Jul 17 2008
Dogfighting: Does the Punishment Fit the Crime?
When it comes to dangerous dogs, I blame the owners, not the canines.
Before you shake your head and say to yourself, “Well, she must have never gotten bit by a dog before,” you can save your breath, because I have. I was bit on the buttock by a doberman when I was a child, and my dog was bit by a rottweiler last year. And no, I don’t cower from dobermans or rottweilers, or even pitbulls. I’ve even donated my time to a local pitbull rescue group.
Instead, I blame the people who leave their dogs chained outside all day every day, the people who don’t respect and cultivate the pack mentality that’s ingrained in dogs, and, most of all, the people who are in any teeny tiny way involved in the disgusting “sport” of dogfighting.
The Humane Society of the United States ranked the 50 states in four tiers, according to whether they consider each of three offenses (dogfighting itself; being a spectator of dogfighting; and possession of fighting dogs) a felony, a misdemeanor or legal. Within those tiers, the states are ranked by length of jail sentence and fines imposed.
Yes, dogfighting is a crime in every state, and it’s good to see some states take the crime very seriously, but some states are VERY lax in punishment. We’ve come a long way, but there’s still a long way to go toward making dogfighting punishments fit the crimes in each and every state.
Rankings
First Tier: Three Felony Provisions
NJ
All are crimes of the 3rd degree, 3-5 years, Max $15,000
LA
All are felonies, 1-10 years, $1,000 - $25,000
AL
All are Class C felonies, 1-10 years, Max $5,000
CO
All are Class 5 felonies, 1-3 years, $1,000 - $100,000
MS
Felony, 1-3 years, $1,000 - $5,000
Felony, Max 1 year, $500 - $5,000
Felony, 1-3 years, $1,000 - $5,000
AZ
Class 5 Felony, 9 mo. – 2 years, Max $150,000
Class 6 Felony, 6 mo – 1 ½ years, Max $150,000
Class 5 Felony, 9 mo. – 2 years, Max $150,000
OH
All 4th Degree felonies, 6 – 18 months, $5,000
NC
All Class H felonies, 4-8 months – 5-10 months
PA
All 3rd Degree felonies, Max 7 years, Max $15,000
NH
All Class B felonies, Max 7 years, Max $4,000
OR
All Class C felonies, Max 5 years, Max $125,000
NE
All Class IV felonies, Max 5 years, Max $10,000
WA
All Class C felonies, Max 5 years, Max $10,000
CT
All felonies, Max 5 years, Max $5,000
FL
All 3rd degree felonies, Max 5 years, Max $5,000
VT
All felonies, Max 5 year, Max $5,000
VA
All Class 6 felonies, Max 5 years, Max $2,500
MI
Felony, Max 4 years, $5,000 - $50,000, 500 – 100 hours community service Felony, Max 4 years, $1,000 - $5,000, 250 – 500 hours community service Felony, Max 4 years, $5,000 - $50,000, 500 – 100 hours community service
RI
Felony, Max 2 years, Max $1,000
Felony, Max 2 years, Max $1,500
Felony, Max 2 years, Max $1,000
NM
All 4th Degree felonies, 18 months, Max $5,000
Second Tier: Two Felony Provisions
GA
Felony, 1-5 years, Max $15,000
Misdemeanor, Max 1 year, Max $1,000
Felony, 1-5 years, Min $5,000
IL
Class 4 Felony, 1-3 years, Max $25,000
Class A Misdemeanor, Max 1 year, Max $2,500
Class 4 Felony, 1-3 years, Max $25,000
MN
Felony, Min 1 year 1 day
Misdemeanor, Max 90 days, Max $1,000
Felony, Min 1 year 1 day
OK
Felony, 1-10 years, $2,000 - $25,000
Misdemeanor, Max 1 year, Max $500
Felony, 1-10 years, $2,000 - $25,000
TN
Class E Felony, 1-6 years, Max $3,000
Class C Misdemeanor, Max of 30 days, Max $50
Class E Felony, 1-6 years, Max $3,000
KS
Level 10 nonperson felony, 1-5 years, Max $100,000
Class B nonperson misdemeanor, Max 6 months, Max $ 1,000
Level 10 nonperson felony, 1-5 years, Max $100,000
KY
Class D Felony, 1 – 5 years, $1,000 - $10,000
Class A Misdemeanor, Max 12 months, Max $500
Class D Felony, 1 – 5 years, $1,000 - $10,000
IN
Class D Felony, 6 mo – 3 years, Max $10,000
Class A Misdemeanor, Max 1 year, Max $5,000
Class D Felony, 6 mo – 3 years, Max $10,000
MO
Class D Felony, Max 10 years
Class A Misdemeanor, Min 6 months
Class D Felony, Max 10 years
AR
Class D Felony, Max 6 years, Max $10,000
Class A Misdemeanor, Max 1 year, Max $1,000
Class D Felony, Max 6 years, Max $10,000
AK
Class C Felony, Max 5 years, Max $50,000
Violation, No jail time, Max $500
Class C Felony, Max 5 years, Max $50,000
DC
Felony, Max 5 years, Max $25,000
Misdemeanor, Max 180 days, Max $1,000
Felony, Max 5 years, Max $25,000
UT
3rd Degree Felony, Max 5 years, Max $25,000
Class B misdemeanor, 6 months, Max $1,000
3rd Degree Felony, Max 5 years, Max $25,000
IA
Class D Felony, Max 5 years, $750 - $7,500
Aggravated misdemeanor, Max 2 years, $500 - $5,000
Class D Felony, Max 5 years, $750 - $7,500
ND
Class C Felony, Max 5 years, Max $5,000
Class A Misdemeanor, Max 1 year, Max $2,000
Class C Felony, Max 5 years, Max $5,000
SC
Felony, Must be 5 years or $5000 or both
Misdemeanor, Must be 6 mo or $500 or both
Felony, Must be 5 years or $5000 or both
MA
Felony equivalent, Max 5 years (state prison) or Max 1 year (house of correction), Max $1,000
Misdemeanor equivalent, Max 1 month, Max $250
Felony equivalent, Max 5 years (state prison) or Max 1 year (house of correction), Max $1,000
ME
Class C crime, Court must impose a fine of $500 max, in addition to: Max 5 years, Max $5,000
Class D crime, Max 1 year, Max $2,000
Class C crime, Court must impose a fine of $500 max: in addition to: Max 5 years, Max $5,000
ID
Felony, Max 5 years, Max $50,000
Misdemeanor, Max 6 months, $100 - $5,000
Felony, Max 5 years, Max $50,000
WI
Class I Felony, Max 3 years, 6 months, Max $10,000
Class A misdemeanor, Max 9 months, Max $10,000
Class I Felony, Max 3 years, 6 months, Max $10,000
MD
Felony, Max 3 years, Max $5,000
Misdemeanor, Max 1 year, Max $2,500
Felony, Max 3 years, Max $5,000
CA
Felony, 16 months or 2 or 3 years, Max $50,000
Misdemeanor, Max 6 months, Max $1,000
Felony, 16 months or 2 or 3 years, Max $50,000
DE
Class F Felony, Max 3 years, Discretionary fine
Class A Misdemeanor, Max 1 year, Max $2,300
Class F Felony, Max 3 years, Discretionary fine
WY
Felony, Max 2 years, Max $5,000
Misdemeanor, Max 6 months, Max $750
Felony, Max 2 years, Max $5,000
SD
Class 6 Felony, Max 2 years, Max $4,000
Class 1 Misdemeanor, Max 1 year, Max $2,000
Class 6 Felony, Max 2 years, Max $4,000
Third Tier: One Felony Provision
WV
Felony, 1-5 years, $1,000-$5,000
Misdemeanor, Max 1 year, $100-$1,000
Misdemeanor, Max 6 months, $300-$2,000
NY
Felony, Max 4 years, Max $25,000
Misdemeanor, Max 1 year, Max $1,000
Misdemeanor, Max 1 year, Max $15,000
TX
State jail felony, 180 days – 2 years
Class A misdemeanor, Max 1 year, Max $4,000
Class A misdemeanor, Max 1 year, Max $4,000
Fourth Tier: Allows Possession or Spectators
MT
Felony, 1-5 years, Max $5,000
Legal
Felony, 1-5 years, Max $5,000
HI
Class C Felony, Max 5 years, Max $10,000
Legal
Class C Felony, Max 5 years, Max $10,000
NV
Category D Felony, 1-4 years, Max $5,000
Misdemeanor, Max 6 months, Max $1,000
Legal
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