspirator. This particular proviso will cut the legs off the dog fighting business. Only top drawer sickos will show up at the pit, and there will be room for them in the paddywagon.
The Class C felony carries a penalty of up to five years in prison and a maximum $10,000 fine. How's that for a cherry to top your sundae?
Well, that's going to change very soon. Come July 1st, a new law comes into effect that will make animal abusers, particularly dog fighting aficionados, look over their shoulders. Governor Neil Abercrombie signed Senate Bill 1069 into law this week with the Hawaiian Humane Society shepherding the bill into fruition.
The law prohibits using bait dogs to train other dogs for fighting. If you haven't met a bait dog before, then you wouldn't know that they can be the most gentle and friendly dogs, usually they are pit bulls themselves. Furthermore, the law grants the police authority to arrest anyone attending or betting on a dogfight. Damn, that's a good one.
Blood-thirsty patrons can no longer excuse their sorry selves, can't deflect responsibility, can't plead that the blood is only on the organizers' hands. Well, the new equation is spectator = conspirator. This particular proviso will cut the legs off the dog fighting business. Only top drawer sickos will show up at the pit, and there will be room for them in the paddywagon.
The Class C felony carries a penalty of up to five years in prison and a maximum $10,000 fine. How's that for a cherry to top your sundae?
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