A state senate panel has okayed a measure aimed at beefing up Kentucky’s laws against dog fighting. While the act of dog fighting is illegal across Kentucky, contributing activities are not. The Senate Agriculture Committee Tuesday approved legislation to prohibit owning, breeding, or training dogs for the purpose of fighting.
Shelbyville Senator Paul Hornback is the bill’s sponsor. “The dogs that are tied up out back, scarred up and everything that you can assume are probably being used for fighting," Hornback said. "Then you can go in and have a reason to go in and check them. Right now they cannot do anything with them."
Melodie Zentall with the Kentucky Coalition for Animal Protection says there are many benefits to the legislation but she worries the bill may not stop fighting between dogs and other animals.
There is language in the bill speaking to accredited associations. Hornback says it clarifies that new hunting organizations need not fear such a law would impede their hunts.
But, Jefferson County Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Gaddis worries such reference to accredited associations could make it harder to get a conviction for breeding or training dogs to fight. “There are organizations that are national organizations that promote dog fighting and things like that,” said Gaddis. “Now to the extent that it would be contradictory to the statute, I think it wouldn’t include those, but you could come right up against the edge and cause reasonable doubt in the mind of juror and that’s what I’m worried about.”
The Kentucky Houndsmen Association supports the bill. President Doug Morgan testified before the legislative panel. He believes the wording ensures that hunting groups all over the state could continue to carry out their club events with no fear of conflict with such a law.?
