Sacramento, CA — California would join its neighboring states in boosting penalties for cockfighting, under a bill approved by the state Senate Tuesday.
A second offense could be charged as a felony under the legislation. Currently, cockfighting is only a misdemeanor.
The Humane Society of the United States says California´s law has made the state a refuge for cockfighting.
The practice is illegal in 48 states, and is a felony in 31 of those states. The maximum penalty for a misdemeanor is a year in jail even under increased penalties adopted in 2003.
Under the pending bill, a second violation could be charged as a felony carrying a sentence of up to three years in prison.
This post was last modified on 01/31/2009 2:23 pm