NY outlaws animal fighting! Say Thank You to Sen. Patty Ritchie: a true hero.

Animal Fighting "Tools" Outlawed in NY

---

Praise the New York legislature for outlawing animal fighting tools used in animal fight operations.

8/8/2012: 11,282 signatures sent to Senator Patty Ritchie. Please continue to sign for this important cause if you haven't already!

Goal: 35,000 • Progress: 47,142

Sponsored by: The Animal Rescue Site

Animal fighting is illegal in all 50 states — a conviction carries with it hefty fines and potential jail time.
Still, dog fighting and cock fighting happens every single day in the United States. It's clear that simply illegalizing the activity isn't enough to stop it for good. For one, it's extremely difficult to prove an owner is harboring dogs for the purpose of game fighting. But more often than not, true dog fighters will own fighting "tools" which give little doubt as to their involvement with the crime.
Such equipment includes cat mills, which provoke the biting of other animals, or razor sharp knives used to slash roosters' feet during a fight.
Say thank you to New York legislators for outlawing the possession of animal fighting-related items, and in support of outlawing them in all 50 states.

Sign Here E-mail * First Name * Last Name * Do not display my name. Please review our Privacy Policy * Required

Dear Senator Patty Ritchie: Thank you for standing up for animals in New York. Simply outlawing animal cruelty isn't enough to limit its pervasiveness. We need to pass additional legislation in all states modeled on your bill. Case in point: animal fighting is illegal in all 50 states, but dog fighting and cock fighting continue to happen all the time in America. One reason is it's quite difficult to prove an owner is harboring dogs for game fighting unless law enforcement catches him or her in the act. That's why we need more comprehensive legislation that addresses the other aspects of the animal fighting industry, such as the bill you recently passed that outlaws the possession of animal fighting-related equipment. Though law enforcement might not be able to catch a dog fighter red-handed, most often those involved in the industry keep tools at their disposal to aid in the activity. Whether it be cat mills or knives, this paraphernalia unquestionably indicates participation in animal fighting. Thank you for your continued commitment to keeping America's animals safe and healthy.

• Print
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• More Sharing Services
• • 
    

|       Home       |       Photos       |       Video       |       Take Action       |      Donate Now       |

A 'Happily Ever After' Ending for Ben the Bear

After a long and hard-fought battle by PETA, the Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF), and concerned citizens, "Ben the Bear" has been rescued from abhorrent conditions at a North Carolina roadside zoo and will now live out the rest of his life at the Performing Animal Welfare Society (PAWS), a beautiful accredited wildlife sanctuary in northern California.

Before his relocation, Ben spent six long years imprisoned at Jambbas Ranch. Deemed nothing more than "Attraction no. 2" and locked away in a small kennel, Ben was deprived of even the most basic necessities. His world consisted of nothing more than a barren 12-foot-by-22-foot concrete floor and a chain-link fence with an old bowling ball and some moldy stumps of wood. He was fed dry dog food, which his "caretakers" dumped onto the same concrete floor where he urinated and defecated. His interaction with others was limited to being gawked at by passersby, listening to screaming children, and getting the occasional piece of bread tossed to him by a tourist.

Ben spent his waking hours pacing, a result of profound deprivation and a sign of chronic distress. Two concerned citizens saw him and agreed to take action. With our help, they filed a cruelty-to-animals lawsuit. Their case was heard by Cumberland County Court District Judge Kimbrell Tucker, who saw that the evidence was clear: Ben's needs were "not being met dietarily, veterinarily, and, most importantly, environmentally." The judge stated that Ben's enclosure did "not meet the requirements … for this bear's health and well-being." She issued a preliminary injunction that allowed PETA and ALDF to transfer Ben to California pending her final ruling in the case. A happy day!

FedEx immediately agreed to help fly Ben across the country for free. His safety and comfort were essential, and PETA made sure that he traveled in climate-controlled transport trucks to and from the airport and was accompanied by a transport team—veterinary expert Mel Richardson, Ed Stewart from PAWS Sanctuary, and PETA attorney Carney Anne Chester—throughout the trip. The flight crew cheerfully dubbed their mission "Bear Force One."

When Ben explored his vast new, spacious habitat for the first time, he pawed at and smelled the ground—likely the first time he had ever felt grass beneath his paws. Within minutes, he was already bathing and splashing in his own pool, ridding his body of grime for the first time in years. That night, he slept soundly on a comfortable bed of fresh hay and natural foliage.

On August 27, the court ruled in Ben's favor, and thanks to the judge and all those who worked hard to make it happen, the sanctuary is now his permanent home. Ben will continue to bask in the sun, roll in the grass, splash in the water, and act on his natural instincts to forage, explore, and hibernate in a 2-acre habitat designed especially for him. For the first time, Ben will finally get to live like a bear.

Ben's rescue would not have been possible without the support of caring PETA supporters like you! Please help us save more animals by supporting PETA's Investigations & Rescue Fund today.

Help us spread the good news! Share Ben's beautiful story with your friends and family on Facebook and Twitter now.