The average Joe wouldn’t be Federally prosecuted for dog-fighthing. Where’s the publicity in that?
The state of Virginia was sitting on its hands, not moving forward with the case that they should have prosecuted. This is why the Feds took over.
In 1999, Title 18, Section 48 was added to the U.S. Code, making it a federal crime to “knowingly create, sell or possess a depiction of animal cruelty with the intention of placing that depiction in interstate or foreign commerce for commercial gain.” The term “depiction of animal cruelty” means any visual or auditory depiction, including any photograph, motion-picture film, video recording, electronic image, or sound recording of conduct in which a living animal is intentionally maimed, mutilated, tortured, wounded, or killed—if such conduct is illegal under federal law or the law of the state in which the creation, sale, or possession takes place, regardless of whether the maiming, mutilation, torture, wounding, or killing took place in the state. ... In 2007, Congress passed the Animal Fighting Prohibition Enforcement Act with strong bipartisan support. The Act became law in May 2007, and provides for felony penalties for interstate commerce, import and export relating to commerce in fighting dogs, fighting cocks and cock fighting paraphernalia. |
(from the ASPCA)
Now, how often it gets prosecuted is a separate matter. I couldn't readily find national statistics. I expect we'll be hearing a lot more about this in the near future.
Please tell me you are not trying to excuse this jackass. I could care less who prosecutes this bum just so long as justice is served. Breeding dogs to kill each other for fun and profit is disgusting and reprehensible.