US Senate approves amendment closing "loophole" in animal fighting law

By a 88 to 11 vote, the United States Senate has overwhelmingly approved an amendment which will close the so-called "loophole" in the federal animal fighting law which relates to attendance at dog and cock fights.

The amendment would make illegal attending an animal fight and would impose additional penalties on adults who bring minors to such events. The penalty for such activities would be a federal misdemeanor for knowing attendance and a felony for knowingly attending or causing a minor to attend.




Currently it is a violation or crime in 49 states to be a spectator at an animal fight. Of the 49, 29 states impose felony level charges on spectators.