Bill Would Sharpen Cash Bite On Owners of Fighting Dogs

A City Council member who tried to outlaw pit bulls in New York is proposing to crack down on dogfighting by calling on the council to raise the maximum penalty for harboring a fighting dog to $25,000 a dog from $5,000.

Council Member Peter Vallone Jr. of Queens, who officially introduced the bill yesterday, said he doesn't know if dogfighting is a problem in New York because there hasn't been "aggressive oversight in this area yet."

A spokesman for the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Joseph Pentangelo, said he's not aware of any arrests for organized dogfighting in the city over the last decade. He said there have been at least three arrests made for pick-up dogfighting in the city since 2004. A pickup fight usually occurs after two humans get into a dispute and decide to let their dogs settle it by fighting.

He said he supports the bill and thinks the higher penalties will deter would-be dogfighters. "Any tool we can use to fight this practice is a good idea," he said.

It is illegal for people to keep dogs trained for fighting, or to train a dog to attack humans or domestic animals in New York.

Mr. Vallone said the council should be proactive and pass his bill to ensure dogfighting doesn't become a problem.

"The fines that exist don't match the despicable nature of the crime," he said. "I want to make sure the maximum possible city fines exists."

Mr. Vallone said his pit bull bill stalled because there is a state law barring municipalities from passing breed-specific laws.